Prince Philip, the Greek-born consort to Queen Elizabeth, Britain’s longest sitting monarch, has died at the age of 99. The Duke of Edinburgh is best remembered for his sense of duty to the queen, and also his sense of humor. Henry Ridgwell reports for VOA from London. …
Britain’s Prince Philip, Husband of Queen Elizabeth Has Died
Prince Philip, the irascible and tough-minded husband of Queen Elizabeth II who spent more than seven decades supporting his wife in a role that both defined and constricted his life, has died, Buckingham Palace said Friday. He was 99. He was known for his occasionally racist and sexist remarks — and for gamely fulfilling more…
Strasbourg Mosque a Lightning Rod for Broader French-Turkish Tensions
The cement skeleton of the unfinished Eyyub Sultan mosque in France’s eastern city of Strasbourg has become a repository for myriad grievances, ranging from local partisan wrangling to longstanding friction between Islam and this country’s staunchly secular creed.The grievances also reflect mounting fears within the European Union about Turkey’s growing international influence.Claiming concern over foreign…
University Applications Spike Amid Pandemic
For many high school seniors across the United States, an email or envelope in the mailbox leads to screaming, cheering, crying or despair as they learn whether they have been accepted to the college or university of their choice.“This year, I chose to apply to seven different universities: the University of Virginia, Howard University, James…
College Admissions Scandal Parent Released from Prison
The college admissions scandal that made headlines over the past two years came to a close this week as the last celebrity parent was released from prison.Fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli is now on house arrest after his role in the 2019 college admissions scandal, according to The Associated Press.He was released from a federal facility…
French Open Delayed Due to COVID-19
The French Open has been delayed by one week because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the governing body of the tennis tournament said Thursday.The French Tennis Federation said first-round matches will now begin on May 30 instead of May 23 because of sharp spikes in coronavirus infections in France. The postponement marks the second year in a…
College Admissions Scandal Parents Released from Prison
The college admissions scandal that made headlines over the past two years came to a close this week as the last celebrity parent was released from prison.Fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli is now on house arrest after his role in the 2019 college admissions scandal, according to The Associated Press.He was released from a federal facility…
‘Cambodia Burning’ Documentary Shows Unfettered Logging Impact on Forest Ecosystem
“Cambodia Burning,” a documentary by filmmaker Sean Gallagher, throws light on the effect Cambodia’s unfettered logging has had on the country’s forest ecosystem. VOA’s Penelope Poulou spoke to the award-winning filmmaker …
Will The Oscars Be A ‘Who Cares’ Moment As Ratings Dive?
George Bradley used to love watching the Academy Awards. The 28-year-old Brit now living in San Diego would stay up late back home just to tune in. Though he’s now in the right time zone, he’s just not interested, and that’s due primarily to the pandemic. “The rising dominance of the streaming services has taken…
Biden Mulls US Boycott of Beijing Olympics Under Pressure From Conservatives
The political dispute over a new election law in the southern state of Georgia has broadened into a debate over whether the United States should participate in a boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China. On Tuesday, State Department spokesperson Ned Price acknowledged the U.S. will discuss with allies whether to jointly boycott the…
Following Their Passion, Women Go Far to Play Flag Football
From a distance, it looks like college kids in sweat clothes tossing a football around on a campus green space. Draw closer, and it’s apparent this is no sandlot game. A coach is explaining routes he wants receivers to run on a play he calls “Bingo.” Then he tells his quarterbacks to make quicker decisions. Next,…
Famed New York City Chess Café Survives COVID Pandemic
A famed chess café in New York City called Chess Forum has survived the pandemic. Elena Wolf reports in this story narrated by Anna Rice.Camera: Max Avloshenko …
Effort to Return Benin Bronzes to Africa Remains Ongoing Challenge
The promise to return several Benin Bronzes from three Western institutions to the former Kingdom of Benin in Nigeria was celebrated by many. But returning all the artifacts looted by British soldiers 125 years ago will continue to be a challenge.In recent weeks, a university in Scotland and museums in Germany and Britain pledged to…
North Korea Withdraws from Tokyo Olympics, Citing Pandemic
North Korea says it will not participate in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic. The country’s sports ministry said the decision was made “in order to protect players from the world public health crisis caused by COVID-19,” in a statement dated Monday. If North Korea follows through with the decision, it would be the first time…
N. Korea Withdraws from Tokyo Summer Olympics Due to COVID-19 Pandemic
North Korea says it will not participate in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic. The country’s sports ministry said the decision was made “in order to protect players from the world public health crisis caused by COVID-19,” in a statement dated Monday. If North Korea follows through with the decision, it would be the first time…
Tragedies Highlight Dark Side of Greek Life
Greek life communities on campuses across the U.S. are again facing a reckoning after recent student deaths due to alleged hazing. Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) freshman Adam Oakes died February 27, and Bowling Green State University (BGSU) sophomore Stone Foltz died March 7 after both consumed large amounts of alcohol at fraternity events. VCU mourns the…
The Weeknd Donates $1 Million to Ethiopian Relief Efforts
Pop star The Weeknd has announced he will be donating $1 million to relief efforts in Ethiopia amid the country’s ongoing conflict in the Tigray region.A U.N. statement said his donation, the equivalent of 2 million meals, went to World Food Program USA, the U.S. affiliate of the United Nations World Food Program, and will…
Pet Adoption Business in US Never Better
Ever since the pandemic lockdown began in the U.S. in March 2020, the pet adoption business has been booming. But trend hasn’t just been good for the animals. Lesia Bakalets has the story, narrated by Anna Rice.Camera: Andrey Degtyarev …
Stanford Holds Off Arizona 54-53 to Win Women’s NCAA Basketball Title
Tara VanDerveer hugged each of her Stanford players as they climbed the ladder to cut down the nets, capping a taxing whirlwind journey and ending an exhaustive women’s college basketball championship drought for the Cardinal. It took 29 years, that included 10 weeks on the road this season because of the coronavirus, for VanDerveer and the Cardinal to be crowned the National Collegiate Athletic Association…
Vast Archives at JFK Library Help Bring ‘Hemingway’ to Life
A new documentary on Ernest Hemingway — powered by vast but little-known archives kept at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston — is shedding new light on the acclaimed novelist.”Hemingway,” by longtime collaborators Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, premiering on PBS on three consecutive nights starting April 5, takes a more…
Famous New York Cemetery Now Has an Artist-in-Residence
Green-Wood Cemetery in New York – one of the oldest and largest American cemeteries – now has its own artist-in-resident. Anna Nelson tells us more in this report narrated by Anna Rice.Camera: Vladimir Badikov …
To the Bank! Suggs Hits the Winner, Zags Top UCLA 93-90
Jalen Suggs took the inbounds pass and saw nothing but clear sailing. Three dribbles. Past the half-court line. A little stutter-step.And straight into history.The Gonzaga freshman banked in a shot at the buzzer from near the Final Four logo for a 93-90 overtime win over UCLA on Saturday night that vaulted the Bulldogs to within…
Young Artist’s Work Blossoms During COVID Lockdown
Nine-year-old Nadja Pivoff from Boston, Massachusetts, has been drawing since she could hold a pencil. It’s been especially important to her during the COVID lockdown, as Genia Dulot reports from Boston. Camera: Genia Dulot …
Egyptian Mummies Paraded Through Cairo on Way to New Museum
A grand parade Saturday conveyed 22 ancient Egyptian royal mummies in special capsules across Cairo to a new museum home where they can be displayed in greater splendor.The convoy transported 18 kings and four queens, mostly from the New Kingdom, from the Egyptian Museum in central Cairo’s Tahrir Square to the National Museum of Egyptian…
Cairo Stages Majestic Parade to Move 22 Mummies to New Museum
A grand parade will convey 22 ancient Egyptian royal mummies in specially designed capsules across the capital Cairo on Saturday to a new museum home where they can be displayed in greater splendor.The convoy will transport 18 kings and four queens, mostly from the New Kingdom, from the Egyptian Museum in central Cairo’s Tahrir Square…
Cairo Stages Majestic Parade as Egyptian Mummies Move to New Museum
A grand parade will convey 22 ancient Egyptian royal mummies in specially designed capsules across the capital Cairo on Saturday to a new museum home where they can be displayed in greater splendor.The convoy will transport 18 kings and four queens, mostly from the New Kingdom, from the Egyptian Museum in central Cairo’s Tahrir Square…
MLB Moving All-Star Game in Response to Voting Restrictions
Major League Baseball announced Friday it was moving this summer’s All-Star Game from Atlanta’s Truist Park, a response to Georgia enacting a new law last month restricting voting rights.MLB had awarded the game to Atlanta in May 2019 and the game was scheduled for July 13 as part of baseball’s midsummer break that includes the…
Basketball Film ‘Boogie’ Defies Asian-American Stereotypes
“Boogie,” a recent film by Chinese American filmmaker Eddie Huang, addresses stereotypes Asian people face in the United States. Lead actor Taylor Takahashi spoke with VOA’s Penelope Poulou about his film character and Asian representation in the film. Camera: Penelope Poulou Producer: Penelope Poulou …