The Russian-occupied islands Japan wants back

News Snapshot:

The ongoing dispute over the islands, part of a larger chain running from Japan’s most eastern point in the Sea of Okhotsk into neighbouring Russia, has been thrust into the spotlight since Russia’s president Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine. Australia’s prime minister Anthony Albanese, Japan’s prime minister Fumio Kishida and 31 NATO countries met in early July for a leaders’ summit focused on how to deal with Russian aggression and support for Ukraine. Japan’s support for sanctions against Russia and a commitment by Kishida in July to bolster ties with NATO have incensed Moscow which is doubling down on its refusal...