Norway is the latest country to gain visa-free access to China.
11.09.2024 - 22:55 / nytimes.com
Four climbers were found dead on Tuesday on Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps, the French authorities in the region said. The climbers, who were from Italy and South Korea, had been missing since Saturday.
Boris Duffau, a public prosecutor in Bonneville, France, said in an email that police officers discovered the bodies of two South Korean climbers, ages 45 and 53, after rescue officers traveled to the mountain by helicopter on Tuesday afternoon. The two Italians, ages 40 and 53, were found about an hour later, he said.
The security and rescue service that responds to emergencies on Mont Blanc, the Chamonix P.G.H.M., had received an alert around 5 p.m. on Saturday about people in need of help on the Three Mounts route of Mont Blanc, which is on the French side of the Alps that borders Italy, but a rescue helicopter could not immediately land there because of the bad weather, Mr. Duffau said.
The next day, two officers onboard a helicopter were able to rescue two stranded Korean climbers, Mr. Duffau said, but search-and-rescue teams could not continue their work because of worsening weather, which also prevented any rescues from taking place on Monday.
The prefecture of Haute-Savoie said that the climbers had “died of exhaustion,” and that they had done the climb without guides, Agence France-Presse reported.
La Repubblica, a newspaper in Rome, and other news organizations in Italy identified the Italian climbers who died as Andrea Galimberti and Sara Stefanelli. Mr. Galimberti was an experienced mountaineer who had climbed the Alps many times, and Ms. Stefanelli had recently completed a mountaineering course, Corriere della Sera, a newspaper in Milan, reported.
The two Korean climbers had traveled to the Alps with a mountaineering club and were found about 100 meters from the mountain’s summit, Yonhap News Agency reported in Seoul.
Mont Blanc, like other renowned mountains, has in recent years dealt with overcrowding and climate change, leading to more unpredictable and possibly perilous conditions for climbers. This year, there have been at least five other deaths on Mont Blanc, most of them from falls.
Human-caused climate change has reshaped the Alps and created hazards for climbers. It has affected snow patterns across the Northern Hemisphere, with warmer temperatures causing snow to melt faster in some areas, bringing a decline in snowpack. In the Alps, the warmer temperatures have melted permafrost, the frozen ground that can act as a glue in the mountains. The decrease in permafrost can create instability in the terrain and cause rockfalls.
After the four deaths were announced on Tuesday, the mayor of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, Eric Fournier, told France Info, a public radio station, that
Norway is the latest country to gain visa-free access to China.
When deciding to vacation on the Amalfi Coast, many travelers hope to experience the area like a local.
In early August, British Airways announced that it would soon stop flying to Beijing – Shanghai is now the only city it flies to in China.
My first visual encounter with Dominica was through the paintings of the Italian-born artist Agostino Brunias, who made a career portraying the island in tame, stylized vignettes that glossed over the grim realities of colonial rule. But within minutes of my arrival there, from the first twist of its serpentine roads, it becomes clear there is nothing tame about this land that sits in the middle of the curve of the Lesser Antilles. It bristles with volcanic energy and glitters with the two-toned leaves of its bois canot trees, flipping from green to white as they waver in the wind. It lulls with the uneven music of its many waterfalls; it throws random rainbows across its astonishing horizons; it bewitches from the depths with its technicolor coral reefs. And when hurricane season comes, it roars.
When booking a cruise to Greece, most travelers picture themselves walking along serene alleyways between white-washed buildings, having freshly caught meals at seaside tavernas, or sunbathing on a tranquil beach.
France has introduced new rules regarding luggage on trains with fines for travellers who don’t comply.
Sep 9, 2024 • 5 min read
Sad to see the end of summer? September is still a great time for a train adventure thanks to extended deals from French national rail operator SNCF.
In an interview with the TF1 French television channel on Friday evening, the newly appointed Prime Minister Michel Barnier revealed little about his intentions as head of the future French government, which is currently being formed.
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary accused his counterpart at eDreams Odigeo of misleading his shareholders when he stated that high courts in Europe have already decided that eDreams Odigeo brands have the right to access the airline’s flights, and that the matter is closed.
As the summer travel season winds down, travelers can take advantage of fall travel deals as a jumpstart for their next vacation. Norse Atlantic Airways, a discount European airline, recently revealed dozens of flight deals on flights from the United States to Europe throughout the rest of 2024 and early 2025 as part of a September Sale. The sale extends to several top tourist destinations in Europe including Athens, Berlin, London, and Rome, all for less than $200 one-way. Travelers can purchase the fare sale tickets between today and September 12, however the tickets are sold in limited quantities, which means the sale could end sooner. Best of all, the discounts are available in Norse’s Economy Light cabin, which, as of September 2, will also include a standard carry-on bag. The cabin class previously had a fee for carry-on bags, or required the purchase of a higher class of fare. In addition to Economy Light, Norse offers Economy Classic which includes a meal service and standard checked bag, and Economy Flextra which includes priority boarding and is a refundable fare. Travel + Leisure spotted dozens of one-way flight deals available including:
Want to get away to Europe? Travelers can score one-way flights for as little as 15,000 airline miles with this little-known frequent flier program.