$233 Million Boost to Upgrade Aussie National Parks

China’s Southern Jiangxi Province Declares Highest Flood Alert

BEIJING—The southern Chinese province of Jiangxi issued its highest flood warning on Saturday, predicting a big overflow from a lake that joins the Yangtze River as torrential rain continued to batter much of the country, state media said. The provincial government raised its flood-control response level to I from II, the People’s Daily said, the top of China’s four-tier scale, signaling disasters such as dam collapses or extraordinary simultaneous floods in several rivers. With downpours continuing to wreak havoc across swathes of China, several other cities along the Yangtze have issued their highest-level flood warnings, with parts of the river threatening to burst its banks because of the incessant rain. The Jiangxi authorities expect severe regional flooding in Poyang, state television said, which is China’s largest freshwater lake and joins…

Uluru-Kata Tjuta will undergo $51 (US$35.4) million upgrades聽as the federal government injects millions into national parks to improve facilities and attract people forced to holiday at home this year.

The funding will see Uluru’s cultural centre, viewing platforms and walking tracks improved.

Millions will also be spent upgrading Kakadu National Park’s Aboriginal cultural centre, campgrounds, roads and staff housing.

The $233 (US$161) million commonwealth investment aims to boost regional tourism and reboot the local economy across the country.

Booderee on the New South Wales South Coast and Canberra’s Australian National Botanic Gardens will also benefit from the funding.

Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley said the new and improved infrastructure would enable more tourism, jobs and better outcomes for Aussies living in regional areas.

“These parks are the greatest showcase of our unique natural environment,” she said.

“From the red rocks of Uluru-Kata Tjuta to the wetlands of Kakadu and the crystal-clear waters and white sand beaches in Booderee, the world adores the Australian landscape because of these icons.”

Federal Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham said enhancing visitor experiences at national parks would increase visitation.

“Tourism is the lifeblood of many of the communities in and around these parks,聽and it’s absolutely critical that we boost economic activity by helping to attract more people into these regions,” he said.

Tourism and Transport Forum chief Margy Osmond welcomed the announcement and said the strategic investment was the support regional destinations needed to prepare for visitors.

“The tourism industry continues to hurt, and this support goes some way to supporting domestic tourism to fill part of the $4 billion black hole left by the lack of international inbound travel for the foreseeable future,” she said.

 

By Emily Cosenza

Focus News: $233 Million Boost to Upgrade Aussie National Parks

2 Arrested, 2 Wanted After 11-Year-Old Killed on July Fourth

WASHINGTON—Two men have been arrested and two others are wanted in connection with the killing of an 11-year-old boy who was shot during a Fourth of July cookout in Washington, police said Friday. The boy, Davon McNeal, was shot in the head during an exchange of gunfire between five armed suspects, police said. His killing came during a surge of violence in Washington and in other major cities across the United States and sparked widespread outrage from community members. Two suspects—Christian Wingfield, 22, of Maryland, and Daryle Bond, 18, of Washington—were arrested on first-degree murder charges. It was not immediately clear whether either of the men had an attorney who could comment on the allegations. Both of the men had prior arrests for violent crimes and Wingfield was on court-ordered…