A new church in South Africa celebrates drinking, and not just the communion wine. Worshippers at the Gabola church attend services in bars and taverns, where a pastor blesses their alcoholic beverages. From Washington, VOA’s Jill Craig has more on this unorthodox church. …

President Donald Trump said Saturday that he was considering “a Full Pardon!” for boxing’s first black heavyweight champion, more than 100 years after Jack Johnson was convicted by an all-white jury of “immorality” in connection with one of his relationships. Trump tweeted that actor Sylvester Stallone had called him to share …

Elmore Bolling defied the odds against black men and built several successful businesses during the harsh era of Jim Crow segregation in the South. He had more money than a lot of whites, which his descendants believe was all it took to get him lynched in 1947. He was shot …

We’re firing up the five most popular songs in the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles chart, for the week ending April 21, 2018. Things really jump on this week’s lineup as we welcome two new tracks — including the Hot Shot Debut. Number 5: BlocBoy JB Featuring Drake “Look Alive” …

The Swedish-born producer and DJ known as Avicii has been found dead in Oman.   Publicist Diana Baron said in a statement that the 28-year-old DJ, born Tim Bergling, was in Muscat, Oman.   Avicii was a pioneer of the contemporary Electronic Dance Movement and a rare DJ capable of …

Bill Cosby’s lawyers are scrambling to make sure jurors at his sexual assault retrial hear from accuser Andrea Constand’s confidante before deliberations get under way next week — but they’re having trouble getting the woman to cooperate. Sheri Williams isn’t responding to subpoena attempts, Cosby’s lawyers said. Now they’re seeking …

Some of Prince’s closest confidants had grown increasingly alarmed about his health in the days before he died and tried to get him help as they realized he had an opioid addiction — yet none were able to give investigators the insight they needed to determine where the musician got …

For every man, woman and child on Earth, there is roughly 1 ton of plastic trash, according to a recent study. Advocates say tackling such a huge problem can start with a tiny step. With Earth Day coming up April 22, they are asking people to “skip the straw.” VOA’s …

Comedy is a field still dominated by men, but that’s changing. Among the trendsetters is Suzie Afridi, a Palestinian-American stand-up comedian. Afridi says she’s probably not living the life her parents had wanted for her when she was growing up in the West Bank. But she says how else would …

No criminal charges will be filed in the 2016 death of pop star Prince from an opioid overdose, a Minnesota prosecutor said on Thursday. “We simply do not have sufficient evidence to charge anyone with a crime related to Prince’s death,” Carver County Attorney Mark Metz told a news conference …

It’s the closest thing yet to an ABBA reunion: computerized avatars of Sweden’s legendary disco group will perform during a televised tribute to the quartet to be broadcast this autumn, ABBA member Bjorn Ulvaeus said Thursday. Agnetha Faltskog, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson split up in 1982 after …

Life is good at NICE TV. Staff enjoy generous benefits at the new Chinese network and their flashy building, directly inside Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior, boasts an elegant restaurant on the fifth floor with 360 degree views of the city’s political heartland. News manager Seang Sophorn is busy directing from …

Advocates of free speech recently honored about a dozen U.S. journalists who uncovered widespread sexual misconduct in politics, sports and movies, as well as a pair of Olympians who used their fame in a controversial bid to bring injustices to light half a century ago. In 1968, U.S. Olympians John …

Saudi Arabia has ended a 35-year ban on movie theaters with a private screening of the Hollywood blockbuster Black Panther. The invitation-only screening, held Wednesday at a concert hall converted into a cinema complex in the capital, Riyadh, was attended by both women and men.  “This is a landmark moment in …

Sweden’s king wants to change the statutes of the Swedish Academy, which awards the Nobel Literature Prize each year, to allow its life-appointed board members to resign. Academy head Sara Danius stepped down last week amid turmoil at the academy over the alleged sexual misconduct of a man married to …

British theater critics are praising a new stage musical about the life of Tina Turner – and it also has the approval of the star herself. Turner was in the audience for the opening night of “Tina” at London’s Aldwych Theatre. After the show Tuesday, she joked that “I’ve found …

When you think of Florida, the colored stone walls of the Grand Canyon don’t come to mind. Neither do cowboys, wolves or Native American silver-and-turquoise jewelry. In downtown St. Petersburg, all of those icons of the American West are on display in a new museum. It’s called the James Museum …

Steven Spielberg is flying into the DC Universe with the World War II action adventure “Blackhawk.”   Warner Bros. Chairman Toby Emmerich says Tuesday that the legendary filmmaker will produce and may direct the film for the studio.   The “Blackhawk” series started in 1941 and follows a group of …

Diane Kacprowski showed up at 57th Street Books in Chicago early on Tuesday on a mission to be one of the first to snap up a copy of James Comey’s scalding memoir about his time at the helm of the FBI and his abrupt firing by President Donald Trump. “A …

The decision to award rapper Kendrick Lamar the Pulitzer Prize for music represents a historic moment for hip-hop and American music, according to two of the music jurors who picked the album “DAMN.” as a finalist.   “It’s big for hip-hop. I think it’s big for our country. It’s big …

Mohammad Hafez, a Syrian-born artist in exile, saves memories of his home country through dioramas depicting life in Syria before and during the war. His miniature pieces made of scraps of metal, wood and marble create images of life in the war-torn nation. Hafez, who now lives in Connecticut, relies …

Asia Argento said he raped her during the Cannes Film Festival. Mira Sorvino said he chased her around a hotel room at the Toronto International Film Festival. Rose McGowan’s encounter happened at the Sundance Film Festival.  Just as Harvey Weinstein did at the Oscars, the disgraced movie mogul lorded over …

Senegal has a small but ambitious circus. It began as a local association offering arts and acrobatics workshops to disadvantaged kids from poor neighborhoods around the capital. The circus troupe has grown from there and now performs abroad, though some of the acrobats continue to face resistance from their families. …

FIFA charged World Cup host Russia with fan racism Tuesday, less than two months before the tournament begins. Monkey chants were aimed at black French players, including Paul Pogba, during France’s 3-1 friendly win over Russia in St. Petersburg last month. “Disciplinary proceedings have been opened against the Russian Football …

California rapper Kendrick Lamar on Monday became the first rapper to win the Pulitzer Prize for music, one of the most prestigious arts awards in the United States. Lamar, 30, won the Pulitzer for his 2017 album “DAMN.” and was also the first music winner in the 100-year history of …