Japan’s aquariums decided on Wednesday to stop acquiring dolphins caught in controversial drive hunts off the town of Taiji in western Japan after a global zoo body criticized the practice as cruel.

A zoo in southwestern Japan decided not to change the name of a monkey on Friday despite being flooded with complaints from the public over naming her Charlotte after Britain’s newborn princess.

A poll by a major Japanese newspaper showed that 52% of those surveyed support a plan by a ward in Tokyo to issue partnership certificates to gay couples, compared to 27% who disagree.

While the heinous murder of journalist Kenji Goto by ISIS militants on Sunday drew condemnation from the international community, the Japanese Prime Minister vowed not to give in to terrorism.

Police arrested a 19-year-old boy found inside a train on Sunday on suspicion of trespassing in connection with YouTube videos depicting him shoplifting and tampering with food packages at stores.

Japan is suffering from a serious butter shortage nationwide, raising concerns among consumers that they will have to spend Christmas without cream and strawberry sponge cakes.