A minke whale being loaded at a Japanese port last year. The country kills hundreds of whales a year for “scientific research” but now plans to resume commercial hunts KYODO NEWS/APJapan faced international condemnation today for announcing that it will resume commercial whale hunting after a 30-year hiatus. The decision by Tokyo to withdraw from the International Whaling Commission (IWC), which regulates whaling and has banned it, after 57 years as a member was criticised by allies and conservation groups. Michael Gove, the environment secretary, said that he was “extremely disappointed”. Australia’s foreign minister, Marise Payne, and its environment minister, Melissa Price, said in a joint statement: “Australia remains resolutely opposed to all forms…

Source: The Times December 26, 2018 18:00 UTC