Anticipation Builds for Hollywood’s Highest Honor: Oscars
All eyes will be on Hollywood Sunday when the Academy Awards, or Oscars, will honor the best in filmmaking. From Los Angeles, Mike O’Sullivan has a preview. …
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Fleeing Russia: Exiled Artist Traces Soviet Roots of Ukraine Invasion
Several hundred thousand Russian citizens are thought to have fled their home country since February 2022, when the Kremlin launched the invasion of Ukraine. Critics of the war face imprisonment for “discrediting” the Russian military. Henry Ridgwell spoke to a …
Ivory Coast Project Aims to Raise Awareness of a Traditional Instrument
In 2012, UNESCO, the U.N. body tasked with promoting arts and culture, identified the traditional xylophone known as the balafon as an important part of humanity’s cultural heritage. Today, in Ivory Coast, informal workshops with students are underway to promote …
Ohtani, Star-Studded US Eye World Baseball Classic Crown
The battle to find baseball’s global champions gets under way this week when the pandemic-delayed World Baseball Classic returns after a six-year absence with Shohei Ohtani hoping to inspire Japan to a record third title. Teams from 20 countries are …
‘Creed III’ Debuts to $58.7 Million
“Creed III” punched above its weight at the domestic box office in its first weekend in theaters. The MGM release knocked “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” out of first place and far surpassed both industry expectations and the opening weekends …
Despite War, Ukrainian Women Continue Knitting for Top Designer Brands
Oscar de la Renta, Calvin Klein, Alexandra Alonso Rojas and many others produce their collections with hand-knitted products made by Ukrainian women. It’s been a year since Russia invaded Ukraine, but despite the war, Ukrainian women continue to work. Nina Vishneva has the story, narrated by Anna Rice. VOA footage by …
War, Anger Cloud Ukrainian Athletes’ Path to Paris Olympics
Ukrainian diver Stanislav Oliferchyk proudly bears the name of his late grandfather, who died in brutalized Mariupol. Russia’s troops turned the Ukrainian port city into a killing zone in the process of capturing it. The elder Stanislav could no longer …
Ancient Restaurant Highlights Iraq’s Archeology Renaissance
An international archeological mission has uncovered the remnants of what is believed to be a 5,000-year-old restaurant or tavern in the ancient city of Lagash in southern Iraq. The discovery of the ancient dining hall — complete with a rudimentary …
Archaeologists Find Well-Preserved 500-Year-Old Spices on Baltic Shipwreck
Archaeologists say they have uncovered a “unique” cache of well-preserved spices, from strands of saffron to peppercorns and ginger, on the wreck of a royal ship that sank off Sweden’s Baltic coast more than 500 years ago. The wreck of …
Tom Sizemore, ‘Saving Private Ryan’ Actor, Dies at 61
Tom Sizemore, the “Saving Private Ryan” actor whose bright 1990s star burned out under the weight of his own domestic violence and drug convictions, died Friday at age 61. The actor had suffered a brain aneurysm on Feb. 18 at …
Alaskan Dogsled Race Begins with Smallest Field Ever
The second half-century for the world’s most famous sled dog race is getting off to a rough start. Only 33 mushers will participate in the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Saturday, the smallest field ever …
Oscar-Nominated Film Reminiscent of Women’s Struggle in Iran
“The Red Suitcase,” a short film by Iranian-born filmmaker Cyrus Neshvad, will compete for an Oscar at the Academy Awards on March 12. The director and his star tell VOA’s Mike O’Sullivan that the film looks at a young woman’s …
Nobel Peace Prize Activist Sentenced to 10 in Prison in Belarus
Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison by a Belarus court. Bialiatski is the founder of Viasna, a prominent human rights group in Belarus that has provided legal and financial support to protesters, …
New Chamber Discovered in Egypt’s Great Pyramid
Scientists in Egypt have discovered a 9-meter hidden corridor near the main entrance of one of the Great Pyramids of Giza. The discovery was made as part of the Scan Project that uses noninvasive technology to look into Egypt’s ancient …
Wayne Shorter, Jazz Saxophone Pioneer, Dies at 89
He was in bands led by Miles Davis and Art Blakely, and founded the fusion band Weather Report …
California Names First Asian American Poet Laureate
California has a new poet laureate. And for the first time, that state poet is Asian American. For VOA, Genia Dulot traveled to Fresno, California, to hear from Lee Herrick about his roots and his poetry …
More of Israel’s Ultra-Orthodox Youth Abandoning Religious Lifestyle
In Israel, the ultra-Orthodox, who strictly observe Jewish law, are currently about 13% of Israel’s population, although their numbers are growing due to a high birthrate. At the same time, a growing number of ultra-Orthodox youth are opting out of …
Slam Poetry Gives Voice to Young Senegalese
In Senegal, slam poetry is making its mark on urban culture and offering young people a way to voice their opinions about their lives and society. Seydina Aba Gueye has this report from Senegal, narrated by Salem Solomon. …
South African Solar-Powered Cinema Inspires African Youth
A South African group is bringing films to African youth in impoverished areas with poor services through solar-powered, portable cinemas. The group, Sunshine Cinema, works in four countries aiming to inspire more youth on the continent through African films. Zaheer …
‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ Dominates at SAG Awards
The unlikely awards-season juggernaut “Everything Everywhere All at Once” marched on at the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday, and even gathered stream with wins not just for best ensemble, Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan but also for Jamie …