Thousands of people have returned to Australia's Bondi Beach in the first full day of opening since a mass shooting killed 15 people. People gathered Friday on the sand and in the water to commemorate those killed five days earlier. Two shooters attacked a Hanukkah celebration at a nearby park Sunday in an attack believed to have been motivated by antisemitism. Authorities reopened parts of the famed beach Thursday, leading to the commemoration Friday morning. Armed police officers are standing guard Friday outside synagogues and mosques in Sydney. The country is dealing with questions about whether Australian Jews were sufficiently protected and fears of a backlash against Muslims.
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Disney's changes to a program for disabled visitors are facing challenges in federal court and through a shareholder proposal. The Disability Access Service program, which allows disabled visitors to skip long lines, was overhauled last year. Disney now mostly limits the program to those with developmental disabilities like autism who have difficulty waiting in lines. The changes have sparked criticism from some disability advocates. A shareholder proposal submitted by disability advocates calls for an independent review of Disney's disability policies. Disney plans to block this proposal, claiming it's misleading. It's the latest struggle by Disney to accommodate disabled visitors while stopping past abuses by some theme park guests.
AP Wire
The National Park Service says it is going to start charging international tourists an extra $100 to enter some of the most popular U.S. parks. They will be left out of fee-free days that will be reserved for American residents. The announcement Tuesday declaring “America-first entry fee policies” comes as national parks deal with the strain of a major staff reduction and severe budget cuts. They're also recovering from significant lost revenue during the recent government shutdown. The change will take effect Jan. 1 and impact 11 national parks. The announcement says foreign tourists will also see their annual parks pass price jump to $250, while U.S. residents will continue to be charged $80.
Wire
National Parks Week begins on the same day
According to the National Parks Conservation Association, "96% of national parks are plagued by significant air pollution problems." A new report released by NPCP looked at the damage at 417 national parks from air pollution.