A police spokesman in California said today there will be an investigation into a mobile phone video that shows police officers repeatedly hitting an unarmed university student with batons and a Taser gun.
The video, posted by the San Jose Mercury News on its website, shows one officer hitting 20-year-old Vietnamese student Phuong Ho with a metal baton more than 10 times, including once on the head.
Another officer is seen using his Taser gun on the San Jose State maths student.
The final baton strike in last month’s incident appears to take place after handcuffs have been attached to Mr Ho’s wrists.
Sunday, 25 October 2009
Miss Frank voted off X Factor
Cowell was stunned to find his protege in the bottom two after the public vote, and said he had “never been so surprised” in his life.
With Cowell and rival judge Louis Walsh both backing their own acts, and Dannii Minogue siding with Danyl, it was left to Cheryl Cole to cast the deciding vote.
But she abstained and left it up to the public count to decide, with prep school dance teacher Danyl winning through.
Miss Frank – Graziella Affinita, 25, a student, Shaniece Davis, 21, a hairdresser, and Shar Alexandra, 25, a recruitment consultant, all from London - sang Love Don’t Live Here Any More.
And Danyl gave a powerful rendition of With A Little Help From My Friends.
After Danyl’s performance Cowell said: “I’ve never been so surprised in my life.
“If this is your last performance, I’ve never heard someone going out on such a high.
“I think it’s a joke that you’re in the position you’re in, a total joke.”
He said Danyl put on an “incredible” performance.
Cole said she was “really confused” by the public decision, but then said she would leave it up to the vote count to decide.
On hearing that their dream was over, Graziella said: “It’s all a bit of a mad rush right now.”
But Miss Frank vowed to stay together, with Graziella adding: “We’re going to stay together and have our own factor.”
Walsh said: “They’ve got an awful lot more to give, they were at their best last night and I love them.”
Tonight’s show saw performances from Westlife and Michael Buble, while next week will see veteran rockers Bon Jovi and X Factor favourites JLS take to the stage.
Meanwhile, the X Factor finalists are to release a cover of Michael Jackson’s You Are Not Alone to raise money for London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Viewers will see the singers perform the track for the first time during the results show on Sunday, November 15, when fans will be able to pre-order it.
The single will go on sale from Monday, November 16.
Saturday, 24 October 2009
Residents in panic as earthquake hits Indonesia
A powerful earthquake struck deep under the sea in eastern Indonesia today, causing panic and sending residents running out of their homes, officials and witnesses said. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
The quake had a magnitude of 7.0, but at a depth of 86 miles was too far below the earth’s surface to cause a tsunami, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said.
Today’s quake came as Indonesia is still recovering from a devastating earthquake last month that killed more than 1,000 people on western Sumatra.
The US Geological Survey says the latest quake – the second strong tremor in two days – was located 225 miles south east of Ambon in the Maluku islands in the Banda Sea.
The shaking was strong and people ran to higher ground fearing a tsunami, said Ian Kotualubun, an official with Indonesia’s Meteorology and Geophysics Agency in Saumlaki, the area closest to the epicentre, about 1,700 miles east of the capital, Jakarta.
Police in Saumlaki said they had received no reports of damage or injuries.
Indonesia sits above a series of fault lines that make the vast island nation one of the most earthquake-prone places in the world. A massive quake off the coast of Indonesia’s Aceh province caused the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that killed 230,000 people, half of the victims on Sumatra island.
The quake had a magnitude of 7.0, but at a depth of 86 miles was too far below the earth’s surface to cause a tsunami, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said.
Today’s quake came as Indonesia is still recovering from a devastating earthquake last month that killed more than 1,000 people on western Sumatra.
The US Geological Survey says the latest quake – the second strong tremor in two days – was located 225 miles south east of Ambon in the Maluku islands in the Banda Sea.
The shaking was strong and people ran to higher ground fearing a tsunami, said Ian Kotualubun, an official with Indonesia’s Meteorology and Geophysics Agency in Saumlaki, the area closest to the epicentre, about 1,700 miles east of the capital, Jakarta.
Police in Saumlaki said they had received no reports of damage or injuries.
Indonesia sits above a series of fault lines that make the vast island nation one of the most earthquake-prone places in the world. A massive quake off the coast of Indonesia’s Aceh province caused the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that killed 230,000 people, half of the victims on Sumatra island.
Obama declares national swine flu emergency in the US
US President Barack Obama has declared the swine flu outbreak a US national emergency.
The White House today said Mr Obama signed a proclamation that would allow medical officials to bypass certain federal requirements.
Officials described the move as similar to a declaration ahead of a hurricane making landfall.
Swine flu is more widespread now than it’s ever been and has resulted in more than 1,000 US deaths so far.
Health authorities say almost 100 children have died from the flu, known as H1N1, and 46 states now have widespread flu activity.
The White House said Mr Obama signed the declaration on Friday evening.
Fifteen killed in Egypt train crash
A passenger train collided with the back of a second one ahead of it on the tracks just outside of Cairo tonight, destroying several passenger cars and killing at least 15 people.
At least 24 others were wounded in the accident, which occurred in Girzah district of 6th of October province, said Egypt’s official Middle East News Agency.
Emergency personnel were working to extract the dead and wounded from the trains, said a police official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to talk to the media.
The train that caused the collision was travelling from Cairo to the southern city of Assuit, while the one that was impacted was travelling from Giza province to the oasis town of Fayoum, said the news agency.
Egypt has a poor safety record on its railways, and there are several fatal accident each year, usually blamed on poorly maintained equipment.
The worst recent disaster took place in February 2002 when a train heading to southern Egypt caught fire, killing 363 people.
At least 24 others were wounded in the accident, which occurred in Girzah district of 6th of October province, said Egypt’s official Middle East News Agency.
Emergency personnel were working to extract the dead and wounded from the trains, said a police official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to talk to the media.
The train that caused the collision was travelling from Cairo to the southern city of Assuit, while the one that was impacted was travelling from Giza province to the oasis town of Fayoum, said the news agency.
Egypt has a poor safety record on its railways, and there are several fatal accident each year, usually blamed on poorly maintained equipment.
The worst recent disaster took place in February 2002 when a train heading to southern Egypt caught fire, killing 363 people.
Ulster go top after win over Leinster
Ulster 16 Leinster 14
Ulster’s fourth Magners League win saw them go top of the table after digging deep to see off the current Heineken Cup holders.
Three penalties and a conversion by Ian Humphreys from a second-half try from Isaac Boss saw Ulster home, though a late converted try from the last move of the game from substitute Luke Fitzgerald saw Leinster grab a valuable bonus point.
Ulster, who were without Paddy Wallace due to the Irish Rugby Football Union’s player management programme and Stephen Ferris because of an ankle injury, played the conditions with far more intelligence than their star-studded opponents, who suffered their second league defeat.
With the swirling wind and rain behind them, it was no surprise when Leinster had the opening scoring opportunity after Ian Whitten was penalised for going off his feet at a ruck, however outside half Shaun Berne was wide with his opening effort from about 40 metres.
The missed penalty certainly set the template for much of the opening half, as neither side managed to get the scoreboard ticking over until a late flurry of points at the end of the half.
Berne missed two more penalty attempts before a marvellous forward effort from Ulster – when they retained the ball for around 10 phases – resulted in Leinster hooker Bernard Jackman being sent to the bin after referee Andrew Small blew with the Leinster tryline open for Humphreys and Andrew Trimble.
Humphreys landed the penalty into the teeth of the gale but then, from the restart, Leinster turned the screw and, with Brian O’Driscoll pulling the strings, they surged towards Ulster’s line in injury time.
Tamaiti Horua was binned for killing the ball, and Leinster ran the penalty with O’Driscoll putting Berne clear for the right corner. The Leinster outside half superbly converted and, suddenly, the visitors trooped off 7-3 in front.
With the conditions now behind Ulster, Humphreys narrowed the deficit with a second penalty five minutes after the resumption and then, three minutes later, Boss scooped a ball up from a ruck and broke down the blindside to run in from just short of 50 metres.
Humphreys made the tight angle conversion to give his side the lead 13-7 and was then just short with a penalty attempt from 55 metres.
Leinster were pinned at a scrum on Ulster’s line and then saw substitute Jonathan Sexton spill an inside flip pass from O’Driscoll with the Ulster line open.
All that remained was Humphreys’ 73rd-minute strike which seemed to take it beyond the visitors, until that is Isa Nacewa’s chip through for Fitzgerald, which Sexton then converted.
Win over Ballynahinch puts Dungannon second
Dungannon 13 Ballynahinch 8
Dungannon's triumph over Ballynahinch in a well-contested Ulster derby at Stevenson Park has moved them up to second place in AIB League Division 1B.
Tries in each half from winger Craig Gilroy and full-back John McGuckin, both off well-placed chip kicks, saw John Andrews' men claim their second league win.
The Tyrone side led 8-3 at the interval, thanks to Gilroy’s touchdown and a penalty from McGuckin.
‘Hinch had the wind but could only muster a penalty from their Kiwi out-half Ryan Bambry.
Both sides deserve credit for trying to cope with the heavy wind and rain and the visitors, who lost their grip on the AIB Cup last season, rose to the challenge.
They pinched a lineout in the Dungannon 22 and worked Ireland Under-20 winger Nevin Spence over in the corner for an unconverted try.
Yet the decisive moment came when McGuckin was able to run onto a chip over the top and cross for the match-winning try.
‘Gannon had many heroes on the day but flanker Ali Birch stood out, covering every blade of grass in another typically committed performance.
Scorers:
Dungannon: Tries: Craig Gilroy, John McGuckin; Pen: John McGuckin
Ballynahinch: Try: Nevin Spence; Pen: Ryan Bambry
HT: Dungannon 8 Ballynahinch 3
Dungannon's triumph over Ballynahinch in a well-contested Ulster derby at Stevenson Park has moved them up to second place in AIB League Division 1B.
Tries in each half from winger Craig Gilroy and full-back John McGuckin, both off well-placed chip kicks, saw John Andrews' men claim their second league win.
The Tyrone side led 8-3 at the interval, thanks to Gilroy’s touchdown and a penalty from McGuckin.
‘Hinch had the wind but could only muster a penalty from their Kiwi out-half Ryan Bambry.
Both sides deserve credit for trying to cope with the heavy wind and rain and the visitors, who lost their grip on the AIB Cup last season, rose to the challenge.
They pinched a lineout in the Dungannon 22 and worked Ireland Under-20 winger Nevin Spence over in the corner for an unconverted try.
Yet the decisive moment came when McGuckin was able to run onto a chip over the top and cross for the match-winning try.
‘Gannon had many heroes on the day but flanker Ali Birch stood out, covering every blade of grass in another typically committed performance.
Scorers:
Dungannon: Tries: Craig Gilroy, John McGuckin; Pen: John McGuckin
Ballynahinch: Try: Nevin Spence; Pen: Ryan Bambry
HT: Dungannon 8 Ballynahinch 3
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)