Dadía (Greece) (AFP) – Firefighters continue to battle devastating wildfires in Greece’s Dadia National Park, which have been burning for two weeks. The European Commission has said the blaze is the continent’s largest wildfire on record. This week, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told parliament that the wildfires burning across the country were expected to consume more that 150,000 hectares of land.
Ulaanbaatar (AFP) – With a tiny Catholic population of just 1,400, Mongolia has welcomed Pope Francis as the 86-year-old pays the first papal visit to the isolated Central Asian country. “We waited for this moment for many years” says one of those gathered in the capital, Ulaanbaatar. While hugely significant to members of one of the Catholic church’s youngest communities, the Pope’s visit is also aimed at fostering a connection between the Vatican and Mongolia’s neighbours China and Russia.
Lyon (AFP) – “We’re here to win a tournament” says All Blacks coach Ian Foster as his team arrive in Lyon for the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The three-time champions play their first game against hosts France on Friday September 8, with Foster saying the “All Blacks French game has always been a special one.”
Hong Kong (AFP) – Fallen trees and snapped branches litter the streets of Hong Kong after Typhoon Saola — the region’s strongest storm in decades — swept across southern China. Tens of millions of people in densely populated centres sheltered indoors on Friday after Saola triggered Hong Kong’s highest threat level, which has only been issued 16 times since World War II. “Yesterday it was a bit scary” says Angelie, “because the wind was so strong.”
Tokyo (AFP) – Shoppers in Tokyo are buying seafood products from Fukushima to support the region, which has found itself at the centre of an international row over the release of treated water from its nuclear power plant. In August, Japan started discharging the water into the Pacific Ocean, a move that sparked international outrage and caused a number of neighbouring countries to ban the import of Japanese products. Among the countries imposing bans is China, previously Japan’s biggest market for fish.
Pismo Beach (United States) (AFP) – Standing at the front of the board, a small black goat glides effortlessly on the waves, helping first-time surfers at California’s Pismo Beach. “It kind of does bring a little bit of like, if the goat can do it, I can do it too” says Elizabeth French, one of Chapacabrah’s pupils. The one-year-old goat is own of a team owned by Dana McGregor, known locally as the “Goatfather”, who has been using the species as assistant surf coaches for a decade. “They’re pretty amazing out there” he explains.
Sweida (Syria) (AFP) – Hundreds of Syrians chant “The people want to topple the regime”, as they rally in the southern city of Sweida to protest against President Bashar al-Assad’s government, in a wave of intensifying demonstrations spurred by economic hardship. The protests in Sweida erupted after President Bashar al-Assad’s government ended fuel subsidies in August, dealing a heavy blow to Syrians reeling from war and a crippling economic crisis. According to the United Nations, most of the Syrian population has been pushed into poverty.
Quito (AFP) – Ecuador’s capital Quito has been rocked by attacks with grenades and two car bombs, followed hours later by inmates in six prisons taking hostage 57 prison guards and police officers, officials said. The wave of attacks was an apparent show of force by organized crime gangs that claimed no victims, while the uprising in the prisons was believed to be a riposte to a police sweep of jails to confiscate weapons the day before. Such waves of violence are unusual in Quito and are a part of the country’s descent into violence amidst growing drug-trafficking activity.
Images released by Spanish and Serbian police, along with Europol, show officers cataloging packets of cocaine after seizing nearly three tonnes of the drug from a yacht near the Canary Islands.
The Mexican town of Pijijiapan, in the southern state of Chiapas, has set a Guinness World Record for making the largest string cheese ball. Weighing 558kg, the ball surpassed the 350kg required to set the record. The ball of “quesillo” cheese, also known as “Oaxaca cheese,” was created by 80 workers using approximately 6,000 liters of milk.
Madrid (AFP) – ‘As always, we have to respect every team because, above all in the Champions League, each match can be a trap,’ says Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti. The 14-time champions of Europe have drawn Napoli, Union Berlin and Sporting Braga in the group stage of the Champions League.
Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – A vintage blue Armstrong car would be eye-catching anywhere in the world, but it is especially so on the streets of impoverished Gaza City. Munir al-Shandi, 42, is among a handful of vintage car enthusiasts in the Gaza Strip, defying a punishing Israeli siege imposed on the Palestinian coastal enclave to pursue a passionate hobby.
