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Milan (AFP) – Making COP26 a success “will certainly not be easy”, says Patricia Espinosa, the UN climate chief, but it is an “absolute necessity” to be able to emerge from this summit with a “message of hope” to present to the world hit by a series of climate disasters. As the world faces stronger and more frequent droughts, wildfires, flooding and storm surges made worse as the planet warms, the COP26 summit in Glasgow is being billed by organisers as a key milestone for keeping the Paris goals within reach.

Tokyo (AFP) – Tokyo residents react after Japan’s ruling party elected former foreign minister Fumio Kishida its new leader, setting him on course to become the next prime minister of the world’s third-largest economy. Kishida, 64, will be confirmed as the new premier in a vote in parliament on October 4 and will then lead the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) into general elections that must happen by November. The 64-year-old won the ruling party’s leadership vote, beating popular vaccine chief Taro Kono to finally clinch a job he has long targeted.

Bucharest (AFP) – While the eyes of the world focus on the Covid-19 pandemic, the fight against HIV has slowed down in Romania. The pandemic has deprived at-risk groups of access to health services and testing, as well as disrupting supply chains and medicine supplies, raising fears of a rise in cases.

Copenhagen (AFP) – A never-before-heard tape of an interview with John Lennon featuring him singing an unreleased track called “Radio Peace” is up for auction in Copenhagen. The recording was made by four eager Danish schoolboys who clinched an interview with the former Beatle for their high school newspaper. The 33-minute tape was recorded on January 5, 1970 when Lennon spent winter in a remote corner of Jutland in western Denmark with his wife Yoko Ono.

Washington (AFP) – US President Joe Biden sends his best wishes as Mexico celebrates 200 years of independence, saying that both countries have learned that they are stronger when they “stand together as neighbors, partners and friends.”

Paris (AFP) – Australia’s AUKUS alliance with the US and UK, which deprives France of a contract to supply submarines to Australia, “does not change France’s Indo-Pacific strategy,” says French President Emmanuel Macron. Macron was left furious by Australia’s decision to ditch a 2016 deal to buy diesel submarines from France in favour of nuclear-powered ones from the United States and Britain.

Shetland (United Kingdom) (AFP) – For hundreds of years, the inhabitants of the northernmost part of Scotland and the United Kingdom have bred small horses — the Shetland pony. The animals, named after the unforgiving northern archipelago in the North Sea, have long drawn attention for their distinctive shape, size and rough hair. But during the coronavirus pandemic they saw their value soar to new highs, prompting hopes of another bumper year as the islands’ annual sale approaches.

Bamako (AFP) – Between pothole-filled roads, swarms of motorcycles driven by minors, and a distinct lack of road signs, learner drivers in Bamako must surmount a range of challenges to obtain their licence. Once a rarety, driving schools are now booming in Mali, catering for the millions of young people — the minimum age for driving is 18 — who crave a licence, often to find work.

London (AFP) – Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta praises his team and the impact of having fans in the stadium after his team struck three times inside 35 minutes to beat Tottenham 3-1 and move above their north London rivals in the Premier League table.

Germany braces for a period of political unpredictability after the Social Democrats Party narrowly wins a general election but faces a rival claim to power from outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative camp.