Awa dance performance at World Exposition

OSAKA, Japan, May 4 Kyodo - Dancers perform the Awa Odori traditional folk dance of Japan's Tokushima Prefecture at the World Exposition in Osaka, western Japan, on May 3, 2025. About 700 dancers from nine groups in the western Japan prefecture took part in the event. (Kyodo)

Awa dance performance at World Exposition

Awa dance performance at World Exposition

Dancers perform the Awa Odori traditional folk dance of Japan's Tokushima Prefecture at the World Exposition in Osaka, western Japan, on May 3, 2025. About 700 dancers from nine groups in the western Japan prefecture took part in the event.

Awa dance performance at World Exposition

Awa dance performance at World Exposition

Dancers perform the Awa Odori traditional folk dance of Japan's Tokushima Prefecture at the World Exposition in Osaka, western Japan, on May 3, 2025. About 700 dancers from nine groups in the western Japan prefecture took part in the event.

Awa dance performance at World Exposition

Awa dance performance at World Exposition

Dancers perform the Awa Odori traditional folk dance of Japan's Tokushima Prefecture at the World Exposition in Osaka, western Japan, on May 3, 2025. About 700 dancers from nine groups in the western Japan prefecture took part in the event.

Awa dance performance at World Exposition

Awa dance performance at World Exposition

Dancers perform the Awa Odori traditional folk dance of Japan's Tokushima Prefecture at the World Exposition in Osaka, western Japan, on May 3, 2025. About 700 dancers from nine groups in the western Japan prefecture took part in the event.

Awa dance performance at World Exposition

Awa dance performance at World Exposition

Dancers perform the Awa Odori traditional folk dance of Japan's Tokushima Prefecture at the World Exposition in Osaka, western Japan, on May 3, 2025. About 700 dancers from nine groups in the western Japan prefecture took part in the event.

Turkish police detain 257 suspects in anti-gang operations

STORY: Turkish police detain 257 suspects in anti-gang operations SHOOTING TIME: Dec. 12, 2023 DATELINE: Dec. 13, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:10 LOCATION: Ankara CATEGORY: LAW SHOTLIST: 1. various of Turkish security forces' anti-gang operations STORYLINE: The Turkish police detained 257 suspects in a nationwide anti-gang operation carried out against organized crime networks in 37 provinces, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on Tuesday. During Operation Cage-18, a total of 39 organized crime structures, including nine national and local crime groups and 30 criminal factions aiding these organizations by providing weapons and other resources, were dismantled, said the minister on the social media platform X. These organized crime organizations were accused of shooting up workplaces to obtain finance and weapons, looting businesspeople, engaging in arms trade and drug trafficking, and resorting to armed fighting over disagreement on the sharing of crime proceeds, the minister said. They also engaged in ot

Sri Lanka welcomes 1st Chinese tour groups in 3 years

STORY: Sri Lanka welcomes 1st Chinese tour groups in 3 years DATELINE: March 3, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:30 LOCATION: Colombo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the welcome ceremony at the country's main Bandaranaike International Airport STORYLINE: Sri Lanka's tourism authority held a ceremony on Wednesday night at the country's main Bandaranaike International Airport to welcome the first batch of Chinese tour groups in three years. Sri Lankan Tourism Minister Harin Fernando said at the airport that he was happy to receive the first tour groups from China and the South Asian country is expecting more Chinese tourists to come. Featured with beautiful scenery and friendly people, Sri Lanka is expected to receive more Chinese tourists, which is an important part of people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, said Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong. Priantha Fernando, chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, said earlier that the SriLankan Airlines would operate nine flights a week start

Ruling bloc gets low scores on implementation of 2005 manifesto

Ruling bloc gets low scores on implementation of 2005 manifesto

TOKYO, Japan - A meeting of nine groups, including a business lobby, think tanks and a labor union, to evaluate policy implementation of the Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner New Komeito party. The ruling coalition was given an average score of 46, out of a possible top score of 100, regarding whether it has fulfilled policy proposals made in its manifesto for the general election in 2005.

Honolulu ukulele player to release Ehime Maru song

Honolulu ukulele player to release Ehime Maru song

HONOLULU, United States - Jake Shimabukuro strums a ukulele on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. He has written a song titled ''Ehimemaru,'' dedicated to the victims of the sinking of the Japanese training ship Ehime Maru near Hawaii last month, and plans to release it. Sales from the song are to be donated to a fund recently set up by Hawaii-based groups. Shimabukuro, a fourth-generation Japanese-American, said he wanted to do something to help relatives of the nine people missing, presumed dead, in the Feb. 9 collision.

Celebrations mark one-year countdown to FIFA Women's World Cup 2023

STORY: Celebrations mark one-year countdown to FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 DATELINE: July 21, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:39 LOCATION: Canberra CATEGORY: SPORTS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the nine host cities with some stadiums (Adelaide, Auckland, Brisbane, Dunedin, Hamilton, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Wellington) STORYLINE: Events were held in Australia's several major cities on Wednesday to mark the one-year countdown to FIFA Women's World Cup 2023. A Unity Pitch located on Barangaroo Reserve in Sydney was unveiled by FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura to mark the milestone date on the road to the tournament scheduled from July 20 to Aug. 20 next year. The pitch, created with the tournament's colorful livery in mind, will be open to the public and local football groups until July 24, before touring each of the tournament's nine host cities over the next year. The pitch will tour all host cities prior to July 20, 2023. "This competition will provide a platform to inspire and unite through the power of

Honolulu ukulele player to release Ehime Maru song

Honolulu ukulele player to release Ehime Maru song

HONOLULU, United States - Jake Shimabukuro strums a ukulele on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. He has written a song titled ''Ehimemaru,'' dedicated to the victims of the sinking of the Japanese training ship Ehime Maru near Hawaii last month, and plans to release it. Sales from the song are to be donated to a fund recently set up by Hawaii-based groups. Shimabukuro, a fourth-generation Japanese-American, said he wanted to do something to help relatives of the nine people missing, presumed dead, in the Feb. 9 collision.