Latest news with #CCM
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Three Maoists killed in police encounter in ASR district, families await bodies
VISAKHAPATNAM / RAJAMAHENDRAVARAM: Three Maoists were killed in an exchange of fire with police in the Kintukuru forest area under Rampachodavaram Police Station limits in Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) district on Wednesday. ASR SP Amit Bardar, addressing a press meet in Vizag, stated that the operation was launched based on credible intelligence about the movement of CPI (Maoist) cadres. Around 7 am on June 18, during a combing operation by the district police, Maoists opened fire on the personnel. The police retaliated in self-defence, resulting in the death of three Maoists—two women and one man. The deceased were Gajarla Ravi alias Uday alias Ganesh, a Central Committee Member (CCM) of CPI (Maoist), who had over 150 criminal cases and carried a reward of Rs 25 lakh; Venkata Ravi Chaithanya alias Aruna alias Ruppi, a Special Zonal Committee Member (SZCM) with over 150 cases and a reward of Rs 20 lakh; and Anju alias Mase (PM), with 22 cases and a Rs 1 lakh reward. The SP said the three had escaped earlier encounters and were involved in major attacks, including Araku MLA murders and blasts. Police recovered AK-47 rifles, ammunition, kit bags, cash, Maoist literature, and clothing. A case was registered. Relatives seek hand over of Maoists' bodies Relatives of the slain Maoists gathered at Rampachodavaram Government Hospital on Thursday to claim the bodies, which were brought under tight security the previous night. DSP said, 'Bodies will be handed over after legal formalities.' As of 5 pm, post-mortem and identification were pending. Gajarla Ganesh's brother said, 'We last saw him in 2004. Police haven't cooperated or let us see the body.' Aruna's father and sister wept, while Anju's family was expected by Thursday 10 pm.
Globe and Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
eDesign Interactive Launches Redesigned Website for County College of Morris, Empowering Student Success
eDesign Interactive launched a redesigned website for County College of Morris to create a future-focused platform that supports student enrollment, engagement, and confidence. Morristown, New Jersey--(Newsfile Corp. - June 19, 2025) - Full-service digital agency eDesign Interactive has successfully launched a redesigned website for County College of Morris (CCM), a leading two-year public institution in New Jersey. The new website was designed to elevate CCM's digital presence, support the college's strategic goals, and deliver a modern, engaging experience for students, employees, community partners, and visitors. The Different Elements of County College of Morris' (CCM) New Website To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: The redesign focused on empowering the community and providing prospective students with intuitive navigation, dynamic content, and a clear connection between academic programs and real-world career opportunities. The new site includes: Tailored Student Experience: A mobile-first design that guides prospective and current students through academic, financial, and support services. Career Pathways Content: A reimagined program structure that ties degrees directly to career outcomes, encouraging exploration and confidence. Internal Directory: A centralized space for faculty and staff to access tools, documents, and updates efficiently. Strategic Messaging: A new content framework built around the message "Emerge Confident" to reinforce CCM's student-first mission. Optimized Architecture: A complete overhaul of site navigation and content hierarchy, reducing thousands of outdated pages and improving search performance. "We focused on meeting real student needs such as career clarity, accessible content, and mobile navigation," said Vincent Mazza, Managing Partner at eDesign Interactive. " The result is an experience that helps prospective students feel empowered, informed, and confident about their future from the moment they land on the homepage." Built using cutting-edge technology, the redesigned site also ensures compliance with WCAG AA accessibility standards and supports robust analytics to inform continuous improvements. The launch has already driven strong engagement, with thousands of visits recorded on the first day and notable increases in page interaction and community interest. To explore how eDesign Interactive helps brands revamp their websites and digital presence, visit the eDesign Interactive Portfolio. About eDesign Interactive eDesign Interactive is an award-winning digital experience agency headquartered in Morristown, NJ. Founded in 2004, eDesign's team of 50+ talented individuals, fueled by passion, artistic flair, and unconventional ideas, combines creativity with strategic insight to help brands connect meaningfully with their audiences. About County College of Morris (CCM) Located in Randolph, New Jersey, CCM has been meeting the educational and training needs of residents and businesses in Morris County for more than 55 years. The college offers 50+ associate degree programs and a full slate of certificate and workforce development programs designed to lead to successful careers.
Techday NZ
4 days ago
- Business
- Techday NZ
Cloud Security Alliance launches Valid-AI-ted tool for STAR checks
The Cloud Security Alliance has launched Valid-AI-ted, an AI-powered tool providing automated quality checks of STAR Level 1 self-assessments for cloud service providers. Valid-AI-ted integrates large language model (LLM) technology to offer an automated assessment of assurance information in the STAR Registry, aiming to improve transparency and trust in cloud security declarations. Jim Reavis, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Cloud Security Alliance, said, "With agile, vendor-neutral programs and a global network of industry experts, CSA is uniquely positioned to develop authoritative AI tools that address the real-world challenges of cloud service providers. Our focus on security-conscious innovation led to the creation of Valid-AI-ted and will continue to see us deliver forward-looking initiatives that will push the boundaries of secure, AI-driven technology." CSA members can use Valid-AI-ted without charge and submit assessments as frequently as needed. Non-member providers are limited to ten resubmissions and can remediate their entries based on feedback provided by the tool. If assessments meet the required standard, providers receive a STAR Level 1 Valid-AI-ted badge for display on the STAR Registry as well as their own platforms. Assessment process Valid-AI-ted uses AI-driven evaluation to systematically grade responses to the STAR Level 1 questionnaire, producing detailed reports with scores for each question and domain. Reports are delivered privately to the submitter and contain granular feedback that identifies strengths and areas for improvement. The automation, according to CSA, is unique in the cloud security assurance landscape, as it offers objective, rapid, and scalable validation of self-assessment submissions. The process utilises a standardised scoring model informed by the Cloud Controls Matrix (CCM), which underpins CSA's approach to cloud security best practices. A key feature of Valid-AI-ted is the opportunity for continuous improvement. The ability for organisations to revise and resubmit assessments is highlighted as beneficial for those seeking STAR certification or looking to enhance their transparency among customers and regulators. Comparative advantages CSA highlights several advantages of Valid-AI-ted when compared to traditional STAR Level 1 evaluations. The tool is intended to improve assurance by reducing variability in the quality of responses, as traditionally, customer interpretation is required when reviewing self-assessment answers. With Valid-AI-ted, users receive qualitative analysis and actionable feedback aligned with established CCM guidance. This approach is positioned to support organisations in maturing their processes and can serve as a stepping stone towards the more rigorous STAR Level 2 third-party assessments. The STAR Level 1 Valid-AI-ted badge, awarded to successful assessment submissions, is intended to offer heightened recognition for providers. CSA says this distinction can help providers stand out to customers, partners, and regulators by demonstrating a commitment to more than basic compliance requirements. STAR Registry context The STAR Registry is an online resource that publicly lists the security and privacy controls of cloud providers. It enables organisations to demonstrate compliance with various regulations and standards while supporting transparency and reducing the need for multiple customer questionnaires. The registry is based on principles detailed in the Cloud Controls Matrix, including transparency, auditing, and harmonisation of standards. The Valid-AI-ted tool and STAR Level 1 evaluations are part of a suite of assessments that build on these principles, aiming to support both providers and customers in understanding cloud security postures. Licensing and integration Solution providers interested in incorporating Valid-AI-ted grading into governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) solutions can obtain access to the relevant scoring rubric and prompts by securing a CCM licence from CSA. While Valid-AI-ted is available to CSA members at no charge, non-members can access the service for $595. Discounts are also available for participants attending CSA's Cloud Trust Summit, who will be provided with a code for a $200 reduction in fees through the end of June. With the launch of Valid-AI-ted, CSA seeks to provide automated, standardised, and actionable assurance assessment, utilising AI to address the evolving demands of cloud security and compliance.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How Brandon Lake is Leading a New Fandom to ‘What's Real and What's True' in Christian Music
Nearly a decade before contemporary Christian music (CCM) star Brandon Lake was headlining arenas, topping Billboard's Christian Airplay charts and winning Grammy Awards, he was a young church worship leader in Charleston, S.C., who just wanted to record an album — and took an unorthodox route to making that happen. 'I did a GoFundMe campaign. I said, 'If you pledge a certain amount, I'll tattoo your name on my leg,' ' explains Lake, 34, as he sits across from me onstage in the sanctuary of Seacoast Church, the Charleston megachurch where he began leading worship as a teenager. He taps his left leg: 'So I have 22 last names of folks who donated tattooed on my thigh.' More from Billboard Brandon Lake: Photos From the Billboard Cover Shoot Addison Rae Announces Dates For Debut 2025 Headlining World Tour Where Are the Blockbuster Soundtracks? The Screen Has Gone Dark for Hit Movie Albums Since 'Wicked' & 'Twisters' In 2016, he released the result of that campaign, Closer — and since then, his songwriting skill; gritty, full-throttle vocals; and willingness to address sensitive topics like anxiety and mental health in his music have made him one of the biggest stars in the CCM world. He has released four more albums and dominated Billboard's Christian music charts, landing 43 entries on Hot Christian Songs, including 2023's 31-week No. 1 'Praise,' recorded with the collective Elevation Worship. But though he remains deeply committed to the Christian market, Lake is also looking beyond it. He recently earned his first crossover hit, making his Billboard Hot 100 debut in November 2024 when the raw, soulful 'Hard Fought Hallelujah' bowed at No. 51. In February, he teamed with country hit-maker and fellow ink aficionado Jelly Roll for a collaborative version of the song. 'I just wanted to share this with somebody who really gets this story, who's lived it,' he says of recording the song about hardship-tested faith with Jelly Roll. 'Now to see him carrying this song and how we carry it together and it's impacting so many lives — that's the goal.' He adds, 'We're in a perfect time for this kind of collaboration to happen… The truth is, all of us are just as messed up — it's just some of us are good at hiding it and putting a mask on. Everyone's on a journey.' Lake's Hot 100 debut comes as CCM is having a major moment on the all-genre chart. 'Hard Fought Hallelujah' and Forrest Frank's 'Your Way's Better' appeared simultaneously on the chart this year — the first time in more than a decade that two CCM songs were on the Hot 100 at the same time. The last time a non-holiday song recorded by a primarily CCM artist reached the Hot 100 was Lauren Daigle's 'You Say,' in 2019. Those breakthroughs occurred amid an overall rise in consumption of CCM over the past 18 months. According to Luminate, in the first half of 2024, sales of track-equivalent albums, streaming-equivalent albums and on-demand audio for the genre grew 8.9%, with CCM ranking as the fourth-fastest-growing musical genre after pop, Latin and country. The music's broadening sounds, as well as increased collaborations between CCM and secular artists over the past several years, have helped CCM songs become more heavily integrated into mainstream playlists: Spotify has noted that during the past five years, CCM experienced a 60% growth rate globally and a 50% growth rate in the United States on its platform, as artists previously confined to the genre started to penetrate mainstream spaces. That strong upward trajectory owes in large part to a new generation of CCM artists such as Lake, Frank, Josiah Queen and Seph Schlueter. They relish crossing genre lines: Frank's music, for instance, is more rooted in pop and hip-hop, while Lake's songs anchor worship lyrics aimed at church congregations in a range of sounds including rock, blues and country. And they are also digital natives who have been intentional in harnessing the power of social media and streaming to widen the genre's audience; a viral TikTok dance clip, for instance, gave Frank's 'Your Way's Better' a major streaming boost. Lake was among Luminate's top five CCM artists in the first half of 2024, and his star has only risen since then. During his appearances at CMA Fest, held June 5-8, a social media clip of him and Jelly Roll performing 'Hard Fought Hallelujah' earned over 1 million views, while a clip of the audience singing Lake's hit 'Gratitude' a cappella during a separate CMA Fest appearance earned more than 3 million views in just over 48 hours. The success of 'Hard Fought Hallelujah,' in particular, has put Lake — and his faith-centered message — before broader and more mainstream audiences than he ever dreamed of: performing on American Idol, joining Jelly Roll onstage at Stagecoach in front of 75,000 fans, playing the Grand Ole Opry and CMA Fest. From the start, collaboration has been key to Lake's success. Closer was circulated in church and worship music circles, leading him to some of his first songwriting connections, like Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Nate Moore and Maverick City Music co-founder Tony Brown, with whom he co-wrote Cobbs Leonard's Grammy-nominated 2019 song 'This Is a Move.' Other early co-writes included team-ups with worship music collectives Maverick City Music, Bethel Music and Elevation Worship; all helped Lake expand his sound. Alongside more traditional-sounding worship anthems, his 2021 album, House of Miracles, included the soulful rock song 'I Need a Ghost.' Later that year, Elevation Worship's 'Graves Into Gardens,' co-written by and featuring Lake, topped the Christian Airplay chart and was certified platinum by the RIAA. 'That's when the floodgates opened,' he recalls. 'I was getting calls from everywhere, asking me to do a concert or do collaborations — I can't even remember how many collabs I've done, songs I've written with other people that were like, 'Let's just do it together.' ' At the time, Lake notes, he didn't even have a manager. (Since 2021, he has been with prominent CCM management company Breit Group.) 'I literally kept all of my dates I said yes to in my Notes app,' Lake explains. 'My manager now has that framed, I think, because of how much we've grown. I learned so much being around so many of my heroes.' In 2023, Lake cemented his solo hit-maker status when 'Gratitude' topped Hot Christian Songs for 28 weeks. Since, he has continued notching solo and collaborative hits, including 'Fear Is Not My Future' with Maverick City Music and 'Love of God' with Phil Wickham. (He'll tour arenas and stadiums with the latter this summer.) And on June 13, he released his fifth studio album, King of Hearts, on Provident Entertainment. Sonically, the album finds Lake deepening his exploration of diverse genres, including country ('Daddy's DNA,' 'Spare Change'), gospel ('I Know a Name,' with luminary CeCe Winans) and hard rock ('Sevens'), and features additional collaborations with writer-producer Hank Bentley and Christian rapper Hulvey, among others. And amid the run-up to releasing King of Hearts, Lake launched another major project. In early 2025, CCM supergroup Sons of Sunday debuted, featuring Lake alongside Moore, Steven Furtick, Pat Barrett, Chris Brown and Leeland Mooring. The group has already notched four entries on Hot Christian Songs, and its self-titled debut album bowed at No. 3 on the Top Christian Albums chart upon its release in May. 'My favorite things I've ever created were created in community, so I think that'll be a huge piece of my future,' Lake says. 'I'll roll with anybody who wants to go after the same things, who has the same values as me.' As his star rises, he has stayed close to his South Carolina roots. Instead of moving to Nashville, the epicenter of the CCM industry, Lake lives with his wife, Brittany; their three sons; and a menagerie including cows, mini-donkeys and two dogs on a sprawling rural property just outside Charleston. Much of King of Hearts was recorded in a three-room Charleston studio owned by Lake's longtime collaborator, producer-writer Micah Nichols. And even when he's on the road, Lake makes a point of staying connected to his hometown: In 2022, he concluded the first leg of his first headlining tour with two sold-out shows at Seacoast Church; next May, he'll wrap his 48-city King of Hearts tour at Charleston's 12,000-seat Credit One Stadium. But regardless of venue size or location, Lake's goal remains the same. 'When we go out on tour and it's this huge production, huge lights and sound, I'm not doing anything other than just having church — just maybe a few more lights in cool moments,' he says with a chuckle. 'It's entertaining, but really, I want [concertgoers] to be able to say, 'I went to the King of Hearts tour, and my life has forever changed.' ' What do you recall about your first time performing? I've been a part of [Seacoast Church] since I was probably 13 or 14 years old. They encouraged me and gave me opportunity after opportunity to learn and fail and grow. This is where I learned how to write songs. Someone overheard me singing in a small group in someone's living room and asked me to sing. I sang for the first time at church, and I remember feeling so vulnerable, which to this day I still do. It's this love-hate relationship every time I step out on the platform, especially on tour — it's like the weight of the night feels like it's on my shoulders, but at the same time, I try to remember it's not about me: People are coming to hear these songs and have a real experience with God. Early in your career, you started working with popular worship collective Bethel Music. What was it like making that transition from leading worship at your local church to being on a larger tour with a collective? Going from local church to being on tour in front of thousands of people overnight was a dream come true and, in the same season, writing with all my heroes. Everybody that was on my bucket list of getting to write with them, it all happened in the span of a few weeks. What came quickly after that was a valley — I never expected what it would do when I came home and came off that high. That taught me a lot. I did a whole record around mental health [2022's Help!]. I'd never experienced depression, anxiety, panic attacks ever in my life until I came home from all my dreams coming true, but my adrenaline was just totally shot. I just went into this super-dark place, and it wasn't long, but it was long enough to be like, 'I need some help.' I had to relearn to go to God first and most, to fix what was going on. I've had to learn over the past few years how to tour and record and balance family and this career the healthy way. There's a reason why I only tour on the weekends. [The King of Hearts tour comprises four-show runs that are booked for Thursdays through Sundays.] My wife and I discuss every opportunity I get to make sure that we're on board as a family. I want to be 50 years old and still be able to tour. That's why I have a health coach, a performance coach. I'm trying to get healthy in every aspect of my life. Sonically, is the most varied album of your career. Why was that important to you? Touching on different genres isn't something I set out to do. I've been a sponge and soaked up the gold from people I've been surrounded by. Growing up, [I listened to] Christian music and James Taylor. I'd come home from school and turn on CMT [Country Music Television]. So I grew up around country [music] and discovered rock'n'roll later. I had a metal garage band for a little while and just loved all genres of music. I was trying to learn from all these different expressions of music … So now when I go write a song, I'm less focused on 'What does this need to sound like?' and more on 'What am I feeling right now?' 'Sevens' is the most rock-leaning song on the album. What was that writing/recording session like? We went to a Royal Blood and Queens of the Stone Age concert down the street from this studio, and a few days later, I just wanted to write a big-riff rock tune. I picked up a guitar, started playing and [writer-producer] Micah [Nichols] and I started chasing it. The chorus that you hear is the demo vocal from the day we wrote it. I would say 70% of King of Hearts is filled with demo vocals. How did Jelly Roll come to be on 'Hard Fought Hallelujah'? I released [the solo version of] this song, and then I felt like, 'This is too special to not share this song with somebody.' Thinking about the lyrics, I was like, 'Man, I think Jelly Roll would resonate with the story of this song.' I've been so inspired by his story, the things he's overcome. I remember seeing him sing 'Believe' with Brooks & Dunn [at the 2024 CMA Awards], and I just bawled my eyes out. It gave me all the faith to reach out. The craziest part of that is he had already heard the song on TikTok and loved it. We hopped on the phone, and we didn't talk music for the first hour. We just instantly became like brothers and talked about life, parenting, touring, family. It was a real friendship off the bat. There's a reason why he is on top of the world right now, and it's not just because his songs are amazing — it's because he's amazing. You have stayed close to your roots in Charleston. Have you been tempted to move to Nashville? I love Nashville, but I like it being a home away from home. [Charleston] is where my roots are and being here with those that remember the 15-year-old Brandon, they know me the best. I want to make music that gives people faith and hope to keep going, and the people I've surrounded myself with, they get that the best. So it makes the most sense to stay here. As your career has grown beyond CCM in terms of music listener recognition, has there been any kind of backlash or criticism from music listeners or the industry? I think historically, any time something has shifted outside of what had been done previously, it can make people take pause and maybe be even a bit uncomfortable with it … or make it feel like it's an either-or situation. And if you only are using Instagram as a metric, I can see why someone would maybe want to position it that way. But I don't think of it that way … To me, this is a lifestyle and teachings that live through music, and however that is connecting and wherever that is connecting, I will always want it to be as much and as far as possible. CCM is having a moment on the Billboard Hot 100, with 'Hard Fought Hallelujah' and Forrest Frank's 'Your Way's Better' charting simultaneously. Why do you think the genre is surging? I think the reason why Christian music is probably more consumed now than years ago is because there's a greater level of hunger for what's real and what's true. The fact that American Idol did a whole night around Easter, I think it just goes to show people are desperate for something that is going to lift their spirit. And I've got too many stories — I think what keeps me going, and I think what would keep a Forrest Frank going and what keeps a Josiah Queen writing these songs, is getting flooded with testimonies. People are hungry for authenticity. They're not just looking for entertainment. They're looking for an encounter with something that's real. There's nothing more real than God. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Al Arabiya
5 days ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Tanzanian Opposition Leader to Represent Himself in Treason Trial
The main opposition leader in Tanzania was granted permission on Monday to represent himself in his treason trial after being denied the right to meet his lawyers in private by prison authorities. Tundu Lissu was arrested on April 9 and charged with treason after addressing a public rally calling for electoral reforms ahead of planned general elections in October. Lissu's Chadema party has been critical of the absence of an independent electoral commission and laws that favor the ruling CCM party, which has been in power since Tanzania's independence in 1961. Lissu survived an assassination attempt after being shot 16 times in 2017, three years before the last election. The opposition leader told the court on Monday that he was being forced to speak to his lawyers through a phone in a small room and was worried that anyone could be listening to or recording the conversations. 'I have more than 30 lawyers who I trust very much. Today is the 68th day since I was arraigned and charged with treason, but my lawyers have been repeatedly denied the right to see me in private,' Lissu said. The chief magistrate at the Kisutu court in Dar es Salaam, Franco Kiswaga, said Lissu would be allowed to engage directly with the prosecution unless he later decides otherwise. He urged the prosecution to speed up investigations and set a hearing date for July 1. Lissu also protested what he called a denial of basic rights, including the right to worship. He said he was being held in a section of the prison designated for inmates sentenced to death, even though he has not been convicted. Human rights activists have accused Tanzania's government, led by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, of heavy-handed tactics against the opposition. The government denies the claims.
