Thunberg books coming out in U.S.
NEW YORK (AP) — Swedish climate change activist Greta Thunberg has two books coming out in the United States, including an English-language edition of her memoir.
Penguin Press announced Thursday that it will release Thunberg’s memoir “Our House Is On Fire” and a collection of her speeches, “No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference,” that will include her upcoming address at the U.N. Climate Action Summit in New York. “No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference” is scheduled for November. Her memoir, co-written with her parents and sister, will be released next year.
The 16-year-old Thunberg has quickly become an international force for urgent climate action. She has been in Washington for several days of rallies and lobbying efforts ahead of Friday’s planned global climate strike.
Cornell’s daughter releases song
NEW YORK (AP) — A ballad that Chris Cornell produced for his daughter Toni when she was just 12 is now being released.
“Far Away Places” was written by Toni three years ago, and was one of the last songs that Cornell recorded before his death in May 2017.
The song was released on iTunes on Thursday and is available on other streaming services. It is featured in a short film, also titled “Far Away Places,” by Tatiana Shanks, a family friend. The movie has been featured in international film festivals, and the song itself has won awards at various film festivals.
Proceeds from the single’s sales will be donated to The New York Society For the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
Former prosecutor sentenced to probation
MORRISTOWN, N.J. (AP) — A former New Jersey prosecutor portrayed by actor Russell Crowe in the film “American Gangster” has been sentenced to five years of probation after pleading guilty to stealing from his law clients.
Richard Roberts was sentenced Thursday in Morristown, New Jersey.
Roberts’ involvement in prosecuting Harlem drug kingpin Frank Lucas in the 1970s was portrayed in the 2007 film also starring Denzel Washington. Lucas died in May.
Roberts had been on trial in July when he pleaded guilty to perjury and theft charges. He acknowledged having taken $20,000 in client funds from his law firm’s attorney trust account to make alimony payments.
It wasn’t the first time Roberts ran afoul of the law. He was sentenced to three years of probation in 2018 after pleading guilty to federal tax charges.
Black opera singers detail struggles
NEW YORK (AP) — More than 60 years after Marian Anderson broke the color barrier at the Metropolitan Opera, black singers still face unique obstacles in building their careers within the industry.
Naomi Andre wrote the book titled “Black Opera.” She says black singers are not getting the calls from the big opera houses that probably should be coming their way.
The Met says this season there are 36 black singers on the roster, out of a total of 368. Twenty-seven of those are in the new production of the Gershwins’ “Porgy and Bess” that opens Monday.
The Associated Press talked with five of the “Porgy and Bess” singers about the struggles and triumphs they’ve faced in opera.
