The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has begun seizing Starlink equipment from local resellers as part of a crackdown aimed at reducing the illegal use of Starlink in the country. “Icasa has taken note, with serious concern, of recent reports alleging that Starlink may be offering its services within the Republic of South Africa without the requisite authorization,” the sector regulator said. Cracking down on the illegal use of Starlink The internet satellite company does not have a license to operate in South Africa as it refuses to
Social Change Fund United, a non-profit founded by Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade, and Carmelo Anthony, is partnering with several HBCU students to provide them with scholarships. Founded in 2020 in response to racial injustice, the nonprofit aims to create equity and reduce the racial opportunity gap. Over the years, the Social Change United Fund has provided community partners with nearly $1 million in grant funding, reaching more than 132,000 people through targeted initiatives and outreach. $40,000 scholarship for HCBU students The Social Change Fund United has announced that applications for its annual scholarship
On May 25th, hundreds of people knelt in prayer outside of local Target stores to commemorate the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s murder. The prayer lasted for 9 minutes and 29 seconds—the exact time Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck, according to Afro.com. Faith leaders across the country led the prayer, including Pastor Jamal Bryant, who had led the 40-day boycott against the retailer, which has now evolved into a complete cancellation. “Effective immediately. Target is canceled,” he said. The company doesn’t “value who it is that
Rhode was recently acquired by e.l.f. fr $800 million, with the potential for an additional $200 million payout based on the brand’s future growth over the next three years, as reported by Forbes. Perhaps less well known, but essential to Rhode’s success, is longtime cosmetic chemist and BeautyStat founder Ron Robinson. Ron Robinson’s career With 30 years in the beauty industry, Robinson played a part in leading Rhode to success. Beauty Matter reported that his career began at Adelphi University, where he studied biology and chemistry, with the intention of
Michael Feldstein developed an AI Learning Design Assistant (ALDA) as part of a broader project aimed at addressing the needs of educators with the aid of AI. The project included a course that used AI tools to transform online course creation and was sponsored by D2L, VitalSource, and Engageli. Feldstein was the chief accountability officer at e-Literate, a publication dedicated to explaining educational technology (edtech). Now, he serves as the Chief Strategy Officer at 1EdTech, a leading member of a nonprofit edtech partnership dedicated to transforming the digital learning landscape. ALDA
The NAACP is demanding an immediate shutdown of Colossus, a Memphis-based supercomputer built by Elon Musk’s AI company xAI, citing violations of environmental regulations. NBC News reported that a letter was sent to the Shelby County Health Department and Memphis Light Gas and Water from the civil rights group on Thursday, May 29. In a letter addressed to Dr. Michelle Taylor, director of the Shelby County Health Department, leaders from the NAACP criticized the organization’s “lackadaisical approach to the operation of this dirty data center.” They urged them to “issue
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) is investigating the alleged illegal use of Starlink in the country. On Wednesday, Icasa stated that it has formally engaged with SpaceX and is currently awaiting a response, according to Bloomberg. “Icasa has taken note, with serious concern, of recent reports alleging that Starlink may be offering its services within the Republic of South Africa without the requisite authorization,” the sector regulator said. It adds: “To this end, Icasa has published a general notice reiterating that all entities offering electronic communications services
Stackwell and the Michigan Black Business Alliance (MBBA) released a report that examined how access to investment, education, and behavioral tools affects the financial outcomes of Black small business owners. The new report, titled “Building Personal Wealth: Empowering Black Small Business Owners Through Investing,” was published by the Financial Health Network. The report builds on findings from the 2024 Small Business Investing Program (SBIP), where eligible MBBA members received funded investment accounts through the Stackwell investing platform, along with educational resources. How barriers block wealth for Black entrepreneurs Small Black-business owners face significant
The Black Opportunity Fund (BOF), a community-led charity in Toronto, Canada, has announced the launch of BOF Capital. The initiative has two primary fundraising objectives: a $100 million private equity growth fund to support Black-owned businesses and a $50 million shared equity housing fund to help Black Canadians get on the property ladder, according to a press release. “We are creating innovative and sustainable pathways to economic empowerment by directly addressing the funding and opportunity gaps that have historically limited Black Canadians and those across the diaspora from building generational wealth,”
Melissa Butler, founder and CEO of The Lip Bar, shared that sales have declined by 30% since the boycott of Target began earlier this year. The boycott is in response to Target’s decision to roll back its DEI efforts, which include a commitment to increasing Black representation by 20% and a program to feature more products by Black- and minority-owned businesses. Butler is now calling on consumers to support Black-owned businesses through other channels, including buying from them directly. The Lip Bar’s sales declining In a video posted on social media,
