Killing of whale breaks pact

Iceland broke a global moratorium on commercial whaling, killing an endangered fin whale for the first time since the 1980s, local media reported Sunday.

Iceland’s RUV television showed footage of a large fin whale being towed by a whaling boat. It said the whale was harpooned in the north Atlantic about 200 miles west of Iceland.

Iceland announced last week that it would resume commercial whaling, ignoring a worldwide moratorium that came into effect in 1986.

Fisheries Minister Einar Kristinn Gudfinnsson said his ministry would issue licenses to kill nine fin whales and 30 of the more numerous minke whales in the year ending Aug. 31, 2007.

The announcement was condemned by conservation groups and many governments around the world, but praised by pro-whaling nations Norway and Japan.

Joth Singh of the International Fund for Animal Welfare condemned the hunt as “cruel and unnecessary.”

MEXICO CITY

Hurricane Paul threatens Baja

Tropical storm Paul was upgraded to a hurricane off Mexico’s west coast on Sunday and was threatening southern Baja California, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said.

The Mexican government issued a hurricane watch along the Baja California peninsula from Cabo San Lucas on the southern tip northward to Agua Blanca and across to La Paz on the east coast.

The storm was about 475 miles south of Baja California’s southern tip late Sunday, the hurricane center said. Paul is a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph. It was moving west about 5 mph.

It could strengthen during the next 24 hours, the hurricane center said. In order for Paul to become a Category 2 hurricane, it must have maximum sustained winds of 96 mph.

The storm could hit Baja California sometime Tuesday before moving to mainland Mexico near the state of Sinaloa if it follows its forecast path.

JERUSALEM

Israeli army used phosphorous shells

The Israeli army used phosphorous artillery shells against Hezbollah guerrilla targets during their war in Lebanon this summer, an Israeli Cabinet minister said Sunday, confirming Lebanese allegations for the first time.

Until now, Israel had said it only used the weapons – which cause severe chemical burns – to mark targets or territory, according to Israeli media reports. The Geneva Conventions ban using white phosphorous against civilians or civilian areas and Israel said the weapons were used solely against military targets.

The Lebanese government has accused Israel of dropping phosphorous bombs during the war. The Israeli official, Yaakov Edri, did not specify where or against what types of targets the shells were used.

White phosphorous is a translucent waxlike substance with a pungent smell that, once ignited, creates intense heat and smoke.