A global round-up of national park news. The biggest philanthopic gift ever is given to Parks Canada. The world's blackest skies have been designated in New Zealand with a new Dark Sky Reserve, and roads in Peru and Kenya are said to threaten national parks.

A chief operating officer has been hired by the National Park Foundation to provide strategic oversight and management of the non-profit organization chartered by Congress to raise charitable dollars for the National Park System.

Four of five members of a Japanese team are presumed dead on Mount McKinley in Denali National Park after an avalanche swept over them as they descended the West Buttress.