Off the wire
• China's food, nutrition security faces challenges: report  • Roundup: DPRK conducts artillery-firing drill near disputed sea border with S.Korea  • Thailand nabs 23 human trafficking suspects  • Fifth event of table tennis in Tokyo Olympics?  • Developed countries dominate in 2015 Human Capital Index, China ranks 64th: WEF  • Shi wins US Women's Open China qualifier  • (Sports Focus) Draw can help avoid Olympic badminton scandal  • Cyprus reports growth in Q1 after 14 consecutive quarters of recession  • Beijing police warn against bizarre dress in subway  • AFC general secretary suspended following media allegations  
You are here: 　 Home

Xinhua world news summary at 1530 GMT, May 13

Xinhua, May 13, 2015 Adjust font size:

The number two leader of the Islamic State (IS) militant group on Wednesday believed to have been killed in a U.S.-led coalition air strike in northern Iraq, said the Iraqi Defense Ministry.

"Based on accurate intelligence reports, the U.S.-led coalition carried out an air strike on the second man of Daesh (IS in Arabic) terrorist gangs Abu Ala Afri, and a large number of members of criminal gangs while they were holding a meeting at al-Shuhadaa mosque in the town of Tal Afar," the ministry said in a statement. (Iraq-IS-Airstrike)

- - - -

BUJUMBURA -- The Burundi presidency issued a statement on its twitter account on Wednesday, saying the coup attempt had "failed."

"The situation is under control," the presidency said, reiterating that "there had been no coup d'etat in Burundi." (Burundi-Coup-Presidency)

- - - -

BUJUMBURA -- Burundian former head of the National Intelligence General Major Godefroid Niyombare said Wednesday that President Pierre Nkurunziza has been dismissed, local radio stations reported.

A military coup led by Niyombare was carried out on Wednesday in Burundi at around 1:30 p.m local time. (Burundi-Coup-General)

- - - -

MANILA -- Death toll rises to 31 in a fire that occurred at a sandals factory in Valenzuela City in Metro Manila, capital of the Philippines, on Wednesday noon, said local fire bureau officials.

Renato Marcial, Bureau of Fire Protection spokesperson, said the fire broke out around 11:28 a.m. local time at the warehouse along Sto Rosario street in Tatalon district in Ugong village. (Philippines-Fire)

- - - -

COLOMBO -- Terrorist organization Islamic State (IS) has executed a Maldivian who had joined their fight in Iraq, by pushing him off of a building, local media reported on Wednesday.

Local newspaper Haveeru reported it "can confirm" the man was executed last month. The man was given the "death sentence" at an IS "court." The man was prosecuted alongside two others, who had also been executed in the same manner, the media outlet said. (Maldive-IS)

- - - -

SKOPJE -- Two Macedonian ministers and a senior state security official had resigned over a deep political crisis in the country, the government said Wednesday.

Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski had accepted the resignation applications of Interior Minister Gordana Jankuloska, Transport Minister Mile Janakieski, and Director of the Administration for Security and Counterintelligence Saso Mijalkov, government spokesperson Aleksandar Gjorgiev told Xinhua. (Macedonia-Resignation)

- - - -

TEHRAN -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani pledged on Wednesday to help Iraq in fighting terrorism, and supports a "real" truce in the conflict-torn country of Yemen.

The Iranian leader made the remarks at a joint press conference with the visiting Iraqi President Fuad Masum. (Iran-Iraq-Yemen-Crisis) Endi