Sydney: An Australian judge today granted an activist group's request to ban a Japanese company from whaling in an Australian-declared animal sanctuary off Antarctica.

The ruling puts pressure on the Australian government to demand that Japan end its current whale hunt in the region, some of which takes place in the sanctuary.

However, Japan does not recognise Australia's declaration of the whale sanctuary, and has said previously it would ignore such an Australian court injunction if it was granted.
Source : PTI