Japan has started its controversial annual dolphin hunt in the coastal town of Taij.
The hunt, which sees boats round the animals into a bay to be butchered or captured for aquariums, has drawn fierce criticism from animal-rights groups.
In fact, it was documented in the Oscar-winning documentary The Cove in 2009.
The six-month season reportedly ends in March.
It comes as Japan resumed commercial whaling this year.
Lebanese parliament plans session to elect president
Lebanon's parliament will convene on January 9 to elect a president after a two-year vacuum, Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) said on Thursday.
Opposition disrupts Indian parliament for fourth day
The lower house of India's parliament was suspended temporarily on Friday for a fourth day in a row this week following disruptions as opposition lawmakers sought a discussion on the allegations against Adani Group.
Russia hits Ukrainian energy facilities, causes blackouts
Russia unleashed on Thursday its second big attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure this month, leaving much of the country without power.
Syrian and Russian jets bomb rebel-held northwest Syria
Russian and Syrian warplanes bombed rebel-held northwest Syria near the border with Turkey on Thursday to push back an offensive that captured territory for the first time in years, Syrian army and rebel sources said.
Israel and Hezbollah trade accusations of ceasefire violations
The Israeli military said its air force struck a facility used by Hezbollah to store mid-range rockets in southern Lebanon on Thursday, after both sides accused each other of breaching a ceasefire that aims to halt over a year of fighting.
