Voice of America Arts & Entertainment

1. Why Americans are losing their religion

2. African beats entice China and US investors

   Africa’s entertainment industry is another stage where global competition between China and the U.S. is playing out. African artists see it as an opportunity. Kate Bartlett has the details from Johannesburg. Camera and video editing by Zaheer Cassim.

3. Mary J. Blige, Cher, Ozzy Osbourne, others picked for Rock Hall of Fame

   new york — Mary J. Blige,Cher, Foreigner, A Tribe Called Quest, Kool & The Gang and Ozzy Osbourne have been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, a class that also includes folk-rockers Dave Matthews Band and singer-guitarist Peter Frampton. Alexis Korner, John Mayall and Big Mama Thornton earned the Musical Influence Award, while the late Jimmy Buffett, MC5, Dionne Warwick and Norman...

4. Ukraine’s salt mines become explorable in Minecraft game 

   A Ukrainian version of the Minecraft game features Canadian actress Katheryn Winnick, U.S. astronaut Scott Kelly, and other celebrities from around the globe. The new game, called Minesalt, is based on Ukraine's famous Soledar salt mines. Anna Kosstutschenko reports. Camera: Pavel Suhodolskiy.

5. 'Civil War’ continues box-office campaign at No. 1  

   New York — “Civil War,” Alex Garland’s ominous American dystopia, remained the top film in theaters in its second week of release, according to studio estimates Sunday. The A24 election-year gamble, the indie studio’s biggest budgeted film yet, took in $11.1 million in ticket sales at 3,929 theaters over the weekend. The $50 million film, set in a near-future U.S. in which Texas and...

6. Israelis grapple with how to celebrate Passover while many remain captive

   JERUSALEM — Every year, Alon Gat's mother led the family's Passover celebration of the liberation of the ancient Israelites from Egypt thousands of years ago. But this year, Gat is struggling with how to reconcile a holiday commemorating freedom after his mother was slain and other family members abducted when Hamas attacked Israel. Gat's sister, Carmel, and wife, Yarden Roman-Gat, were taken...

7. US beach aims to disrupt Black students' spring bash after '23 chaos

   TYBEE ISLAND, Georgia — Thousands of Black college students expected this weekend for an annual spring bash at the largest public beach in the U.S. state of Georgia will be greeted by dozens of extra police officers and barricades closing off neighborhood streets. While the beach will remain open, officials are blocking access to nearby parking. Tybee Island east of Savannah has grappled with...

8. Soap operas censored in China for spreading 'unhealthy family values'

9. Roller derby is a safe space with sharp elbows

   Roller derby is a fast-paced, hard-hitting sport played on roller skates and dominated by women. VOA’s Genia Dulot takes us out to the skating rink with competitors from the Angel City Derby league in Los Angeles.

10. Allman Brothers Band co-founder and legendary guitarist Dickey Betts dies at 80