DAP: The breaking news in Cambodia: “Cambodian Foreign Minister sends a letter to Minister of Foreign Affairs Republic of Indonesia” plus 9 more

DUBLIN, May 23 (Xinhua) -- A tiny village on a little island received more than its 15 minutes of fame Monday, when U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama arrived by helicopter and then bullet-proof convoy to visit Moneygall in central Ireland's Offaly County.
The town began preparing for the moment months ago, when Obama announced  on St. Patrick's Day in March this year that he would visit Ireland in May.
Over 100 flag poles were erected, flying 50 Irish tri-color flags alongside 50 stars-and-stripes. Paint manufacturer donated paint to help townspeople refresh every building along the main thoroughfare.
The First Couple of the United States were greeted by around 3,000 well-wishers with tickets and security clearance, who stood behind security barriers as the entourage arrived.
In bouts of heavy showers and strong winds, the two shook hands, held babies, and posed for photos as dozens of secret service men looked on.
They continued to greet the public for almost half an hour before darting into the house now standing at the site of Obama's ancestral homestead to escape a downpour of rain.
Before its day in the limelight of international media, Moneygall was a little known village on the border of Tipperary and Offaly counties, with one school, five shops and two pubs.
During Obama's 2008 presidential campaign, genealogists discovered the village to be the ancestral home of Obama's grand-father's grandfather on his mother's side, a shoemaker by the name of Falmouth Kearney.
Obama's visit to his ancestral village was a highlight of his whirlwind visit of less than 12 hours to Ireland.
The White House had stated that the purpose of this visit was to highlight the "strong affinity" between the two countries. Obama's staff had also conveyed that the president wanted the Moneygall visit to be an engagement with the people and not with VIPs or officials.
The images, of the Obama's reuniting with his distant Irish cousins at one of Moneygall's pubs where they stayed long enough to have a pint of Guinness, paint a perfect picture of that affinity.
"I first had one of these in Shannon Airport on my way to Afghanistan," Obama joked after taking a respectable first swig of the Irish stout.
"It was delicious and much better than the Guinness in the United States. That's when I realized that you guys keep the best stuff at home," he said
Obama is among several U.S. presidents who have Irish ancestry, including John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and the Bushes. His visit to the village will likely go down well with Irish emigres living in his country, and help his reelection efforts in 2012.
Though known as the first African American president, Obama did not grow up with his Kenyan father. Much of his upbringing was strongly influenced by his Caucasian maternal grandparents, Madelyn Lee Payne Dunham and Stanley Armour Dunham (Kearney's grandson) who had raised him since the age of 10.
"Obama demonstrates the changing concept of having Irish roots," said journalist Mark Little. "He is the new diaspora. You can have a name like Barack Hussein Obama and still have Irish roots."

STOCKHOLM, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Iceland's main international airport Reykjavik-Keflavik reopened on Monday evening, according to information released from the airport.
The airport was closed on Sunday due to the volcanic eruption in Grimsvotn in southwest of Vatnajokull in Iceland.
The Keflavik International Airport website shows that flights to London's Heathrow airport departed at 18:33 local time and the flight from Amsterdam landed at 19:16 local time, and all the following flights time have also been confirmed.
The ash plume near Grimsvotn reached 5-7 kilometers in the air on Monday.Though the eruption intensity remained steady through the day, it decreased significantly from Sunday's peak.
According to geophysicists at the University of Iceland, this eruption is very different from the chaotic eruption in Eyjafjallajokull last year. The eruption this time is projecting basaltic magma, which is rarely explosive by itself.
"The volcano has also emitted a lot of sulphur dioxide that has been spreading north and northeast," said Fred Prata with the Norwegian Institute for Air Research.
Because this has been a high eruption there is less likelihood that it will affect continental and European aviation, said the expert, who  is also an expert in the remote sensing of volcanic plumes and the leader of ESA's Support to Aviation for Volcanic Ash Avoidance project.
Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs Ossur Skarphedinsson stressed that the aviation in Europe would not come to a standstill as of last year.
"The weather conditions are different and the ash particles are coarser,"the minister explained, adding that the Icelandic government was cooperating closely with European aviation authorities on information distribution and other relative issues.
The Grimsvotn volcano erupted on Saturday, with plumes of smoke shooting as high as 20 kilometer into the sky. The eruption is the most powerful one in its own history since 1873 and stronger than the Eyjafjallajokull volcanic eruption last year.

BEIRUT, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The envoys of the United Nations and the European Union to Lebanon on Monday called for release of the seven Estonian cyclists kidnapped in Lebanon in March, showing that their detention could ruin Lebanon's international reputation.
Head of the EU delegation Angelina Eichhorst and U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams made the appeal as the seven people have been kidnapped by unknown assailants for two months in the Bekaa Valley, east of Beirut.
"These bicyclists came to Lebanon as tourists, with no ill intent. No purpose whatsoever is served by their continued detention," the statement said. "This criminal act is a reminder of a dark part in Lebanon's history, which could threaten Lebanon' s standing in the international community."
A statement released by the two diplomats' offices said that the EU and the U.N. had been "closely" following the search by the Lebanese authorities for the seven men, "whose abduction and continued detention is a violation of the most basic human rights. "
While Lebanese authorities said they have no information on where the seven cyclists are being held, a video released Friday showed the men appealing for their release and accused the Estonian government of giving up on the search.
Williams and Eichhorst paid tribute to the efforts exerted by Lebanese security to free the seven Estonians.
"We commend the Lebanese authorities for the steps they have undertaken but emphasize that no effort must be spared to bring these men safely back to their country and to their families. We hope this issue will be resolved very soon," they said.

PARIS, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The Paris-based UN cultural branch started on Monday a week-long celebration for African development and culture with film screenings, art exhibitions, and thematic debates reflecting that continent.
This special week is organized by the African group of UNESCO Member States under the presidency of Republic of Congo at the UNESCO headquarters, the UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said on Monday.
Thematic debates will focus on  the role of women and youth in the African Renaissance and the construction of peace and Africa's importance in the fields of UNESCO. There will also be three films on screen and week-long exhibitions on Africa.
The five-day activity will be concluded on May 27 with a conference on Africa and the International Year of Chemistry followed by a Gala on that night.

MOSCOW, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Libyan opposition's envoy from the Interim Transitional National Council on Monday said here that they would not hold any talks with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
The envoy, who is also a former Libyan foreign minister, Abdul- Rahman Shalgam, made the remarks in a press conference after his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
"Who must cease fire? Gaddafi must," Shalgam said, adding that "We will have peace and no gunfire when Gaddafi steps down from power or leaves the country."
Meanwhile, Shalgam said that the dialogue between them and Moscow was "desirable."
"We want it very much to be in touch with Russia, because it is a very important country, a permanent member of the UN Security Council," he added.
Earlier on the day, Lavrov said the main aim of the meeting between Russia and the Libyan opposition is to gain a cease-fire in Libya.
With regard to NATO's possible ground military operation in Libya, Shalgam said that the opposition stood firmly against any ground operations.
However, he still supported NATO's operations in Libya, saying that western coalition has been operating to protect the Libyan people under the UN mandate but not on their own initiative.
NATO said its air campaign had rolled back the ability of government forces to attack the opposition fighters and their supporters, and had effectively forced Gaddafi himself into hiding.
However, the three-month conflict seems to have reached in a deadlock, as the opposition controls the east part of Libya and some of the west but cannot advance westward further to the capital of Tripoli.

HELSINKI, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Finnish high-tech company Savo- Solar has developed a new type of solar power collector, which employs nano coating for efficient solar energy collection, according to local media reports on Monday.
The new type solar power collector is considerably more efficient than competing products in the market. The system employs direct flow technology, allowing water to circulate in the absorber itself, which can reduce the loss of energy and improve the heat transfer.
The three-layer nano clothing of the collector can minimize the amount of light reflected off from the device, enabling a larger portion of solar energy to be absorbed into the system.
The new solar collector can also work under high temperature. It has been tested in temperatures exceeding 300 degrees centigrade.
The company plans to manufacture the collectors later this year.

MILAN, Italy, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Culture plays a fundamental role in the relations between Italy and China,  President of Italy' s luxury car maker Ferrari Luca Cordero di Montezemolo told a conference here on Monday.
"Speaking of China, there are three big aspects to consider: China's growing political role in the international scene, its fast development and cultural richness," Cordero di Montezemolo said at "China Watcher"annual conference in Milan.
In this process, the cultural aspect plays a very important role, Cordero di Montezemolo told Xinhua, adding that Italy and China share a millenary culture and a great past.
He expected that a growing number of Chinese tourists will visit Italy, and more and more Chinese students will choose the Mediterranean country as their study destination, "as they will be the future best ambassadors of Italy in China".
Cordero di Montezemolo also noted that a common strategy, a strong commitment and above all a system of clear rules are necessary to further enhance relations between the two countries.
"To the many Italian small companies that count less than 50 employees but have excellent brands, China is not only a fundamental export market, but it can become a growth territory when they are able to build joint ventures with good local partners,"he said.
Moreover, for Italian companies, China can act like "a bridge" to reach other Far Eastern countries that are significantly developing such as Vietnam and South Korea, he added.
Speaking of Italy's Ferrari, the president said that by the end of 2011, the so-called Greater China, which comprehends China' s mainland, Taiwan and Hong Kong, will become the Italian company' s second reference market after the U.S..
"Excellent products, a good dealer network and awareness of the brand are what distinguish Ferrari's strategy in China,"he said, adding that Ferrari plans to open other stores and new merchandizing stores in China, to increase investments in the after-marketing, and to launch an exclusive series for the Chinese market.

WASHINGTON, May 23 (Xinhua)-- The economic recovery in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is gaining strength, supported by a favorable global environment but subject to increased regional uncertainty, according to a report released by the International Monetary Fund on Monday.
The Washington based international lender projected that growth of real gross domestic product -- the broad measure of overall economy -- in the country to accelerate to 3.3 percent in 2011 from 2.1 percent in 2010, reflecting stronger tourism, logistics, and trade in the emirate of Dubai; and large public investment spending in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, including through Government- Related Entities (GREs).
Higher oil prices are also contributing to a marked improvement in the fiscal and external positions of the oil-rich Arabian country.
The IMF report noted despite higher international food prices, the inflation rate at consumer level is expected to remain moderate at 4.5 percent in the country, as property rents continue to decline. Besides, the UAE's unemployment rate is at low level of 4.2 percent.
However, the fund pointed out that risks to the country's economic recovery remain, including from possible economic spillovers of regional events. In particular, the current re- pricing of geopolitical risk in the region could lead to more challenging market conditions, which may put pressure on the entities that need to roll over external borrowing.
The IMF also warned that the excess supply of property in Dubai, and the uncertainty regarding the scale of oversupply in the emirate, will continue to weigh on growth in the UAE. The more than 100 percent of GDP, Dubai's GRE debt is large and roll-over needs are expected to remain substantial for the medium term, posing continued fiscal and financial risks to the UAE overall.
As for policy response to the still fragile recovery, the fund suggested the country focus on supporting domestic demand, and adjust to the economic spillovers from the unfolding regional events in the short term.

LONDON, May 23 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama accompanied by First Lady Michelle Obama began his three-day state visit to Britain on Monday night.
They arrived in Britain earlier than the scheduled Tuesday morning on worries of possible disruption to air travel caused by the Icelandic ash cloud. The White House press office said their schedule for Tuesday would proceed as planned.
At the invitation of Britain Queen Elizabeth II, the president and his wife will stay at Buckingham Palace during their first state visit to Britain. Last time they were invited to have tea in the palace with the British monarch when visiting London for the G20 summit in April 2009.
According to the schedule released by the British Foreign Office, Obama will hold talks with British Prime Minister David Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and will address members of both Houses of Parliament at Westminster Hall during his visit.   
Observers say it is rare for a foreign head of state to make such an address in Westminster Hall, which is usually reserved for British monarchs.
Earlier on Monday afternoon before Obama's arrival, the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague held talks in London on recent political unrest in countries like Libya, Syria, Sudan and Yemen.
Hague and Clinton underlined the close relationship between the two countries in a joint press conference after their talk. Hague said the two countries stood side by side on issues like the Middle East peace process while Clinton described the U.S. and Britain had "a great working relationship."
Obama and the first lady will leave for France to attend G8 summit early Thursday.