Recreation

TOKYO -- Buildings that store urns containing cremated ashes are growing in popularity as an alternative to traditional cemeteries in Japan, but laws are yet to be put in place to regulate where such facilities can be built, leading to protests from nearby residents. The number of such facilities, often called "indoor cemeteries" by operators, has increased about 30% in the past decade in urban areas, where traditional cemeteries are in short supply. Hidehiro Konno, who operates a pregnanc...

The world's botanic gardens contain about a third of all known plants and help protect 40% of endangered species, a study has found. Scientists say that with one in five of the world's plants on the brink of extinction, botanic collections hold the key to saving rare plant life. In the first detailed study of plants grown in botanical gardens, they recorded more than 100,000 species. Efforts are needed to target some of our rarest plants, they say. "This is the first time that we hav...

BBC correspondent Quentin Sommerville is on the ruined streets of Raqqa - so-called Islamic State's 'capital' city. Syrian Democratic Forces and Western-led bombardments have pushed IS forces back into just a few square kilometres. Those civilians who have not fled are trapped.