Grand Canyon Flood: One Dead and About 15 Missing
A flash flood that swept through the Grand Canyon on Saturday afternoon has left one person dead and about 15 others missing or unaccounted for, the National Park Service said. The body of a 46-year-old man was recovered in the park on Sunday night, while search-and-rescue operations continued amid warnings of more rain and thunderstorms.
At least 62 people were evacuated after torrents destroyed nearly all footbridges across Bright Angel Creek and cut off hikers’ access to the Colorado River. The flood also wrecked the only water pipeline serving tourists and residents, forcing emergency water restrictions, and popular sites including Bright Angel Campground, the North Kaibab Trail and Phantom Ranch remained closed.
Trump Renames Lake Ontario; Google Complies, MapQuest Refuses
President Donald Trump signed an executive order last week renaming Lake Ontario as “Lake America,” and Google has begun rolling out the change so that U.S. users see the new label while Canadian users still see “Lake Ontario.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford responded by unveiling a shoreline billboard reading “Lake Ontario — Now and Always.” MapQuest said it will not adopt the new name, and the BBC said Trump is now pressing Apple to make the same switch on its maps.
Far-Right Commentator Milo Yiannopoulos Deported from U.S. to U.K.
British far-right commentator Milo Yiannopoulos has been deported from the United States to the United Kingdom, one day after being arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE said he was an “illegal alien” who had overstayed his visa after entering the country legally in May 2019.
Tom Homan, the White House “border czar,” denied that the rapid deportation amounted to preferential treatment, saying it was his understanding that Yiannopoulos had agreed to leave voluntarily.
U.S. and Iran Exchange Strikes Near Strait of Hormuz
U.S. forces struck two Iranian launchers on Iran’s Larak Island, the first known American strikes on Iran since late July, after Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces were observed preparing rockets to deploy sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz, a U.S. official said.
Iran said the attack killed some civilians and responded by targeting U.S. bases in Jordan, marking the first exchange of fire between the two countries in a month.
U.K. Excludes Manslaughter from Early Prison Release Scheme
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has changed the government’s early-release scheme so that anyone convicted of unlawful killing, including child manslaughter and deaths from neglect, will be excluded. The move means the killers of PC Andrew Harper will remain in prison.
Victims’ families welcomed the U-turn, but critics warned that prisons remain so overcrowded they are “one major event away from disaster.”
Lionel Messi Announces Retirement from Argentina National Team
Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football with Argentina. The 2022 World Cup-winning captain said he wrote his retirement letter after July’s World Cup final but delayed publishing it because his father, Jorge Messi, was seriously ill; his father’s recent death prompted the decision.
Dolly Parton Laid to Rest in Private Nashville Funeral
Dolly Parton was laid to rest in a private family funeral in Nashville on Friday and interred at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum beside her husband of 60 years, Carl Thomas, her family confirmed. The country music star died on 25 August at the age of 80 after what her family described as a brief battle with cancer.
South African Airlink Defends Low-Altitude Stadium Flyover Stunt
South African airline Airlink has defended a low-altitude flyover by two Embraer jets in close formation above a Cape Town stadium before a rugby union match on Saturday. The stunt, watched by an estimated crowd of about 56,000 people, drew cheers but also safety concerns on social media.
Airlink insisted the manoeuvre was conducted according to regulations and involved careful, precise planning.
Met Cancels John Galliano Exhibition Following Public Backlash
New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art has cancelled a spring exhibition honouring British fashion designer John Galliano after backlash over his 2011 conviction for racist and antisemitic remarks. Galliano announced that the exhibition, tied to the upcoming Met Gala, will not go forward.
Algerian President Seeks Death Penalty for Wildfire Arsonists
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said he will seek the death penalty for arsonists after wildfires killed 12 people and injured dozens. Authorities said 46 fires were still active and 54 people were hospitalized with burns, including six in critical condition; Tebboune is not ruling out foul play after 100 fires were recorded.
Suspect in British Woman's Fatal Stabbing Held in Psychiatric Hospital
A 27-year-old German man suspected of fatally stabbing a 31-year-old British woman outside Rosenheim train station early on Sunday has been detained in a psychiatric hospital, police in the Bavarian city said. The woman died in hospital from serious injuries.