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Referendum on joining Russia 

People in four Ukrainian regions are voting on the fifth and final day of referendums on joining Russia. The polls are underway in the self-proclaimed republics of Luhansk and Donetsk in the east, as well as the Russian-controlled parts of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. Russia has already said it will give full protection to the regions if they vote to join the country. President Vladimir Putin has also backed the referendums. However, Ukraine says those who are involved in the process will face treason charges. The US and its western allies have also strongly criticized the plebiscites as a sham and illegitimate. They have promised to continue their military support for Kiev.

Greece's deployment of US arms

Ankara has summoned the Greek ambassador over alleged provocations in the Aegean Sea, where the two sides have been at odds over the status of the two Islands. Turkey is angered by Greece for deploying armored vehicles on the two islands of Lesbos and Samos. Ankara says this is in violation of international law and is calling on Athens to respect the formerly-agreed non-military status of the area. The Turkish government has also sent a protest note to the US. That’s after Ankara shared recorded aerial images showing ships loaded with US-made military equipment, docking at the islands. In response, Greece has rejected Turkish accusations as unfounded. The two nations are at odds over a slew of issues including commercial rights in the Agean and territorial waters in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

Shinzo Abe's state funeral

Japan is holding a state funeral for assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. But the government is receiving a backlash, with many people opposing the ceremony. Hundreds have gathered near the venue of the event in the capital Tokyo in protest. Over the past weeks, Japan has witnessed growing public opposition to the ceremony. Thousands of people have signed a petition against the move over its costs. But that is not the only source of their anger. There have been several revelations about links between the former premier’s political party and a controversial religious group, known as the Unification Church. Abe was shot dead on the 8th of July when he was attending a campaign rally in the city of Nara. He was the longest-serving prime minister in Japan.


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