Weinstein Co., Mired in Sex Scandal, May Be Up for Sale
The Weinstein Co., mired in a sex scandal, may be putting itself up for sale. The company said Monday that it is getting an immediate cash infusion from Colony Capital
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Scenes from Washington’s IlluminAsia Festival
The Smithsonian Institution’s Freer and Sackler museums of Asian art reopened Oct. 15, after being closed for renovations. The IlluminAsia Festival was a celebration of the reopening featuring art, food and
Read MoreFrance to Strip Movie Mogul Weinstein of Legion of Honor
There is more trouble for disgraced U.S. movie mogul Harvey Weinstein. French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday he has started the process to strip Weinstein of the Legion of Honor
Read MoreIn One Virginia ‘Shack,’ Haute Cuisine at a Palatable Price
In a squat, nondescript brick building on a residential street in Staunton, Virginia, something new is being cooked up. With nary a single Michelin star to its name, and an
Read MoreHollywood Academy Ousts Harvey Weinstein Over Sex Abuse Allegations
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which organizes the Oscars, has ruled it will expel the powerful Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein over allegations of sexual abuse. The 54-member
Read MoreObamas Choose Artists to Paint Official Portraits
The United States’ National Portrait Gallery has announced that two up-and-coming African-American artists, Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald, have been selected to paint the official portraits of former President Barack
Read MoreRights Returned to Family of Aboriginal Artist
The impoverished family of Australia’s most famous Aboriginal artist, Albert Namatjira, has been given copyright to his works after years of fruitless campaigning triggered the intervention of a philanthropist. Namatjira’s
Read MoreObservers Looking to Hollywood to Take Lead on Sexual Harassment
Harvey Weinstein, one of Hollywood’s most powerful men, is now disgraced and may eventually face criminal charges involving decades of alleged sexual harassment. Weinstein’s studio has put out blockbuster movies
Read MoreFrance’s Audrey Azoulay Wins Vote to Be Next UNESCO Chief
UNESCO’s executive board voted Friday to make a former French government minister the U.N. cultural agency’s next chief after an unusually heated election that was overshadowed by Middle East tensions.
Read MoreFIFA Head Talks to VOA About Reform, World Cup Preparations
In an exclusive interview with VOA, the secretary-general of FIFA, Fatma Samoura, talks about preparations for the 2018 World Cup in Russia and on the reform process within the International
Read MoreUS, Israel Withdraw from UNESCO
Following the U.S. decision Thursday to quit the United Nations organization for education, science and culture, Israel announced it too will withdraw. The United States stopped funding UNESCO after the
Read MoreBruno Mars Leads American Music Awards Nominations With 8
Bruno Mars topped the field of American Music Awards nominations announced Thursday, receiving eight nods, while The Chainsmokers, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Ed Sheeran and The Weeknd received five nominations apiece.
Read MoreUS World Cup Absence Could Have Wide-ranging Effects
The 2018 World Cup will be a unique test of soccer’s appeal in the United States. Will Americans still watch if their national team isn’t there? Fox certainly is hoping
Read MoreWorld Cup Bribery Case Opened Against PSG President, Valcke
The Qatari president of one of Europe’s most glamorous soccer clubs, Paris Saint-Germain, is under investigation by Swiss prosecutors for suspected bribery of a top FIFA executive to get World
Read MoreAi Weiwei Immigration-themed Exhibit Opens in New York
An enormous exhibition by the activist artist Ai Weiwei, designed to draw attention to the world’s refugee crisis, is going on view at some 300 sites around New York City.
Read MoreSomali Musician, Kept from US Internship, Blames Trump Travel Ban
The Somali musician Hassan-Nour Sayid — known by his stage name, Aar Maanta — and his band, the Urban Nomads, were supposed to be in Minnesota last week, where they
Read MoreHotel at Iconic TWA Terminal Will Evoke Glamour of Jet Age
When it opened in 1962, the sleek TWA terminal at New York’s Kennedy Airport was the embodiment of jet-age style. Now, construction is underway to transform the landmark into a
Read MoreArab Rivalries Exposed as Egypt Targets Qatar in UNESCO Vote
Arab states may want their turn at the helm of UNESCO, but the barbs hurled by Egypt at rival candidate Qatar during the vote highlights the fractious geopolitics paralyzing the
Read MoreThe Biltmore: The Largest Privately Owned House in America
The Biltmore Estate is the largest privately owned home in the United States. Built near Asheville, North Carolina, it is still owned by the descendants of one of America’s richest
Read MoreDavid Lynch to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at Rome Film Fest
American director David Lynch will be honored with a lifetime achievement award at the upcoming Rome Film Fest. The festival opens Oct. 26 with director Scott Cooper’s Hostiles, starring Christian
Read MoreDa Vinci Portrait of Christ Expected to Fetch $100M at Auction
The last privately owned Leonardo da Vinci painting and one of fewer than 20 by the Renaissance artist known to still exist is hitting the auction block, Christie’s announced Tuesday.
Read MoreHollywood Condemnation of Weinstein Grows Louder
The Hollywood establishment, slow to react to the initial sexual harassment allegations against Harvey Weinstein, began speaking out against him more forcefully Monday after the powerful studio boss was fired
Read MoreSatire on EU Bureaucracy Wins German Book Prize
A satirical look at the European Union and its bureaucracy, which opens with a pig running amok in one of Brussels’ main squares, has won the prestigious German Book Prize.
Read MoreIndigenous Peoples Day? Italians Say Stick With Columbus
Is it time to say arrivederci to Christopher Columbus? A movement to abolish Columbus Day and replace it with Indigenous Peoples Day has gained momentum in some parts of the
Read MoreFilm Producer Harvey Weinstein Ousted in Sex Abuse Scandal
Harvey Weinstein has been fired from The Weinstein Co., effective immediately, three days after an expose detailed decades of allegations of sexual abuse against the movie mogul. In a
Read MoreSecret Film Shows Plight of ‘Forgotten’ Refugees in Australian Camp
A movie secretly shot inside an Australian-run detention center for asylum seekers highlights the plight of thousands of “forgotten” refugees who have been marooned for years on remote Pacific islands,
Read MoreUNESCO Seeks Leader to Revive Agency’s Fortunes
When Israel’s envoy told UNESCO delegates last July that fixing the plumbing in his toilet was more important than their latest ruling, it highlighted how fractious geopolitics are paralyzing the
Read MoreWith Decline in Smoking, Tobacco Headquarters Becomes Entertainment Complex
According to the American Medical Association, a big anti-smoking effort launched more than 50 years ago saved more than 8 million lives in the US. Before 1964, when the official
Read MoreIn Male-dominated Field, Women at New York Comic Con Persist
Batman, Superman and Spiderman aren’t the only superheroes of the comic book world. At New York Comic Con, plenty of women were on hand to remind the industry of their
Read MoreChinese Basketball Gets a Boost from Playing NBA Teams
The Chinese Basketball Association is on tour in the US, with teams playing against US professional squads. Calla Yu from VOA’s Mandarin Service was at a recent game in the
Read MoreNew Book Heralds Early Days of Fleetwood Mac
Mick Fleetwood was 16 when he left school, told his parents he wanted to pursue a career in rock ‘n’ roll, and went to London in search of gigs. A
Read MoreLin-Manuel Miranda, Latin Stars Sing for Puerto Rico Relief
“Hamilton” musical creator Lin-Manuel Miranda on Friday released a new song for hurricane relief charity efforts in Puerto Rico featuring many of the music industry’s biggest Latin stars. Jennifer Lopez,
Read MoreTop 5 Songs for Week Ending Oct. 7
We’re cranking up the five most popular songs in the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles chart, for the week ending Oct. 7, 2017. Three consecutive weeks, three consecutive Hot Shot
Read MoreBlade Runner Update Evokes Colder, Isolated World
In 1982’s iconic Blade Runner, filmmaker Ridley Scott imagined the dystopian world of 2019 as overcrowded, polluted and inhabited not only by humans but by their genetically engineered lookalikes –
Read MoreAfter Sexual Harassment Accusations Hollywood Asks: Is Harvey Weinstein Done?
Accepting the Golden Globe best actress award in 2012 for “The Iron Lady,” Meryl Streep took a moment to thank the almighty – “God, Harvey Weinstein.” For decades, Weinstein has
Read MoreIranian Chess Star, Banned for Not Wearing Hijab, to Play for US
A leading Iranian chess player, barred from her homeland’s team after she refused to wear a headscarf, will now compete as a player for the United States, the US Chess
Read MoreAmerican Film Institute to Fete Clooney for Life Achievement
George Clooney will be the 46th recipient of the AFI Life Achievement Award. The American Film Institute announced Thursday it will honor the actor-director at a gala tribute in
Read MorePoll: Most Dislike NFL Protests — and Trump Comments
Most Americans think refusing to stand for the national anthem is disrespectful to the country, the military and the American flag. But most also disapprove of President Donald Trump’s calling
Read MoreLights, Camera, Action – London’s Film Festival Opens
Red carpets are being unrolled as the British capital prepares to play host to some of international cinema’s big names for the 12 days of the London Film Festival. The
Read More‘Florida Project’ Shines Bright Light on Hidden Homeless
Sean Baker’s “The Florida Project” takes place in a blindingly purple low-budget motel named the Magic Castle, just down Route 192 from Disney’s Magic Kingdom. For the children of single
Read MoreA Minute With: Harrison Ford, Ryan Gosling on ‘Blade Runner 2049’
The long-awaited sequel to the cult classic “Blade Runner,” a 1982 sci-fi thriller, finally hits movie theaters on Friday. But there is not much that stars Harrison Ford and Ryan
Read MoreSingers Aldean, Lopez Cancel Shows After Las Vegas Shooting
Country star Jason Aldean said Tuesday that he would cancel three shows this week to honor victims of the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, in which a gunman
Read MoreDinosaur National Monument is Hidden Gem of US National Parks
After visiting the diverse landscapes of Dinosaur National Monument once, national parks traveler Mikah Meyer knew he had to come back. In addition to the site’s ancient land formations and
Read MoreCountry Star Jason Aldean Issues Rallying Cry for Unity
Country star Jason Aldean says he’s praying for the victims of the Las Vegas shootings, saying his “heart aches” and issuing a rallying cry for Americans to come together. The
Read MoreUS Channel to Premiere Pistorius Movie; His Brother Objects
An American television channel plans to air a film about Oscar Pistorius and how he murdered girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, drawing criticism from the family of the former South African track
Read MoreEuropean Court Asked to Rule on Facebook Data Transfers
The European Court of Justice has been asked to consider whether Facebook’s Dublin-based subsidiary can legally transfer users’ personal data to its U.S. parent, after Ireland’s top court said Tuesday
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