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Christian Pilgrims Celebrate Christmas in Bethlehem 

The streets of Bethlehem are crowded for Christmas again, after two years of COVID-related restrictions. In the Church of the Nativity, the faithful celebrated Jesus’s birth as the number of Palestinian Christians continues to dwindle. Christian tourists from around the …


Maxi Jazz, of UK Dance Music Band Faithless, Dies at 65

Maxi Jazz, the lead singer of the British electronic band Faithless, has died at the age of 65, the group announced Saturday. The musician and DJ, whose real name was Maxwell Fraser, passed away at his home in south London, …


Ukrainian Ballerina Finds Temporary Home in US

Back when 2022 started, Kristina Kadashevych surely could not have envisioned ending the year in the city of Richmond, in the U.S. state of Virginia, performing as the sugarplum fairy (and two other roles) in Richmond Ballet’s annual holiday extravaganza, …


An Iranian Masterwork Opens With Its Director Behind Bars

After being arrested for creating antigovernment propaganda in 2010, the Iranian director Jafar Panahi was banned from making films for 20 years. Since then, he’s made five widely acclaimed features. His latest, No Bears, opens soon in U.S. theaters while …


Film Stars Call for Release of Jailed Iranian Actor Alidoosti 

Hundreds of high-profile figures from the global cinema industry called Wednesday for Iran to release actor Taraneh Alidoosti, who was jailed over her support for the country’s three-month-old protest movement.  Actors Emma Thompson, Penelope Cruz, Kate Winslet and Ian McKellen …


Harvey Weinstein Found Guilty of Rape in Los Angeles Trial

Harvey Weinstein was found guilty Monday of rape at a Los Angeles trial in another #MeToo moment of reckoning, five years after he became a magnet for the movement.  After deliberating for nine days spanning more than two weeks, the …


Art Museum Immerses Visitors in Holiday Multiverse   

With images of snowy villages, nutcrackers, candy canes and more, Artechouse’s “Spectacular Factory: The Holiday Multiverse” brings to life the festive feelings of the season. Maxim Moskalkov visited the event. Camera: Sergey Sokolov …


 Female ‘Priests’ Secretly Celebrating Catholic Masses 

An underground Catholic movement started in 2002 with the secret ‘ordination’ of seven women in Germany by official male bishops. The movement has grown to 250 women globally, despite the Catholic Church’s rules preventing women from becoming priests. VOA senior …


 Sunday Marked the Beginning of Hanukkah Celebrations 

U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host a Hanukkah reception at the White House Monday evening. There will be a menorah lighting and the menorah, created by the Whie House carpentry shop, will become the first …


‘Avatar 2’ Makes Waves With $134 Million Domestic Debut

“Avatar: The Way of Water ” didn’t make quite as big of a splash as many assumed it would, but James Cameron’s big budget spectacle still helped breathe life into the box office this weekend. The sequel earned $134 million …


Russian Cartoonist in US Blasts Ukraine War Through Art

When Igor Ponochevny drew his first political cartoon, he was living in Russia and working at a bank. Russia’s invasion and annexation of Crimea in 2014 inspired him to draw under the pen name Alyosha Stupin. VOA Russian spoke with …


Murphy to Receive Cecil B. DeMille Award at Golden Globes

Eddie Murphy will receive the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 80th Golden Globes, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced Wednesday. The honorary award for the comedian and actor adds to a broadcast that’s taking shape after two years of …


Kawananakoa, ‘Last Hawaiian Princess,’ Dies at 96 

Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawananakoa, the so-called last Hawaiian princess whose lineage included the royal family that once ruled the islands and an Irish businessman who became one of Hawaii’s largest landowners, died on Sunday. She was 96. Her death was …


Golden Globes to Unveil Nominations as Censured Awards Eye Comeback

Boycotted by A-listers and studios last year, the Golden Globes will attempt to rebuild their reputation as one of Hollywood’s top award shows with organizers unveiling this year’s nominees on Monday.    The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which organizes the film …