Sean Edwards: British Driver Dies In Crash

A "hugely promising" British racing driver has been killed in Australia after the car he was a passenger in smashed into a race track wall.

Sean Edwards was instructing a 20-year-old male driver in a Porsche at the time of the accident at Queensland Raceway in Willowbank, west of Brisbane.

The driver, from Brisbane, was pulled from the burning wreckage and is in intensive care with life-threatening injuries.

Edwards, 26, the son of Guy Edwards, the British former Formula 1 driver, was born in London but was living in Monaco. He was the 2013 Porsche supercup championship leader.

The aftermath of the fatal crash

The Motor Sports Association (MSA) said: "The Motor Sports Association (MSA) is shocked and saddened by the loss of British racing driver Sean Edwards, who died in an accident on Tuesday in Australia.

"Sean was a hugely promising young racer who came through the junior formulas in Britain, before making a career in international sports car racing.

"He is leading the 2013 Porsche Supercup championship and had won both the Nurburgring and Dubai 24 Hours this year.

"The MSA extends its deepest sympathies to Sean's family, friends and fans at this difficult time."

Edwards had coached drivers for the acclaimed Formula 1 movie Rush, in which he also played the part of his father.

Sean Edwards competes in a Porsche Supercup race in May

One of the scenes saw him recreate the moment Guy Edwards pulled fellow driver Nicki Lauda from a burning race car.

Just two days ago, Sean Edwards wrote on his Twitter page: "Time to hit Queensland Raceway today, should be fun, hope there aren't too many kangaroos like at Bathurst!"

Reacting to the news of Edwards' death, F1 driver Mark Webber tweeted: "Way way too early... What a talent.. Always enjoyed watching him drive at the F1 weekends. #RIPSeanEdwards."

Also on Twitter, former McLaren driver David Coulthard wrote: "Shocking news about Sean Edwards passing, top man and super talented racer, condolences to his nearest and dearest."

And another British former F1 driver, Martin Brundle, tweeted: "Terribly sad news re the death of Sean Edwards, a very talented racer. Condolences to his family and friends. Motor sport can be too cruel."

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Pensioner Sea Fall Inquest: Narrative Verdict

By Becky Johnson, North of England Correspondent

A coroner has ruled that failings by rescuers which led to a pensioner being dropped into the Arctic Ocean were a "significant factor" in her death.

Janet Richardson, 72, from Cumbri, was taken ill while on a cruise to Norway from Hull in April 2011.

The inquest into her death at Carlisle Coroners Court heard how as she was being transferred from the ship to a boat waiting to take her to hospital, rescuers dropped the stretcher she was on and she plunged into the "icy" water.

It was a "number of minutes" before she was pulled from the sea. She died three weeks later in hospital.

The pensioner fell into the sea while being transferred off the cruise ship

Fellow passenger on the cruise, Colin Prescott from Lancashire, witnessed what happened and told the inquest there was "abject panic" on board the ship at the time.

He told Sky News that as he watched the stretcher being passed between the boats "the two vessels separated and the three people on board the little rescue craft had no chance of hanging on".

"As the stretcher fell the people on board the cruise ship couldn't hold the handles any longer and she just slipped into the water," he said.

"I was terrified. It was very frightening as you can imagine, someone in that kind of water, it was very, very cold."

The inquest heard that Mrs Richardson had a history of ill health including problems with her kidneys and liver.

The coroner recorded a narrative verdict, noting that Mrs Richardson was not wearing a life jacket and the cruise ship and rescue boat were not tied together.

The lifeboat that was sent for Mrs Richardson

He concluded that although Mrs Richardson died as a consequence of her underlying health conditions, the immersion in cold sea water was a significant factor and accelerated her death.

Mrs Richardson's husband, George, was at the two day inquest and told Sky News the cruise to see the Northern Lights had been "a trip of a lifetime" for his wife.

Speaking after the verdict he said: "There have been serious shortcomings in the way the evacuation of Janet was handled and I hope that lessons have been learnt."

He described his wife as "a very enthusiastic person in everything she did".

The coroner said the incident should never have happened and confirmed he has written to the Norwegian rescue service and the cruise operator to question their procedures.

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Missing British Teacher Feared Dead In Qatar

A British teacher is feared dead after going missing in Qatar.

Lauren Patterson disappeared in the early hours on Saturday in the state's capital Doha.

Local media are reporting the primary school teacher was last seen outside the city's five-star La Cigale hotel.

The 24-year-old's mother and boyfriend both took to Facebook to describe her as "truly amazing" and "remarkable" amid unconfirmed reports that a body has been found.

Doha police said they could not confirm whether Ms Patterson had died, what had happened to her, or the progress of their investigation.

Ms Patterson, originally from Chislehurst in south-east London, was working at the Newton British School in Doha.

Reports suggested she had returned to Doha on Friday after attending her grandmother's funeral in Britain.

Her mother, Allison Patterson, who is reported to have flown to Doha, wrote on Facebook: "Thank you so much to everyone for all their wonderful words about Lauren.

The Qatari capital Doha is a popular destination for British expats

"She was a truly remarkable girl my rock always there for everyone. I know she's in heaven now in her Daddy's arms."

Her boyfriend, James Grima, from Malta, wrote: "You really were the most smart, kind, beautiful and amazing woman I've ever met.

"I keep going through our messages and your pictures, and it reminds me of how lucky I was just to even know you and be a part of your life.

"Although I don't know if I will ever come to terms with what happened, I have all our funny & beautiful memories that we shared together."

Friend Lorna Ann Campbell wrote: "I can't get my head around why someone so special has been taken from us.

"She meant the world to us and we will never forget how beautiful she was.

"You couldn't ask for a better friend. Her family meant everything to her and she was always talking about you all. Sending love and prayers to you all.xxxx"

Friends had desperately been appealing for help to find her on social media.

Up to 500 British expats are thought to be arriving in Doha every day as the city expands into a global hub, built on the back of Qatar's enormous oil and natural gas wealth.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are aware of a British national, Lauren Patterson, reported missing in Qatar.

"We are providing the family with consular assistance."

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Somali Pirate Seized In Belgium Film Sting

A notorious Somali pirate chief has been arrested in Belgium after being lured there on promises of filming a documentary about his life on the high seas.

Federal prosecutor Johan Delmulle said Mohamed Abdi Hassan, better known as 'Afweyne' or 'Big Mouth', is being held in the Belgian city of Bruges after being detained at Brussels airport on Saturday when he stepped off a flight from Nairobi.

Afweyne and his powerful accomplice, Mohamed Aden "Tiiceey", the former governor of Somalia's self-proclaimed Himan and Heeb statelet, are facing charges of kidnapping, piracy and organised crime, the prosecutor said in a statement.

The charges followed the 2009 capture of a Belgian ship, the Pompei, seized and held by pirates off the Somali coast for more than 70 days until a ransom was paid.

An inquiry led to the arrest and conviction of two of the pirates but the Belgian prosecutor's office had not let up its determination to bring to book the people "behind this act of piracy, who ordered, financed and organised logistical backup", Mr Delmulle said.

"Afweyne" is being held in the medieval city of Bruges

As the pirate was a resident of Somalia and rarely travelled, police "elaborated an infiltration operation aimed at arresting Afweyne outside of Somalia". the prosecutor said.

"Via Tiiceey, Afweyne was asked to collaborate as an adviser and expert on a film project on maritime piracy. The film was supposed to reflect his life as a pirate."

But when Afweyne and Tiiceey landed on Saturday morning to sign the movie contract, "they were awaited and taken into custody", the prosecutor said.

Described last year by the UN as "one of the most notorious and influential leaders" in Somalia's pirate hub, Afweyne notably was involved in the 2008 capture of the Saudi-owned Sirius Star oil supertanker, released for a ransom of several million dollars.

He also reportedly took part in the 2008 capture of the MV Faina, a Ukrainian transport ship carrying 33 refurbished Soviet-era battle tanks, which was released after a 134-day hijack.

Afweyne announced in Mogadishu in January that he was leaving piracy after a highly profitable eight-year career. He said he was working to persuade other pirates to do the same.

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Beijing Wheelchair Bomber Jailed For Six Years

A disabled Chinese man who set off a home-made explosive device at Beijing's international airport has been jailed for six years.

Ji Zhongxing, 34, who lost his left hand in the blast in July and appeared for his trial on a stretcher, was convicted of causing an explosion, according to a post on a verified social media account run by Beijing's court authorities.

The incident provoked an outburst of public sympathy for Ji, a former motorcycle driver who was confined to a wheelchair after reportedly being the victim of a brutal beating by police officers in the southern city of Dongguan in 2005.

Before the blast, Ji passed out leaflets highlighting his struggle to sue authorities for the attack and warned passers-by to move away.

Medics gather around the man after he detonated the bomb

Ji had "lost all hope with society" following an unsuccessful battle for compensation, Hong Kong media reported previously.

But the court said any actions to seek justice must be done in a "legal, rational and orderly manner".

The court authorities said in a separate post: "Any people must not infringe others' lawful rights or endanger public safety by taking extreme actions under the name of defending rights."

Academics have estimated that protests - about anything from abuse to corruption to pollution - top 180,000 a year in China, even as the government devotes vast sums to "stability maintenance".

But the legal paths open to Chinese people to pursue justice are limited.

Courts are subject to political influence and corruption, and a system meant to let citizens lodge complaints about authorities is ineffective, with petitioners routinely finding themselves detained.

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Ireland Government Budget To Be Unveiled

By Vicki Hawthorne, Ireland Correspondent

The Irish Government will present its annual budget this afternoon, just days after the Prime Minister Enda Kenny said the country would exit the EU bailout in December.

The 2014 budget, billed as the final austerity budget in Ireland, is expected to bring a further €2.5bn (£2.1bn) in cuts and tax hikes, but the Irish Prime Minister has said there will be "some good news" too.

At his party conference at the weekend, Prime Minister and Fine Gael party leader Enda Kenny announced that Ireland would exit its strict bailout programme on December 15, 2013.

Speaking in Limerick on Saturday, Mr Kenny said: "Tonight I can confirm that Ireland is on track to exit the EU-IMF bailout on December 15. And we won't go back.

"It won't mean that our financial troubles are over.  Yes there are still fragile times ahead.  There's still a long way to go. But at last the era of the bailout will be no more.  The economic emergency will be over."

Ireland accepted a €85bn (£71bn) bailout from the EU-IMF in November 2010 following a crisis in the banking sector. 

Since then the country has faced a series of tough austerity budgets to ensure it meets the terms of the financial agreement.

The coalition parties in government have been meeting over the last few days to agree the 2014 budget for each government department. 

Cabinet ministers met in Dublin on Sunday evening to negotiate some of the final points on departmental spending.

So far there has been speculation that the budget will focus on measures to help low-income families and small businesses, as well as job creation. 

The Prime Minister has ruled out speculation that the government will increase the country's low corporation tax, currently 12.5%.

The budget announcement got off to a stuttering start on Tuesday however, when five ministers got stuck in a lift.

Politicians including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamonn Gilmore, Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar, and Alan Shatter, the Minister for Justice, were stuck in a lift in government buildings in Dublin for 15 minutes.

Minister Varadkar tweeted: "Stuck in lift with half the Cabinet on Budget Day. Late for RTE. What are the chances? #Budget2014"

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Afghan Governor Killed by Microphone Bomb

An Afghan provincial governor and close ally of President Hamid Karzai has been killed while making a speech at a mosque after Eid prayers in Logar, close to the capital Kabul.

A spokesman said Logar provincial governor Arsala Jamal had been killed by a bomb which had been planted in a microphone he had been using.

He said: "The governor wanted to speak and congratulate everyone on the occasion of Eid. At least 18 other people have been wounded, including civilians and government employees."

Mr Jamal was appointed by the president and only took up the Logar job in April after serving as governor of Khost, on the border with Pakistan.

Volatile Logar, which lies to the south of the Afghan capital, is seen as a key strategic region, often described as a "gateway to Kabul" for Taliban militants based in strongholds across the south and east.

No group has said it was responsible for the blast, although the Taliban often targets provincial government officials as well as Afghan soldiers and police.

Security in Logar has deteriorated in recent years with the Taliban holding sway in some areas despite sustained Afghan and US military pressure.

Village-based Afghan Local Police (ALP) forces have also been trying to wrestle back control of Taliban-held territory.

The Taliban has vowed to step up attacks as Afghanistan prepares for presidential elections in April and the withdrawal of 87,000 Nato troops by the end of next year.

Taliban leader Mullah Omar said on Sunday he "rejected" the elections, which he alleged were being manipulated by foreign powers, and called on Afghans not to participate.

The hardline Islamist Taliban regime was driven from power by a US-led coalition in 2001 for sheltering the al Qaeda leaders behind the 9/11 attacks.

Eid ul Adha is a major public holiday across the Muslim world, with mosques packed with devotees marking the prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son when God ordered him.

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Florida Execution Planned With Untried Drug

Florida will execute a man with a drug that has never been used before in lethal injections, amid concerns it could inflict cruel and unusual pain.

The planned use of the drug midazolam hydrochloride is raising ethical and legal questions by experts across the nation.

"This is somewhat of an experiment on a living human being," said Richard Dieter, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center in Washington.

Midazolam, typically used by doctors for sedation, will be the first of three drugs pumped into William Happ on Tuesday as part of a lethal injection cocktail designed to induce unconsciousness, paralysis and death by cardiac arrest.

The first of the drugs administered as part of the lethal injection protocol in Florida has long been the barbiturate pentobarbital.

Angie Crowley was abducted, raped and murdered

But Florida, like other death penalty states, has run out of pentobarbital since its manufacturer clamped a ban on its use in future executions.

"The three-drug process depends on the first drug rendering the inmate unconscious and, if he is only partially unconscious, the inmate could be experiencing extreme pain," said Mr Dieter.

"Because the second drug paralyses him, he would be unable to cry out or show that he's in pain."

Happ was convicted for the 1986 abduction, rape and murder of Angie Crowley, whose body was found on a canal bank near Crystal River in central Florida.

The 51-year-old has abandoned his appeals and said he is ready to die. His execution is due to take place in the afternoon at the Florida State Prison in Starke.

A spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Corrections said the prison system "did research and determined that this is the most humane and dignified way to do the procedure".

Last week, Missouri postponed an execution set for October 23 due to uncertainty about using a different drug, propofol, as a substitute for pentobarbital.

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Philippines Earthquake: At Least 93 Dead

The death toll from a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck the Philippines continues to rise with at least 93 people now reported killed.

Most of the fatalities occurred at the tremor's epicentre on the central island of Bohol, where rescuers are struggling to reach patients in a collapsed hospital.

People have also died on the neighbouring islands of Cebu and Siquijor.

The earthquake has caused widespread damage to buildings, left many areas without power, and cut transport links.

Bridges and roads have been left impassable, frustrating rescue efforts, while historic churches dating from the Spanish colonial period have also been hit.

Among them was the country's oldest, the 16th century Basilica of the Holy Child in Cebu, which lost its bell tower.

The quake struck at 8.12am local time, at a depth of 20 miles (33km) below Carmen town on Bohol.

The earthquake ripped up roads

Renato Solidum, head of the state seismology agency, said: "A magnitude 7 earthquake has energy equivalent to around 32 Hiroshima atomic bombs.

"Compared to the 2010 Haiti earthquake that had a magnitude of 7.0, this one had a magnitude of 7.2, slightly stronger."

Bohol police chief Dennis Agustin said 77 people had died in 11 towns on the island, which is popular among foreigners because of its beach and island resorts, and famed "Chocolate Hills".

The highest number of dead - 18 - were in the municipality of Loon,  26 miles (42km) west of Carmen, where an unknown number of patients were trapped inside a hospital, which partially collapsed.

Rescuers were working to reach them, said civil defence spokesman Major Reynaldo Balido.

The damaged Basilica of the Holy Child

Densely populated Cebu city, across a narrow strait from Bohol, also saw extensive damage caused when a building in the port and the roof of a market area collapsed.

At least 15 people died on Cebu, and another on Siquijor, which attracts tourists with its pristine white sands.

Authorities were setting up tents for those displaced by the quake, while others who lost their homes moved in with their relatives, Bohol Governor Edgardo Chatto said.

Describing the moment the quake struck, Vilma Yorong, a provincial government employee in Bohol, said: "We ran out of the building, and outside, we hugged trees because the tremors were so strong.

"When the shaking stopped, I ran to the street and there I saw several injured people. Some were saying their church has collapsed."

Offices and schools were closed for a national holiday - the Muslim festival of Eid - which may have saved lives.

People gather around collapsed buildings

Another eye-witness Aledel Cuizon said the quake sounded like "a huge truck that was approaching and the rumbling sound grew louder as it got closer."

She and her neighbours ran outside, where she saw concrete electric poles "swaying like coconut trees." It lasted 15-20 seconds, she said.

The earthquake was followed by at least four aftershocks measuring more than 5.0 in magnitude.

Cebu city's hospitals quickly moved patients into the streets, basketball courts and parks.

Soldiers have been recalled from leave to respond to the civil emergency, while President Benigno Aquino said he plans to visit earthquake-damaged areas.

A van damaged by falling debris

The Philippines lies on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, a chain of islands that are prone to quakes and volcanic eruptions.

The deadliest recorded natural disaster occurred in 1976, when a tsunami triggered by a magnitude 7.9 earthquake devastated the Moro Gulf on the southern island of Mindanao.

Between 5,000 and 8,000 people were killed, according to official estimates.

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White House Rejects 'Partisan' GOP Debt Plan

The White House has rejected a new proposal from House Republicans for reopening the government and extending the debt ceiling.

House GOP leaders on Tuesday pitched the plan to fellow Republicans to counter an emerging Senate deal to reopen the government and forestall a looming default on US obligations.

The proposal, which includes a two-year suspension of a tax on medical devices aimed at funding President Obama's signature health care law, was immediately rejected by the White House.

Senate leaders Reid (L) and McConnell have expressed cautious optimism

White House spokeswoman Amy Brundage said the plan is a "partisan attempt to appease a small group of Tea Party Republicans who forced the government shutdown in the first place".

Democratic Representative Chris Van Hollen tweeted that the "GOP's latest plan is designed to torpedo the bipartisan (Senate) solution."

He called the plan "not only reckless", but "tantamount to default".

Mr Obama has rejected the latest proposal from House conservatives

The House proposal emerged after conservative lawmakers rebelled at the outlines of the emerging Senate plan by Majority Leader Harry Reid and GOP leader Mitch McConnell.

Those two hoped to seal an agreement on Tuesday, just two days before the Treasury Department says it will run out of borrowing capacity.

The White House praised the Senate negotiations as a good-faith effort to end the partial government shutdown and avoid an economy-shaking default.

Mr Obama also planned to meet with House Democratic leaders on Tuesday afternoon as talks continue.

John Boehner, the top Republican in the House, stopped short of saying the GOP's latest proposal would be tabled for a vote on Tuesday.

The House Speaker told reporters he is "trying to find a path forward" but that "there have been no decisions about exactly what we will do".

The competing House and Senate plans are a far cry from the assault on "Obamacare" that Tea Party Republicans originally demanded as a condition for a short-term funding bill to keep the government fully operational.

It lacks the budget cuts demanded by Republicans in exchange for increasing the government's $16.7trn (£10.5trn) borrowing cap.

Like the House GOP bill, the emerging Senate measure - though not finalised - would reopen the government through January 15 and permit the Treasury to borrow normally until early to mid-February.

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