Japan is ramping up its response to a record number of deadly bear attacks, local media reported on Saturday. Facing an acute shortage of experienced hunters, the government has decided to encourage retired police officers and former soldiers to obtain hunting licences, the newspaper Asahi Shimbun reported. The move comes after Japan eased its strict firearms laws to allow police officers to use rifles on bears. According to the Environment Ministry, 13 people have been killed by bears nationwide since April - the highest number ever recorded. Dozens more have been injured. Encounters between ...