
<p><strong>A record year for ten-figure wealth has left the billionaire class bigger and richer than ever.</strong></p>



<p class="has-drop-cap">What a year it’s been for the planet’s billionaires, whose fortunes continue to swell as global stock markets shrug off war, political unrest and lingering inflation. There are now more billionaires than ever: 2,781 in all, 141 more than last year and 26 more than the record set in 2021. They’re richer than ever, worth $14.2 trillion in aggregate, up by $2 trillion from 2023 and $1.1 trillion above the previous record, also set in 2021. </p>



<p>Two-thirds of the list’s members are worth more than a year ago; only one fourth are poorer. Much of the gains come from the top 20, who added a combined $700 billion in wealth since 2023, and from the U.S., which now boasts a record 813 billionaires worth a combined $5.7 trillion. China remains second, with 473 (including Hong Kong) worth $1.7 trillion, despite weak consumer spending and a real estate bust that helped wipe out some $300 billion in wealth. India, which has 200 billionaires (also a record), ranks third. </p>



<p>To calculate net worths, we used stock prices and exchange rates from March 8, 2024. See below for the full list of the world’s billionaires and our methodology. For daily updated net worths of all 2,781 billionaires, check out our&nbsp;<a href="http://forbes.com/real-time-billionaires/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">real-time billionaires rankings</a>.</p>


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FORBES WORLD’S BILLIONAIRES LIST: The Richest in 2024

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OVER 30 UNDER 50: Formidable And Forging Ahead


<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

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Collaborative Crescendo: Nigeria’s Musicians Riding The Digital Wave


<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>


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Over 30 Under 50: ‘I’ve created a template for young people’/ Siba Mtongana


<p><strong>SA20 Commissioner and former South African cricketer Graeme Smith on the ambition to create the biggest league outside of India, and why putting on a show off the pitch is as important to attract a new audience.</strong></p>



<p>South Africa has the potential to create the biggest Twenty20 domestic competition outside of the Indian Premier League (IPL), says a confident SA20 Commissioner Graeme Smith, who also has an eye on shaking up the local entertainment industry.</p>



<p>Former South Africa opening batter Smith, the most successful captain in Test history, is leading what he believes will be a cricket revolution in the country to attract a new generation of fans to the game.</p>



<p>He helped to launch the six-team SA20 (a Twenty20 franchise cricket tournament in South Africa) in 2023 having had only three months to pull together the competition, and while there were some grumbles around the scheduling, the cricket itself was top draw and spectators responded by packing out venues.</p>



<p>The six franchises share owners – and in some instances players – with the teams in the IPL, and this has opened up the massive, lucrative Indian market, which has a seemingly insatiable appetite for the game.</p>



<p>A 10-year deal with Indian broadcaster Viacom18 worth $10 million (R190 million) a season is in place, and including other sponsors, there is already $400 million (R7.5 billion) in committed income over the next decade. That is likely to grow substantially too.</p>



<p>“Closing our broadcasters was important. If we have ambitions to be the biggest league outside of India, to have the SA20 beamed into homes all around the world is crucial to that,” Smith tells FORBES AFRICA.</p>



<p>“Last year we built this product in three months, it was a mad rush. So since then, we have focussed on</p>



<p>where we can improve the fan experience and making sure we are consistent and delivering at the same level. “When I look at the teams, I think we have delivered across the board. They look stronger and the balance is better with incredible international talent and good rookie players. Making sure the cricket gets better and better will always be the core.”</p>



<p>The Mumbai Indians Cape Town, Durban Super Giants and Sunrisers Eastern Cape may seem like odd names to many for a South African domestic league, but Smith admits that tapping into the expertise of IPL franchises has been crucial to the fast development of SA20.</p>



<p>“It’s very difficult to compete with the IPL, I don’t think it’s even possible. But certainly, outside India, we have the opportunity to put this competition on the map with players and fans around the world in the months of January and February,” Smith says.</p>



<p>“Traveling overseas and talking to people, the two things that came out (from year one) were the quality of the cricket in SA20, but also the vibrancy of the people in the stadiums and how that looked on TV.”</p>



<p>Smith concedes that in this day and age, putting on a show off the pitch is as important as what fans see on it.</p>



<p>“Our other big ambition is to be the number one sports entertainment brand in South Africa. We invest heavily in music (at the venues), the look and feel of the stadiums, the activations at games and through the big screens.</p>



<p>“We want something for everyone and for people to come to the stadium for a number of reasons (not just the cricket).&#8221;</p>



<p>Figures supplied by SA20 suggest the inaugural year contributed R4.1 billion ($216.5 million) to South Africa’s Gross Domestic Product and was played in front of 380,000 spectators, but the impact on the game of cricket in the country, which has perhaps stagnated in recent years, is potentially equally huge.</p>



<p>“We’ve been open about our ambition to revive the cricket fan in South Africa. It’s been a tough few years,” Smith says. “I think we managed to do that last year, but we also want to attract a new audience to the game and introduce cricket to them at a level where they can come and love the opportunity to be a part of something big.”</p>



<p>Smith says there is an aspirational element to the league. Getting youngsters to play the game is proving ever more challenging around the world and South Africa is no different. Leagues like the SA20 provide a lucrative career opportunity beyond the love of the game.</p>



<p>“It is important for youngsters to see that there is not only the dream of playing for the national team one day, but that there is a domestic competition of serious value, and a career can be built on it,” he says.</p>



<p>“There were a number of players that were picked up from season one (of SA20) and got IPL contracts as well. There is a proper career for youngsters coming through.”</p>



<p>More kids playing the game and a better standard of competition should also have a positive influence on the potential of the national team to compete in World Cups.</p>



<p>“We saw the IPL benefit Indian cricket hugely, the amount of talent they now have at their disposal is enormous,” Smith says.</p>



<p>“We want to be exposing South Africa’s top 70 or 75 players every season to the pressure of playing in front of huge crowds with an international broadcast, playing against the best players in the world and being exposed to some of the best coaches.”</p>



<p>The cricket world has changed dramatically since the introduction of T20 cricket in the early 2000s, the shorter, action-packed format more appealing for fans and broadcasters.</p>



<p>So where does that leave the purest form of the game, Test cricket, once very much the elite level for players, but now an after-thought for many fans?</p>



<p>“I still believe Test cricket has a place and will be strong,” Smith says. “It’s never going to be a 20-nation format, it’s going to be maybe your top six or seven nations in the world competing against each other.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="15" height="14" src="">“But T20 cricket offers so much growth from an entertainment perspective and to bring new audiences into the game. That is why it is so important</p>


South Africa v Afghanistan – ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2020

South African Graeme Smith On Creating The Biggest T20 Domestic Competition Outside Of The IPL


<p class="has-text-align-center"><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>Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng’s story is not one that kickstarted with a university degree, or when she started advocating for the sexual and reproductive health and mental health rights of all. In fact, the story that shaped Mofokeng, known as Dr T, had its beginnings in her childhood in QwaQwa, in the Free State province of South Africa during apartheid. </p>



<p>“[I] experienced some of the most exciting but also frustrating and scary times growing up [during] apartheid, but [as] an adult, [I also] experienced the wonder of a democratic South Africa. [I wanted to become a doctor] after witnessing adults and neighbors around me injured in the protests [that happened], and I was there and helpful. I think, as a child, [I was] also inquisitive about [these] protests; I&#8217;m grateful that they never chased me away but incorporated me in a way that I was safe [and] could still participate. </p>



<p>At the photoshoot for this feature, Mofokeng is anxious to get to a table where she can open her laptop to finish up some work, as she wears many hats.</p>



<p>As a medical doctor, she specializes in advocating for women’s health with regards to their sexual health and relationship concerns. As the United Nations Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur, her work focuses on the rights of every individual to experience the highest attainable standards of physical and mental health. She is also an Adjunct Professor at the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. in the US.</p>



<p>“Would you consider yourself a power woman, Dr T?” we ask.</p>



<p>“A power woman is bold. And she is fearless, in that she gets to determine life for herself, she moves at her pace, and is not shy to say ‘I&#8217;m exhausted, can someone else take over?’ I accept that for this moment that power is being projected on to me. But I like to project power more than take it as an identity or something that I have to live up to because I&#8217;m only human and some days, I&#8217;m really not feeling so powerful.”</p>


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Over 30 Under 50: ‘A Power Woman Gets To Determine Life For Herself’/Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng


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



<p>A Binance executive detained in Nigeria last month escaped from custody over the weekend, as the West African country filed charges of tax evasion against the cryptocurrency exchange and some of its executives in the latest public scandal for the firm.</p>



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



<p>Binance executives Tigran Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen, and Nadeem Anjarwalla, British-Kenyan citizen, were both taken into custody in Nigeria in February but not charged with any crimes until Monday.</p>



<p>The executives and the crypto company were charged with alleged non-payment of value-added tax (VAT) and company income tax, failure to file tax returns, and complicity in assisting customers to evade taxes through its platform, Nigeria’s Federal Inland Revenue Service announced Monday, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-25/nigeria-announces-charges-against-binance-after-executive-flees" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">multiple</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/25/binance-executive-escapes-nigerian-custody-as-authorities-file-new-tax-charges.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">outlets</a>.</p>



<p>The charges come days after Anjarwalla reportedly escaped from where he was being detained after guards watching him took him to a nearby mosque for prayers, The Premium Times, a Nigerian news outlet,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/680617-nigerian-govt-confirms-escape-of-binance-executive-arrests-personnel-guarding-him.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">reported</a>.</p>



<p>Nigeria is in talks with Interpol to get an international arrest warrant for Anjarwalla, Nigeria’s national security adviser&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/nigeria-files-tax-evasion-charges-against-binance-tax-agency-says-2024-03-25/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">told</a>&nbsp;Reuters.</p>



<p>Binance confirmed Anjarwalla was no longer in Nigerian custody.</p>



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



<p>“Our primary focus remains on the safety of our employees and we are working collaboratively with Nigerian authorities to quickly resolve this issue,” Binance told Forbes in an email.</p>



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



<p>Gambaryan and Anjarwalla have been in Nigeria since Feb. 26 when they&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/binance-executives-remain-detention-after-nigeria-court-appearance-families-say-2024-03-20/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">reportedly</a>&nbsp;arrived to discuss the country’s decision to ban some cryptocurrency trading websites, including Binance, Coinbase and Kraken. The office of the National Security Adviser in Nigeria detained the pair and seized their passports,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ft.com/content/1507509b-7bbc-48a1-9828-d777036fff2b" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">according to</a>&nbsp;the Financial Times. Both of their families have since&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/binance-executives-remain-detention-after-nigeria-court-appearance-families-say-2024-03-20/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">pleaded</a>&nbsp;with authorities to release the executives. Ahead of their detention, Olayemi Cardoso, Nigeria’s central bank governor,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ft.com/content/1507509b-7bbc-48a1-9828-d777036fff2b" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">told</a>&nbsp;reporters in February officials were concerned about “illicit flows” going through a number of crypto platforms, according to the Financial Times. He went on to say that in one year, $26 billion passed through Binance Nigeria “from sources and users who we cannot adequately identify.” Days later, the Binance executives were detained. The concerns about crypto trading come as Nigeria struggled with currency devaluation. In the past year, the value of the Nigerian currency, the naira, has fallen 70%&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/currency/ngnusd" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">against</a>&nbsp;the U.S. dollar.</p>



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



<p>The tax evasion charges and detentions follow high-profile problems Binance has faced in recent years. In November, Changpeng Zhao, the company’s founder, pleaded guilty to Justice Department charges of breaking anti-money laundering laws and violating sanctions and <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2024/02/23/judge-approves-binances-43-billion-settlement-for-anti-money-laundering-sanctions-violations/?sh=9d34b8d44758">agreed</a> to pay more than $4.3 million in fines and restitutions for doing so. In June, the Securities and Exchange Commision <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/anafaguy/2023/06/05/sec-sues-binance-for-multiple-us-rule-violations/?sh=74a7467d7fcb">sued</a> Binance for operating an illegal exchange in the U.S. Months before that, in March, regulators <a href="https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/8680-23" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">alleged</a> that Binance and Zhao evaded Commodity Futures Trading Commission rules. The crypto company <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-06-06/us-probes-binance-over-token-that-is-now-world-s-fifth-largest" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reportedly</a> remains under investigation from the SEC over whether the company illegally sold digital coins when it started out in 2017. Binance isn’t alone: other crypto firms, including Beaxy and Kraken, have also been hit with civil lawsuits recently as regulators crack down on the industry.<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/anafaguy/"></a></p>


In this photo illustration, the Binance logo is displayed on

Binance Executive Flees Nigerian Prison Amid New Charges


<p><strong>Human digital twins are quickly moving beyond manufacturing and into the medical world – advancing cancer care, speeding up drug development, personalizing clinical trials, and much more.</strong></p>



<p>&#8220;You have cancer!” is one of the most terrifying sentences a person will ever hear in his/her lifetime yet it’s something every family is likely to experience. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is now the leading cause of death globally and the number of new cases is expected to rise by about 70% over the next two decades. When you take into account that there is already an oncology workforce crisis across the continent – South Africa, for example, faces a shortage of radiographers, aging equipment and a decrease in clinical oncologists – providing care to an increasing number of cancer patients is a challenge, more so when the disease is unpredictable and a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work. Technological advancements, however, are starting to shift cancer’s unpredictable advantage by merging physical with digital. One way to do this is by creating a digital replica of a physical system or environment – or a digital twin.</p>



<p>Digital twins are already being used in many industries to simulate complex systems and now they’re being adopted in healthcare with management consulting company, Gartner predicting that by 2025, 25% of healthcare delivery organizations will include formalized digital twin initiatives within their digital transformation.</p>



<p>In healthcare, it comes down to the data. What was once trial- and-error is now about feeding millions of data points into complex algorithms for more precise outcomes. With a digital twin, you can simulate an outcome in the digital world before trying it out in the real world, adding in a number of different conditions to see what works best. Human digital twins also make sense because unlike the digital twins used in the automotive industry where each new car model is identical, people are not. And in cancer care, it’s not easy to predict how effective certain medications will be.</p>



<p>“Digital twins are not moving out of the industrial or robotics sector – they’re scaling from the industrial world into the real world,” explains Marc O’Regan, Dell Technologies’ Chief Technology Officer for Europe, Middle East and Africa.</p>



<p>“It gives organizations the opportunity to rigorously test and fail purposely to see what the implications might be, retest again, look for avenues of success and then go back and say – we haven’t even gone into production but we know what the process is going to look like.” Dell has teamed up with the University of Limerick (UL) in Ireland to develop a digital twin for B-cell lymphoma, the sixth most common type of malignant neoplasia in sub-Saharan Africa.</p>



<p>“We’ve built a digital twin for a person with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. We have twinned this particular patient journey through the diagnosis of this cancer and by doing so, we’re able to enrich the data that’s being fed into the twin and for the patient in a positive and impactful way,” says O’Regan.</p>



<p>Dell created an artificial intelligence (AI) platform to produce cancer patient digital twins for better diagnostics. “We will be able to advance our knowledge of how cells go wrong during </p>



<p>cancer development and find new ways to diagnose and treat cancer patients,” adds Professor Paul Murray, UL’s scientific director of the Digital Pathology Unit at the Digital Cancer Research Centre. “It’s not a simulation, it’s a digital twin event associated with all of the componentry on the server supporting that event,” says O’Regan.</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="683" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Marc-ORegan-image-supplied-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-61506 size-full" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Marc-ORegan-image-supplied-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Marc-ORegan-image-supplied-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Marc-ORegan-image-supplied-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Marc-ORegan-image-supplied-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Marc-ORegan-image-supplied-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure><div class="wp-block-media-text__content">
<p><strong>“DIGITAL</strong><strong> </strong><strong>TWINS</strong><strong> </strong><strong>ARE</strong><strong> </strong><strong>NOT </strong><strong>MOVING</strong><strong> </strong><strong>OUT</strong><strong> </strong><strong>OF</strong><strong> </strong><strong>THE</strong><strong> </strong><strong>INDUSTRIAL </strong><strong>OR ROBOTICS SECTOR – THEY’RE </strong><strong>SCALING</strong><strong> </strong><strong>FROM</strong><strong> </strong><strong>THE</strong><strong> </strong><strong>INDUSTRIAL WORLD</strong><strong> </strong><strong>INTO</strong><strong> </strong><strong>THE</strong><strong> </strong><strong>REAL</strong><strong> </strong><strong>WORLD.”</strong><strong></strong></p>



<p>—Marc O’Regan</p>
</div></div>



<p>Chloé Audigier is a senior research scientist in the field of AI at Siemens Healthineers. She is currently working on a digital twin of the liver to help identify, simulate and test therapy options for liver cancer – something which could potentially be done before treating a patient. “We are building a general anatomical model that would represent the organ shape, volume and structure. To do that, we are using machine learning algorithms that are trained on the large number of images,” explains Audigier.</p>



<p>“When we have one specific patient, we personalize this model using the organ data of the patient. The model simulates patient-specific physiological function.” Once a digital twin of an organ is created, a virtual simulation of the needed treatment (or intervention) is performed. This gives doctors a clearer and more individualized path to patient care. “We are building computational models that are based on physical law and that we evaluate using outcome data,” adds Audigier.</p>



<p>Creating a treatment strategy for a cancer patient requires an accurate diagnosis. The level of data integration possible with digital twins enables doctors to explore more treatment options and increase precision. Cancer requires planning to optimize tumor control and reduce toxicity – it’s about delivering a high dose of radiation to the tumor while sparing the healthy tissue that surrounds it. “If the digital twin allows us to collect more data, it would be such a gain for radiotherapy,” says Dr Christian Weissenberger, one of Germany’s leading cancer experts. “We can collect the data, we can analyze the data, and we can answer these questions with more validity and more precisely.”</p>



<p>Tomáš Helikar, an associate professor of biochemistry at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the United States, compares medical treatment today to ‘playing a game of whack-a-mole’. With his award-winning work to build a digital twin of the human immune system, Helikar’s goal is to be able to control the immune system in a safer and more predictable fashion.</p>



<p>Think of it like a human blueprint that’s always up-to- date and accessible – digital twins built on personalized information mean that doctors would no longer have to base therapeutic regimes on population data but rather adapt to an individual patent’s needs. More detailed knowledge of a patent’s clinical data and physiology can only help to refine decision making processes in the future, allowing specialists to select the best treatment – all it takes is a human, digital twin.</p>


new normal Futuristic Technology in medical concept doctor describes patient by using artificial intelligence, machine learning, digital twin, 5g, big data, iot, augmented mixed virtual rality, ar, vr

Expert Views: Could A Digital Twin Save Your Life?


<p>Media Challenge Initiative, or MCI, lives on the 4<sup>th</sup> floor of a blocky, unassuming shopping center in Kabalagala, a busy Kampala district named after the toothsome cassava and banana pancakes sold by the city’s street vendors. <em>Kabalagala</em> is the kind of humble, honest treat – an African soul food – that makes one wonder, between sweet mouthfuls, why our planet is so complicated.</p>



<p>Truth ought to be simple; facts should be safe from pernicious subjectivity. But there are still compelling reasons to be hopeful about the safety of our media landscape: inspiring and proactive leaders working hard to manifest a positive future.</p>



<p>Abaas Mpindi is the co-founder and CEO of MCI. Since 2017, MCI has worked with 3,000 journalism students, and founded more than 10 youth media startups. A mobile newsroom delivers skills programs to 17 Ugandan universities; the Next Gen Journalist activity strand has trained more than 130 program fellows in solutions-based journalism for social change. The MCI Media Hub, based at the organization’s multi-functional Kabalagala headquarters, provides a space for innovators (such as the fact-checking Debunk Media Initiative) to disrupt the status quo.</p>



<p>“African journalists today face a generational opportunity and challenge,” says Mpindi. “They report not only on what is news today, but also document stories that challenge long-held narratives about Africa. We support the system by building a generation of journalists who are not only multi-skilled, but equipped with the leadership skills and social consciousness to change their communities.”</p>



<p>MCI’s activity is productive; learned skills are immediately put to use in the creation of compelling content. Solutions Now Africa, for example, MCI’s solutions journalism newsroom, produces stories which highlight local strategies that work, instead of the doom-laden media navel gazing which so often fixates on poverty porn and problem cul-de-sacs.</p>



<p>“Let’s put it this way,” Mpindi says. “People wake up looking for solutions. We need to document these challenges and provide people with existing responses. As a citizen of a continent whose progress has been restricted by stereotypes, I believe solutions journalism can cover Africa’s unreported contributions, innovations and urgency. In an era of clickbait and disinformation, controversy is attractive; it is important therefore to positively adopt the same emotional communication techniques that are used by purveyors of misinformation.”</p>



<p>MCI is a recent recipient of significant new funding from the Elevate Foundation, an NGO which rewards the work of changemakers worldwide. The prize will exponentially escalate MCI’s growth, and further evolve the organization. Mpindi is meditative about the depth of this responsibility.</p>



<p>“When I started this journey, I was excited about the idea of skilling young journalists and exposing them to internships and jobs,” he says. &nbsp;“I didn’t foresee it would catapult me into a leader now dealing with the current challenges of our industry. It is a lonely and reflective journey, but I have grown to understand and appreciate the systemic challenges that determine the kind of journalism we consume as a final product. We are not asking for one-sided positive stories. We are asking for the whole story: capturing the continent in its diversity. Our journalists are trained to appreciate they have the power to change history.”</p>


Abaas Mpindi; image supplied2

‘The Power To Change History’: How This Ugandan Entrepreneur Is Challenging Long-Held Narratives With Solutions Journalism


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



<p>The Islamic State group took responsibility for a Friday attack on a Moscow area concert hall that left at least 40 dead and about 100 injured, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/22/world/europe/isis-moscow-attack-concert-hall.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">multiple</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/22/europe/crocus-moscow-shooting/index.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">outlets</a>, a claim confirmed by U.S. officials and Russian media.</p>



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



<p>A branch of ISIS based in Afghanistan and known as ISIS-K claimed responsibility for the shooting in a statement made on Telegram and published by ISIS-affiliated news agency Amaq,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/22/europe/crocus-moscow-shooting/index.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">CNN</a>&nbsp;reported.</p>



<p>U.S. officials confirmed the ISIS connection to the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/22/world/europe/isis-moscow-attack-concert-hall.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York Times</a>, noting U.S. intelligence members collected evidence in March that the ISIS branch was planning an attack on Moscow and that ISIS members have been active in Russia.</p>



<p></p>



<p>Russia’s foreign ministry called the shooting a terrorist attack, according to <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/shooting-reported-concert-hall-moscow/story?id=108396308" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ABC News</a>, which noted a U.S. official said they see no reason to doubt ISIS’ claim of responsibility.</p>



<p>The shooting reportedly took place around 8 p.m. local time and was conducted by&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/shooting-reported-concert-hall-moscow/story?id=108396308" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">at least five gunmen</a>&nbsp;in camouflage who opened fire on concertgoers in attendance for a show by Russian rock band Picnic.</p>



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



<p>The U.S. Embassy in Russia issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://ru.usembassy.gov/security-alert-avoid-large-gatherings-over-the-next-48-hours/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">warning</a>&nbsp;two weeks ago urging Americans to avoid large gatherings in Moscow, citing reports of extremist plans to target such gatherings.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-suprising-fact">SUPRISING FACT</h2>



<p>The incident is the largest terror attack in Central Russia in terms of victims since the 2011 Domodedovo airport bombing, according to ABC. The bombing killed 37 people and injured 172.</p>



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



<p>“ISIS-K has been fixated on Russia for the past two years,” Colin P. Clarke, a counterterrorism analyst at the Soufan Group, told the New York Times, adding the branch group has accused the Kremlin of spilling Muslim blood through its interventions in Afghanistan, Chechnya and Syria. Friday’s attack comes less than a week after Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared to secure reelection after dominating the polls.</p>



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



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2024/03/22/at-least-40-dead-at-moscow-music-hall-shooting-russian-state-media-says/?sh=736f3f417c78">At Least 40 Dead At Moscow Music Hall Shooting, Russian State Media Says</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/22/world/europe/isis-moscow-attack-concert-hall.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">U.S. Says ISIS Was Responsible for Deadly Moscow Concert Hall Attack</a>&nbsp;(New York Times)</p>



<p><a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/shooting-reported-concert-hall-moscow/story?id=108396308" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ISIS claims responsibility in deadly attack on Russia&#8217;s Crocus City Hall</a> (ABC)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/22/europe/crocus-moscow-shooting/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ISIS claims responsibility for attack in busy Moscow-area concert venue that left at least 40 dead</a> (CNN)</p>


Iran-Reaction, Shooting At The Crocus City Hall Concert In Moscow

ISIS Claims Responsibility For Moscow Shooting That Left 40 Dead


<p>Kate Middleton is in the early stages of chemotherapy treatment after a cancer diagnosis, the Princess of Wales confirmed in a new video Friday, the first major update provided on the princess’ health since the palace first announced in January she would undergo a surgery and be out of the public eye for months.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GettyImages-2104753638.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-61494" style="width:730px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GettyImages-2104753638.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GettyImages-2104753638-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GettyImages-2104753638-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"> (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


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



<p>In a two-minute&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/1771235267837321694" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">video</a>&nbsp;posted to Kensington Palace social media pages, Kate confirmed she underwent an abdominal surgery earlier this year and that while the surgery “was successful,” tests afterwards confirmed “cancer had been present.”</p>



<p>Kate did not elaborate or explain what type of cancer she has been diagnosed with, but did say she is undergoing “a course of preventive chemotherapy.”</p>



<p>Kate said the palace delayed telling the public about her diagnosis so she and William had time to process the news and talk about it with their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.</p>



<p>She completed the video by asking for “time, space and privacy.”</p>



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



<p>“As I have said to them, I am well and getting stronger everyday by focusing on the things that will help me heal in my mind, body and spirits,” Kate said in the video. “Having William by my side is a great source of reassurance and comfort and reassurance, too.”</p>



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



<p>The royal family in January announced two major pieces of health information regarding senior royals: King Charles would&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/anafaguy/2024/01/17/king-charles-will-undergo-prostate-procedure-palace-says/?sh=4801df184c23">undergo a prostate procedure</a>&nbsp;and Kate Middleton would be admitted to the hospital for a &#8220;planned abdominal surgery.” The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.royal.uk/news-and-activity/2024-01-17/a-statement-from-kensington-palace" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">palace said&nbsp;</a>she would step back from professional engagements for months while she recovered. One week later, it was announced the king&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/zacharyfolk/2024/02/05/king-charles-diagnosed-with-cancer-after-hospital-stay/?sh=62a3f0251757">was diagnosed</a>&nbsp;with cancer. Buckingham Palace did not specify what type or stage of cancer the king has. Kate Middleton&nbsp;<a href="https://people.com/kate-middleton-leaves-hospital-after-surgery-continue-recover-home-8431757#:~:text=Kate%20Middleton%20is%20recovering%20from,William%2C%20and%20their%20three%20children." rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">left the hospital</a>&nbsp;on Jan. 29 and returned home to recover, and more than a month went by without any other updates on her health from official sources. As concern for the princess grew, so did unsubstantiated rumors about her health, personal life and marriage to Prince William, who is expected to take the throne upon the death of his father. Several news outlets&nbsp;<a href="https://www.etonline.com/see-kate-middleton-for-the-first-time-since-hospitalization-for-abdominal-surgery-pic-220894" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">circulated</a>&nbsp;blurry photos of Kate riding in a car driven by her mother on March 4, the first time she had been seen since leaving the hospital. Days later, Kensington Palace released a photo of Kate and her three children to celebrate Mother’s Day in the United Kingdom. That same day,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2024/03/11/kate-apologizes-for-causing-confusion-after-news-agencies-flag-her-photo-as-manipulated/">news agencies retracted</a>&nbsp;the image and accused the palace of having manipulated the image so heavily it should no longer be used by outlets, with the global news director of Agence France-Presse&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2024/03/14/kensington-palace-no-longer-a-trusted-source-after-releasing-edited-kate-middleton-photo-afp-says/?sh=123aafef5238">telling the BBC</a>&nbsp;the palace could no longer be considered a &#8220;trusted source.&#8221; On March 18, tabloids&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tmz.com/2024/03/18/kate-middleton-seen-new-video-windsor-farm-shop-prince-william/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">published</a>&nbsp;video footage they claim depicted Kate and William on a trip to the Windsor Farm Shop near their home, though Kensington Palace would not comment on the video and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/03/18/kate-middleton-video-shopping/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Washington Post said</a>&nbsp;it could not confirm the date or time it was taken.</p>



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



<p>One of the more prevalent rumors about Kate Middleton’s whereabouts circulated on a pending divorce between her and Prince William over an affair the prince was baselessly accused of having with Lady Rose Hanbury, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley. The rumors made their way to the &#8220;Late Show&#8221; earlier this month, where host Stephen Colbert speculated on the rumored affair. Habury&#8217;s lawyers then sent notices to the show to deny the claims of an affair,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/prince-william-rose-hanbury-rumor-kate-middleton-explained-2024-3" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">multiple sources</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://nypost.com/2024/03/22/entertainment/rose-hanbury-sends-legal-notice-to-stephen-colbert-over-prince-william-affair-joke-report/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">reported</a>, and said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.intouchweekly.com/posts/rose-hanbury-lawyers-sent-notice-to-stephen-colbert/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">statement to In Touch</a>&nbsp;they were writing &#8220;on our client’s behalf to CBS and various other reputable media organizations to confirm that the allegation is false.” Representatives for CBS did not respond to Forbes’ request for comment Friday.</p>



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



<p>World leaders responded to the princess’ diagnosis Friday afternoon. Rishi Sunak, prime minister of the United Kingdom,&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/RishiSunak/status/1771236237153546649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1771236237153546649%7Ctwgr%5Ee148c9579c52a04d40dd7f8338ffc25876483276%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fiframe.nbcnews.com%2FmDv38Wp%3F_showcaption%3Dtrueapp%3D1" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">on Friday said</a>&nbsp;Kate has &#8220;shown tremendous bravery with her statement today. In recent weeks she has been subjected to intense scrutiny and has been unfairly treated by certain sections of the media around the world and on social media&#8230; I know I speak for the country in wishing her a full and speedy recovery.&#8221; Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/albamonica/status/1771238958300639517" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;the White House wishes her a &#8220;full recovery&#8221; and said the Biden administration is “incredibly sad to hear the news.&#8221;</p>


The Princess Of Wales Opens Evelina London’s New Children’s Day Surgery Unit

Kate Middleton Confirms Cancer Diagnosis In New Video


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



<p>After posting its best day on Wall Street in four months Wednesday, shares of Paramount Global fell Thursday after a report indicated the media conglomerate’s controlling shareholder might not be interested in a reported $11 billion deal for the company’s major film studio.</p>



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



<p>Shares of Paramount Global dropped as much as 5.9% in intraday trading Thursday to as low as $11.77, nearly erasing its Wednesday gains, when the company’s shares surged to a one-month high of nearly $13.</p>



<p>Thursday’s losses marked Paramount’s worst day on Wall Street in over two weeks, just one day after the conglomerate’s shares posted an 11.8% daily gain on the heels of a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/media/apollo-offers-11-billion-for-paramounts-hollywood-studio-24206eab?mod=hp_lead_pos2" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Wall Street Journal</a>&nbsp;report indicating Apollo Global Management made an $11 billion offer for Paramount Pictures, valuing the studio even higher than Paramount Global’s $8.2 billion market cap.</p>



<p>By Thursday morning, Paramount’s controlling shareholder Shari Redstone suggested she might not be interested in that offer, opting instead for a rival bid, anonymous sources told the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ft.com/content/95cf8b56-e822-4fc0-a12e-1e7ae15733fd" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Financial Times</a>.</p>



<p>Sources told the Financial Times Redstone has been in negotiations with David Ellison on a separate bid from Ellison’s Skydance Media for a majority stake in Redstone’s holding company National Amusements, through which she controls a majority stake in Paramount.</p>



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



<p>Paramount has had a series of setbacks in recent months, striking out on a deal with NBCUniversal owner Comcast and failing to land a deal with rival Warner Bros. Discovery that could have turned the burgeoning streaming wars on its head. Paramount had been engaged in merger talks with Warner Bros. Discovery, though the HBO parent company reportedly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2024/02/27/warner-bros-discovery-pauses-merger-talks-with-paramount-report-says/?sh=2eb01dbb1cf4">paused those negotiations</a>&nbsp;last month. Last August, Paramount&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2023/08/07/paramount-selling-simon--schuster-to-kkr-for-162-billion/?sh=3c4027576662">divested</a>&nbsp;its publishing arm Simon &amp; Schuster to private equity firm KKR in a $1.62 billion deal, culminating a two-year saga in which a previous deal to sell the publishing house fell after a Department of Justice antitrust lawsuit.</p>



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



<p>Paramount Pictures, on the other hand, has had a series of recent box office success stories, with major movies, including director Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” and the Tom Cruise action thriller “Mission: Impossible—Dead Reckoning Part One,” hitting it big. The former, an Academy Awards nominee for Best Picture, has grossed more than $157 million worldwide since its premiere last October, while the “Mission: Impossible” sequel has grossed more than $575.5 million since July, according to Box Office Mojo.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forbes-valuation">FORBES VALUATION</h2>



<p>Ellison, the son of Google co-founder Larry Ellison, could bring major funding to Paramount should the deal go through. We estimate Larry Ellison’s <a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/larry-ellison/?sh=127d3b0624c2">net worth</a> at roughly $159.4 billion, making him the world’s fifth-richest person.</p>


Los Angeles Economy

Paramount Stock Tumbles As $11 Billion Studio Deal Falls Into Doubt, Report Says


<p><strong>Food is the future and these proactive startups are focused on shifting agricultural practices to prepare for what is to come.</strong></p>



<p>Agriculture has always been a core component of Africa’s economic viability. And where it’s estimated that 140 million people in Africa face acute food insecurity, the continent’s ability to produce food efficiently is vital. As many individual countries wrestle with inadequate governments, there has been a spate of proactive startups focused on revolutionizing the food system across Africa.</p>



<p>From a continent- spanning online marketplace changing the way African farmers do business to a technology platform focused on producing cultivated meat alternatives and a company using technology to convert arid desertland into agricultural areas, these are the firms showing the way in foodtech in Africa.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-just-like-the-nile-river-was-pivotal">‘Just like the Nile River was pivotal…’ </h2>



<p>Farming and selling produce can be inefficient and costly for farmers in Africa, despite being one of society’s oldest practices. Nile, a B2B marketplace, wants to change this. By connecting farmers directly with commercial produce buyers, Nile is reshaping produce trading while empowering farmers across southern Africa.</p>



<p>Founded in 2020 in South Africa by Louis de Kock, Eugene Roodt, and Rick Kleinhans, whose collective experience spans Amazon, JP Morgan and Luno, Nile came from the idea that tech can modernize agricultural trade.</p>



<p>&#8220;In 2020, farmers were still distributing their products in the same way my grandfather did in the 1950s, which was surprising given how much has changed since then, both tech and logistics,” De Kock reflects. Seeing these outdated distribution methods encouraged them to explore tech solutions, resulting in an online marketplace.</p>



<p>In a nutshell, Nile facilitates connections between farmers and buyers, minimizing costs and preserving perishable produce. Through Nile&#8217;s online marketplace, farmers list their produce for global buyers, securing instant orders and secure payouts, allowing farmers greater control over pricing. &#8220;By digitizing transactions, we can improve transparency, while reducing transaction fees,&#8221; he adds. The logistics network then ensures efficient routes to buyers, either via direct delivery or consolidated loads through Nile’s cross-dock hubs.</p>



<p>Further to this, their recently- launched inputs marketplace, coupled with financial support for farmers has revolutionized logistics, but perhaps most importantly, it’s helping farmers find the best market for their produce.</p>



<p>&#8220;We want to become central to a farmer&#8217;s everyday existence by providing a comprehensive suite of digital services to enhance transacting and trading, with the data and predictive analytics as the golden thread,” says De Kock.</p>



<p>Nile operates in 12 African countries, and now calls itself “the largest fruit and vegetable online marketplace on the continent”.</p>



<p>Operating in a region with high food insecurity means sustainability is vital here, and Nile’s tech facilitates it. &#8220;Food waste is dramatically reduced compared to traditional markets since all produce is pre-sold to buyers in 40+ towns and cities and thus does not degrade over time on a market floor,” says De Kock.</p>



<p>In addition to this, Nile’s logistics maintains multiple temperature zones for cold chain management while minimizing food miles.</p>



<p>&#8220;Just like the Nile River was pivotal to the development of agricultural production and trade across African countries, we believe our name is symbolic of our mission,&#8221; says De Kock.</p>



<p>As buyer demand continues to grow, so does the market for quality, affordable produce and Nile seems to be changing the game for African farmers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-model-that-not-only-combats-desertification">&#8216;A model that not only combats desertification…’</h2>



<p>Further afield, Sand to Green focuses on agroforestry for arid regions. It converts barren land into fertile agricultural areas using pioneering agroforestry practices and advanced technology.</p>



<p>Founded by Wissal Ben Moussa, Gautier de Carcouët, and Benjamin Rombaut, the company wants to make desert areas agriculturally productive while contributing to CO2 capture and biodiversity enhancement, effectively overhauling these agricultural landscapes.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Sand-to-Green-was-formed-in-response-to-the-challenges-of-food-security-and-environmental-sustainability-in-dry-regions-image-supplied-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-61482" style="width:606px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Sand-to-Green-was-formed-in-response-to-the-challenges-of-food-security-and-environmental-sustainability-in-dry-regions-image-supplied-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Sand-to-Green-was-formed-in-response-to-the-challenges-of-food-security-and-environmental-sustainability-in-dry-regions-image-supplied-300x225.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Sand-to-Green-was-formed-in-response-to-the-challenges-of-food-security-and-environmental-sustainability-in-dry-regions-image-supplied-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Sand-to-Green-was-formed-in-response-to-the-challenges-of-food-security-and-environmental-sustainability-in-dry-regions-image-supplied-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Sand-to-Green-was-formed-in-response-to-the-challenges-of-food-security-and-environmental-sustainability-in-dry-regions-image-supplied-2048x1536.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong>Sand to Green was formed in response to the challenges of food security and environmental sustainability in dry regions; image supplied</strong></figcaption></figure></div>


<p>Formed in response to the challenges of food security and environmental sustainability in dry regions, particularly in Morocco and broader Africa, the founders saw the need for eco-friendly agricultural practices in these challenging environments.</p>



<p>Traditional farming methods exacerbate issues like soil degradation and water scarcity, affecting vast areas of agricultural land and, in turn, populations in Africa. Sand to Green&#8217;s model integrates agroforestry with solar-powered desalination, drawing inspiration from ancient oasis ecosystems, a 7,000-year-old agroforestry system.</p>



<p>&#8220;Our vision was to develop a model that not only combats desertification&#8230; but also enhances local food production,&#8221; says co- founder Rombaut. Morocco presented the ideal climate, showcasing the need to balance food security with environmental restoration. &#8220;Our approach addresses water scarcity by using sustainable desalination, tapping into the region&#8217;s abundant solar energy,” he adds. “This model not only meets the immediate need for more food production but also promotes environmental sustainability, offering a blueprint for similar arid regions globally,” adds Moussa.</p>



<p>Sustainability is at the core of this operation. The supply chain focuses on local resources and labor, supporting regional economies and reducing transport-related carbon emissions. In arid regions, their solar-powered desalination technology lowers water usage, while recycled brine from the desalination process is used to cultivate halophyte plants.</p>



<p>Their practices also reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, aligning community well- being with an environmental one. Driven by the belief in locally- adaptable solutions, Sand to Green hopes to influence global agricultural practices.</p>



<p>&#8220;We strive for a future where sustainable agriculture is central to solving global food and environmental challenges,&#8221; Rombaut says. They show how sustainable agriculture can thrive in challenging environments without compromising ecosystem integrity, an idea that will hopefully shift agricultural practices globally. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-replicate-the-conditions-of-an-animal-just-outside-of-the-animal">‘…replicate the conditions of an animal, just outside of the animal’ </h2>



<p>In Cape Town, Newform Foods wants to revolutionize the food industry through cultivated meat production. Promising a more ethical protein alternative using leading bioprocessing technology and proprietary methods, Newform allows food producers to manufacture animal- friendly products. &#8220;We are producing the ability to scale cultivated meat intended for other companies within the food and meat industry,” says Brett Thompson, who co-founded Newform along with Tasneem Karodia.</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/2024/03/Newform-CEO-Brett-Thompson-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-61483" style="width:600px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Newform-CEO-Brett-Thompson-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Newform-CEO-Brett-Thompson-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Newform-CEO-Brett-Thompson-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Newform-CEO-Brett-Thompson-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Newform-CEO-Brett-Thompson-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Newform CEO Brett Thompson</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>While alternative meat isn’t an entirely new concept, Newform is one of the first of its kind in Africa. &#8220;We want to create a technology platform that can be applied to any company around the world,&#8221; says Thompson. Essentially, Newform facilitates sustainable food production through tailored platforms and solutions. “We’re trying to perfectly replicate the conditions of an animal, just outside of the animal,” he explains. This is done using animal cells, and an intricate combination of media development and bioreactors to help the cells grow. Thompson adds that the entire process, from cell to harvest, takes only three to four weeks, a fraction compared to the standard 18 months in conventional farming.</p>



<p>Having successfully experimented with lamb, beef and pork, Newform will soon be exploring poultry and seafood, as part of creating an agnostic platform. “We want to specialize in the platform, not the species,” says Thompson. Ethics aside, Newform’s solution is undeniably more sustainable for various reasons. Reduced land, water and energy use, as well as minimizing food waste, means a much lower impact than in conventional farming practices. </p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignleft size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="683" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Newforms-Greek-pita-with-cultivated-lamb-meatballs-683x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-61485" style="width:485px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Newforms-Greek-pita-with-cultivated-lamb-meatballs-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Newforms-Greek-pita-with-cultivated-lamb-meatballs-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Newforms-Greek-pita-with-cultivated-lamb-meatballs-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Newforms-Greek-pita-with-cultivated-lamb-meatballs-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Newforms-Greek-pita-with-cultivated-lamb-meatballs-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Newforms-Greek-pita-with-cultivated-lamb-meatballs-scaled.jpg 1707w" sizes="(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Newform&#8217;s Greek pita with cultivated lamb meatballs</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>“We can produce something that we can use every single part of,” he explains.</p>



<p>This technology could also affect farms and food transportation. “Imagine a future where you have large facilities close to cities that can produce a delicious protein and get it to retailers and consumers in a more localized fashion.”</p>



<p>What does this Newform future look like? &#8220;I&#8217;d like to see a world in which no animal is used within the supply chain of our food,” says Thompson. “We&#8217;ll be part of the way to replace all animals in the food system and make a healthier protein that&#8217;s cost-effective and delicious.”</p>



<p>While originating in South Africa, Newform plans to expand internationally, starting with the United Kingdom.</p>



<p>Encouragingly, Thompson has seen a shift in the industry, with more food companies willing to adopt technology towards sustainability. “The industry is looking to future-proof itself,” he says, and Newform is primed to lead the charge.</p>


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