Lebanese Foreign Minister Nassif Hitti quits ‘sinking ship’

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Feminists and human rights activists in Lebanon are speaking out against attempts to impose increasing restrictions on their lives in the name of "conservative values". This follows an attack on a woman at a beach in the southern city of Sidon, when an Islamic cleric and his followers told Mayssa Hanouni she didn't have the right to wear a bathing suit there before getting violent.

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”.

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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.

Lebanon's economic crisis hasn't stopped people from smoking. While smoking hookah remains affordable for almost everybody, cigars have become a status symbol for all those who profit from the crisis.

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.

Clashes erupted between members of the Palestinian Fatah group and rival groups that support Islamists. Violence is not uncommon at Ein el-Hilweh, Lebanon's largest Palestinian refugee camp.

Riad Salameh held the post for 30 years, but is now wanted in several European countries for alleged financial crimes. One of his vice-governors will temporarily take over.