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Heat Waves are Getting More Dangerous in Europe for Tourists
Mary Beth Walsh believed she was used to hot weather as she grew up in Texas. Heat waves are common in her hometown of Dallas, which is now experiencing intense heat waves.
However, the 21-year-old was taken aback by the “unbearable” 98 Fahrenheit (37 Celsius) heat waves she experienced when she traveled to Athens with her companions in mid-June. She told CNN, “It was pretty surprising because I had no idea about the heat waves that were going on until we were there.”
“I always joke around that in August (in the US), I bring my sweatshirt to class because I have such a high heat tolerance,” she said. However, she was living in an apartment without air conditioning, and it was too hot during the day to explore the city. “We didn’t have as much energy as we had anticipated,” she said.
Walking in the intense heat waves felt pretty awful.” Many visitors are aware that Europe will soon experience scorching summers due to the climate problem. According to analysts, record heat waves and wildfires in 2023 caused a decline in interest in travel to the hotter Mediterranean countries, while interest in more moderate places increased.
This trend northward might be exacerbated by recent heat-related fatalities and disappearances in Greece, such as the British TV personality Michael Mosley’s. These events have an impact on travel plans.
Southern European nations, many of which depend on tourism to support their economies, are beginning to face more challenges regarding the travel industry’s and travelers’ ability to adjust to the increasing effects of climate change.
Night Shift
The recent high temperatures have pushed the climate catastrophe to the forefront for several European visitors. “The climate disaster that we had feared would occur in 10 or 15 years has already occurred in certain regions. That’s the terrifying bit,” Roo Clark, 28, of Suffolk, eastern England, told CNN while visiting with his girlfriend on the Greek island of Skyros.
“Five years ago, me and my friends wouldn’t have even spoken about it (climate change), whereas now it’s more of a conversation.” Authorities in Greece have frequently advised visitors not to underestimate the severe heat waves, particularly during the middle of the day. Hiking in hot temperatures has been a common thread connecting recent tragedies nationwide.
According to CNN meteorologists, temperatures in Greece are expected to range from 90 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit (low to mid-30s Celsius) during the next several weeks, a few degrees above the summer norm. However, rain is predicted for one or two days, which will bring temperatures down.
The owner of Greece’s biggest outdoor-focused travel business, Stefanos Sidiropoulos, advised travelers not to dive right into activities. It’s more challenging for those traveling from Canada or northern Europe, which have colder climates. They need time to get used to these circumstances,” he said to CNN.
Trekking Hellas, Sidiropoulos’ vacation firm, now offers some activities during lower temperatures, including dawn and dusk. “Or with torches at night,” he continues.
Infatuated with travel
Certain nations that rely on tourism-related revenue would suffer greatly from climate change’s impact on where visitors choose to holiday. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, Greece’s tourism industry makes up around 20% of the nation’s total GDP, or over 38 billion euros ($41 billion).
In Italy, where the highest degree of warning, level three heat warnings, has just been issued for the cities of Rome, Perugia, and Palermo, according to current data, 10% of the nation’s GDP is attributed to tourism, with one in every eight jobs related to the sector.
Following Europe’s 2023 summer heat wave, which forced thousands to flee wildfires on the Greek island of Rhodes, the European Travel Commission (ETC), a nonprofit organization in charge of promoting Europe as a travel destination, reported a 7% increase in expressions of concern about climate change among European travelers.
According to ETC, this followed a drop in interest in southern Mediterranean holiday spots during the summers of 2022 and 2023, as colder places such as the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, and Denmark became more enticing.
“Travelers are increasingly aware of extreme weather events and their potential impact on their vacations,” Eduardo Santander, CEO of ETC, told CNN, adding that in the future, this could lead to more travelers visiting southern Europe in the spring and late fall rather than the hotter summer months.
Santander said that visitor fears over climate change are often short-lived. “Travelers are concerned after the summer but tend to forget about those events when booking their next holidays in the spring,” he told me.
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News
King Charles Could Millions Annually from Renting His Properties
A recent analysis suggests that King Charles might earn over £1 million each year by renting out royal properties to holidaymakers.
The Royal Family’s historic houses and mansions are popular holiday rentals, contributing significantly to the Palace’s revenue.
Pikl Insurance estimates that the royals may earn up to £118,775.85 per month, or around £1,425,310.20 per year, from their holiday rental portfolio. Even after accounting for cancellations, the monarchy is anticipated to generate a net annual income of somewhat more over £1.4 million.
Estimated Annual Rental Income of £1.4 Million
The four primary royal properties accepting public bookings are Balmoral Castle, Castle of Mey’s Captain House, Restormel Manor, and Dumfries House, according to Express.co.uk. Cottages at Balmoral Castle in Scotland are expected to generate £36,798.30 per month after accounting for cancellations.
According to the numbers, the 500-year-old Restormel Manor in Cornwall is the most profitable of them all, earning a solid £47,082 every month. The resort, located in the Fowey Valley, has four booking spaces and six converted barns.
Dumfries House in Ayrshire, Scotland, adds an estimated £31,185.63 and offers 25 rooms for booking. The Castle of Mey’s Captain House in the Scottish Highlands is estimated to generate a more modest £3,709.92 per month, despite the fact that the entire property is available for booking.
The analysts stated, “While the Royal Family’s primary role is undoubtedly to serve the nation, it is clear that their properties are also a valuable asset.” These estimates highlight the royal estate’s considerable financial potential and provide an intriguing peek into the monarchy’s corporate operations.”
Royal Family received £86.3 million from the taxpayer-funded Sovereign Grant in the previous fiscal year, according to official numbers released in July.
All revenues from the Crown Estate, which includes royal households, forestry, agriculture, and offshore wind, are paid directly to the Treasury, with a portion of this money, now 12%, returned to the Royal Family to finance their tasks.
The records also cover a period of jubilation, including the coronation and festivities surrounding the King and Queen’s crowning in May of last year.
News
Man Creates Candy Cane Car to Spread Christmas Cheer
In a delightful display of holiday spirit, a local resident in North Providence, Maine, has transformed his vehicle into a candy cane delight that is capturing hearts and spreading Christmas Cheer.
Over the past 15 years, Dave Clayman has transformed a simple 1991 Toyota Camry into a rolling holiday icon that captivates everyone who encounters it.
It’s wrapped in $3,000 worth of reflective tape, the same kind used on trailer trucks. Whether parked at a mall or cruising down the highway, you can’t miss it with its candy cane decorations.
This whimsical project started with an unusual idea. When an old exercise bike landed in Clayman’s possession, he mounted it on top of his car instead of letting it gather dust in his garage.
“There’s nothing like working out in the fresh air,” Dave said. That quirky addition quickly drew eyes, inspiring him to keep going.
The car features homemade rockets built from trash cans and salad bowls, candy cane-themed hubcaps, and candy cane lights dangling from the mounted exercise bike.
The Candy Cane Car cost Clayman $3,000
To top it off, it boasts a PA system and a custom horn, making it a true sensory experience.
The candy cane car has now become a local landmark every Christmas. Parked outside Clayman’s house, it’s a favourite backdrop for people snapping photos or simply stopping to admire it.
Some visitors even share stories of seeing the car as a child, reminiscing about how it’s been a beloved part of their neighbourhood for years.
“When people see it, their mood amplifies,” Clayman explained. “If they’re happy, they become happier. If they’re upset, well, they sometimes get angrier.” But for the most part, he estimates that over 96% of people love the festive car, particularly around Christmas.
Clayman said he used to wear a Santa costume when riding in his festive car for years. A few years ago, he bought a Grinch costume and never looked back.
“It’s like a state of euphoria. Every time I get behind the wheel and people see it,” he said. “Anything that people are in a better mood, it seems to make you in a better mood. It’s a labor of love you got to be committed to it.”
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News
Senate Approves Social Security Fairness Act, Heads to Final Vote
(VOR News) – On Wednesday, the United States Senate Social Security passed a measure with a vote of 73-27, indicating that the legislation, which is co-sponsored by Senator Susan Collins of Maine, is likely to be implemented before the end of the year.
The law may be beneficial to personnel working in the public sector in Maine, including teachers, firefighters, and other workers.
The Social Security Fairness Act would repeal two restrictions that lower the amount of Social Security payments paid to public employees.
These regulations would be eliminated with the passage of the act. A provision known as the Windfall Elimination Provision makes it impossible for public employees who are currently receiving pensions to continue receiving them.
The Government Pension Offset, as it is commonly referred to, is designed to limit the amount of money that can be paid to the surviving spouses of recipients who are also receiving government pensions.
This problematic situation impacts Social Security benefits.”
In November 2024, the Social Security Administration reported that more than 2 million individuals, including more than 20,000 in the state of Maine, had their Social Security benefits reduced as a result of the Windfall Elimination Provision,” Collins stated in a statement that was released by her department.
In November 2024, the Government Pension Offset had an impact on more than 650,000 individuals, with more than 6,000 of those individuals residing in the state of Maine, according to the previously mentioned line of reasoning.
A vote of 327 to 75 was necessary for the measure to be approved by the House of Representatives the previous month. On Wednesday, Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader of the Senate, announced that he intended to work rapidly in order to deliver the act from the House of Representatives to the president’s desk.
As indicated by Schumer, who was speaking on the floor of the United States Senate today, “Passing this Social Security fix right before Christmas would be a great gift for our retired firefighters, police officers, postal workers, teachers, and others who have contributed to Social Security for years but are now being penalised because of their time spent serving the public.”
In the beginning, the measure was supported by two individuals: Sherrod Brown, a Democrat from Ohio, and Collins, a Republican. During her speech in support of the proposal, which was made on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday afternoon, Collins stated that the idea will have a significant impact on a number of individuals, including teachers in the state of Maine.
These advantages are the direct result of the effort that they put forth. During the course of her remarks, Collins asserted that the punishment in question was both unreasonable and unacceptable.
This will strain Social Security’s already shaky budget.
In a recent examination, it was discovered that the Windfall Elimination Provision was one of the primary problems that contributed to the difficulties that the teacher workforce in Maine is experiencing, which experts are referring to as a crisis.
A poll that was conducted and released by the non-profit organisation Educate Maine found that teachers in each and every county in the state of Maine identified the provision as a hindering factor in the process of recruiting new teachers.
According to the findings of the study, “this federal policy that reduces social security payouts is a disincentive,” which implies that it is detrimental to teachers who take on additional work and discourages people from switching careers in order to become teachers.
Sharon Gallant, a retired educator who worked in Gardiner for a total of 31 years, is one of the educators that are now employed there. Prior to beginning his career as a teacher in the public school system, Gallant was employed in the business sector. He made a little contribution to the Social Security system during the entirety of this time period.
“When you move into public education, you are faced with a certain degree of punishment,” according to her statement.
In letters that Gallant sent to Collins and to Sen. Angus King of Maine, who is an independent, he urged both of them to support the concept. She stated that even if it is unsuccessful, Maine will still have a difficult time recruiting teachers because of the clause that deters them from employment.
She made the observation, “If this does not pass, then it is just another reason not to enter public service.”
SOURCE: FR
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