World Travel News: May 2007

Pakistani police have said that at least 13 people have been killed, after unknown gunmen attacked the residence of a senior government official with rocket launchers. more

Harry Potter fans will be able to get over their disappointment at the series of books ending by visiting a new theme park inspired by the JK Rowling novels. more

According to a European Union spokesman, Europe is becoming a dangerously fat continent, with the majority of adults overweight or obese in most EU nations. more

Tony Blair will be made a tribal chief as part of his controversial African tour. more

Environmentalists have discovered herds of wild elephants on an island in southern Sudanese swamps. more

The Venezuelan capital was plunged into turmoil on Monday May 28th, after thousands protested over the cancellation of a TV station. more

The entire contents of the Tuscan village of Tenuta de Castelfaflfi have been bought by a German tour company. more

In a move likely to alarm the international community, the North Korean government has reportedly fired a series of short-range test missiles towards the Sea of Japan. more

Villagers in Constanta county, Romania, will be given goats rather than money in a controversial new benefit scheme. more

A 15-year-old student was shot dead in Toronto on Wednesday, with police still hunting for a suspect. more

The lethal H5N1 strain of avian flu has been discovered on the outskirts of Islamabad, according to Pakistani government officials. more

A ship chartered by the UN food relief agency has been attacked by pirates, off the coast of Somalia. more

South-western China has been swept by riots caused by disputes over family planning restrictions. more

A gun attack in the small town of Moscow, Idaho, has left three people dead and two wounded. more

The Cutty Sark, a landmark of British maritime history, has been heavily damaged by fire, with police treating the incident as suspicious. more

An explosion at a mosque in Hyderabad, India, has killed at least five people, according to local officials. more

An 80-year schism between two Russian churches has ended, with a huge celebratory ceremony in Moscow. Around 142 million people - 70 per cent of Russia's population - are counted as members of the Russian Orthodox Church and ties have now been re-established with their exiled compatriots, the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad. more

For a showcase of staggering feats of strength, or just the chance to see a Michael Bolton look-alike throwing a fridge over a bale of hay, the Basque Strongman Show is unmissable. more

Real ale enthusiasts travelling in the Midlands will love the CAMRA Summer Beer Festival. more

A month-long celebration celebrating the best in Singaporean cuisine, the Singapore Food Festival is an unforgettable annual event. more

Every Wednesday throughout the summer, New York's Union Square comes alive with music, dance and a host of other fun festivities. more

After being held for almost nine years by left-wing rebels, a Colombian policeman has escaped and was found by army vehicles on Wednesday April 16th. more

Held in a Napoleonic fortress on the banks of the River Danube, Exit is one the biggest music festivals in southern Europe and offers a fantastic lineup for a great value price. more

Travellers who can hold their drink will love the Guizhou Famous Liquor and Wine Festival, a celebration of local alcoholic delicacies. more

For the first time in over 50 years, trains from North and South Korea have travelled across the border that divides the two nations. more

Over 45 nations congregate in the tiny Welsh village of Llangollen for a festival of music, dance and community. more

Hungarian culture at its finest is on show in the eastern town of Nyirbator, with the Week of the Winged Dragon celebrations. more

Movie buffs eager to see the best in independent film-making will love the Stony Brook Film Festival, held at the Staller Center for the Arts at the State University of New York on Long Island. more

Garlic-lovers across the globe flock to the San Francisco Bay Area annually, for the Gilroy Garlic Festival, held in the self-proclaimed garlic capital of the USA. more

The famous Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen has been defaced for the second time in three months. more

Since 1997, the Hermanus Wine & Food Fair has celebrated the very best in South African produce, with 50 wineries presenting their wares and speciality food stalls galore to tempt your palate. more

An off-duty police officer was stabbed after intervening when three gunmen hijacked a bus in northern Italy. more

Join around 30,000 Shakespeare fans at UCSC this July for one of America's premier summer theatre festivals. more

The beautifully restored medieval town of Tuebingen in south-west Germany hosts a fortnight of European culture, with its annual summer festival. more

Romantic classicists travelling in Tunisia should schedule a visit to the El Jem International Symphonic Festival, held in the best-preserved Roman coliseum in the world. more

The huge Yangtze River in China is dangerously close to collapse, local sources say. more

Celebrate liberty and freedom with the annual Bastille Day festivities, commemorating the peasant uprising that sparked the French Revolution. more

At least 24 people have been killed by a bomb in the north-west of Pakistan, according to local authorities. more

Wannabe cowboys will love the annual Days of '76 event, with the Wild West town of Deadwood, South Dakota hosting one of the best rodeo events in the US. more

An annual festival celebrating the divinity of cobras, Nag Panchami is celebrated by Hindus across India. more

At least ten people have died in an explosion and fire in the Russian city of Orsk, near the border with Kazakhstan. more

Riots sparked by the suspension of a top judge have led to 41 deaths and a shut down of businesses and transport in Karachi. more

Fans of Celtic traditions in Stirling this summer can enjoy a relatively new edition of the traditional Highland Games events. more

Extreme sports fans travelling in sunny Somerset should stop by the National Adventure Sports Show (NASS), a one-of-a-kind event of thrilling sporting action and superb live music. more

A Chinese botanical garden stands accused of some ingenious forgery, with park visitors claiming that they have painted black stripes on a white horse and passed it off as a zebra. more

Music-lovers in Portugal this summer should stop by the beer-drenched Super Bock Super Rock festival. more

Old Delhi was the scene of patriotic celebrations on Friday, as over 30,000 marchers paid tribute to the 150th anniversary of an Indian uprising. more

With a 15,000-seat arena and a host of superb artists set to perform, the Rockwave Festival is renowned as the biggest and best music event in Greece. more

Connoisseurs of American literature can celebrate one of its most renowned exponents in Florida this July. Paying tribute to the life and times of Ernest Hemingway, the Hemingway Days Festival features several 'Papa'-themed events and unsurprisingly, a fair amount of drinking. more

For travellers in Malaysia with a fascination for the supernatural, the Hungry Ghost Festival is a must. more