
<p>According to the Beyond Borders 2024 report, a digital commerce study, the African continent&#8217;s digital economy is poised to reach $72 billion by 2026.</p>



<p>However, amidst this growth, experts note that there are challenges that must be addressed to ensure inclusivity and sustainability.</p>



<p>Research and advisory firm Caribou Digital, in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation and the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation, has undertaken a research initiative, The Platform Livelihoods Project, which delves into the workings of Africa&#8217;s digital workplace, shedding light on the experiences of millions who rely on digital platforms for their livelihoods.</p>



<p>One revelation from the research is the reliance of African farmers on digital marketplaces. For instance, 27% of Kenyan farmers utilize platforms like Meta (Facebook) to sell produce and exchange vital information.</p>



<p>The study also uncovers the hurdles faced by marginalized groups, including people with disabilities. The absence of accessible technologies, such as screen-reading tools for the visually impaired, poses a significant barrier to their full participation in the digital economy.</p>



<p>Jonathan Donner, senior director for research at Caribou Digital, explains the breadth of opportunities emerging in the digital sphere.</p>



<p>&#8220;The opportunities in ecommerce, ride-sharing, and gig work are well understood, but the studies collected in this book open the lens more broadly, to show how there are many ways in which inclusion is on the rise,&#8221; says Donner to FORBES AFRICA.</p>



<p>Donner adds: &#8220;The opportunities are great for players, large and small. The established social media giants are facilitating thriving but largely informal marketplaces for goods and services, and can use their reach and familiarity to provide on-ramps to the formal economy.&#8221;</p>



<p>Challenges persist, particularly for women navigating the digital marketplace.</p>



<p>Olayinka David-West, a professor and associate dean at the Lagos Business School in Nigeria, notes the hurdles women face, despite the convenience of remote work opportunities.</p>



<p>&#8220;The popularity of social commerce platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram, for instance, is hindered by fragmented payment integration within the supply chain. Additionally, barriers such as limited safety awareness, particularly regarding fraud, and inadequate access to digital devices (such as computers, phones, and airtime) stem from lower levels of financial access and women&#8217;s varying levels of digital literacy and skills required to enhance visibility and promote discovery,” David-West shares with FORBES AFRICA.</p>


Shot of an unrecognisable woman using a digital tablet while working on a farm

Experts Advocate For Inclusivity And Sustainability In Africa’s Digital Marketplace Poised To Reach $72 Billion By 2026


<p>Held for the third consecutive year in Botswana, the Forbes Under 30 Summit Africa welcomed delegates from all over the world last night at a grand opening ceremony celebrating youth entrepreneurship. In the country’s capital, Gaborone, thousands flocked to the historic Main Mall and square, ready to be part of the ‘pan-African celebration’.</p>



<p>The four-day event kicked off with a concert headlined by both local and international artists. Those in attendance also used the opportunity to network with young entrepreneurs from across Africa.</p>



<p>“I have never been to Africa,” said South Korean Dae Young Kim, 2017 Under 30 lister (Aisa) and CEO of Manimal Tribe. The restaurateur has attended other Under 30 summits in 2023 and was keen to be at an African edition and learn more about the food and beverage (F&amp;B) industry on the continent. “I am not looking for anything specifically because the entire program looks amazing but I do hope to meet more people in my industry. Because I would like to see what F&amp;B looks like here and maybe even see if there are collaboration opportunities, who knows?”</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Ilan-Godfrey-for-Forbes_U30AFRICA_2024__T1A5242-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-61817" style="width:634px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Ilan-Godfrey-for-Forbes_U30AFRICA_2024__T1A5242-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Ilan-Godfrey-for-Forbes_U30AFRICA_2024__T1A5242-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Ilan-Godfrey-for-Forbes_U30AFRICA_2024__T1A5242-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Ilan-Godfrey-for-Forbes_U30AFRICA_2024__T1A5242-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Ilan-Godfrey-for-Forbes_U30AFRICA_2024__T1A5242-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo by Ilan Godfrey for Forbes</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>Even the locals in attendance at the summit’s opening were enthralled. &#8220;Even before the main event, this has been an amazing experience,” said Belindah Wetshootile, a makeup artist as well as owner of a catering company in Botswana. “This has been a great networking opportunity to speak to young like-minded entrepreneurs.”</p>



<p>“I am an early childhood educator and I am also an entrepreneur who runs my own business,” Botswana local, Bonolo Raowang, added. Both Wetshootile and Raowan say such an event allows for bigger companies to recognize the entrepreneurial and creative spirit in Africa’s smaller economies like Botswana.</p>



<p>But Raowang would like for the momentum to continue through the year, and not only when the event happens. “This event has been amazing for exposure. But what happens when Forbes leaves? Look how talented we are, look how amazing we are. I would like for us to continue this buzz even after the event.”</p>



<p>The eager crowds outside the Cresta President Hotel, known as a legacy hotel, overlooking the main stage, waited for performances from Han-C, DBN Gogo and an international set by Nick Cannon. But what brought the house down was Afrobeats artist Stanley Omah Didia, known professionally as Omah Lay, who took to the stage to perform his biggest songs such as <em>People</em> and <em>Soso</em>.</p>



<p>The summit will kick off discussions at the Royal Aria Conference Center in Gabarone today and will include big-hitters such as Didia but also such names as Judy Dlamini, Founder and Executive Chairman, Mbekani Group; actress, humanitarian and UNHCR goodwill ambassador Nomzamo Mbatha, Ben Amadasun, Netflix’s VP of Content for Middle East and Africa, and many more.</p>


Igor Barandovski for Forbes_U30AFRICA_2024_IMG_8035

Forbes Under 30 Summit Africa Opens, Held For The Third Year In Gaborone


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>“Veneer techs” have gone viral on social media after a self-proclaimed tech confused users by shared his certificate of completion, and a separate TikTok user shared a horror story of her veneers falling out after two days, but dentists warn these techs are performing dental work illegally, and they put patients at risk for serious health issues down the line.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>Veneer techs are people who illegally place veneers on patients after completing a two-day training course that typically cost around $2,000 to $3,000, after which these tech receive certificates of completion that do not certify them to perform dental work, Jandra Korb, dental director of healthcare company DentaQuest, told Forbes.</p>



<p>Licensed dentists have National Provider Identifiers they use at licensed dental supply stores, where they’re able to buy products and instruments, but some veneer techs use nail supplies like acrylic for their procedures, while others buy kits off sites like&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=veneer+kit&amp;crid=3JTD9OB2MKUU8&amp;sprefix=veneer+kit%2Caps%2C100&amp;ref=nb_sb_noss_1" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Amazon</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.temu.com/search_result.html?search_key=veneer%20teeth%20kit&amp;search_method=user" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Temu</a>—which don’t check NPIs—Ashley Brede Ciapciak, dentist at Brede Ciapciak Dental, told Forbes.</p>



<p>Dentists are the only people who are legally allowed to perform veneer work, so veneer techs are “playing a risky game with patients’ health” since they may lack the proper knowledge on sterilization and dental health that formally trained dentists have, Whitney White, a dentist at Aspen Dental in Nevada, told Forbes.</p>



<p>Ciapciak warned these illegal techs can be criminally charged with practicing medicine without a license, which is a felony in most states, and patients can also sue them for assault and battery if their dental work goes wrong.</p>



<p>A Las Vegas woman who ran an illegal company called the Veneer Experts was&nbsp;<a href="https://news.yahoo.com/woman-accused-working-dentist-las-045141411.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">charged</a>&nbsp;with felony counts of illegal practice of dentistry earlier this year after a patient’s teeth fell out, and the patient filed a complaint with the state.</p>



<p>Patients who seek out veneer techs often do so because they’re cheaper than traditional dentists—who may&nbsp;<a href="https://planofamilydental.com/cost-of-veneers-in-plano.html#:~:text=Porcelain%20Veneers%20FAQ&amp;text=A%20composite%20veneer%20can%20cost,%24900%20to%20%241950%20per%20tooth." rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">charge</a>&nbsp;between $800 and $1,950 per tooth—but Ciapciak recommends going to a dental school to get this work done, since they’re “one-third to one-fourth of the cost of a private practice,” but still follow proper procedures with sterile instruments.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-are-dental-veneers">WHAT ARE DENTAL VENEERS?</h2>



<p>Dental veneers are custom made coverings that fit over the surface of teeth, and are typically used for cosmetic purposes like improving discolored teeth,&nbsp;<a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/23522-dental-veneers" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">according</a>&nbsp;to the Cleveland Clinic. Though there are several types of veneers, there are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.smiledentalcenterct.com/blog/cosmetic-dentistry/types-dental-veneers/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">five</a>&nbsp;common types. Porcelain veneers, or traditional veneers, are the most common form, and require the front of each tooth to be grinded down before the shells are placed on top. Composite veneers are made of tooth-colored composite resin—which is also used for dental bonding—and typically last 10 years. No-prep veneers are less invasive and take less time since the dentist only removes a small portion of enamel from the teeth. Though they can last up to 20 years, they’re thin and don’t cover stains on the teeth. Unlike the other types of veneers, same-day veneers don’t require multiple visits, and are best for hiding small visual imperfections.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.simplysmilesdentist.com/blog/understand-the-different-types-of-dental-veneers/#:~:text=Not%20all%20veneers%20are%20created,of%20composite%20materials%20or%20porcelain." rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Palatal veneers</a>&nbsp;are typically made of gold or porcelain, and are applied to the inside of the upper teeth and used to treat wear and tear and prevent further damage.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>An Instagram&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C5POSJjLM5_/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">post</a>&nbsp;of a veneer tech posing with his certificate of completion went viral on social media, causing people to question what exactly a veneer tech does. Some dentists like Ben “The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@thebentist/video/7362613284035448106?_r=1&amp;_t=8m36mg93SlX" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Bentist</a>” Winters took to TikTok to persuade people from getting work done by these techs, and to warn their state’s licensing board. Ciapciak has made several TikTok&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@drciapciak/video/7323742878503849262?_r=1&amp;_t=8m35BRktSe6" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">videos</a>&nbsp;about the dangers of veneer techs after a tech—who has since made her account private, making her videos unviewable—went viral on the platform for performing botched work on a client. TikToker Tybabira88—who Forbes has reached out to for comment—claimed in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@tybabira88/video/7350774632833666347?_r=1&amp;_t=8m37CIMifoh" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">video</a>&nbsp;she drove over seven hours and paid $1,500 for an unlicensed veneer tech, who was working in the back of a barber shop, to do her veneers, though they only lasted two days. These techs may be putting people’s lives at risk because they’re typically not trained to check for the health of a patient’s teeth, Korb said. If a tech seals a veneer over a tooth with an infection, “the only place [the infection]has to go is inward,” which can enter the bloodstream and then make its way up to the brain since it&#8217;s so close to the mouth. The infection can be treated with antibiotics if it’s caught soon enough, but tooth infections&nbsp;<a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health/how-long-until-a-tooth-infection-kills-you" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">can lead</a>&nbsp;to death.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h2>



<p>“[Veneer techs’] work can lead to severe consequences such as tooth damage, infections and even hospitalization,” White said. “It&#8217;s crucial that people seeking veneers prioritize their own safety by ensuring that they receive treatment from qualified and licensed dental professionals.”<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/"></a></p>


INDIA – Places To Visit

What To Know About Viral ‘Veneer Techs’—And Why Dentists Warn Against Them


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p><strong>Chef&nbsp;</strong>José Andrés’s World Central Kitchen announced it would restart aid operations in Gaza on Monday—four weeks after seven of its employees were killed by an Israeli airstrike condemned globally and described by Israel as “unintentional.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>In a news release on Sunday afternoon, WCK said the organization was ready with 276 trucks filled with 8 million meals for Gaza, where the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wfp.org/stories/hunger-gaza-famine-findings-dark-mark-world-says-wfp-palestine-country-director" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">U.N. estimates</a>&nbsp;about 1.1 million people are experiencing “catastrophic hunger.”</p>



<p>The nonprofit said it was also “exploring” other options for expanding operations and delivering more food to Gaza—including using the Israeli port of Ashdod and by sending more trucks from neighboring Jordan.</p>



<p>The organization also said it was building a new “high production kitchen” in the town of Mawasi, which will be named “Damian’s Kitchen” after victim Damian Sobol, and celebrity chef founder Andrés&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgOwYvIvJ_g" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">reposted a video</a>&nbsp;of WCK workers building the facility in southern Gaza.</p>



<p>WCK operates two other “high production” facilities in Rafah and Deir al-Balah, as well as 68 more community kitchens across the besieged territory.</p>



<p>The restart comes only three days after Andrés&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKzVWyLpv-8" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">delivered a eulogy</a>&nbsp;at Washington D.C.’s National Cathedral for the aid workers, who he called “the best of humanity.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>Seven WCK employees were killed on April 1 while traveling in a convoy near Deir al-Balah in central Gaza. According to Andrés, the aid workers were targeted “systematically,” by the Israeli Defense Force, who struck three separate cars transporting the workers. Israel later apologized for the strike, which it called a “grave mistake stemming from a serious failure due to a mistaken identification, errors in decision-making, and an attack contrary to the Standard Operating Procedures.” Two senior military officers were fired after the incident. However, WCK called for an independent investigation, stating the Israeli military “cannot credibly investigate its own failure in Gaza.” On Sunday, the nonprofit’s CEO Erin Gore renewed the organization’s call for an independent investigation, saying, “While we have no concrete assurances, we continue to seek answers and advocate for change with the goal of better protecting WCK and all NGO workers serving selflessly in the worst humanitarian conditions.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h2>



<p>“We have been forced to make a decision: stop feeding altogether during one of the worst hunger crises ever, ending our operation that accounted for 62% of all International NGO aid, or keep feeding knowing that aid, aid workers, and civilians are being intimidated and killed,” Gore said in a <a href="https://wck.org/en-us/news/chefs-for-gaza" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">statement</a> on Sunday. “Ultimately, we decided that we must keep feeding, continuing our mission of showing up to provide food to people during the toughest of times.”</p>


Spain Eases Lockdown As Death Rate Slows

José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen Resumes Gaza Aid—4 Weeks After Deadly Strike Killed Staffers


<p class="has-drop-cap">Today marks three decades of a free South Africa. For many South Africans, Freedom Day is significant as it commemorates the end of apartheid in South Africa on April 27, 1994, when the nation held its first democratic elections.</p>



<p>South Africa is heading into election season now with the national polls set to be held on May 29.</p>



<p>The country&#8217;s President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the people from the Union Buildings in the nation’s capital in Tshwane, Pretoria.</p>



<p>“Exactly thirty years ago on this day, freedom’s bell rang across our great land&#8230; On that day, as we cast our votes for the first time, a great heaviness lifted from our shoulders,&#8221; Ramaphosa said.  “Even though our backs bore scars of the cruel lashes of those who had whipped and subjected us for more than three hundred years, on that day, as a united people, we stood tall.”</p>



<p>After casting his ballot, the country&#8217;s late President Nelson Mandela described April 27, 1994 as the beginning of a new era for South Africa.</p>



<p>The day holds great significance for the country as it was the first time that all South Africans, no matter their race or color, could vote. Commemorating those who “fought for justice, peace and freedom”, Ramaphosa urged all South Africans to see how far the country has come. As an “ideology”, Ramaphosa said that the apartheid regime was a system that sought to humiliate and degrade.</p>



<p>“Over the course of three centuries, the dignity of the black inhabitants of this land had been deliberately and cruelly denied, first by colonialism and then by apartheid,” Ramaphosa said. “Millions of black South Africans – African, Colored and Indian – were at the mercy of laws and practices that were enforced to serve the interests of a white minority. Their land was taken, their labor was exploited, their prospects were stunted.”</p>



<p>Today was also about remembering Mandela, the country’s first democratically elected president.</p>



<p>“In his memory, we will continue to work tirelessly to achieve the democratic ideals to which he and many other heroes and heroines dedicated their lives,” Ramaphosa told South Africans. “Few days in the life of our nation can compare to that day, when freedom was born.”</p>



<p>The Nelson Mandela Foundation tweeted: “Let’s remember why voting matters. On 29 May we have a chance to shape our future. Every vote counts – let’s make sure our voices are heard.”</p>



<p>According to Ramaphosa, although South Africa has experienced setbacks, the country’s economy has tripled in size since 1994.</p>



<p>Unemployment, however, still remains South Africa’s most pressing challenge, but Ramaphosa stated that the number of South Africans in employment increased from eight million in 1994 to over 16.7 million now.</p>


Nelson Mandela Voting, 1994

Remembering The Day Freedom Was Born, South Africa Celebrates 30 Years Of Democracy


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>Google parent Alphabet’s blockbuster earnings report Thursday sent its stock price surging in limited afternoon trading, setting up the search engine giant to achieve a historic milestone.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>Alphabet shares soared more than 12% after Thursday’s market close, indicating the company’s market capitalization will jump by more than $200 billion to about $2.2 trillion when normal trading resumes Friday, setting the company up for its first-ever $2 trillion valuation.</p>



<p>The massive surge came after Alphabet&nbsp;<a href="https://abc.xyz/assets/91/b3/3f9213d14ce3ae27e1038e01a0e0/2024q1-alphabet-earnings-release-pdf.pdf" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">delivered</a>&nbsp;a first-quarter earnings report well above expectations: Its $80.5 billion in revenue and $1.89 earnings per share were well above respective analyst estimates of $78.8 billion and $1.51, according to FactSet.</p>



<p>That’s the company’s best-ever quarterly profit thanks to the whopping 62% year-over-year growth, with overall net income climbing to nearly $24 billion.</p>



<p>Alphabet is on track to join Microsoft, Apple and Nvidia as the only other companies in the world valued at over $2 trillion.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">TANGENT</h2>



<p>The company announced its first-ever cash dividend Thursday, which, at about $0.20 per share at an after-hours share price of about $175, indicates a modest 0.5% dividend yield. It does indicate Google’s maturity as a company, as dividends directly reward shareholders of a company’s profits. Rival Meta paid out its first-ever dividend earlier this year.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-fact">SURPRISING FACT</h2>



<p>The massive earnings expansion came as Alphabet trimmed its headcount from 191,000 during 2023’s first quarter to 181,000 last quarter.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>The final quarter of 2023 was Alphabet’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2024/01/30/google-earnings-record-profits-as-stock-trades-at-record-high/?sh=5a045a5039ff">best quarter ever</a>&nbsp;by profits and sales in its history. Though Google’s revenue moderated in 2024’s opening stretch from that historic run, it should come as no surprise, as the fourth quarter has been Google’s highest-grossing quarter during each of its 20 years as a public company, according to FactSet data. Alphabet is a massive conglomerate, but it’s an advertising business at its very core, with ads accounting for more than 75% of all revenues. That’s still a smaller share than its closest ads-focused competitor in big tech, Facebook parent Meta, which relies on ads for about 99% of its total sales. Up about 13% this year, Alphabet shares touched a new all-time high earlier this month,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2024/04/09/google-stock-hits-all-time-high-with-2-trillion-valuation-in-sight/?sh=6a6a47ee2ffa">flirting</a>&nbsp;with a $2 trillion valuation for the first time ever.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent-0">TANGENT</h2>



<p>Google stock’s strong returns come even as users and investors react fairly coldly to its Gemini generative artificial intelligence program, with the company notoriously shedding some&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2024/02/26/googles-gemini-headaches-spur-90-billion-selloff/?sh=2f2c923372e4">$90 billion</a>&nbsp;in market value on one fateful February day after Google admitted it “missed the mark” and pulled Gemini’s image-generating service offline. Still, Google has maintained its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-18/microsoft-s-bing-market-share-barely-budged-after-adding-chatgpt" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">dominance</a>&nbsp;in online search market share despite Microsoft’s Bing’s earlier integration of generative AI, and Gemini has yet to make a prominent mark on Alphabet’s income statement, though CEO Sundar Pichai&nbsp;<a href="https://abc.xyz/assets/95/eb/9cef90184e09bac553796896c633/2023q4-alphabet-earnings-release.pdf" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">declared</a>&nbsp;2024 the early days of “the Gemini era.”</p>


FRANCE-ECONOMY-TECHNOLOGY-VIVATECH

Google Soars Toward Record $2 Trillion Valuation On Earnings


<p>Today, April 25, marks World Malaria Day, spotlighting the pressing need to “accelerate the fight against malaria for a more equitable world”. Highlighting the day’s global call to action, Dr Daniel Ngamije, Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Malaria Programme, in a letter released today, emphasized that &#8220;our strategies aim to reach the most marginalized and at-risk populations&#8221;.</p>



<p>In South Africa, the mosquito-borne infectious disease remains a relatively limited challenge due to high levels of monitoring and reporting, as well as the country’s climate. However, the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga reportedly continue to see high case numbers due to their proximity to malaria-endemic countries. The Notifiable Medical Conditions Surveillance System (NMC-SS) report for the 2022-23 season documents 5,813 malaria cases nationwide, shedding light on the demographic most affected and the timing of case spikes.</p>



<p>Dr Sarah Stacey, Head of Infectious Diseases at Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital in Johannesburg, provides context to FORBES AFRICA: &#8220;It&#8217;s crucial to determine whether the malaria cases we treat are locally acquired or imported. Compared to the global burden of malaria, our case numbers are not significant. We are not an endemic country; we experience seasonal malaria.&#8221;</p>



<p>She elaborates on the climatic factors influencing malaria transmission in the region, &#8220;Our climate is the primary factor distinguishing areas with endemic malaria from those with only seasonal occurrences.&#8221;</p>



<p>On a broader scale, significant advancements in malaria prevention were marked by a milestone in Africa today. Benin, Liberia, and Sierra Leone launched a large-scale rollout of the life-saving malaria vaccine, targeting millions of children across these West African nations. This development brings to eight the number of African countries incorporating the malaria vaccine into their childhood immunization programs, with others poised to follow with the support of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.</p>



<p>&#8220;The introduction of the malaria vaccine in the Expanded Programme on Immunization is a major step forward in the fight against this scourge,&#8221; said Prof Benjamin Hounkpatin, Minister of Health of Benin, in a press statement. This sentiment was echoed by Dr Louise Kpoto, Liberia’s Minister of Health, who remarked, &#8220;For far too long, malaria has stolen the laughter and dreams of our children. But today, with this vaccine and the unwavering commitment of our communities, healthcare workers, and our partners, we break the chain.&#8221;</p>



<p>These efforts are part of a concerted push to expand access to a tool that has shown promise in significantly reducing malaria illness and child mortality, as demonstrated by a pilot program in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi which reached over 2 million children.</p>



<p>On World Malaria Day, the global community is reminded of the critical importance of a concerted effort to tackle this disease. Ngamije’s message is clear: &#8220;Only through a concerted, inclusive effort can we hope to achieve our ultimate goal — a world free of malaria.&#8221; This sentiment is powerfully supported by ongoing international efforts and the expansion of vaccine programs across Africa, underlining a robust global and local commitment to ending malaria.</p>



<p>The celebration of these vaccine rollouts emphasizes the integrated approach to malaria prevention that includes vaccines, insecticide-treated nets, and other measures.</p>



<p>The progress in vaccine rollout and the persistent efforts of countries, NGOs, and international partners encapsulate the dynamic nature of the global fight against malaria. As countries like Benin, Liberia, and Sierra Leone demonstrate, overcoming malaria requires persistent innovation, robust partnerships, and unwavering dedication to saving lives and enhancing public health.</p>


Global Warming and the Spread of Mosquito-borne Diseases in Mozambique

On World Malaria Day, Focus On The Battle Against The Mosquito-Borne Disease In Africa


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>Food recalls in 2023 reached the highest levels the U.S. has recorded since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, mainly driven by undisclosed allergens and listeria contamination, according to a new report released Thursday.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>Some 313 food recalls (impacting products that were still on sale) and alerts (involving products no longer on sale, but may be in consumers’ homes) were announced last year by the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, an 8% increase from 2022 and the highest number since the COVID pandemic began in 2020, according to a report released Thursday by the nonprofit U.S. Public Research Interest Group Education Fund.</p>



<p>Contaminated food resulted in six deaths and over 1,100 illnesses last year, though the researchers suspect there were more illnesses since most people recover from food poisoning without medical attention.</p>



<p>The most commonly recalled food items in 2023 were snacks like cookies and granola bars, which accounted for one in five recalls, though other commonly recalled foods included fruit—mainly cantaloupes—beef, soup, salads and greens, poultry, cheese, vegetables, supplements and pet food, according to the report.</p>



<p>Almost half of all recalls (49.3%) in 2023 were related to allergens undeclared on packaging, while other major reasons for recalls were listeria contamination (15%), salmonella contamination (8.6%) and uninspected products (6.1%).</p>



<p>This uptick in undisclosed allergen cases was partially driven by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/allergic-sesame-food-labels-now-must-list-sesame-allergen#:~:text=As%20of%20January%201%2C%202023%2C%20sesame%20is%20required%20to%20be,milk" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">inclusion</a>&nbsp;of sesame—which accounted for 39% of the increase—as a required disclosed allergen, a rule that began in January 2023.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-are-the-5-biggest-food-recalls-of-2024-so-far">WHAT ARE THE 5 BIGGEST FOOD RECALLS OF 2024 SO FAR?</h2>



<ul>
<li><strong>Dairy products: </strong>An investigation into a “multi-year, multistate” <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2024/02/08/costco-trader-joes-walmart-recall-dairy-products-over-listeria-outbreak-what-to-know/?sh=7902e28a47f5">listeria outbreak</a> was reopened after listeria was found in several food products containing dairy like queso fresco and cotija cheese. This outbreak includes cases dating back to 2014, and the FDA investigated it in 2017 and 2021, though it couldn’t link a specific brand to the outbreak. The most recent investigation was reopened in January, and manufacturer Rizo-Lopez Foods voluntarily recalled around <a href="https://www.fda.gov/media/176015/download?attachment" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">60</a> dairy products. Major retailers like Walmart, Costco and Trader Joe’s recalled products including salad and taco kits due to potential contamination. As of April 9, the FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention <a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-listeria-monocytogenes-queso-fresco-and-cotija-cheese-february-2024" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a> the outbreak is over. The agencies said there were 26 cases, 23 hospitalizations and two deaths across 11 states.</li>



<li><strong>Trader Joe’s Dumplings: </strong>Over 61,000 pounds of Trader Joe’s steamed chicken soup dumplings were recalled in March due to potential hard plastic contamination from a permanent marker. The products were voluntarily recalled by manufacturer CJ Foods Manufacturing Beaumont Corporation, <a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/cj-foods-manufacturing-beaumont-corporation-recalls-trader-joes-chicken-soup" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according</a> to the USDA. The problem was discovered after customers submitted complaints of hard plastics in their dumplings, though no adverse reactions were reported.</li>



<li><strong>Ground cinnamon: </strong>The FDA issued an <a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/fda-alert-concerning-certain-cinnamon-products-due-presence-elevated-levels-lead" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">alert</a> in March warning it found unsafe levels of lead in six ground cinnamon products. These products were sold in discount stores like Dollar Tree and Family Dollar across several states. This recall came after the FDA investigated the recall of lead-tainted <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2024/02/07/lead-poisoned-applesauce-ecuadorian-cinnamon-processor-likely-source-behind-recalled-pouches-fda-says/?sh=27a6e3082618">cinnamon applesauces</a> in 2023 that led to over 500 reports of adverse events in children.</li>



<li><strong>Trader Joe’s cashews: </strong>Wenders LLC, the manufacturer of the nuts, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/caileygleeson/2024/03/18/trader-joes-cashews-recall-product-pulled-in-16-states-over-salmonella-concerns/?sh=3ac5e89e58d4">recalled</a> four lots of Trader Joe’s 50% Less Sodium Roasted &amp; Salted Whole Cashews in March due to potential salmonella contamination. Though no illnesses have been reported, the potentially contaminated nuts were sold in 16 states.</li>



<li><strong>Quaker Oats products: </strong>Quaker Oats <a href="https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/update-quaker-issues-revised-recall-notice-additional-products-due-possible-health-risk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">expanded</a> its list of recalled products in January after it recalled several in December due to possible salmonella contamination. This expanded list included over 20 granola, protein and cereal bars, cereals, instant oatmeals and snack mixes sold in all 50 states. However, no adverse events have been reported.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h2>



<p>48 million. That’s how many Americans the CDC&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/foodborneburden/2011-foodborne-estimates.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">estimates</a>&nbsp;get sick annually due to foodborne disease, totaling one out of six Americans. Out of that number, 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>Food gets recalled in one of four ways, according to the report. One way is consumers get sick, seek medical attention and then local officials or the CDC test fluids and trace an outbreak to a specific food item; another is consumers file a complaint with companies or regulators; a third is local, state or federal officials discover an issue through investigations or routine surveillance; and the other method is by companies self-reporting a problem after testing. The FDA regulates around&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/media/143704/download" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">78%</a>&nbsp;of the country’s food supply, and its oversight includes everything except meat, poultry and some fish and eggs products, which are regulated by the USDA. The FDA was behind 224 recalls in 2023, while the USDA accounted for 89, according to the report. Although the number of recalls via the FDA were virtually unchanged, the number of USDA recalls increased by 31% in 2023 compared with 2022—the highest levels since 2019.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2024/02/08/costco-trader-joes-walmart-recall-dairy-products-over-listeria-outbreak-what-to-know/?sh=7902e28a47f5">Costco, Trader Joe’s, Walmart Recall Dairy Products Over Listeria Outbreak—What To Know</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2024/02/07/lead-poisoned-applesauce-ecuadorian-cinnamon-processor-likely-source-behind-recalled-pouches-fda-says/?sh=27a6e3082618">Lead-Poisoned Applesauce: Ecuadorian Cinnamon Processor ‘Likely Source’ Behind Recalled Pouches, FDA Says</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/caileygleeson/2024/03/18/trader-joes-cashews-recall-product-pulled-in-16-states-over-salmonella-concerns/?sh=3ac5e89e58d4">Trader Joe’s Cashews Recall: Product Pulled In 16 States Over Salmonella Concerns</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)</p>


A Safeway Grocery Store Ahead Of Alberston’s Earnings Figures

2023 Had Most Food Recalls Since Start Of COVID-19 Pandemic, Report Finds


<p>January 2024. Deloitte Canada signed an agreement with Canada Post as its outsourced IT service provider. Vodafone signed a 10-year deal with Microsoft. Eviden signed a $2.8 billion five-year agreement, also with Microsoft. Welcome to the coming of age of IT outsourcing as companies fill the gaps in talent, tech and growth with service providers that can meet their varied demands. According to Gartner, the growth in IT services spend will see it become the largest segment of IT spend for the first time at 8.7% and $1.5 trillion. &nbsp;</p>



<p>This change in spend and focus is also changing the role of the Chief Information Officer (CIO). Always a strategic and skilled thinker with one foot in the future, the CIO’s value proposition is shifting to become more that of the conductor of a vast IT orchestra of commoditized services, support and talent.</p>



<p>“With technology advancing at speed, the increasing demands on robust cybersecurity, and the cost-cutting demands that come with operating in Africa, outsourcing is definitely gaining traction on the continent,” says Michélle Janse van Rensburg, a digital transformation specialist in South Africa. “It allows for the CIO to gain access to niche skills and services that they can then orchestrate from within.”</p>



<p>CIOs are being given the space to get even closer to the business and address business problems at speed and to deftly navigate the talent challenge that remains just that – a challenge. According to Gartner’s forecast, the cost of salaries is expected to rise by 6% which means CIOs are spending more money on fewer employees at a time when they need more hands on digital decks. Outsourced means access to people when almost 60% of IT pros are looking for jobs other than the ones they currently have under their CIOs.</p>



<p>While this talent shift may yet change in the future – although Gartner predicts this is unlikely to happen – the CIO today has to find a way of modifying their approaches so they can better capture the value within their existing workforce while leveraging the skillsets from an array of service providers.</p>



<p>“The CIO is not just the custodian of IT, but the mind behind how to use these as a catalyst for business growth,” says Vishal Barapatre, Group Chief Technology Officer at In2IT Technologies in South Africa. “It is the CIO who will determine whether the business will manage 10 or more vendors, or if the company will consolidate spend into two. They are ultimately the ones who ensure there is solid engagement and service delivery across all vendors and that timelines are met and costs reduced. Their strength lies in accelerating initiatives across multiple vendors and projects.”</p>



<p>The adjustment to, as CIO puts it ‘Orchestrator in Chief’, is also allowing for the CIO to become more flexible, giving them room to stretch into their own skillsets and capabilities. As outsourced teams take on the admin and support, the CIO has the space to focus on innovation, technology changes, and how the business can benefit from new solutions and approaches.</p>



<p>“There is also the added value of having access to a global IT market,” says Koen Matthijssen, CTO at Fetola in Africa. “Many European companies now look to Africa for their talent, not just because of the rates, but because of their skills and maturity. The same applies in reverse – African companies can capture global talent to boost their own technology innovation and maturity.”</p>



<p>The CIO is then as much a strategic advisor as cultural melting pot manager, a person capable of weaving every personality and nationality into the fabric of the organisation. As Alan Turnley-Jones, CEO of Dimension Data Middle East and Africa, concludes: “CIOs are business partners with clear strategic advisory and a deep understanding of what they need their outsourcing partner to provide.”</p>


Application developers at work.

How The IT Outsourcing Trend Is Changing The Role Of The CIO: An Africa Perspective


<p><strong>With its new fund, TLcom Capital plans to deploy additional capital into female-founded African tech startups, building on the firm’s June 2022 co-investment commitment of $2 million to FirstCheck Africa, a female-focused pre-seed fund.</strong></p>



<p>TLcom Capital, the Africa-focused venture capital firm, has announced the final close of TIDE Africa Fund II, its second fund for technology in Africa, at $154 million.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignleft size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="682" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Maurizio-Caio-Founder-and-Managing-Partner-at-TLcom-Capital-image-supplied-682x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-61726" style="width:297px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Maurizio-Caio-Founder-and-Managing-Partner-at-TLcom-Capital-image-supplied-682x1024.jpg 682w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Maurizio-Caio-Founder-and-Managing-Partner-at-TLcom-Capital-image-supplied-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Maurizio-Caio-Founder-and-Managing-Partner-at-TLcom-Capital-image-supplied-768x1153.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Maurizio-Caio-Founder-and-Managing-Partner-at-TLcom-Capital-image-supplied-1023x1536.jpg 1023w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Maurizio-Caio-Founder-and-Managing-Partner-at-TLcom-Capital-image-supplied.jpg 1066w" sizes="(max-width: 682px) 100vw, 682px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong><em>Maurizio Caio, Founder and Managing Partner at TLcom Capital; (image supplied)</em></strong></figcaption></figure></div>


<p>With participation from LPs like European Investment Bank (EIB), Allianz, DEG Impact’s AfricaGrow, Visa Foundation, and Bertelsmann, the TIDE Africa Fund II marks TLcom Capital, known as Africa’s largest Seed and Series A tech investor.</p>



<p>The fund will reportedly maintain its early-stage, multi-sector focus and expand into Egypt, making initial investments of $1 million to $3 million.</p>



<p>&#8220;Egypt is a very attractive large market in Africa capable of generating unicorns in the years ahead,&#8221; notes Maurizio Caio, Founder and Managing Partner at TLcom Capital, to FORBES AFRICA.</p>



<p>&#8220;Our investment strategy is the same in Egypt as anywhere else – partnering with entrepreneurs who create massive value by leveraging technology to serve significant African markets,&#8221; affirms Caio.</p>



<p>TLcom’s early-stage portfolio includes uLesson, Autochek, Pula, Fairmoney, and Andela, one of Africa’s six unicorn companies.</p>



<p>&#8220;We partner with founders who tackle massive opportunities with winning strategies,&#8221; says Caio.</p>



<p>&#8220;Ideally, each of our investments should classify as a fund returner, meaning they hold the potential to return the value of our entire fund from the proceeds of their exit.&#8221;</p>


Casual businessman working late on a laptop computer

‘Massive Opportunities With Winning Strategies’: Venture Capital Firm Closes Africa’s Largest Early-Stage VC Fund At $154 Million


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>Patients treated by female doctors fare better than patients treated by male doctors, according to new research published Monday, despite the field struggling to improve female representation in research and among practitioners.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>Patients treated by female physicians in the U.S. had lower mortality rates and lower rates of readmission compared to patients treated by male physicians, according to peer reviewed research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.</p>



<p>The findings come after researchers from the University of Tokyo in Japan analyzed data from the medical records of more than 700,000 Medicare patients aged 65 years or older hospitalized and treated between 2016 and 2019 to assess the differences between patients treated by male and female physicians.</p>



<p>Just under a third of the roughly 460,000 female and 320,000 male patients included in the study were treated by female physicians, the researchers said, and there were no significant differences between groups when it came to key metrics for evaluating hospital care including length of stay, spending, how likely a discharge to home was, management claims and the proportion of time spent under intensive evaluation.</p>



<p>While both male and female patients treated by female physicians fared better than those treated by male physicians in terms of lower death and readmission rates, the researchers found the difference was especially large and clinically meaningful for female patients, who are underrepresented in medical research and far more likely to suffer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/medical-mistakes-are-likely-women-minorities-rcna133726" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">misdiagnoses</a>&nbsp;and medical mistakes during treatment than men.</p>



<p>The researchers said multiple reasons could be behind the stark difference in outcomes for female patients when treated by female physicians, such as male physicians potentially underestimating the severity of illnesses in their female patients and female physicians probably having better communication skills and a more patient-centered approach when it comes to female patients.</p>



<p>Being treated by a female physician could also help alleviate the embarrassment, discomfort and social and cultural taboos that can arise for female patients during sensitive examinations, the researchers said.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>The finding that patients treated by female clinicians fare better than those treated by male clinicians has been repeatedly&nbsp;<a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/news/women-doctors-may-be-better-for-patients-health/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">borne out&nbsp;</a>by research around the world. For example,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/aug/30/female-surgeons-patient-outcomes-better-studies" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">studies</a>&nbsp;published last year from researchers in Sweden and Canada found people operated on by female surgeons had better outcomes and fewer problems during recovery than when male surgeons had been performing the operations. In the U.S., research has shown women who have heart attacks are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-45096070" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">more likely to survive</a>&nbsp;when treated by a female doctor. The same is true of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/355/bmj.i6808" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">elderly hospital patients</a>. While studies are typically observational and so cannot determine cause and effect,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/14/well/doctors-male-female-women-men-heart.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">research</a>&nbsp;has shown female doctors tend to listen to their patients more, spend more time with their patients and are more likely to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2022/01/21/patients-get-better-care-female-doctors-sexism-persists-medicine/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">follow guidelines and collaborate</a>&nbsp;with specialists. While patients might fare better under female clinicians, women doctors face a variety of issues hindering their ability to enter and remain in the field. Female doctors tend to be&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/gender-identity/women-doctors-earn-2-million-less-than-men-in-their-careers-they-want-to-know-why-is-nothing-being-done/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">paid less</a>&nbsp;than their male counterparts, face&nbsp;<a href="https://hbr.org/2018/08/how-discrimination-against-female-doctors-hurts-patients" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">systemic discrimination&nbsp;</a>and struggle with higher&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/physician-health/how-women-physicians-can-find-balance-and-out-workplace" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">rates of burnout</a>&nbsp;amid efforts to manage brutal medical schedules with other commitments.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-fact">SURPRISING FACT</h2>



<p>Despite decades of vowing to address systemic bias against women in healthcare and research, medical research still <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/nov/20/women-health-research-jill-biden-white-house" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">knowingly and consistently overlooks</a> women and women are still <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/06/27/underrepresentation-women-clinical-trials/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">underrepresented</a> in clinical trials. The bias pervades the entirety of medical research, even down to the laboratory level, with animal <a href="https://nautil.us/which-sex-of-mouse-should-you-ask-for-directions-313331/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">subjects</a> like <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/07/science/female-mice-hormones.html#:~:text=But%20a%20large%20sex%20gap,by%20a%20factor%20of%20five." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mice</a> and <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2021/05/14/health/sex-biological-variable-research-science-drugs-scn/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rats</a> all overwhelmingly male.</p>


Doctor soothing senior patient

Patients Fare Better With Women Doctors, Study Finds


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>A class action lawsuit with hundreds of claimants was filed at the High Court in London Monday as plaintiffs accuse the LGBTQ+ dating app Grindr of sharing sensitive medical information, including HIV status, with advertisers, who then allegedly sold that data on to other businesses,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj7mxnvz42no" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">multiple</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/apr/22/lawsuit-in-london-to-allege-grindr-shared-users-hiv-status-with-ad-firms" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">outlets</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-22/grindr-sued-in-london-for-sharing-users-hiv-status-with-ad-firms" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">reported</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>English law firm Austen Hays alleges Grindr breached data protection laws in Britain when it sold information on users’ ethnicity, sexual orientation, HIV status and beyond with ad companies Localytics and Apptimize between spring of 2018 and April 2020.</p>



<p>The lawsuit goes on to allege those companies may have then passed the data on to fourth parties, allowing &#8220;a potentially unlimited number&#8221; of firms to target users online using the information.</p>



<p>Hays said in a statement to Forbes that more than 670 people have already signed up to the claim with potential for thousands of others to join—Grindr had almost 1 million&nbsp;<a href="https://www.them.us/story/grindr-most-popular-dating-app-users-over-54" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">U.K. users</a>&nbsp;as of last May.</p>



<p>Chaya Hanoomanjee, director of Hays&#8217; firm, said in a statement that clients whose data was shared &#8220;have suffered feelings of fear, embarrassment and anxiety as a result.&#8221;</p>



<p>Grindr did not immediately respond to Forbes’ request for comment Monday but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj7mxnvz42no" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">told the BBC</a>&nbsp;the lawsuit &#8220;appears to be based on a mischaracterization of practices from more than four years ago&#8221; and that the company will &#8220;respond vigorously&#8221; to the claim.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h2>



<p>“Grindr owes it to the LGBTQ+ community it serves to compensate those whose data has been compromised and have suffered distress as a result, and to ensure all its users are safe while using the app, wherever they are, without fear that their data might be shared with third parties,” Hanoomanjee said.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>Grindr was first found to be sharing sensitive sexual health data, including HIV status of users, with advertisers and analytics companies back in 2018. Norwegian research organization&nbsp;<a href="https://github.com/SINTEF-9012/grindr-privacy-leaks" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">SINTEF</a>&nbsp;first discovered the data was being shared, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/azeenghorayshi/grindr-hiv-status-privacy" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Buzzfeed</a>&nbsp;followed up with its own report that GPS data, phone ID and email addresses were also being shared. In April of 2018, Grindr issued a privacy statement both denying and defending its actions.&nbsp;<a href="https://grindr.tumblr.com/post/172528912083/heres-what-you-should-know-regarding-your-hiv" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">CTO Scott Chen</a>&nbsp;said in a statement that Grindr has &#8220;never&#8221; sold HIV status information to third party advertisers, but also said it was clear in the app&#8217;s privacy policy that &#8220;if you choose to include this information in your profile, the information will also become public.&#8221; That same day,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.axios.com/exclusive-grindr-security-chief-on-hiv-disclosure-b5a64fdb-8c1d-4a08-a94e-67506d4a0d0b.html?utm_source=twitter&amp;amp;utm_medium=social&amp;amp;utm_campaign=organic" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Axios reported</a>&nbsp;Grindr had stopped sharing users’ HIV status. The controversy drew the ire of several regulatory authorities, including the Spanish Data Protection Authority and the Information Commissioner’s Office in the United Kingdom, which each went on to file data breach complaints. The Norwegian Data Protection Authority ultimately&nbsp;<a href="https://www.edpb.europa.eu/news/national-news/2021/norwegian-dpa-imposes-fine-against-grindr-llc_en" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">fined Grindr $6 million</a>&nbsp;for violating data privacy practices.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h2>



<p>13 million. That&#8217;s how many people use Grindr monthly, according to Austen Hays, making it the most popular LGBTQ+ mobile app in the world.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">TANGENT</h2>



<p>In 2020, Grindr faced regulatory complaints over its Chinese owner similar to those currently plaguing the popular video app TikTok. Chinese gaming giant Beijing Kunlun acquired Grindr, originally developed in Los Angeles, in 2016 and the app was soon hit with national security concerns stemming from the Chinese government potentially gaining access to the personal data of U.S. users. The company <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/6/21168079/grindr-sold-chinese-owner-us-cfius-security-concerns-kunlun-lgbtq" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ultimately sold</a> its stake to a U.S.-based company, which allowed Grindr to continue operating. The story is similar to that of TikTok, which is currently under intense scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers because its parent company, ByteDance, has <a href="https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3255539/us-lawmakers-want-tiktok-sale-or-ban-chinas-bytedance-wont-give-without-fight" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">refused to divest </a>from the social media app. The House of Representatives on Saturday <a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/tiktok-raises-free-speech-concerns-bill-passed-by-us-house-that-may-ban-app-2024-04-21/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">passed a bill</a> that will ban TikTok if ByteDance doesn&#8217;t sell its stake within a year. The bill now moves to the Senate, where a vote could happen this week, and President Joe Biden has said he will sign the legislation if it makes it to his desk.</p>


Social media app Grindr

Grindr Dating App Shared HIV Status Of English Users With Advertisers, New Lawsuit Says


<p>According to the report by research firm Africa: The Big Deal, a total of $466 million was raised through $100,000+ deals by 121 startups, representing only half of the amount raised in Q1 2023.</p>



<p>The report found that equity remained the primary source of funding, comprising 71% of disclosed funding, while debt deals saw a significant decrease, constituting 28%.</p>



<p>One standout from the quarter was Nigerian mobility startup Moove, which secured $110 million, influencing funding trends across the continent. However, the majority of funding continued to flow to startups headquartered in the Big Four countries, with Nigeria and Kenya leading the pack.</p>



<p>In reaction to the report, stakeholders offer insights and recommendations for navigating the current funding landscape.</p>



<p>Oyin Solebo, Managing Director at ARM Labs Lagos Techstars Accelerator, tells FORBES AFRICA: &#8220;It appears as if we are experiencing not just an African, but a global reset in VC funding levels.&#8221;</p>



<p>Solebo continues: &#8220;For the coming quarters, with global inflation and interest rates still at record highs, we should expect similar declines in African startup funding versus the previous year&#8217;s equivalent quarter, as other asset classes will remain more attractive to more risk-averse investors. But there is light at the end of the tunnel. In the last few quarters, a number of notable VCs have announced new funds, meaning that there is more institutional money ready to be deployed in strong African deals.&#8221;</p>



<p>Solebo highlights the need for startups to focus on generating revenue and strengthening financial management amidst the decline in VC funding.</p>



<p>&#8220;We need more local capital to be deployed into our ecosystem. The continent remains heavily reliant on international investment – with around 70% of our funding coming from overseas,&#8221; says Solebo.</p>



<p>Maurizio Caio, Managing Partner at Africa-focused tech VC firm, TLcom, emphasizes the importance of evidence of traction for startups to secure funding.</p>



<p>&#8220;In the upcoming quarters, the funding landscape will heavily depend on the state of global macroeconomic conditions, deal flow quality on the continent, and possible evidence of successful exits of African VC-backed companies, which we project will improve during the rest of the year,&#8221; Caio shares with FORBES AFRICA.</p>



<p>Emmanuel Adegboye, head of Africa-focused pre-seed investment program, Madica, says: “The good news is that there are indications that there’s still a lot of early-stage investing activity on the continent with investors like Madica continuing to actively invest, just not a lot of large later-stage deals.</p>



<p>&#8220;I don’t expect a lot of drastic improvements over the next few quarters and it’s especially important for startup founders to continue to be prudent with managing cash flow and their expectations to close later fundraising rounds quickly. It might be important to add that while the pace in investments has been slower, this shift can ultimately lead to more informed, sustainable investments that would benefit both startups and investors in the upcoming quarters/long run,&#8221; says Adegboye to FORBES AFRICA.</p>



<p>Ifelade Ayodele, CEO and founder of fintech firm, Blaaiz, explains the multi-faceted implications of the report for emerging startups, stressing the need for flexibility, customer-centricity, and strategic thinking regarding exit options for investors.</p>



<p>&#8220;Specific industries may have begun to be less attractive for investors due to a combination of factors such as spending power of end users (heightened by inflation), alternatives, among others,&#8221; Ayodele notes to FORBES AFRICA.</p>



<p>Ayodele suggests that &#8220;emerging and potential startups may need to begin to rethink the purchasing power of end users and make necessary pivots&#8221;.</p>



<p>Ayodele urges startups to focus on solving actual problems &#8220;as opposed to perceived problems”, and think globally while acting locally.</p>



<p>&#8220;Startups may consider products that may thrive in at least two or more African markets duly backed by technology for scale and adoption,&#8221; Ayodele says to FORBES AFRICA.</p>


Finding the potential to improve their profits

Africa’s Startup Funding Sees Decline Amidst Global Trends: Experts Speak


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>Oil prices briefly surged Friday morning in the wake of Israel’s reported airstrike on Iran, and then quickly dropped following Iran state media’s apparent downplaying of those strikes, as conflict in the Middle East continues to leave behind lingering effects on already climbing oil and gasoline prices.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>Brent Crude, an international benchmark, shot up nearly 2% Friday morning to a peak just under $88 per barrel, though the benchmark has since dropped to roughly $87.50, representing a marginal 0.5% uptick on the day.</p>



<p>National benchmark West Texas Intermediate also increased by roughly 2% Friday morning, following reports of an Israeli airstrike, though like the Brent, the WTI has also tapered off, dropping just above $83.50 per barrel.</p>



<p>AAA spokesperson Andrew Gross speculated international conflict could lead to instability in the oil market, saying in a&nbsp;<a href="https://gasprices.aaa.com/is-the-recent-climb-in-the-price-of-gas-about-to-stall/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">statement</a>&nbsp;on Thursday the “situation overseas with the war in the Middle East and Ukraine has the oil market on edge.”</p>



<p>While increases in the price of oil typically come with price hikes at the pump, analysts expect those effects on gasoline prices to be delayed, and multiple other factors could help swing the price of gas down from its $3.69 national average this week—its highest point since October, according to GasBuddy.</p>



<p>Patrick De Haan, head petroleum analyst for GasBuddy,&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/GasBuddyGuy/status/1781303050570781081" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;he expects gas prices to hit $3.70 per gallon in the near future, though the return of U.S. oil refineries from scheduled maintenance and Iran’s state media’s apparent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesfarrell/2024/04/19/iran-downplays-israeli-strikes-and-may-not-launch-large-scale-retaliation/?sh=47337ea3f5d9">downplaying</a>&nbsp;of Israel’s attack, he said there’s “potential we’re nearing an end to the rise” in prices at the pump.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-contra">CONTRA</h2>



<p>Another positive sign for gas prices has been an increase in crude oil inventories, which shot up this week by 2.7 million barrels, to approximately 460 million barrels, though it remains 6 million barrels below its level this time last year, according to the Energy Information Administration. Andrew Gross also estimated gas prices could plateau as U.S. demand hits a typical low ahead of Memorial Day. Gasoline demand in the U.S. declined narrowly from 8.84 million barrels in the week ending April 5 to 8.81 million barrels last week, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/weekly/gasoline.php" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">EIA data</a>, and is slightly below where it had been last April. Gross expects the national average gas price “may waffle a bit with small increases, some flat days, and even some price dips” as a result.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>Israel&#8217;s military early on Friday&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2024/04/19/israeli-missiles-reportedly-strike-airbase-in-central-iran/?sh=43f5240f120f">reportedly</a>&nbsp;launched limited airstrikes in Iran, unnamed officials told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/04/18/world/israel-iran-gaza-war-news/blasts-are-reported-near-the-iranian-city-of-isfahan?smid=url-share" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">multiple</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/israel-gaza-hamas-war/?id=108860743" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">outlets</a>. The reported strikes came several days after Iran’s unprecedented drone and ballistic missile strike on Israel days earlier, which Israeli officials said caused only minor damage. Iran’s attack itself was in retaliation for Israel’s airstrike earlier this month on an Iranian embassy in Syria, which killed at least 16 people, including two senior military leaders. Iranian state TV dismissed Friday’s strike, blasting it as “Israeli and American media propaganda.” Israel has not officially claimed responsibility for any strikes on Iran. Tensions between Iran and Israel have boiled over in recent months in the wake of Israel’s invasion of Gaza, which has left over 33,000 Palestinians dead, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. Israel estimates another 1,200 people were killed in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel. Earlier this week, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2024/04/17/iran-threatens-fierce-and-severe-response-if-israel-launches-tinest-invasion-in-response-to-weekend-attack/?sh=7eace4a1083b">threatened</a>&nbsp;“fierce and severe” retaliation for the “tiniest invasion” by Israel, though world leaders have urged both sides to de-escalate the situation.</p>


Oil pump with candle stick graph chart in the background. World Oil Industry

Oil Prices Spike—And Fall—As Iran Downplays Israel’s Reported Airstrikes: Here’s How That Could Affect Gas Prices


<p><strong>Nigerian chess prodigy Tunde Onakoya is on a mission to break the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon while raising funds to support education for underprivileged youth.</strong></p>



<p>Tunde Onakoya, the convener of Chess in Slums Africa, a non-profit organization based in Lagos, aims to surpass the previous 56-hour record with a 58-hour run in the bid to &#8220;raise a million dollars and bring the gift of chess to children across the world&#8221;.</p>



<p>&#8220;Our program aims to address challenges stemming from limited access to quality education and resources by focusing on skills that are academically enriching, practical, and relevant to their daily lives,” Onakoya told FORBES AFRICA in an exclusive interview recently.</p>



<p>Onakoya&#8217;s endeavor has garnered attention, donation, and support from various quarters.</p>



<p>After headlining at Madison Square Garden, Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Davido made a surprise visit to Onakoya&#8217;s chess marathon in the open air of Times Square, a major commercial intersection, tourist destination, entertainment hub, and neighborhood in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, United States.</p>



<p>Onakoya took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his gratitude, stating, &#8220;30 billion for the children as @davido places his chain around my neck. Thank you very much for stopping by after your successful outing at @TheGarden.&#8221;</p>



<p>He has also received support from other notable personalities, including Nigerian Afrobeats artist Adekunle Gold, who also visited the marathon earlier.</p>



<p>Onakoya received messages of goodwill from the federal government of Nigeria, state governors, and the US Mission in Nigeria.</p>



<p>The attempt, which officially commenced 11.30AM (EST) on April 17 is expected to end around 10PM (EST) today.</p>


Davido at the marathon with Tunde Onakoya; Image credit @Tunde_OD

After Headlining At Madison Square Garden, Davido’s Stopover To Cheer Nigerian Champion Attempting To Break Chess Marathon Record In NYC


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>The Israeli military reportedly launched airstrikes targeting Iran early on Friday, in response to Tehran’s drone attack on its territory over the weekend, amid concerns about escalation between the two Middle Eastern nations.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>Citing unnamed Iranian officials, the New York Times&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/04/18/world/israel-iran-gaza-war-news/blasts-are-reported-near-the-iranian-city-of-isfahan?smid=url-share" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;the strikes hit an airbase near the city of Isfahan in central Iran, while an unnamed “senior U.S. official” told&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/israel-gaza-hamas-war/?id=108860743" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">ABC News</a>&nbsp;that Israel had launched a missile strike against Iran.</p>



<p>The Iranian state controlled Fars News Agency also reported explosions being heard near the Isfahan airport, but an official later told the state media that explosions were caused by air defense batteries firing at a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irna.ir/news/85449584/%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%AA%DB%8C%D9%BE-%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%85-%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%87%D9%86-%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D8%B5%D8%AF%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%81%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B4%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%B4%D9%84%DB%8C%DA%A9-%D9%BE%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81%D9%86%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%81%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D9%87" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">suspicious object</a>.</p>



<p>On Iranian state TV, however, the country’s officials publicly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-04-18/ty-article-live/five-idf-reservists-in-serious-condition-following-rocket-drone-strike-on-northern-israel/0000018e-eecd-daad-a3de-eeff299e0000?liveBlogItemId=11850594&amp;utm_source=site&amp;utm_medium=button&amp;utm_campaign=live_blog_item#11850594" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">dismissed</a>&nbsp;reports of the strike, calling it “Israeli and American media propaganda” and denied that an emergency meeting of the Supreme National Security Council had been convened.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/live-blog/2024-04-19/middle-east-latest?cursorId=6621F343688C0000" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">According to</a>&nbsp;Bloomberg, Israel had informed the U.S. officials on Thursday about its plan to carry out a strike on Israel in the following 24-48 hours.</p>



<p>Sources cited by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/iran-israel-attack-live-updates-rcna148496/rcrd39372?canonicalCard=true" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">several</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/world/israel-strikes-site-iran-retaliation-weekend-assault" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">outlets</a>&nbsp;referred to the retaliatory attacks as “limited” while a retired military general appearing on Israel’s Channel 12 said he believed it was a “symbolic attack” that may not force a response by the Iranians.</p>



<p>The Israeli military has refused to comment on reports of the attack so far.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TANGENT</h2>



<p>Real time air traffic data on FlightRadar24 showed&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/OrenCNN/status/1781132736423403933" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">several airplanes diverting</a>&nbsp;away from Iran just after the strikes were reported. FlightRadar24 then&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/flightradar24/status/1781150391280750655" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;that Iranian authorities had issue a notification informing pilots that the airports in Isfahan, Shiraz and the national capital Tehran were closed. Budget Emirati carrier Fly Dubai&nbsp;<a href="https://www.khaleejtimes.com/world/mena/flydubai-airline-cancels-flights-to-iran-statement" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">confirmed</a>&nbsp;receiving the notification and announced the cancellation of its flights to Iran. The notices of closure at all three airports were&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/flightradar24/status/1781194845991633032" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">lifted</a>&nbsp;a few hours later.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h2>



<p>An unnamed Israeli official cited by the Washington Post said the attack “was intended to signal to Iran that Israel had the ability to strike inside the country.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">WHAT TO WATCH FOR</h2>



<p>The extent of the damage from the attack remains unclear. Iranian authorities said nuclear facilities located near Isfahan <a href="https://www.irna.ir/news/85449584/%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%AA%DB%8C%D9%BE-%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%85-%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%87%D9%86-%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D8%B5%D8%AF%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%81%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B4%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%B4%D9%84%DB%8C%DA%A9-%D9%BE%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81%D9%86%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%81%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D9%87" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">were safe</a>. The International Atomic Energy Agency also <a href="https://twitter.com/iaeaorg/status/1781196309329793463" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">confirmed</a> this while calling for restraint and saying “nuclear facilities should never be a target in military conflicts.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>On Wednesday, Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2024/04/17/iran-threatens-fierce-and-severe-response-if-israel-launches-tinest-invasion-in-response-to-weekend-attack/?sh=447e1fd11083">warned</a>&nbsp;that any military incursion by Israel would be met with a severe response. Over the weekend, Iran launched hundreds of drones and ballistic missiles targeting Israeli territory in an unprecedented attack. Israel claimed the strikes resulted in only minor damages as its military—along with U.S. and other allied forces in the region—were able to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/04/13/world/israel-iran-gaza-war-news/611216e4-0347-518a-bd58-51184c463120?smid=url-share" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">shoot down 99%</a>&nbsp;of the missiles and drones. Iran said its attack was in response to an Israeli airstrike on its diplomatic compound in Damascus that resulted in the deaths of 16 people—including two senior military leaders.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-mideast-tensions-4-19-2024-a7ccbae2e2844bab089e8e4377a24ddb" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Iran fires air defense batteries at Isfahan air base and nuclear site after drones spotted</a>&nbsp;(Associated Press)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2024/04/17/iran-threatens-fierce-and-severe-response-if-israel-launches-tinest-invasion-in-response-to-weekend-attack/?sh=447e1fd11083">Iran Threatens ‘Fierce And Severe’ Response If Israel Launches ‘Tinest Invasion’ In Response To Weekend Attack</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)</p>


Iranian official TV confirms ‘massive explosions’ in central Isfahan province

Israeli Missiles Reportedly Strike Airbase In Central Iran


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>Set to occur on Saturday is the highly anticipated bitcoin halving event, a somewhat mysterious phenomenon that occurs every four years, which should theoretically provide a major tailwind to bitcoin prices flatlining in recent weeks.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>The halving event refers to the 50% reduction in the new bitcoins available daily to digital miners who unlock tokens on the blockchain via a complex, energy-intensive process.&#8221;</p>



<p>Halving previously occurred in 2012, 2016 and 2020, and is programmed directly into the bitcoin ecosystem to occur every four years, with the fourth instance widely expected to come Saturday, or within a few days, cutting the amount of bitcoins available for mining each day from 900 to 450.</p>



<p>Between 19 million and 20 million bitcoins now exist, with only&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/article/the-21-million-question---is-bitcoin-supply-really-capped/?sh=16f31a4a7984">21 million</a>&nbsp;tokens ever programmed to exist, and halvings are designed to keep the supply of bitcoin limited, and maintaining the decentralized currency’s storage of value.</p>



<p>By lowering the supply, some expect the 2024 halving will drive demand for bitcoin, and therefore its price, which happened in the immediate aftermath of the three other events.</p>



<p>Bitcoin&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coindesk.com/learn/bitcoin-halving-explained/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">rose</a>&nbsp;8,069% in the 12 months after the 2012 halving, 284% following the 2016 halving and 559% after the 2020 halving.“It’s pretty much Economics 101” that bitcoin prices go up after halving, according to Sevens Report analyst Tom Essaye, who explained that so long as demand doesn’t decrease and new supply goes down, the “only thing left to move is price.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-contra">CONTRA</h2>



<p>It’s far from a given that bitcoin demand will stay steady or increase, and three halving data points hardly make enough of a trend to definitively declare how bitcoin prices will behave during this halving cycle. It’s often hard to sift through the opinions of bitcoin revilers and zealots, but the former will tell you that bitcoin is already overvalued considering its limited use cases. But bitcoin’s ludicrous market-beating returns in recent years are hard for even the biggest pessimist to dismiss: The $61,000 per token bitcoin fetched Wednesday is roughly seven times its price at the 2020 halving, 90 times its 2016 level and 4,000 times its 2012 level.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-so-why-are-bitcoin-prices-down">SO WHY ARE BITCOIN PRICES DOWN?</h2>



<p>Bitcoin is about 17% below its all-time high of $73,768 set last month, with Saturday’s flash&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2024/04/13/bitcoin-plummets-after-iran-launches-attack-on-israel/?sh=14a5c6681f70">10% crash</a>&nbsp;as Iran launched a drone attack on Israel exemplifying the fragile nature of the rally. Bernstein analyst Gautam Chhugani explained to clients Wednesday that it’s actually “new demand catalysts” overlapping with prior halvings that helped drive price increases, explaining that the current cycle’s catalyst actually already happened: January’s approval of spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds, which unlocked billions of dollars of new capital into bitcoin and contributed most strongly to the positive price action, as bitcoin remains up nearly 300% dating back to the beginning of last year. Chhugani expects bitcoin to reach as high as $150,000 next year, a highly bullish forecast that is more than double even its all-time high.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">TANGENT</h2>



<p>Halvings are likely a boon for bitcoin holders, but it’s a major challenge for miners, considering it quite literally halves their potential revenue stream – imagine if regulation allowed McDonald’s to sell Big Macs but no fries. Shares of CleanSpark (up 38%), Marathon Digital (down 36%) and Riot Platforms (down 48%), the three most prominent publicly traded American bitcoin miners, have all underperformed bitcoin this year, Chhugani noted, adding that the halving may actually be a good thing for investors as the pressure can lead to consolidation and more profitable companies.</p>


Crypto in Tbilisi as Devotees Begin to Contemplate a Market Bottom

Bitcoin Halving: Here’s Why Some Expect Prices To Soar


<p>Diverse photography can help challenge perceptions and fight stereotypes. When Amanda Esther Akokhia started her photo studio some five years ago in the United Kingdom (UK), where she grew up, she was not aware just how important this was. At the time, photography was a hobby but it soon began to give her life purpose and meaning.</p>



<p>“When I started working, I would leave work during lunch, take pictures and return to work, and that was how I started photography. I wasn’t really fulfilled doing my job, but photography made me really happy. I knew in my heart that this is what I wanted to do [for] a living. That led me to open my first studio at 24,” says Akokhia, born in the UK but whose parents are Nigerian.</p>



<p>She’s the owner of Green Studio and now has over a decade of experience in the industry. Through education and the consistent drive for representation, she hopes to use her photography platform, Amanda Akokhia Photography, to bring about much-needed change.</p>



<p>The <em>British Journal of Photography</em> found that, globally, about 70% &#8211; 80% of photography students are women but they only account for 13% &#8211; 15% of professional photographers. Furthermore, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics also reportedly estimated that, although women account for half of all working photographers, they still struggle to get opportunities.</p>



<p>When Akokhia started cutting her teeth in the industry, she had already noticed the disparity.</p>



<p>“I knew I wanted to do photography, but I could not find any successful role models that looked like me in the industry to emulate,” she recalls.</p>



<p>This was before the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite this, she decided to fully commit – she quit her legal profession and opened her studio with £10,000 ($12,400), which she secured through a combination of savings and investment from her business partner.</p>



<p>“They believed in my vision and were eager to contribute,” says Akokhia.</p>



<p>In those days the vision for the brand was simple.</p>



<p>“I didn’t know what the industry was like, I just knew my dream was to shoot for big magazines and to see my pictures on billboards. I was really interested in beauty and fashion and my vision was to be a commercial photographer who shot for the big brands that I admired so much growing up. I didn’t know how I was going to get there but I knew that was what I wanted to see myself doing,” Akokhia adds.</p>



<p>Within two years of opening her business, Akokhia had already fulfilled her goals in photography, working with brands like <em>BBC, Warner Brothers, Harper’s Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Disney</em> and Pantene, among others.</p>



<p>“I started thinking [about] what the new vision for me at this stage of my life is. And I started to imagine a world where everyone would feel seen and can be seen through my work and encouraging other photographers to capture everyone. Sometimes, when you look at magazines in the UK, you only see photographers of a certain type and color. I shoot everyone as I would shoot a model for a campaign shoot,” she says.</p>



<p>Akokhia has steadily grown her business from one that generated a monthly revenue of £5,000 ($6,200) to one that has secured individual commercial campaigns worth £15,000 ($18,600) by elevating her business and building relationships with prominent commercial brands. An important focus for her is representation in her work, both behind the lens and in front of it.</p>



<p>And, as a rising creative in the sector, Akokhia hopes to achieve her new vision for creating inclusivity through training and mentorship, where she teaches future photographers and creatives how to turn their passion into a business.</p>


Amanda Esther Akokhia started her first photo studio at the age of 24; image supplied

The UK-Based Nigerian Photographer Using A Different Lens To Challenge Norms


<p>On April 7, world leaders, including several Heads of State such as South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa and former United States President Bill Clinton, joined Rwanda for the 30<sup>th</sup> commemoration of the genocide against the Tutsi. Known as Kwibuka30 and held under the theme <em>Remember-Unite-Renew</em>, it honored the memory of the victims of the genocide and reflected on the country’s three-decade journey of national unity, reconciliation, economic growth and development.</p>



<p>This date in 1994 had seen the merciless massacre of over a million Tutsis. In just 100 days, men, women, children and even the elderly, were indiscriminately killed. Their only crime was their ethnicity.</p>



<p>In the ceremony held at the Kigali Genocide Memorial – the final resting place for over 250,000 victims – Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeanette Kagame lit the Flame of Remembrance that will burn for the next 100 days. At the BK Arena, a somber ceremony marked the opening of a week of remembrance. In the middle of the arena was a stunning, well-lit tree-like decorative piece that the organizers described as: “The tree’s branches and foliage represent the protection that targeted families could not find, during the genocide, and that Rwandans today can count on. The upright trunk echoes the aspirations of the young generation, reinforced by the internal light and flowing sap of life within. The roots illustrate the memory of the past that we must preserve, our shared Rwandan culture on which we are all anchored, and from which we draw inspiration and strength, to reach for the sky, as we build a brighter future.”</p>



<p>Young Rwandan artists retold the country’s story through moving contemporary song and dance performances, demonstrating how Rwanda has risen from the ashes over the years and is rebuilding, brick by brick.</p>



<p>Many in the arena could not hold back tears as Marie Louise Ayinkamiye, a survivor, shared her testimony. She was only 11 years old when the genocide happened. Her father and four siblings were brutally killed. Ayinkamiye said that though the impact of the genocide continued long after the killings stopped, survivors had to tap into their inner strength and forge ahead with courage and determination. “We survivors are strong. We will build the country together,” she said.</p>



<p>In a heartfelt message to the nation, President Kagame began by condoling with the genocide survivors and thanking them for agreeing to bear the burden of reconciliation.</p>



<p>“Today, our hearts are filled with grief and gratitude in equal measure. We remember our dead, and are also grateful for what Rwanda has become. To the survivors among us, we are in your debt. We asked you to do the impossible by carrying the burden of reconciliation on your shoulders. And you continue to do the impossible for our nation, every single day, and we thank you.”</p>



<p>On the way forward and the country’s future, the President said that the youth are Rwanda’s source of hope and confidence. “Only a new generation of young people has the ability to renew and redeem a nation after a genocide. Our job was to provide the space and the tools for them to break the cycle. And they have. Nearly three-quarters of Rwandans today are under age 35. They either have no memory of the genocide, or were not yet born. Our youth are the guardians of our future and the foundation of our unity, with a mindset that is totally different from the generation before.”</p>



<p>To conclude his remarks, the President made a strong statement: “Our people will never — and I mean never — be left for dead again.”</p>



<p>The international community has been accused of failing Rwanda in her hour of need. Clinton called the genocide the biggest failure of his administration. Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, paid his tribute: “The genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda 30 years ago is a stain on our collective consciousness and a brutal reminder of the legacy of colonialism and the consequences of hate speech.”</p>



<p>As part of the commemoration, four genocide memorial sites in Rwanda were added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, in a historic decision that was well-received in Rwanda. At the same time, iconic monuments in various cities around the world, were lit in colors of the Rwandan flag, as part of a joint Rwanda-UNESCO initiative in collective memory of the genocide against the Tutsi.</p>


Kwibuka30 at the BK Arena; image supplied

Remembering The Pain And Lessons Learned: Rwanda Honors Historic Anniversary Of The Genocide Against The Tutsi


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>The price of bitcoin dropped by 7% on Saturday over the course of less than an hour, as prices for other cryptocurrencies also sharply declined after Iran launched an attack on Israel.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>The price of bitcoin was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/digital-assets/assets/bitcoin-btc/?sh=57fc0c8a4357">down</a>&nbsp;7% to $62,570 as of 4:40 p.m. Saturday afternoon, after the cryptocurrency briefly fell to a low on the day of $60,908 minutes earlier.</p>



<p>The price of ethereum fell over 9% to $2,923, while prices for Binance coin and solana dropped 9% and nearly 18%, respectively.</p>



<p>Prices for several less-traded cryptocurrencies dropped by at least 15%, including avalanche (20%), XRP (20%) and the meme token dogecoin (18%).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h2>



<p>$73,750. That’s what the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/advisor/in/investing/cryptocurrency/bitcoin-down-to-64000-after-record-high/">price</a>&nbsp;for bitcoin was on March 24, the all-time high price for the cryptocurrency.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>Concerns over increased geopolitical conflict in the Middle East have impacted U.S. markets in recent days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/12/investing/stocks-oil-banks-geopolitics/index.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">dropped</a>&nbsp;by 475 points Friday, after the White House said the U.S. and Israel were preparing for a potential attack by Iran. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon told investors geopolitical conflict was cause for concern, noting it could “be determinative on what happens to the global economy if oil and gas prices go too high,” CNN&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/12/investing/jpmorgan-chase-bank-earnings-q1/index.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">reported</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesfarrell/2024/04/13/iran-launches-drone-attack-on-israel/?sh=343044cb2130">Iran Launches Drone Attack On Israel</a> (<em>Forbes</em>)<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/"></a></p>


Iran-Reaction, IRGC Missile And UAV Attack On Israel

Bitcoin Plummets After Iran Launches Attack On Israel


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>Iran’s long-anticipated attack on Israel has started, as the country has launched unmanned aerial vehicles from within Iran set to reach Israel in the next “several hours,” the <a href="https://twitter.com/IDF/status/1779242779182288964" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Israel Defense Forces</a> confirmed Saturday afternoon.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>In a press conference, IDF spokesperson&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1779241449889919327" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Daniel Hagari</a>&nbsp;said the IDF is going to “try to prevent them from reaching Israeli territory.”</p>



<p>He added the IDF would inform the public of additional threats if necessary, while the IDF is on “high alert and is constantly monitoring the operational situation”—Iran has also launched cruise missiles in addition to the drones, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-04-13-24/h_459325a36ff45ef1b197dc12352d75ce" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">CNN</a>, citing Israeli media.</p>



<p>The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/04/13/statement-from-nsc-spokesperson-adrienne-watson-on-attacks-against-israel/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">White House</a>&nbsp;issued a statement confirming Iran’s “airborne attack against Israel,” noting President Joe Biden is being “regularly updated on the situation” by national security officials and is in “constant communication” with Israel and other allies.</p>



<p>The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reportedly confirmed the strikes in a statement read on Iranian state media, according to<a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-04-13-24/h_885917fe5b91668450e443aab2c20d29" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> CNN</a> and the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/04/13/world/israel-iran-gaza-war-news" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York Times</a>, claiming it had launched “dozens of drones and missiles” toward “certain targets in the territories of the Zionist regime.”</p>



<div class="wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile"><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="705" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/GettyImages-2147801988.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-61656 size-full" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/GettyImages-2147801988.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/GettyImages-2147801988-300x207.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/GettyImages-2147801988-768x529.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure><div class="wp-block-media-text__content">
<p><strong><em>An Iranian man is sitting on a sidewalk in downtown Tehran, Iran, on April 14, 2024, holding a Jam-e Jam daily newspaper that features an illustrated image of Iran&#8217;s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) missile and UAV attack. He is looking on as Iran launches dozens of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and missiles against Israel in response to the Israeli attack on its Consulate in Damascus. (Photo by Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images)</em></strong></p>
</div></div>



<p>The attacks have been&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesfarrell/2024/04/13/everything-we-know-about-a-potential-iranian-attack-on-israel-as-us-suggests-strike-is-imminent/?sh=1a2984c665a9">highly anticipated</a>&nbsp;following a strike on an Iranian embassy in Syria—which Iran blamed on Israel—that killed several Iranian military officials, prompting global concern that an Iranian strike could widen tensions across the region amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.</p>



<p>Just ahead of the attack, the IDF issued new <a href="https://twitter.com/IDF/status/1779202651688702286" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">guidelines</a> for Israeli citizens at home, limiting certain gatherings to 1,000 people and prohibiting educational activities across the country, while <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/jordan-temporarily-close-airspace-state-media-says-2024-04-13/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jordan </a>and <a href="https://www.barrons.com/news/iraq-closes-airspace-as-iran-launches-attack-on-israel-ministry-4adb745a" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Iraq</a> reportedly closed their airspace temporarily.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h2>



<p>“The United States will stand with the people of Israel and support their defense against these threats from Iran,” National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in the White House statement.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">WHAT WE DON’T KNOW</h2>



<p>It’s unclear what Iran is targeting—though recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-10/us-sees-missile-strike-on-israel-by-iran-proxies-as-imminent?sref=yYYRek8e" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">reports&nbsp;</a>had suggested Iran was planning on targeting military or government sites. It’s unclear how, or if, Israel will respond to the attack. Israeli officials had in recent days vowed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-latest-04-11-2024-9774f91ef80126e580ea5a9b3b84eb74" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">retaliation</a>&nbsp;in the event of an attack.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/mollybohannon/2024/04/12/biden-expects-iran-to-attack-israel-sooner-rather-than-later/?sh=11f13de82b53">Biden</a>&nbsp;had also promised the United States would support Israel in the event of an Iranian attack. Iranian officials had criticized both Israel and the United States immediately following the embassy attack—Iran’s U.N. ambassador<a href="https://newyork.mfa.ir/portal/NewsView/742465/Ambassador39s-Statement-Before-UNSC-Following-Israeli-Regime39s-Airstrikes" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">&nbsp;Zahra Ershada</a>&nbsp;said in a statement that the “United States is responsible for all crimes committed by the Israeli regime,” while&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/MhmmdJamshidi/status/1776238843710058907" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Mohammad Jamshidi</a>, an advisory to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, said in a message directed to the U.S. on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Stay away so you won’t get hurt.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">CONTRA</h2>



<p>Some reports suggest Iran is aiming to avoid a wider conflict, with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-edge-iranian-retaliation-after-embassy-strike-2024-04-12/#:~:text=IRAN%20WANTS%20TO%20AVOID%20ESCALATION%2C%20SOURCES%20SAY&amp;text=Iranian%20sources%20and%20diplomats%20from,might%20spin%20out%20of%20control." rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Reuters&nbsp;</a>reporting Friday that Iranian sources said Tehran had alerted the U.S. that it hopes to avoid a broader conflict.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">WHAT TO WATCH FOR</h2>



<p>At his press conference, Hagari said Israel’s army had been preparing for the attack in advance and “all of its elements both on the defensive and the offensive are prepared.” He said Israel has various “circles of protection” from its navy and air force with additional circles of protection from the United States. He added: “We have an excellent air defense system and it is now in full operation, but you must remember it’s never 100%—the defensive measures,” and urged residents to remain calm.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>The airstrike on the facility in Syria reportedly killed seven Iranian military officials. Israel has been widely blamed for the attack, though it has not claimed responsibility. The strike and anticipated response has prompted concern that continued tit-for-tat between Israel and Iran could significantly widen the crisis in the Middle East, expanding out from the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Iran has long been a vocal supporter of Hamas and materially supports other proxy groups that oppose Israel, like the Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon.</p>


Iranians Celebrate Iran’s IRGC Missile And UAV Attack Against Israel

Iran Launches Drone Attack On Israel


<p>Senegalese and other Africans are anticipating the first-ever Youth Olympic Games to be hosted on the continent in 2026, in Dakar, the capital of Senegal.</p>



<p>Rescheduled for October 31 to November 13, 2026, the proposed games is set to bring together the world&#8217;s finest young athletes to compete in 35 different sports over a span of 14 days.</p>



<p>In place of the 2022 event, the Dakar en Jeux (Dakar in Games) festival was held from October 29 to November 5, the originally planned Dakar 2022 period, across the three host cities of Dakar, Diamniadio, and Saly.</p>



<p>Since then, Dakar en Jeux has become an annual celebration of sport and culture, serving as a precursor to Dakar 2026 while encouraging increased youth engagement in sports.</p>



<p>International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach has in news reports expressed his support for Senegal&#8217;s hosting of the Youth Olympic Games, noting Africa&#8217;s unity and its sporting culture. &#8220;With a young population and a passion for sport, it is time for Africa, it is time for Senegal,” he has noted.</p>



<p>During his visit to Senegal in 2022, disclosing his anticipation for the event, Bach said: “We cannot wait for the moment to be back here and to enjoy this first Olympic event on African soil, an event for Africa, with Africa, that will welcome the youth of the world in Senegal. We can expect a festival of excellence in sport, of African culture, the joy of living and the wonderful hospitality of the African people.”</p>



<p>Senegal-based sports analyst Rufai Shuaib considers the event to be of historic significance.</p>



<p>&#8220;This is a monumental moment for African sports. The hosting of the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar represents a major milestone in showcasing the immense talent and potential of our young athletes on a global platform,&#8221; Shuaib tells FORBES AFRICA.</p>



<p>Shuaib opines that &#8220;the games will contribute to the development of sports infrastructure and opportunities across the region&#8221;.</p>



<p>He adds that the event has the potential to promote youth empowerment and catalyze socio-economic growth. &#8220;This is a golden opportunity for Africa to shine and demonstrate its capabilities on the world stage.&#8221;</p>



<p>&#8220;The Games symbolize Africa&#8217;s rising prominence in the global sports arena and signify a new chapter in our continent&#8217;s sporting journey,&#8221; says Shuaib.</p>



<p>For Nigerian analyst Kolawole Oyebola, Dakar 2026 presents an opportunity to boost tourism and stimulate economic growth.</p>



<p>Oyebola tells FORBES AFRICA: &#8220;This is another opportunity for Africa to show its ability to host large-scale international events. It will enhance Senegal&#8217;s global standing and the rest of the continent.&#8221;</p>



<p>The economic benefits, according to Oyebola, are multifaceted, as he points out, &#8220;The influx of visitors, athletes, and officials will create an increase in demand for accommodation, dining, transportation, and various services, providing a significant boost to local businesses and industries.&#8221;</p>



<p>He adds, &#8220;The exposure generated by the event will attract future investments and promote long-term sustainable development across the continent.&#8221;</p>



<p>However, Oyebola also highlights the importance of strategic planning and infrastructure development to maximize the economic impact. He cautions, &#8220;While the Youth Olympic Games present immense opportunities, adequate infrastructure and logistical support are crucial to ensure smooth operations and capitalize on the event&#8217;s potential.&#8221;</p>


Participants engaging in an activity as part of Dakar en Jeux; photo courtesy IOC, Margot Mendes

‘Monumental Moment For African Sports’: On Dakar Debut Of The Youth Olympic Games In 2026


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>Hundreds of content creators signed an open letter asking Meta to scrap a decision to curb the reach of “political content” on Instagram and Threads, amid concern the change could limit marginalized creators’ reach across the platforms.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>The&nbsp;<a href="https://accountabletech.org/wp-content/uploads/Open-Letter-to-Instagram.pdf" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">letter</a>, first reported on by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/04/10/politics-instagram-threads-limits/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Washington Post</a>, was organized by the groups Accountable Tech—a nonprofit that advocates for better regulation of Big Tech companies—and the LGBTQ+ advocacy group GLAAD, and includes the handles of more than 200 accounts, including popular accounts like the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/feminist/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">@feminist</a>&nbsp;account, with which has 6 million followers on Instagram.</p>



<p>The signatories argue the&nbsp;<a href="https://about.instagram.com/blog/announcements/continuing-our-approach-to-political-content-on-instagram-and-threads/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">policy</a>, announced in February, is “undermining the reach of our content online,” and is hurting efforts to “foster more inclusive and participatory democracy and society during a critical inflection point for our country.”</p>



<p>Forbes has contacted Meta for comment and did not immediately hear back—but Meta spokesperson Andy Stone told the Washington Post the change “expands on years of work on how we approach and treat political content based on what people have told us they wanted,” and Meta officials have previously<a href="https://deadline.com/2023/07/instagram-boss-politics-hard-news-not-pushed-threads-not-worth-scrutiny-negativity-integrity-risks-1235432486/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">&nbsp;suggested</a>&nbsp;they believe Instagram and Threads should focus their content on other topics aside from politics or hard news.</p>



<p>With Meta’s definition of “political content” including “social topics,” creators are concerned the new policy could “limit the reach of individuals and organizations whose identities and/or advocacy have been rendered a ‘social topic’ in this country,” the letter states, singling out advocacy efforts on climate change, gun violence prevention and transgender rights.</p>



<p>The creators are calling for Meta to change the policy so that users could “opt-in” to limiting so-called political content, rather than by opting them out by default.</p>



<p>The decision comes as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/familyequality/p/C5ixsJeLnSk/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">several</a>&nbsp;affected&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/innercitystruggle/p/C486cuxv-jo/?img_index=1" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">accounts</a>&nbsp;have been raising concern that the policy could affect the reach of news about LGBTQ+ issues, and have been providing instructions for followers to turn off the new settings.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-has-the-policy-changed">HOW HAS THE POLICY CHANGED?</h2>



<p>In a February&nbsp;<a href="https://about.instagram.com/blog/announcements/continuing-our-approach-to-political-content-on-instagram-and-threads/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">blog post</a>, Instagram said it will no longer “proactively recommend content about politics” from accounts users don’t follow across Instagram or Threads. Users who still want recommended posts on political content will be able to access an option to turn off limits in their content preferences. The policy applies to public accounts, and doesn’t change how users will see content from accounts they actively follow. Professional accounts can see whether their content is eligible to be recommended, and can request reviews if they disagree.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>The open letter comes as content creators in recent weeks have been voicing concern about Meta’s new approach and also about how LGBTQ+ issues are treated across the tech giant’s platforms. Last month,&nbsp;<a href="https://glaad.org/smsi/report-meta-fails-to-moderate-extreme-anti-trans-hate-across-facebook-instagram-and-threads/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">GLAAD</a>&nbsp;released a report detailing how anti-transgender posts proliferated across the platforms despite policies aimed at preventing them, as LGBTQ+ creators have said that their own content is being limited by the policy, according to the Washington Post. Some creators have raised concern about how “political content” is defined, with Instagram influencer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/katiegrossbard/?hl=en" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Katie Grossbard</a>&nbsp;telling&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/creators-reaction-meta-instagram-limiting-political-content-rcna144969" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">NBC News</a>&nbsp;last month: “This decision directly harms communities whose entire existence is political.”</p>



<p>PROMOTED</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-contra">CONTRA</h2>



<p><a href="https://deadline.com/2023/07/instagram-boss-politics-hard-news-not-pushed-threads-not-worth-scrutiny-negativity-integrity-risks-1235432486/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Adam Mosseri,</a>&nbsp;Instagram’s head, has suggested he doesn’t see Instagram or Threads as being a central place for politics, writing on Threads that while “politics and hard news are important,” using them as a revenue source “is not at all worth the scrutiny, negativity (let’s be honest) or integrity risks that come along with them.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h2>



<p>16%. As the open letter points out, that’s the percentage of adults who say they regularly get news on Instagram, per a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/fact-sheet/social-media-and-news-fact-sheet/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Pew Research Poll</a>.</p>


INDIA-US-INTERNET-FACEBOOK

Creators Say Meta Shouldn’t Curb ‘Political Content’ In Policy Change Backlash


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said Israel will be moving forward with a planned attack on the city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip despite pleas from the United States and other countries concerned for the 1 million civilians sheltering there.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>Netanyahu&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/netanyahu/status/1777380259131789536" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">on Monday said</a>&nbsp;a victory against the militant group Hamas, which attacked Israel in October, &#8220;requires entry into Rafah and the elimination of the terrorist battalions there. It will happen &#8211; there is a date.”</p>



<p>The prime minister has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2024/02/09/israeli-prime-minister-orders-plan-to-evacuate-13-million-people-in-rafah/?sh=69e1c8e22e08">for months insisted</a>&nbsp;attacks in Rafah, a city in the southern Gaza strip, are necessary to eliminate Hamas and win the six-month war, but Western allies have warned against attacking the city that holds more than 1 million civilian refugees who have been driven from their homes.</p>



<p>Netanyahu’s announcement follows backlash from his far-right supporters after <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/zacharyfolk/2024/04/07/rafah-invasion-on-pause-israel-withdraws-most-troops-from-southern-gaza-heres-what-that-could-mean/?sh=5046a14124b2">Israel withdrew</a> most of its troops from southern Gaza on Sunday, a decision met with scrutiny and a threat from security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/5b4fed42-cbb6-472d-8e3a-6249c6d9c6cb" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">warning</a> that if he didn’t launch a &#8220;large-scale offensive&#8221; in Rafah, Netanyahu &#8220;will not have a mandate to continue&#8221; as prime minister.</p>



<p>The United States has put increasing pressure on Netanyahu to not authorize a major military strike in Rafah—President Joe Biden weeks ago said to do so would be a “<a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/18/biden-warns-netanyahu-against-mistake-of-invading-rafah-white-house" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">mistake</a>” and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/biden-warns-israel-to-protect-civilians-aid-workers-in-gaza-or-risk-losing-u-s-support#:~:text=Today%2C%20for%20the%20first%20time,the%20civilian%20suffering%20in%20Gaza." rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Thursday said</a>&nbsp;continued U.S. support for the war in Gaza would depend on how well Israel worked to protect civilians and aid workers.</p>



<p>Biden told Netanyahu that he needed to take “measurable” steps to ease &#8220;civilian harm, humanitarian suffering and the safety of aid workers” or risk losing the support of the United States, Israel&#8217;s closest ally.</p>



<p>About two-thirds of the entire population of the Gaza Strip (some 1.5 million people) was sheltering in Gaza as of two weeks ago with no safe way to evacuate, Deepmala Mahl of the humanitarian organization CARE International&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/israeli-invasion-rafah-palestinian-civilians/story?id=108395828#:~:text=With%20about%20two-thirds%20of,evacuate%20them%2C%22%20she%20said." rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">told ABC News</a>&nbsp;while warning of a &#8220;terrible loss of life&#8221; if Israel&#8217;s military invades.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>Netanyahu&#8217;s announcement comes one day after the six-month anniversary of an attack on Israel by Hamas that saw the group kill about 1,200 Israelis and take 253 hostages on Oct. 7. Twenty days later, Israel responded by carrying out attacks in Gaza that the territory’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.barrons.com/news/health-ministry-in-hamas-run-gaza-says-war-death-toll-at-33-207-1c950825" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">health ministry says</a>&nbsp;have killed more than 33,000 people. In that time, more than 2.3 million residents of Gaza have been displaced, more than half of whom&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-02-09-2024-d3229eec6a85c071248d3ddc2de2a73e" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">sought shelter</a>&nbsp;in Rafah. Military operations in Rafah have been increasingly criticized by foreign governments and international organizations. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nrc.no/news/2024/february/gaza-israels-military-operation-in-rafah-would-be-fatal-for-displaced-civilians-and-humanitarian-aid/#:~:text=Any%20further%20deterioration%20in%20humanitarian,showers%2C%20or%20personal%20hygiene%20items." rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Norwegian Refugee Council</a>&nbsp;said an attack would &#8220;turn Rafah into a zone of bloodshed and destruction&#8221; and&nbsp;<a href="https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/care-statement-grave-humanitarian-consequences-military-operation-rafah" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">CARE International&nbsp;</a>warned against &#8220;devastating consequences for civilians.&#8221; In addition to Biden&#8217;s concerns on behalf of the United States, more than two dozen countries in the&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/israeli-invasion-rafah-palestinian-civilians/story?id=108395828#:~:text=With%20about%20two-thirds%20of,evacuate%20them%2C%22%20she%20said." rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">European Union</a>&nbsp;(all but Hungry) last month warned against what they called a &#8220;catastrophic&#8221; offensive plan in Rafah.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-to-watch-for">WHAT TO WATCH FOR</h2>



<p>Continued negotiations in Cairo. Israel’s foreign minister Israel Katz on Monday told Israel’s Army Radio that the country has reached a &#8220;critical point&#8221; in its negotiations with Hamas over the safe return of 133 hostages still held in Gaza by the militant group. “I am more optimistic than I was,&#8221;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ft.com/content/5b4fed42-cbb6-472d-8e3a-6249c6d9c6cb" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">he reportedly said</a>, &#8220;but we can’t promise things when dealing with Hamas.” Netanyahu&#8217;s&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/netanyahu/status/1777380259131789536" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">statement</a>&nbsp;Monday also referenced the talks in Cairo, saying &#8220;we are working all the time to achieve our goals, primarily the release of all our hostages and achieving a complete victory over Hamas.&#8221;</p>


Destruction in Khan Yunis after Israel’s withdrawal

Israel Moving Ahead With Plan To Attack Rafah: ’There Is A Date,’ Netanyahu Says


<p>In a move aimed at addressing decades of economic turmoil, Zimbabwe recently launched its new gold-backed currency, Zimbabwe Gold, ZiG, with hopes of bringing stability to its volatile financial landscape. However, experts warn that the road ahead for ZiG is fraught with challenges, with doubts lingering over its ability to enact meaningful change without systemic and governmental shifts to match.</p>



<p>Renowned South African economic analyst Daniel Silke cautions against placing too much faith in the currency&#8217;s ability to single-handedly solve Zimbabwe&#8217;s economic woes. Silke suggests that while a new currency may offer a temporary reprieve, lasting stability requires comprehensive economic and political reforms. He emphasizes to FORBES AFRICA, &#8220;A new currency is like putting a plaster over a wound, rather than treating its cause.&#8221; Silke&#8217;s analogy underscores the deeper structural issues facing Zimbabwe&#8217;s economy, highlighting the need for systemic change beyond mere currency reform.</p>



<p>Marisa Lourenço, an independent political and risk analyst, echoes Silke&#8217;s sentiments, expressing skepticism about ZiG&#8217;s potential impact on inflationary pressures. Lourenço points out that Zimbabwe&#8217;s history of currency failures highlights the need for more than just a change in currency. She emphasizes the importance of building reserves, committing to long-term monetary policies, and tackling corruption to address root causes of economic instability. &#8220;Printing money actually drives up inflation, which we have seen happen before in Zimbabwe,” she asserts in an interview with FORBES AFRICA, underscoring the complex interplay between monetary policy and inflation dynamics, suggesting that ZiG may not provide the desired solution to Zimbabwe&#8217;s economic challenges.</p>



<p>The introduction of ZiG comes amidst a backdrop of skepticism surrounding the Zimbabwean government&#8217;s ability to manage monetary policy effectively. Lourenço suggests that a stable monetary policy is crucial for maintaining ZiG&#8217;s credibility in the long term. She advocates for a liberalized currency regime, allowing the market to determine the currency&#8217;s value without undue interference from the central bank. &#8220;A stable monetary policy that enables a liberalized currency regime is essential,&#8221; Lourenço states, emphasizing the importance of market-driven mechanisms.</p>



<p>One of the key challenges facing ZiG is its coexistence alongside other currencies, particularly the United States (U.S.) dollar, which remains widely used in transactions. Silke highlights the dominance of the U.S. dollar and the difficulty of displacing it, especially in a country like Zimbabwe with an entrenched parallel market. Lourenço adds that Zimbabwe&#8217;s currency instability makes it challenging: &#8220;Given Zimbabwe’s track record in being unable to sustain its own currency on at least two occasions, the uptake of the ZiG is going to be difficult to enforce.&#8221;</p>



<p>Concerns have also been raised about the adequacy of gold reserves to back the new currency. Lourenço suggests that Zimbabwe&#8217;s government needs external assistance to address its massive debt arrears. However, she notes that political and economic reforms, including respecting democratic freedoms and implementing stable monetary policies, are essential for restoring confidence in ZiG&#8217;s stability. &#8220;Zimbabwe desperately needs external assistance to help clear its massive debt arrears,&#8221; Lourenço asserts, highlighting the urgency of international support. However, she cautions that without fundamental reforms, Zimbabwe may struggle to overcome its economic challenges and restore confidence in ZiG.</p>



<p>Despite these challenges, Silke remains cautiously optimistic about Zimbabwe&#8217;s future. He suggests that while the road ahead may be difficult, there is potential for positive change if the government commits to meaningful reforms. &#8220;Zimbabwe has the opportunity to turn things around,&#8221; Silke states, &#8220;but it will require bold leadership and decisive action.&#8221; Lourenço echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the need for political will and international cooperation to support Zimbabwe&#8217;s recovery efforts.</p>


Zimbabwe Replaces Battered Dollar With New Unit Called ZiG

Can Zimbabwe’s New Gold-Backed Currency Solve Its Economic Woes? Experts Weigh In


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>A total of 322 trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered Gaza on Sunday—the most in a single day since the war began—the Israeli Ministry of Defense confirmed on Sunday, as Israel faces increased scrutiny over its treatment of aid workers that has resulted in over 200 deaths so far.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>A total of 228 of the trucks that crossed into Gaza on Sunday were carrying food, said the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories in a&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/cogatonline/status/1777030931280167407?s=46&amp;t=XMT4bHReB9TWcV5q_r0pFw" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">statement</a>&nbsp;on social media, the Israeli Ministry of Defense’s department that handles humanitarian aid shipments.</p>



<p>The rapid increase in aid deliveries follows increased scrutiny on the process after&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/caileygleeson/2024/04/02/netanyahu-says-israel-deeply-regrets-strike-that-killed-7-aid-workers-what-we-know-about-victims/?sh=3d7d6d9275fb">seven aid workers</a>&nbsp;with World Conflict Kitchen were killed in Israeli air strikes on Monday.</p>



<p>One of the seven international aid workers was an American citizen, prompting the White House to call for “specific, concrete, and measurable steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of aid workers.”</p>



<p>Following a tense conversation with President Biden on Thursday, Israel reopened the Erez Crossing, the large border entry between northern Gaza and Israel, and announced it would allow aid shipments to flow through the port of Ashdod.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>The increased pressure to protect international aid workers comes after the Israeli government apologized for the deaths of the seven World Conflict Kitchen workers on Monday. After an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2024/04/05/idf-fires-senior-officers-after-deadly-strike-on-aid-workers-as-it-blames-mistaken-identification/?sh=7cb8b7f7ae7f">IDF investigation</a>, the Israeli military called the attack a “grave mistake stemming from a serious failure due to a mistaken identification,” and dismissed two senior officers over the strike. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/netanyahu/status/1775214347519660112" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">apologized</a>, adding that “we will do everything in our power to ensure that such tragedies do not occur in the future.” José Andrés, the celebrity chef and founder of World Conflict Kitchen, told&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/week-transcript-4-7-24-chef-jos-andrs/story?id=108949216" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">ABC News’s</a>&nbsp;Martha Raddatz the attack was “unforgivable” and called for Israel to face “a real reckoning on how they conduct war.” Andres thanked Israeli military for releasing the results of the investigation so quickly, but also called for an independent investigation into the attack. “The perpetrator cannot be investigating himself,” Andrés said.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">BIG NUMBER</h2>



<p>More than 220. That’s how many international aid workers have been killed in Gaza since the war began on Oct. 7, according to the most recent&nbsp;<a href="https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/04/1148276" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">U.N. estimates</a>. Speaking on Friday, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an independent investigation into the other deaths. “We want to know why each one of them was killed,”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2024/apr/05/we-want-to-know-why-un-chief-questions-israel-on-196-aid-workers-killed-in-gaza-video" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Guterres demanded</a>&nbsp;after a meeting of the U.N. Security Council.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TANGENT</h2>



<p>Although a record number of aid trucks entered Gaza on Sunday, aid shipments have faced other issues making it into the besieged territory during the war. In February, a group of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/02/10/gaza-aid-blockade-protest-kerem-shalom/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">far-right Israeli activists</a>&nbsp;camped out in front of aid convoys attempting to enter Gaza through the Kerem Shalom Crossing. Aid shipments have also been threatened by members of Netanyahu’s government. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a far-right member of Netanyahu’s coalition,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/02/13/israel-gaza-flour-shipment" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">intervened to block</a>&nbsp;a shipment of flour bound for Gaza from the U.S.</p>


Humanitarian aid trucks at Rafah Border Crossing

Largest Aid Convoy Enters Gaza Since War Began Amid Mounting Pressure On Israel


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>Global life expectancy rose by 6.2 years between 1990 and 2021, driven by reductions in deaths from diarrhea, lower respiratory infections, stroke and ischemic heart disease—but the world faced significant setbacks due to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)00367-2/fulltext" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">new study</a>&nbsp;by the Lancet.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>The leading causes of death worldwide remained consistent from 1990 to 2019—with ischemic heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lower respiratory infections topping the list—with global life expectancy improving in that time period thanks in part to annual reductions in deaths from all causes ranging from .9% to 2.4%.</p>



<p>The Covid-19 pandemic hampered progress, with pandemic-related mortality causing a net reduction in life expectancy of 1.6 years between 2019 and 2021 and Covid-19 becoming the second-leading cause of death—the first major shakeup of the rankings in decades.</p>



<p>Changes in life expectancy varied significantly by region, the study found—the so-called super-region consisting of Southeast Asia, East Asia and Oceania saw the greatest net gain in life expectancy from 1990 and 2021, rising by 8.3 years due to big drops in mortality from chronic respiratory diseases, stroke, lower respiratory infections and cancer, with “strong management” of the pandemic curbing life expectancy losses due to Covid-19 to just .4 years between 2019 and 2021.</p>



<p>Reductions in deaths from enteric diseases—which include diarrhea and typhoid—significantly contributed to improvements in life expectancy, estimated to contribute an overall increase of 1.1 years globally.</p>



<p>Control of mortality due to diarrheal disease contributed to significant gains in life expectancy in the super region of South Asia, which had the second-highest increase among super regions in life expectancy with 7.8 years, and in Eastern sub-Saharan Africa, which had the highest increase in life expectancy of any local region with 10.7 years.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h2>



<p>“On one hand, we see countries’ monumental achievements in preventing deaths from diarrhea and stroke,” said Dr. Liane Ong of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluations, one of the authors of the study, in a statement. “At the same time, we see how much the Covid-19 pandemic has set us back.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h2>



<p>31.5%. That’s how much the age-standardized mortality rate for ischemic heart disease, the leading cause of death worldwide, dropped between 1990 and 2021. The rate in 2021 was 108.7, with Covid-19 the second-leading cause of death at 94.0.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-fact">SURPRISING FACT</h2>



<p>The largest decline in life expectancy due to Covid-19 was in Latin America and the Caribbean, where it caused a 3.6-year reduction.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>The study is the first of its kind to compare deaths from Covid-19 to other leading causes of death, according to the authors. It notes Covid-19 may have had indirect effects on mortality rates as well, with physical distancing measures affecting mortality for other diseases, and deferred care-seeking leading to pandemic-related deaths not attributable directly to Covid-19. Another <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2024/03/12/covid-lowered-global-life-expectancy-more-than-previously-thought-new-study-suggests/?sh=17845fa6576b">study</a> published by the Lancet earlier this month previously found the global life expectancy dropped by 1.6 years due to the pandemic, with the United States seeing the highest excess mortality rate when compared to similar high-wealth nations.<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesfarrell/"></a></p>


Researcher working in a biochemist laboratory

Global Life Expectancy Increased Between 1990 And 2021, But Pandemic Stalled Progress


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>Microsoft will split up its workplace messaging and video calls app Teams from its Office platform globally, the company told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/microsoft-separate-teams-office-globally-amid-antitrust-scrutiny-2024-04-01/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Reuters</a>&nbsp;early on Monday, mirroring a move it undertook in the European Union last year as it attempts to avoid being penalized by the bloc’s antitrust regulators.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>In August last year, Microsoft announced it would unbundle Teams from its Microsoft 365 subscription—which includes its Office suite of productivity software like Word, Excel and PowerPoint—in the EU and offer the messaging service as a standalone subscription.</p>



<p>The tech giant&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/microsoft-separate-teams-office-globally-amid-antitrust-scrutiny-2024-04-01/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">told</a>&nbsp;Reuters Monday it will enact the change for all its customers worldwide “to ensure clarity,” and businesses can now choose slightly cheaper Microsoft 365 plans without Teams.</p>



<p>The company said its decision was based on feedback from the European Commission to help global companies “standardize their purchasing across geographies.”</p>



<p>Forbes has reached out to Microsoft for a comment.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm,&nbsp;<a href="https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_3991" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">opened</a>&nbsp;an antitrust investigation into Microsoft in July last year. The commission said the investigation intended to assess whether the company “breached EU competition rules by tying or bundling its communication and collaboration product Teams to its popular suites for businesses Office 365 and Microsoft 365.” The executive body expressed concerns about Microsoft “abusing” the market dominance of its Office productivity software to restrict competition for “communication and collaboration products.” The investigation followed a complaint filed against Microsoft and Teams by its rival messaging platform Slack. Microsoft&nbsp;<a href="https://blogs.microsoft.com/eupolicy/2023/08/31/european-competition-teams-office-microsoft-365/#:~:text=First%2C%20beginning%20October%201%2C%202023,or%20%E2%82%AC24%20per%20year)." rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">responded</a>&nbsp;by unbundling Teams from its office productivity suite for EU customers in August. At the time, the company said it was taking “meaningful steps” to address the commission’s concerns and had gained clarity “from extensive and constructive discussions” with the executive body.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-to-watch-for">WHAT TO WATCH FOR</h2>



<p>It is unclear if Microsoft’s latest actions are enough to fend off an antitrust fine from the EU. The commission had particularly expressed concern that Microsoft was giving Teams a “distribution advantage” over rivals by “not giving customers the choice” on whether they want to include Teams in their Office subscription. The unbundling will likely assuage that issue, but the commission had also raised a red flag about Microsoft possibly limiting “interoperability between its productivity suites” and rival messaging apps. If the investigators are unsatisfied with the remedies and find Microsoft guilty of antitrust breaches, the company could face fines as high as 10% of its global annual turnover.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h2>



<p>$2.37 billion (€2.2 billion). That is the quantum of antitrust fines Microsoft has faced in the European Union in the past decade, the Reuters report added.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/microsoft-separate-teams-office-globally-amid-antitrust-scrutiny-2024-04-01/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microsoft to separate Teams and Office globally amid antitrust scrutiny</a> (Reuters)</p>


Microsoft Services Down For Tens Of Thousands Around World

Microsoft Unbundles Teams From Office Suite In A Bid To Address Antitrust Probe


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>Altimmune’s experimental weight loss drug pemvidutide minimized the loss of muscle mass while losing weight, mimicking the effects of diet and exercise, according to the results of a small trial by the company, amid efforts by biotech firms to study how increasingly popular weight-loss drugs can maintain muscle mass.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>In a mid-stage trial of pemvidutide, 74.5% of weight loss among 391 participants came from fat tissue while only 25.5% came from lean mass, results that are comparable to the effects “historically associated with diet and exercise,” Altimmune&nbsp;<a href="https://ir.altimmune.com/news-releases/news-release-details/altimmune-announces-positive-lean-mass-preservation-data" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">announced</a>&nbsp;Wednesday.</p>



<p>The drug pemvidutide combines the GLP-1 hormone—a key ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy—with the hormone glucagon, a pairing the company is also testing to treat a common form of liver disease called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, or MASH.</p>



<p>Over 30% of participants using a 2.4-milligram dose of pemvidutide achieved a 20% weight loss through a 48-week trial of the drug, Altimmune&nbsp;<a href="https://ir.altimmune.com/news-releases/news-release-details/altimmune-announces-positive-topline-results-momentum-48-week" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">announced</a>&nbsp;in November.</p>



<p>The Food and Drug Administration announced last year it would fast-track its evaluation of pemvidutide for treating nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH, a severe form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, after more than half of the 190 participants in a&nbsp;<a href="https://altimmune.com/pemvidutide/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">trial</a>&nbsp;had their liver fat content reduced to a normal level after 12 weeks.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>Other popular weight-loss drugs have been studied for their ability to maintain muscle mass while helping patients lose weight. During a 68-week&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/suppl/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183/suppl_file/nejmoa2032183_appendix.pdf" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">trial</a>&nbsp;of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, over 1,300 participants using the drug lost an average of nearly 15 pounds of lean muscle and 23 pounds of fat. BioAge Labs&nbsp;<a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231026896677/en/BioAge-Labs-Announces-Plans-for-Phase-2-Trial-of-First-in-Class-Apelin-Receptor-Agonist-BGE-105Azelaprag-Co-Administered-With-Tirzepatide-for-Treatment-of-Obesity-in-Collaboration-With-Lilly%E2%80%99s-Chorus-Organization" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">announced</a>&nbsp;last year it would be testing its muscle loss drug azelaprag with Mounjaro to treat obesity, after an early trial indicated azelaprag could help prevent muscle atrophy.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-to-watch-for">WHAT TO WATCH FOR</h2>



<p>Additional data from Altimmune’s mid-stage trial will be presented at an unspecified upcoming event, the company said. Results from a study involving pemvidutide’s treatment of MASH are expected in the first quarter of 2025.</p>


Hand of an elderly woman pouring a small assortment of pills onto the palm of her hand

What To Know About Pemvidutide—Altimmune Says Weight Loss Drug Minimized Muscle Mass Loss In Trial


<p><strong>Story curated by Chanel Retief and Nicole Pillay Art Direction: Lucy Nkosi Photography: Katlego Mokubyane ; Assistant: Sbusiso Sigidi Styling: Deneal Van Wyk; Outfits supplied by Fashimo Styles Studio, Ukara, Suited For Her and Preview Accessories Hair &amp; Makeup:Vanessa Unamaca, MakoleMade Location: NewKatz.Studio, Johannesburg</strong></p>



<p>If you ever find yourself with an internationally-acclaimed chef, just know that he or she will joke that they would like for you to first taste their food before adding salt. And then want you to know that this craft is an art and science come to life. </p>



<p>As a food and nutrition scientist, chef Siba Mtongana is no different. She gained global recognition when her show Siba’s Table first aired on Food Network, capturing the essence of South African cuisine. Reportedly, more than 150 countries and 60 million homes in the US tune into Cooking Channel alone to watch her whip up her culinary specialties, proving how hungry the world is for African cuisine.</p>



<p><strong>Q. How did your journey in the culinary world begin, and what inspired you?</strong></p>



<p><strong>A</strong>. My journey started when I was a very young girl in my mother&#8217;s kitchen, where I was so mesmerized by how my mother could turn simple ingredients into the most amazing dishes. She had a garden that my dad tended for her. My life was an interaction from the garden to the kitchen, which was really beautiful. I decided, against my parents’ wishes, to become a chef. At the time, there weren&#8217;t many people who were successful; I&#8217;m going to say specifically African black people who were successful in the food industry, especially as chefs. Therefore, my parents were very skeptical… but I do believe that I&#8217;ve created a template – because [of] my cooking show on Food Network, where I can say specifically to Africans, this is actually a career path you can take. I think my contribution to the food industry and culinary world was that I made it more relatable and easy for people to follow in my footsteps.</p>



<p><strong>Q. Can you talk to us about a big career milestone?</strong></p>



<p><strong>A.</strong> I have been blessed with many career milestones but one comes to mind… I opened my first restaurant during Covid-19. SIBA–The Restaurant is a fine dining restaurant in Cape Town (at the Victoria &amp; Alfred Waterfront) and is doing incredibly well. Last year alone, we won about 10 awards, locally and internationally. I often think to myself, should I not have done it at that time, would I have had the trajectory that I am on now? Maybe not, because the story might not have been as strong but you really have to have that inner gut feel and follow it.</p>


Category: Current Affairs