Foreign News
US will charge non-residents $100 to visit its most popular national parks
The United States is implementing a new “America-first” entry fee policy that will charge non-US residents without an annual pass $100 per person at its 11 most-visited national parks.
The change was announced on Tuesday by the Department of the Interior, which oversees the national park system, as part of its 2026 fee scheme. The price of an annual parks pass for non-US residents will also rise from $80 to $250, it said.
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said in a statement that with the fee hikes, US President Donald Trump aims to “put American families first”.
“These policies ensure that US taxpayers, who already support the National Park System, continue to enjoy affordable access, while international visitors contribute their fair share to maintaining and improving our parks for future generations,” Burgum said.
Parks affected by the fee hike include the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee and North Carolina, Zion National Park in Utah, and the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.
The Great Smoky Mountains, the most visited US national park in 2024, previously offered free entry to all visitors, although it charged $5 per day, $15 per week, or $40 per year for parking.
Zion previously charged between $20 and $35 for a standard entry pass, while the Grand Canyon charged $35 per private car or $20 per person.
Yet, even as the Trump administration has sought to justify the increased fees for non-US residents as a way to shore up the finances of America’s national parks, it has also cut resources previously allocated for them.
Earlier this year, Trump proposed slashing $1bn in funding from the National Park Service. That figure has since been revised, but the park service budget could face potential budget cuts in 2026.
One budget proposal earlier this year from the House Appropriations Committee recommended cutting $176m from the park service operations budget, according to the National Parks Conservation Association, a non-partisan US advocacy group.
The US government and park system is funded through January 30, 2026, but Congress has yet to fully approve a 2026 fiscal bill.
The park service has lost 4,000 staff members since January due to budget constraints and related issues, the association said this week. Most national parks stayed open with limited services during the recent 43-day government shutdown, although 9,000 employees were furloughed, it also said.
[Aljazeera]
Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani, known as Valentino, has died at the age of 93.
One of the giants of 20th Century fashion, Valentino’s creations were worn by celebrities and well-known figures including Elizabeth Taylor, Nancy Reagan, Sharon Stone, Julia Roberts and Gwyneth Paltrow.
He co-founded the Valentino fashion house in 1960 and ranked alongside Giorgio Armani and Karl Lagerfeld at the top of the profession.
In a statement posted on Instagram, the Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti Foundation said: “He passed away peacefully in his Roman home, surrounded by the love of his family.”
The foundation said Valentino will be lying in state at Rome’s Piazza Mignanelli between 21 and 22 January.
Valentino’s funeral service will be held the following day at the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels and Martyrs, the foundation said.
Born in Lombardy in May 1932, Valentino was known for his collections that displayed luxury, wealth and opulence.
He moved to Paris to study at the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne when he was just 17, and went on to work with designers Jacques Fath, Balenciaga, Jean Dessès and Guy Laroche.
His adoption of his signature colour “Valentino red”, inspired by a trip to Spain, helped elevate the brand to global fame with the debut of the iconic fiesta dress.
It became so meaningful for the house that for Valentino’s last collection in 2008 all the models wore red dresses for the finale.
Valentino designed the wedding dress of Princess Madeleine of Sweden when she married British-American financier Christopher O’Neill in June 2013.
In December 2023, he was honoured with the outstanding achievement award at the British Fashion Awards which were held at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
(BBC)
At least six people have been killed and about 20 injured when a fire tore through a shopping mall in Karachi, Pakistani officials say, as firefighters try to bring the blaze under control.
The fire broke out on Saturday at the Gul Plaza shopping mall, a densely packed commercial complex, and continued to burn for hours. By early Sunday, authorities said crews had managed to control about 30 percent of the fire.
South Deputy Inspector General Syed Asad Raza told the Dawn newspaper that the death toll had risen from an initial three to five. The Edhi Foundation, a medical complex, later confirmed a sixth death in a statement.
Rescue officials said the mall contains roughly 1,200 shops, raising fears that people could still be trapped inside. The Edhi Foundation said part of the building collapsed due to the intensity of the fire, complicating rescue efforts.
Garden subdivision police officer Mohsin Raza said initial findings suggested the fire started due to a short circuit in one of the shops before rapidly spreading throughout the complex.
He said the exact cause must be determined through a detailed investigation and warned that the structure needs to be secured to prevent further damage.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed condolences over the loss of life.
In a statement carried by PTV, Sharif ordered authorities to take “all possible measures” to protect lives and property, provide assistance to affected traders and ensure medical care for the injured.
Zardari urged the government of Sindh province, whose capital is Karachi, to offer “immediate and every possible assistance” and said: “No stone should be left unturned in providing the best medical facilities to the injured.”
[Aljazeera]
Chilean President Gabriel Boric has declared a state of catastrophe in two regions where deadly wildfires are raging.
At least 16 people are confirmed dead in the Ñuble and Biobío regions, about 500km (300 miles) south of the capital Santiago. At least 20,000 have been evacuated.
The most dangerous fire has swept through dry forests bordering the coastal city of Concepción. About 250 homes have been destroyed, disaster officials said.
Local media show pictures of charred cars in the streets. Chile has experienced a series of devastating fires in recent years, worsened by long-term drought.
Chile’s forestry agency, Conaf, said firefighters were battling a total of 24 fires across the country on Sunday. The most threatening, it added, were in Ñuble and Biobío.
“In light of the serious ongoing wildfires, I have decided to declare a state of catastrophe” in the two regions, Boric said in a post on X. “All resources are available,” he added.
The fires have affected 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres) in the two regions so far, local media say.
The bulk of the evacuations were carried out in the cities of Penco and Lirquen, just north of Concepción, which have a combined population of 60,000.
Strong winds have fanned the flames amid summer temperatures, endangering communities and hampering firefighting efforts.
Much of Chile is under heat alerts, with temperatures expected to reach 38C between Santiago and Biobío in the next two days.
Two years ago, forest fires killed at least 120 people in the Valparaíso region near Santiago.
[BBC]
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