World News

The Mediterranean island of Malta was named #3 on the prestigious New York Times “52 Places to Go in 2016” list in its Sunday Travel Section. A European country situated between Sicily and the North African coast, has three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Valletta, Malta’s capital, was named the European Capital of Culture 2018.

International tourist arrivals in 2016 are expected to hit a record high of 32 million compared with an estimated 29.88 million last year, the Thai tourism and sports minister said. "Actually, 32 million is just a calculation. We do not put that as a target because we are now emphasising only revenue," Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said. Ms Kobkarn said 32 million foreign visitors - a 7% increase over 2015 - likely would generate 1.67 trillion baht in revenue.

Tamworth, the home of country music in Australia will come alive for the annual Toyota Country Music Festival from 15 – 24 January 2016. With over 700 performers and 2,800 shows taking place across 120 different venues, the largest country music festival in the southern hemisphere will feature performances from some of the biggest names in country music including Kasey Chambers, Shannon Noll and Brothers 3.

The Seychelles Tourism Board has confirmed the dates of the 2016 edition of the island's Carnaval International de Victoria, the event set to continue to bring together the different cultures and people from around the world to one place. Dubbed as the ‘carnival of carnivals’, Carnaval International de Victoria, now going in its sixth year will be held from April 22 to 24.

A 4.5-magnitude earthquake caused weak to light shaking in the Dominican Republic on Saturday, according to the United States Geological Survey. The quake, which occurred at around 11:25 AM local time, struck at a depth of 12 kilometres. Its epicentre was about 3 miles north-northwest of Villa Vasquez in the Dominican Republic and about 101 miles north-northeast of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. There were no damage or injuries reported due to the quake.

The 27th December 2015 will mark thirty years since the mysterious death of famed zoologist Dian Fossey who dedicated over thirty years of her life to researching and protecting endangered mountain gorillas in Africa. In support of her achievements and to ensure her values are carried forward to future generations, eco-luxe lodge company Volcanoes Safaris continues to make tracking gorillas accessible to tourists in Rwanda and also organises excursions to visit Fossey's research centre, which is also the site of her grave.

This December, Philadelphia will be expanding its world-class shopping credentials with the opening of the first Bloomingdale's Outlet Store in Philadelphia at Liberty Place, so why not pack an extra suitcase and hop across the pond to the City of Brotherly Love for a pre-Christmas shopping break? Alternatively, visit Macy's to take advantage of the tax-free shopping on all shoes and clothes, and in addition, all international visitors can enjoy a 10% discount off purchases.

Just a hop across the Channel, whether you're looking for some family fun or a relaxing holiday à deux, Normandy will surprise and delight even the most dedicated Francophile. History buffs will discover a rich heritage from William the Conqueror to WWII D-Day sites.  Art lovers will recognise the landscape that inspired the Impressionist movement and with miles of lush countryside and pristine coastline, even the most dedicated of foodies will be impressed.

The largest island in the Canaries is gearing up to host the second Tenerife Walking Festival. Set to run from 29th March – 2nd April 2016, the event will showcase Tenerife's astonishing natural beauty and diverse visitor experiences over four days of incredible hiking, with the aim of establishing itself as one of the leading rambling events in Europe.

The usually still waters of the Negombo lagoon played host to an event quite unlike any other, with thrills, spills, laughter and much fun. Jet Water Sports began its operations at the picturesque Jetwing Lagoon in grand fashion, with the opening of the first water sports center to be situated in a lagoon.

Advanced and novice runners, even walkers, will want to mark their calendars for what is surely one of the most picturesque courses as the 2016 Marathon Bahamas Race Weekend gears up with exciting events. The race courses were designed to showcase many of the focal points of this amazing destination including quaint and scenic downtown Nassau with its historic buildings, the glitz and glamour of Paradise Island, the business districts, a small portion of exciting Cable Beach and the life of the residents hugging the northern shore of the Island.

One of Taiwan's hotly awaited annual festivals is fast approaching. The Sun Moon Lake International Fireworks-Music and Come!Bikeday Festival will be held from 23 October to 22 November 2015. Held annually every October and attracting visitors from all over the globe, the event takes place on the shores of Taiwan's largest freshwater lake and one of the country's 13 national scenic areas, Sun Moon Lake.

2016 will be an important year for pilgrims to Rome and also Santiago de Compostela, as the year has been declared a 'Holy Year of Mercy' by Pope Francis; and special events will be taking place in both cities. Santiago Cathedral officials have also confirmed the Holy Door of the cathedral (Porta Santa) will be open for the Year of Mercy.

Nigerians have been congratulating countryman Wellington Jighere, who has become the first African to win the English-language World Scrabble Championship. The 32-year-old beat Englishman Lewis MacKay 4-0 in the final in Australia. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari was among those to congratulate him, saying he has "done the country proud".

Qatar Airways showcased the best of its ultra-modern fleet, with three of the airline’s latest generation aircraft on display on the opening day of the Dubai Airshow. A senior delegation of Dubai Government officials accompanied His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on the VIP tour of the state-of-the-art A380.