Renowned sculptor and painter Glenna Goodacre, who created the Vietnam Women’s Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C, has died at age 80.Family members say Goodacre died of natural causes Monday night at her Santa Fe home. Born in Lubbock, Texas, Goodacre was known mainly for her sculptures. Her …

Germany is offering to help rebuild parts of Notre Dame in Paris, a year after the famous cathedral was heavily damaged by fire. Officials suggested Wednesday that German craftsmen could remake some of the large clerestory windows located far above eye level and designed to let light and air into the …

U.S. movie theater operators, who were forced to shut their doors in March to help slow the coronavirus spread, are aiming to welcome back crowds across the country by late July for a belated kickoff to the summer movie season.   Ahead of that, operators are considering a transition period …

Listeners are mourning the coronavirus death of legendary Jamaican radio broadcaster Gil Bailey.Media outlets say he died of complications from the virus at age 84 on Monday in New York, where he was championed as the voice of Jamaican and Caribbean radio for five decades.Bailey’s Saturday radio program was a …

British racing legend Stirling Moss, regarded as the greatest Formula One driver of all time who was never able to win a world championship, has died in London at 90.His wife said he had been suffering from an unspecified long illness and died after taking, in her words, “one lap …

Arne Wilhelmsen, a founder of Royal Caribbean Cruises who helped shape the modern cruise industry, has died. He was 90.The Miami-based company said in a statement that Wilhelmsen died Saturday in Palma, Spain. No cause of death was given.As a member of the company’s board for three decades, Wilhelmsen saw …

Renowned Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli is giving a ‘Music for Hope’ solo performance Sunday (April 12) at the Duomo, the historic cathedral of Milan, Italy.“On the day in which we celebrate the trust in a life that triumphs, I’m honored and happy to answer ‘Sì’ (yes) to the invitation of …

Renowned Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli is giving a ‘Music for Hope’ solo performance Sunday (April 12) at the Duomo, the historic cathedral of Milan, Italy.“On the day in which we celebrate the trust in a life that triumphs, I’m honored and happy to answer ‘Sì’ (yes) to the invitation of …

Nobuhiko Obayashi, one of Japan’s most prolific filmmakers who devoted his works to depicting war’s horrors and singing the eternal power of movies, has died. He was 82.The official site for his latest film, “Labyrinth of Cinema,” said that Obayashi died late Friday.Obayashi was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2016, …

Artist Paul McCartney’s handwritten lyrics to The Beatles’ hit song “Hey Jude” sold for $910,000 on Friday, nine times its original estimate, auction house Julien’s Auctions said. A vintage bass drumhead with The Beatles’ logo that was used during the English band’s first North American tour in 1964 was another top …

American ballet dancer Julie Kent was a principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre from 1993 to 2015. Her farewell role was as Juliet, and in 2016 Kent was named the artistic director of The Washington Ballet. Karina Bafradzhian spoke with Kent about what it takes to be a ballerina …

You’re about to meet the virtual Corona Community Chorus — a group based in New York City. Each Sunday, the chorus members gather online to unite voices forced into isolation in the global effort to curb the coronavirus outbreak. VOA correspondent Mariama Diallo reports on its founder — an author and …

You’re about to meet the virtual Corona Community Chorus — a group based in New York City. Each Sunday, the chorus members gather online to unite voices forced into isolation in the global effort to curb the coronavirus outbreak. VOA correspondent Mariama Diallo reports on its founder — an author and …

  A renowned Somali musician and oud player, Mohamud Ismail Hussein, commonly known as Hudeydi, died on Tuesday night in London, as a result of complications of COVID-19.The 92-year-old musician had been popular among Somalis in the Horn of Africa and around the world since the 1950s, when he started …

American ballet dancer Julie Kent was a principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre from 1993 to 2015. Her farewell role was as Juliet, and in 2016 Kent was named the artistic director of The Washington Ballet. Karina Bafradzhian spoke with Kent about what it takes to be a ballerina …

John Prine, an American singer and songwriter whose blend of folk and country  earned him a devoted legion of fans and reverence from music greats such as Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen over a five-decade career, died Tuesday at age 73 from complications of the novel coronavirus.   Prine was admitted …

John Prine, the ingenious singer-songwriter who explored the heartbreaks, indignities and absurdities of everyday life in “Angel from Montgomery,” “Sam Stone,” “Hello in There” and scores of other indelible tunes, died Tuesday at the age of 73.  His family announced his death from complications from the coronavirus.  Winner of a lifetime achievement …

A silver lining of the current pandemic is that rescue dogs are finding foster homes at higher than normal rates right now, according to the Humane Rescue Alliance, an animal welfare organization in Washington, DC.More people have also reached out about adopting than was the case pre-coronavirus, says Ashley Valm, director of adoptions at the organization’s two shelters.  Lucky dog Just ask Tom Drescher and his wife, Becky …

For the billions of Christians around the world it is Holy Week, the seven days spanning from Palm Sunday to Easter. Along with one third of the world under lockdown to try to stop the COVID virus, Christians in the Holy Land are preparing for a very different kind of …

A Nigerian court has ordered actress Funke Akindele-Bello to perform community service after she pleaded guilty to violating a lockdown restriction by hosting a birthday party for her husband while publicly promoting a ‘Stay Home’ campaign. Following their arrest, the couple appeared in court on Monday on charges of breaking the …

Honor Blackman, the potent British actress who took James Bond’s breath away as Pussy Galore in Goldfinger and who starred as the leather-clad, judo-flipping Cathy Gale in The Avengers, has died. She was 94.  Blackman’s family said in a statement Monday that she died peacefully of natural causes at her home in …

Lady Gaga and advocacy organization Global Citizen have raised $35 million to fight the coronavirus and will launch a TV special featuring Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder and Billie Eilish to combat the growing virus. Gaga said on Monday that the money was raised in seven days and will benefit The World …

Madison Keesler clears furniture and pets from the living room, while Benjamin Freemantle chomps on a banana topped with peanut butter. The two, who live together, are preparing to dance with dozens of other members of the San Francisco Ballet company currently sequestered throughout the city and around the world.  Since shelter-in-place rules went into effect three weeks ago, the company has …

Governments both local and national increasingly have been calling on their citizens to stay home as a way to help slow the spread of novel coronavirus.  Musicians have joined the campaign.  VOA’s Arash Arabasadi turns up the volume on just a few performances …

Circus Renz Berlin’s fleet of blue, red and yellow trucks have had a fresh lick of paint over the winter. But now, as coronavirus measures shut down the entertainment industry across Europe, they have no place to go.”It’s catastrophic for everybody,” said Sarina Renz, of the family circus that has …