Lavrov in North Korea

Talking Europe interviews Rastislav Káčer, Slovakia's straight-talking minister for foreign and European affairs. Slovakia became the first NATO country to deliver warplanes to Ukraine, and Káčer discusses what difference that delivery could make, as well as Slovakia's plans to double its ammunition production.

Edgars Rinkevics has ascended from foreign minister to president following a parliamentary vote. He will be the first openly gay politician to hold the largely ceremonial role.

Talking Europe hosts Bujar Osmani, the foreign minister of North Macedonia, which launched EU accession talks nearly a year ago – although it has been in the EU’s waiting room for far longer than that. Currently a screening process of North Macedonia’s legislation is under way, and Osmani urges the opening of talks with the EU on key topics. He warns that North Macedonian society has become wary of “making concessions while there are no deliverables”.

Find these stories and much more when you grab a copy of The Guardian on Saturday.⁣

Russia's war in Ukraine dominated talks during German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock's trip to Pretoria this week. After months of tension, Germany and South Africa displayed a new willingness to fight polarization.

A German parliamentary inquiry is seeking "lessons from Afghanistan" after the two-decade mission that ended with a rapid Taliban return. Joschka Fischer said participating was crucial to Germany's place in NATO.

In an interview with FRANCE 24, Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said that Taiwan welcomed the final communiqué of the NATO summit, which criticised China's "stated ambitions and coercive policies". He stressed that NATO had "stated the truth" and that Taiwan appreciated that NATO was "paying attention" to the threat posed by Beijing in the Indo-Pacific region.

Qin Gang has not been seen at any diplomatic events for over three weeks, just months after taking on the role. His mysterious absence has underlined the secrecy of Beijing’s top-level politics.

China has sacked Qin Gang as foreign minister and appointed his predecessor, Wang Yi, to the post. Qin has not been seen in public since June 25, triggering widespread speculation about his whereabouts.

The North Korean leader called for fresh drills and for weapons production to be ramped up. He also replaced a member of the military's top brass for reasons unknown.

On tonight's show we bring you an exclusive interview with Niger's exiled Foreign Minister Hassoumi Massaoudou, who maintained that the situation following the July 26 coup d'état was "reversible". Massaoudou condemned the putschists' announcement on Monday that they would prosecute ousted President Mohamed Bazoum for treason, saying the junta had "no legitimacy to try anyone".

Protests broke out after it was revealed that the minister had met with her Israeli counterpart, possibly breaking Libyan law. The minister is now facing an investigation.