Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is facing a lawsuit from 404 Media after failing to release details of a $2 million contract with Israeli spyware company Paragon. The investigative outlet filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request in September 2024 seeking records related to the deal but received no substantial response, despite federal law requiring action within 20 business days. The lawsuit claims the documents could shed light on how the spyware is being deployed, especially in the context of ICE’s ongoing mass deportation efforts. What Is Paragon’s Spyware?
R&B artist named Xania Monet has just inked a $3 million deal with Hallwood Media, the company led by former Interscope executive Neil Jacobson, Billboard reports. But Xania isn’t human. She’s the AI-powered creation of Telisha “Nikki” Jones, a 31-year-old poet and design studio owner from Olive Branch, Mississippi. Jones, who grew up singing in church, writes all her own lyrics and uses the AI music-generation platform Suno to bring Monet’s music to life. Her tracks have been gaining momentum fast. On September 20, Xania debuted at No. 25 on Billboard’s
President Trump’s latest move on immigration is shaking up the tech industry and the global talent pipeline it relies on. On Friday, the White House announced that employers must now pay $100,000 for each new H-1B visa application, nearly 60 times the previous $215 lottery registration fee. The H-1B visa allows US companies to hire skilled foreign professionals in high-demand fields such as engineering, IT, and medicine. The program issues up to 85,000 new visas annually through a lottery system, including 20,000 reserved for US-trained graduate students. Ripple Effects Across Silicon Valley
Wells Fargo has agreed to settle a federal class-action lawsuit over allegations that it misrepresented its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts, The Charlotte Observer reports. The lawsuit followed reports that the bank held fake job interviews with women and people of color to satisfy internal DEI requirements, without a genuine intent to hire them. Sham Interviews to meet diversity targets The class-action suit stems from New York Times reports in 2022, which claimed that Wells Fargo managers were instructed to conduct “sham” interviews for roles that were already filled.
Sisters Dr. Jacqueline Philips and Lorraine Phillips have launched Melanin Doctor, the first Black-owned telehealth service dedicated exclusively to Black women. Inspired by their mother’s struggle with diabetes and her life-changing results with GLP-1 medications, the sisters, who are both doctors, created the platform to expand access and care for Black women. Black women face higher risks of obesity and diabetes Black women face disproportionately high rates of obesity and diabetes, with 57% classified as obese compared to 36% of white women, and 12.7% diagnosed with diabetes compared to 6.9%
Interested in product management or design? Join us for BUILT DIFFERENT, happening in London on October 2. Spaces are free but limited — RSVP now to secure your spot. Black women in tech are shaping the future of product development, strategy, and innovation across industries—from AI to fintech, media, and retail. They’re not just leading teams; they’re building ecosystems, redefining inclusion, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in tech. Several of these trailblazers will be taking the stage at BUILT DIFFERENT, our upcoming panel + mixer in London for product and cybersecurity professionals,
Uncle Nearest, a Black-owned Tennessee whiskey brand, may be heading towards bankruptcy as disputes persist over which assets fall under a federal receivership, according to recent court filings reviewed by the Lexington Herald-Leader. The development came from a lawsuit filed by lender Farm Credit Mid-America, which claims Uncle Nearest, Nearest Green Distillery, and its founders, Keith and Fawn Weaver, defaulted on more than $100 million in loans. Farm Credit Mid-America also alleges that Nearest Green Distillery overstated the value of its whiskey barrels that were used as collateral by at least
We know that there aren’t enough Latina women in tech. They make up just 1.7% of women in the industry, hold less than 1% of leadership roles in Silicon Valley, and earn under half of what white, non-Hispanic men make. Many leave within a year, citing poor working conditions. When you look at these statistics, it can be easy to focus on the lack of diversity in the tech industry. But, this Hispanic Heritage Month, we have decided to spotlight the achievements of Latinas who are defying the odds. We
Women-led startups continue to attract only a small portion of investment in Africa’s tech ecosystem. So far in 2025, male-led startups in Africa have received 75% of all funding raised. This leaves the remainder shared between women-led and mixed gender teams, according to the latest Africa Venture Pulse report by Briter, a research and business intelligence firm focused on emerging markets. Of the more than $2 billion raised across the continent, about 10% has gone to companies with at least one female founder. Gender funding gap in Africa Over the past
Ariel Alternatives has acquired Groome Industrial Service Group, a provider of industrial cleaning and maintenance solutions. JPMorgan Chase & Co. joined the deal with a minority stake through its asset management division. Founded by business leader Mellody Hobson, Ariel Alternatives is the private equity arm of Ariel Investments, one of the largest Black-owned money managers in the US. The acquisition will help Groome, which employs more than 900 people across more than 20 US sites, expand its market share by tapping into the firm’s ties in the energy and utilities
