Voice of America Arts & Entertainment

1. Historical novel offers lessons to next generation, says Afghan writer

   An Afghan author’s latest book is a generational call to remember the country’s recent violent past, he says. But Taliban rules mean publishers and bookstores are wary of stocking it. From Peshawar, Pakistan, Muska Safi has the story, narrated by Bezhan Hamdard. Roshan Noorzai contributed to this report.

2. Starry Sundance fest moves ahead in wake of LA fires

   Los Angeles — The U.S. film industry's first big gathering since fires devastated Los Angeles will begin Thursday at the Sundance festival, where highlights include a glitzy new Jennifer Lopez musical and a dark Benedict Cumberbatch drama. Hollywood's annual pilgrimage to the Rocky Mountains to premiere the coming year's most-anticipated indie films is taking place in somber circumstances,...

3. Keke Palmer’s ‘One of Them Days,’ ‘Mufasa’ race for No. 1 

   WASHINGTON — The Keke Palmer buddy comedy “One of Them Days” opened in first place on the North American box office charts on a particularly slow Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend.  The R-rated Sony release earned $11.6 million from 2,675 theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday, beating Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King” by a hair. By the end of Monday's holiday, “Mufasa” will have...

4. New documentary questions who took famous napalm attack photo

   It is one of the 20th century's most memorable images: a naked girl, screaming, running from a napalm bombing during the Vietnam War. More than a half-century later, a new documentary is calling into question who took it — and the retired Associated Press photographer long credited for the photo insists it was his, while his longtime employer says it has no evidence of anyone else being behind...

5. Chili paste heats up dishes and warms hearts at northeastern Tunisia's harissa festival

   NABEUL, Tunisia — For years, Tunisians have been picking bright red peppers, combining them with garlic, vinegar and spices and turning them into a saucy spread called harissa. The condiment is a national staple, found in homes, restaurants and food stalls throughout the coastal North African nation. Brick-red, spicy and tangy, it can be scooped up on bread drizzled with olive oil or dabbed...

6. David Lynch, filmmaker behind 'Twin Peaks' and 'Mulholland Drive,' dies at 78

   LOS ANGELES — David Lynch, the filmmaker celebrated for his uniquely dark vision in such movies as "Blue Velvet" and "Mulholland Drive" and the TV series "Twin Peaks," has died just days before his 79th birthday.  His family announced the death in a Facebook post on Thursday. The cause of death and location was not immediately available, but Lynch had been public about his emphysema.  "We...

7. Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan out of danger after stabbing at Mumbai home

   MUMBAI — Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan was stabbed repeatedly by an intruder at his home in Mumbai on Thursday, but doctors treating him said he was out of danger after surgery. Khan, 54, was "on the path to complete recovery" after receiving stab wounds on his spine, neck and hand, the doctors told reporters. "He sustained a major injury to the thoracic spinal chord due to a lodged knife in...

8. Kenyan company turns glass waste into artisanal products

   A Kenyan company is using the age-old art of glass blowing to recycle waste into sculptures, goblets, beads and more. Juma Majanga reports from Kajiado, Kenya.

9. Lasers help archaeologists study ancient tattoos on Peruvian mummies

   WASHINGTON — For more than 5,000 years, humans have adorned themselves with tattoos. In a new study, researchers used lasers to uncover highly intricate designs of ancient tattoos on mummies from Peru. The preserved skin of the mummies and the black tattoo ink used show a stark contrast — revealing fine details in tattoos dating to around 1250 A.D. that aren’t visible to the naked eye, said...

10. With tourism booming, Egypt showcases new discoveries from its ancient past

    Egypt hosted a historic number of tourists last year —15.7 million, despite regional challenges — surpassing records set in 2023 and 2010. Around the city of Luxor, Cairo-based photojournalist Hamada Elrasam captured newly unearthed antiquities showcased this month. Captions by Elle Kurancid.