
UK government refuses to hand over Boris Johnson's unredacted messages to coronavirus inquiry
The British government is resisting an order to hand over a sheaf of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s personal messages to the country’s COVID-19 pandemic inquiry
2023-06-02 03:20

American expat shot dead on her ‘Shangri-La’ off-the-grid farm in Ecuador
A Colorado mother-of-three was shot dead while trying to protect her elderly father during a home invasion at her farm in southern Ecuador. Francesca Williams, 44, was killed when robbers burst onto the family property in the village of Vilacamba where she lived with her father John, husband Michael and the couple’s three teenage daughters on 20 May, according to reports. Michael Williams told KDVR that the first he realised the farm was under attack was when he was struck by a hard object in the head while standing outside and collapsed to the ground. Francesca had been hanging washing when the gunmen showed up, and was fatally shot in the back while trying to protect her birth father John, her adoptive mother Marianna Bacilla told NBC San Diego. John, who suffered from emphysema and dementia, was stabbed three times during there attack but is out of hospital and expected to make a full recovery. The couple’s daughter Rachel told KDVR that she had witnessed the gunfire strike her mother. “I saw my grandpa on the floor with a strange man to the right, then I saw another man with my mom and she was scrambling after him, basically fighting him off,” the teenager said. “Then I saw two sparks of a gun and heard gunshots.” The family reported hearing the men asking in Spanish for the “large aunt”, and believe they were at the wrong address. Michael Williams told the news site he was tied up before the assailants ransacked the home taking any valuables they could find, including iPads and laptops. After they left he discovered his wife badly wounded and drove to the nearest medical facility, but she had already succumbed to her injuries. Her body has since been returned to her former hometown of Kremmling, Colorado, and a funeral is due to be held on 3 June. On a fundraising page set up to help the family, Ms Bacilla said they had moved several years ago to the farm in rural southern Ecuador where they were raising chickens, goats, horses, pigs, ducks and guinea fowl. “It was their humble Shangri-La,” she said. Francesca Williams was described as a devoted wife and mother, who graduated from the University of California, San Diego with a degree in linguistics. She was fluent in French, Spanish and Lithuanian, worked as a translator and had recently published her first illustrated children’s book The King’s Magic. A few days after the attack, Michael Williams said the family were in a “heightened level of anxiousness and security because we aren’t in a safe place”. A GoFundme page has received nearly $30,000 in donations. Read More New Jersey attorney linked to three rapes after family submitted DNA to genealogy website Ecuador lawmakers denounce president's disbanding of National Assembly, argue it wasn't legal Lauren Boebert didn’t turn up to vote on debt ceiling deal she furiously campaigned against
2023-06-02 03:17

Over 50% of Spirit Airlines flights experience delays after technical issues with its website, app and airport kiosks
About 50% of Spirit Airlines flights were delayed Thursday, according to FlightAware, after technical issues with the airline's website, app and airport kiosks, but the airline says the technical issues have been resolved.
2023-06-02 02:58

Heather Mack, convicted in mother’s murder in Bali, plans to plead guilty in US, attorney says
An attorney for the Chicago woman facing federal conspiracy charges in the 2014 killing of her mother during a luxury vacation in Bali says she plans to plead guilty
2023-06-02 02:57

Pittsburgh synagogue shooting occurred on a Saturday children didn't attend, survivor says
Three Saturdays each month, Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue hosted a service specifically for children known as the junior congregation.
2023-06-02 02:56

3 people are missing days after apartments collapsed. Now officials have changed demolition plans for the dangerous, 'shifting' building
Two people previously unaccounted for after the partial collapse of an Iowa apartment building Sunday have been found safe, Davenport police said Thursday. But three others -- including at least two who lived in the crash zone -- remain missing.
2023-06-02 02:53

New federal proposal aims to stop racial bias in formulas used to value homes
Vice President Kamala Harris says federal agencies are taking new steps to stop racial discrimination in appraising home values by proposing a rule intended to ensure that the automated formulas used to price housing are fair
2023-06-02 02:49

Russia says US hacked thousands of Apple phones in spy plot
By Guy Faulconbridge MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Thursday it had uncovered an American espionage operation
2023-06-02 02:48

Rabbi recounts fear and heroism during deadliest antisemitic attack in US history
A rabbi who survived the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history says he immediately recognized the sound of gunfire coming from elsewhere inside the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh that day and that he tried to get members of his congregation to safety
2023-06-02 02:46

Senate passes bill to block Biden's student loan forgiveness program
Both the Senate and the House have now passed a bill to block President Joe Biden's student loan forgiveness program, which promises to cancel up to $20,000 of debt for millions of borrowers but has been held up by courts.
2023-06-02 02:45

Ange Postecoglou responds to Tottenham manager links
Ange Postecoglou has insisted that links with the vacant Tottenham Hotspur managerial role haven't 'registered' with him.
2023-06-02 02:29

US Senate will stay in session until debt ceiling bill passed -Schumer
By Richard Cowan, David Morgan and Moira Warburton WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Senate will stay in session until it passes
2023-06-02 02:25