The fact that Africa has a shortage of clinical oncologists has been widely publicized. One international medical journal estimated that Nigeria, for example, has around 70 oncologists to serve a population of 213 million people. In South Africa – and in Johannesburg, in particular – it’s been reported that Gauteng’s health department has allocated millions to cancer care to assist the main hospitals that have become overwhelmed with patients needing critical treatment. And while there is definitely a skills shortage, Dr Duvern Ramiah, the head of radiation oncology at the University of the Witwatersrand and Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital explains that no one had really done a deep dive into what is actually holding up access to these life-saving interventions.



“The main bottleneck with radiation and oncology treatment is a lack of radiotherapy planning. That’s the irst step to patients get- ting radiation,” he says. With prostate cancer patients waiting around 5 years for radiotherapy and breast cancer patients waiting around 18 months, Ramiah came to the realization that there wasn’t just a shortage of equipment; the unit wasn’t using the equipment that it had efficiently. “The unit wasn’t creating enough radiotherapy plans for these patients to be treated in time,” he adds. When a cancer patient requires radiation, radiation is prescribed by a radiation oncologist. What happens next is that the patient is scanned and goes through the long process of radiotherapy planning. “If a patient has prostate cancer, the doctor will say (for example), this person needs external beam radiation. I’ll see him and make that call. Ater that, he’ll go have a CT scan which is done in the position that he’s going to have radiation in,” explains Ramiah.



Once Ramiah receives the CT scan, he’ll have to manually draw in all the areas that need to get radiated, like the prostate and lymph glands, as well as key areas to avoid, like the bladder. “It’s a long process, and only once that’s done, I’ll send the scan off to a dosimetrist or planning radiotherapist,” he continues. Once a plan is created, it still needs to be approved by the radiation oncologist to ensure it meets the prescription requirements.



Depending on the type, stage and biological behavior, some cancers metastasize quicker which means these plans are needed pretty quickly so that they don’t become outdated. Ramiah turned to AI to create a new process where part of this journey could be automated. “So, instead of a doctor drawing in all of those organs on scans, we’ve got a convolutional neural network (CNN) running that will contour target areas. The time a doctor is spending doing this process is very mundane when it can just be automated. It reduces the time gap massively,” he says. Another way Ramiah has reduced the bottleneck is by using remote radiotherapists in America to create a detailed radiotherapy plan that oncologists at Charlotte Maxeke can implement. What Ramiah also found is that with the planning process, there is a lot of rep- etition. A plan for breast cancer can take up to two hours but around 70% of what is needed is actually the same from one patient to the next. “So, we’re also developing a script to automate some of that,” he adds.



With the help of AI, Ramiah has cut Charlette Maxeke’s two-month waiting time for radiotherapy plans down to between 48 and 72 hours. One of the most important parts of this AI journey is that the technology system Ramiah is piloting at Charlotte Maxeke is vendor-agnostic. So, because it isn’t tied to a specific brand or model of radiotherapy machine, it could potentially be implemented in any healthcare facility anywhere in the world.



“You can go to any unit in Africa with this solution, regardless of their technology infrastructure,” he says. “Unfortunately, within cancer, we get stuck in a lot of innovative things like gene therapy, which is a million-rand treatment but not accessible to everybody. What’s interesting about AI tech is that it increases access. It’s an enabler, which is why I push so hard for it in my department.”

Medical technology, doctor use AI robots for diagnosis, care, and increasing accuracy patient treatment in future. Medical research and development innovation technology to improve patient health.

AI Innovations: What This South African Doctor Is Making Possible

Minister Enoch Godongwana says the decision to increase Value Added Tax (VAT) “was not made lightly” as proposal also includes no inflationary adjustments for personal income tax brackets.&nbsp;



South Africa’s Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana delivered the country’s 2025 Budget Speech on Wednesday, March 12, following the initial postponement of the speech in February.



According to reports at the time, there was a dispute amongst the members of the Government of National Unity (GNU) over a proposed two percentage point VAT increase, which would have put further pressure on consumers.



In the newly-tabled budget, government has proposed to increase the VAT rate by half a percentage point in 2025/26; and by another half a percentage point the following year.



Government has also proposed no inflationary adjustments to personal income tax brackets, rebates and medical tax credits.&nbsp;



According to the minister, these measures are expected to raise R28 billion ($1.5 billion) in additional revenue in the 2025/2026 financial year and R14.5 billion ($791.5 million) in 2026/2027.



“This decision was not made lightly. No Minister of Finance is ever happy to increase taxes. We are aware of the fact that a lower overall burden of tax can help to increase investment and job creation and also unlock household spending power,” Godongwana said in his speech.



“We have, however, had to balance this knowledge against the very real, and pressing, service delivery needs that are vital to our developmental goals and which cannot be further postponed.”



He goes on to explain that government weighed up the policy trade-offs, and touches on increases to corporate and personal income tax, as well as taking on additional debt but states that these measures were not feasible.



“VAT is a tax that affects everyone. By opting for a marginal increase to VAT, its distributional effect and impact were cautiously considered. The increase is also the most effective way to avoid further spending cuts and to enable us extend the social wage.”



Other notable points in the speech include the proposed expansion of the list of VAT zero-rated food items, no increase in the fuel levy for another year and the provision of social grant increases that are above inflation.



Speaking on the 2025 Budget, Lullu Krugel, PwC South Africa’s Chief Economist, said, in a statement, that, “Expanding the list of VAT zero-rated products has long been called for by private business and civil society as a way of supporting the financial situation of low-income households”.



“Today’s announcement to expand the basket of goods to include more meat and other products that are widely consumed in the lower expenditure deciles is welcomed with open arms in light of the impending VAT increases. It is now incumbent upon the producers and retail sector to ensure that these adjustments are passed onto the consumer.”



With an overall impression, Althea Soobyah, National Head of Tax, Forvis Mazars in South Africa, said, “One of the biggest issues with the budget every year is that South Africa is not investing in growth-enhancing initiatives with a significant proportion of the budget going to paying off debt and social grants”.&nbsp;



“South Africa urgently needs to look at other ways to increase revenue other than relying on the tax base.  At some point it will reach a saturation point. Growth enhancing structural reforms which support small and medium sized businesses will help to address unemployment and grow the tax base. One of the ways to increase the tax base is to grow the employment rate,” she adds in the statement.

South Africa’s Fractious Coalition Faces Second Budget Reckoning

VAT Up By 0.5 Percentage Point As South Africa’s Finance Minister Tables 2025 Budget

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



Even the world’s richest man has bad days, as Elon Musk faced a litany of headaches to start the week Monday—including the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2025/03/10/x-outage-thousands-report-issues-with-elon-musks-platform/">crash</a>&nbsp;of his social media site, an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2025/03/10/tesla-stocks-election-rally-is-all-gone-erasing-91-gain/">11-figure drop</a>&nbsp;in his net worth as his primary venture Tesla faced brutal losses, while an awkward TV interview only gave critics more fodder.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-timeline">Timeline</h2>



March 10, 8:54 a.m. EDTMusk’s Monday gets off to an immediate bad start as users on his X platform&nbsp;<a href="https://downdetector.com/status/twitter/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">begin</a>&nbsp;to report widespread outages, with Musk later&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2025/03/10/x-outage-thousands-report-issues-with-elon-musks-platform/">attributing</a>&nbsp;the crash to a “massive cyberattack” from “a large, coordinated group and/or a country” and noting the problem emanated from “IP addresses originating in the Ukraine area” (cybersecurity expert Cliff Steinhauer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2025/03/10/x-outage-thousands-report-issues-with-elon-musks-platform/">told</a>&nbsp;Forbes it was likely too early to determine the root of the issue).



March 10, 9:42 a.m.Musk shockingly&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1899093526190698784" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">calls</a>&nbsp;veteran and retired astronaut Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., a “traitor” after Kelly posted support for Ukraine following a visit to the country,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SenDuckworth/status/1899206544907981264" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">leading&nbsp;</a><a href="https://x.com/SenRubenGallego/status/1899206416641970357" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">a slew</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SenWarren/status/1899206461462352342" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">of Democrats—</a>including Kelly’s wife&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/GabbyGiffords/status/1899172428032463302" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Gabby Giffords</a>—and even one House Republican, Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., to criticize him, with Bacon&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/mkraju/status/1899248385233690883" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">telling</a>&nbsp;CNN Musk’s accusation was “not right” and “reflects bad on the White House” (on Musk’s own platform, his “traitor” comment received only 15,000 Likes by Tuesday morning compared to over 230,000 likes for&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SenMarkKelly/status/1899155561171558505" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Kelly’s response</a>).



March 10, 3:45 p.m.Left-leaning watchdog organization Media Matters, a longtime Musk target,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/03/10/nx-s1-5323844/media-matters-elon-musk-new-lawsuit" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">sues</a>&nbsp;X for bringing lawsuits against it in foreign countries as part of &#8220;a vendetta-driven campaign of libel tourism,” the suit alleged.



March 10, 4 p.m.<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2025/03/10/tesla-stocks-election-rally-is-all-gone-erasing-91-gain/">Tesla</a>, the primary source of Musk’s wealth, ends Monday trading down more than 15%, its worst daily loss since September, as the electric vehicle maker became the most notable loser of the Wall Street losses tied to shaky investor sentiment amid President Donald Trump’s tariffs—Tesla stock closed more than 10% lower than it did prior to Trump’s election, wiping out what was once a more than 90% rally, and shares declined over 50% in less than three months.



March 10, 4:30 p.m.Musk sits down with Fox Business’ “Kudlow” and does little to assuage Tesla investor angst,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2025/03/10/elon-musk-says-hes-running-his-companies-with-great-difficulty-as-tesla-shares-plummet/">saying</a>—in a halting way that went viral on social media— that he’s juggling his Department of Government Efficiency role with his positions at Tesla and his other companies “with great difficulty” and invokes Monty Python, adding to “always look on the bright side of life.&#8221;



March 10, 4:56 p.m.Responding to a thread on Monday being the seventh-worst day in Tesla stock’s 15-year history, Musk&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1899202765781450951" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">writes</a>, “It will be fine long-term.”



March 10, 10:13 p.m.A federal judge&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2025/03/11/federal-judge-rules-doge-must-disclose-records-about-its-operation-to-comply-with-federal-transparency-law/">rules</a>&nbsp;against DOGE for operating with “unprecedented power” and “unusual secrecy,” ordering Musk’s agency to comply with public record requests and increase its transparency.



March 10, 10:18 p.m.Musk&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1899283682851975342" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">replies</a>&nbsp;the “antibody reaction is strong” to a post suggesting Musk “will be blamed for everything,” including the “incoming&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2025/03/08/are-we-suddenly-close-to-a-recession-heres-what-the-data-actually-shows/">recession</a>.”



March 11, 12:14 a.m.Musk’s boss&nbsp;Trump chimes in to support Musk after his bad Monday,&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114141854575248527" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">writing</a>&nbsp;on his Truth Social site he will buy a Tesla “as a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American.”



March 11, 8:22 a.m.Wedbush analyst Dan Ives, long one of the most outspoken voices on Wall Street in Musk’s and Tesla’s corner, publishes a critical note on Musk, saying patience is “wearing very thin” and Musk “needs to step up as Tesla CEO at this critical juncture” as there’s been “little to no sign of Musk” at any Tesla facility since Trump took office.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">Big Number</h2>



$22.8 billion. That’s how much Musk lost off his net worth during Tesla’s Monday nosedive, according to our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/elon-musk/?list=rtb/">estimates</a>. That’s more than the entire $22.7 billion fortune held by media mogul Rupert Murdoch.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forbes-valuation">Forbes Valuation</h2>



Musk’s $325 billion net worth still makes him by far the wealthiest person in the world with a $110 billion lead over the next richest man, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos ($215 billion net worth).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">Crucial Quote</h2>



“The Musk DOGE distractions” have “created a black cloud over Tesla&#8217;s stock” according to Ives.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tesla-stock-bounces-back-some-tuesday">Tesla Stock Bounces Back Some Tuesday</h2>



Shares of Tesla gained as much as 6% Tuesday morning, bouncing off of their lowest close since October, before settling into a 1% advance by 11 a.m. EDT, as the market broadly dropped on Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114144217763824399" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">decision</a>&nbsp;to increase tariffs on Canadian aluminum and steel imports to 50%. Tesla’s 2025 losses are staggering, as its nearly 45% year-to-date decline makes it the worst-performing company listed on the S&amp;P 500, according to FactSet data.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">Further Reading</h2>



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/alanohnsman/2025/03/10/why-tesla-isnt-the-ai-powerhouse-musk-says-it-is/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ForbesWhy Tesla Isn’t The AI Powerhouse Musk Says It IsBy&nbsp;Alan Ohnsman</a>

President Trump Returns To White House From Florida

A Timeline Of Elon Musk’s Terrible 24 Hours—A Dark Day For X, Tesla And More

Through Kante, Afrobeats, and his memories of Nigeria, King Charles III underscored music’s power to unite cultures.



King Charles III shared a personal connection to Kante, a song by Nigerian Afrobeats star Davido featuring Fave, recalling how it reminded him of his last visit to Nigeria in 2018 when he attempted to speak Pidgin.



The British monarch made the revelation while presenting The King’s Music Room, a curated selection of 17 songs that have brought him joy, to mark Commonwealth Day 2025.



Among the diverse playlist, Kante stood out, not just for its infectious rhythm but as he said: &#8220;It also features lyrics in Pidgin, which I love in all its forms, and in which I attempted to make a speech when I last visited Nigeria.&#8221; The King said this in a recorded address from Buckingham Palace.



That visit, in November 2018, saw the monarch — then the Prince of Wales — engage with Nigeria’s cultural and political elite in Lagos in partly Pidgin, a lingua franca widely spoken across West and Central Africa.



Departing from his usual polished British English, he greeted dignitaries with a warm &#8220;How you dey?&#8221; (How are you?), drawing laughter and applause.



He even ventured further with the phrase, &#8220;God don butta my bread&#8221;, meaning “God has blessed me,” to acknowledge his return to the country after his first visit nearly three decades.



While he has yet to visit Nigeria as head of the Commonwealth, there were past trips — in 1990 with Princess Diana, then in 1999, 2006, and 2018.



Pidgin, which originated in the 17th and 18th centuries as a trade language between Africans and Europeans, has since evolved into a powerful cultural force.



It dominates Afrobeat lyrics, Nollywood films, and everyday conversations across West Africa.



Recognizing its global appeal, King Charles III noted, “I understand that thanks to Afrobeats, it (Pidgin) is becoming ever more popular around the world.”



During his 2018 trip, he also shared another Pidgin phrase: &#8220;If life dey show you pepper, make pepper soup&#8221;, roughly translating to “life is what you make it.”



“Music has that remarkable ability to bring happy memories, comfort us in times of sadness, and to take us to distant places,” he reflected in his recorded address. “But perhaps, above all, it can lift our spirits&#8230; It brings us joy.”

Gold Motion Logo2.pdf (1)

King Charles III Recalls Speaking Pidgin In Nigeria, Shares Connection To Davido’s Kante

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



Ukraine has agreed to an immediate, 30-day ceasefire proposal brokered by the United States, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/spilna-zayava-za-pidsumkami-zustrichi-delegacij-ukrayini-ta-96553" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">joint statement</a>&nbsp;from the two countries, though Russia has yet to accept the deal as it continues its three-year invasion of Ukraine.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">Key Facts</h2>



The ceasefire can be extended if Ukraine and Russia agree to additional terms, the statement said, noting Russia has not yet accepted the ceasefire deal.



The U.S. will immediately remove its pause on intelligence sharing and security assistance for Ukraine, according to the statement, about a week after the White House suspended intelligence that primarily aided Ukrainian attacks within Russian territory.



Secretary of State Marco Rubio&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/ABC/status/1899528838717043133" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">told reporters</a>&nbsp;Tuesday after peace talks with Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia “we’ll take this offer now to the Russians and we hope that they’ll say yes… the ball is now in their court.”



The U.S. and Ukraine also agreed to quickly reach an agreement on a mineral deal that was stalled last month after President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy engaged in a widely broadcast&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/mollybohannon/2025/02/28/trump-zelenskyy-vance-face-off-in-oval-office-shouting-match-heres-everything-they-said/">argument in the Oval Office</a>&nbsp;that soured diplomatic relations and led to the Trump administration’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/mollybohannon/2025/03/04/zelenskyy-wants-to-make-things-right-as-us-cuts-off-assistance/">pause on military aid</a>&nbsp;for Ukraine.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-we-don-t-know">What We Don’t Know</h2>



The specific terms of the ceasefire and what concessions, if any, Ukraine or Russia will have to make for the deal to go through. Zelenskyy has said Ukraine needs to be in a “<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2025/02/28/zelenskyy-stands-his-ground-in-first-interview-since-fiery-trump-meeting-not-sure-that-we-did-something-bad/?ctpv=xlrecirc">strong position</a>” within a peace deal and that lasting security guarantees are needed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chief-critic">Chief Critic</h2>



Former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton told&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/AmbJohnBolton/status/1899227444776743288" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">CBC News Network</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday that it is a “big mistake to insist that Ukraine agree to a ceasefire,” warning that a ceasefire along the frontlines could turn into the new Russian-Ukrainian border. “The result will be that Russia’s aggression will have been vindicated,” he said. Russia has control of eastern Ukrainian cities such as Melitipol, Mariupol, Donetsk, Bakhmut and Luhansk, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60506682" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">BBC</a>, which noted a smaller Russian offensive has taken shape in northern Ukraine as well.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">Key Background</h2>



Relations between the Trump administration and Zelenskyy have been rocky in the leadup to the ceasefire proposal. Trump began trying to broker a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia last month, with his administration holding talks with the latter country without any Ukrainian delegates present. Zelenskyy said Ukraine would not accept a peace deal created without Ukrainian participation, also alleging Trump had fallen for Russian disinformation as the U.S. president called him a “<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2025/02/19/trump-zelensky-feud-trump-calls-zelensky-a-dictator--after-ukraines-president-criticizes-him-amid-russia-talks/">dictator</a>” who “has done a terrible job” handling Russia’s invasion. Trump and Zelenskyy verbally sparred in the Oval Office late last month, when the two were prepared to come to the table to sign a mineral deal that would allocate proceeds from Ukraine’s mineral resources to a joint fund with the U.S. as a means of providing the U.S. payback for the billions in military support it has provided Ukraine in the last few years. Tensions between Trump and Zelenskyy have slightly eased in recent days, with the Ukrainian president saying “it is time&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/mollybohannon/2025/03/04/zelenskyy-wants-to-make-things-right-as-us-cuts-off-assistance/">to make things right</a>” after the U.S. pulled military support from Ukraine and Trump remaining optimistic a peace deal could still be completed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">Further Reading</h2>



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/mollybohannon/2025/03/04/zelenskyy-wants-to-make-things-right-as-us-cuts-off-assistance/">Zelenskyy Wants To ‘Make Things Right’ As U.S. Cuts Off Assistance</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



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By signing up, you agree to our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/terms-and-conditions" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Terms of Service</a>, and you acknowledge our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/privacy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Privacy Statement</a>. Forbes is protected by reCAPTCHA, and the Google&nbsp;<a href="https://policies.google.com/privacy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Privacy Policy</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://policies.google.com/terms" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Terms of Service</a>&nbsp;apply.



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2025/02/28/zelenskyy-stands-his-ground-in-first-interview-since-fiery-trump-meeting-not-sure-that-we-did-something-bad/?ctpv=xlrecirc">Zelenskyy Stands His Ground In First Interview Since Fiery Trump Meeting: &#8216;Not Sure That We Did Something Bad&#8217;&nbsp;</a>(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/mollybohannon/2025/02/28/trump-zelenskyy-vance-face-off-in-oval-office-shouting-match-heres-everything-they-said/">Trump, Zelenskyy, Vance Face Off In Oval Office Shouting Match—Here’s Everything They Said&nbsp;</a>(Forbes)

EU Leaders Emergency Summit On Defense And Ukraine

Ukraine Agrees To 30-Day Ceasefire Proposal—But Russia Hasn’t Accepted Yet

FORBES AFRICA was at MWC Barcelona looking into Agentic AI and a raft of new gadgets coming up.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
Making its global debut at MWC, Xiaomi also showed off its SU7 Ultra EV, which goes from 0- 100km/h in a ridiculous 1.98 seconds. It recently went on sale in China and sold over 10,000 units within two hours, reaching its annual sales target.
</blockquote>



Artificial Intelligence (AI) and agentic AI seemed to be the central theme at Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona, with most companies showcasing some form of AI.&nbsp;



Agentic AI refers to AI systems that can operate autonomously, i.e., make decisions or take action without human intervention.&nbsp;



An example on Android is to ask Google’s Gemini to find flight options and send the results in an email to a colleague, or find a specific recipe and share it directly to a contact.&nbsp;



The introduction of these features means users will rely less on an app-based interface to give rise to ‘AI as the new UI’.&nbsp;



Google provided us with a sneak peek to its conversational AI, Gemini Live, that requires an advanced subscription: Gemini Live with video and Gemini Live with screenshare features.



Most smartphone companies at MWC had similar demos as they are powered by Google’s Gemini.



Meanwhile, technology brand Honor unveiled its $10-billion ‘Alpha Plan’; a change in its corporate strategy: to move from a smartphone maker to an AI device ecosystem company.&nbsp;



It shared a three-step plan to create an ‘intelligent world’ and called on the tech industry to join forces to “‘maximise human potential, ultimately benefiting all mankind”.



Honor CEO James Li said: “I am calling on all of us to unite together to address the challenges, as well as the many opportunities, of AI technology. I also call on the industry to be truly open so that we can fully embrace this exciting AI future.”



Honor said it will leverage Gemini 2.0 to create its first intelligent phone with partners Google and Qualcomm that will “revolutionize human-to-device interaction”.&nbsp;



Part of its plan is to make devices on its ecosystem work seamlessly with others, including iOS, which it demoed through file sharing to multiple devices on Android and iPhone.



Proving to be a major player in the Android space since splitting from Huawei in 2020, Honor also announced seven years of Android OS and security updates, joining the ranks of Google and Samsung.&nbsp;&nbsp;



The best of the rest



AI aside, here are some gadgets that caught our eye this year, which felt somewhat underwhelming compared to our visits in <a href="https://forbesafrica.com/technology/2023/05/17/the-metaverse-in-your-pocket-nifty-tech-and-trends-that-africa-will/">2023</a> and <a href="https://forbesafrica.com/current-affairs/2024/02/28/driving-a-car-using-your-eyes-a-good-look-at-the-ai-eye-tracking-feature-at-global-mobile-tech-show/">2024</a>.



Lenovo showed off its Yoga Solar PC proof-of-concept laptop, with a lid covered in solar panels that claims an over 24% conversion rate, which it says is one of the highest in the industry.&nbsp;



A 20-minute direct sunlight charge yields enough power for up to one hour of video playback, it said.



Realme showed off an interchangeable lens concept smartphone that lets you swap out DSLR lenses with your device. It used an older device with a Sony one-inch sensor to show its capabilities.



While Xiaomi showed something similar a few years back, this year revealed a magnetic modular lens prototype smartphone that lets you easily swap out lenses using its proprietary lens mount.



Making its global debut at MWC, Xiaomi also showed off its SU7 Ultra EV, which goes from 0-100km/h in a ridiculous 1.98 seconds.&nbsp;



It recently went on sale in China and sold over 10,000 units within two hours, reaching its annual sales target. The company announced it will sell its cars outside of China within the next few years.



On the topic of cars, the Catalonian police showed off a hyperconnected police car with a drone on its roof to help patrol and catch criminals, including a smart police management system featuring a 24 hour in-person and virtual police force. The concept is yet to receive backing and funding to become a reality.



Unveiled at CES but showcased at MWC, TCL showed off the TCL 60 XE Nxtpaper 5G smartphone, which makes the display look like paper for eye comfort, using its proprietary technology.&nbsp;



The phone features various ink paper modes for reading and limited app functionality and a black and white or colour paper mode.&nbsp;



Lastly, Samsung’s Project Moohan mixed reality headset was showcased at its booth, the first Android XR headset, however, no hardware specifications were shared. A rival to the Apple Vision Pro, it’s set to launch later this year.

Xiaomi SU7 Ultra_ image supplied

Hyperconnected Police Cars And More: Sneak Peak Into ‘An Intelligent World’ At GlobalMobile Tech Show

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



The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—which falls under the purview of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—is planning to study potential connections between vaccines and autism,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-cdc-plans-study-into-vaccines-autism-sources-say-2025-03-07/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Reuters</a>&nbsp;reported Friday, a link Kennedy has controversially pushed in the past.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">Key Facts</h2>



Two unnamed sources familiar with the matter told Reuters of the planned study, though it was unclear whether Kennedy, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2025/02/13/rfk-jrs-health-secretary-confirmation-live-updates-senate-confirms-trumps-pick-mcconnell-votes-no/">known-vaccine skeptic</a>&nbsp;who has pushed the conspiracy that autism is linked to vaccination, is involved.



The CDC’s page on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/autism/faq/index.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">frequently asked questions</a>&nbsp;about autism—which was last updated on Nov. 5, 2024—states that, “to date, the studies continue to show that vaccines are not associated with” autism spectrum disorder.



There have been a&nbsp;<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5789217/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">number</a><a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/autism-vaccine-link-debunked" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">&nbsp;of scientific</a><a href="https://autismsciencefoundation.org/autism-and-vaccines/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">&nbsp;studies</a>&nbsp;done in the past that have shown no connection between vaccination and autism, but 20 years ago, Kennedy emerged as the most prominent figure pushing the conspiracy.



Forbes has reached out to the CDC for comment.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-has-kennedy-said-about-vaccines">What Has Kennedy Said About Vaccines?</h2>



Kennedy’s stance that vaccines may cause autism, along with his other stances on the safety of various&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2024/11/06/heres-what-an-rfk-jr-health-role-in-a-trump-administration-could-look-like-vaccine-skepticism-fluoride-ban/">vaccinations</a>, has been slammed by health experts and organizations who argue he is spreading long-discredited theories. Kennedy was among the most well-known public figures spreading the theory for years: In 2005, he&nbsp;<a href="https://www.factcheck.org/2023/08/scicheck-what-rfk-jr-gets-wrong-about-autism/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">published</a>&nbsp;a later-retracted article claiming a preservative used to prevent vaccine vial contamination was tied to childhood neurological disorders—a theory that CDC experts have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/about/thimerosal.html#:~:text=Does%20thimerosal%20cause%20autism%3F,link%20between%20thimerosal%20and%20autism." rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">long rejected</a>. He also cites a decades-old CDC study when alleging vaccines are tied to autism, despite one of the authors of the study saying it gave no conclusion on a potential connection, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.factcheck.org/2023/08/scicheck-what-rfk-jr-gets-wrong-about-autism/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">FactCheck.org</a>. Kennedy has also falsely stated as recently as last year that there are no adults “with full-blown autism,” repeating that belief when he appeared on Joe Rogan’s&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/3DQfcTY4viyXsIXQ89NXvg" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">podcast</a>&nbsp;last summer. His claims were questioned heavily by lawmakers during his confirmation hearings. During the hearings, Kennedy said he was not “anti-vaccine” but is “pro-safety,” though he&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Health/rfk-jr-questioned-rising-autism-rates-experts-gets/story?id=118648320" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">refused</a>&nbsp;to say there is no link between autism and vaccines. In October, before he was appointed to lead HHS, Kennedy said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/RobertKennedyJr/status/1845995741833011374" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">post on X</a>&nbsp;he is “not going to take anyone&#8217;s vaccines away from them. I just want to be sure every American knows the safety profile, the risk profile, and the efficacy of each vaccine.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-has-trump-said-about-autism-and-vaccines">What Has Trump Said About Autism And Vaccines?</h2>



Since being elected, Trump has discussed the rise in autism rates—which many experts believe is linked to more frequent diagnoses—and said in a post on&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113946130240319294" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Truth Social</a>&nbsp;“something’s really wrong. We need BOBBY!!!” referring to Kennedy. In his joint address to Congress on Tuesday, Trump cited the rise in autism in children and said, “we’re going to find out what it is, and there’s nobody better than Bobby and all of the people that are working with you.” In 2014, Trump weighed in more specifically on the conspiracy that vaccines cause autism, saying in a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/realDonaldTrump/status/449525268529815552?lang=en" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">post on X</a>: “Healthy young child goes to doctor, gets pumped with massive shot of many vaccines, doesn&#8217;t feel good and changes &#8211; AUTISM. Many such cases!”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-have-autism-rates-been-increasing">Have Autism Rates Been Increasing?</h2>



Yes, autism diagnoses have been on the rise. The CDC reported in 2020 that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/ss/ss7202a1.htm?s_cid=ss7202a1_e&amp;ACSTrackingID=USCDC_921-DM101985&amp;ACSTrackingLabel=This%20Week%20in%20MMWR%20-%20Vol.%2072%2C%20March%2024%2C%202023&amp;deliveryName=USCDC_921-DM101985" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">1 in 36</a>&nbsp;children were diagnosed with autism, an increase from from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/autism/data-research/index.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">1 in 150</a>&nbsp;two decades earlier. Researchers maintain there are no trusted scientific studies that show a connection between vaccines and autism, and the&nbsp;<a href="https://beta.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/about/autism.html#cdc_vaccine_special_topics_cause_impact-vaccines-do-not-cause-autism" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">CDC says</a>&nbsp;there have been nine agency-funded or conducted studies that have shown no link between thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism. Rather, researchers say the increase can be attributed to things including more awareness, more parents having children at a later age and increased risk factors like exposure to toxic chemicals and viral infections during pregnancy, The New York Times&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/23/health/what-causes-autism.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">reported</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-did-the-theory-that-vaccines-cause-autism-originate">Where Did The Theory That Vaccines Cause Autism Originate?</h2>



A since-retracted 1998 medical study from Andrew Wakefield hypothesized there could be a connection between the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine and the development of autism. The paper was discredited by health experts, retracted and Wakefield lost his medical license for acting “dishonestly and irresponsibly” while conducting research,&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Health/rfk-jr-questioned-rising-autism-rates-experts-gets/story?id=118648320" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">ABC News</a>&nbsp;reported.



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



On Wednesday, Trump’s pick to lead the National Institutes of Health indicated he was open to funding new studies looking into potential links between vaccines and autism. Dr. Jay Bhattacharya&nbsp;<a href="https://www.statnews.com/2025/03/05/trump-nih-nominee-jay-bhattacharya-confirmation-research-on-vaccines-autism/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;in his confirmation hearing that he’s “convinced” there is not a link between the MMR vaccine and autism, but would “support a broad scientific agenda based on data to get an answer” to why the rate of children being diagnosed with autism is increasing.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">Further Reading</h2>



<a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-cdc-plans-study-into-vaccines-autism-sources-say-2025-03-07/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Exclusive: US CDC plans study into vaccines and autism, sources say</a>&nbsp;(Reuters)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2025/02/13/rfk-jrs-health-secretary-confirmation-live-updates-senate-confirms-trumps-pick-mcconnell-votes-no/">RFK Jr. Live Updates: Senate Confirms Trump’s HHS Pick—McConnell Votes ‘No’</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2024/11/06/heres-what-an-rfk-jr-health-role-in-a-trump-administration-could-look-like-vaccine-skepticism-fluoride-ban/">Here’s What An RFK Jr. Health Role In A Trump Administration Could Look Like: Vaccine Skepticism, Fluoride Ban</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.statnews.com/2025/03/05/trump-nih-nominee-jay-bhattacharya-confirmation-research-on-vaccines-autism/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NIH nominee is &#8216;convinced&#8217; vaccines don&#8217;t cause autism, but won&#8217;t rule out more studies on the issue</a> (Stat News)

CDC Headquarters

CDC Plans Large Study On Long-Debunked Connection Between Vaccines And Autism, Report Says

Progress is uncomfortable. It demands defiance — the audacity to stand firm when the world insists you do not belong. It is lonely, yet never solitary, for this is the story of a collective. Women who refuse to wait for permission, who step into rooms never built for them and take up space. When those before them whispered of revolution, the world muttered its doubts. But today’s African women know better. Be they young, older, youngest, they do not seek approval; they prepare — arming themselves with knowledge, strategy, and unwavering resolve — to counter power’s unease with an unshakable presence, knowing that discomfort cuts both ways.



Soft power, hard message: we came to win



When Dede Ayite became the first Black woman to win a Tony for Best Costume Design of a Play in 2024, she proved that not all revolutions announce themselves with a roar — some move with quiet certainty, reshaping the world before it even realizes it has changed. This is the essence of soft power: influence that seeps in, undeniable yet effortless, cloaked in art, culture, and innovation. It is the subtle but firm assertion of dominance, the kind that does not beg for recognition but commands it. African women are rewriting the limits of possibility, not through force, but through undeniable excellence. South Africa’s Tyla, the youngest African singer-songwriter to win a Grammy in 2024. Ayra Starr, the first woman in 16 years to claim the MOBO Award for Best African Music Act. Kenya’s Ruth Chepng’etich, the first woman to shatter the 2:11 and 2:10 barriers in marathon history, clocking a staggering 2:09:56 at the Chicago Marathon.



The list — proudly, defiantly — goes on. But this is no sudden uprising. This audacity is inherited, this excellence is ancestral. Miriam Makeba, the first African to win a Grammy in 1966, her voice carrying not just melody but the weight of a continent’s power. Alek Wek, the South Sudanese-British model who redefined beauty on her own terms, forcing the world to expand its gaze. Ama Ata Aidoo, the literary giant who wielded her pen like a weapon, chronicling the struggles, triumphs, and unapologetic strength of African womanhood. You see, their victories were more than personal achievements; they were declarations.



The innovators: rule&#8211;breakers, history&#8211;makers



They call them African problems — we call them blueprints for innovation. The barriers meant to limit us have become the launchpads of our ingenuity. We do not endure adversity; we transform it. This is more than resilience — it is economic mastery, the audacity to build, shape, and lead on our own terms.



This instinct is ancestral. Our great-grandmothers were entrepreneurs before the word existed —traders who moved goods across vast terrains, innovators who turned raw resources into wealth, visionaries who sustained entire economies from the corners of their markets. That same spirit fuels today’s architects of Africa’s future.&nbsp;Charlot Magayi&nbsp;revolutionizes clean cooking with eco-friendly charcoal briquettes.&nbsp;Violet Amoabeng&nbsp;harnesses Ghana’s rich resources to build a pan-African skincare brand. The&nbsp;Shea Butter Boom, a billion-dollar industry, is powered by African women whose hands extract not just shea, but wealth, ownership, and legacy.



In one sweeping generation — defined by both legacy and emergence — Africa boasts two formidable women shaping the global economic stage.&nbsp;Bogolo Kenewendo, a trade and economic powerhouse, rises on the continent, while&nbsp;Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Oorganization, commands the world stage. One at home, one abroad—both leading with defiance, proving that leadership is not granted, it is taken.



The age of Africa’s renaissance: taking every lane



They say courage writes history, but history belongs to those who refuse to ask for permission—the rule-breakers, the system-shakers, the shift disruptors — the ones who turn struggle into strategy and problems into power.



This is not a moment. It is a reckoning. A Renaissance. Africa’s women are not waiting or knocking on doors never meant to open. We are architects of a new order, commanding space and designing structures that cannot be dismantled.



A salute to our foremothers, whose grit paved the way. A call to our sisters — rise, push, take every lane.&nbsp;



Without apology. With audacity. Unstoppable. And the world will see us.

Beautiful african women

Expert-Speak — Without Apology, With Audacity: We’ve Always Been Here

At the 2025 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Awards, held as a glittering gala at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria on Wednesday, March 5, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), took home the 2025 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Lifetime Achievement Award, while the 2025 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Changemaker of the Decade Award was awarded to Arunma Oteh, Chairperson of the 124-year-old Royal African Society.



Known for her illustrious career on the continent and globally, Oteh also holds the position of Executive Residence &amp; Member, Global Leadership Council at the Said Business School, University of Oxford. She was previously Vice President and Treasurer of the World Bank, and Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in Nigeria.



“The award reminds me of strong women who have paved the way for others and continue to inspire me, including past awardees and my big sisters, Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Her Excellency Graça Machel and Madam Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma,” Okonjo-Iweala said in her recorded acceptance speech.


<div class="wp-block-image">
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In 2021, Okonjo-Iweala became the first woman and first African to take on the role of Director-General at the WTO. A global finance expert, economist and international development professional with over 40 years of experience working in Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and North America, she noted in her acceptance speech that young African women inspire her.



“While I&#8217;m proud [to be the first woman and African DG], I always have mixed feelings,” she said. “I always feel there should have been a woman prior and an African, why not? But that being said, I&#8217;m happy that I&#8217;ve been able to break that glass ceiling, and I&#8217;m glad that, as many of us continue to break glass ceilings, young African women will hopefully no longer face as many barriers as those who came before them. I have to say that young African women inspire me.”



The FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Awards uncovers some of Africa’s biggest and brightest personalities who have used the power of their stories to change the discourse of development on the continent.



One of the winners on the night was ‘the Queen of Afrobeats’, Tiwa Savage, who walked home with the 2025 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Media Icon Award. Savage, whose digital cover was revealed during the FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit earlier in the day, is known for her unique blend of Afrobeats, R&amp;B, soul and pop.



“I think a lot of times when people think of music, they think of just being an artist,” she explained in her interview with FORBES AFRICA. “But there are so many aspects to the industry. I want to build a school or scholarship program that teaches that.”



Among the award-winners on the night was 12-year-old Eniola Shokunbi who took home the 2025 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Young Achiever Award. A children’s health advocate and innovator, born in the U.S., and of Nigerian descent, she has been honored by the Martin Luther King Jr. Foundation and is already known for her fight for cleaner air and the installation of air filters in classrooms around the world.



Hephzibah Akinwale, also 12 years old, is a world record-holder for the longest fiction novel written by a child author at the age of 10, in September 2023, with her book, Chronicles of the Time Keepers: Whisked Away, featuring over 58,000 words. On Wednesday, Akinwale won the 2025 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Next Generation Award.



South Africa’s Minnie Dlamini was handed the 2025 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Excellence in Entertainment Award as an entrepreneur behind the lens in South Africa’s entertainment industry. As



an actor, Executive Producer, and TV host, she has over 9.3 million followers both on Instagram and Twitter. Featured as FORBES AFRICA’s digital cover as part of the magazine’s second annual ‘Over 30 Under 50’ list, Dlamini said: “I don’t think I would have been able to handle everything that I’ve handled – good and bad – all the opportunities, the resources that have been afforded to me, the resources that I’ve gone out and gotten myself, had I been younger,” Dlamini said. “[I] needed to go through life, to be older, and to be this 34-year-old woman so that I can fully embrace everything that’s coming my way.”



Other winners of the star-studded event included Kenyan environmentalist Wanjira Mathai who won the 2025 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Social Impact Award, while FORBES AFRICA 30 under 30 list-maker Jessica Mshama took home the 2025 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Technology &amp; Innovation Award.



Nissi Ogulu won the 2025 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Youth Icon Award for her work as a musician, visual artist, and entrepreneur. Dr Adriana Marais, the Director of the Foundation for Space Development Africa and Head of Science for the Foundation’s Africa2Moon Project, received the 2025 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Academic Excellence Award.



The 2025 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Champion of Change Award went to Dr Glenda Gray, who was the first female President and CEO of the South African Medical Research Council, leading the Council for 10 years in this role.



The 2025 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Businesswoman Award was awarded to Rita Zwane, Founder of Imbizo Shisanyama Busy Corner in South Africa. The face of women’s football in Africa, Sue Destombes was handed the 2025 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Sports Award. Her game-changing 30-year career in football has taken her across the continent and to AFCON and CHAN competitions since 2006.



To receive the inaugural 2025 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Visionary Ally Award, former NBA star Luol Deng walked up on stage for his leadership and community work using his platform to promote and support women’s empowerment.



Kenyan actor Sarah Hassan took home the 2025 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Entertainer of the Year Award. Hassan is a multi-award-winning actor, producer, and TV host. The 2025 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Champion of Entertainment Promotion was awarded to celebrity talent manager, Tholsi Pillay. This year, she celebrates a major milestone as her client, Wouter Kellerman, won his third Grammy Award, solidifying his position as a global music icon.



“I have to say that young African women inspire me,” Okonjo-Iweala said. “I see so many of them doing such wonderful things fearlessly, and it gives me a lot of hope. They will take on roles that we have now and more roles we don&#8217;t even know about, and they&#8217;ll do it fearlessly and succeed in ways that we before them never even thought of succeeding.”



The FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Awards were held as part of the 10th edition of the FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit on March 5.

DSC09044

Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Arunma Oteh Win Big At Star-Studded 2025 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Awards In Pretoria

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



Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a statement posted on social media he and Ukraine are still committed to working with President Donald Trump and “it is time to make things right,” one day after Trump announced a pause on military aid to Ukraine after Zelenskyy’s contentious visit to the White House.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">Key Facts</h2>



Zelenskyy said in the X&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1896948147085049916" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">statement</a>&nbsp;Ukraine does not want “an endless war” and is ready to “come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer.”



Zelenskyy’s statement was posted just before 11 a.m. EST Tuesday, less than one day after Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/mollybohannon/2025/03/04/trump-freezes-ukraine-aid-after-confrontation-with-zelenskyy/">ordered a pause</a>&nbsp;on all military aid for Ukraine amid its ongoing war with Russia until he felt Ukraine’s leaders “demonstrate a good-faith commitment to peace,”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-03/trump-pauses-military-aid-to-ukraine-after-clash-with-zelenskiy?srnd=homepage-americas" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Bloomberg</a>&nbsp;reported.



The pause in aid came days after Zelenskyy, Trump and Vice President JD Vance had a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/mollybohannon/2025/02/28/trump-zelenskyy-vance-face-off-in-oval-office-shouting-match-heres-everything-they-said/">heated exchange</a>&nbsp;in the Oval Office in which American leadership criticized Zelenskyy for a lack of gratitude and Trump threatened he was “gambling with World War III.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">Crucial Quote</h2>



“Our meeting in Washington, at the White House on Friday, did not go the way it was supposed to be,” Zelenskyy said in the statement. “It is regrettable that it happened this way. It is time to make things right. We would like future cooperation and communication to be constructive.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">Big Number</h2>



$66.5 billion. That’s about how much&nbsp;<a href="https://www.state.gov/bureau-of-political-military-affairs/releases/2025/01/u-s-security-cooperation-with-ukraine#:~:text=To%20date%2C%20we%20have%20provided,invasion%20of%20Ukraine%20in%202014." rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">U.S. aid</a>&nbsp;and military assistance has been sent to Ukraine since its war with Russia began in February 2022.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">Key Background</h2>



Russia invaded Ukraine more than three years ago and the countries have been warring since, with the U.S. and European countries largely backing Ukraine against President Vladimir Putin’s Russia. But Trump was critical of former President Joe Biden’s support of Ukraine, and regularly said throughout his presidential campaign the war would not have begun had he been president at the time Russia invaded Ukraine. Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2025/02/28/trump-threatens-zelensky-during-tense-live-meeting-make-a-deal-or-were-out/">met with Zelenskyy</a>&nbsp;last week in the White House for the signing of a minerals deal that would see Ukraine put some proceeds from its state-owned mineral resources to a jointly owned fund with the U.S. as a way to pay the U.S. back for its support during the war, but the meeting devolved into a shouting match in which Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/mollybohannon/2025/02/28/trump-zelenskyy-vance-face-off-in-oval-office-shouting-match-heres-everything-they-said/">told</a>&nbsp;Zelenskyy he and Ukraine “don’t have the cards” to beat Russia without U.S. support. Zelenskyy left the White House without signing the deal, and the meeting drew criticism from Democrats who&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/atrupar/status/1895593439854547343" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;Trump’s behavior made the U.S. look weak.



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



After the meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump, European leaders announced increased efforts to support Ukraine and end the war with Russia. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the U.K., France and other countries were committed to keeping aid flowing to Ukraine, finding a path to lasting peace and developing a “coalition of the willing” to defend Ukraine, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9vygkzkkrvo" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">BBC</a>&nbsp;reported. Starmer also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-britain-zelenskyy-europe-starmer-trump-russia-b980170ead74a1a7914c565f14ee6cc9" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">pledged</a>&nbsp;$2 billion to Ukraine to fund defense missiles.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-to-watch-for">What To Watch For</h2>



Trump’s response to Zelenskyy’s statement.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">Further Reading</h2>



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/mollybohannon/2025/03/04/trump-freezes-ukraine-aid-after-confrontation-with-zelenskyy/">Trump Freezes Ukraine Aid After Confrontation With Zelenskyy</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/mollybohannon/2025/02/28/trump-zelenskyy-vance-face-off-in-oval-office-shouting-match-heres-everything-they-said/">Trump, Zelenskyy, Vance Face Off In Oval Office Shouting Match—Here’s Everything They Said</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2025/02/28/trump-threatens-zelensky-during-tense-live-meeting-make-a-deal-or-were-out/">Trump-Zelenskyy Talks End Early After Trump Threatens Him In Tense Live Meeting: ‘Make A Deal Or We’re Out’</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)

President Trump Hosts Ukrainian President Zelensky At The White House

Zelenskyy Wants To ‘Make Things Right’ As U.S. Cuts Off Assistance

Nigerian singer, songwriter and actor, Tiwa Savage is determined to build an empire that will cement her status among the world’s self-made billionaire women.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-large-font-size is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
“I want to go into my mogul era – billionaire Tiwa Savage.”
</blockquote>



Tiwatope Omolara Savage, professionally known as Tiwa Savage, at the age of 45, is standing on the precipice of her next great reinvention. Her contemporaries have shown Savage the path. Now, she is ready to chart her own.



It is a journey that has been decades in the making, and one that began in London, where a teenage Savage discovered a love for performing during drama classes.



“When I was in school, there are basic subjects like math, English, and there are also electives like sports, drama, music – I chose drama and just even from earlier on, I knew that I had a gift for acting. Even when I started my music career, I knew, at some point, I was going to go back into that field,” she recalls to FORBES AFRICA via a Zoom call on a warm afternoon from her home in Lagos, Nigeria.



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“Why are we trying to break into another market? We should build our own to be the one others try to break into.”
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That passion never faded, even as music took center stage in her life. From her music videos to the depth in her lyrics, she was never content with just one avenue of expression.



For those who followed Savage from her 2010 breakout hit, Kele Kele Love to the global collaborations that she’s done in the present, this new chapter feels like a natural progression.



Her work seems to transcend genre and medium. Somebody’s Son, her duet with American singer Brandy Norwood, showcased her vocal prowess. Ife with Nigerian Fuji legend, Wasiu ‘Pasuma’ Odetola proved she could pivot effortlessly across cultures and sounds.



“Growing up in Nigeria, then moving to the United Kingdom and studying jazz in America, I absorbed different musical influences,” she explains.



“I can do a jazz record, a garage song, or an Afrobeats track, and it all feels authentic. I have lived these experiences.”



This authenticity is why her music has earned her historical accolades: the first African woman to sell out London’s Indigo at The O2, the first African woman to win Best African Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards, and a performer at King Charles III’s coronation concert.



As noted, her transition to film was inevitable. As the executive producer of Water and Garri, released in 2024, she found herself immersed in the filmmaking process, drawn to the meticulous nature of the craft.



“It was a lot of work, but there are similarities to music,” she says, as she adjusts her black Dior glasses and leans into the camera.



“I am used to repeating melodies until they are perfect. Watching scenes over and over, making corrections — it was not frustrating. It was exciting.”



Edward Israel-Ayide, an industry insider in the early days of Savage’s career, describes her as a ‘transformer’.



“What stands out is not just her success but how she has consistently adapted and evolved at every turn, emerging stronger from every challenge to become the industry’s ultimate comeback queen.”



He continues, stating that “she understood early on that being an artist in Africa meant being more than just a musician. You had to be a brand, a business, a movement”.



What is remarkable about Tiwa’s journey is how she has managed to stay relevant through every phase of the industry’s growth. From those early networking events to becoming a social media force with 35 million followers, from her first Nigerian stage performance at Industry Nite to co-producing Water and Garrí for Prime Video, she has consistently pushed beyond what we thought was possible for an African artist,” adds Israel-Ayide.



Now, Savage is thinking bigger. Her ambitions extend far beyond entertainment. “I want to go into my mogul era – billionaire Tiwa Savage,” she says with conviction.



The blueprint is clear—skincare, fashion, philanthropy, and, most significantly, education. Savage envisions a music school that does not just produce artists but also nurtures industry professionals, such as songwriters, producers, music therapists, and lawyers.



“I think a lot of times when people think of music, they think of just being an artist,” she explains. “But there are so many aspects to the industry. I want to build a school or scholarship program that teaches that.”



Even as she dreams of reshaping the industry, she remains as candid as ever: “Everyone always says to me, ‘when are you going to sign an artist?’ I don&#8217;t think I have the gift to sign another artist, because artists are stressful… I could just be sleeping, and then I will wake up and my artist is trending for something else”.



“But I do have the gift to help, which is why I am trying to do the music school, where you can go and later sign to a label that can actually help you,’’ she explains.



Ownership is another pillar of her vision. Afrobeats is no longer a niche genre; it is a global movement. As its influence grows, so does the need for African artists to retain control.



“We need to own our art, our publishing, our labels,” she says. “We need to tell our own stories.”



Chude Jideonwo, a media entrepreneur whose 25-year career spans advertising, public relations, television, radio, print, and digital media, echoes this sentiment.



“When it comes to contemporary people, Africa has so many incredible people – Tiwa Savage started her new career when she was in her 40s. There are so many stories from inside the belly of Africa that we have not told in a way that is accessible to the mainstream for the everyday young people.”



Savage has a radical dream: to see Africa become a mainstream music market. “Why are we trying to break into another market? We should build our own to be the one others try to break into,” she states. “If we had the right infrastructure, affordable data, and investment, we would not have to chase validation elsewhere.”



It is an audacious vision, but Savage has never been one to shrink from a challenge. From navigating a male-dominated industry to defining Afrobeats on her own terms, she has always played the long game. Now, as she prepares for her next act, she is more certain than ever of her purpose.



“Cherish the beginning,” she advises emerging artists. “A lot of artists rush to the top, but once you are there, you face pressures — streams, concerts, obligations. When you start, you are free to create without limitations. Build a strong foundation, so when opinions come at you, you do not lose yourself.”



With her fifth studio album, This One Is Personal, set for release early this summer, Savage doesn’t seem to be slowing down, professionally. But, she has contemplated modifying her pace.



“Not retirement, per se,” she corrects, laughing. “But sometimes the pressure gets to you. That is why having a strong team is important. Plus, let us be real, I need to keep making money. I do not know how to do anything else.”



“I really want to delve into my philanthropy. I want to start different NGOs [non-governmental organizations] to help women, to help young girls.’’



Savage is no longer just a music icon. She is an architect of the future — one where African music, business, and culture are not just global but dominant. The ‘Queen of Afrobeats’ is ready to claim her crown as the ‘Queen of Industry’.

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The Queen Of Afrobeats Is Powering Ahead, Driven By Purpose And Passion

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The 2nd Annual Over 30 Under 50 List: The Power Women Redefining Success

Our smartest technology just might be accelerating environmental challenges rather than solving them.



If you&#8217;re finding that you’re using generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) more and more to search for things online, you’re not alone. There are a growing number of people who are ditching traditional search engines like Google for large language model (LLM) chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude. And it makes a lot of sense. Instead of paging through lists of links hidden in-between ads, you get a direct answer to your question (with sources). It sounds brilliant but there’s a catch – running AI models (especially LLMs) require a lot of computational power. They also rely on massive data centers that can consume the same amount of electricity as a small city. And the more popular AI becomes, the more power these large-scale operations will need, with McKinsey &amp; Company predicting AI power consumption could reach up to 219 gigawatts by 2030 — that’s supposedly enough electricity to power more than 163 million (average) homes.



The hyperscalers, large cloud service providers like Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft, are all scrambling to secure renewable and low-carbon energy supplies. Both Meta and Microsoft are betting big on nuclear to bolster electric grids. Microsoft recently signed a 20-year power deal with Three Mile Island, an infamous nuclear plant in Pennsylvania that shut down in 2019.



“A lot of the energy plans that the big cloud providers and data centers have is focused on sustainable energy. Nuclear is not renewable but at least we are not burning fossil fuels,” says Chris Wiggett, Head of AI and Data Analytics at NTT DATA Middle East and Africa.



“Connecting to a grid is expensive,” adds Emad Mostaque, a British entrepreneur and the former CEO of Stability AI. “The human brain uses 20 watts. When ChatGPT first came out, it used over 1,000 watts for every influence, every query.” Now, every time someone puts in a prompt into ChatGPT,



it uses around 2.9 watts of energy, every hour. The energy use may be lower but it’s still nearly 10 times what it takes for a single Google search.



“We’re looking to build Africa’s largest interconnected hyperscale data center, but we need to be as efficient as possible in our design and operation,” says Finhai Munzara, ADC’s interim CEO. “Data centers are big capital and come at a high cost to operate. We do use a lot of power so it’s important to ensure that we take some of the burden off the grid and generate as much on-site as we can.” Munzara is also looking into what happens if they overproduce solar power – whether they will be able to bank that excess energy into the grid and then offset it against some of their other emissions elsewhere. “It’s not just about delivery capacity. It’s about how we are going to power it in the most sustainable way.”



Hugging Face – an open-source hub for AI – has over a million models in their library. The platform’s CEO, Clément Delangue, wrote that a new model is created every second on the platform. A Harvard report found that the training process for a single AI model, like an LLM which is what GenAI models are based on, can consume thousands of megawatt hours of electricity.



But Wiggett believes that as AI models evolve, there’s also a chance that they will consume less power. Open-source AI models, which are often collaborative, can be lower in energy consumption compared to a closed, proprietary AI model owned by a business. Wiggett also explains that algorithm solutions require less compute power than their AI counterparts.



A  great  example  is DeepMind’s AI model, AlphaGo, which was built in 2015 to master the ancient Chinese game of Go (a complex board game of strategy, creativity and ingenuity.) “AlphaGo was the first model, and it took a very long time and massive compute power to perform at the level it did. If you look at the subsequent models, they are all algorithm-based yet they outperform the first models,” says Wiggett. “If we look at the evolution of AI, we have to go heavy compute, and then over time, the evolution will involve going lesser compute. From a technology perspective, it will get better over time.”



You can already see a shift in how data centers consume water. Despite Amazon, Microsoft and Google all reporting that their water usage has escalated due to AI demands, the hyperscalers have plans in place to become water-positive in the near future.



Amazon Web Services (AWS) is funding over 20 worldwide water replenishment projects. In other words, they’re giving communities water instead of taking it away. In late 2024, Microsoft launched a new data center design that optimizes AI workloads and consumes zero water &nbsp;&nbsp;for cooling.



“Zero water means that until a data center is built, all the water pumped into the tanks is circulated in a closed loop,” explains Munzara. “The water is cooled with ambient air.” Water usage efficiency (WUE) is a metric that has been tracked since the first generation of data centers. To cut water costs, data centers are often built in icy areas to take advantage of natural cooling. Microsoft has even conducted experiments to see if underwater data centers could work and now, an American company called Lonestar, is looking to put data centers on the moon.



“The moon has no weather, no climate change, no atmosphere and it has a perfect view of Earth rotating underneath it,” said Lonestar’s CEO, Christopher Stott, in an interview. In the meantime, while AI workloads continue to strain data center resources, other eco-friendly cooling options to manage energy efficiency will have to do.

Specialist technician professional engineercontrol drone checking top view of installing solar roof panel on the factory rooftop under sunlight. Engineers holding tablet check solar roof.

Power Tussle: The Hidden Climate Costs Of AI

Trump’s second term may unleash a new wave of acquisitions, and mid-cap stocks could be in the crosshairs of acquirers.



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The stock market surged higher following Donald Trump’s election win earlier last year as Wall Street celebrated the new business-friendly administration and the more lenient regulatory environment it is expected to bring.



Under the Biden administration, dealmaking has been sluggish due in part to an aggressive antitrust approach from the Federal Trade Commission headed up by Chair Lina Khan. A year-and-a-half Federal Reserve rate hiking campaign also slowed the pace of deals. Trump, however, has made it no secret that he wants to overhaul government departments, and once he takes office in January, a change in the FTC seems like it will be among his first orders of business. Plus, the Fed started cutting rates in September.



Dealmakers and corporate lenders are expecting a second Trump term to usher in a new era of merger and acquisition activity, while Wall Street now expects that under Trump, stalled deals like the Kroger-Albertsons grocery merger could get the green light.



Recent interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve have lowered the cost of capital for companies to do deals, particularly those involving debt. The dollar-volume of M&amp;A activity in 2025 will rise 20%, compared to a 15% decline this year, says Goldman Sachs’ chief U.S. equity strategist, David Kostin.



“A tidal wave of tech M&amp;A and overall deal activity could now be on the horizon with Trump in the White House,” says analyst Dan Ives at Wedbush.



Public company CEOs have also lauded what they see as a more favorable outlook for dealmaking. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav told analysts on a call earlier this month that the new Trump administration would be beneficial for business consolidation.



Andrew Peck, co-chief investment officer at $43 billion Baron Capital, predicts that sectors like healthcare, consumer staples and especially technology—where larger companies are sitting on big cash piles—are ripe for M&amp;A activity. CFRA Chief Investment Strategist Sam Stovall agrees about healthcare and consumer staples but adds to the list depressed sectors like industrials and materials. Bank of America says that just about any company with positive cash flow, above-average sales growth and low debt levels are takeover candidates.



Mid-caps, which range in market capitalization from about $2 billion to $10 billion, have been the stock market’s sweet spot since the turn of the century, with the S&amp;P Midcap 400 Index posting total returns 39% higher than both the large cap S&amp;P 500 Index and Russell 2000 Small Cap Index. An investment of $10,000 in May 2000 in the MDY exchange traded fund that tracks the S&amp;P 400 has mushroomed into a value of $92,260. By comparison, $10,000 invested in the SPY, which mirrors the S&amp;P 500, and IWM, which tracks the Russell 2000, grew into $65,560 and $66,430, respectively.



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<abbr>F</abbr>orbes decided to hunt&nbsp;for acquisition candidates among under-the-radar mid-cap stocks by selecting companies appealing to potential acquirers interested in both growth and value.



In screening for top targets in the growth category,&nbsp;Forbes&nbsp;used the following metrics: Companies with a market range of between $2 billion and $15 billion, closely approximating the typical range for mid-cap stocks. These companies are big enough to exert competitive pressure on larger cap companies in their industry, spurring takeover interest. They are also small enough to be easily digestible for larger companies, and for private equity firms and Warren Buffett-style investors in search of well-run businesses that produce consistent and rising cash flows. There are more than 10,000 private equity firms globally and according to an S&amp;P Global report earlier this year, they are sitting on a record $2.6 trillion in dry powder.



For our mid-cap growth candidates, we required stocks to have more than a 7% increase in current-year earnings per share and revenue. We also required a return on invested capital (ROIC) of at least 15%, a calculation used to determine how well a company allocates money to profitable projects or investments. For the value category, we additionally required shareholder yield of greater than 4% but dropped the requirement for 7% current year growth in earnings per and revenue.



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Onboth lists&nbsp;we also considered enterprise value divided by earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization—a metric widely used by acquiring firms that looks at the amount of cash flow generated if you were to buy all of a company’s stock and assume all of its debt. Finally, we then ranked both lists by ROIC and took the 10 stocks ranking highest in that metric.



Top of both the growth and value lists was Dropbox, the $8.5 billion (market capitalization) cloud storage company. Though shares are down some 7% this year, Dropbox boasted an impressive 55.6% return on invested capital, meaning that management has had a good track record of investing in profitable projects.



On our value list, the top performers were all in the consumer staples sector, though their share prices have largely been flat this year. These include retailer Bath &amp; Body Works, department store chain Dillard’s and footwear brand Crocs, which boasted a 37%, 28% and 26% return on invested capital, respectively.



The top targets in our growth list, meanwhile, include the likes of home service plan provider Frontdoor, radiopharmaceutical company Lantheus Holdings and clothing retailer Abercrombie &amp; Fitch. Many of these stocks have seen share prices jump higher in 2024 on the back of solid earnings growth: Lantheus is up 20% while Abercrombie &amp; Fitch and Frontdoor have both risen more than 50%.



“Regulatory shifts may open doors but won&#8217;t fundamentally change what makes a good deal good, and while a potential administration change could ease regulatory scrutiny, factors like higher interest rates could offset any surge in deal activity,” cautions Kurt Havnaer, manager of the Jensen Quality Mid Cap (JNVIX) mutual fund. “Looking ahead, acquirers will likely remain selective, focusing on deals that create tangible shareholder value through revenue synergies, market expansion, and operational efficiencies.



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Donald Trump Campaigns For President In Raleigh, North Carolina

Wall Street Expects A Dealmaking Boom Under Trump. These 20 Stocks Are Prime Targets

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“I try to show myself as an example through excellence,&#8221; says Oduwole.
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Zuriel Oduwole, an education advocate and filmmaker known for her work in global peace and gender equality, has been nominated for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.



The nomination, submitted by a professor of clinical education engineering at the University of Southern California (USC) and an emeritus professor of geosciences at the University of Missouri – Kansas City, recognizes Oduwole&#8217;s decade-long efforts in diplomacy and development.



&#8220;I try to show myself as an example through excellence,” Oduwole said to FORBES AFRICA, after leaving the stage following her panel discussion at the 2024 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit in March 2024 in Johannesburg.



The 22-year-old first gained international attention at the age of 13 when she met with then-President David Granger of Guyana in New York, urging him to consider the impact of war on women and girls amid rising tensions with Venezuela over the Essequibo oil-rich region.



Her advocacy, inspired by discussions with the First Lady of Sierra Leone about the lingering effects of war, positioned her as a young but formidable voice in international peace efforts.



In 2019, her work with Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi contributed to the country’s decision to ban child marriage. She was later invited by an Arab leader during the Qatar-Gulf diplomatic crisis, further solidifying her role in conflict resolution and policy discussions at the highest levels.



She is now a doctoral student at USC, having been accepted into the program at 20.



She has received honors, including the Ban Ki-moon Leadership Award in 2022 for her decade-long peacebuilding initiatives.

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