Rwandan President Paul Kagame

Rwandan President Paul Kagame achieved a landslide victory in the nation's presidential election, held on August 9. The result means Kagame is reinstalled for a second term. While some human rights groups have questioned the president's tactics, saying the campaign was tainted by repression of his critics, analysts said that Kagame was reinstalled largely because of the economic growth and stability achieved under his presidency.

Well-known Angolan writer, film-maker, sculptor and anthropologist Ruy Duarte de Carvalho has died in his home in Namibia, according to Angola's state news agency. He was 69. Born in Portugal, De Carvalho became an Angolan citizen in the mid-1980s. He wrote novels, poetry and collections of short stories.

Jao Tsung-I

Respected Chinese scholar Jao Tsung-I donated 1.6 million yuan ($235,840) to the relief effort for victims of the devastating mudslide in Zhouqu County in northwest China's Gansu Province. The 95-year-old, considered a leading authority on Chinese culture, expressed his concern for those impacted by the disaster.

Zhang Ziyi

China's best-known actress Zhang Ziyi has taken on the role of ambassador for the China Red Ribbon Foundation, an organization dedicated to the prevention of HIV/AIDS. "I am honored to be involved in this campaign for the prevention of HIV/AIDS, and thanks to the movie A Tale of Magic, I had the chance to get to know AIDS patients," she said.