(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Monday’s sports events:
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Philadelphia 101, Orlando 96
Denver 120, Miami 111
Houston 102, Oklahoma City 89
Chicago 133, Charlotte 119
Minnesota 100, Indiana 98
Cleveland 114, Dallas 96
Utah 129, Portland 107
New Orleans 123, LA Clippers 104
Final San Antonio 116 Washington 99
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Seattle 7, Buffalo 4
Arizona 1, Winnipeg 0
Vancouver 2, Montreal 1
Calgary 2, Pittsburgh 1 (SO)
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Washington 17, Seattle 15
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Gonzaga 64, Tarleton St. 55
Texas 73, Sam Houston St. 57
Kentucky 85, Cent. Michigan 57
The heirs of Aldo Gucci, chairman of the Gucci fashion house from 1953-1986, have issued a statement decrying their “ignorant and insensitive” portrayal in the Ridley Scott film, House of Gucci.
“The production of the film did not bother to consult the heirs before describing Aldo Gucci — [played in the film by Al Pacino]…and the members of the Gucci family as thugs, ignorant and insensitive to the world around them,” they say in a statement first published by Italian news agency ANSA and obtained by Variety.
The statement goes on to claim the film attributes “a tone and and an attitude to the protagonists of the well-known events that never belonged to them.”
The statement further claims the depiction of Patrizia Reggiani — played by Lady Gaga — who was convicted in 1998 of facilitating the murder of Maurizio Gucci — played by Adam Driver — “as a victim trying to survive in a male and male chauvinist corporate culture…couldn’t be further from the truth,” noting that that during the 70-year time span in which the Gucci company was a family business, it was “an inclusive company” and “there were several women who held top positions.”
“Gucci is a family that lives honoring the work of its ancestors, whose memory does not deserve to be disturbed to stage a spectacle that is untrue and which does not do justice to its protagonists,” the statement concluded, adding that “the members of the Gucci family reserve the right to take action to protect the name, image and dignity of themselves and their loved ones.”
Despite the accusations, no legal action is being taken at this time by the Gucci family against Scott’s Scott Free shingle and Universal, a source tells Variety.
In the last couple of years, biopics of Elton John and Queen‘s Freddie Mercury — Rocketman and Bohemian Rhapsody, respectively — were hugely successful at the box office, and Rod Stewart isn’t about to let a similar opportunity pass him by: He claims he’s actively working on a movie of his life.
During an interview with the music newsletter The New Cue, Rod is asked if a biopic is happening, to which he replies. “Yeah, yeah! I want that to happen!!” When asked for details, Rod says, “We’re working on it, that’s all I can tell you.”
So who would play Rod in this alleged film? He tells The New Cue, “Oh God, I’ve haven’t thought of that. I know my 18-year-old son wants to play me at 18. Maybe I could get my other son playing me when I was 10.”
In addition to planning a biopic, Rod is also promoting his new album The Tears of Hercules, which is his fourth album of original songs in eight years. Sir Rod says this late-career creative roll he’s been on is a result of a few different things.
“I didn’t enjoy writing songs back in the day because it was taking up such a huge part of my life, with all the drinking and a-drugging and a-shagging and a-drinking,” he explains. “But now that’s all gone out the window, I’m concentrated on writing songs and enjoying it a great deal.”
“Also, I’ve realized the capability for writing personal songs and telling the truth,” he adds, pointing out that he’s got plenty of material. As the father of eight puts it, “I’ve lived a life. Over and over and over again.”
The 79-year-old folk-rock legend helped curate the book, which celebrates his lifelong passion for photography and offers a collection of captivating images that he shot spanning from his childhood to the present.
A Life in Focus includes candid photos of family members, friends and musical associates, self-portraits and artistically shot images captured in various natural settings. Nash also wrote commentary to accompany the pics.
Explaining his approach to photography, Graham tells ABC Audio, “I never want to take pictures of, you know, kittens with balls of wool. I don’t want to take images that match my couch…I want to capture something that will disappear in the blink of an eye unless you have the courage to press that trigger.”
Among the photos of Nash’s famous collaborators and musical contemporaries appearing in the book are images of his ex-girlfriend Joni Mitchell; his former band mates David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Neil Young; and other legends like Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, George Harrison and Cass Elliot.
Graham says some of his favorite pics in the book feature Mitchell, including “one of Joan looking through [a] magnifying glass…[and another taken] through [a] chair hole…when [she was] listening to music.”
Other standout photos for Graham include one of Crosby shot in Sag Harbor, New York, while Crosby, Stills & Nash were rehearsing for their debut album, and several of Young, among them “one of [Neil] driving away from us…in his car.”
Reflecting on the new book, Nash says, “I want it to be a fun read…I want people to go, ‘Wow, all right!’ I want people to smile. I want to bring some joy into life.”
Rosalind O’Connor/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
Halsey recently celebrated their new album If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power being nominated for a Grammy Award and, in a new interview, reveled in a new honor — being next year’s recipient of the BandLab NME Innovation Award.
Speaking with NME, the singer explained why they were validated by the nod, because they are being rewarded for never being complacent with their craft.
Halsey explained, “I’ve always been driven to reinvent myself and reinvent my genre,” which fed their willingness to take risks with their work.
The 27-year-old recalled the “super liberating” epiphany they had when creating 2020’s Manic, saying it showed them they don’t have to be confined to pop music. That realization set the bar for their pandemic-era album IICHLIWP, which further “challenge[d] me as a creative.”
“It was an opportunity to take advantage of the state of the world, the state that I was in and the state of music, and try something that was going to challenge me and try something that, commercially speaking, a lot of people would have perceived as a bit of a risk,” they recalled.
Adds Halsey, “Nothing has changed about my music except for the people who are producing it” — nodding to Nine Inch Nails‘ Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross — “I still wrote every word on this album – every song, every lyric, every melody came from me and the same can be said about all my previous records.”
So, where is Halsey going next? They say fans will have to wait for another album because IICHLIWP “fulfilled me so much creatively that, truth be told, it’s probably going to be a while until I put out an album again.”
Halsey promised to “keep my creative muscles sharp” by releasing singles and collaborations.
After a challenging year, Zac Brown Band is moving into a more positive headspace.
Frontman Zac Brown reveals that he ended up borrowing money last year to help support his touring family after they had to cancel The Owl Tour in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Everybody had my back for a lot of years before this, so I had to step up and figure out how to borrow enough to help everybody survive, but we did it and we’re working our way out of the hole right now,” Zac explains.
As his financial situation is improving, so is his mental state. Part of that positive mentality stems from returning to the road, with the Grammy Award winning band crossing the country on The Comeback Tour throughout the year.
Zac says he is moving forward and focusing on creativity, noting that while time off the road at home with his family was beneficial, he is excited to turn his attention back to his passion for music. The group is currently celebrating their new #1 single, “Same Boat,” featured on their latest album, The Comeback, which debuted inside the top five on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart in October.
“I haven’t been in this great of a headspace where I have all my creativity and good things. Home is peaceful and great and just ready to work. It’s not really work when you love what you do,” he describes. “But we got a good break and we got a lot of perspective and we’re back and excited.”
ZBB will perform on New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash, airing on CBS on December 31 at 8 p.m. ET.
Pearl Jam, Green Day and Imagine Dragons are taking part in a charity initiative celebrating Giving Tuesday.
The campaign, launched in partnership by Bandsintown and the charitable fundraising platform Fandiem, will offer special items and experiences from the participating artists to raise money for nonprofit organizations of their choosing. The more you donate, the more entries you’ll receive for the raffle.
Both Pearl Jam and Green Day will be donating signed guitars, the latter of which will also feature autographs from fellow Hella Mega tour mates Fall Out Boy and Weezer, while Imagine Dragons is offering an all-expense-paid trip to a show on the group’s upcoming U.S. tour in 2022.
Other artists taking part include Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, Evanescence‘s Amy Lee, Gene Simmons of KISS, My Morning Jacket, Jon Bon Jovi and Jack Johnson.
The pandemic forced H.E.R. to cancel concerts, including her two-day Lights on Festival in New York City in October. However, now she’s thrilled to be back to performing for live audiences.
“It has been the most amazing thing ever,” the Grammy and Oscar winner, born Gabriella Wilson, tells Ebony. “There’s nothing like that connection that you have with an audience. I love performing, I love the stage, and it’s not the same without the people. I’m so thankful to be back.”
H.E.R. performed earlier this month at the iconic Apollo Theater in New York, and she returned to be a presenter at the Soul Train Music Awards which aired Sunday from the Apollo.
“It feels crazy to have been there at nine years old then now to headline the Apollo,” she says. “I kept thinking about all the people that were on that stage before me. I just carry that with me everywhere I go now.”
Growing up in Vallejo, California near San Francisco, she was inspired by the many artists from the Bay Area, including Sly and the Family Stone, and Sheila E.
“This love for music—that I think you could only find in the Bay area—culture, constant festivals, and live bands that would perform since I was young, it’s influenced me to want to be a better musician and also just want to make music that feels great,” H.E.R. continues.
Last week. the 24-year-old singer was nominated for eight Grammys, including Album of the Year for Back of My Mind, and Song of the Year, for “Fight for You.”
She hopes to record Christmas music, and she will perform at the National Christmas Tree Lighting in Washington, D.C. airing Sunday, December 5 at 8:30 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m PT on CBS.
(NEW YORK) — Japanese car giant Nissan Motor Co. said it plans to invest $17.6 billion to accelerate its electrification plans, as the industry as a whole pivots away from gas-powered autos.
Nissan said it will invest 2 trillion Japanese yen over the next five years (just under $17.6 billion) and will launch 23 new electrified models, including 15 new electric vehicles.
The company said it is aiming to have a 50% electrification lineup by 2030 as part of its “Nissan Ambition 2030” initiative, which will put electrification at the center of its long-term strategy.
“The role of companies to address societal needs is increasingly heightened,” Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida said in a statement. “With Nissan Ambition 2030, we will drive the new age of electrification, advance technologies to reduce carbon footprint and pursue new business opportunities.”
“We want to transform Nissan to become a sustainable company that is truly needed by customers and society,” Uchida added.
Nissan wants to launch an electric vehicle with its proprietary all-solid-state batteries by fiscal year 2028 and prepare a pilot plant for EVs in Yokohama, Japan, as early as fiscal year 2024. The company promises that its all-solid-state batteries will significantly reduce charging time and make electric vehicles more efficient and accessible.
Nissan was among the original pioneers of mainstream electric vehicles with its battery-powered Leaf, which first launched in 2010. A growing number of major carmakers, from Ford to General Motors, have similarly announced recent plans to invest heavily in electrification.
“We are proud of our long track record of innovation, and of our role in delivering the EV revolution. With our new ambition, we continue to take the lead in accelerating the natural shift to EVs by creating customer pull through an attractive proposition by driving excitement, enabling adoption and creating a cleaner world,” Nissan COO Ashwani Gupta said in a statement Monday.
Earlier this year, President Joe Biden announced a set of actions aimed to cut greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks and signed an executive order that set a goal of having half of all new vehicles sold by 2030 be zero emissions vehicles.
(WASHINGTON) — Iran returned to negotiations over its nuclear program on Monday — meeting for the first time in over five months, with the country’s new hard-line government now in control.
Its chief negotiator emerged from closed doors bullish, as Tehran demands its concerns about continued U.S. sanctions be addressed first after former President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the deal.
But the U.S. and the deal’s European signatories are warning that after months of stalling, Iran is facing its last opportunity to revive the 2015 deal that placed constraints on its nuclear program in exchange for international sanctions relief.
A top European Union diplomat who is coordinating the indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran expressed some guarded optimism afterward — and much urgency.
“There is clearly a will on all the delegations to listen to the Iranian positions brought by the new team, and there is clearly a will of the Iranian delegation to engage in serious work to bring JCPOA back to life,” said Enrique Mora, the senior EU diplomat, using an acronym for the nuclear deal’s formal name — the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
“I feel positive that we can be doing important things for the next weeks to come,” Mora added after delegations from Iran, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, France and Germany met in Vienna, Austria.
Whether or not the U.S. and its European allies are willing to wait weeks is an open question — especially since Ebrahim Raisi, Iran’s new president who is a conservative cleric close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has delayed the resumption of talks since he won election in June.
“These talks are the last opportunity for the Iranians to come to the table and agree the JCPOA,” British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said Monday. “We will look at all options if that doesn’t happen.”
Patience is all but out in Israel, whose defense minister warned Monday that Iran is “dashing towards a nuclear weapon.”
Israeli officials shared intelligence with the U.S. and other allies showing that Iran is nearing a nuclear weapon, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said.
Since Trump’s exit, Iran has increasingly taken steps in violation of the deal, including by enriching more uranium, enriching uranium to higher levels, using more advanced centrifuges and more of them, and enriching uranium metal. The United Nation’s nuclear watchdog — the International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEA — reported this month that Iran has enriched 39 pounds of uranium to 60%, which is a short technical step from weapons-grade 90%.
Under the nuclear deal, Iran’s enrichment was capped at 3.67% for 15 years.
The State Department declined to comment on reports that Iran may be moving toward 90% enrichment levels, but deputy spokesperson Jalina Porter told reporters that “obviously would be a provocative act, and I’ll just underscore that we’ve made clear that Iran’s continued nuclear escalations are unconstructive and they’re also inconsistent with what’s stated in the goal of returning to a mutual compliance with the JCPOA.”
But ahead of talks resuming, Iran has used sharper language rejecting the idea of “mutual compliance” — increasingly arguing that the U.S. must act first because it was Trump that first exited the deal back in 2018.
“The principle of ‘mutual compliance’ cannot form a proper base for negotiations since it was the U.S. government which unilaterally left the deal,” Iran’s chief negotiator, Ali Bagheri Kani, wrote in an editorial Sunday, calling for a “clear and transparent mechanism to ensure that sanctions will be removed” and U.S. “compensation for the violation of the deal, which includes the removal of all post-JCPOA sanctions.”
The Biden administration has said it will not lift sanctions first, and the idea of compensating Iran for U.S. sanctions is politically toxic in Washington.
It’s unclear if those demands are just Iran posturing before sitting down, or if those are red lines. Out of Monday’s meetings, Bagheri claimed a “considerable achievement” by saying the remaining parties to the deal agreed to address U.S. sanctions first. But that doesn’t mean they agreed those sanctions need to be lifted before Iran’s own non-compliance is addressed. The working-level discussions will address U.S. sanctions on Tuesday and Iran’s nuclear program Wednesday, according to Mora.
The State Department has not yet provided a readout from special envoy for Iran Rob Malley’s meetings in Vienna, where the previous six rounds of talks were held as well.
Beyond Mora’s optimism, Russia’s envoy Mikhail Ulyanov said the talks “started quite successfully” and reached agreement on “further immediate steps,” without specifying what they were.
Any optimism has run face first into dire warnings from Israel, whose Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has vocally opposed the restoration of the nuclear deal.
“Iran deserves no rewards, no bargain deals, and no sanctions relief in return for their brutality. I call upon our allies around the world: Do not give in to Iran’s nuclear blackmail,” Bennett said Monday.
Malley told NPR last week the U.S. and Israel don’t agree on the deal, but do agree on the need to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon: “We’re not going to wait and see them get so close,” he said, but the U.S. hopes “that this could be resolved diplomatically, and it should be.”
Amid warnings that Iran could stall by prolonging these talks, Malley added the U.S. will not “sit idly by” if the country moves toward a nuclear bomb.
But the U.S. and European allies have pulled their punches at the IAEA, declining again last week to censure Iran for not just its violations of the deal but its growing obstruction of the IAEA’s work.
Iran has barred inspectors from accessing certain sites, harassed inspectors with invasive security searches and failed to explain still the detected presence of uranium at three undeclared locations, IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi told the U.N. body last Wednesday.
Grossi visited Tehran last week — his first trip under the Raisi government — but he did not reach a deal to address these issues, he told reporters Wednesday. A previous ad-hoc arrangement with Iran to keep international eyes at its declared nuclear sites is coming apart, he warned. Iran agreed to keep IAEA cameras and other monitoring equipment in place and turn the tapes over to the agency when a deal was reached. That equipment needs servicing to “guarantee continuity of knowledge,” Grossi said, but Iran has blocked IAEA inspectors so far.
“Such a long period of time without us getting access, knowing whether there are operational activities ongoing, is something in itself that would prevent me from continuing to say I have an idea of what’s going on,” he said at a press conference. “We must reach an agreement. We must do it.”
