Preservation Hall: Home to American Jazz
Presidents, prime ministers and Hollywood stars have visited what from the outside may look like an old, shabby jazz club in New Orleans. In this case, however, appearances are quite
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Egyptian Falconers Raise Awareness on World Falconry Day
Millions of migrating birds pass through Egypt on their migratory flyway mainly seeking food, water and shelter, every year. But experts say Egypt, an essential transit point on the birds’
Read MoreFrance Asks: Should ex-Colonizers Give Back African Art?
From Senegal to Ethiopia, artists, governments and museums are eagerly awaiting a report commissioned by French President Emmanuel Macron on how former colonizers can return African art to Africa. The
Read More‘Green Book,’ Features Unlikely Black-White Friendship During Jim Crow Era
‘Green Book,’ by filmmaker Peter Farrelly, tells the story of an unlikely friendship between two men, a world-renowned African-American classical pianist and an Italian-American bouncer. Their friendship develops during a
Read More‘Ralph’ Sequel Packs a Punch With Strong Female Characters
“Ralph Breaks the Internet” may star an arcade bad guy with powerful hammer-like fists, but the animated sequel is also packing a punch with strong female characters. Sarah Silverman, who
Read MoreBalloons, Blankets at Frigid Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Bystanders are refusing to let cold temperatures put a damper on watching Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, breaking out the blankets and sleeping bags to watch the giant balloons go by.
Read MoreDiana Ross to Headline Frigid Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade
Diana Ross might be singing “Stop! In The Name of Gloves” by the time she’s done performing at New York City’s super chilly Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which forecasters say
Read MoreA Holiday Miracle? Stores Try to Cut Down on Long Lines
Retailers will once again offer big deals and early hours to lure shoppers into their stores for the start of the holiday season. But they’ll also try to get shoppers
Read MoreRepatriated 6th-Century Mosaic to Help Reconstitute Apse
A rare, 1,500 year-old mosaic depicting St. Mark has joined other repatriated pieces that were looted from the ethnically split Cyprus’ breakaway north, a Cypriot Orthodox Church official said Wednesday.
Read MoreThanksgiving Holiday Travel Rush Gets Off to a Good Start
Favorable weather is helping get the Thanksgiving travel rush off to a smooth start. By midday Tuesday, just a few dozen flights had been canceled around the U.S. That’s
Read MoreWhite House Journalists Invite Historian, Not Comic, to Headline Dinner
Months after comic Michelle Wolf angered Trump administration officials with her blistering routine at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, the group said on Monday it would feature a
Read MoreCalgary Formally Ends Canada’s 2026 Winter Olympic Bid
The Calgary city council on Monday unanimously declared Canada’s 2026 Winter Olympics bid dead, after residents roundly rejected its proposal to host the Games in a referendum. Mayor Naheed Nenshi
Read MoreArt Thrives Among Hunters, Fishers in Northernmost Alaska
The small town of Utqiagvik, Alaska, is the northernmost town in the United States. Entertainment is scarce and so is the list of jobs. A lot of locals still hunt
Read MoreMarvel Superheroes and American Pop Culture
While the Space Needle may be the most recognizable structure in Seattle, Washington, there is another spectacular and futuristic building nearby: Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture. Initially built as a
Read MoreArt and the Meaning of Jewelry: New Exhibit Opens at the Met
Fashion changes, trends come and go, but jewelry is always present in people’s lives in one way or another. New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art just opened a new exhibition
Read MoreReview: ‘Creed II’ Goes More Than the Distance; It’s a KO
The weight of legacy hangs heavily over Creed II. Not just for most of the characters, who must come to grips with their own family histories, but also for the
Read More‘A Private War’ Underscores Risks Journalists Take
Oscar nominee Matthew Heineman has often put his life on the line while filming award-winning documentaries such as Cartel Land, chronicling wars of Mexican drug cartels, and throwing a light on
Read More‘Private War’ Examines War Correspondent’s Physical, Psychological Scars
Oscar nominee Matthew Heineman’s film “A Private War,” about Sunday Times war correspondent Marie Colvin, brings attention to the danger journalists face reporting on the plight of war victims. VOA’s
Read More45 Years After Her Nomination, Cicely Tyson Gets Her Oscar
Cicely Tyson received her first and only Oscar nomination in 1972. It was for best actress for her work in “Sounder,” which she thinks of as her first major role.
Read MoreHonorary Oscar Recipient Marvin Levy Can’t Believe His Luck
When Marvin Levy says he never expected to get an Oscar, it’s not false modesty. It just wasn’t a possibility. Levy is one of the most respected publicists in
Read MoreOxford’s Word of the Year: Toxic
It’s official: 2018 is toxic. Oxford Dictionaries has chosen “toxic” as its international word of the year. Oxford University Press monitors changes in the English language and each year selects
Read MoreAt CMAs, Chris Stapleton Wins Big, Keith Urban Takes Top Prize
Chris Stapleton won the most awards at the 2018 Country Music Association Awards and had the show’s best performance, almost capping a perfect night. That was until Keith Urban surprisingly
Read MoreSigrid Nunez’s Novel ‘The Friend’ Wins US National Book Award
Sigrid Nunez’s “The Friend,” a meditative novel about grief, books and, not least, a Great Dane named Apollo, has won the National Book Award for fiction. Other winners Wednesday included
Read MoreIdris Elba’s Daughter Named Golden Globe Ambassador
Idris Elba’s daughter has been chosen as the Golden Globe Ambassador to assist with the glitzy awards ceremony. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced Wednesday that 16-year-old Isan Elba
Read MorePublisher: NYT Reporters Work on Book About Brett Kavanaugh
Two journalists who helped cover the confirmation process of Brett Kavanaugh are working on a book about the newest Supreme Court justice. Portfolio says Wednesday that it has a
Read MoreFans Pay Tribute to Marvel Comics Legend Stan Lee
Fans are paying tribute to Marvel Comics’ legend Stan Lee at his Hollywood Walk of Fame star in Los Angeles. Lee – the creator of many superheroes – died on
Read MoreAretha Franklin’s ‘Amazing Grace’ Concert Film Finally Debuts
Three months after her death and 46 years after she first recorded it, Aretha Franklin’s live gospel concert is coming to the big screen. “Amazing Grace,” filmed in January 1972
Read MoreAt $50M, ‘Pink Legacy’ Diamond Shines Brightest in Christie’s Sale
The ‘Pink Legacy’, a diamond weighing just under 19 carats, fetched a record 50.375 million Swiss francs ($50 million) as it outshone all other auction lots at Christie’s in Geneva
Read MoreTrumps to Skip Kennedy Center Honors for 2nd Straight Year
For the second straight year, President Donald Trump will not be attending the Kennedy Center Honors celebrating cultural achievement. Neither Trump nor first lady Melania Trump will be at
Read MoreSouthern California Fires Uproot Many Hollywood Celebrities
Thousands of firefighters in California are battling deadly wildfires in the northern and southern parts of the state. At least 44 people have died as a result of the fires.
Read MoreMiro Sorvino Urges #MeToo to Do More Than ‘Name and Shame’
Mira Sorvino believes the key to eradicating sexual misconduct lies more in preventative education than in “naming and shaming” the perpetrators. The Oscar-winning actress was one of the first
Read MoreGates Links Up with Tokyo 2020 Olympics to Tackle Development Goals
U.S. billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates will launch an ‘Our Global Goals’ partnership with the Japan Sports Agency in an effort to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by
Read MoreAfter Musical Courtship, Mumford & Sons Net Perfect Producer
Ever been on a blind date with a rock star? How about four of them? That was Grammy-winning producer Paul Epworth’s experience when he initially met up with Mumford &
Read MoreAsian-Americans Bring Diverse Perspective to Comics, Graphic Novels
Diversity in the comic and graphic novel industry in the United States has increased with the growing number of artists who have international backgrounds. VOA’s Dhania Iman reports from San
Read MoreBlack, Asian Ballerinas Now Can Buy Shoes That Match Their Skin Tone
The typical image of ballerinas is of agile dancers in shiny pink slippers. An American company began offering brown-toned slippers last year, and last month, Britain’s oldest ballet apparel supplier
Read MoreIn the Heart of Mumbai’s Dharavi Slum, a Music School For Kids
In the heart of India’s financial capital Mumbai, lies one of the largest slums in the world – Dharavi. A group of under privileged children from Dharavi is making their
Read MoreUgandan Pop Star-Politician Performs First Show Since Jailing
Ugandan pop star and opposition politician Bobi Wine performed his first concert since he was charged with treason and jailed, a show of defiance Saturday punctuated by anti-government slogans and
Read MoreStars Join Thousands Waiting to Learn Wildfire’s Damage Toll
Rich or not, famous or not, there was no reprieve Saturday from the California wildfires sweeping through towns as different as the star-filled oceanside enclave of Malibu and the modest
Read MoreSpectacular Autumn Leaves Peak in the Washington Area
It is almost mid-November, and the fall leaves are finally showing off their beautiful colors in the Washington area and elsewhere on the U.S. East Coast. With higher than average
Read More‘The Happy Prince,’ ‘Boy Erased,’ Two films on Gay Exclusion
Conversion therapy and social exile for being gay is the subject of two award-winning independent films this season. “The Happy Prince” by Rupert Everett and “Boy Erased” by Joel Edgerton
Read MoreFilms Take on Sexual Conversion Therapy, Social Exile
Conversion therapy and social exile for being gay are the subjects of two award-winning independent films this season. The Happy Prince by Rupert Everett and Boy Erased by Joel Edgerton
Read MoreStephen Hawking’s Wheelchair Sells for Nearly $400,000
A wheelchair used by the late British physicist Stephen Hawking has sold at auction for almost $400,000, with the money going to charity. The motorized wheelchair, which was used by
Read MoreJapanese TV Cancels BTS Show Over A-Bomb Shirt
A Japanese broadcaster canceled a live TV appearance of the Korean band BTS after a photo went viral of a band member wearing a T-shirt showing an atomic bombing juxtaposed
Read MoreNetflix Plans to Make 17 More Original Productions in Asia
Netflix Inc plans to make 17 more original productions in Asia as it seeks to boost international subscriber numbers, Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos said on Thursday. The plan, announced
Read MoreSpelling Bees in India: When Words Have the Power to Change Life
How do you spell success? For T.V. Ramakrishna, it’s spelled B-E-E. The retired civil engineer from Bangalore had the opportunity to attend college in the United States, where he settled
Read MoreWhen Words Have the Power to Change Life
School students across the U.S. are familiar with spelling bees. On stage, in front of an audience of fellow students and judges, participating students compete by spelling difficult words. These
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