Category: Europe

Terrorism: France on charm offensive to lure back tourists

With 84 million tourists each year, France is the most visited country in the world. But the numbers have dropped sharply as the country’s tourist industry faces the threat of terrorism. We take a look at what Paris is doing to seduce tourists back to all region of France, from increased security to multi-lingual guides. However, one group of tourists are still flocking to Paris in ever-growing numbers despite security concerns: Indian holidaymakers. […]

Read Full Story: Terrorism: France on charm offensive to lure back tourists – France 24

Marion Cotillard on global reaction to the US election: ‘Fear is winning’ 

Star of second world war thriller calls for artists to defend free speech, while her director Robert Zemeckis says the Trump years will be boon for TV and film industry.

“All the philosophers, thinkers and writers, who question themselves and the world, and who have the freedom of speech and freedom to express themselves, have to do it – for the ones who cannot.” […]

Read More: Marion Cotillard on global reaction to the US election: ‘Fear is winning’ | Film | The Guardian

“Europe can no longer rely on the U.S. for its security”

The Belgian PM Charles Michel advocates a stronger European Union in the area of defence.

 

“It is no longer possible to rely just on the United States for our own security”, he told the VRT’s Sunday morning news show ‘De Zevende Dag’. Michel also called Donald Trump a “strange candidate”.

The upcoming American defence policies are triggering concerns among other NATO members. Will they have to contribute more? Trump repeatedly said that other members should do more than they are doing now. Michel understands the criticism. “In Europe, we haven’t seen enough investements in defence over the past decades. And it’s not just Belgium, in this respect. But the will is there to do more.”

 

Source: “Europe can no longer rely on the U.S. for its security” | News | Expatica Belgium

Paris climate deal is in effect. Now comes the other hard part

Emission cuts that countries have pledged so far aren’t expected to hit the goal of holding Earth’s temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius. This leaves a lot of work for a Morocco conference this week.

The United Nations climate conference that opens here this week is all about finding the right balance between slow and fast.

At least that’s how many climate experts see it. They anticipate the conference will feature both a push for faster global action on emissions and an underlying practical reality: On some fronts, patience will be vital asset in building needed consensus.

READ FULL STORY AT the Source: Paris climate deal is in effect. Now comes the other hard part. – CSMonitor.com

Eiffel Tower lit green in honor of Paris climate change deal

The Eiffel Tower lit up in green to mark the success of the Paris Agreement, Friday Nov.4, 2016 in Paris.

The Paris Agreement on climate change enters into force Friday faster than anyone had anticipated, after a year with remarkable success in international efforts to slash man-made emissions of carbon dioxide and other global warming gases. Inscription reads, “Paris Agreement it’s done”.
(AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Andy Steves’ Tips for Exploring the Best of Europe on a Budget

Travel writer and entrepreneur Andy Steves published his most recent guidebook, “Andy Steves’ Europe: City-Hopping on a Budget,” this summer to help travelers tap into the top hidden gems and budget-friendly stops across 13 popular European cities.As the son of famed travel writer Rick Steves, Andy visited Europe every year growing up. He developed a knack for finding local favorites, and eventually created his own company, Weekend Student Adventures, which plans trips for students studying abroad in Europe.

READ FULL STORY at Source: Andy Steves’ Tips for Exploring the Best of Europe on a Budget | Travel + Leisure