When schoolchildren in Shiroishi were enlisted to plant rice seedlings in June, Shinto priests blessed the land and asked the deities for a bountiful crop. Judging by the fields behind farmer Haruki Kawasaki, their prayers have been answered. The 63-year-old is preparing to harvest this year’s crop»»»

Initiative by UK's water industry regulator also encourages Asians in Britain to use less water to wash rice The United Kingdom's water industry regulator has advised Muslims in the country to use less water for religious ablutions - the act of washing or cleansing the body - and Asian communities »»»

A stranded humpback whale affectionately named Timmy by German media has been freed after being stranded for more than a month off the country’s northeastern coast, the Associated Press and German news agency Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA) reported. The ailing creature swam away Saturday, with the h»»»

The humpback whale stuck for more than a week in two different spots in the Baltic Sea was showing several signs of deteriorating health on Monday, according to rescuers and the state environment minister in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Where is the whale and what's its condition? "First of all, »»»