Bear hunters told to put away rifles

– A judge in Montana on Thursday issued a court order temporarily blocking the first trophy hunts of grizzly bears in more than 40 years, siding with native American groups and environmentalists seeking to restore the animals’ protected status.

Washington

The 14-day restraining order by US District Judge Dana Christensen in Missoula, Montana, came two days before Wyoming and Idaho were scheduled to open licensed grizzly hunts allowing as many as 23 bears in the two states to be shot and killed for sport.

Groups opposing the hunts had sought a restraining order while waiting for the judge to rule on the larger question of whether the federal government should return Endangered Species Act safeguards to grizzlies in the greater Yellowstone region. – Reuters

China has been chipping away at democratic Taiwan’s remaining allies, now down to just 17, almost all poor countries in Central America and the Pacific.

Taiwan says relations are firm. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen visited in April.

The King has not commented on the diplomatic tussle. He went to Taiwan in June, attending military drills and the graduation of one of his sons. – Reuters