Japan protests South Korea’s plan for target practice in disputed waters
Kiyoshi Takenaka and Ju-min Park / Reuters
Japan has protested to South Korea against a shooting drill its neighbor plans in disputed waters, Japan’s top government spokesman said on Thursday, underscoring tense relations between the two countries.
Enigmatic Iranian military man at center of U.N. nuclear investigation
Fredrik Dahl / Reuters
He is believed to top the list of elusive Iranian officials the U.N. nuclear watchdog wants to query. Exiled foes of the Islamic state cite him as the mastermind of clandestine efforts to design an atomic bomb. Tehran is mum about him, while denying having any nuclear arms agenda.
King Felipe VI calls for ‘new Spain’ as he is sworn in
BBC
King Felipe VI has called for a “new Spain that we will build together” after being proclaimed head of state in a ceremony in parliament.
Iraq crisis: Britain and US must not meddle in Iraq, warns Saudi Arabia
Damien McElroy / The Telegraph
In an article for the Telegraph, Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf al-Saud said the crisis in Saudi Arabia’s northern neighbor should be sorted out between Iraqis alone as it was a product of the sectarian divisions in Iraq.
Iraq formally asks US to launch air strikes against rebels
BBC
Iraq has formally called on the US to launch air strikes against jihadist militants who have seized several key cities over the past week.
Australia drops planned Aborigine nuclear waste site
BBC
Australia has dropped a plan to place its first nuclear waste dump on Aborigine land, after a long-running legal case ended.
On Our Flashpoint Blog
Ocean Acidification Discussed at Our Oceans Conference
Will Field
Ocean acidification was the primary issue discussed on the second day of of the Our Oceans Conference, hosted by Secretary John Kerry at the State Department in Washington.
Iraqi Censorship: Social Media Blocked Unless You Whisper
Thomas Campbell
In an attempt to hinder the mobilization of the Islamist State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the Iraqi government censored numerous social media sites.
China Doubles Down in Central Asia with New Natural Gas Pipeline
Alexander Gupta
The third line of the China-Central Asia Natural Gas Pipeline is officially operational.
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