this is bbc news. the headlines... japan is to restart commercial whale hunting in the summer — in defiance of a global ban. campaigners say they are concerned by the move because ifjapan, if you like, gets away with this, other countries may want to try and do the same thing and then more and more populations will be exposed to whaling. retailers pin their hopes on boxing day sales as shops try to make up for weak trading in the lead up to christmas. a powerful earthquake hits sicily around europe's most active volcano mount etna — dozens are said to be injured. a new way to see cancer — scientists develop a virtual reality sd model of the disease to help in the search for new treatments. and in half an hour, i'll be looking back at a turbulent 12 months on our high streets. that's review 2018 — the retail year, with me, emma simpson. there's been international

criticism of japan's decision to withdraw from the international whaling commission and resume commercial hunting. the government of australia described it as regrettable, while new zealand said the practice was unnecessary. japanjoins iceland and norway in defying the moratorium on commercial whaling, which was introduced in the 1980s. navtej johal‘s report contains some distressing images. it's a bloody business. ships like this are only catching and killing whales for what the japanese authorities claim are research purposes. but japan wants to commercially hunt species, too. officials in the country say eating whales is part of their national culture. translation: at the international whaling commission meeting in september, it became obvious that it is not possible for states

with different views to exist side by side, which led to our decision to leave. the hunting of whales was banned by the international whaling commission in 1986 after they were almost driven to extinction. but countries like iceland and norway still hunt mainly minke whales, which are not endangered. and japan catches between 200 and 1200 whales per year under a programme of scientific research. this move has brought condemnation. conservationists argue it could undo the progress made over the last few decades. well, it is notjust about what japan does, it is now about whether other countries will follow suit, whether other countries will also step outside of the whaling commission. because ifjapan, if you like, gets away with this, other countries may want to try and do the same thing and then more and more populations could be exposed to whaling. we are very concerned about the potential for an expansion, again, of whaling outside of any

international control. japan's withdrawal from the international whaling commission means it will resume commercial whaling byjuly 2019. it claims this will be restricted to japan's territorial waters and economic zones, meaning ships will cease whaling in the antarctic 0cean. and japanese boats will only hunt species with healthy population numbers. but this controversial practice is now likely to face renewed scrutiny. joining me now is dr kyle cleveland, a sociologist at temple university japan, and associate director of the institute of contemporary asian studies. thank you forjoining us. can you explain because japan sees whale hunting is part of its culture, something it has been doing, it says, for centuries. that is true, it is part of its culture. the question is whether or not the cultural tradition of japanese

whaling centuries ago... now when you have industrialised whaling, it is different from the kind of whaling people are referring to when they talk about tradition. what is behind the decision to leave the international whaling commission? this has been some years in the making. since 1986, there are only a handful of countries in the world who do not follow the international whaling commission's outlines. japan is trying to establish, from their point of view, cultural autonomy. they do not want other cultures telling them what to do. there is something in japan that telling them what to do. there is something injapan that means foreign pressure, and they have quite a lot of foreign pressure since the movie about dolphins.

dolphins are actually smaller whales. that issue gathered a lot of international attention, many of it gathered, and this is partly in response to that. there will be plenty more condemnation of this action. what about, the japanese claim, the doing this for scientific research, what does that actually mean? that has been a transparent facade to stay within technical guidelines while being able to practice whaling. kind of being able to have it both ways. that is the kind of concession, not going into international waters. this is... my experience talking about this with the japanese people is that they may not particular care about the issue as much as the foreign critique of their cultural practices. when you

say they are not particularly bothered, i be not concerned about the nature of whales and the fact that many of them are threatened species? i think it is a larger issue of whether people have any deep awareness of environmental issues and this touches to whales. they are contaminated by mercury and i think for a lot of people, it is not just about the issue... anti—whaling organisations represent a larger issue of environmental degradation of the oceans. a larger issue of environmental degradation of the oceansm a larger issue of environmental degradation of the oceans. it is very good of you to join us. thank you for your time. thank you. hundreds of bargain hunters have been hitting the high street for the annual boxing day sales — with some starting to queue from as early as midnight last night to bag a deal.

shoppers are expected to spend around 4 billion pounds today, even after prices were slashed before christmas. our correspondent joe miller has more. it isa it is a site that will bring much needed festive cheer to ailing retailers, bumper discounts, shoppers in manchester, newcastle and cardiff queued from the early hours of the morning. boxing day is great because you can decide what you want. i spent christmas indoors watching movies with my family so boxing day is nice to come out and get fresh air. millions more are expected to visit shopping centres across the company. the starting gun was fired a few weeks ago. black friday is increasingly popular, both online and the high street, and shops have slashed prices one month before they are used to. today could before they are used to. today could bea before they are used to. today could be a last chance for them for many struggling shops. even a busy boxing

day might not be enough. there were houses are piled high with unsold goods and it is forcing them to offer discounts in what is becoming a race to the bottom. —— warehouses. in london's west end, things are looking up. there is it bounced. football up by 10%. -- footfall. people want to get out of the house and take up to 70% off with good bargains. up to £50 million is expected to be sent in central london today. household debt is rising and shoppers have less disposable income altogether. the struggling high streets will be hoping the christmas splurge continues well into the new year. our correspondent katy austin is on oxford street in central london for us this afternoon. lucky you. indeed. it has been getting busier and busier behind me

this morning. the crowds are turned out to the boxing day sales. it has been a tradition that has endured for decades now. there was the projection that nearly £5 billion would be spent in stores and online today. we are getting the first bits of analysis of how many people have been out on the high street. it was thaw to 15 million of us would head out and now the company that represents shops in the west end says before 1030 this morning, footfall, the number of shoppers, was up 15% on last year. however, that picture is not mirrored everywhere. the farm springboard says footfall in general has been slightly down on last year. the impression of the internet may be something to do with that. the physical stores on oxford street we re physical stores on oxford street were hoping for a boost to end what would be a difficult year and the shop next opened at 6am. we spoke to

some of the shoppers here to ask them why they came out to the high street and how they got on with their bargains. i am able to see what i am buying for the children. online it takes ages for youtube picks the size. —— online it takes ages. i get up early anyway. i nearly purchased these the day before christmas and the two of me to come back today. something the retail and alice have been pointing out is that heavy discounting had already been going on before christmas. shoppers were being lowered into try and make up for a difficult year. those discounts are likely to continue. we are likely to see discounts of up to 70% in some shops. that list is needed by the shops. that list is needed by the shops you think when hundred and £88

will be spent by every person coming out today. —— £188. our correspondent alison freeman is at the metro centre in gateshead. alison, how is trading there? i was about to say that it was getting quieter but it seems to have got busier. we had a look round the shops this morning, there were some queues for the cosmetics stores but the queues started in gateshead at three o'clock this morning, when around 1200 people waited for that legendary next sale. some of the other storage decided to open up earlier when they realise there was such a crowd of people here. an issue of science is that it has been good. next has had a bumper day. it has not been a brilliant year for the high street. we know the chain house of fraser has had a terrible

time. we know mike ashley has bought them out. this store is going to close. it is a massive shame. it has been years since 1986. initial signs are good here. we have spoken to people today and they said they are spending money on themselves, when they have been buying presents for christmas, and coming to get a bargain in the flesh and not on mine. first signs are that it has been a good day. it is always easy to be sceptical when they see it is going to be a bumper day. it is busy there but not very busy. what do people say whether talk about their finances? there is uncertainty about how we are doing. yes, talking to people here this morning, it is not something people are worried about, brexit. it is people saying they

wa nted brexit. it is people saying they wanted to get out and spend the christmas money. there was a sense people felt positive. people who are concerned are not here to tell me they are concerned. people who are here are committed shoppers. i know it doesn't seem that busy hiding to me but on a normal saturday afternoon, it would be quieter than this. three hours ago, the walkway was packed with people. i think the people here are telling us they do wa nt to people here are telling us they do want to spend, the enjoy spending and they want to be here on boxing day spending the money. there is speculation here you have a pile of shopping around your feet. speculation here you have a pile of shopping around your feetlj speculation here you have a pile of shopping around your feet. i would not like to comment on that. i have been far too busy working. the very clever. brilliant to see you. thank you very much. let's bring you some other news... a man has died after being hit by a police car in liverpool last night.

the victim was knocked down near the wallasey tunnel, just before seven o'clock yesterday evening. it's being reported that the police car was responding to an emergency call when it collided with the victim as he was crossing the road. the incident is now being investigated by the independent office for police conduct. the authorities in italy say that around 10 people have sustained minor injuries after an earthquake measuring 4.8 hit an area surrounding mount etna on the island of sicily. more than 150 tremors have been felt since europe's most active volcano erupted on christmas eve. james reynolds reports from rome. the earthquake hit the slopes of mount etna at around 3:20am. it damaged nearby homes and buildings. in a nearby village, an 80—year—old man had to be rescued from his home. translation: my father in law was under the rubble. it is a miracle, he's born—again. it's a miracle we're still alive. some decided to take

shelter in their cars or in local gyms. anywhere just to be safe. people here are used to living with the constant fear of eruptions and earthquakes. mount etna dominates the island of sicily. it is the biggest active volcano in europe. in recent days, scientists recorded more than 100 tremors, causing the authorities to restrict flights to the regional airport in the city of catania. one official concludes, our country is unfortunately very fragile. the foreign secretary, jeremy hunt, has ordered a review looking at the way britain could help persecuted christians around the world. the review, led by the bishop of truro, will look at government efforts to help some of the 215 million christians who faced discrimination and violence last year.

there are people in very poor countries, themselves very poor, who can suffer terribly for no other reason than their faith, and when that faith is christianity, that is not a reason to do nothing. we need to do something, just as we would if they were muslim or buddhist and being persecuted for the same reason. a little earlier i spoke to wilson chowdhry from the british pakistani christian association. he said persecution against christians was on the rise. the figures speak for themselves. 250 christians are allegedly killed every month. this is a report written by open doors, a christian charity, created specifically because of the rise christian persecution across the globe. and this report hopefully will address matters such as issues regarding pakistani christians who are still regarded as a country where persecution doesn't exist for christians by most countries

in the west, including britain. asia bibi was seeking asylum to come here to the uk. that word, persecution, it can cover so many things. what are the issues? let's take pakistan, what are the issues that face christians there? well, christian women have a really untenable situation. 700 christian girls are kidnapped, raped and forced into marriage every year. 1 million christians are working as slaves in the brick yards of pakistan, despite pakistan having adopted anti—slavery laws in 1992, the bonded labour abolition act. we have attacks on churches, 11 attacks on churches in the last seven years. we have a death count of over 500, an injury count of over 3000. these are significantly demoralising aspects of life as a christian pakistan. this isn't a new issue. why do you think it is that we tend not to talk about it as much as we perhaps do others?

is it perhaps there is a case that we are too concerned political correctness is taking over. i spoke at a meeting and the idea was made that we alter the way we put our focus across four the way christians are persecuted... for me, it still beggars belief that countries, wealthy countries in the middle east like to buy are unable to provide to muslims and hindus. we think about the risk profile for christians, the only place they can safely is the west. —— can safely go. syrian state media says israeil war planes carried out a series of air strikes overnight on a weapons depot near damascus. it's understood that

the depot was hit and three soldiers were injured. israel has not confirmed the attack but said it had activated its own air defence systems to bring down a syrian missile. the headlines on bbc news... japan is to restart commercial whaling next year — conservation groups warn the move will have serious consequences. almost a third of people in the uk are predicted to visit the boxing day sales, as shops offer hefty discounts following a difficult year on the high street. several people have been injured and buildings collapsed, mount etna in sicily. scientists in cambridge have created a 3d digital model of a cancer. the tumour sample, taken from a patient, can be studied using virtual reality. researchers hope it will provide new insights into how cancers spread. our medical correspondent fergus walsh reports. this is 21st—century pathology. on a conveyor belt is a wafer thin slice taken from a human tumour. multiple slices, each just one cell thick,

are analysed to reveal all the characteristics of the cancer. then the sample is reassembled digitally so it can be studied, using virtual reality. we are on the bleeding edge of nearly every technology. greg hannon, director of cancer research uk's cambridge institute, showed me round his virtual lab, where we are transformed into avatars. this giant multicoloured cloud of bubbles is the virtual tumour. the tissue sample it came from was the size of a pinhead. the purpose of this project is to understand how each of these cell types influences each other. what messages do they send to each other and how does that influence their behaviour? this shows how the incredible diversity of cancer cell types interact in order to evade the body's defences. now that knowledge may ultimately help in the search for new treatments. at this point, we decided to go and

explore the tumour in more detail. i think here you can really start to appreciate its structure. i'm noticing something interesting here. we willjust move around. it looks to me like there are sets of tumour cells that are floating above the structures, almost as if they are streaming out. it is when those cells leave the duct to become invasive disease is when they become really dangerous. so here, are you capturing potentially the moment when this cancer begins to spread? yes. i think that is what is really remarkable here because i think unless we're looking at the tumour in this detail, this resolution, in this many cells in this dimension, we would never be able to find such an event. researchers at the crick institute in london say that the virtual tumour will help explain how cancers interact with healthy cells and eventually spread.

it is a huge step forward. it is so much more dynamic and real than what we've been able to do in the past by looking at very static analyses of what is happening in essentially two dimensions. this virtual pathology lab can be accessed by researchers anywhere in the world, helping scientists share knowledge in the fight against cancer. three more migrants trying to reach britain were intercepted overnight, the home office has the men, who were on board a small boat, were rescued by the french authorities near dover. it comes after authorities on both sides of the channel yesterday picked up a0 migrants, who were also trying to reach britain. it comes after authorities on both sides of the channel picked up a0 migrants yesterday. we reported last week on the homeless people who were left disappointed when the hotel in hull

which had been booked for them by the charity, raise the roof homeless group, cancelled the reservation for christmas eve and christmas day. thankfully, another hotel stepped in and 28 men and women were able to enjoy the festive period in warm and cosy surroundings. the founder of the charity, carl simpson, spoke to us a little earlier, and told us how it went. fantastic, absolutely brilliant. i sat and had christmas dinner with them yesterday and there were so many happy faces. you've been through something of a roller—coaster because just remind us of how you felt when you heard the first hotel had cancelled the booking. i was absolutely gutted. when we booked it we told them we were a local community project, what we were doing, and they were fine with it and they took the booking, then two days later we were floored when they cancelled it on us. what reason did they give? we didn't get any reason for two days, they wouldn't give a reason, then two days later after the media attention they put out a statement saying it was cancelled because the previous hotel, the ibis, had been trashed on our previous visit last year, which was totally untrue. luckily the ibis came forward and rubbished these claims, telling them there was no incident last year and everything was a success.

so you're looking at some very disappointed people and then someone stepped in? yes, we were dreading telling them the news and then all of us sudden the hilton doubletree in hull came forward and a fantastic gesture, offered everyone a room for free for two nights, breakfast and christmas dinner, it's just unbelievable. what was the reaction to those who presumably were looking at a christmas on the streets to walking into a hotel like that on christmas eve? it was a really strange atmosphere. some of them couldn't believe it, even though they were there checking in and they still believed something would go wrong and when they actually got the room cards, you should have seen the smiles on theirfaces. these people just loved it. the hilton gave them gift bags as well to take

in with them with chocolate, toiletries, and it was just beautiful. i look at the smile on your face and that rather tells the whole story. it makes christmas, doesn't it? definitely, yeah, this was definitely a christmas miracle, it was beautiful. when you spoke to them after they'd had that first night, how did they find it? we had one guy whojust literally checked in, went straight to his room, fell asleep and he didn't get up until the next afternoon, so he had nearly 2a hours' sleep. he said he didn't want to get out of bed because he felt safe, but the generosity of the city has just been phenomenal. ourfollowing on this, they have gone to all the places for breakfast and dinners and stuff like that, they've just been spoilt to bits. this is going to be a christmas they'll remember forever. which is fabulous, but obviously its two or three days in the year, there's a bigger wider issue

here, isn't there? yes, we're hoping this will likely, we had this last year, we're hoping this motivates people like a carrot for them to start acting with services so they can see what they could have and what they can achieve, what it's like to have a roof over their heads, so the hope is, we have kept everybody safe over christmas, but the hope is they'll interact more with services now and take up offers of support and get more permanent accommodation. that was karel simpson talking to me earlier. the seven—year—old american girl, whose phone call with president trump on christmas eve went viral, has insisted her belief in santa claus remains unshaken. mr trump caused outrage in the us, after he appeared to question the existence of father christmas in a conversation with collman lloyd, just hours before santa was scheduled to begin his deliveries. are you still a believer in santa?

because at seven, it's marginal, right? well, the girl on the other end of that call has been speaking about the conversation from her home in lexington, south carolina. according to the post and courier newspaper, collman lloyd admitted she was left confused by the president's use of the term ‘marginal‘. let's have a listen to her side of the conversation. probably put out some cookies, and then we're hanging out with our friends, so that's pretty much all. well, that is very good. well, you just have a good time. yes, sir. are you still a believer in santa? yes, sir. because at seven, it's marginal, right? yes, sir. you got to say hi to mr president. collman told the paper she was glad to have spoken with the president at christmas. she also confirmed she had left cookies and milk out

for santa, and when she woke the following morning, they were gone. now it's time for a look at the weather. we canjoin our ray of sunshine. thank you from my little elf they are in the newsroom. do you believe in santa claus? i did not until about ten seconds ago. did you buy that tie, thomas? no, i have heard that tie, thomas? no, i have heard that four—year ‘s. that tie, thomas? no, i have heard that four-year 's. what her sons got in store for us? it is going to be mild. the indication is as we head into the new year, it is going to stay mild. a lot of cloud across the country. this is what it will look like at four o'clock in the afternoon. it is a case of there being overcast or sunshine. it is dry for most of the country. frost

outside of towns. london, cardiff and plymouth, four celsius. in rural that could dip down to —1. sunshine for scotland tomorrow. the south may have a very pleasant day with lengthy sunny spells. friday is fairly similar. that's it. have a good afternoon. hello, this is bbc news with simon mccoy. the headlines: japan confirms it will restart commercial whale hunting in july, defying an international ban. retail hopes for a boost as shoppers hit the traditional boxing day sales. it's estimated that bargin hunters will spend almost £4 billion.