China is willing to deepen cooperation with the UN, support the UN in playing a central role in international affairs, and jointly shoulder the responsibility of safeguarding world peace and promoting development and prosperity, Xi told Guterres, who is here to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit 2025.
Noting that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and the 80th founding anniversary of the UN, Xi said history has revealed that multilateralism, solidarity and cooperation are the right answer to global challenges.
Xi called for restoring the UN’s authority and vitality under new circumstances, so that it can serve as the main platform for all countries to coordinate actions and jointly address challenges.
In a world of profound changes unseen in a century, China has provided stability and certainty and will continue to bring new opportunities to the world with its new development, Xi said.
In his speech delivered at the group’s first-ever “SCO Plus” Meeting, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for building a more beautiful home of the SCO, with building “a common home of peace and tranquility” among the five priorities.
The SCO was born more than two decades ago when the acute security challenges of terrorism, separatism and extremism — the “three evil forces” — were posing menacing threats in Central Asia and neighboring areas. Since its founding in 2001, the group has maintained safeguarding regional security as a mainstay of collaboration.
“Security is a prerequisite for national development, and safety is the lifeline to happiness of the people,” Xi said in Astana.
For years, the Chinese leader has championed strengthening security cooperation to provide lines of defense for SCO members. At the SCO Dushanbe Summit in 2014, Xi proposed to negotiate and sign the SCO Convention on Countering Extremism. The convention was signed by member states in Astana in 2017
The Chinese leader has also been a strong advocate of the SCO’s fight against drug trafficking, organized crime and cyber-terrorism, resulting in notable successes.
Take drug trafficking. The group organizes anti-drug operations regularly, and has renewed its Anti-Drug Strategy for five years. In its most recent development, SCO members carried out an anti-drug operation dubbed “Web” earlier this month, with China chairing the coordination headquarters. The operation seized nearly 10 tons of narcotic drugs and identified 1,151 crimes related to illicit narco trafficking.
Apart from the SCO, the Chinese leader also seeks to advance common security in the region through other channels of cooperation, stating that a “vision of harmony and peaceful co-existence underpins China’s neighborhood diplomacy.”
At the 2014 Shanghai Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, Xi proposed a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. At the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference in 2022, he presented the Global Security Initiative, which Beijing views as a public good that advances global security governance.
“In enhancing security in Central Asia within the framework of the SCO, China undoubtedly plays an important and leading role,” said Azamat Seitov, a scholar of Uzbekistan’s University of World Economy and Diplomacy.
“Chinese initiatives … contribute to strengthening stability, economic development and reducing security threats in the region,” said Seitov.
In today’s interconnected world, peace remains fragile amid regional tensions and an uncertain security environment. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, or World War II. In May, Xi visited Moscow, where he attended a Red Square parade.
Xi once pointed out that the painful lesson of war should never be forgotten. In 2015, the year that marked the 70th anniversary of the end of the World Anti-Fascist War, Xi noted that “all SCO member states endured the test of blood and fire of World War II and contributed to the final victory with enormous sacrifice” when addressing the SCO Ufa Summit in Russia. In a joint statement issued after the meeting, Xi and other convening leaders made a resolute call for peaceful development and progress of all nations.
“Only with a peaceful environment at our front door can we develop ourselves with ease and comfort,” Xi once commented.
The team departed Kigali International Airport on Tuesday morning, September 2, led by Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) president Shema Ngoga Fabrice. A 20-man squad was on board, with four additional players — Kavita Phanuel, Mugisha Bonheur “Casemiro,” Kwizera Jojea, and Buhake Twizere Clement — set to join the team in Lagos before heading to Uyo.
The match is scheduled for Saturday, September 6, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
Amavubi will be looking to replicate their last visit to Nigeria, when they stunned the Super Eagles with a 2–1 victory in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. However, Nigeria had the upper hand in their most recent meeting in Kigali, winning 2–0 in the reverse World Cup qualifier.
Group C remains tightly contested. South Africa currently lead the table with 13 points, while Rwanda and Benin are level on 8. Nigeria sits just behind on 7 points, followed by Lesotho with 6, and Zimbabwe at the bottom with 4.
Entire villages built with mudbrick homes collapsed, leaving many residents buried under the rubble. Rescue teams have struggled to reach survivors because roads were destroyed by landslides, aftershocks continue to shake the region, and heavy rain has made conditions worse.
Helicopters and ground units have been deployed to evacuate the injured and deliver emergency supplies.
One survivor, Ziaul Haq Mohammadi, a student studying in Jalalabad, described the panic: “We spent the whole night in fear and anxiety because at any moment another earthquake could happen.”
According to Reuters, the country’s health system is overwhelmed. Sharafat Zaman, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s health ministry, appealed for urgent support.
“We need it because here lots of people lost their lives and houses,” he said.
With limited hospitals and medical supplies, doctors and nurses are struggling to treat the growing number of casualties.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) also raised concerns about the challenges facing rescue teams.
“The area of the earthquake was affected by heavy rain in the last 24–48 hours … many of the roads are impassable,” Kate Carey, a UNOCHA officer explained.
She added that aid workers are racing to clear debris and even remove animal carcasses to prevent water contamination, highlighting the multiple risks facing survivors.
The Taliban administration has formally appealed for international aid, stressing that Afghanistan cannot handle this crisis alone.
Humanitarian funding for the country has already dropped sharply in recent years, making the situation even more dire. Several countries have pledged support, with India sending tents and food supplies and China promising to provide additional assistance.
This earthquake is one of the deadliest to strike Afghanistan in recent years. With thousands displaced and entire villages destroyed, survivors now face a second crisis of hunger and disease.
The law establishing the DST was passed in February 2025 and applies to services originating outside Rwanda. Jean Paulin Uwitonze, RRA’s Deputy Commissioner for Taxpayer Services and Communications, confirmed that the tax will take effect at the start of the 2026 fiscal year.
“From 2026, digital services tax will be collected. It will cover online businesses such as Airbnb, Netflix, Amazon, and others. They will be required to pay tax on the services they provide in Rwanda, based on the revenues they generate,” Uwitonze said.
He added that RRA is finalising preparations to ensure a smooth rollout of the tax.
{{Tourism accommodation tax already in effect
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In addition to the DST, a tourism accommodation tax introduced in February 2025 came into force on July 1, 2025. It is charged at a rate of 3% of the amount paid or payable for accommodation, excluding value-added tax (VAT).
The law requires accommodation providers, including hotels, lodges, apartments, motels, and Airbnb hosts, to register with RRA, collect the tax from clients, and remit it monthly.
According to RRA, taxpayers have largely complied since collections began on August 15, 2025.
“The tax is collected every month. For example, a business collects it from the 1st to the 30th of a given month and submits it to RRA no later than the 15th of the following month,” Uwitonze explained.
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RRA has also warned businesses attempting to evade taxes. Uwitonze said the authority is working with partners, including buyers and the Electronic Billing Machine (EBM) system, to identify and penalise defaulters.
“Those who do not want to pay will be caught quickly. We can detect all unpaid taxes and ensure compliance,” he said.
The initiative was highlighted by a landmark visit from Pakistan’s Foreign Minister to Dhaka, the first such visit in over ten years. The visit signaled a willingness on both sides to reopen dialogue and find new ways to work together.
According to Al Jazeera, Pakistan’s approach reflects a changing regional environment, with both countries searching for stronger positions in a time of shifting alliances.
Speaking during the visit, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister said, “We are here to turn a new page. Our people share deep ties, and we believe cooperation with Bangladesh is essential for regional peace and prosperity.”
Bangladesh’s interim leadership has also shown cautious openness. Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Advisor of Bangladesh, responded by noting the potential benefits for both nations. “Bangladesh seeks partnerships that will bring growth and stability to our people,” he said. “If cooperation with Pakistan serves those goals, we are ready to explore it.”
Still, the history between the two countries remains difficult. The memory of the 1971 Liberation War, which led to Bangladesh’s independence, continues to cast a shadow. Dhaka has long called for greater accountability from Islamabad, but both sides are now focusing more on practical issues such as economic development and regional security.
Experts point out that the timing of this diplomatic outreach is significant. With India still the dominant power in South Asia, Pakistan and Bangladesh both see value in broadening their options and strengthening their positions. For Pakistan, improved ties with Dhaka could provide much-needed diplomatic and economic gains. For Bangladesh, engagement with Islamabad could serve as a way to diversify alliances and secure new opportunities.
The ceremony was attended by Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara, Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani, and members of the AfDB Group’s Board of Governors.
Ould Tah delivered the oath of office with solemnity. After taking the oath, he signed the written version, which was officially certified by Ludovic Ngatse, minister of economy, planning, and regional integration of the Republic of the Congo, also chair of the Board of Governors of the AfDB.
Ould Tah was elected the ninth president of the bank on May 29, securing more than 76 percent of the vote, the highest first-term margin in the bank’s history.
Elected for a five-year term, the new AfDB president outlined four strategic pillars — to unlock Africa’s financial resources, to reform and strengthen the continent’s fiscal sovereignty, to turn demography into a dividend, and to build resilient infrastructure.
Ould Tah, 60, is introduced on the AfDB website as a seasoned economist and development banker with more than 40 years of experience in banking, as well as economist and ministerial roles in Africa and the Global South.
Founded in 1964, the AfDB has 81 member countries, comprising 54 African countries and 27 non-African countries.
Of the 106,418 candidates who registered, 106,079 sat for the exams, and 89 percent achieved a pass mark of at least 50 percent. Among them, the pass rate for boys was 93.5 percent, compared to 85.5 percent for girls.
The announcement was made on September 1, 2025, with officials noting that overall performance across all categories was encouraging.
Minister of Education Joseph Nsengimana explained that the results were released earlier than in previous years to prevent students from losing valuable time.
Previously, results were published in November or December, often preventing unsuccessful candidates from retaking exams in time and delaying successful students from starting university.
He emphasised that announcing the results in September allows those who passed to proceed directly to higher education without interruption, while those who failed have sufficient time to prepare and retake the exams alongside their peers.
Performance varied across different categories of study. In the general education stream, 61,737 students sat for the exam, with 83.8 percent passing. In the Technical, Vocational, and Education Training (TVET) stream, 36,141 students took the exam, with 35,393 passing, resulting in a 98 percent success rate.
Among professional courses, 8,201 candidates sat for the exam, and 89.8 percent passed. All 438 nursing students passed, while in Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs), 3,829 candidates sat for the exam, and only seven failed to meet the 50 percent pass mark. In the accounting stream, 3,916 students were examined, and 825 did not reach the pass mark.
By academic stream, 41,182 students specialized in sciences, with 81.45 percent passing. In humanities, 10,091 candidates sat for the exam, achieving a pass rate of 90.78 percent. For language studies, 10,410 candidates were examined, and 86.1 percent achieved the passing score.
The Ministry also recognised top-performing students in each field. In sciences, Arengerwe Merci Alliance from Cornerstone Leadership Academy in Rwamagana achieved the highest score with 96.06 percent.
In humanities, Kagemana Jean Lambert from ES Cyabingo in Gakenke scored 95.73 percent, while in languages, Mugisha Abayo Jennifer from Collège du Christ-Roi in Nyanza topped with 93.49 percent.
District performance varied significantly. Kayonza led with a 96.9 percent pass rate, followed by Kirehe at 95.6 percent, Rulindo at 94.9 percent, Ngoma at 93.8 percent, and Nyamasheke at 93.6 percent.
On the other hand, Kamonyi recorded the lowest performance at 85 percent, while Nyarugenge scored 87.1 percent. Gatsibo, Rutsiro, and Karongi each registered a pass rate of 88.6 percent.
