Obama cites peace in Northern Ireland, alluding to Middle East

Reporting from Dublin, Ireland—
Lauding the ability of former warring sides to "reimagine their relationships," President Obama paid tribute to the Northern Ireland peace process during a visit to this once-troubled island, a thinly veiled allusion to the possibility that peace is attainable even in such unlikely places as the Middle East.

Obama did not mention the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by name during remarks after landing in Dublin, the capital of the Republic of Ireland. But he cited the greatly diminished sectarian violence in the British province of Northern Ireland — since the 1998 Good Friday agreement was signed under American guidance — as a beacon to others caught in seemingly intractable conflicts.

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http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-obama-europe-20110524,0,7898913.story

Obama begins tough trip with family time in Ireland

Reporting from Dublin, Ireland—
President Obama lands Monday in Ireland to begin a weeklong visit to Europe, trying to forge a common way forward with allies facing two wars, turmoil in the Middle East, and economies still struggling to recover from the 2008 collapse.

But before he gets down to the hard stuff, Obama will indulge in a dash of the Irish roots politics so beloved by American presidents who trace their ancestry to this island.

The White House and Irish officials planned the one-day stop in Ireland around a drop-in visit to Moneygall, a one-pub village about 48 miles from Dublin on the road to Limerick. In 1850, Fulmouth Kearney, the second son of a Moneygall shoemaker, joined the mass exodus fleeing the Irish famine in hopes of finding a better life in America.

Now, 160 years later, his great-great-great-grandson returns as president of the United States, to be welcomed by a tiny village that sees its own possibilities for prosperity in the connection.

It won't be the first time. Whether greeting Irish American presidents John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan or pouring a pint for Bill Clinton, the Irish have been eager to boast of their ties to the U.S. presidency. And presidents have been happy to go along with propping up an ethnic connection that could appeal to some voters. "There is special symbolism in going to the country of origin for many Americans of European immigrant descent," says Victoria DeFrancesco Soto, a political science professor at Northwestern University.

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http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-obama-europe-20110523,0,7833376.story

London bomb threat shuts down area around Buckingham Palace

Irish militants opposed to the peace process with Britain warned of a bomb in central London on Monday, a day before Queen Elizabeth makes a historic visit to Ireland, security sources said.

"A bomb threat ... has been received relating to central London today. The threat is not specific in relation to location or time," London police said in a statement.

A security source said the caller had used a codeword known to the police, lending credibility to the threat.

The warning came on the eve of the first visit to Ireland by a British monarch in a century and a week before U.S. President Barack Obama makes a state visit to London.

Police said earlier that a security alert had led to the closure of the Mall, a broad avenue leading to Buckingham Palace, Queen Elizabeth's residence, but refused to say what had prompted it.

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http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Latest-News-Wires/2011/0517/London-bomb-threat-shuts-down-area-around-Buckingham-Palace

London bomb threat shuts down area around Buckingham Palace

Irish militants opposed to the peace process with Britain warned of a bomb in central London on Monday, a day before Queen Elizabeth makes a historic visit to Ireland, security sources said.

"A bomb threat ... has been received relating to central London today. The threat is not specific in relation to location or time," London police said in a statement.

A security source said the caller had used a codeword known to the police, lending credibility to the threat.

The warning came on the eve of the first visit to Ireland by a British monarch in a century and a week before U.S. President Barack Obama makes a state visit to London.

Police said earlier that a security alert had led to the closure of the Mall, a broad avenue leading to Buckingham Palace, Queen Elizabeth's residence, but refused to say what had prompted it.

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http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Latest-News-Wires/2011/0517/London-bomb-threat-shuts-down-area-around-Buckingham-Palace

Ireland beefs up security for Queen's trip

The largest security operation in the Republic of Ireland's history is underway amid fears dissident republicans will try to disrupt the Queen's historic four-day visit.

The royal state visit, which starts on Tuesday, is the first by a British sovereign to the south of Ireland since it gained independence from Britain in 1922.

Armed British police officers will patrol the streets alongside thousands of gardai (Irish police) and soldiers to protect the 85-year-old monarch and the Duke of Edinburgh as they travel around the republic.

The massive security operation is focusing on potential terrorist threats as well as plans for "a protest stunt" by breakaway factions opposed to the peace process.

The Queen's itinerary will take her to Dublin and counties Cork, Kildare and Tipperary.

It includes a visit to Croke Park, the scene of a massacre by British troops in 1920, and a wreath laying ceremony at the Garden of Remembrance in Dublin, which honours those who died for Irish freedom.

She will also pay tribute to the 49,400 Irish soldiers who died in World War I at the Irish National War Memorial Garden.

Events will be staged at Trinity College, the Guinness brewery in Dublin, the English Market in Cork, the Rock of Cashel in Tipperary and the world-renowned Thoroughbred racehorse Irish National Stud in Tipperary.

Irish president Mary McAleese said the visit was an extraordinary moment in the history of the island.

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http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/ireland-beefs-up-security-for-queens-trip-20110516-1ep6p.html

Cricketer loses 6 bats at Chinnaswamy stadium

BANGALORE: Ireland wicket keeper-batsman Niall O’Brien has lost his six bats from the dressing room of Chinnaswamy stadium.

He lodged a complaint with Cubbon Park police station on Monday afternoon.

O’Brien has informed the police that his bag, which contained six bats, was found missing after they reached Gardenia Hotel at Vittal Mallya Road from the stadium, said G Ramesh, DCP (Central). He left for his hotel room with bags and took a helper to shift the bags from the stadium. When he reached the hotel, he found one bag with six bats missing.

Meanwhile the police have heard a different version and they suspect O’Brien was making up a “different” story. It is said that he repeated Ricky Ponting’s act at the dressing room. Upset over his run out and the loss to India on Sunday, he is said to have lost temper and broken the glass doors of the dressing room.

When he was warned of informing the matter to the ICC by KSCA officials, he “cooked” up the missing bats story to save his skin, said a source in the police.

There was a high security with around 3,000 police personnel in and around the stadium and also private security guards were watching the stadium to prevent any untoward incidents and there was no possibility of an outsider entering the dressing room and stealing bats. It is not easy for anybody to get away with bats as anyone can make out when the bats are being carried away by an outsider, police said.

Additional Commissioner Sunil Kumar said a missing case has been registered and police are investigating the case. When asked about his unruly behaviour in the dressing room, he said only KSCA authority was in a position to explain it to the police.

O’Brien has stated that his six bats were missing and we are investigating, police said.

With the missing bats, this will be the second incident where an International cricketer has lost his valuables from Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Former Indian leg spinner and now KSCA chairman Anil Kumble had also lost his mobiles phones, coins used for toss, personal diary, cameras with rare photographs and other valuables in July 2010 during a practice session of IPL matches.

The case came to dead end as the police were unable to make any breakthrough.

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http://expressbuzz.com/cities/bangalore/cricketer-loses-6-bats-at-chinnaswamy-stadium/254414.html

Kevin O'Brien the hero as Ireland shock England

England were left in shock and awe as Kevin O'Brien's astonishing display of controlled hitting delivered a damaging blow to their World Cup hopes.
O'Brien (113) hit the fastest hundred in the tournament's history to turn an apparently hopeless situation for Ireland into victory with three wickets and five balls to spare.

From 111 for five in the 25th over under lights, he launched 13 fours and six sixes on his way to and beyond a 50-ball century which spared no English bowler.

Named man of the match O'Brien admitted he could scarcely believe his feat.

He said: "I'm pretty speechless at the moment. To be honest it's the best innings I've ever played since I started playing cricket. I just kept going and kept believing and it went our way.

"When we were 111 for five we could have just pottered around, but I chanced my arm and we didn't look back really. We attacked and it came off."

Kevin is one of five O'Brien brothers to play cricket, with Niall keeping wicket yesterday, and Ger, who is the president of Kevin's club in Ireland - the Railway Union Cricket Club - was not surprised to see him take England's attack apart.

He said: "Over the last six or eight months his batting has really flourished and he was destined to have a big knock.

"I am so proud. I followed some of it on the web and then I got out to see the climax of the game. When he got to 80 I knew he had a chance and he did nearly all of it in boundaries, which was amazing.

"It was amazing to see the English bowlers go around. He took them apart, even Graeme Swann, who is the No 1 spin bowler in the world.

"It is such a great day for Irish cricket. Some bookmakers had Ireland at 400-1 at one stage. I wish I'd not kept my money in pocket."

Kevin O'Brien had a spell with Nottinghamshire in 2009 on a one-day contract and his exploits are sure to attract other counties to him ahead of the 2011 season.

Ireland captain William Porterfield, who was dismissed first ball in his side's reply by James Anderson, hailed the victory as their greatest-ever win.

"It's got to be the greatest, pretty much the greatest day of our lives so far," he said. "Credit to the lads, they kept believing. We'll be looking to put in a performance like that every game."

Alex Cusack claimed Ireland were "on top of the world" after the result. Cusack, who made 47, added: "I'm pretty amazed, words can't described how I'm feeling, just on top of the world."

Cusack paid tribute to the big-hitting O'Brien, adding: "I was just trying to knock it around for Kev because he's got the power. He's got the big shots."

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http://sport.scotsman.com/sport/Kevin-O39Brien-the-hero-as.6727621.jp

Six dead as plane crashes in fog at Ireland airport

A commuter plane crashed and burst into flames, killing six people and injuring another six on Thursday, as it tried to land in heavy fog at Cork Airport in Ireland, officials said.

The turboprop plane travelling from Belfast in Northern Ireland with 12 people on board flipped onto its roof as it made its third attempt to touch down at the airport in southern Ireland.

The crash was the first major air accident in Ireland since 1968 and provoked an outpouring on sympathy from politicians, churchmen and others on both sides of the border.


"I can confirm that we have six fatalities and six people are in hospital," Tom O'Sullivan, a spokesman for Cork County Council, said. Irish police gave the same toll and said four of the injured were in a serious condition.

The white and blue aircraft operated by Manx2.com airlines was left lying upside down, with its front end almost completely destroyed, photographs taken by witnesses showed.

Dozens of rescue workers and emergency vehicles surrounded the plane.

The Irish Aviation Authority said the Spanish-registered 19-seat Fairchild Metroliner SW4 plane was carrying 10 passengers and two flight crew when it crashed. The nationality of the pilots was unclear.

Visibility was so bad that the control tower was unable to see the plane when it crashed, said the authority's chief executive, Eamonn Brennan.

He said the "wind was very light but the visibility was very poor".

The pilots had tried to land on two different runways without success but the plane crashed next to a taxiway while making a third attempt, the aviation authority said in a statement.

"There is a fire, and debris has been scattered onto the runway and over a wide area," the statement said.

Jurgen Whyte, head of Ireland's air accident investigation unit, said officials were "aware the aircraft was making an approach... and as the aircraft was landing a loud bang was heard".

"The emergency services responded immediately to an aircraft that had inverted and had caught fire," Whyte said.

Cork Airport said it was closed until further notice. Incoming flights operated by British Airways, Aer Lingus and Ryanair were diverted to Shannon Airport.

The Roman Catholic Bishop of Cork, John Buckley, was in the area at the time and went directly to the airport to hold prayers with relatives who were waiting in the arrivals hall of the airport.

"The suddenness and scale of this loss of life is shocking," his office said in a statement.

Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen expressed "shock and sadness" while President Mary McAleese said her "thoughts and prayers" were with the families of the victims.

Transport Minister Pat Carey said a full investigation was under way "and may have a Spanish and United Kingdom involvement".

Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson said he was shocked by the "terrible tragedy". Some of the victims were believed to be from the British province.

Manx2 was founded in 2006 and operates flights linking Ireland, Britain and the Isle of Man, where it is based. It began the twice-daily flights from Belfast to Cork in September.

The airline said in a statement that the plane was leased from the Spanish company Flightline BCN.

"We are working with all relevant authorities to establish what happened," it said. "We would like to express our sincere sympathies to the families of those who lost their lives in this tragic accident."

The last major air accident in Ireland was in March 24, 1968 when an Aer Lingus Viscount destined for London crashed into the sea off the southeast of the country with the loss of all 61 people on board.

An experts' report in 2001 ruled out persistent rumours that a rogue British military missile could have caused the accident.

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http://www.smh.com.au/world/six-dead-as-plane-crashes-in-fog-at-ireland-airport-20110211-1aowo.html