World News

Michigan is home to a number of unique and record-breaking attractions you won't find anywhere else. From the world's largest giant cherry pie pan to the world's largest Christmas store - you name it, the Great Lakes state has got it! Below are just some of the world's largest attractions that you'll find in Michigan.

World's Largest Haunted House - Erebus Haunted Attraction: Pontiac

Erebus, located in Pontiac, is a four story haunted house that was entered into the Guinness Book of World Records as the World's Largest Walk-Through Haunted Attraction in 2005. Erebus leads it's victims through four stories of unique and terrifying paths with fear so intense some call it PAIN!

World's Largest Christmas Store - Bronner's Christmas Wonderland: Frankenmuth The world's largest Christmas store with over 90,000 square feet of newly expanded shopper's dream! Bronner's is bigger than one and a half football pitches in size featuring over 50,000 decorations, gifts, and

World's Largest Cherry Pie Pan: Traverse City Near Traverse City, the cherry capital of the USA, at the Sara Lee Bakery Group, stands the World's Largest Cherry Pie Pan. The pan was made to hold the World's Largest Cherry Pie at the time (from 1987-1992). The huge pie weighed 28,350 pounds and was 17 feet, 6 inches in diameter.

World's Largest Weather Vane: Montague

This functioning weathervane is 48 feet tall with an arrow 26 feet long. The towering figure of the White Lake lumber schooner “Ella Ellenwood” which sails atop the World's Largest Weathervane was chosen because it best typifies the colourful but rugged history of the area.

Separate pirate fact from fiction with special tours at Pirate's Quest this May Half Term, 27 May – 4 June, and help the crew track down their ship so they can return to the Caribbean.

Visitors will be transported back almost 300 years, where they'll begin their adventure on board a Pirate Hunter's Ship called the 'Royal Anne' – a vessel that left England in 1721 with the intention of sailing to the Caribbean, but wrecked off the South Coast of Cornwall.

A real LIVE pirate from the infamous 'Republic of Pirates' will rescue visitors from the sinking Royal Anne, escorting them through a secret passageway, and then acting as a guide through several detailed sets and scenes – a chance to explore the mystical caves and murky streets of eighteenth century Cornwall, and discover the truth about REAL Pirates.

After arriving at Towan Blystra Docks, visitors will be invited into the local tavern, a safe haven for pirates, before deciding whether they're brave enough to enter the optional scare section, The Locker of Davy Jones. Eventually you'll arrive at the Captain's Ship, ready to return to the safety of the Caribbean waters.

The authentic pirates are brought to life by talented theatrical actors, who are guaranteed to make this a unique and memorable experience – a rare opportunity for all ages to learn something new about piracy, and experience the life of a seafarer during the 'Golden Age of Pirates'. Discover the REAL Pirates of the Caribbean.

Junior buccaneers can even complete a treasure map to earn themselves some treasure!

Some of the world’s leading environmental experts will meet at a Commonwealth conference this week to see how they can take forward an innovative strategy to reverse the human impact of climate change. They are hoping their new approach will influence the debate among world leaders when they meet at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP23, chaired by Fiji in Bonn, Germany this November.

The Commonwealth’s Regenerative Development to Reverse Climate Change Conference, organised in collaboration with the Cloudburst Foundation, is the second meeting of experts, who believe that climate change does not have to be all doom and gloom, and there is potential to reverse its effects.

Last October, at Marlborough House, London, more than 60 scientists, ecologists, activists, academics and funders explored cutting-edge approaches to reducing carbon emissions and addressing global warming, while boosting development and economic growth.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland will present their findings at the Commonwealth Secretariat’s London headquarters on May 18, 2017. This includes submissions from Project Drawdown - a comprehensive plan with the potential to reverse global warming.

She said, "A pronounced increase in violent storms, floods, drought, desertification and devastating sea level rises – extreme events such as these are the realities that many people across the Commonwealth wake up to every day. This is why, from the moment I took office I have been working hard to address climate change.

“It is truly a historic moment for the Commonwealth as the first intergovernmental organisation to take on the bold challenge of flipping the narrative on climate change. What we are saying is that climate change is not only our biggest challenge, it is also our biggest opportunity.”

The Secretary-General continued, “Funders, as well as leading experts in a range of areas relating to climate change, came to our headquarters last year to give us a verdict on the feasibility of making reversal rather than mitigation our goal.

“We looked at existing working examples of the regenerative development approach, which mean actions to heal the damage we have caused to the earth and working with nature instead of against nature. For example, tapping into the power of volcanic hot springs for our electricity, geothermal power plants, regenerating coastal wetlands and constructing buildings that mimic trees in the way they dispose of carbon.

“The unanimous agreement was that, if we have the political will and work together, we can drastically reduce carbon emissions and reverse the human impact of climate change while accelerating economic growth and boosting development.”

Keynote speakers at the conference include global advocate on climate change action and former president of Kiribati, Anote Tong; former UN Secretary General’s special envoy on climate change and former president of Ireland, Mary Robinson; New York bestselling climate change author Paul Hawken; scientist Janine Benyus; design, art, science, and technology specialist David McConville; and authority on regenerative development Ben Haggard.

Secretary-General Scotland said the aim now is to find a strong business model for this “revolutionary approach” which can be tailored to the needs of Commonwealth member countries. The initiative will complement the Commonwealth’s Climate Finance Access Hub, which opened its doors last September and is helping countries to access millions of pledged funds for climate action.

The Eden Project will be taken over by a wonderful world of games over May half-term (May 27 to June 4).

Game On is a celebration of games for all ages and will be showcasing a huge variety of pastimes, including traditional playground games, classic board games and videogames ranging from old-school arcade classics to cutting-edge virtual reality experiences.

The event will be literally bigger than ever, with giant versions of old favourites the order of the day. Giant Guess Who? and Kerplunk will be joined by Massive Battleships, a super-sized team version of the naval guessing game.

Visitors will also be able to experience retro 8-bit classics on an enormous two-person controller modelled on the iconic Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) design and work together as a team to solve an enormous marble labyrinth.

The Cardboard Arcade will encourage social play and introduce retro classics to a new audience. They will also be giving visitors the opportunity to try a virtual reality experience of “walking the plank”.

The people behind Cardboard Arcade put free-to-play multi-player arcade machines in public places all around the UK, to encourage new friendships through gaming and to inspire people of all ages to see computer games as a creative and artistic medium.

Further virtual reality experiences will be available with a cutting-edge HTC Vive headset available for visitors to try with a range of software.

Polly Randle from the Eden Project's Live team said: “Game On will be showcasing a world of play at Eden this half-term, with games of all kinds for people of all ages. We're very excited to see how our visitors get together and try out new games, be it traditional board games or mind-blowing virtual reality experiences.”

Renault have provided a starting grid full of children's' go-karts and younger visitors can also try their hand at designing or recreating some of their favourite videogame characters with magnetic pixel art boards.

Activities from all over the world will be available to play including Karrom, a table game of eastern Asian origin similar to billiards, and Mancala, a group of two-player strategy pursuits with localised versions around the world played with small stones, beans or seeds. A selection of classic board games and the iconic table-football title Subbuteo will also be available to play.

An outdoor game zone will be set up each day so visitors can try their hand at traditional playground games.

As excitement builds towards the start of the ICC Champions Trophy on June 1, Birmingham’s Edgbaston Stadium and the National Asian Cricket Council (NACC) have announced a special cricket match between the fans of India and Pakistan.

With Edgbaston hosting the Group B fixture between India and Pakistan, as one of five ICC Champions Trophy matches, the supporters of both teams will contest the Edgbaston Fans Trophy in a T20 match on Monday May 15 at the nearby Attock Cricket Club.

What’s more the Edgbaston Fans Trophy is one of the designated stops on the Nissan Trophy Tour, giving all spectators in attendance a chance to have their photo taken with two of the most coveted trophies in world cricket, the ICC Champions Trophy and ICC Women’s World Cup.

Gareth Roberts, Commercial Director at Warwickshire County Cricket Club, said: “Edgbaston is proud to be an ICC Champions Trophy host venue for the third time and stage, what are arguably, the biggest games of the group stages.

There’s a huge amount of excitement building in the local community about our five matches, especially India versus Pakistan, which will be played here at Edgbaston; India won in the last meeting here in 2013 whilst Pakistan took the spoils in 2004.

The 2017 ICC Champions Trophy meeting between the two nations will be one of the biggest sporting events of the year and the Edgbaston Fans Trophy will be a celebration of this upcoming fixture, uniting supporters through the true spirit of the cricket.”

India v Pakistan, on June 4, is one of one of five marquee fixtures in the ICC Champions Trophy to be hosted at Edgbaston, with Australia v New Zealand (June 2), Pakistan v South Africa (June 7), England v Australia (June 10) and a semi-final also taking place in Birmingham.

Gulfraz Riaz, Chair of the NACC, said: “The NACC is delighted to see that this year’s Edgbaston Fans Trophy is being played between two of the most passionate groups of cricket fans in the world.

Just like last year’s game, the day promises to be a great occasion, celebrating the ICC Champions Trophy and ultimately having a fun packed day where cricket is the winner.

Cricket embraces and promotes all that is great about integrating different communities, on and off the pitch, and I look forward to a well spirited match and urge fans from all communities to come and support what promises to be a great event.”

This year’s match between India and Pakistan Fans will be the second Edgbaston Fans Trophy contest to take place at Attock CC, following a match in 2016 between Pakistan Fans and a Barmy Army team representing England fans.

Attock CC Chair, Naz Khan, said: "We are honoured once again to host the Edgbaston Fans Trophy at Attock Cricket Club. With a great summer of cricket ahead, this match will be the start of an exciting festival of cricket that we are all looking forward to.

A former fuelling vessel that was one of just a handful of ships that survived the attack on Pearl Harbour in 1941 has become a new artificial reef, world-class dive site and marine habitat in the British Virgin Islands. Set to boost dive tourism and raise awareness of ocean conservation, there is no better way to experience this new site than off the back of The Moorings crewed dive yacht, Poseidon's Pearl which comes complete with captain, chef and host.

Kodiak Queen, which was earmarked for the scrap heap, has just been saved, cleaned and sunk off Virgin Gorda in the BVI as part of a permanent eco-friendly underwater art installation. The 'BVI Art Reef' the project is being led by Sir Richard Branson and a group of leading entrepreneurs, engineers, artists and scientists all working together to give the ship an honourable and rejuvenating next chapter in her long career at sea.

Before it was sunk, an 80ft giant sea monster was created by artists out of mesh and fixed to the top of the ship so it can provide a structure underwater to help with coral restoration and create an invaluable marine habitat. It is hoped that everything from turtles, sharks, sea sponges and corals will live on, in and around the wreck. In time the project aims to raise awareness of the important environmental issues facing our oceans and capture people's attention on the importance of addressing climate change, protecting coral reefs, and rehabilitating vulnerable marine species.

One of the best ways to dive this exciting new site and learn more about the BVI Art Reef project is on an 'Ultimate Dive BVI' crewed package with The Moorings. It offers the chance to combine a week on a crewed yacht complete with private captain, chef and host with the opportunity to explore some of the BVI's most beautiful dive sites, including this brand new wreck. Guests will be able to sail right up to the dive site and dive directly off the back of the catamaran so there is no need to rendezvous with a dive boat. All equipment is on board – guests simply drop anchor and dive in, accompanied by the PADI certified dive instructor – the yacht's captain!

A former foreign minister from Ghana, Hanna Tetteh, will lead a team of Commonwealth election observers to The Bahamas for the country’s general election later this month.

This is the first time the Commonwealth will observe elections to The Bahaman parliament. The general election is scheduled for 10 May 2017.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland announced the make up of the observer group after receiving an invitation from the Government of The Bahamas.

“I’m delighted that former foreign minister, Hanna Tetteh, has accepted my invitation to lead the Commonwealth Observer Group. Her experience will be a real asset in this important assignment,” said Secretary-General Scotland. “In offering their assessment on the conduct of the election and the overall credibility of the process, the Group will be contributing to enhancing democracy in The Bahamas.”

The observers will consider all aspects of the electoral process and assess whether the election has been conducted according to the standards for democratic elections to which the Commonwealth of The Bahamas has committed itself.

The Group will be in The Bahamas between 4 and 13 May 2017 inclusive. The last general election was held in May 2012.

Turneffe Flats has long been recognized as one of Belize’s premier saltwater fly fishing, SCUBA diving and marine eco-tourism destinations. Located on the incredibly beautiful Turneffe Atoll, Turneffe Flats provides visitors access to the most biologically diverse atoll in the Caribbean.

Green Globe first certified Turneffe Flats for its sustainable operations in 2013 and again this year the eco-tourism resort has proven its environmental credentials with a notable compliance score of 89%.

Turneffe Atoll – home to this remarkable eco-tourism resort – provides pristine habitat for 260 fish species, 77 plant species and 5 spawning aggregation sites. The marine eco-system is a combination of healthy coral reef, both fringing reef and patch corals, expansive backreef flats, large lagoon systems, seagrass beds, and extensive mangrove forest. Turneffe Atoll is of significant economic and sociological importance to Belize as a major commercial fishery and ecotourism center, while also providing Belize City and the mainland coast with essential protection from hurricanes.

For the past three decades, Turneffe Flats has actively supported the sustainable environmental, economic and social use of Turneffe Atoll through a variety of efforts. The eco-tourism resort has worked to be a model off-the-grid green enterprise and has developed many innovative ways to combine top-notch service with minimal environmental effects.

Approximately 17 years ago, Turneffe Flats wanted to make a more formal commitment to conservation efforts so became a charter member of 1% For The Planet. Wanting to concentrate conservation efforts locally, the resort then formed an NGO named Turneffe Atoll Trust to focus efforts on the surrounding reef environment.

Since then the Turneffe Atoll Trust has worked with government in Belize to deliver legislation instituting landmark protection for important game fish – bonefish, permit and tarpon. Belize’s “Catch and Release Law”, as it is known, has now been emulated in several countries.

In 2012, the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve was established offering a new level of environmental protection for Turneffe. Turneffe Atoll Trust drove this process, which included more than 10,000 hours of consultation with stakeholders – mostly commercial fishermen. The consultative process, and the Management Plan for the new reserve, were together funded by Turneffe Atoll Trust and substantial donations from Turneffe Flats.

Pike Place Market, for many the heart and soul of Seattle, opens a £57 million extension of three quarters of an acre on 29 June this year. Extending this world famous farmers market will broaden the attraction of Seattle's beautiful seafront to visitors and sightseers.

Pike Place Market opened in August 1907 and is one of the oldest continuously operated public farmers markets in the United States with more than 10 million visitors annually. The construction started in June 2015 and when it opens, visitors will enjoy:

• 30,000 square foot open public space encompassing a new extended modern market and viewing deck overlooking Elliott Bay
• 47 new day stalls
• 12,000 square feet of commercial and retail space for artisan purveyors
• Multiple public art installations
• Over 300 covered parking spaces, plus 33 bicycle spaces.

Flying fish you say? Correct! - only in Seattle.  Join the local fishmongers who celebrate a sale by tossing a fish through the air to one another.

UBL, Pakistan’s Best Bank 2016, inaugurated its state-of-the-art Contact Center in Islamabad recently.

Located in G6, Islamabad, this contact center is UBL’s third and offers multiple banking service options to the customers of the Bank. With a capacity of 130 seats, the center offers Inbound, Telesales, Callback Mailroom and Social Media Services.

Mr. Wajahat Husain, President and CEO UBL inaugurated the Contact Center. He was accompanied by Ms. Sima Kamil, Deputy CEO UBL and other senior executives of the Bank. The visiting group was given a detailed overview on the Contact Center’s services and how it has now emerged as one of the leading Banking contact centers in Pakistan. Later, the group was given an extensive tour of the center where they observed the contact center team’s operations.

There is much excitement and exuberance in the Indian tourism industry and among official stakeholder circles, as the 2022 Lions Clubs International convention will be held in India for the first time in the over 100-year history of the club.

A record number of 35,000 delegates are expected from 120 countries to come to Delhi for the four-day event. Dr Naresh Aggarwal, who will take over as President of Lions Clubs International in July of this year said in Delhi, India, on April 20 that after the event, he expects the Indian share of world tourism to rise to 3 percent, from the present under one percent.

Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma said that the Lions meeting will be a good opportunity to showcase India to the world. Also, 2022 is important as it will be the 75th year of independence for India.

The usual parade on the occasion will be held in the evening in Delhi, as July is a hot month; generally, it is held in the mornings.

The club, which is very active in India, has pledged to scan the eyes of five crore children for eyesight problems.

Lions leadership has sought help from the government to ease visa rules for the convention.

India won the bid to host the Lions meeting against stiff competition from several other countries.

Over 6,000 rooms have already been booked in five-star hotels in Delhi, and more accommodation will be lined up in due course.

Top hotel managers and agents were present during the media meeting.

Throughout the day next Saturday dozens of boats from across Florida and the Southeast will assemble in Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park to test their mettle as part of Tampa Bay International Dragon Boat Races.

Organizers Pan American Dragon Boat Association, in partnership with The Junior League of Tampa, expect 8,000 spectators to watch more than 50 local, national and international teams race. Each boat holds 20 paddlers backed up by a drummer to keep them on time, as they dig hard with each stroke in a sprint toward the finish.

Grab a waterfront seat in the park, observation deck or along the Tampa Riverwalk to catch the action and cheer for your favorite team.

The following weekend, thousands more will gather for the Tampa Riverfest, Tampa's annual Riverwalk celebration. This year's family-friendly event, presented by Friends of the Riverwalk and the City of Tampa, will introduce a Hot Dog Festival on Saturday. Thanks to a new partnership with Nathan's Hot Dogs, the hot dog eating contest will send Tampa winners to The Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island, New York.

“These two major events confirm why visitors have lately come to expect year-round excitement in Tampa Bay” said Santiago Corrada, President & CEO of Visit Tampa Bay. “Week after week our partners and locals show their love for Tampa by organizing high-quality events that have transformed our city into one of the hottest destinations in the country.  Our new Riverwalk is the latest star of our dynamic evolution.”

The Junior League of Tampa President Nicole Hubbard added: “More than ever, the Tampa Bay community has been working towards improved health and wellness with our children and our environment. This event draws spectators to the Tampa Riverwalk and allows the community to enjoy one of its greatest assets-the waterfront,“ Hubbard said.