The country's Fisheries Agency says the trip is conducted each year to further ecological research — which is an exception in a worldwide ban on commercial whaling. Others aren't buying the claim.
Malaysian diplomats were also allowed to leave North Korea, in a swap that seemingly ends the standoff over the murder of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's half-brother.
The last known Tasmanian tiger died more than eight decades ago. It has become the stuff of textbook sketches and yellowing photographs. But now, researchers are launching a new search.
Luka Maksimovic has made wild promises and offered cash for votes. "Life must be really bad for us if we are voting for a young comedian running for president under a fake persona," says a supporter.
Venezuela's Supreme Court has taken over the legislature in what opposition leaders say is President Maduro establishing a dictatorship. David Greene talks with Hannah Dreier of The Associated Press.
For centuries, dengbej songs served as news bulletin, history lesson and evening's entertainment all in one. Master singers continue to perform. But efforts to preserve Kurdish culture have suffered.
As the fight to push ISIS out of Mosul grinds on, civilians stream out of liberated areas that are unlivable, and Iraqi forces "clear" areas of holdouts and fire mortars at remaining ISIS areas.
In a move critics are calling the point of no return toward a dictatorship, Venezuela's Supreme Court took over the opposition-controlled Congress. The court ruled Congress "in contempt' and said it would take over all "parliamentary capacities."