The World

Half the Falkland Islands population called on its government to withdraw fishing licenses from Japanese companies in protest against Tokyo's refusal to ban whale-hunting. Acting Governor David Taylor received a 950-signature petition calling for an end "to the barbaric killing of whales in southern oceans by the Japanese." Last year, Japanese companies were granted 80 of 220 foreign licenses for a 150-mile zone around the South Atlantic islands, which annually yields $704 million worth of squid, blue whiting, hake and hoki. Taylor said any final decision on fishing policy will come from British authorities.