PORTOROZ, Slovenia (AP) — Pro- and anti-whaling countries are set to clash at an international conference that opened Monday over Japan’s intention to resume the hunting in the Antarctic next year despite a ruling by the top U.N. court.

Japan’s controversial plans of “scientific whaling” that could lead to the killing of hundreds of more majestic marine mammals will lead the agenda at the International Whaling Commission four-day meeting in Slovenia’s Adriatic Sea resort of Portoroz.

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