(WASHINGTON) — Ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the FBI are urging vigilance to ward off ransomware attacks, asking companies to implement multi-factor authentication and employees not to click on suspicious emails.
“While we are not currently aware of a specific threat, we know that threat actors don’t take holidays,” said CISA Director Jen Easterly in a statement. “We will continue to provide timely and actionable information to help our industry and government partners stay secure and resilient during the holiday season. We urge all organizations to remain vigilant and report any cyber incidents to CISA or FBI.”
“Specifically, malicious cyber actors have often taken advantage of holidays and weekends to disrupt critical networks and systems belonging to organizations, businesses, and critical infrastructure,” the statement continues.
Colonial Pipeline, which is responsible for gas lines that run through the country, was targeted with a ransomware attack over Mother’s Day weekend. JBS meat supplier became a victim of a ransomware attack over Memorial Day weekend. Kaseya, an IT company that provides services to businesses, was hit with a ransomware attack over the Fourth of July weekend.
On Thursday, Gen. Paul Nakasone, commander of U.S. Cyber Command and director of the National Security Agency, told ABC News’ Chief Justice Correspondent Pierre Thomas that he first believed ransomware was a criminal matter outside the NSA’s purview, but after the influx of ransomware attacks, he came to believe it was a matter of national security.
After the Colonial Pipeline attack, Nakasone pushed his agency to “lean in” to the ransomware problem.
“This is an issue that we need to put the command and the agency towards,” Nakasone said. “We need to surge on this issue. What do we need to do to make sure that we can assist in any way possible?”
The Department of Homeland Security said ransomware attacks have increased 300% from 2019 to 2020.
“Why is the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber command focused on this?” Nakasone said. “Because it’s a national security issue, and we’re going to put our best people forward to make sure that we address it.”
(BRUNSWICK, Ga.) — A chant of “Ahmaud Arbery” erupted outside the Georgia courtroom, where three men were found guilty of his murder Wednesday after a weekslong, closely watched trial.
“It’s been a long fight, it’s been a hard fight, but God is good,” Arbery’s mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, said during a press briefing following the verdict, which came nearly two years after the 25-year-old Black man was fatally shot while jogging in February 2020. “To tell you the truth, back in 2020, I never thought this day would come, but God is good.”
Her son “will now rest in peace,” she added.
“Today is a good day,” his father, Marcus Arbery, told the crowd gathered outside.
Rev. Al Sharpton, who showed up in support of the family throughout the trial, said the verdict was historic.
“Let the word go forth all over the world that a jury of 11 whites and one Black in the Deep South stood up in the courtroom and said that Black lives do matter,” he said during the briefing.
Ben Crump, attorney for Arbery’s family, said the moment is “not a celebration” but a “reflection.”
“The spirit of Ahmaud defeated the lynch mob,” he told the crowd to cheers.
The Cobb County District Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. Latonia Hines, executive assistant district attorney for the office, thanked the family for their “confidence” in getting justice for Arbery.
“It has been a long road, and we are so happy that we’re able to be here at this end of this road,” Hines said during the briefing. “We commend the courage and bravery of this jury to say that what happened on Feb. 23, 2020, to Ahmaud Arbery, the hunting and killing of Ahmaud Arbery, it was not only morally wrong, but legally wrong, and we are thankful for that.”
Linda Dunikoski, the lead prosecutor, said the verdict proves the jury system works.
“The verdict today was a verdict based on the facts, based on the evidence, and that was our goal, was to bring that to that jury so that they do the right thing,” she told the crowd. “When you present the truth to people and they can see it, they will do the right thing. And that’s what this jury did today in getting justice for Ahmaud Arbery.”
Defense plans to appeal
Following the verdicts, attorneys for Gregory McMichael, who was found not guilty of malice murder but was convicted on the remaining charges, including the felony murder counts, said they will appeal. Laura Hogue said in the courtroom that she was “very disappointed.” Frank Hogue said they will appeal — a process that can start once sentencing is done.
Gregory McMichael’s son, Travis McMichael, who fatally shot Arbery, was convicted on all nine charges, including malice murder and four counts of felony murder. His attorneys, Robert Rubin and Jason Sheffield, said they also plan to appeal.
“This is a very difficult day for Travis McMichael and Greg McMichael,” Sheffield told reporters. “These are two men who honestly believe that what they were doing was the right thing to do. However, the Glynn County jury has spoken, they have found them guilty and they will be sentenced.”
The McMichael’s neighbor, William “Roddie” Bryan, 53, who recorded the incident on a cellphone, was found guilty of three of the felony murder counts and a charge of criminal intent to commit a felony. His attorney, Kevin Gough, told reporters he was obviously “very disappointed” in the verdict.
“But we have to respect that verdict. That’s the American way,” he said.
He said he plans to file a motion for a new trial on behalf of Bryan next week.
Defense attorneys had argued that Arbery was shot in self-defense when he resisted a citizen’s arrest. Prosecutors meanwhile alleged the defendants pursued and murdered Arbery because of incorrect “assumptions and driveway decisions” they made that the Black man running through their Satilla Shores neighborhood had committed a burglary.
Reaction from Georgia and beyond
President Joe Biden reacted to the jury’s decision, saying Arbery “should be here today” and that “the verdict ensures that those who committed this horrible crime will be punished.”
“While the guilty verdicts reflect our justice system doing its job, that alone is not enough. Instead, we must recommit ourselves to building a future of unity and shared strength, where no one fears violence because of the color of their skin,” he said in a statement.
Vice President Kamala Harris also released a statement, saying the verdicts “send an important message,” but there is still “work to do.”
She also criticized the defense counsel, saying they “chose to set a tone that cast the attendance of ministers at the trial as intimidation and dehumanized a young Black man with racist tropes,” adding that despite those tactics, the jury still delivered these verdicts.
Georgia leaders also reacted in support of the jury’s decision.
“Ahmaud Arbery was the victim of a vigilantism that has no place in Georgia,” Gov. Brian Kemp said in a statement on Twitter. “As legal efforts continue to hold accountable all who may be responsible, we hope the Arbery family, the Brunswick community, our state, and those around the nation who have been following his case can now move forward down a path of healing and reconciliation.”
Georgia Attorney General Chriss Carr said the verdict “brings us one step closer to justice, healing and reconciliation for Ahmaud’s family, the community, the state and the nation.”
Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., said the verdict “upholds a sense of accountability, but not true justice.”
“True justice looks like a Black man not having to worry about being harmed — or killed — while on a jog, while sleeping in his bed, while living what should be a very long life,” he said in a statement. “Ahmaud should be with us today.”
Rep. Nikema Williams, chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia, said in a statement that the verdicts mean “we must double down on our efforts to fight hatred, and we will not stop until no American’s life is cut short due to bigotry or reckless vigilantism.”
“I am praying for the Arbery family as they continue grieving their insurmountable loss, for Brunswick as the community works to heal, and for the country as we carry on in the march towards justice,” she continued.
More reaction
Political leaders and civil rights organizations also voiced support for the verdict while acknowledging that more needs to be done against what was characterized as “vigilantes acting with racial animus” by Congressional Black Caucus Chair Joyce Beatty.
“The Congressional Black Caucus will continue to champion criminal justice reform and common-sense gun control measures because vigilante justice has no place in our society. Our thoughts and our prayers remain with the family and loved ones of Mr. Arbery,” Beatty said in a statement.
Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said this was a “significant moment of accountability and justice.”
“The men who murdered Mr. Arbery were tried and found guilty of the crime, sending a resounding message across Georgia and the United States that racial violence — especially that committed under the false guise of vigilantism — is unacceptable,” he said in a statement.
The American Civil Liberties Union called for “meaningful systemic transformation.”
“Across the country, we see local and grassroots organizations leading the fight for this transformation,” the organization said on Twitter. “We join them in re-imagining a future where Black people can thrive free of police violence or vigilantism. The true measure of justice is not in a verdict, but in making a future where people don’t live in fear of racialized violence. We will not stop doing the long hard work to achieve this future.”
Despite the verdict, the case “leaves a deep and painful wound on our nation’s soul,” the National Urban League said in a statement.
“Thanks to faithful prayer and a skilled prosecution, we are relieved to know that the jury was able to see the truth and hold these killers accountable for the senseless murder of Ahmaud Arbery,” the statement said. “Still, we must dedicate ourselves to shining the light of scrutiny on what happened in this case to ensure that racially-motivated vigilante violence never again is condoned or tolerated.”
(NEW YORK) — A chant of “Ahmaud Arbery” erupted outside the Georgia courtroom, where three men were found guilty of his murder Wednesday after a weekslong, closely watched trial.
“It’s been a long fight, it’s been a hard fight, but God is good,” Arbery’s mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, said during a press briefing following the verdict, which came nearly two years after the 25-year-old Black man was fatally shot while jogging in February 2020. “To tell you the truth, back in 2020, I never thought this day would come, but God is good.”
Her son “will now rest in peace,” she added.
“Today is a good day,” his father, Marcus Arbery, told the crowd gathered outside.
Rev. Al Sharpton, who showed up in support of the family throughout the trial, said the verdict was historic.
“Let the word go forth all over the world that a jury of 11 whites and one Black in the Deep South stood up in the courtroom and said that Black lives do matter,” he said during the briefing.
Ben Crump, attorney for Arbery’s family, said the moment is “not a celebration” but a “reflection.”
“The spirit of Ahmaud defeated the lynch mob,” he told the crowd to cheers.
The Cobb County District Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. Latonia Hines, executive assistant district attorney for the office, thanked the family for their “confidence” in getting justice for Arbery.
“It has been a long road, and we are so happy that we’re able to be here at this end of this road,” Hines said during the briefing. “We commend the courage and bravery of this jury to say that what happened on Feb. 23, 2020, to Ahmaud Arbery, the hunting and killing of Ahmaud Arbery, it was not only morally wrong, but legally wrong, and we are thankful for that.”
Linda Dunikoski, the lead prosecutor, said the verdict proves the jury system works.
“The verdict today was a verdict based on the facts, based on the evidence, and that was our goal, was to bring that to that jury so that they do the right thing,” she told the crowd. “When you present the truth to people and they can see it, they will do the right thing. And that’s what this jury did today in getting justice for Ahmaud Arbery.”
Defense plans to appeal
Following the verdicts, attorneys for Gregory McMichael, who was found not guilty of malice murder but was convicted on the remaining charges, including the felony murder counts, said they will appeal. Laura Hogue said in the courtroom that she was “very disappointed.” Frank Hogue said they will appeal — a process that can start once sentencing is done.
Gregory McMichael’s son, Travis McMichael, who fatally shot Arbery, was convicted on all nine charges, including malice murder and four counts of felony murder. His attorneys, Robert Rubin and Jason Sheffield, said they also plan to appeal.
“This is a very difficult day for Travis McMichael and Greg McMichael,” Sheffield told reporters. “These are two men who honestly believe that what they were doing was the right thing to do. However, the Glynn County jury has spoken, they have found them guilty and they will be sentenced.”
The McMichael’s neighbor, William “Roddie” Bryan, 53, who recorded the incident on a cellphone, was found guilty of three of the felony murder counts and a charge of criminal intent to commit a felony. His attorney, Kevin Gough, told reporters he was obviously “very disappointed” in the verdict.
“But we have to respect that verdict. That’s the American way,” he said.
He said he plans to file a motion for a new trial on behalf of Bryan next week.
Defense attorneys had argued that Arbery was shot in self-defense when he resisted a citizen’s arrest. Prosecutors meanwhile alleged the defendants pursued and murdered Arbery because of incorrect “assumptions and driveway decisions” they made that the Black man running through their Satilla Shores neighborhood had committed a burglary.
President Joe Biden reacted to the jury’s decision, saying Arbery “should be here today” and that “the verdict ensures that those who committed this horrible crime will be punished.”
“While the guilty verdicts reflect our justice system doing its job, that alone is not enough. Instead, we must recommit ourselves to building a future of unity and shared strength, where no one fears violence because of the color of their skin,” he said in a statement.
Vice President Kamala Harris also released a statement, saying the verdicts “send an important message,” but there is still “work to do.”
She also criticized the defense counsel, saying they “chose to set a tone that cast the attendance of ministers at the trial as intimidation and dehumanized a young Black man with racist tropes,” adding that despite those tactics, the jury still delivered these verdicts.
Georgia leaders also reacted in support of the jury’s decision.
“Ahmaud Arbery was the victim of a vigilantism that has no place in Georgia,” Gov. Brian Kemp said in a statement on Twitter. “As legal efforts continue to hold accountable all who may be responsible, we hope the Arbery family, the Brunswick community, our state, and those around the nation who have been following his case can now move forward down a path of healing and reconciliation.”
Georgia Attorney General Chriss Carr said the verdict “brings us one step closer to justice, healing and reconciliation for Ahmaud’s family, the community, the state and the nation.”
Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., said the verdict “upholds a sense of accountability, but not true justice.”
“True justice looks like a Black man not having to worry about being harmed — or killed — while on a jog, while sleeping in his bed, while living what should be a very long life,” he said in a statement. “Ahmaud should be with us today.”
Rep. Nikema Williams, chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia, said in a statement that the verdicts mean “we must double down on our efforts to fight hatred, and we will not stop until no American’s life is cut short due to bigotry or reckless vigilantism.”
“I am praying for the Arbery family as they continue grieving their insurmountable loss, for Brunswick as the community works to heal, and for the country as we carry on in the march towards justice,” she continued.
More reaction
Political leaders and civil rights organizations also voiced support for the verdict while acknowledging that more needs to be done against what was characterized as “vigilantes acting with racial animus” by Congressional Black Caucus Chair Joyce Beatty.
“The Congressional Black Caucus will continue to champion criminal justice reform and common-sense gun control measures because vigilante justice has no place in our society. Our thoughts and our prayers remain with the family and loved ones of Mr. Arbery,” Beatty said in a statement.
Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said this was a “significant moment of accountability and justice.”
“The men who murdered Mr. Arbery were tried and found guilty of the crime, sending a resounding message across Georgia and the United States that racial violence — especially that committed under the false guise of vigilantism — is unacceptable,” he said in a statement.
The American Civil Liberties Union called for “meaningful systemic transformation.”
“Across the country, we see local and grassroots organizations leading the fight for this transformation,” the organization said on Twitter. “We join them in re-imagining a future where Black people can thrive free of police violence or vigilantism. The true measure of justice is not in a verdict, but in making a future where people don’t live in fear of racialized violence. We will not stop doing the long hard work to achieve this future.”
Despite the verdict, the case “leaves a deep and painful wound on our nation’s soul,” the National Urban League said in a statement.
“Thanks to faithful prayer and a skilled prosecution, we are relieved to know that the jury was able to see the truth and hold these killers accountable for the senseless murder of Ahmaud Arbery,” the statement said. “Still, we must dedicate ourselves to shining the light of scrutiny on what happened in this case to ensure that racially-motivated vigilante violence never again is condoned or tolerated.”
Watch the full story on the Ahmaud Arbery case and trial on “20/20” Friday at 9 p.m. ET
The Royal Affair and After, the forthcoming live album from longtime Moody Blues singer/bassist John Lodge, was scheduled for release on December 3, but according to a message on Lodge’s socialmediapages, it’s now been pushed back until January 14, 2022.
The note explains that the “world-wide supply chain issue” that currently is affecting so many businesses has led to “a production and shipping delay.”
The message continues, “John and all his team are very upset by this news and hate to let you all down, especially those of you hoping Santa would leave [the album] under your tree on Christmas.”
However, the previously announced limited-edition blue-vinyl LP version of The Royal Affair and After is still scheduled to be released on January 28, 2022.
In related news, Lodge has released a live version of the 1981 Moody Blues hit “Gemini Dream” as a second advance digital single from the album. You also can check out a music video for the performance, which combines live footage with kaleidoscopic animation, at John’s official YouTube channel.
As previously reported, The Royal Affair and After features performances from a 2019 Las Vegas show that Lodge and his 10,000 Light Years Band played during his stint as an opening act on the Yes-headlined Royal Affair Tour. It also includes songs recorded during John’s subsequent U.S. solo trek.
Two of the songs feature guest vocals by current Yes frontman Jon Davison, including a rendition of “Ride My See-Saw” that was released recently as the first advance digital single from the album.
After being forced off the road in March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lodge will return to touring in March 2022 with a series of U.S. dates.
Queens co-stars Brandy, Eve, Naturi Naughton and Nadine Velazquez gave their fans a Thanksgiving treat Wednesday with a new music video, “All Rise (The Supreme Court),” from Tuesday night’s episode of the ABC series.
In the episode, titled “Behind the Throne,” the ladies shot their first new music video in two decades. In the “All Rise (The Supreme Court)” video, which is set in a courtroom, the Queens rap about female empowerment. The clip also features Queens character Lil Muffin, portrayed by Pepi Sonuga.
Queens follows the original members of a fictional popular ’90s rap group who reunite in hopes of recapturing their hip hop crowns.
Naughton, who gave away Thanksgiving dinners Monday in Jonesboro, Georgia, says the song is very special.
“It was such an honor to perform this song with these QUEENS and make powerful statements to the world! I’m blessed to share the screen with you @brandy @therealeve @nadinevelazquez & @pepisonuga,” she commented on Instagram.
Brandy also shared her holiday plans, in a video posted on Instagram.
“My favorite thing about Thanksgiving is spending time with my family, and of course my momma’s food,” she said. “She only cooks twice a year, Thanksgiving and Christmas, so we gonna get that meal.”
Paul McCartney, Elton John and Bruce Springsteen are just a few the famous musicians who’ve contributed instruments and other memorabilia to an auction benefiting Music Rising, a charity organization co-founded by U2 guitarist The Edge and producer Bob Ezrin.
The former Beatles legend is selling a Yamaha BB-1200 bass that he played live and in the studio with his old band Wings during in the ’70s. Elton has contributed a signed Yamaha Motif-8 keyboard that he played live for nearly a decade. The Boss is parting with a signed Americana Original ’50s Fender Telecaster guitar.
Other artists contributing instruments or other items to the sale include The Edge and his U2 band mates Bono and Adam Clayton, The Rolling Stones‘ Ronnie Wood, Steve Miller, former Eagles guitarist Don Felder, Joe Walsh, Slash, Rush‘s Alex Lifeson, Lenny Kravitz, Alice Cooper, KISS‘ Paul Stanley, Green Day, Flea of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Joan Jett, Dave Grohl and Pearl Jam‘s Eddie Vedder.
The auction, which take place live and online on December 11, will be hosted by Van Eaton Galleries in Los Angeles.
“Some of the world’s greatest musicians and friends of Music Rising have generously donated their personal instruments to raise money for Music Rising,” The Edge says in a statement. “We hope you have a chance to bid on one or more of the beautiful instruments in the auction.”
Music Rising was first formed in 2005 to support New Orleans and Gulf South-area musicians in need following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The auction will raise money for those musicians now affected by the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.
For more information about the auction, visit VEGalleries.com.
After enjoying their Thanksgiving feast this week, music fans can head to their local independent record shops to check out the limited-edition vinyl releases available for the 2021 edition of Record Store Day’s Black Friday sale.
Releases from Hall & Oates, Aerosmith, U2, Fleetwood Mac and Carole King are among the discs that will be available.
Hall & Oates’ Black Friday release is Fall in Philadelphia: The Definitive Demos 1968-71, a collection of early recordings the duo made before their debut album came out. The LP is pressed on orange vinyl.
Aerosmith’s Black Friday offering is a 1971: The Road Starts Here, featuring a previously unheard early recording of the band playing several song in their rehearsal room, including “Dream On.” It’s available on vinyl and cassette.
U2 is issuing a four-track EP celebrating the 40th anniversary of their popular early tune “Gloria.” The disc, which is pressed on yellow vinyl, features the studio version of the song, plus three live renditions recorded in three different decades.
Fleetwood Mac is offering a two-LP set titled Alternate Live, a 14-track collection featuring performances of various songs taken from the band’s deluxe reissues of the Rumours, Tusk and Mirage albums.
King is issuing In Concert — Live at The BBC 1971, a live album featuring the lauded singer/songwriter performing songs from her landmark album Tapestry, including a guest appearance by James Taylor.
Other artists issuing 2021 Black Friday releases include The Bee Gees, Ray Charles, Leonard Cohen, Sam Cooke, Dire Straits, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Jorma Kaukonen, Little Feat, Modern English, Todd Rundgren, The Shangri-Las, Dusty Springfield, The Staple Singers, Stray Cats, JoeStrummer, TammiTerrell and Heart‘s NancyWilson
For the full list of releases and participating stores, visit RecordStoreDay.com.
Just when you thought there were no chart records left for Adele to set, she goes ahead and sets another one.
The duet version of her song “Easy on Me” that features country superstar Chris Stapletonhas just enteredBillboard‘s Country Airplay chart at number 25. This is her first appearance on one of Billboard‘s country charts, and it’s allowed her to set that new record.
As Billboard notes, “Easy on Me” is the first song ever to appear on the pop, rock, R&B/hip-hop and country airplay charts since Billboard modernized its chart data back in 1990. Before that, the last song to achieve that feat was “We Are the World,” the 1985 charity single recorded by USA for Africa, a huge collective of the biggest names in music.
In addition, this is now the 17th Billboard airplay chart Adele has appeared on in her career, out of the 25 airplay charts that Billboard publishes. Mariah Carey has also appeared on 17 of those charts; the only other artist who’s been on more is Pharrell Williams, with 18.
In other news, Adele predicts that her nine-year-old son Angelo might have a bad reaction to one of the songs on 30 when he gets older: “My Little Love.”
While appearing on the Canadian show q with host Tom Power, Adele admitted, “He’ll probably go through stages of hating it when he’s a teenager.” The song features Voice Note recordings of Adele talking with Angelo about her divorce. But while it may be embarrassing for him, she says she felt she “had to include” it because “it was an important part of the puzzle.”
She explained, “It sorted out some of the clutter that was going on in my ability to talk about how I was feeling.”
Andrew Garfield can be seen on Netflix in Lin-Manuel Miranda‘s musical film Tick…Tick…Boom!, and he can also now be seen absolutely losing his mind on NetflixGeeked’s social media. And it’s all thanks to a greeting from the cast of the streaming service’s Emmy-nominated Cobra Kai.
The Oscar-nominated actor has said he became “obsessed” with the Karate Kid spin-off series, telling Netflix he unfortunately “had to put that on the shelf” because of how long he’s been waiting for the forthcoming forth season.
To get him through, Netflix set up surprise video greetings to Garfield from Cobra Kai‘s Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Jacob Bertrand, Mary Mouser and Peyton List.
Via a split-screen, you can see Garfield, arms occasionally flailing, as he nerds out hard while the cast members thank him for being such a “superfan.”
Afterwards, Garfield wiped away happy tears, saying “They know I exist.” Clearly moved, he observed, “My body feels like Christmas.”
“Forget season four,” he laughs. “That’s gonna keep me going for years.”
Fortunately, he won’t have to wait that long: Season 4 of Cobra Kai is set to be released December 31.
Theo Wargo/Getty Images for American Museum of Natural History
Dave Grohl and Eddie Vedder are all taking part in an auction benefiting Music Rising, a charity organization co-founded by U2 guitarist The Edge and producer Bob Ezrin.
The Foo Fighters frontman is contributing a signed Gibson Explorer guitar, while the Pearl Jam vocalist will be offering the guitar he smashed on stage during a 2018 concert.
Other participating artists include U2’s Bono and Adam Clayton, Slash, Noel Gallagher, Rush‘s Alex Lifeson, Lenny Kravitz, Alice Cooper, Coldplay‘s Chris Martin, KISS‘ Paul Stanley, The Rolling Stones‘ Ronnie Wood, Halestorm‘s Lzzy Hale, Kings of Leon, Green Day, Flea of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Joan Jett, and Rage Against the Machine‘s Tom Morello.
The auction, which takes place December 11, will also feature several guitars from The Edge himself, as well as from the late Lou Reed.
Music Rising was first formed in 2005 to support New Orleans and Gulf South-area musicians in need following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The auction will raise money for those musicians now affected by the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.
