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News Roll
An effective Paralysis of the Constitutional Tribunal
An effective paralysis of the Constitutional Tribunal in Poland.European Parliament condemned Warsaw’s actions against the country’s Constitutional Court. The government’s “effective paralysis” of the top court is a menace to the country’s democratic order, it said.European Parliament lawmakers adopted a resolution on Wednesday, saying they were “seriously concerned that the effective paralysis of the Constitutional Tribunal in Poland poses a danger to democracy, human rights and the rule of law.” The document was passed by a 513-142 vote with 30 abstentions in Strasbourg, France.Although non-binding, the resolution could result in the EU taking further measures, which might go as far as suspending Poland’s voting rights in the blocAzerbaijan ready for political process to resolve Karabakh crisis – FM
Azerbaijan is ready to begin a political process to regulate the crisis in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said on Thursday. Baku is ready to start a political process “on the basis of four existing UN Security Council resolutions calling for immediate withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the occupied territories,” Sputnik quoted the minister as saying. Azerbaijan’s “territorial integrity on the basis of internationally recognized borders must be ensured,” Mammadyarov told the Azertac news agency, adding that starting the political process is possible “based on these principles.”US reveals ships start joint patrols in S. China Sea with Philippines
The US on Thursday revealed for the first time that American ships have begun conducting joint patrols with the Philippines in the South China Sea, AP reported. The move is not done with other US partners in the region. Defense Secretary Ash Carter also announced at a joint news conference with Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmi that the US will be keeping nearly 300 troops in the Philippines through the end of the month. They will include Air Force commandos armed with combat aircraft and helicopters, part of a military build-up that could inflame tensions with Beijing in the South China Sea. The US will also begin sending forces on increased rotations into the Philippines, and up to 75 Marines will stay at Camp Aguinaldo to support increased combined military operations in the region.Ambassadors of Britain, France and Spain arrive in Libya
The ambassadors of Britain, France and Spain arrived in the Libyan capital on Thursday, AFP reported. They are expected to support the new unity government, seeking to end the country’s turmoil. The visit is the first by the European envoys to Tripoli since EU member states decided to close their embassies in mid-2014 because of unrest.UN reopens Syria peace talks, pushes for new pledge to uphold truce
UN envoy Staffan de Mistura opened a new round of Syria peace talks on Wednesday, stressing that he wants to see a renewed pledge to uphold an unsteady truce in the region, where violence has not ceased. He added that during his recent meetings with senior officials in Moscow, Damascus, Tehran and Amman, all parties had indicated support and expressed interest in a discussion aiming at a political transition in Syria. “They all [Moscow, Tehran, Amman, Damascus] indicated interest and support, actually, in the progress of a political discussion aiming at a political transition. And with all of them I’m being very clear that what we aim at is actually an agenda which is based on political transition with the issue of governance and constitution,” de Mistura said.Homeless Pole caused Amsterdam Airport evacuation
The evacuation of the Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam has been prompted by a homeless Polish citizen, who claimed to be a terrorist, Dutch military police said on Wednesday. Heavily armed military police had to evacuate and search through the commercial area of the Schiphol airport late on Tuesday, when the alarm was raised. They detained “a 25-year-old Polish man without fixed address… who told officers he was a terrorist.” Police claim the young man was “under the influence of alcohol.” His name was not disclosed. His two backpacks were searched, but no dangerous substances were found. The Dutch prosecutor’s office is to decide what charges are to be brought against the unnamed perpetrator.Germany ‘to take days’ to study Turkey’s protests over Erdogan poem – Merkel
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday that her government will study Turkey’s complaint against a German satirist who read out an insulting poem about President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on TV, TASS reported. Merkel said the process of studying Ankara’s note will take “days, but not weeks.” She has been criticized by opposition and media outlets for not rejecting a request by Turkey to open a court case against comedian Jan Bohmermann. On Tuesday, Merkel responded saying that basic democratic values have utmost importance for her government, irrespective of a recent deal with Turkey on solving the refugee crisis. The Turkey-EU migrant agreement will not be affected by the scandal over the poem, according to the chancellor.India’s long coastline offers huge investment opportunities, says PM Modi 
Apr 14Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India’s long coastline offers huge investment opportunities, and this is the right time for global communities to come and invest in maritime industry. He was addressing the first ever Global Maritime India Summit 2016 organised in Mumbai today. Prime Minister said that coastal way is the most eco friendly and cheapest way for international trade and his government is focusing to increase the maritime trade capacity from 1400 million tonnes to 3000 million tonne up to 2025.Mr. Modi further said, the government will mobilise Rs 1 lakh crore for port-led growth. He said, his government wants to modernise ports and integrate them with SEZs. Unveiling the National Perspective Plan of Sagaramala programme, Mr. Modi said 10 million jobs will be created under the programme in next 10 years. Giving emphasis on coastal trade, Prime Minister said that our lifestyle, transport system and trading behaviours should not disturb ecology. He also emphasised the need for collective efforts to curb sea piracy.Prime Minister said that Shipping ministry’s efforts to increase the capacity of port and coastal trade area clearly visible today. FDI inflow in shipping sector has increased. He assured investors that a number of initiatives would be taken for ease of doing business and appealed them to invest in maritime business.Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said the National Perspective plan for Infrastructure Development will open up vast investment opportunities. Korea Minister of Shipping and fisheries Kim Young Suk assured that South Korea will extend all support in terms of expertise and technology to India and expressed readiness to work on collaboration.Earlier, rich tributes were paid to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar on his 125th birth anniversary today and his contributions to the fields of Power and Maritime were profoundly remembered. Over 3000 delegates from 41 countries including about 50 CEOs of maritime Industry are taking part in the three-day summit. An exhibition which saw participation of over 200 maritime industry members has been set up. Demos of latest technology and state of the art technology are also being offered.South Korea’s opposition party wins general election 
Apr 14In South Korea, main opposition party has won yesterday’s general election, ending the the conservative ruling party’s 16-year parliamentary majority. The vote dealt a blow to President Park Geun-Hye and raised hopes for an opposition victory in the 2017 presidential election. With almost all ballots counted, Park’s Saenuri Party won 122 seats in the 300-member National Assembly, while the main opposition Minjoo Party won 123.The splinter opposition People’s Party bagged 38 spots, and another six seats went to a small opposition party, the Justice Party. It was for the first time since 1999 that the conservative party has lost control of parliament, with the three opposition parties garnering a combined 167 seats, well over the majority. Voter turnout was 58 per cent, up 3.8 percentage points from the 2012 election, and final official results is expected today.media agencies
KOBE SCORES 60 POINTS IN UNBELIEVABLE FAREWELL VICTORY
LOS ANGELES: Kobe Bryant scored 60 incredible points. He carried a miserable Los Angeles Lakers team to an improbable comeback victory.
And with sweat and confetti all over his gold uniform for the final time, he expressed humble thanks to his fans and family for their loving support over two decades.
“What else can I say?” Bryant asked. “Mamba out.”
Now that’s a Hollywood ending to a remarkable career.
Bryant utterly dominated his final game Wednesday night, wrapping up 20 NBA seasons with one last offensive showcase in the Lakers’ 101-96 victory over the Utah Jazz.
He scored 23 points in the fourth quarter, posting his first 50-point game since February 2009 and rallying the Lakers from a 15-point deficit to win the final game of the worst season in franchise history.
It was messy, ridiculous and magical – even to the man who did it so many times over 20 years.
“It’s hard to believe it happened this way,” Bryant said. “I’m still shocked about it.”
With the entire Staples Center crowd standing, Bryant made a 3-pointer with 59 seconds left. He hit another with 31 seconds to play, putting the Lakers ahead 97-96. He finished with an assist before checking out for good with 4.1 seconds left in just the Lakers’ 17th win of the season.
“The perfect ending would have been a championship,” Bryant said with a smile. “But tonight was (me) trying to go out, play hard and try to put on a show as much as I possibly could. It felt good to be able to do that one last time.”
Bryant and his teammates conspired for one last omnivorous scoring performance by the third-leading scorer in NBA history. He played 42 minutes and took a career-high 50 shots, his teammates attempting to set him up for points on nearly every possession.
Kobe came up with the fifth highest-scoring game of his career. He became the oldest player to score 50 points in an NBA game with his highest-scoring performance since getting 61 against New York in 2009 – oh, and he had four assists and four rebounds.
The entire night was a tribute to Bryant, who is retiring after 20 seasons, five championship rings and 18 All-Star selections with the Lakers, who honored him before and after the game. Bryant is just the fifth player in NBA history to play 20 seasons, and the first with just one team.
“I think the most important part is that we all stayed together throughout,” Bryant said to the crowd. “You’ll always be in my heart, and I sincerely, sincerely appreciate it. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love you guys.”
He also had a few laughs after finishing his 1,346th regular-season game with 33,643 career points.
“The thing that had me cracking up all night long is, I go through 20 years of everybody screaming to pass the ball,” Bryant said with a grin. “And then the last night, they’re like, `Don’t pass it!”‘
It was daylong tribute with thousands of fans thronging the downtown streets around Staples Center and chanting his name from early afternoon. Fans lucky enough to get inside Staples Center greeted him with ovations at every opportunity. Magic Johnson anchored a brief pregame tribute by calling Bryant “the biggest and greatest celebrity we’ve had in this town for 20 years” and “the greatest to wear the purple and gold.”
Bryant embraced his roles as a hero and villain throughout his career, and he mentioned the duality in describing his outlook on sports afterward. He had rocky times in Los Angeles, from his sexual assault charge in Colorado in 2003 to his feud with Shaquille O’Neal, who watched the finale at courtside.
It was all forgotten by the time Bryant took the Staples court for the final time.
The Lakers snapped a six-game skid in their final outing, but their demanding fans could forget about the awful season for one night.
Trey Lyles scored 18 points and Gordon Hayward had 17 for the Jazz, who were eliminated from playoff contention shortly before tipoff by Houston’s win over the Sacramento Kings. The Jazz played defense, but Bryant’s persistence wore them down.
Lakers: Bryant surpassed his previous career high of 47 shots, taken in a loss to Boston on Nov. 7, 2002. … Los Angeles has missed the playoffs in three straight seasons, the longest drought in franchise history. … Bryant shot his 10,000th free throw to complete an early three-point play. … Jordan Clarkson’s 12 points were the second-most by the Lakers.
Quake of M6.9 – BURMA
| Magnitude | 6.9 |
| Date-Time |
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| Location | 23.133N 94.900E |
| Depth | 134 km |
| Distances |
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| Location Uncertainty | Horizontal: 7.0 km; Vertical 6.1 km |
| Parameters | Nph = 130; Dmin = 409.7 km; Rmss = 1.17 seconds; Gp = 23° Version = |
| Event ID | us 20005hqz |
For updates, maps, and technical information, see: Event Page or USGS Earthquake Hazards Program
7 Insider Tips to Rock Your Social Media Presence
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A Narration of Police Brutality – Intellectual Anarchy!
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