Brazil’s Supreme Court has lifted its ban on X—formerly known as Twitter—after its owner, Elon Musk, complied with key legal demands. The decision ends a lengthy standoff between Musk and Brazilian authorities. X Returns for Millions of Brazilian Users Brazil is one of X’s largest markets, with an estimated 22 million users. The platform had been suspended in Brazil since August 30 for not blocking accounts that spread false information and failing to appoint a legal representative in Brazil, which is required by law for foreign companies. According to a
Dr. Joyce F. Brown, the first woman and African American president of the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), will step down at the end of the 2024-2025 academic year. Brown has led FIT, part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system, through 26 years of transformation since her appointment in 1998. Marrying Design and Technology FIT started as a place where European immigrants could learn and refine skills like embroidery, sewing, and tailoring. However, today, FIT is not just about fashion but about “marrying design and technology and
Global music icon Shakira has partnered with Amazon and Code.org, through her non-profit, Fundación Pies Descalzos, to expand computer science education for Hispanic students worldwide. The collaboration will help young people learn to code through an interactive music experience that uses Shakira’s Spanish-language hits and also provide computer science education training to teachers across Colombia. Learning to code through music Shakira has long worked to enhance educational opportunities for underserved communities in Latin America. In celebration of the partnership, Shakira has donated songs like “Amarillo” and “Chantaje” to Code.org’s Music
NBCUniversal and Group Black has launched ExcellencE!, a new content collection on Peacock, bringing thousands of hours of diverse, inclusive programming to the streaming platform. ExcellencE! – Black-Led And Cross-Cultural Content This partnership aims to highlight Black-led and cross-cultural content, making it a key destination for multicultural stories. Subscribers can now access ExcellencE!, which includes popular shows like Bel-Air, Martin, and The Real Housewives of Atlanta. NBCUniversal plans to expand the offering with additional original content in 2025. This launch is part of a broader initiative, expanding on the 2023
This week, Techish hosts Abadesi and Michael talk about the challenges of promoting yourself on social media while staying authentic. They dive into gender norms, entrepreneurship, pricing strategies, and balancing personal vs. business branding—all while navigating the pressures of social media. Promoting yourself on social media (00:00) Zero to a million: How to make (and keep) money as an entrepreneur (09:50) Building a personal vs business brand (17:35) Navigating social media, vulnerability, and business exposure as a woman (21:15) Listen to the episode You can find the Techish podcast on Spotify,
Yamilée Toussaint, founder of STEM From Dance and an MIT-trained engineer, has been named a CNN Hero for her efforts to bridge the gap between young girls of color and STEM careers. Through her nonprofit, Toussaint combines dance and STEM education to inspire and equip the next generation of innovators, especially those who might not see themselves represented in these fields. “It’s an honor to be selected as a CNN Hero,” Toussaint said. “I’m proud of the work we do to connect girls of color with STEM in a joyful and
Emmy-winning actress Kerry Washington has invested in Spill, a Black-owned social media platform that aims to create safer spaces for historically marginalized groups, including LGBTQIA+ and people of color. Founded by two former Twitter employees, Alphonzo “Phonz” Terrell and DeVaris Brown, Spill positions itself as a next-generation social platform that puts culture first. Kerry Washington Backs Spill With Spill, Washington is not only an investor but also an enthusiastic user. “In a digital world where marginalized groups, especially Black, Brown, and LGBTQIA folks, rarely feel prioritized, Spill stands out,” she shared
Brand new Techish! This week, hosts Abadesi and Michael break down: Diddy gets arrested (00:10) Red Lobster’s new 35-year-old Black CEO (06:30) The job market is a mess (13:35) Is entrepreneurship too safe now? (20:00) Listen to the episode You can find the Techish podcast on Spotify, Apple, and all good podcast apps. Watch On YouTube
Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 1511 into law that mandates state agencies develop plans to increase advertising spending in media outlets serving California’s diverse populations. The legislation, authored by Assembly member Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles), aims to address historical underfunding by directing state advertising dollars to these essential media outlets. Expanding State Support for Diverse Media According to the Latino Media Collaborative, California is home to more than 300 ethnic media outlets, which serve as critical sources of information for the state’s diverse communities. However, many of these
Tech influencer Marques Brownlee, also known as MKBHD, recently faced backlash following the release of his new wallpaper app, Panels. Launched on both iOS and Android, the app curates high-quality digital wallpapers from various artists. However, the premium pricing model and privacy concerns have stirred some controversy. Brownlee quickly responded to the criticisms, addressing them head-on in an effort to assure users that changes are on the way. Marques Brownlee’s Panels app Brownlee is a leading voice in tech with nearly 20 million YouTube subscribers, recently making the second-ever TIME100 AI