World News Briefs -- May 15, 2015

Time: Attempted Coup in Burundi Fails But Tensions Linger

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned “attempts to oust elected governments by military force”

Ambition and ideology, it seems, got the best of Burundian coup plotter Godefroid Niyombare. After nearly 36 hours of chaos and tension, in which a military force divided between those loyal to embattled President Pierre Nkurunziza and soldiers supporting his ouster battled for control of the capital’s airport and media assets, the former intelligence chief was forced to concede that his coup had failed. “We have decided to surrender,” Niyombare told the French news agency AFP in Burundi. “I hope they won’t kill us.” Niyombare is still at large, but the police have detained three other coup leaders. “We decided to give ourselves up,” the coup leaders’ spokesman, Zenon Ndabaneze, told AFP by telephone just seconds before his arrest. “We have laid down our arms. We have called the security ministry to tell them we no longer have any arms.”

MIDDLE EAST

Obama vows ‘ironclad’ support to Gulf states.

Fighting continues in Yemeni city despite truce, 10 killed.

Islamic State crisis: Militants seize Ramadi stronghold. IS group seizes government compound in Iraq's Ramadi. Islamic State raises flag over local government building in Iraq's Ramadi.

Syrian forces battle IS near ancient ruins of Palmyra. Syria deploys reinforcements as IS group closes in on ancient city.

Iran prepared for all scenarios in nuclear talks: negotiator. Iran's Zarif says nuclear deal "very likely": Spiegel.

Israel to target civilians areas in future war against Hezbollah.

Israeli government to refugees: Go back to Africa or go to prison.

ASIA

Wreckage of missing U.S. helicopter found in Nepal; no survivors.

1,000 migrants land in Indonesia, Thailand in growing crisis. Thailand, Indonesia face migrant crisis.

Pakistani military: Airstrikes target militant hideouts near Afghan border, killing 15.

Pakistan officials question group's claim of Islamic State funding.

India scales back army corps facing China, pours funds into carrier.

Myanmar extends martial law in area near China border.

China says five injured by artillery shells from Myanmar.

Beijing says Philippines, U.S. 'exaggerate China threat' in sea dispute.

China is staking stronger claims in the South China Sea on eve of Kerry's Beijing visit.

China indicts rights lawyer in defiance of U.S. plea for release.

India & China seal record 24 deals estimated at $10bn.

AFRICA

Burundi coup figure admits defeat after day of fighting in capital.

Burundian crisis triggers civilian mass exodus.

Boko Haram attacks outskirts of Nigeria's Maiduguri.

UN says ‘war crimes’ committed in Libya.

South Sudan army committed ‘grave’ abuses, say neighbouring states.

Mali peace deal in danger as fierce fighting flares.

Israel says Egypt buying advanced Russian air defense system.

EUROPE

Russia says to boost military presence in Crimea: RIA.

Russia's economy falls in first quarter as woes mount.

Russia targets 'undesirable' foreign organisations.

Russia urges EU to support gas pipeline crossing Turkey.

Russia will not backtrack on Kosovo, FM says in Serbia.

UK PM Cameron meets Nicola Sturgeon for Scotland talks.

France ready for swift EU reform proposals from Cameron.

Cyprus leaders resume talks on decades-old dispute.

AMERICAS

US and Cuba table next round of talks on opening embassies.

Colombia defies U.S. and halts spraying of cocaine crops.

Venezuela continues to deteriorate in lead-up to parliamentary elections.

Rousseff's main ally eyes Brazil's presidency in 2018.

China to invest $50bn in Brazil infrastructure.

Deaths in Chile student protests.

Philadelphia train crash engineer lays low as scrutiny heats up.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

ISIS leader declares ‘Islam was never a religion of peace. Islam is the religion of fighting’ as he calls on Muslims to ‘fight for the Caliphate’ in new audio message.

Senate proposal to close Gitmo will face stiff opposition.

Ex-Bin Laden aide sentenced to life in embassy bombings.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

ICANN sees privatization of Internet management soon.

Private jets have more fatal accidents than commercial planes.

How China threw its rare earths monopoly away.