Xinhua world news summary at 1530 GMT, May 6

The Dail Eireann,the lower house of Irish parliament, voted on Friday to seat Fine Gael (United Ireland Party) leader Enda Kenny as Taoiseach (prime minister).

Kenny, current caretaker Taoiseach, was nominated for the position for the fourth time since the Feb. 26 general election. (Ireland-Government)

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PYONGYANG -- The Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), the ruling party of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), opened its 7th Congress on Friday.

It is the first WPK congress in 36 years and the first under the leadership of Kim Jong Un. (DPRK-Ruling Party-Congress)

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VIENTIANE -- The possibility of direct flights from Vientiane to Rangon and Luang Prabang to Bagan was discussed as Myanmar's President U Htin Kyaw met counterpart President of Laos Bounnhang Vorachith in the Lao capital Vientiane Friday.

The two sides confirmed willingness to deepen bilateral ties in trade, investment, education and tourism according to the countries' Joint Commission for Cooperation framework which vowed to enhance political and security cooperation at its 11th meeting held in Nay Pyi Taw in March last year. (Laos-Myanmar-Visit)

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WASHINGTON -- The U.S. economy added fewer jobs in April than the first three months of this year, with the unemployment rate remaining unchanged from March at 5 percent, said the Labor Department on Friday.

The total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 160,000 in April, far below the market-expected 200,000 and the slowest pace in seven months. From January to March, job gains averaged at 200,000 per month. (U.S.-Employment) Endi