Author: DispatchTimes News Desk

An urgent search is under way in the Grand Canyon after a flash flood swept through Bright Angel Canyon, with about 15 people still unaccounted for and dozens of hikers airlifted to safety. The flooding struck near Bright Angel Creek and Phantom Ranch in Arizona on Saturday afternoon, sending torrents of muddy water and debris through the canyon. The National Park Service said 62 people had been evacuated from Phantom Ranch and the lower North Kaibab Trail by Sunday morning. A 46-year-old man was later found dead near Crystal Rapids along the Colorado River, according to park officials. Around 15…

King Charles is expected to use his visit to Antigua and Barbuda in late October to urge the country to remain in the Commonwealth, even if it ultimately removes him as its head of state. The King and Queen Camilla will visit the Caribbean nation from 27 October, ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in St John’s from 1 to 4 November. The trip comes after Antigua and Barbuda removed allegiance to the monarch from the oath taken by ministers and other senior officials. Under the Oaths Act 2025, the declaration now pledges loyalty to the state, its…

Grindr is pursuing a strategy to become an “everything app” for gay men as chief executive George Arison seeks to turn the dating platform’s rapid financial growth into a broader consumer business. The company expects revenue to exceed $540 million (£405 million) this year, almost three times the $195 million recorded in 2022. Adjusted earnings margins have remained above 40%, but most of the increase has come from persuading existing users to spend more rather than significantly expanding its user base. Grindr had about 1.4 million paying users in the second quarter, equivalent to 9% of its overall membership. Average…

A cooler weather pattern is settling across the San Francisco Bay Area, with low cloud expected to cover much of the region on Monday, August 31, and a chance of drizzle in coastal areas. Temperatures are forecast to range from the low 60s to the upper 70s, while the National Weather Service said persistent onshore winds and a deepening marine layer would keep conditions cooler near the coast. ([ktvu.com](https://www.ktvu.com/video/fmc-1qz3vpwpsribhkfh)) The weather service said afternoon temperatures on Monday could be between five and 15 degrees below average. Coastal drizzle is possible overnight and during the morning, with cloud expected to clear…

Queensland has become the first Australian state to require e-bike and e-scooter riders to hold a driving licence, with new restrictions taking effect on Monday, August 31, amid concern over serious crashes, battery fires and powerful imported devices. Under the new laws, riders must be at least 16 and hold a valid licence, including a learner licence, to use an e-bike or personal mobility device on public roads, paths and other public places. Interstate and overseas licences will also be accepted. The measures mean many Queensland riders will need to obtain their “Ls” before they can continue using an electric…

Spanish police believe London-based mother Thomasina Tobin died while trying to rescue her husband after he became trapped underwater in a spa at a luxury villa near Valencia. Mrs Tobin, 51, and her husband Patrick were found dead in the hot tub at the rented property in Cullera on Tuesday, August 25. Their teenage children raised the alarm after discovering the couple. Investigators from the Civil Guard’s homicide unit are understood to be treating the deaths as a likely accident, although inquiries remain under way and the full post-mortem findings have not been released. The leading theory is that Mr…

At least 20 people broke into and ransacked a Superior Grocers store in South Los Angeles during a street takeover early on Sunday, forcing employees to flee upstairs and barricade themselves inside, police said. Officers were called to the shop near Manchester Avenue and San Pedro Street at about 4.30am after reports of an illegal street takeover and burglary, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. One person was taken into custody in connection with the incident. No injuries were reported, although police said it was not immediately clear how much merchandise had been taken or when the store would…

Anthony Albanese is travelling to Palau for a Pacific Islands Forum summit overshadowed by disputes over regional security, China’s growing influence and a series of last-minute absences among island leaders. The Australian prime minister will arrive on Monday afternoon with Energy Minister Chris Bowen and Pacific Island Affairs Minister Pat Conroy for the meeting, which is intended to focus on climate change, food and fuel security, and transnational drug crime. It will be Mr Albanese’s first official visit to Palau, one of Taiwan’s remaining diplomatic allies in a region where Beijing has been seeking to deepen its strategic and economic…

Ontario’s largest electricity provider has apologised after its online outage map displayed Lake Ontario as “Lake America”, following a US-backed name change ordered by President Donald Trump. Hydro One said on Sunday, August 30, that the lake had been “incorrectly labeled” on its map and blamed the error on a third-party mapping service. The company said it was working with its supplier to restore the name Lake Ontario. ([hydroone.com](https://www.hydroone.com/abouthydroone/Pages/default.aspx?utm_source=openai)) “The issue originates from a third-party mapping service. We are working with our vendor to correct the issue as quickly as possible and restore the proper geographic reference,” a Hydro One…

Search efforts are under way for hikers who may be missing after flash flooding swept through Bright Angel Canyon in Arizona’s Grand Canyon on Saturday, 29 August. The National Park Service said on Sunday that it was seeking information about approximately 15 people who may have been in the affected area, while earlier reports had put the number of potentially unaccounted-for people at more than 20. Officials have not reported any injuries. ([nps.gov](https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/public-assistance-requested-to-account-for-individuals-following-grand-canyon-flash-flood.htm)) The flooding began at about 2.30pm local time in the Bright Angel Canyon and Phantom Ranch area, causing extensive damage to trails and infrastructure. Nearly every footbridge…