While you were sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed early morning of Oct 16

Police officers walk along a road on their way to forcing pro-democracy protesters to move back near the central government offices in Hong Kong on Oct 16, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Police officers walk along a road on their way to forcing pro-democracy protesters to move back near the central government offices in Hong Kong on Oct 16, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Hong Kong protests: HK legal chief says govt 'impartial' on police brutality

Hong Kong's justice chief insisted Wednesday that any prosecution of plain-clothes officers who were filmed beating a handcuffed protester would be handled impartially, as fresh clashes broke out on the city's streets.

The accused officers were removed from their posts after the assault, which occurred early Wednesday when police swooped to clear newly erected barricades blocking a road near government headquarters in the city's Admiralty district.

Just 24 hours later a small contingent attempted to retake an underpass on the same road, leading to a confrontation that saw protesters pepper-sprayed and police heckled with chants accusing them of links with criminal triad gangs.

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Drone stunt at Serbia-Albania soccer match causes diplomatic row

Serbia summoned the Albanian ambasssador on Wednesday to protest at an incendiary flag-flying stunt at an international soccer match that caused a brawl on the pitch and set back hopes for detente between the Balkan neighbours.

Tuesday's Serbia-Albania Euro 2016 qualifier - at which Albanian fans were barred due to tensions between the two countries - was called off when a remote-controlled plane flew a the flag of "Greater Albania" above the field, sparking a brawl that forced the Albanian players to flee.

With the countries trading accusations of xenophobia and extremism, a visit by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama to Belgrade next week, that was meant to mark a new chapter in their troubled history, looked at risk of being cancelled.

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Ohio traces contacts of second nurse with Ebola, as Cleveland activates emergency command centre

The Ohio Health Department was racing to trace contacts of a second Texas nurse diagnosed with Ebola who flew from Cleveland to Dallas one day before she tested positive for the virus, as city officials here said they immediately activated an "emergency command centre" after being informed of the woman's visit.

Cleveland Department of Public Health director Toinette Parrilla told a news conference that her department has an emergency response plan and that she had called up all its appropriate team members. They have very specific roles for "situation awareness so that we are in constant communication, that we have up-to-date information, to protect all of our Clevelanders and all of our visitors", she said.

The victim - the second nurse to have been stricken with the deadly virus after treating Liberian patient Thomas Eric Duncan in Dallas - was identified to Reuters by her grandmother as Amber Vinson, 29. She was isolated immediately after reporting a fever on Tuesday, Texas Department of State Health Services officials said.

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US stocks sink in turbulent day of trade

Stocks on Wednesday finished a turbulent day in the red, rallying somewhat from a huge midday drop spurred by worries over global economic weakness and the Ebola epidemic.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 173.45 points (1.06 per cent) to 16,141.74. The blue-chip index had fallen more than 400 points earlier in the session.

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Golf: Martin Kaymer beats Bubba Watson in playoff to win Slam crown

Reigning US Open champion Martin Kaymer of Germany birdied the first playoff hole on Wednesday to defeat reigning Masters champion Bubba Watson and win the 32nd PGA Grand Slam of Golf.

Kaymer, who collected his second career major title last June at Pinehurst, and Watson, the big-hitting US star who won his second green jacket last April, each finished the 36-hole showdown of major winners on six-under par 136 at Bermuda's Port Royal layout.

But in a replay of the 18th hole that both parred in the final round, Kaymer birdied on a 10-foot putt similar to one on the same line he had faced a few minutes earlier from twice the distance while Watson missed a short birdie bid to hand Kaymer the crown.

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