Owolabi Salis, a Nigerian lawyer, was on the six-man crew of Blue Origin’s 13th human spaceflight for the New Shepard program. The flight lasted 10 minutes and reached a peak altitude of 105.2 kilometres, crossing the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space, according to a press release. Who is Owolabi Salis? Salis is a lawyer and politician who has now become the first Nigerian to travel to space. The lawyer who comes from Ikorodu, Lagos, described his journey as a “convergence of science and spirit.” “This mission is more
Paramount Global is waiting for one last step before completing its sale to independent film and TV producer David Ellison’s Skydance Media. The Federal Communications Commission must approve the transfer of the company’s broadcast licenses, according to Bloomberg. The agency is concerned about news bias inside the media company, as well as the legality of its DEI efforts. Paramount’s merger with Skydance Media Paramount’s transfer to Skydance Media progressed after the media group settled Trump’s news-bias lawsuit against its CBS News division by agreeing to pay $16 million for his legal expenses and a donation
Unemployment rates for Black women are rising, and economists believe this signifies a broader problem. Black women’s unemployment rate increased from 5.1% in March to 6.1% in April and reached an all-time high in May at 6.2% before dropping to 5.8% in June, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported by The 19th. Rates for white and Asian women remained close to 3% and 5% for Latinas, in comparison. Experts believe that this highlights a strain in the economy. Why is this concerning? Due to systemic racism
Liquify, a woman-owned trading finance platform, has secured $1.5 million in seed funding. Future Africa led the raise, with participation from Launch Africa Ventures, 54 Collective, Digital Africa, Equitable Ventures, and angel investors. The Ghanaian company was founded by Nadya Yaremenko and Alberta Asafo-Asamoah in 2023 to connect small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Africa with global capital markets. How does Liquify work? The startup operates an invoice finance marketplace that connects African SME’s with global capital markets. Its platform exports allow exporters to turn unpaid invoices into same-day cash, and international investors can receive
Dutch semiconductor equipment supplier ASML has ended its DEI targets in the US to comply with executive orders in the country. The company made the announcement on Wednesday, stating that its diversity and key performance targets would not apply to US workers to the point that its inclusion and diversity policies conflict with US laws and orders. Still, it would remain intact in all other markets. ASML rolls back its DEI efforts ASML becomes another European company ending its DEI initiatives to avoid any disciplinary action from the executive orders
Akon’s plans to build a multibillion-dollar city development in Senegal have been scrapped by the country’s authorities, according to Bloomberg. Serigne Mamadou Mboup, head of the Senegalese tourism authority Sapco, said, “The Akon City project no longer exists,” and shares that the plans will now be replaced with a more realistic partnership with Akon. Akon’s plan for a futuristic city in Senegal Akon first shared plans for the city in 2018. It’s designed to feature futuristic skyscrapers and pan-African symbolism, which was compared to Wakanda, Marvel’s fictional African nation from
Dr. Valerie Camille Jones Ford, a math teacher in Atlanta, will be inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame, making her the sixth Black woman to receive the award. As a mathematics educator, Jones has been teaching for over 20 years at Ron Clark Academy in Southeast Atlanta, going above and beyond for her students. She employs unique strategies that empower students, broaden their engagement, and foster a strong sense of community. “I’m incredibly proud to be among such amazing educators, but it lets me know there’s still work
AMP, a streaming group comprising influencers, has secured a deal with Target, but some consumers are unhappy with the move. The group that creates collaborative videos on YouTube and Twitch consists of Duke Dennis, Kai Cenat, Fanum, Agent 00, ChrisNxtDoor, and ImDavisss. They have now launched a personal care brand called Tone, which will be sold exclusively at Target. “We really saw a gap in the shelves for a new brand to break through — and for a brand that is fresh and represents who we and our community are. Products that don’t just look good
TIAA President and CEO Thasunda Brown Duckett has joined the WNBA’s New York Liberty as an investor. Other celebrities with minority stakes in the team include Jack Ma, Karen Finerman, Karlie Kloss, Gabrielle Rubenstein, and Samantha Lasry; however, Duckett is the only Black investor on the list. “Sports has made a profound impact in my life. It taught me grit, perseverance, teamwork and resilience. To be an investor in women’s sports and the NY Liberty franchise is truly an impact moment,” Duckett said in an Instagram post. Duckett joins the
Summer camp is more than just fun and games for the young entrepreneurs attending the first annual Youth Business Camp. Hosted by the Better Black Business Project (B3P), a professional network for Black entrepreneurs,the three-day camp is designed to inspire and equip 14- to 19-year-olds with real-world business and financial literacy skills. Creating opportunities for Black business owners in Minnesota In Minnesota, African Americans make up 14% of the population but only 2% of businesses. B3 aims to close that gap. LeBrent Speed founded B3P to change that. “I grew
