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For most of the aughts, JoJo was everywhere. After signing her first record deal in 2003, her debut single, “Leave (Get Out),” found its way onto the Billboard charts shortly after its release a year later. By 2006, she had two full-length studio albums under her belt—JoJo and The High Road, which featured her second massive hit, “Too Little Too Late”—and had already starred in two major movies, Aquamarine and RV. The singer, whose full name is Joanna Levesque, toured with Usher, performed at award shows, and appeared frequently on MTV’s Total Request Live. It’s nearly impossible to talk about 2000s pop culture without talking about JoJo.

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But in the midst of her meteoric rise, Levesque’s commercial success came to a screeching halt when disputes at her label, Blackground Records, forced her into musical limbo for nearly a decade. According to Levesque, Blackground was unable to secure a distribution deal, which meant that any plans for releasing another official album with Blackground were off the table indefinitely. She was stuck in artistic purgatory—only able to release music independently—until 2013, when a successful lawsuit against Blackground allowed her to finally leave the label and sign a new deal with Atlantic Records. Her long-awaited third studio album, Mad Love, was released in 2016.

Looking back on the years she spent fighting for her career, Levesque says, “I rarely gave myself time to think or feel.” Now, the 33 year-old is making up for lost time. In her new memoir, Over the Influence, out Sept. 17, she reflects on the events of her personal and professional life with vulnerability and candor. Levesque spares no detail about the substance abuse and other unhealthy behaviors she engaged in to escape the reality of her label troubles, her experiences with addiction, and the lengths she’s gone to find herself as an adult.

“I hope that by sharing my little life so far, other people will maybe take the time to explore their own,” she says. “Because there’s good sh-t in there.”

TIME spoke with Levesque about writing Over The Influence on her own, the joys of sleeping alone, and which art form she plans on conquering next.

TIME: You’re a few days away from being a published author. How are you feeling?

Levesque: That is so crazy! I did not have that on my bingo card for 33, but I’m so happy. I feel a lot of joy, a lot of excitement, and a lot of gratitude that I get to put my story out there into the world. I hope it hits some people in a way that they’re moved by it.

You wrote this memoir entirely on your own. Why was it important for you to do this without a ghostwriter?

I’m a fan of memoir and nonfiction in general, so some of my favorite books are written in collaboration with a ghostwriter or a co-writer. There’s so much to be gained from that expertise, but I just wanted to give myself a shot. My voice is enough. My perspective on things is enough. 

I’d been conditioned from a young age to think I needed to rely on other people to make decisions for me, to help craft my story, or make me into something that was more digestible or acceptable, but I’m no longer chasing that mainstream success. I really want to be myself and be in a community with other people who are on the same journey of trying to shed any layers of confusion and shame they’ve accumulated.

You mentioned in your author’s note that it was a little mortifying to dredge up some of the experiences you were writing about. You included stories about using alcohol and weed to stay intoxicated as often as possible, spending nights out “smooching strangers” in clubs, and even being unfaithful in a former relationship. It felt like I was reading entries from your diary. How did you find the courage to share your stories in this way?

Just by remembering that as human beings, we’re storytellers, and that’s what we’ve always done for as long as we’ve been here. Sometimes there’s this thing within me that’s like, why even share this? Who’s going to care? But I do believe that when we share truthfully and vulnerably, that can unlock some things within ourselves and within other people. And I just had to remind myself that my story is just as worthy of being told as anybody else’s.

What do you hope readers will take away from your experiences with addiction?

I grew up thinking that I would never end up like my parents, who self-identified as addicts. I felt a bit self-righteous about it, like I was stronger than that. But something my dad said when I was maybe 21 stuck with me: “Addiction is like Arnold Schwarzenegger in your backyard pumping iron, just waiting for you. It’s going to come for you.” So one of the things that I wanted to explore—and just something that I like to talk about—is addiction and what it means.

For me, [addiction is] not just one thing. It’s void filling and feeling like you need to get outside yourself to feel OK. It’s trying to introduce other substances, other people, other experiences, validation, food, whatever, because you don’t feel like enough. A lot of times people think that you’re addicted to a substance, but it’s not so cut and dry.

It does feel like the idea of being addicted to sex and love isn’t discussed as often, but you wrote that, at one point in your life, “being desired was like a drug.” What’s your relationship with the need to feel desired or validated today?

I try to check in with myself and see what I’m doing a bit too much of, or where I’m feeling a pull towards something. I just ask myself, why do I feel like I need this? I also took a year off of dating just to really sit with myself. I was so used to having a romantic interest, or having someone to think about, or to text with, or to occupy my time. What happens when I don’t have that? It’s been a really important experience for me, because as much as I thought I liked being alone, I realized that I still did rely on feeling that romantic validation. Taking it off the table has been a good little journey for me. 

I think a lot of people are scared to do that, but it’s really powerful to be able to sit and connect with yourself in that way.

The older I get, I’m less compromising. The older we get, the less appealing random guys are, or random people. The pool gets a little smaller because you’re like, I don’t know if that really resonates. It’s a blessing.

Agreed. If someone’s not going to add any value to my life, what’s the point?

I know. And it feels kind of good to have the whole bed to myself.

I was shocked to read that you were upset with your label’s decision to release “Leave (Get Out)” as your first single. How do you feel about the song now?

I just never saw myself as a pop singer. It sounded really different from the album I was making. If you go back and listen to my first album, it’s influenced heavily by hip-hop and R&B—“Leave” kind of stands as an outlier. So it was just confusing to me, and that set in motion a lot of confusion in my life. But I am grateful beyond words for that song. I was really fortunate to be the vessel for that. And when people started telling me how much they loved the song, then I was like, OK, I was wrong. But it kind of conditioned me to question my own taste and my own gut. 

You re-recorded your first two albums in 2018. The conversation around this practice has become a lot more mainstream, thanks to Taylor Swift announcing in 2019 that she’d be re-recording her discography after a public battle with Scooter Braun over her masters. Billboard reported last year that some labels are now working to make it more difficult for artists to do this—sometimes demanding that they wait up to 30 years after their contract ends to re-record releases. What do you make of that trend?

I’m sad but not surprised to hear that labels would try to do that. My music wasn’t available to stream, so it wasn’t for any reason other than that [that I re-recorded]. We were just trying to come up with a solution because I was tired of not having my music available. I wasn’t sure if it would pay off or if people would think it was silly. But it’s amazing that this is a part of the conversation beyond the music industry now and that fans are interested in some of the business behind it. People are more invested in knowing about what’s going on with their favorite artist.

Do you think all artists should own their masters?

Of course, my answer is yes. It should definitely always go back to the artist. If a label is fronting all the money for something to get made, I know why they think they should own the masters, but things have to change. The music industry as we know it is the Wild West. There’s too much greed.

You wrote about how JoJo was a professional moniker chosen for you by a former producer. At this stage in your life, how do you feel about that nickname?

It’s a part of me. JoJo is a part of my history, and it’s how I was introduced to my fans who have supported me over the years. So I’m totally fine with people calling me JoJo, but where I’m at in my life, I just feel more like Joanna. I’m getting closer to who I was before any of this crazy, cool, confusing experience happened. So I’m embracing all of it. I think of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and his long-ass full name, so I’m Joanna “JoJo” Levesque right now.

If what most people know about you is based only on what they know about JoJo, the artist, what do you want people to know about you, Joanna, the person?

That I am allowing myself to have different seasons. As millennials, perfection is what we were sold in the time that we grew up. You needed to be perfect, otherwise you shouldn’t even try. So I’m allowing myself to just try. To just be. To accept that wherever I’m at—that’s good enough.

You’re currently playing the role of Satine in Moulin Rouge! on Broadway. Your circumstances are wildly different, but Satine is a woman whose actions are ultimately being dictated by others. Did you draw on any of your personal experiences when you were first workshopping the character?

It wasn’t much of a stretch for me to play Satine. I think she felt a lot of pressure—pressure that she put on herself or pressure that was real because she was the face of the Moulin Rouge—and she wanted to make sure that everything was going to be OK. She didn’t want anybody to worry about her. She was very strong and very determined to do what she needed to do, and I relate to that. I never wanted anybody to worry about me, even when I was engaging in dangerous behavior or not treating myself kindly, so I can feel her going through that in the show. I have a lot of love and compassion for Satine.

You’ve done everything at this point—music, movies, TV, Broadway, and now a book. Where do you go from here? What’s next for you?

New music soon. Touring. And I want to develop an original musical, so that’s in the works. That’s something I’m really passionate about. I want to produce and be behind the scenes and also originate a role. I’m really, really, really into theater these days. It just makes me feel so alive.

This conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity.

At Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklynites remembered loved ones lost on 9/11 where they rest, rather than where they lost their lives. 

More than 100 victims of 9/11 are interred at the cemetery — 78 who lost their lives that day, and dozens more who died from Ground Zero-related illnesses in the years after. As the sun set on Sept. 11, 2024, Brooklynites gathered among the gravestones overlooking the Manhattan skyline. There were no suited-up military or police personnel or politicians, no big speeches. 

Musician George Stass sang quiet renditions of “Fire and Rain,” and “Wildflowers,” and “Every Grain of Sand.” When the sky was dark and the Tribute in Light visible against the sky, two Green-Wood staffers stood to read a list of more than 70 names — most of whom are buried at there, some who are not. 

Gabrielle Gatto, coordinator of public programs at Green-Wood, and Theresa Wozunk, a death counselor, worked together to plan the event, a departure from their usual memorials.  

The idea for a quiet evening memorial came to them last year, Wozunk said, and they worked with the 9/11 Museum and Memorial to organize Wednesday’s event, centered around the Tribute in Light. 

“I’ve always thought it would be such a beautiful viewing point, and a really safe space for New Yorkers who don’t feel comfortable going to the museum but want to pay their respects in a way,” Wozunk said. “And what a great, beautiful place to sit and reflect.”

More than two decades after the attacks, some New Yorkers struggle with big memorials, like the reading of the names of victims at the 9/11 Memorial on the footsteps of the Twin Towers. Gothamist reported that in the last year, only 6% of visitors to the 9/11 Museum were from New York City. Green-Wood wanted to offer those people a peaceful place to grieve together.

The cemetery now serves as a sort of community space, Gatto said, especially since the pandemic, when many Brooklynites found peace and solace walking the grounds. The 9/11 ceremony was an extension of that ethos, a chance for people to grieve different people in different ways. Gatto included her uncle, a former FDNY captain who died in 2016 from 9/11-related cancer, in the list of names. 

“My uncle is not interred here, but we continue to memorialize him in many different ways,” she said. “This can be a place of memorialization for anyone, anyone that needs to grieve and maybe do it in an accessible place that doesn’t have to be so charged, or they just have an area to kind of peel off to.” 

Dozens of Brooklynites settled in on Green-Wood’s hills for the ceremony, some in large groups, others separated in pairs or alone on the grass. A few asked Gatto and Wozunk to include their loved ones’ names in the reading.

Matt Pinner sat on a set of low stairs with his two-year-old daughter. He moved to New York City from Colorado in 2020, and said that while his experience of 9/11 was different from those who lived in the city at the time, he knew he and his family wanted to acknowledge the day in some way — which brought them to Green-Wood. 

“It’s a unifying event, I like ritual and ceremonies and traditions,” he said. “Anything that brings people together, gives you an excuse to go out in the world and be among people. We all grieve together. No one should do that alone.” 

Andrew Schneider attended the ceremony on his own, to support a friend who was playing music there. He moved to New York City in 2003, when the city was still reeling in the aftermath of the attacks. On Sept. 11, 2003, he said, the anniversary had a palpable presence, one that has dissipated somewhat with time. 

He didn’t lose anyone on 9/11, and felt at first like he shouldn’t be there at the memorial. But he wanted to hold space for the people that did, and remember their loved ones with them. 

The memorial felt different, too, because he recently lost his father Elroy. Grieving is a long and complex process, he said, one he just started — but finding a space to grieve collectively felt good.

“I was over here before, I was thinking memorials are so nice because they’re in honor of the people who are no longer with us, but they’re for the people who are still here,” he said. 

Included on the list of names read at Green-Wood on Wednesday were Joseph Agnello, Peter Vega, and Vernon Cherry, three Brooklyn Heights firefighters who were found together and buried side-by-side; and Monique De Jesus, a 29-year-old administrative assistant at Cantor Fitzgerald. 

Schneider said he watched a lot of old videos of his father after he died all on VHS, with the fuzzy quality associated with the medium. The news footage from 9/11 has the same quality, he said. 

“When I hear the names, I picture those people in that media form, like frozen in time, like they didn’t age with us,” he said. “Things got more HD, more crystally-clear. And those memories, they’re not fading, but they take on a different sort of quality because of the medium that they were on.”

Wozunk also wanted to pay tribute to Green-Wood itself, and the people who worked there during and after 9/11.

“The cemetery itself was integral in 9/11, and what this place has absorbed for various tragedies over the years is monumental,” she said. “The role that our gravediggers played, the role that our president played on that day and the months after, I just think is something to be celebrated and heralded.”

Cemetery workers were faced with the tragedy head on, she said, as they were tasked with laying victims to rest. They grappled with similar circumstances during the pandemic, when thousands were dying from the virus. 

Isaac Feliciano, a now-retired Green-Wood foreman, lost his wife Rosa on 9/11. The smoke and fire were visible from the cemetery. 

“He was here at work and had to see everything and still carry on and make sure he could be there for other families and for his own,” Gatto said. “We call [cemetery workers] last responders … it’s holding space for families, in those very last and final moments.”

Rosa is buried at Green-Wood, and her name was read on Wednesday night. In 2011, Feliciano told the Daily News that he would not visit Ground Zero to remember his wife — he much preferred to honor her at Green-Wood, under the memorial tree he planted for her. 

The eye-catching St. John’s College, which takes up a quarter of a block on Lewis Avenue between Willoughby Avenue and Hart Street, will shortly reopen as an apartment complex after an impressive adaptive reuse project converts the campus to residential units.

While the majority of the historic buildings remain unaltered on the exterior, the oldest wing, which ran along Willoughby Avenue, was demolished and is being replaced by a similar new building that has topped out.

A housing lottery has recently opened for the entire project, which has taken the address 788 Willoughby Ave. St. John’s College previously had the address of 75 Lewis Ave.

The first wing of the Romanesque Revival pile, College Hall, opened in 1870 on the corner of Willoughby and Lewis. The rest of the buildings were in place by 1872. Designed by architect Patrick Keely and built by the Catholic Church, the four- and five-story red brick buildings surrounding a central courtyard are notable for their multicolored slate mansard roofs, arched windows, a round corner tower, a domed cupola, and a two-story-high bay window and entrance canopy on Lewis Avenue. The college relocated to Queens in the 1950s.

Since then, the Bed-Stuy complex has housed an array of religious schools and service organizations, including the New Horizons Adult Education Center. Plans to convert the complex to rental apartments have been in the works since at least 2015, but until recently little seemed to be happening and the property’s future appeared unclear.

Despite its impressive architecture and significance in Bed-Stuy’s history, the campus is not landmarked, meaning the developers could have demolished the entire structure. The decision to adapt the buildings for a new use may have been made because they are already larger than what could have been built under existing zoning. As well, the site was deemed eligible for the National Register in 2020 and therefore could potentially receive tax credits for adaptive reuse through the National Park Service.

The conversion to apartments was facilitated through a deal between a private developer and the Roman Catholic Church, which still owns the site and the massive stone St. John’s the Baptist Roman Catholic Church next door at 333 Hart St. (The latter is still operating as a church, its online event calendar shows.)

According to city records, the Roman Catholic Church leased the site that includes the college campus but not the church to 75 Lewis Avenue LLC, with signatories Matthew and Frank Linde of Property Resources Corporation (or PRC), in 2018. The documents show the LLC paid $14.193 million for the ground lease, set to expire in 2067. The deal included air rights from the church building so the developers could increase the floor area of the new building, documents show.

The new wing along Willoughby Avenue will have eight stories, and altogether the conversion will create 205 studio, one-, and two-bedroom apartments, according to Department of Buildings permits and the architect’s website. Woods Bagot Architects is behind the design.

Renderings show the new wing will be six stories, not eight, and will closely resemble the one it replaced in coloring, form, and height, although the details will be modern. Its mansard roof, brick color, and window placement match those of the other buildings. Recessed brickwork in a checker pattern will ornament the under-window spaces and corners of the new build. Protruding brickwork will create a striped effect on the lower floors, where a modern entrance canopy will rise two stories.

A recent visit to the site revealed College Hall has been razed, and the replacement building has topped out. While the new wing is completely covered in scaffolding and netting, some of the brick detailing around the windows is visible.

The remaining administrative building, which sits in the middle of Lewis Avenue, and seminary wing, which runs along Hart Street, have emerged from scaffolding and look as grand as ever. They are, however, still behind a green construction fence.

The housing lottery for the 48 income restricted and rent stabilized apartments in the revamped complex, now dubbed The Hartby, recently opened for households earning 130% of Area Median Income, or $85,543 to $218,010 a year. At that level of AMI, allowed by the 421-a tax program from which the development benefits, rents for lottery units are typically close to market-rate prices. Studios in this lottery go for for $2,495 a month, one-bedrooms for $2,795, and two-bedroom units rent for $3,939.

Renderings show units with mostly white, minimalist, somewhat generic interiors, enlivened with interesting historic features. These include rounded corners and bays with windows, a wood-paneled wall surrounding a large round window, and arched windows.

Floor plans show a 409-square-foot studio, 526-square-foot one-bedroom, and 855-square-foot two-bedroom. Building amenities include a roof terrace, parking, electric car charging stations, an attended lobby, business center, gym, party room, shared laundry room, bike storage, and dog washing station.

The complex is set to open sometime this fall.

This story first appeared on Brooklyn Paper’s sister site Brownstoner.

In a blow to Apple, the European Union Court of Justice ruled Tuesday that the tech giant must pay over 13 billion euros, or more than $14 billion, in back taxes to Ireland.

The ruling ended a years-long legal saga that began in 2016, when the European Commission, the EU’s executive body, ordered Apple to pay Ireland 13 billion euros in unpaid back taxes. Apple and Ireland later filed an appeal.

In 2017,  ICIJ’s Paradise Papers investigation exposed the offshore activities and interests of over 120 world leaders and politicians, as well as the tax engineering of more than 100 multinational corporations.

Among those companies was Apple: documents showed how the tech company secretly reorganized its Irish companies in a way that allowed for certain tax advantages that were not offered to other companies.

Today is a huge win for European citizens and tax justice.

In its final judgment, @EUCourtPress confirms @EU_Commission 2016 decision: Ireland granted illegal aid to @Apple.

Ireland now has to release up to 13 billion euros of unpaid taxes.

— Margrethe Vestager (@vestager) September 10, 2024

Tuesday’s decision overturned a 2020 ruling from a lower court and backed the European Commission’s claims that corporate tax rates as low as 0.005% represented an unlawful subsidy for Apple, concluding in a statement that: “Ireland granted Apple unlawful aid which Ireland is required to recover.”

Representatives from both Apple and the Irish government strongly refuted the court’s finding that Ireland gave Apple special treatment.

“We always pay all the taxes we owe wherever we operate and there has never been a special deal,” an Apple spokesman told reporters Tuesday. “The European Commission is trying to retroactively change the rules and ignore that, as required by international tax law, our income was already subject to taxes in the US.”

The U.S. tech giant has had a presence in Ireland since 1980, and currently employs about 6,000 people in Cork.

It’s very important to show European taxpayers that once in a while tax justice can be done.

— Margrethe Vestager, the European Union’s competition chief

“The Irish position has always been that Ireland does not give preferential tax treatment to any companies or taxpayers,” a statement from Jack Chambers, Irish minister of finance, read. “Ireland is an active participant in international tax discussions and has also made necessary changes to its taxation regime as international tax rules have developed over time.”

Reporting in 2017 by ICIJ partners showed how Ireland, the Netherlands and Luxembourg regularly used their veto powers to block reform of EU-wide efforts to set common standards to curb tax avoidance by multinational corporations.

Representatives of the Irish government told the Irish Times that the multi-billion euro windfall from Apple, which is being held in escrow, will not change spending plans for next year.

Margrethe Vestager, the European Union’s competition chief, said in a press conference Tuesday that the legal win brought her close to tears, Politico reported.

“It was a win that made me cry because it is very important,” Vestager said. “It’s very important to show European taxpayers that once in a while tax justice can be done.”

Tax justice advocates celebrated the win, but pushed for more. In a statement, Tax Justice Network’s CEO Alex Cobham said that while he welcomed the ruling, it “does nothing to address the continuing abusive tax practices of multinationals across the EU and around the world that are estimated to cost about half a trillion dollars in lost revenues every single year since the Apple case began.”

“Tax justice delayed is tax justice denied, and so there is little tax justice to celebrate today,” Cobham said. “What the Apple case points to is the need for a comprehensive reform of international tax rules.”

The annual Latin Impact Awards presented by Bethpage Federal Credit Union celebrated the achievements and impactful work of Latin American community members on Thursday, Sept. 12th.

The event, held at Terrace On The Park in Corona, Queens saw dozens of honorees strut and dance their way down the red carpet to accept awards in recognition of their outstanding contributions to their local communities. 

The diverse range of honorees included politicians, community leaders, non-profit workers, medical professionals and business leaders from all sectors who have all made positive contributions to their local communities. The annual Latin Impact Awards is a way of saying thank you to each nominee for making an impact on other people’s lives on a daily basis. 

The sponsors’ support helped make this prestigious gala possible. This year’s Latin Impact Awards is presented by Bethpage Federal Credit Union and also sponsored by TD Bank, Verra Mobility, NYC Health + Hospitals, Woodhull, Episcopal Health Services, Council of School Supervisors & Administrators, MetroPlus Health, Forest Hills Financial Group, NYC Health + Hospitals, Elmhurst, St. Michael’s Cemetery, LMN Printing, and Miss Jessie’s. 

The night began with a VIP Hour for honorees followed by a cocktail hour and gourmet dinner. 

Award-winning journalist Jeanine Ramirez presented the awards ceremony, with Pure Samba providing entertainment in the form of an extravagant Brazilian carnival experience. 

Honorees had the chance to network with each other throughout the evening, forging invaluable connections that will surely help them in their efforts to aid their local communities. 

Robert Suarez, Assistant Vice President of Community Development at Bethpage Federal Credit Union and an honoree on the evening, said the Latin Impact Awards perfectly aligned with the company’s ethos. 

“We’re giving back to the community tonight and highlighting so many great industries and highlighting individuals who are making an impact,” Suarez said. “Our philosophy at Bethpage is ‘people helping people’. We care about what you care about.” 

Suarez said he was honored to be included among the honorees for 2024 and added that the Latin Impact Awards can help inspire the next generation of Latin Americans to even greater heights. 

“It really makes an impact. It’s showing the future generations of leaders the people they can aspire to be in the future.” 

Victor Alvarez, a Business Relationship Manager at TD Bank, addressed the honorees during the VIP Hour and said he was proud to support the annual event. 

“Congratulations to all of tonight’s honorees, representing a wide range of businesses and organizations,” Alvarez said during the VIP Hour. “TD Bank is proud to support this wonderful event and the vital impact of the Latino community.” 

Mabel Muñiz-Sarduy, Political & External Affairs Director at the Council of Supervisors & Administrators, received the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her 37 years of service in New York’s education system. 

Muñiz-Sarduy dedicated the award to all Latinos of Puerto Rican descent living in the US and said she was especially proud to receive the award because it honors her parents’ sacrifice when they moved from Puerto Rico to the US. 

“I’m so proud because they came young and they struggled,” Muñiz-Sarduy said. “For me, this impact award provides a representation of all puertorriqueños, including all puertorriqueños from the Council of Supervisors & Administrators.” 

Nathalie Tejada, Founder and co-executive Director of the non-profit NYC Celebrates Women, received the TD Bank Outstanding Entrepreneur Award on the evening in recognition of the work NYC Celebrates Women has done to support women of color over the past five years. 

Tejada said Thursday’s Latin Impact Awards helps to elevate the Latino community and celebrate the work of dozens of people who have gone above and beyond to aid their local communities. 

“We are coming together as a powerful community,” Tejada said. “Tonight’s event celebrates the honorees who are doing very powerful and meaningful work, elevating their community, elevating not just the Latino community, but New York City as a whole.” 

Elizabeth Velez, President of Velez Construction, was also honored on the evening and proudly spoke of the huge number of women included among the honorees. Velez also spoke about competing in a traditionally male-dominated industry and paid tribute to the Latino women who have blazed a trail for women today. 

“I follow in the footsteps of those who came before me,” Velez said, paying particular tribute to her grandmother. 

Velez said the event also showcased the rich and diverse cultural heritage of the Latin-American community in New York. 

“We’re not a monolith,” Velez said. “We started the night with a beautiful array of flags that were from so many different countries all throughout South and Central America. It’s amazing to see that blending together.” 

Honorees danced their way down the red carpet when their name was called, with each honoree selecting a song of their choice. The diverse range of songs showcased a vibrant mix of music styles and cultures, while many honorees also accepted their awards alongside their families. 

Velez said the presence of so many families on Thursday night was testimony to the core values of so many members of the Latin American community in the US. 

“There are so many young children and grandparents here tonight. My mother is here tonight and I’m thrilled. That’s the importance in our culture of embracing and celebrating all together.” 

Fidel Malena was also honored on Thursday in recognition of his work as Bronx Regional Representative at the Office of Gov. Kathy Hochul and said the event was an ideal opportunity to forge lasting connections with fellow members of the Latino community. 

“The timing couldn’t be more perfect. We have so many challenges ahead of us and yet we’re optimistic because we’re united in having people from different sectors across different walks of life tackling the most pressing issues that New Yorkers face,” Malena said. 

“I’m so incredibly honored to be here, but at the same time, this event is impactful and we’re actually connecting, networking and figuring out ways to solve everyday problems like education and healthcare.” 

Dr. Javier Andrade, Chief of Surgery and Perioperative Services at NYC Health + Hospitals, Woodhull, said he was proud to receive an award recognizing his work helping Latino patients for the past 15 years. 

“Hispanic communities represent a large minority within the US and it’s important to highlight all the success stories and all the different spectrums of society, not only healthcare, but business, construction, engineering and all the different specialties and different kinds of work that we do,” Andrade said. 

The 2024 honorees are: 

Lifetime Award Honoree:

Mabel Muñiz-Sarduy – Council of Supervisors & Administrators (Political & External Affairs Director)

TD Bank Outstanding Entrepreneur Award:

Nathalie Tejada – NYC Celebrates Women (Founder & Co-Executive Director)

Karen Abreu-Rosano – SCO Family of Services (Chief Program Officer)

Vivi Acosta – Greater Jamaica Development Corporation (Director of Business Services Group & Events)

Dr. Javier Andrade – NYC Health + Hospitals, Woodhull (Chief of Surgery and Perioperative Services)

Melissa Aviles-Ramos – NYC Public Schools (Deputy Chancellor of Family & Community Engagement and External Affairs)

Roxana Barsalona – Consolidated Edison Co. of New York, Inc. (Senior Attorney and Chair of DEI Council, Associate Counsel)

Jessica Cabrera – CUNY Bronx Community College (ASAP Associate Director and Adjunct Professor for Communication Arts & Sciences)

Nathaly Cabrera – Maimonides Health (Hispanic Community Advocate)

Dr. Marlene Camacho-Rivera – SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University (Assistant Dean for Student Affairs)

Noreen Carro – LMN Printing of NY, Inc (President)

Nicholas Cruz – United Federation of Teachers (Director of Community & Parent Outreach)

Veronica Cruz – New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital (ASR – Patient Access Representative)

Nancy Conde, MPA – Office of U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (Senior Advisor and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs)

Fernando Delgado – Lehman College (President)

Jennie Encalada-Malinowski – Laborers Local 1010 LECET (Legislative & Strategic Partnerships Coordinator)

Ingris German – Ponce Bank (Assistant Vice President – Contact Center Manager)

Cesar Gonzalez – St. Michael’s Cemetery (Memorial Sales Counselor)

Andrea Jerves – HANAC, Inc. (Director of Programming and Development)

Yrani Luna – Episcopal Health Services Inc. (Junior Buyer)

Fidel Malena – Office of Gov. Kathy Hochul (Bronx Regional Representative)

Cindy Matos – TD Bank (Vice President Relationship Manager)

Andrea Maldonado Ortega – NYC Health + Hospitals, Elmhurst (Manager Coordinator)

Belinda Olivares – Verra Mobility (Vice President Global Operations | Service Enablement)

Karines Reyes R.N. – Assembly Member

Hector M. Rivera – Forest Hills Financial Group (Director of Investments)

Elena Rivera-Cheek, MBA – C&A Digital (Founder & Chief Executive Officer)

Madeline Rivera – MetroPlus Health (Senior Director of Integrated Care Management)

Robert Suarez – Bethpage Federal Credit Union (AVP of Community Development)

Carrie Torres – Dormitory Authority of New York State (Dormitory Authority of New York State)

Elizabeth Vargas – MetroPlus Health (Manager of Provider Relations)

Yalitza Vasquez – Icahn Charter School Network (Deputy Superintendent)

Elizabeth Velez – Velez Organization (President)

Dorella Walters – God’s Love We Deliver (Chief Business Development Officer)

Every year, Latin Impact, through the Impact Awards gala, raises funds for a local not-for-profit organization. This year, the paper is fundraising for Latin Women in Action, Inc., a non-profit dedicated to providing support and essential service to women from all backgrounds. Approximately 100% of the raffle proceeds Thursday night will be donated to the non-profit. 

If you would like to learn more about participating in the Latin Impact Awards next year or any of Schneps Media’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion event series, please contact Amanda Tarley, Director – Equity, Diversity and Inclusions Events Programs, by calling 718-249-9640, or via email at  atarley@schnepsmedia.com.

 

Friday, Sept. 13

“Richard III” at Smith Street Stages: A fresh take on the Shakespearean classic “Richard II,” this production makes clear the parallels between the events of the play — as Richard II’s right to rule is challenged by his cousin — and modern politics. The show examines the struggles of holding power, removing a leader, and corruption, featuring performances by Isis Rosina Bruno, Ara Celia Butler, and more.

$25. 7 p.m. Smith Street Stages, 160 Schermerhorn St. between Hoyt and Smith streets in Boerum Hill. Performances continue through Sept. 28.

Saturday, Sept. 14

Farmhouse Family Day at the Wyckoff Museum: Summer has come and gone, and it’s time to enjoy the season’s last Family Day in style. The day’s activities celebrate the pollinators that keep the farm lush, beautiful, and tasty! Kids and families can enjoy crafts like making honey butter and paper flowers, tour the farm, and enjoy the outdoors. Plus, check out the farmstand!

Free, registration recommended. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Wyckoff House Museum, 5816 Clarendon Road at Ralph Avenue in Flatbush.

Jerrod Carmichael on Stage in Brooklyn: Emmy-award winning comedian Jerrod Carmichael is coming to Brooklyn! Head to the Bell House for an evening of laugh-out loud original, new comedy. 

$25. 9:30 p.m. The Bell House, 149 7th St. between 2nd and 3rd avenues in Gowanus.

Sunday, Sept. 15

A Morning at the Merry-Go-Round: Join PJ Library for a picture-perfect morning for kids and parents! Head to the Prospect Park Carousel, where kiddos can take a ride while parents meet their Brooklyn-based PJ Library Connectors, meet other local parents, and enjoy the morning. Afterwards, little ones will settle in for a storytime and family music!

Free, registration required. 9:30-11:30 a.m. Recommended for ages 2-8. Prospect Park Carousel, 452 Flatbush Ave. inside Prospect Park. 

Coney Island San Gennaro Festival: The famous San Gennaro Festival is coming to Coney Island! Gargiulo’s, the beloved “old world” Italian eatery, will dish up tons of classic Italian fare along with music, games, and community. Enjoy the celebration right in your backyard!

$75. 3-7 p.m. Gargiulo’s, 2911 West 15th St. between Mermaid and Surf avenues in Coney Island.

“Song of Myself” Marathon: Celebrate famous Brooklyn poet Walt Whitman and his historic poem “Song of Myself” with a community reading! Readers will volunteer to read one of the poem’s 52 sections, often putting their own spin on it with song, dance, musical accompaniment, and more. Enjoy the great Brooklyn outdoors and the poetry it helped inspire!

Free. 3-6 p.m. Granite Prospect steps on Pier 1 in Brooklyn Bridge Park, 2 Furman St. at Old Fulton Street in Dumbo. 

• In Manhattan
• In Queens
• In The Bronx
• In the Hamptons

Maybe, just maybe, Judge Juan Merchan saved American democracy last week.

On Friday, the New York state judge delayed Donald Trump’s sentencing on his felony conviction for falsifying business records to hide his hush-money scheme to buy the silence of a former porn star in the midst of the 2016 presidential campaign. 

Trump was trying to cover up his affair with Stormy Daniels just after his campaign had nearly been derailed by the October release of an “Access Hollywood” videotape in which he talked openly about how he harassed and molested women. Figuring his campaign might not survive a second sex scandal, Trump was willing to break the law to keep the adulterous incident secret. 

Now, Trump won’t be sentenced in the case until after the November election.

Many political pundits and analysts called Merchan’s decision a victory for Trump, validating Trump’s campaign to sidetrack and delay his four criminal cases before the election. 

Initially, I agreed with that assessment. But then I started to think about the dangers of allowing a demagogue to portray himself as a victim. 

Of course, Trump has long cast himself as a persecuted victim: a victim of the Justice Department, Congress, the media, or whoever else has most recently sought to hold him accountable for his many lies, impeachable actions, and criminality. It is the cynical playbook that he has used over and over again to whip up his followers and get them to believe his insane conspiracy theories. He doesn’t care that his rhetoric incited an effort to overturn the government during the January 6 insurrection, or that violent white nationalist groups like the Proud Boys follow his lead, or that his dark conspiracy theories led to an attack on an FBI office. Research has found that more than a quarter of Republicans now believe that political violence is acceptable. 

But a criminal sentencing in the closing weeks of the presidential campaign would have helped Trump sell his fake victimhood to a wider audience, beyond his MAGA minions. 

A criminal sentencing in the closing weeks of the campaign would have helped Trump sell his fake victimhood to a wider audience.

Without the sentencing — and with his other three criminal cases in limbo — Trump can still claim he is persecuted, as he did during this week’s presidential debate, but it will be less effective.   

History shows there is a risk in holding would-be dictators accountable for their actions at crucial political moments. The best-known case happened exactly one century ago. 

Adolf Hitler’s 1924 trial for treason provides an important lesson for how to deal with Trump.  

Hitler was a fringe political figure in Germany before his trial began in February 1924. The trial came just months after Hitler led an insurrection that became known to history as the Beer Hall Putsch, a failed effort by Hitler and the new Nazi Party to take over the provincial government of Bavaria as a precursor to staging a coup in Berlin to take over all of Germany. Hitler was trying to follow the model set by Benito Mussolini, another fascist who had gained power in Italy after his 1922 March on Rome. 

Hitler’s putsch began on November 8, 1923, when he and his fellow Nazis stormed a political meeting at a beer hall in Munich where Bavaria’s state commissioner was speaking. Hitler fired a pistol and announced that “the national revolution has begun,” while other Nazis surrounded the hall and blocked its main entrance with a machine gun. 

But Hitler’s coup attempt quickly began to collapse. When about 2,000 Nazis tried to march into central Munich the next morning, they were met by police and a firefight broke out, leaving 15 Nazis, four police officers, and one bystander dead.

Hitler and many of his lieutenants were soon arrested and charged with high treason. At first, Hitler was despondent; he thought his life was over. But by the time his trial began, he was primed to turn the courtroom into a platform from which he could spout his lies and propaganda. 

Hitler had the benefit of going on trial at a fraught political moment. Post-war Germany was suffering an economic meltdown, while many Germans were casting about for people to blame for the nation’s defeat in World War I and were resentful of the onerous terms imposed on Germany by the victorious allies in the Treaty of Versailles. A large percentage of Germans came to believe that Germany had not really lost the war on the battlefield. Instead, they were convinced by the “stab in the back” conspiracy theory: that the German army hadn’t been defeated, and instead the nation’s political will had simply collapsed in the closing weeks of the war. For that, they blamed Jews and Socialists and other groups that they claimed had forced the surrender and the abdication of the Kaiser.           

Hitler took advantage of this chaotic political climate during his trial. Sympathetic judges allowed him to engage in demagogic speech, enabling him to portray himself as a martyr who was trying to save Germany from the evil forces behind Germany’s postwar Weimar Republic. Hitler didn’t try to fight the treason charges but instead just claimed that he was a German patriot determined to oust the real criminals in the government. He called the Weimar government the “traitors of 1918,” who were to blame for Germany’s defeat.

Before the trial’s end, Hitler gave a dramatic speech in the courtroom that resonated wildly with his diehard right-wing supporters. “You may pronounce us guilty a thousand times, but the Goddess who presides over the Eternal Court of History will with a smile tear in pieces the charge of the Public Prosecutor and the verdict of this court,” he said. “For she acquits us.” 

Hitler received an unbelievably light sentence; he was released after serving just nine months. While in prison, he dictated “Mein Kampf” to other Nazi prisoners. 

The putsch and his theatrical trial turned Hitler into a political star in Germany; he and his supporters were able to claim that he was persecuted by a corrupt legal system. 

To be sure, the parallels between Hitler and Trump are not precise. It took Hitler nearly a decade after his trial to gain power, while Trump’s sentencing would have taken place just weeks before the presidential election. Most importantly, the economic and political conditions in the United States today are nothing like Germany in the 1920s.  

But Hitler and Trump have relied on the same style of victimization and demagoguery. Both saw their political fortunes rise thanks to claims of persecution and martyrdom. Trump’s playbook — claiming that he is a patriot battling dark forces inside the government and other elite institutions — was also Hitler’s playbook. 

While it is disappointing that Trump has yet to be held accountable for any of his many crimes, it is possible that it is better for the nation that he won’t be seen by many voters as a persecuted victim in the weeks before the election. Trump in handcuffs might only help him politically.

The post It’s Good Trump Won’t Be Sentenced Until After the Election appeared first on The Intercept.

Last month, CIA Director William Burns visited three Western Balkan countries—Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Serbia, and Kosovo—where the potential for serious conflict remains high. This visit was
intended underscore critical issues facing the region for the next months of elections in United States,
Serbia, Kosovo and some EU countries. By many, this visit was viewed as the most significant visit to the
region in the past fifteen years and aimed to draw “red lines” for the region’s political leadership.
Burns’ first stop was Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he met with secessionist leader of Republika Srpska
Milorad Dodik, a controversial leader who stands between Putin and West as a puppet of Vucic. Dodik is
known for his divisive politics, including threats for the separation of Republika Srpska from BiH,
maintaining close ties with Russia, promoting hate speech against muslim Bosnians, and denying the
genocide in Srebrenica. After the meeting with Burns, Dodik noted that he has never been intending to
separate from Bosnia and Hercegovina.

Although Burns’ visit to Serbia was notably quiet, Serbia’s role as a hub for Russian intelligence activity
and its growing relationship with China likely played a part in the visit. Burns’ trip was not a nod to
President Aleksandar Vucic’s diplomatic prowess but more a reflection of the broader geopolitical
concerns Serbia represents. Meanwhile, Burns’ visit to Kosovo occurred during a period of tension
between the U.S. and the Kosovo government. The American ambassador to Pristina, Jeffrey Hovenier,
had recently expressed concern that Kosovo’s government was challenging U.S. interests in several
areas. Both the U.S. and the EU have urged Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, to be more responsive
to international demands, specifically avoiding actions they regard as unilateral.
A few days ago, during a meeting with Prime Minister Kurti, several prominent figures from Serbia
expressed concerns about possible developments in the region. Sonja Biserko, chair of the Helsinki
Committee for Human Rights in Serbia, along with Nenad Čanak, former leader of the centre-left League
of Social Democrats of Vojvodina, and Mark Baskin, a senior adviser from the Centre for Humanitarian
Dialogue, raised concerns about reports that houses and apartments are being built for Kosovo Serbs,
particularly those from the northern region, in Serbia’s Sandžak region. They urged the Kosovo
government to verify these reports.
The indicators shows that Vucic might be orchestrating a plan involving the relocation of northern
Kosovo serbs to Serbia. In his current political predicament, Vucic could fabricate an excuse to accuse
Kosovo of ethnic cleansing against the Serbs, which could lead to a troubling humanitarian situation and
severe consequences for Kosovo on the international stage. Any population exchanges are inherently
risky and could spark larger conflicts in the future.
Meanwhile, two days ago, Miroslav Lujack, the EU’s special envoy for the Western Balkans, met with
Vucic. After their discussion, Vucic announced that he would address the public about the situation in
Kosovo within the next 72 hours. Media in Belgrade reported that Serbia may present six demands to
Kosovo, including holding municipal elections in the north, reinstating 700 Serbian police officers who
had been dismissed, establishing the long-debated Association of Serbian Municipalities, and releasing
Serbs detained for what Serbia alleges are politically motivated reasons.
These developments come just days before the anniversary of the Serbian aggression against Kosovo,
marked by the terrorist attack against the Kosovo Police in Banjska on September 24th, in which

Sergeant Afrim Bunjaku was killed. On Wednesday, Kosovo’s Special Prosecutor’s Office indicted 45
people, including Milan Radoicic, in connection with the attack. The European Union welcomed the
indictment. The EU’s spokesperson, Peter Stano, emphasized that “the EU has repeatedly called on
Serbia to bring all those involved in this brutal attack to justice.” He added, “The filing of the indictment
means that court proceedings will now begin, and we expect a thorough resolution of this process.”
As of now, Serbia has yet to take any concrete steps to bring the perpetrators of the Banjska attack to
justice, despite the fact that many of them are located within Serbia’s borders.

The U.S. military has announced the sale of billions of dollars of missiles, bombs, and other weapons to Israel in the past year, as the campaign in Gaza grinds on. Now, the Department of Defense is also building aircraft facilities in Israel to accommodate American-made refueling tanker planes, according to newly issued public contracting documents reviewed by The Intercept.

The project includes new construction and upgrades of existing buildings, including one or more hangars, warehouses, and storage facilities, at an Israeli military base in the south of Israel, according to Army Corps of Engineers documents.  

The construction stems from a nearly $1 billion contract, awarded to defense giant Boeing in 2022, to provide Israel with four KC-46A Pegasus tanker aircraft to be delivered by the end of 2026. The purchase of the KC-46As was seen as a signal of Israel’s determination to increase its capacity to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities.

The KC-46A is the newest tanker being produced for the U.S. Air Force to replace its two aging models. The new aircraft has been plagued with myriad problems, including issues with its Remote Vision System, which allows the boom operator to see the boom through a video feed. The plane has also become a financial burden, racking up more than $7 billion in losses.

For Israel, the new aircraft, purchased for $927 million, will replace the decades-old, repurposed Boeing 707 passenger planes that the Israeli Air Force currently uses for midair refueling of fighter aircraft.  

Last month, the Biden administration approved five major arms sales to Israel, including 50 F-15 fighter aircraft, tank ammunition, tactical vehicles, air-to-air missiles, and 50,000 mortar rounds, among other equipment totaling more than $20 billion. While technically “sales,” the cost of these weapons is mostly paid by the United States since Israel uses much of the military aid Congress approves to buy U.S.-made weapons.

Since last October, Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip have spawned a humanitarian catastrophe, killed more than 40,000 Palestinians and wounded close to 94,000, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Israel has used U.S. munitions in its strikes on Gaza.

The KC-46A construction project, according to documents issued on Wednesday, includes “establishing and adapting aviation and maintenance infrastructure for the KC-46,” including construction of five new concrete and steel structures, as well as the possibility for building additional buildings and warehouses.

The Pentagon is no stranger to construction projects in Israel. Late last year, The Intercept revealed that the Defense Department had awarded a multimillion-dollar contract to build U.S. troop facilities for a secret base it maintains deep within Israel’s Negev desert, just 20 miles from Gaza. Code-named “Site 512,” the longstanding U.S. base is a radar facility that monitors the skies for missile attacks on Israel. 

A recent investigation by The Intercept disclosed that Site 512 is just one of more than 60 U.S. bases, garrisons, or shared foreign facilities in the Middle East. These sites range from small combat outposts to massive air bases in 13 countries: Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. 

At least 14 of these bases have been attacked in recent years. Since October 17 of last year alone, a mix of one-way attack drones, rockets, mortars, and close-range ballistic missiles have led to at least 145 U.S. casualties — troops and contractors — at regional outposts. That includes the three service members killed in a January drone attack on Tower 22, a facility in Jordan.

The Defense Department intends to award contracts for work on the KC-46A construction project in February 2025. The Pentagon failed to respond to The Intercept’s request for comment about the construction project. The State Department acknowledged The Intercept’s questions but did not offer answers prior to publication.

The post U.S. Army Is Upgrading an Israeli Base to Make Room for New Boeing Jets appeared first on The Intercept.

It’s not just government organizations that need to worry about cyber espionage campaigns — the entire business world is also a target.

Multipolarity has been a defining trend in geopolitics in recent years. Rivalries between the world’s great powers continue to test the limits of globalism, resulting in growing disruption to international supply chains and economics. Global political risk has reached its highest level in decades, and even though corporate attention to geopolitics has dropped since peaking in 2022, the impact on global economic stability remains worryingly high.

Adding to this backdrop of geopolitical tension, cyberspace has become the fifth dimension of warfare. Rival nation-states and the organizations loyal to them are increasingly turning to cyber espionage to gain a strategic advantage. However, they’re not only targeting government organizations. They’re also targeting the private sector to disrupt economies and gain unauthorized access to confidential — and highly valuable — information. That means every business is a potential target, regardless of industry.

The real threat of state-sponsored cyber operatives

What makes cyber espionage so concerning is that most campaigns are carried out by state-sponsored attackers for economic, political or even military gain. Unlike rogue individuals and crime syndicates operating off the dark web — usually for financial gain — state-sponsored operatives tend to have access to the financial and human resources needed to launch highly sophisticated attacks against specific targets. And, even if a particular company isn’t likely to be targeted deliberately, that doesn’t mean they’re safe. After all, just like any other dimension of warfare, there’s always a risk of collateral damage.

For businesses, protecting against cyber espionage starts with knowing where the threats are coming from. Long gone are the days when standalone criminals and rogue groups working towards their own agendas are the greatest threat. These days, by far, the greater threat comes from nation-states as well as large enterprises that have capitalized on the opportunities of digital espionage. While the headlines have typically focused on Russia, China and the U.S., the U.K. Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) intelligence agency recently estimated that there are now at least 34 nation-states with advanced cyber espionage teams.

Processing the deluge of data

Further complicating matters is rapid technological advancement, particularly in AI, and all the risks and opportunities that come with it. On one hand, AI shows great promise in supporting growth and innovation. On the other, it’s also a source of risk as governments assume the dual responsibilities of fostering innovation while regulating the technology to ensure it remains a force for good.

The combination of AI and increasingly massive amounts of data means business strategy can be decided in hours and days rather than months. And no entity has more data than the governments of the world’s largest states and the organizations aligned with them. Intelligence has taken a very different form, with millions of data points being collected every second. For any entity hoping to make use of this deluge of data, AI has become an absolute necessity. The world of cyber crime and espionage is no different.

Explore AI cybersecurity solutions

AI on the frontlines

The rise of generative AI technologies has propelled AI to the frontlines of cyber warfare. State-sponsored attackers are already using tools like large language models (LLMs) to scale, inform and enhance their attacks, making AI a force multiplier in the broader threat landscape. For example, threat actors can now use tailor-made LLMs to generate malicious code or even inform reconnaissance to gain insights into potential targets.

What makes attacks like these so worrying is their widespread implications. When the world’s largest cloud providers are targeted by state-sponsored cyber espionage campaigns, there’s also a trickle-down effect, potentially involving any business that uses their services. Because of their critical role in software supply chains, state-sponsored attackers with virtually unlimited resources tend to go after the biggest targets.

Striking the right balance of cyber risk

Despite these risks, companies can’t afford to abandon their use of the major cloud vendors. After all, their platforms provide the critical infrastructure that today’s organizations need to scale and innovate. Nonetheless, organizations must proactively protect against these threats by layering on a zero trust architecture, conducting regular security audits and ensuring that all sensitive information is encrypted regardless of where it resides. That means they need to be strategic in choosing their vendors, as well as building security initiatives that align with their specific requirements.

We also need to remember that the biggest players in global software supply chains also have the resources to keep ahead of cyber espionage threats, even if there’s no such thing as being 100% secure. AI has become an undisputable necessity in information security, but it’s also a double-edged sword. Rogue states and cyber criminals are using it to scale their attacks and launch highly convincing social engineering campaigns. However, AI also offers the only way to effectively improve threat detection and response times. Just as you can’t fight in a modern war with sticks and stones, neither can you defend against today’s threats without cutting-edge technology.

Innovation is the key to successful security

In the end, while no business will ever be immune to cyberattacks, it’s important to remember that by far the greatest risk comes with a failure to innovate. As it’s often said, “we’ve always done it this way” are the costliest words in the business world. Even in the case of sophisticated state-sponsored attackers, attempted data breaches are far likelier to be successful when they exploit vulnerabilities in outdated infrastructures and security systems.

To effectively protect against the rising tide of AI-driven cyber espionage, businesses need to continuously monitor, review and update their security systems. Layering on AI has become a necessary part of that process thanks to its ability to augment real-time threat detection and response capabilities. Regardless of one’s opinions about AI, it’s here to stay, and it’s vital for businesses to strike the right balance by strategically incorporating AI as a tool to protect against the next generation of state-sponsored cyber threats.

To learn how IBM X-Force can help you with anything regarding cybersecurity including incident response, threat intelligence, or offensive security services schedule a meeting here.

If you are experiencing cybersecurity issues or an incident, contact X-Force to help: US hotline 1-888-241-9812 | Global hotline (+001) 312-212-8034.

The post What can businesses learn from the rise of cyber espionage? appeared first on Security Intelligence.