Joe Biden’s second-in-command meets Asia-Pacific leaders during her Tokyo stop, to discuss countering regional threats US Vice President Kamala Harris reaffirmed Washington’s “ironclad commitment” to Japan’s defense during her first official trip to the country on Monday. She met with the Japanese prime minister in Tokyo to discuss Beijing’s “provocations” in the Taiwan Strait.

Japan has lodged a formal complaint with the Russian government after Moscow accused one of its diplomats of attempted espionage. Tokyo insists the charge has no merit and is demanding an apology for the consulate official’s treatment.

Polling stations are set to close in the coming hours as the Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) votes on joining Russia The outcome of a referendum on whether people in the Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) want to join Russia may be known by the end of today, its top election official has said.