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Members of the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment fire an M-777 howitzer during a Balikatan drill at the La Paz Sand Dunes in Laoag, Philippines, May 6, 2024.

Troops practice defending Philippine coast against invaders from South China Sea

American and Philippine troops blasted targets in the South China Sea on Monday, honing the skills they’d need to deter an invading force.

RELATED American troops return to strategic islands near Taiwan for air-assault practice

The dry cargo ship USNS Alan Shepard and the destroyer USS Gravely conduct a replenishment at sea in the Persian Gulf on Dec. 8, 2023. The Navy blamed the grounding of the Alan Shepard in Bahrain on July 15, 2023, on the absence of the ship’s master from the bridge at a key moment.

USNS Alan Shepard ran aground in Bahrain after captain left bridge to eat, investigation finds

A historical reenactor in period American military dress waves to the crowd during Liberation Festival Pilsen's parade of military vehicles, called the Convoy of Liberty, on Sunday, May 5, 2024.

Thousands turn out in Czech city to honor American and Belgian liberators from World War II

Russia announces nuclear weapon drills after angry exchange with senior Western officials

Paparo takes helm of INDOPACOM as Aquilino retires from 40-year Navy career

On D-Day, 19-year-old medic Charles Shay was ready to give his life, and save as many as he could

more top news

Fort Jackson soldier dies during basic training

Israeli army tells Palestinians to temporarily evacuate parts of Rafah ahead of an expected assault

Air Force rebrands Key Spouse program to meet needs of modern families

American troops return to strategic islands near Taiwan for air-assault practice

Fort Campbell lieutenant colonel arrested, charged with smuggling firearm parts from Russia, other countries

Confident of victory over Ukraine, Russia exhibits Western war trophies

J-Lo and ‘Atlas’ co-stars inspire soldiers with messages in USO video call

30 sailors, Marines injured in amphibious boat crash off Florida coast

Multimedia

branches

Army

Members of the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment fire an M-777 howitzer during a Balikatan drill at the La Paz Sand Dunes in Laoag, Philippines, May 6, 2024.

Troops practice defending Philippine coast against invaders from South China Sea

Fort Jackson soldier dies during basic training

American troops return to strategic islands near Taiwan for air-assault practice

Air Force

This image from remote video released by the U.S. Air Force shows Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall during his experimental flight inside the cockpit of a X-62A VISTA aircraft autonomous warplane above Edwards Air Base, Calif, on Thursday, May 2, 2024. The AI-controlled flight is serving as a public statement of confidence in the future role of AI in air combat. (United States Air Force Photo via AP)

An AI-controlled fighter jet took the Air Force leader for a historic ride. What that means for war

Crews tackle fire at headquarters of US Forces Japan, 5th Air Force in Tokyo

‘Mean Girls Jr.’ revives high school theater at Air Force base in Japan

Navy

The dry cargo ship USNS Alan Shepard and the destroyer USS Gravely conduct a replenishment at sea in the Persian Gulf on Dec. 8, 2023. The Navy blamed the grounding of the Alan Shepard in Bahrain on July 15, 2023, on the absence of the ship’s master from the bridge at a key moment.

USNS Alan Shepard ran aground in Bahrain after captain left bridge to eat, investigation finds

Military Sealift Command christens its newest Expeditionary Sea Base

Sailor, one of 35 injured in hovercraft collision off coast of Florida, transported to Virginia hospital

Space Force

A February 2018 post shows a launch for a Falcon Heavy demo mission.

Study offers $2.1B plan to make room for SpaceX, other rocket company fleets at Florida port

China is ‘moving at breathtaking speed in space,’ Space Force general says in Tokyo

Ohio governor opposes push to move Guard units into the Space Force

Coast Guard

Crew members from Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley conducting helicopter operations with a Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew in the Bering Sea, January 8, 2024.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley crewmembers

Coast Guard commandant says service is maneuvering a tight budget as its worldwide mission expands

Coast Guard’s top chaplain fired for failing to act on knowledge of another’s sexual misconduct

US-required bridge inspections don’t test for ship strike. Then, one hit the Key Bridge

Marine Corps

U.S. Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and Sailors with the USS Wasp (LHD 1), Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), conduct amphibious operations from a Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, April 15, 2024. The LCAC transports cargo, high mobility multi-purpose vehicles, and personnel for ship to shore movements capable of conducting amphibious missions across the full range of military operations.The Purpose of COMPTUEX is to train and certify the 24th MEU’s Command Element (CE), Aviation Combat Element (ACE), Ground Combat Element (GCE) and the Logistics Combat Element (LCE) as a capable Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) that can execute special skills operations along with the Amphibious Ready Group (ARG). COMPTUEX offers an enhanced opportunity for Navy and Marine Corps interoperability training in preparation for the Wasp ARG-MEU’s upcoming deployment. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Adam Scalin)

30 sailors, Marines injured in amphibious boat crash off Florida coast

Pilots head to Iwo Jima to train for USS Ronald Reagan’s final patrol from Japan

Former US Army captain graduates Marine boot camp as a private first class

theaters

U.S.

Staff members of the Columbia Daily Spectator, the college newspaper, work into the night as police cleared out demonstrators from Columbia University's campus, late Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in New York. Left to right; Isabella Ramirez, editor in chief; Esha Karam, managing editor; Yvin Shin, head copy editor; Emily Forgash, deputy news editor; and Shea Vance, university news editor. (AP Photo/Jake Offenhartz)

Columbia University cancels main commencement after weeks of pro-Palestinian protests

Trump fined $1,000 for gag order violation in hush money case as judge warns of possible jail time

Awards honor federal employees as they face ‘the most toxic atmosphere’

Europe

WWII veteran Charles Shay, is pictured at his home Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Bretteville-l'Orgueilleuse, Normandy. On D-Day, Charles Shay was a 19-year-old Native American army medic who was ready to give his life — and actually saved many. Now 99, he's spreading a message of peace with tireless dedication as he's about to take part in the 80th celebrations of the landings in Normandy that led to the liberation of France and Europe from Nazi Germany occupation. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Schaeffer)

On D-Day, 19-year-old medic Charles Shay was ready to give his life, and save as many as he could

J-Lo and ‘Atlas’ co-stars inspire soldiers with messages in USO video call

Thousands turn out in Czech city to honor American and Belgian liberators from World War II

Asia-Pacific

The Air Force’s Key Spouse Program has been renamed the Commander’s Key Support Program to indicate that it’s open to a wider group of people.

Air Force rebrands Key Spouse program to meet needs of modern families

Boy shot dead after Perth stabbing was in deradicalization program, but no ties seen to Sydney teens

Is Bougainville the next battleground between China and the US?

Middle East

Palestinians flee from the eastern side of the southern Gaza city of Rafah after the Israeli army orders them to evacuate ahead of a military operation, in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Monday, May 6, 2024. The order affects tens of thousands of people and could signal a broader invasion of Rafah, which Israel has identified as Hamas' last major stronghold after seven months of war. (AP Photo/Ismael Abu Dayyah)

Israeli army tells Palestinians to temporarily evacuate parts of Rafah ahead of an expected assault

Israeli strike kills 4 civilians in southern Lebanon, state media says

Netanyahu uses Holocaust ceremony to brush off international pressure against Gaza offensive

Africa

Members of the traditional dance troupe from Burkina Faso's Sahel region perform at a national competition in Bobo-Dioulasso on April 30. (MUST CREDIT: Carmen Yasmine Abd Ali for The Washington Post)

In the village, it’s too dangerous to dance. But a bigger stage awaited.

Oil-rich Chad’s junta leader set to win vote as US ties fray

The UN warns Sudan’s warring parties that Darfur risks starvation and death if aid isn’t allowed in

Americas

A demonstrator holding a bodyboard written in Spanish "I don't want to die" protests the disappearance of foreign surfers in Ensenada, Mexico, Sunday, May 5, 2024. Mexican authorities said Friday that three bodies were recovered in an area of Baja California near where two Australians and an American went missing last weekend during an apparent camping and surfing trip.

3 bodies in Mexican well identified as Australian and American surfers killed for truck’s tires

Floods in southern Brazil kill at least 75 people over 7 days, with 103 people missing

Bodies found in Baja California during search for missing tourists, Mexican officials say

Explore

from our community sites

Europe

The Numerous Benefits of Joining the Girl Scouts

Events and Fests: Family Edition

Japan

Salute your 2024 DODEA graduate in Stripes Grad Tab; Japan deadline May 13

Shirakami highway reopens near Misawa AB

VIDEO: Exploring Japan: Quick trip to Sawara

Korea

Korea Destinations: Four places to go in Sacheon for a healing day trip

A look at famous Korean fermented vegetable dish kimchi

Shopping in Korea: Navigating ROK’s shopping mecca Dongdaemun

Okinawa

Taste of Okinawa: Juicy, sweet pineapples a summer treat

Quick trip to Okinawa's beautiful Miyagi Island

VIDEO: Okinawa's Nakagusuku Castle offers wonderful veiw

Guam

Beware of 'localism' while surfing off Guam shores

Fun on Guam: Agat Mango Festival May 24 - 26

Exploring Guam: Beachin’ good fun on base

Veterans

WWII veteran Charles Shay, is pictured at his home Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Bretteville-l'Orgueilleuse, Normandy. On D-Day, Charles Shay was a 19-year-old Native American army medic who was ready to give his life — and actually saved many. Now 99, he's spreading a message of peace with tireless dedication as he's about to take part in the 80th celebrations of the landings in Normandy that led to the liberation of France and Europe from Nazi Germany occupation. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Schaeffer)

On D-Day, 19-year-old medic Charles Shay was ready to give his life, and save as many as he could

Veteran Charles Shay, now 99, is spreading a message of peace with tireless dedication as he’s about to take part in the 80th anniversary commemorations of the landings in Normandy.

Sports

Home win keeps FCK out of relegation zone for now

FC Kaiserslautern won their second game in a row Saturday night, beating Magdeburg 4-1 at Fritz Walter Stadium. Daniel Hanslik got the Red Devils off to a fast start in front of 46.556 spectators, scoring twice in the 15th and 20th minutes, and FCK never looked back. Kenny Prince Redondo, making his first start as team captain, upped the score to 3-0, scoring in the 57 minute.

History

Tokyo, Japan, October 1960: A spectator at the Asakusa Theater looks up on stage where a female Japanese actor is in the middle of a Rakugo performance. A Rakugo performance - a type of comedic storytelling popular in the Edo-era (1603 - 1869) - features a single storyteller who performs all the voices of the characters in the story as well as the narration. The storyteller wears a traditional kimono, and kneels on the stage in front of the audience using only a folding fan and small hand towel as props.

Looking for Stars and Stripes’ historic coverage? Subscribe to Stars and Stripes’ historic newspaper archive! We have digitized our 1948-1999 European and Pacific editions, as well as several of our WWII editions and made them available online through https://starsandstripes.newspaperarchive.com/

META TAGS: Pacific; Japan; Asakusa; yose comedy theater; Rakugo; Japanese culture; tourism

Rakugo performance in Tokyo, 1960

Tokyo, Japan, October 1960: A spectator at the Asakusa Theater looks up to the stage where a female Japanese actor is in the middle of a Rakugo performance.

Living

Brogan Ingram, at a client’s home, says in the past she struggled to keep her own apartment tidy. Ingram, who has ADHD, kept things under control for a number of years, she says, by developing a cleaning schedule and finding methods to overcome her struggles with procrastination and motivation.

‘If you don’t keep things clean, it affects your mental health’

Brogan Ingram, who posts as @nottheworstcleaner , cleans extreme messes. What she’s learned can help anyone keep a tidier home.

Travel

Tommy Wallach, of Hatch Escapes, demonstrates an escape room puzzle located in The Ladder, a complex branching narrative that explores corporate greed, on April 2 in Los Angeles. Wallach co-founded Hatch Escapes with Terry Pettigrew-Rolapp.

LA’s Ladder hopes to redefine traditional escape room experience

The Eurovision Song Contest has been described as the musical version of the Olympic Games. Malmö, Sweden, hosts the famous contest this year, as acts from 37 countries vie for the Continent’s pop music crown. The final is May 11. Pictured: Ukraine’s Verka Serduchka sings “Dancing Lasha Tumbai” at the contest in Helsinki, Finland, in 2007.

May events calendar for Europe

At Junglia, a theme park under construction in northern Okinawa, attractions will include safari rides in which patrons will be chased by dinosaurs.

Junglia, a nature-focused theme park, is in the works for northern Okinawa