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your ad hereFinland’s Lenin Museum closing as Russia relations chill
Finland’s Lenin Museum, the “most hated” in the country according to its director, is to close its doors at the end of the year for rebranding, as Finland’s historically good relations with Russia sour. Henry Wilkins visited the museum in the Finnish city of Tampere and has that story. …
your ad hereJin, oldest member of K-pop’s BTS, finishes army service in South Korea
Seoul — Jin, the oldest member of K-pop phenomenon BTS, was discharged from South Korea’s army on Wednesday after 18 months of duty, the first member of the group to wrap up the mandatory national service that put their music careers on hold. Jin, 31, wearing uniform and a black beret, …
your ad hereSouth Africa holds off Bangladesh, remains unbeaten in cricket’s T20 World Cup
WESTBURY, New York — Spinner Keshav Maharaj bowled a six-run, two-wicket final over and South Africa held off Bangladesh by four runs to stay unbeaten in cricket’s T20 World Cup on Monday. Bangladesh needed 11 from the last six deliveries to register a famous win, then needed a six off the …
your ad hereSalt Lake City Olympic bid projects $4 billion in total costs to stage 2034 Winter Games
Thousands turn out for LA Pride Parade, events
LOS ANGELES — Tens of thousands of people lined the streets of Hollywood on Sunday for the L.A. Pride Parade, one of the biggest events during a month of celebrations honoring the LGBTQ+ community in and around Los Angeles. Rainbow flags ruled the day as revelers cheered the lively procession that …
your ad hereWomen pastors, sexual abuse report highlight Southern Baptists’ agenda
‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’ boosts Will Smith’s comeback with $56M opening
New York — “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” the fourth installment in the Will Smith-Martin Lawrence action-comedy series, opened with an estimated $56 million in theaters over the weekend, handing Hollywood a much-needed summer hit and Smith his biggest success since he slapped Chris Rock at the Academy Awards. Expectations were …
your ad hereMuslim schools caught up in France’s fight against Islamism
Meloni joins cultural elite celebrating Italian opera’s recognition as a world treasure
VERONA, Italy — Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni joined top political and cultural figures at Verona’s ancient Arena amphitheater Friday night for an open-air celebration of Italian lyric opera’s recognition by UNESCO as a global cultural treasure. Conductor Riccardo Muti presided over an orchestra of 170 musicians from Italy’s 14 opera houses, …
your ad hereDornoch wins the first Belmont Stakes run at Saratoga Race Course
SARATOGA SPRINGS, New York — When Luis Saez first rode Dornoch at Saratoga Race Course last summer, he told trainer Danny Gargan, “You have the Derby winner.” While that did not come true, Dornoch made good on that optimism Saturday by winning the first Belmont Stakes at Saratoga, hugging the rail …
your ad herePope invites comedians such as Chris Rock, Whoopie Goldberg to Vatican
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis, who says he regularly prays “Lord, give me a sense of humor,” will welcome comedians from around the world to a cultural event in Italy to “celebrate the beauty of human diversity,” the Vatican said Saturday. Whoopi Goldberg, Jimmy Fallon, Conan O’Brien and Chris Rock will …
your ad hereUS shocks cricket world with win over powerhouse Pakistan
The United States cricket team beat Pakistan — a former world champion — on Thursday, achieving one of the biggest upsets in T20 Cricket World Cup history. This year’s tournament is being hosted by the United States and the West Indies. Saqib Ul Islam has more from the games in …
your ad hereMethodist church regrets Ivory Coast’s split from the union as lifting of LGBTQ ban roils Africa
HARARE, Zimbabwe — Leaders of the United Methodist Church expressed regret over last week’s decision by the branch in Ivory Coast to leave the union following the church’s decision to repeal a long-standing ban on LGBTQ+ clergy but pledged to accept it. The developments were the latest in a series of …
your ad hereFrom refugee camps to World Cup glory: Inspiring journey of Afghanistan cricket
Washington — When the parents of Karim Sadiq and Taj Maluk fled a wrecked Afghanistan torn apart by the 1979 Soviet invasion and infighting warlords, they didn’t imagine their children — Karim and Taj — would return to reunite the war-torn nation through cricket. Taj Maluk became the first coach of …
your ad hereSaudi Arabia warns of above-average heat during Hajj
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Arabia said Tuesday pilgrims can expect average high temperatures of 44 degrees Celsius (111 Fahrenheit) during the Hajj, which last year saw thousands of cases of heat stress. “The expected climate for Hajj this year will witness an increase in average temperatures of 1½ to 2 …
your ad hereMick Jagger, strutting at 80, teases new album and more touring
Los Angeles — How does it feel for Mick Jagger to be back on tour singing, dancing and strutting across stadium concert stages at 80 years old? “Like being on stage at 78,” the Rolling Stones frontman, who has thrilled audiences for more than six decades, said a day after playing …
your ad hereReal Madrid signs France captain Mbappe on free transfer
‘Garfield,’ ‘Furiosa’ repeat atop box office charts as slow summer grinds on
Nigeria’s new anthem, written by a Briton, sparks criticism
ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigeria adopted a new national anthem Wednesday after lawmakers passed a law that replaced the current one with a version dropped nearly a half-century ago, sparking widespread criticism about how the law was hastily passed without much public input. President Bola Tinubu’s assent to the law comes a …
your ad hereParis is aiming for the most sustainable Olympics yet
PARIS — Of all the decisions Paris Olympics organizers made about where to hold each sport, sending surfing competitions to the other side of the world — in the Pacific waters of Tahiti — provoked the strongest reactions. Tahitians and others railed against the building of a new viewing tower on …
your ad hereLGBTQ+ Pride Month starting to show its colors around the world
Chinese artists caught between Beijing, desire for Western success
washington — Chinese artists walk a tightrope when trying to create content acceptable to Beijing’s standards while attempting to seek success among Western audiences. More than one artist who has gained recognition in the West has been punished by Chinese censors, with Chinese filmmaker Lou Ye being the most recent case. …
your ad hereMarian Robinson, mother of Michelle Obama, dies at 86
WASHINGTON — Marian Shields Robinson, the mother of Michelle Obama who moved with the first family to the White House when son-in-law Barack Obama was elected president, has died. She was 86. Robinson’s death was announced by Michelle Obama and other family members in a statement that said, “There was and …
your ad hereNetflix series puts Pakistani red-light district in spotlight
A new Netflix series has turned attention to a historic red-light district in Pakistan. Set in Lahore, “Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar” is one of the most popular non-English series on the streaming platform. But as VOA’s Pakistan bureau chief Sarah Zaman reports, not everyone is happy with the attention. Videographer: …
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