AFP Video

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.

Shanwei (China) (AFP) – High winds and flooding arrive in the city of Shanwei as Super Typhoon Saola sweeps across southern China, threatening to become the strongest storm to hit the region in decades. China’s national weather office had predicted Saola “may become the strongest typhoon to make landfall in the Pearl River Delta since 1949”, referring to a low-lying region that includes Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong province.

Taipei (AFP) – Any unprovoked attack on Taiwan will result in a “resolute reaction” from Washington, US Congressman Rob Wittman says during a visit to Taipei. While the United States officially recognises Beijing over Taipei, it is Taiwan’s key ally, providing weapons and aid to boost its defences against an increasingly aggressive China. Wittman also promises to help resolve the delivery backlog of weapons purchased by Taiwan.