World Travel News: August 2007

A crowd of thousands has gathered in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, to celebrate 50 years of nationhood. more

Many Brits looking for budget travel on their gap year scrimp and save in dangerous areas, according to a gap year travel expert. more

Devout faith and an association with God's representative on Earth isn't enough to convince airport officials that you're not a security threat, it would seem. more

At least 50 people were injured in violent clashes in the Chilean capital, Santiago, yesterday, (Wednesday August 29th), as demonstrators demanded more state benefits. more

South African miners have claimed to have discovered the biggest diamond in the world. more

India's most famous landmark, the Taj Mahal, has been closed to tourists following violence in Agra. more

A curfew imposed in Bangladesh last Wednesday has been lifted, according to the military-backed interim government. more

Backpackers considering a visit to Sierra Leone would be advised to avoid the African country, new reports suggest. more

In good news for backpackers planning to coincide a trip to China with a visit to the 2008 Olympic Games, environmental officials have managed to improve Beijing's air pollution problems. more

Thin-skinned female travellers on their way to Kenya might want to steer clear of the village of Nachu, it has emerged. more

Bangladeshi officials have imposed a curfew in the capital, Dhaka, to halt violence between students and police. more

Nawaz Sharif, the exiled former Prime Minister of Pakistan, has been permitted to return to the country, following a Supreme Court ruling. more

The African outbreak of the Marburg disease could be related to the fruit bat, according to US and Gabonese scientists. more

Backpackers enjoying gap year travel in Croatia will soon be able to have an especially smashing time at a coming tourist attraction. more

A gun once owned by Elvis Presley has been stolen from a Memphis museum as fans commemorated the 30th anniversary of the legendary singers' death. more

In a move sure to strike confusion in the minds of scores of backpackers, Ethiopia is gearing up for a huge concert to celebrate the advent of the millennium. more

In a bid to tackle spiraling crime in Brazil's major cities, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has announced a £1.5 billion policy change. more

Thousands of tourists are seeking refuge in Jamaica, following the arrival of Hurricane Dean. more

Chinese officials are seeking to restore international faith in the country's produce, after the recent recall of millions of toys by Mattel Inc. more

Officials from the World Health Organisation (WHO) have warned that Beijing's heavy air pollution could cause serious health problems for spectators at the 2008 Olympic Games. more

Backpackers in Japan should prepare for some sweaty conditions, as the country experienced its hottest ever day. more

At least 337 people have been killed by a powerful earthquake on the Peruvian coast. more

The US Department of State has issued a travel warning, stressing the security problems that continue to plague Burundi. more

Chubby residents of the picturesque Alpine town of Varallo Sesia, Italy, have been offered a cash incentive to cut their waistlines. more

A landslide caused by a cloudburst has killed at least 60 people in the Indian Himalayas, Reuters reports. more

New restrictions have left the Australian city of Brisbane desperately short of water, travellers are warned. more

A bus full of tourists was targeted by a would-be suicide bomber in Meknes, Morocco, according to local police. more

Security personnel at Cairo airport thwarted a would-be smuggler yesterday (Sunday August 12th). more

A 29-year-old woman has become the first victim of the bird flu virus in Bali. more

More than 30 amateur golfers came to get a piece of Tenerife's golfing action earlier this summer and next year's event is expected to be even bigger. more

A giant statue of Hadrian has been discovered in an archaeological dig in the south-central region of Turkey. more

Russia is more than just a fleeting tourist destination it seems as the property market is booming, according to international property analyst Frank Knight. more

Taking a traditional holiday on the British seaside is a rip-off, according to a new survey out this week. more

Passengers on a flight from Lima, Peru to LaGuardia airport in New York got more than juts the complimentary nuts they had bargained for after they witnessed a small monkey stowaway under another passenger's hat. more

The top two universities in China are being overrun by tourists this summer, reports say. more

A novel way of spreading knowledge and literacy is being utilised by a university in Venezuela. more

The number of foreign visitors travelling to Nepal has risen for the eight month consecutively, tourism figures show this week. more

The Canadian people have been voted the friendliest in the world, beating the Australians and Spanish in a new poll. more

In news sure to strike fear into local cleaners, the largest hand-woven carpet in the world has been put on display in Iran. more

Drinking in all public places has been banned in the Australian town of Alice Springs, after rising crime and violence. more