La Croix, Nov. 30, 2015

"Climate, hope of a deal," writes French daily La Croix on the front page on its Monday edition, with a picture of the top of the Eiffel Tower piercing a ceiling of clouds and pollution, as the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 21) kicks off in Paris.

French President François Hollande arrived Monday morning at Le Bourget airport to welcome nearly 150 world leaders. No summit in history has brought together that many heads of state to try and reach a meaningful climate change agreement. The two-week long Conference will be held under very high security, just over two weeks after the Nov. 13 terrorists attacks that killed 130 in Paris.

After landing in the French capital late Sunday night, U.S. President Barack Obama joined Hollande in front of the Bataclan concert hall to pay tribute to the victims of the Paris attacks.

Photo: Pete Souza/White House

On Sunday, more than 300 were arrested in Paris, after protests on the sidelines of the COP21 turned violent. Far-left and pro-environment activists clashed with the police during a protest opposing the state of emergency (under which demonstrations are banned) imposed after the November 13 terror attacks. According to French daily Le Figaro, the protesters vandalized the memorial site on Place de la République, and reportedly used children's drawing to try and torch French flags. President Hollande described the violence as "scandalous."

Photo: Maxppp via ZUMA

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