
<p><strong>Olushola Medupin wanted to stay away from the food business but now has a growing array of upscale restaurants selling West African cuisine in some of the world’s most dazzling cities.</strong></p>



<p><strong>For Olushola Medupin, </strong>his passion for food was a gift passed down generations, like a prized heir- loom. His mother ran one of the most successful restaurants in Kwara State in Western Nigeria, and before her, his grandparents too ran their own local outlets selling inexpensive, pre-cooked food to hungry customers.</p>



<p>Cooking, literally, is in his blood. “My mother was in the restaurant, cooking, when she had to rush to the hospital to give birth to me,” says Medupin. “The only life I knew from a young age was to go to school and from there, the driver would bring me to the restaurant because there was nobody at home. I was forced to stay in the restaurant all day.” That was his world growing up.</p>



<p>Food was such an integral part of the family dynamics that all five children competed as cooks and Medupin always won. From the tender age of five, he knew his way around the kitchen, mastering local dishes such as jollof rice, eba (made from dried cassava flakes) and pounded yam.</p>



<p>In addition to his natural affinity for the culinary arts, Medupin also discovered he had a passion for making money. In 1991, when his father traveled to India for six months and forgot to leave his cheque book at home, Medupin’s mother struggled to make ends meet. He helped by climbing orange trees and selling the fruit in the market. By the time he was 14, he was already a serial entrepreneur, renting out his BMX bicycle for transportation in the local markets, managing a rub- bish collection business, an internet business, a supermarket and a phone repair business.</p>



<p>His final venture before he left Nigeria for the United Kingdom (U.K.) was a car wash business which he sold in two months for three times the capital he invested. Medupin used the proceeds to fund his education in the U.K. where he stud- ied investment banking and securities. But he didn’t land the right opportunities.</p>



<p>“I wasn’t getting any major jobs apart from kitchen jobs in the U.K. In 2009, I said to myself ‘I am not working in the kitchen anymore’ and started a security job in Cardiff.”</p>



<p>But very soon, Medupin resigned and started looking every- where else for inspiration. He didn’t want to return into the restaurant business as he had done it all his life.</p>



<p>“It is a very hard industry to be in. You go through a lot of emotional trauma because you must put your heart and soul in the business. If people are not happy with the food, they tell you off straight away and when they do that, it gets to you. So, I didn’t want to do it again,” says Medupin.</p>



<p>The National Restaurant Association in the United States (U.S.) estimates a 20% success rate for all restaurants; but about 60% of all restaurants fail in their first year of operation, and 80% within five years of opening. As much as Medupin fought the idea of starting a restaurant, that was the only viable option before him. He finally decided to give in. He moved back to London, found a place for rent in Lewisham and started his first outlet. It was tough.</p>



<p>“In my first year, I wanted to sell the business. The guy who wanted to buy it from me offered me £300,000 ($375,400) and at the last minute, offered me £150,000 ($188,000) to still run it. It was a struggle initially, but we decided to push through,” says Medupin.</p>



<p>And he made it work. Along with his wife Eniola, also his co-founder, Medupin is today a certified restaurateur with 13 fine dining restaurants, branded Enish, spread across London, the U.S. and Dubai.</p>



<p>West African cuisine has its loyal patrons in London, evidenced by the popularity of Nigerian restaurants such as </p>



<p>Akoko and Chishuru that earned Michelin stars recently. “Not only are African restaurants abroad scarce but also finding the ingredients to cook the food you grew up with can be very challenging in London and America. That is why Enish has such a strong fanbase. They are bringing quality Nigerian food to immigrants abroad,” says Michael Amusan, a financial analyst in London and frequent visitor at Enish Covent Garden.</p>



<p>Concurs London food critic Tola Ogun: “This shows you that West African food, especially Nigerian, is here to stay. Michelin stars were typically awarded to white-skewing restaurants and so for Nigerian restaurants to receive the highest honor in the food business is testament to how popular our food is.”</p>



<p>“For someone like me who is based in the U.K., this is amaz- ing. Nigerian cuisine is growing in popularity all over the world and I am definitely a big fan of Enish,” attests Florence Otedola, popularly known as DJ Cuppy.</p>



<p>Serving everything from pounded yam to <em>egusi </em>soup (made from ground melon seeds) with a side of lobster, Enish has managed to carve out a place for itself in the U.K.’s fine dining scene, and now also in Dubai, where there are multiple outlets.</p>



<p>“The management already knew our brand, so it made it easy to sell our concept. It cost us $4 million to open our first branch and during that year of building the restaurant, we still had to pay a monthly rent of $50,000,” says Medupin. He has invested a lot in each of these projects, such as spending £25,000 ($31,200) a month to rent the dining space on Oxford Street and £20,000 ($25,000) a month for the Knightsbridge location in London, he adds.</p>



<p>In Dubai, known as The Dwntwn By Enish and located near the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, Medupin’s outlet is a swanky 40,000sqft nightclub featuring two bars and several VIP lounge areas.</p>



<p>All the way from Africa to the Middle East, Medupin says he imports about 80% of all his ingredients, which presents its own unique challenges.</p>



<p>“You cannot buy <em>egusi</em> for six months at a time and there is an issue with the consistency of the products. Every time you order <em>egusi </em>or palm oil, it has a different taste. So, it’s up to you to use your experience to keep the taste consistent. So, it’s a big challenge,” says Medupin. But he is powering on with his vision to put Nigerian cui- sine firmly on the world map, one dish and one restaurant at a time.</p>


image-4

The Reluctant Restaurateur Serving West African Cuisine Abroad


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



<p>Shares of Google parent firm Alphabet fell 3% to a 2024 low on Thursday, after OpenAI launched a test version of SearchGPT, a new artificial intelligence-powered search engine to be implemented into ChatGPT that could enter OpenAI into an internet search market dominated by Google.</p>



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



<p>SearchGPT, a new search engine created with OpenAI’s AI models, launched as a temporary “prototype” among a small group of users—<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/7/25/24205701/openai-searchgpt-ai-search-engine-google-perplexity-rival" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">reportedly</a>&nbsp;including about 10,000 people—and publishers, the company&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/7/25/24205701/openai-searchgpt-ai-search-engine-google-perplexity-rival" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">said</a>.</p>



<p>Alphabet shares fell to a new 52-week low of $167.32 as trading closed on Thursday.</p>



<p>SearchGPT summarizes information from websites and then provides short descriptions with an attribution link instead of linking directly to a website, and allows users to ask follow-up questions or open other relevant links in a sidebar.</p>



<p>In one example, searching for musical festivals in Boone, North Carolina, in August results in a list of each festival and a short description, followed by a link to a website for that festival, with a sidebar with links to other relevant results like event scheduling or ticket sales.</p>



<p>Publishers will be able to “manage how they appear” in search results, according to OpenAI, noting publishers can opt out of having their content used to train OpenAI’s models while still appearing in searches.</p>



<p>OpenAI said it plans to “integrate the best of these features” into ChatGPT in the future, though the company didn’t specify which features would be included.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-we-don-t-know">WHAT WE DON’T KNOW</h2>



<p>It’s not immediately clear how long the testing period will last and when SearchGPT will become more widely available.</p>



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



<p>There has been speculation on a new search engine from OpenAI this year, as the company moves to compete with Google in the search market. Bloomberg&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-05-07/openai-is-readying-an-ai-search-product-to-rival-google-perplexity" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;in May—citing a person familiar with the matter—that OpenAI was developing a new search feature for ChatGPT intended to compete with Google and the AI search startup Perplexity. At the time, OpenAI was “aggressively trying to poach Google employees” to develop the product,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/5/7/24151616/openai-is-entering-the-search-game" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">according</a>&nbsp;to The Verge. OpenAI was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/openai-plans-announce-google-search-competitor-monday-sources-say-2024-05-09/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">reportedly</a>&nbsp;planning the new search engine in May, before Google announced plans for its Gemini AI products at the company’s annual developer conference. OpenAI has partnered with several publishers over the last year, including the Associated Press, the Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal parent News Corp, and Politico and Business Insider’s parent company Axel Springer, among others. The partnerships allow OpenAI to use content by each publisher to help answer user queries and train the company’s AI models.</p>



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



<p>The New York Times <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/britneynguyen/2023/12/27/new-york-times-sues-openai-and-microsoft-billions-owed-for-ai-copyright-infringement-case-claims/">filed</a> a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft in December alleging “unlawful use” of millions of copyrighted articles by the publisher being used to train AI models. The Times alleges OpenAI and Microsoft’s technology that powers ChatGPT and Bing Chat, now called Copilot, could “Generate output that recites Times content verbatim, closely summarizes it and mimics its expressive style.” OpenAI filed a <a href="https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/documenttools/82a013b9ba852548/9d4b1790-full.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">motion</a> to dismiss parts of the complaint, suggesting users did not use ChatGPT or other products from the company as a “substitute” for a subscription to the Times. The lawsuit is ongoing.</p>


In this photo illustration a Open AI logo is displayed on a

OpenAI Announces AI-Powered Search Engine That Could Challenge Google—And Alphabet’s Stock Drops 3%. Here’s What To Know.


<p>Leadership is a very precise balancing act. American statesman Teddy Roosevelt is said to have once argued, “The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it.” </p>



<p>This is one aspect of the balancing act I refer to. The other aspect is the very art of navigating the various moving parts leadership entails. Maneuvering these parts requires leaders to demonstrate skill, intuition, discernment, and perseverance. </p>



<p>There thus needs to be a framework to guide leadership practices. In the South Asian Journal of Business and Management Cases, Lämsä and Keränen refer to responsible leadership. </p>



<p>As they argue, “The principles of responsible leadership are organized in a hierarchical order, based on the level of cooperation between manager and employee.” In an analysis of leadership styles, their study found that responsible leadership was dependent on the presence of various principles, including care, trust, openness, fairness, and empowerment. </p>



<p>This, they argue, is based on ethical frameworks from both parties. As I went through this study, I contemplated the implications of managing employment relations. This could be considered a <em>ubuntu </em>style of leadership that has its roots in various African societies and cultures. </p>



<p>In Understanding Organizational Leadership Through <em>Ubuntu</em>, Chiku Malunga argues that <em>ubuntu </em>calls for leaders to determine the way for others based on African values such as honesty, sincerity, dignity, and respect for others. </p>



<p>This goes beyond the traditional hierarchical notions of leadership and focuses on building strong relationships, fostering social cohesion, creating a purpose, and encouraging environments that promote collective wellbeing. In <em>Ubuntu</em> Leadership – An Explication of an Afrocentric Leadership Style, Eugene Laloo argues that there now needs to be a view to encompass traditionally African leadership theories such as <em>ubuntu</em>. </p>



<p>As he asserts, “Now is the time to refocus on its further development and refi nement to bring this leadership theory into the fold of general leadership discourse.” It could be argued that mutual respect, a central tenet of <em>ubuntu</em>, is the lens through which discipline, confl ict and harmony in the workplace should be analyzed.</p>



<p>Discipline within the context of employment relations can be viewed in two ways. Firstly, it entails a framework of expectations for employees to follow. Strong leaders are made acutely aware of their roles and responsibilities but also the consequences of not meeting these expectations. What is required is a framework for accountability, which outlines how leaders respond to issues such as performance or conduct. Secondly, it denotes one’s own sense of control – or controlled motivation as some camps refer to it as. </p>



<p>This is based on values such as respect and humility. Leaders who encourage this sense of discipline are likely to have more engaged and empowered employees.Confl ict resolution is a crucial component of leadership, and leaders must be skilled at addressing confl ict not only promptly but also in a constructive manner. </p>



<p>Conflict resolution relies on open communication. It is thus imperative for employees to create channels for employees to effectively communicate their grievances and for employees to act as mediators where necessary to fi nd mutually beneficial solutions. </p>



<p>Leaders must have soft skills such as active listening, clear and effective communication, and empathy in their arsenal. This enables a more conducive and positive environment. Disagreements should thus not be viewed negatively but rather through the lens of opportunity for growth.These ideas strive towards achieving harmony in the workplace. </p>



<p>Harmony is predicated on the very culture of respect. Here, leaders must demonstrate respect through their actions by emphasizing traits such as fairness or empathy. This fosters a sense of belonging. This inspires cooperation and teamwork and instils a sense of belonging and respect for one another. Additionally, the very idea of harmony acknowledges and celebrates differences. The mutual respect that emerges is ubuntu in practice – as the idea insists, ‘I am because you are’. </p>



<p>In <em>ubuntu</em>-style leadership, these principles are encouraged and deeply ingrained in cultural norms and traditions. According to writer Sammi Caramela, this approach to employee engagement is integral for productivity, creativity, and innovation. </p>



<p>Strong manager-employee relations have the potential to decrease employee absenteeism and turnover rates, while poor management can have devastating effects. In fact, this is backed up by a GoodHire survey of 3,000 workers, which indicated that 82% of respondents would leave if they had a bad manager. Indeed, leadership is a very precise balancing act – one enriched by the very idea of <em>ubuntu</em>.</p>


Three creative colleagues exchanging ideas

Expert-Speak: Leadership As A Balancing Act Between Ubuntu Principles And Effective Management


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



<p>Higher levels of belly and arm fat may increase the risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, while high muscle strength may decrease this risk, new research suggests, the latest study to explore the link between body composition and brain degeneration.</p>



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



<p>The study included 412,961 participants between the ages of 40 and 70 who were followed for an average of about nine years; 8,224 participants developed neurodegenerative diseases during this time—mainly Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.</p>



<p>The researchers found participants with excess arm fat had an 18% greater risk of developing these diseases compared to participants with low levels of arm fat, according to the study published Wednesday in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.</p>



<p>Participants with high levels of belly fat were also 13% more likely to develop these neurodegenerative diseases, and this risk was slightly higher in men than women.</p>



<p>However, there was one factor that consistently decreased risks among participants: Having high muscle strength lowered risks by over 25%.</p>



<p>Previous&nbsp;<a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2807421#:~:text=High%20levels%20of%20lean,between%20risk%20factors%20and%20diseases." rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">research</a>&nbsp;found having higher levels of lean muscle mass—the difference between total body weight and body fat—decreases neurodegenerative disease risk, but the Neurology study researchers found inconsistent results on this factor, and suggested muscle quality may play a more important role in reducing risk than muscle quantity.</p>



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



<p>“Targeted interventions to reduce trunk and arm fat while promoting healthy muscle development may be more effective for protection against these diseases than general weight control,” Dr. Huan Song, a study author and professor for Sichuan University in China, said in a statement.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-does-excess-fat-increase-the-risk-of-neurodegenerative-disease">WHY DOES EXCESS FAT INCREASE THE RISK OF NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE?</h2>



<p>One reason high levels of belly fat increases this risk is due to a type of fat called visceral fat, which only lies around abdominal organs. Visceral fat is also called “<a href="https://www.webmd.com/diet/what-is-visceral-fat" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">hidden fat</a>” because it’s located within the stomach and isn’t visible to the naked eye. Middle-aged people with excess visceral fat have increased levels of tau and amyloid proteins in their brains, which are both indicators of Alzheimer’s, according to a 2023&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aginganddisease.org/EN/10.14336/AD.2023.0707" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">study</a>&nbsp;published in Aging &amp; Disease. Researchers have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fncel.2023.1294420/full" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">found</a>&nbsp;obesity significantly increases the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases. The brain naturally shrinks with age, but obesity can cause this process to speed up, causing the brain to age by about 10 excess years and increasing Alzheimer’s risk,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/managing-the-risk-of-dementia/reduce-your-risk-of-dementia/obesity" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">according</a>&nbsp;to the Alzheimer’s Society. Metabolic changes associated with excess fat can damage the central nervous system, and can then lead to neuronal cell death, which is a known contributor to neurodegenerative disease, a Life Sciences&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S002432051730276X?via%3Dihub" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">study</a>&nbsp;suggested.</p>



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



<p>The Neurology study researchers also considered how cardiovascular diseases—like heart disease or stroke—factor into degenerative brain disease development. Around 35% and 22% of participants with excess belly and arm fat, respectively, developed some form of cardiovascular disease after the study began, but before the onset of neurodegenerative diseases. Cardiovascular diseases have been&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thelancet.com/article/S0140-6736(20)30367-6/fulltext" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">previously linked</a>&nbsp;as risk factors for neurodegenerative disease. The researchers believe early management of cardiovascular diseases in people with excess arm and belly fat may mitigate neurodegeneration.</p>



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



<p>30 million. That’s how many people worldwide are living with a degenerative brain disease,&nbsp;<a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24976-neurodegenerative-diseases" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">according</a>&nbsp;to the Cleveland Clinic.</p>


Neurology research, conceptual image

Excess Arm And Stomach Fat Boosts Alzheimer’s And Parkinson’s Risk While Muscle Strength Decreases It, Study Suggests


<p><strong>The intervention placed emphasis on the need for cooperation and collaboration among all stakeholders to address concerns.</strong></p>



<p>The Nigerian government has stepped in to address concerns surrounding the Dangote Refinery, following accusations of monopolistic practices.</p>



<p>“All parties involved demonstrated a strong commitment to proactive problem-solving and expressed their gratitude for the leadership and timely intervention provided,” Nigeria’s Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri stated.</p>



<p>This was after meeting with top executives from the Dangote Group, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).</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/2024/07/GettyImages-1257252246.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-62544" style="width:510px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-1257252246.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-1257252246-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-1257252246-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong><em>(Photographer: Benson Ibeabuchi/Bloomberg via Getty Images)</em></strong></figcaption></figure></div>


<p>The intervention follows Saturday’s announcement by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, that he is canceling plans to build a new steel plant in Nigeria due to government accusations of monopoly, after he reportedly requested the suspension of diesel and aviation fuel imports.</p>



<p>Last week, NNPC’s shareholding in the Dangote Refinery was reduced from 20% to 7.2% due to unpaid funding.</p>



<p>The Dangote Refinery, one of the largest in Africa, began operations in January and has the capacity to process 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day.</p>



<p>Dangote defended his business practices, saying, “We are not an assembly plant. If you look at all our operations as Dangote, we actually add value. We take local raw materials and turn them into products, and we sell. Everything is here. Everything is in Nigeria”.</p>



<p>In response to the accusations, Dangote suggested that the NNPC could buy out his stake in the refinery.</p>



<p>He also shared recent improvements in the refinery’s output, stating, “When we started, our quality was about 600 to 650 PPM [parts per million]. Today, we are at 87 PPM, and by the beginning of August, we’ll be at 10 PPM. In terms of quality, we are doing very well.”</p>


Nigeria’s $21 Billion Dangote Mega Oil Refinery Opening

Nigerian Government Intervenes In Dangote Refinery Dispute Amid Monopoly Accusations


<p><strong>AFRICA’S MEDAL HOPEFULS AT THE 2024 OLYMPIC GAMES.</strong></p>



<p><strong>Africa will be </strong>striving to come back from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with precious metals in their pocket in the form of gold, silver and bronze. The Games will be staged from July 26 to August 11 and among the 10,500 athletes taking part, there are many from the African continent who will be genuine medal contenders. We select 10 who could be on the podium in Paris.</p>



<p><strong>JOSHUA CHEPTEGEI • UGANDA</strong></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/2024/07/GettyImages-2150812847.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-62530" style="width:570px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-2150812847.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-2150812847-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-2150812847-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong><em>(Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)</em></strong></figcaption></figure></div>


<p>The 27-year-old took gold in the 5,000 meters and silver in the 10,000 meters at the Tokyo Games three years ago and has maintained that form since, espe- cially at the longer distance where he remains ranked at number one in the world. He won the gold at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest last year, always a strong indicator for Olympic form. He holds the world record over both distances.</p>



<p><strong>PIETER COETZE • SOUTH AFRICA</strong></p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="706" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-1242955822.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-62531" style="width:576px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-1242955822.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-1242955822-300x207.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-1242955822-768x530.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"> (Photo by Raul Sifuentes/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>Coetze recently turned 20 and is the rising star of South African swimming after claiming fivegold medals at the national swimming championships in April. He has qualified for the  100-meters and 200-meters back- stroke in Paris having claimed gold (100 meters), silver (50 meters) and bronze (200 meters) at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and secured another bronzein the 200 meters at this year’s World Aquatic Championships in Doha. He will hope for a podium place at the Olympics.</p>



<p><strong>SOUFIANE EL BAKKALI • MOROCCO</strong></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/2024/07/GettyImages-2063032543.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-62532" style="width:656px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-2063032543.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-2063032543-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-2063032543-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">(Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>The Moroccan is the 3,000-meter steeplechase Olympic champion, having claimed gold in Tokyo and with wins in the World Championships in 2022 and 2023, will be the overwhelming favourite to repeat that feat. He also competed in the 1,500 meters in Tokyo but did not finish the race and is unlikely to attempt that experiment again, concentrating only on his pre- ferred event. His biggest rival is the Ethiopian Lamecha Girma, who set a new world record time of 7:52.11 in 2023.</p>



<p><strong>VICTOR KIPLANGAT • UGANDA</strong></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/2024/07/GettyImages-1628191010.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-62533" style="width:502px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-1628191010.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-1628191010-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-1628191010-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong><em> (Photo by Andy Astfalck/BSR Agency/Getty Images)</em></strong></figcaption></figure></div>


<p>The 24-year-old won gold in the marathon at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and at the World Championships in Budapest last year, so is the form runner in the men’s event. His win at the Common-<br>wealth Games came despite him taking a wrong turn near the end of the race. The tragic death of world record holder Kelvin Kiptum in a car accident in February this year makes his training partner Kiplan- gat a favorite in Paris, though there is no shortage of competition in this event.</p>



<p><strong>FAITH KIPYEGON • KENYA</strong></p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="811" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-827398622.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-62534" style="width:554px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-827398622.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-827398622-300x238.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-827398622-768x608.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong><em>(Photo by Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)</em></strong></figcaption></figure></div>


<p>Kipyegon is a double Olympic 1,500-me- ters champion having won gold in 2016 and 2020, and showed she is as fast as ever ater seting a new world re- cord of 3:49.11 in 2023. She also claimed 5,000-meters gold at the World Champi- onships last year and at the age of 30, is in the form of her life. There is no word on whether she will tackle the 5,000 meters in Paris, but broke the world record over that distance in the French capital last year, though her mark has since been lowered by Ethiopian Gudaf Tsegay.</p>



<p><strong>TATJANA SMITH • SOUTH AFRICA</strong></p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="985" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-1576438364.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-62535" style="width:486px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-1576438364.jpg 985w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-1576438364-289x300.jpg 289w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-1576438364-768x798.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 985px) 100vw, 985px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>The South African 100-meters and 200-meters breaststroke queen has a new surname these days following her marriage to Joel Smith, the brother of Springbok captain Siya Kolisi’s wife Rachel. The 26-year-old has had a tough 2024 with injury but has booked her place in Paris and will look to add to her Olympic medals tally ater gold in the 200 meters and silver in the 100 meters in Tokyo. She remains one of South Africa’s best medal hopes in Paris.</p>



<p><strong>LETSILE TEBOGO • BOTSWANA</strong></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/2024/07/GettyImages-2161802004.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-62536" style="width:602px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-2161802004.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-2161802004-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-2161802004-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"> (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>The 20-year-old sprinter claimed the silver medal in the 100 meters at the World Championships last year in a rapid time of 9.88 seconds, and also took bronze in the 200 meters. He is in a hugely competi- tive ield, but is seen as one of the best up-and-coming sprinters in the world. Could these Games come too soon for him? Perhaps, but he will certainly be one to watch in the glamor event at the Olympics.</p>



<p><strong>GUDAF TSEGAY • ETHIOPIA</strong></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/2024/07/GettyImages-1672926742.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-62537" style="width:462px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-1672926742.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-1672926742-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-1672926742-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"> (Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>Tsegay took bronze in the 5,000 meters in Tokyo, but will be looking for much more than that this time round having set a new world record just last year. She also claimed the gold medal in the 10,000 meters at the World Champion- ships in Budapest and was 2023 Diamond League champion for over 5,000. Just to show her all-round capabilities, she is also record holder indoors for the 1,500 meters. She will likely race over 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters in Paris.</p>



<p><strong>EMMANUEL WANYONYI• KENYA</strong></p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="986" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-1839961477.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-62538" style="width:242px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-1839961477.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-1839961477-300x289.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-1839961477-768x740.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"> (Photo by Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>At just 19 years of age, Wanyonyi is a relatively new name on the circuit, but he has been making waves and claimed a silver medal at last year’s World Championships to go with gold as 2023 Diamond League champion. Canadian Marco Arop is his big rival and it is likely they will take the top two places on the podium, though in what order we don’t know.</p>



<p><strong>HUGUES FABRICE ZANGO• BURKINA FASO</strong></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/2024/07/GettyImages-2053959764.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-62539" style="width:510px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-2053959764.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-2053959764-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-2053959764-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">(Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>Zango won bronze in Tokyo, but his form in the triple jump has improved immea- surably since then and he is perhaps a favorite for gold in Paris. He won irst prize at the World Championships and was rated number one in 2023, having also taken gold at the World Indoor Championships, seting himself up as the man to beat. </p>


Untitled design (16)

The List: African Sports Stars Likely To Take The Top Places On The Olympics Podium


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



<p>Google parent Alphabet came in above Wall Street’s lofty expectations in its second-quarter earnings report released Tuesday afternoon, as the internet behemoth continues to rake in tens of billions of advertising dollars.</p>



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



<p>Alphabet’s $84.7 billion of second-quarter revenue was slightly above average analyst estimates of $84.2 billion, according to FactSet, a 14% year-over-year increase.</p>



<p>The company tallied earnings per share of $1.89, also topping forecasts of $1.84, while its $23.6 billion net income was just shy of Q1’s prior record of $23.7 billion.</p>



<p>Shares of the Silicon Valley kingpin rose slightly immediately after the earnings announcement.</p>



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



<p>Alphabet’s report is part of a flurry of second-quarter earnings, with 25% of S&amp;P 500 companies scheduled to report fiscal results this week, according to Bank of America. A digital age conglomerate whose products include leading search engine Google, paid cable alternative YouTube TV, Microsoft Office 365 competitor Google Workspace and generative artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT’s rival Gemini, Alphabet is an advertising business at its core. About three-fourths of its Q2 revenues were from ads, including $49 billion from its search business and $9 billion on YouTube ads. Like it has been for many other big tech stocks during the AI boom, it’s been a very nice stretch for Alphabet stock, returning about 50% over the last year and over 100% from its late 2022 low. Alphabet is the fourth-most-valuable company in the world by market value, worth nearly $2.3 trillion as of Tuesday’s stock market closure, trailing only fellow West Coast tech companies Apple, Microsoft and AI golden child Nvidia in market capitalization. Google paid its first ever quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per share last month.</p>



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



<p>31%. That’s how much higher Alphabet’s second-quarter adjusted earnings per share was than the same period last year. The company is expected to contribute to the fourth-greatest share of profit growth to the S&amp;P,&nbsp;<a href="https://advantage.factset.com/hubfs/Website/Resources%20Section/Research%20Desk/Earnings%20Insight/EarningsInsight_071924.pdf" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">according</a>&nbsp;to FactSet, trailing only Nvidia, Google Cloud competitor Amazon and advertising foe Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram.</p>



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



<p>Alphabet’s potential <a href="https://www.cbinsights.com/research/google-biggest-acquisitions-infographic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">largest-ever</a> acquisition, a $23 billion purchase of Israeli cybersecurity firm Wiz, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexkonrad/2024/07/22/google-is-not-buying-wiz-for-23-billion-after-all/">fell through</a> late Monday after the sides were <a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/deals/google-near-23-billion-deal-for-cybersecurity-startup-wiz-622edf1a?mod=article_inline" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reportedly</a> in advanced talks for a deal last week.<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/"></a></p>


FRANCE-ECONOMY-TECHNOLOGY-VIVATECH

Google Earnings Top Estimates With $24 Billion Quarterly Profit


<p><strong>Africa too can proudly claim to be a source of caviar, one of the world’s greatest indulgences. Being farmed in the favorable climate and terroir of Madagascar are some very expensive fish eggs – a first for the continent.</strong></p>



<p class="has-drop-cap">M<strong>adagascar is known</strong> rich biodiversity, and in culinary terms, it is mostly celebrated for its unbeatable vanilla, pink peppercorns and cinnamon. Yet, the small African island is also the unexpected source of an- other exclusive luxury food item – caviar. Acipenser is the inspiring, first-ever producer of African caviar, founded by a French trio, Christophe and Delphyne Dabezies, and Alexandre Guerrier, operating out of Ambatolaona, approximately a 90-minute drive from the capital Antananarivo.</p>



<p>Usually served as a garnish, atop blinis and sour cream and often accompanied with champagne or sparkling wine, caviar is one of the world’s biggest indul- gences. Historically, Russia was known as the world’s top producer of caviar, up until 2007, when overfishing led to a ban on the sale and harvesting of black caviar.</p>



<p>Since then, China has overtaken as the largest global caviar producer with Italy and the United States not far behind them.</p>



<p>It wasn’t until Acipenser’s launch in 2017, that Africa could proudly claim to be a source of caviar too. The ambitious idea was first launched in 2009 by Del- phyne Dabezies and her husband Christophe, who have been in Madagascar since the end of the 1990s, and their business partner Guerrier. “This somewhat crazy idea of African caviar was born af- ter my husband Christophe saw a documentary about caviar. An obsession then emerged for Al- exandre, Christophe, and myself,” says Delphyne. “We wanted to successfully transport fertilized sturgeon eggs from Russia to Madagascar to produce the first caviar in Africa and the Indian Ocean.”</p>



<p>Despite skepticism from several experts, the trio embarked on their new plan, leveraging the island’s natural resources that make it an ideal environment for sturgeon. “Lake Mantasoa… has the ideal terroir and climate for the development of such an opera- tion and is perfectly suited to sturgeon farming,” explains Delphyne.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignleft size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="827" height="899" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/image-2.png" alt="" class="wp-image-62517" style="width:471px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/image-2.png 827w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/image-2-276x300.png 276w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/image-2-768x835.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 827px) 100vw, 827px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong><em>Lake site at Acipenser Madagascar</em></strong></figcaption></figure></div>


<p>Delphyne and Christophe are no strangers to Madagascar, their love affair with the region having started over two decades ago. “Christophe and I were sup- posed to go on a world tour,” says Delphyne. “Our first destination was Madagascar over 25 years ago, and we never left.” Acipenser is also not their first venture in Madagascar – in 1998, they founded Akanjo, a luxury textile brand.</p>



<p>Despite their knowledge of the country, neither Delphyne, Christophe nor Guerrier had any prior ex- perience in caviar production, but this didn’t stop them. “Christophe and Alexandre spent a lot of time on Google to figure out how to set up a fish farm,” explains Delphyne. “They came across the name of François René, a retired INRA (French National Institute for Agricul- tural Research) researcher, who was interested in our project.” René visited the team in Madagascar and began advising them on the farm’s architecture, and studied the physicochemical parameters, ultimately confirm- ing that their idea would work. “From there, we were able to build the land site in 2009 and the lake site in 2013, where we gradually received training and sup- port from numerous experts in the field.” </p>



<p>The Acipenser fish farm now comprises 19 large ponds, a hatchery, an area dedicated to pre-growout, a feed mill, and a processing workshop spread over more than eight hectares on the banks of a river fed by Lake Mantasoa upstream.</p>



<p>In addition to achieving what many thought was an impossible feat, Delphyne proudly reflects on Acipenser’s role in repopulating the elusive Iranian sturgeon species.</p>



<p>Initially, the Iranian sturgeon wasn’t recognized as a distinct species by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). How- ever, after its eventual discovery, the Iranian sturgeon rapidly declined and became extinct in Iran, effectively going from obscurity to disappearance almost immediately. Some years later, Acipenser’s sturgeon expert wanted to reward the team for their hard work, gifting them a seemingly innocuous black bag, with only the instruction to take the utmost care of it. Upon arrival in Madagascar, the farm’s collaborators quickly realized that this gift was the elusive Iranian sturgeon. </p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="422" height="208" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/image-3.png" alt="" class="wp-image-62518" style="width:377px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/image-3.png 422w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/image-3-300x148.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 422px) 100vw, 422px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong><em>Christophe and Delphyne Dabezies, with Alexandre Guerrier</em></strong></figcaption></figure></div>


<p>“This achievement was officially acknowl- edged in December 2017 with a visit from the Iranian Minister of Agriculture to the Acipenser farm,” adds Delphyne. “Since 2018, this species has been gradually reintroduced into the farms, but will remain very rare for many years to come,” she continues. This regeneration story is key to under- standing Acipenser’s commitment to their product because the sturgeon – and their welfare – is of utmost priority. </p>



<p>According to Delphyne, the sturgeon’s comfort and pre-serving the ecosystem is ultimately linked to the sustainability of the business as a whole. The lake’s water quality undergoes rigorous monitoring, ensuring the oxygen levels and temperature remain optimal, allowing the team to prepare for and respond to any challenging episodes throughout the year. “For example, in case of oxygen deficiency, it is important to reduce feeding so that the fish do not waste their energy, as they consume more energy during digestion,” she says. </p>



<p>To provide more growing space, sturgeons can be moved to a new farming structure, which is also critical for their wellbeing and ensuring there is sufficient surface area for each fish to feed. The sturgeon’s growth is an essential performance in- dicator and is constantly monitored. “It is important to feed them sufficiently without overfeeding to prevent them from developing more fat than caviar,” says Delphyne.</p>



<p>In addition to this meticulous care, Acipenser’s vertical inte- gration ensures full control over production, resulting in top-tier caviar. The sturgeon feed is created within the farm itself, composed of natural ingredients sourced from mainly local agriculture, purchased as close to the farm as possible to minimize carbon footprint. “The food’s quality has an undeniable impact on the fish flesh and, of course, on its caviar. No antibiotics or hormones are ad- ministered in the farming process,” adds Delphyne. She also credits the surrounding environment for contributing to a stellar finished product, saying that the Malagasy climate and terroir contribute greatly to the sturgeon’s growth and maturation.</p>



<p>“It creates a rare and varied array of colors across all caviars and these unique characteristics are also linked to the adherence to high- quality farming practices,” she explains. Currently, Acipenser produces six different caviar varieties, including Siberian sturgeon (Baeri caviar), Russian sturgeon (Ossetra caviar) Beluga (Beluga caviar) and Iranian sturgeon (Caviar Iranien). The company distributes the caviar via three channels, namely Rova Caviar, Krasnodar Caviar and a white-label brand called ADC.</p>



<p>All of these factors contribute to an exemplary product, but the biggest testament to quality is the flavor. Delphyne suggests enjoying their caviar with as few additions as possible, so the flavor and characteristics of each variation shine through, but the caviars clearly lend them- selves well to other culinary applications.</p>



<p>In nearby Antananarivo, chef Lalaina Rav- elomanana, the Madagascan caviar ambas- sador, has a dedicated caviar section on the menu at his restaurant Marais. Further afield in Cape Town, South Africa, FYN restaurant tops a <em>tamagoyaki (</em>Japanese-style omelette) with Acipenser’s caviar. Ashley Moss, FYN’s culinary director, says the caviar adds a salty, briny element to the dish, but he also favors using African caviar because of a sense of locality.</p>



<p>When creating dishes, we like them to be representative of a place and time. Using African ingredients in Africa gives you provenance,” says Moss.</p>



<p>At Salsify Restaurant, head chef Ryan Cole uses the caviar in a lightly poached abalone dish, which he says brings acidity and balance to an overall rich dish. “It’s a beautiful product and up there with some of the best available in South Africa right now,” says Cole. “Naturally, our sustainable ethos means we’re constantly looking to source as close to home as possible and Madagascar is the closest place we can currently source caviar from.”</p>



<p>Acipenser’s story reminds us that with the right intentions, research and determination, there is nothing that Africa can’t do. The by-product of this caviar also adds more meaning to a luxury item – food donations to schools and orphanages, and job and business creation are just some of the ways Acipenser has bene- fitted economic growth for the region. This isn’t just about producing a highly sought-after food, it’s about the impact it can have on a small African country. “In addition to marketing a luxury product, we are marketing the know-how of Madagascar and the African continent, which should be appreciated internationally for its natural and hu- man wealth,” adds Delphyne.</p>


Midsection of man putting caviar on roast duck slices in plate on table

Pricey Pride: What It Took For These Entrepreneurs To Produce African Caviar In Madagascar


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



<p>The use of GLP-1 medications like semaglutide for weight loss has increased twofold over the past decade, but declined in use among type 2 diabetics, according to a new study, and the researchers warn the resulting and ongoing drug shortage may limit diabetics’ access to the drugs.</p>



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



<p>Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center examined 1 million first-time GLP-1 prescriptions in the U.S. between 2011 and 2023 and separated patients by those who took GLP-1s for type 2 diabetes, and those who didn’t have diabetes but took them for obesity or obesity-related health conditions like high blood pressure and heart disease.</p>



<p>The amount of new patients prescribed GLP-1s for diabetes decreased by almost 10% between 2011 and 2023, while those who were prescribed the drugs for obesity or other obesity-related conditions more than doubled during the same time period, particularly since 2020, according to the study published Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine.</p>



<p>Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide—the generic name for Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus—was the most prescribed GLP-1 in 2023, making up over 88% of all new prescriptions.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551568/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">GLP-1s</a>&nbsp;are medications designed to manage type 2 diabetes, heart disease and obesity by lowering blood sugar and A1C, interacting with the hunger part of the brain to suppress the appetite and slowing down the process of food emptying from the stomach, causing patients to feel full longer.</p>



<p>The researchers warned the medications’ growing popularity among those with obesity could be exacerbating a nationwide drug shortage, and also raises concerns about “the need to ensure that patients with diabetes still have access to these treatments,” Dr. Yee Hui Yeo, the study’s co-first author and a clinical fellow in the Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Cedars-Sinai, said in a statement.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-glp-1s-have-been-approved-for-weight-loss">WHAT GLP-1S HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR WEIGHT LOSS?</h2>



<p>There are&nbsp;<a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/13901-glp-1-agonists" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">seven approved</a>&nbsp;GLP-1 drugs in the U.S. There’s also a similar class of medications called dual GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonists, and tirzepatide (the generic name for Mounjaro and Zepbound) is the only drug available in the U.S. from this group. However, only&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-new-drug-treatment-chronic-weight-management-first-2014" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">semaglutide</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.novonordisk.com/content/nncorp/global/en/news-and-media/news-and-ir-materials/news-details.html?id=1430#:~:text=Bagsv%C3%A6rd%2C%20Denmark%2C%2023%20December%202014,for%20the%20treatment%20of%20obesity." rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">liraglutide</a>—the generic name for Saxenda and Victoza—and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-new-medication-chronic-weight-management" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">tirzepatide</a>&nbsp;have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for weight management. Saxenda was the first to be approved in 2014, followed by Wegovy in 2020 and Zepbound in 2023.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-is-there-still-a-glp-1-drug-shortage">IS THERE STILL A GLP-1 DRUG SHORTAGE?</h2>



<p>Yes, several GLP-1s have been in short supply for months, though some appear to be back in stock. The three lowest doses of Wegovy are still in a shortage with no expected date of recovery, while all doses of Ozempic are available, according to the FDA’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/drugshortages/dsp_ActiveIngredientDetails.cfm?AI=Semaglutide%20Injection&amp;st=c" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">database</a>. Two doses of both Mounjaro and Zepbound are in a shortage, though the FDA reports availability will improve after July. Doses of Saxenda and Victoza are also in short supply. The FDA blames increasing demand as the reason for the shortages. The shortages aren’t just affecting the U.S.: The European Medicines Agency&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/385/bmj.q1448?utm_campaign=usage&amp;utm_content=tbmj_sprout&amp;utm_id=BMJ005&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">warned</a>&nbsp;the GLP-1 drug shortage is a “major public health concern” that probably won’t be resolved in 2024. Diabetics have had a hard time getting ahold of their medications because of the shortages, with some rationing their drugs to cope with the lack of supply, NPR&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2024/07/10/nx-s1-5006103/ozempic-wegovy-semaglutide-shortage-type-2-diabetes-obesity#:~:text=Television-,Shortages%20of%20Ozempic%20and%20other%20drugs%20harms%20Type%202%20diabetes,them%20when%20they%20need%20them." rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">reported</a>.</p>



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



<p>Adverse side effects may also be causing a decline in GLP-1 use among type 2 diabetics.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351199#:~:text=Metformin%20(Fortamet%2C%20Glumetza%2C%20others,it%20uses%20insulin%20more%20effectively." rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Metformin</a>&nbsp;is considered the go-to drug for glucose management in type 2 diabetics, but many patients take second-line drugs—type 2 diabetes drugs that aren’t insulin—like GLP-1s to assist with treatment, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ajmc.com/view/treatment-modification-after-initiating-second-line-medication-for-type-2-diabetes" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">study</a>&nbsp;by Northwestern Medicine. Almost 40% of patients taking second-line diabetes drugs stop treatment, but this number is even higher (50%) among those taking GLP-1s. The researchers believe this may be due to gastrointestinal side effects—like vomiting, nausea and diarrhea—associated with GLP-1s. Other than side effects, the high cost of the drugs is also a leading cause of discontinuation, according to a separate&nbsp;<a href="https://diabetesjournals.org/spectrum/article/34/2/175/32908/Exploring-Why-People-With-Type-2-Diabetes-Do-or-Do" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">study</a>&nbsp;by the American Diabetes Association.</p>



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



<p>$100 billion. That’s how much the weight loss drug industry could be worth by 2030,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-10-17/lilly-lly-and-novo-novob-seen-dominating-100-billion-obesity-market-in-2030" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">analysts estimate</a>, though some believe this is a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/28/obesity-drugs-to-be-worth-200-billion-in-next-10-years-barclays-says.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">lowball</a>&nbsp;estimate.</p>



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



<p>The Cedars-Sinai researchers also found the percentage of people who were prescribed GLP-1s who didn’t meet the FDA requirements for the drugs increased from 0.21% in 2019 to 0.37% in 2023. These are people who are being prescribed the drugs off-label even though they don’t have diabetes, obesity, heart disease or any other related health condition. Although a slight increase, this could be tied to the growing popularity of people who aren’t obese&nbsp;<a href="https://www.webmd.com/obesity/news/20230801/using-ozempic-for-minor-weight-loss-fair-or-foul" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">using</a>&nbsp;Wegovy and other GLP-1s for weight loss. Using GLP-1s for weight loss without meeting the FDA requirements is “abuse,” and these people are “far more likely to develop the serious side effects,” Dr. Nancy Rahnama, a Beverly Hills-based internal and bariatric medicine specialist with her own private practice,&nbsp;<a href="https://beverlyhillscourier.com/2023/11/16/the-real-skinny-on-weight-loss/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">told</a>&nbsp;local newspaper the Beverly Hills Courier.</p>


Novo Nordisk A/S Scouts Deals to Gain New Medicines and Technology

GLP-1s Are Growing In Popularity As Weight Loss Drugs But Losing Steam Among Diabetics, Study Suggests

Untitled design (13)

Big Ideas And Small Giants: Purpose-Driven And Proudly African


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



<p>Foreign betting markets believe Vice President Kamala Harris is in pole position to become the Democratic nominee for the 2024 election, while former President Donald Trump’s odds of winning the presidency in November took a slight hit Monday—though he remains bookmakers’ favorite with a sizable lead.</p>



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



<p>Bettors on the crypto-based betting platform&nbsp;<a href="https://polymarket.com/event/democratic-nominee-2024?tid=1721631724852" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Polymarket</a>&nbsp;and New Zealand-based&nbsp;<a href="https://www.predictit.org/markets/detail/7057/Who-will-win-the-2024-Democratic-presidential-nomination" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">PredictIt</a>&nbsp;are predicting Harris has an 84% chance of becoming the Democratic nominee for president after she was endorsed by President Joe Biden—who dropped out of the race on Sunday—and other top Democrats.</p>



<p>On&nbsp;<a href="https://polymarket.com/event/presidential-election-popular-vote-winner-2024?tid=1721633893487" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Polymarket</a>, Harris is now locked in an almost dead heat with Trump—44% and 45%, respectively—on who the market believes will win the popular vote in November, although bookmakers still&nbsp;<a href="https://polymarket.com/event/presidential-election-winner-2024/will-donald-trump-win-the-2024-us-presidential-election?tid=1721631660405" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">give</a>&nbsp;him a 64% chance (a 35-point lead) of winning the election.</p>



<p>Despite his lead, bets favoring a Trump win on Polymarket have shrunk in the past week, dropping seven points while Harris’s odds have&nbsp;<a href="https://polymarket.com/event/presidential-election-winner-2024/will-donald-trump-win-the-2024-us-presidential-election?tid=1721631660405" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">surged</a>&nbsp;from single digits to 29%—as the Democratic winning bet has consolidated around her.</p>



<p>Bettors on PredictIt are giving Harris&nbsp;<a href="https://www.predictit.org/markets/detail/7456/Who-will-win-the-2024-US-presidential-election" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">comparatively better</a>&nbsp;odds of winning the election at 39%, and while Trump remains well ahead at 60%—he is down nine points over the past seven days.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-news-peg">NEWS PEG</h2>



<p>While bettors believe Harris is the firm favorite to be the Democrats’ presidential nominee, the odds are more spread out on the question of her potential running mate. Bookmakers on&nbsp;<a href="https://polymarket.com/event/democratic-vp-nominee?tid=1721634626374" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Polymarket</a>&nbsp;predict North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has the best odds with 33%—followed by Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro at 26%. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., are further back in third and fourth place with odds of 17% and 15%.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.predictit.org/markets/detail/8089/Who-will-win-the-2024-Democratic-vice-presidential-nomination" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">PredictIt</a>&nbsp;bettors, however, believe Shapiro has better odds (27%) compared to Cooper (22%) followed by Kelly (20%).</p>



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



<p>Last week,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/billsperos/status/1812854940794077482" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Fanduel</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.oddstrader.com/news/betmgm-fanduel-suspend-us-presidential-election-wagering-canada/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">BetMGM</a>&nbsp;halted their U.S. election betting markets—which were being operated from Canada—after the assassination attempt against Trump. In May, the CFTC&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/05/10/cftc-election-betting-ban-00157304" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">proposed</a>&nbsp;a law to ban all election-related betting in the U.S. derivatives market. The federal agency’s proposal came after it was sued by PredictIt while trying to shut the platform down.</p>



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



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2024/07/18/betting-markets-swing-towards-harris-being-democratic-nominee-again-as-pushback-against-biden-grows/">Betting Markets Swing Towards Harris Being Democratic Nominee—As Pushback Against Biden Grows</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)</p>


Vice President Harris Holds Campaign Event In Kalamazoo, Michigan

Harris Rises In Election Betting Markets—But Bookmakers Still Favor Trump


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



<p>President Joe Biden announced Sunday he will end his 2024 presidential campaign, saying he believes “it is in the best interest of my party and the country to stand down.”</p>



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



<p>Biden stepped down after more than three dozen&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2024/07/19/every-big-name-urging-biden-to-drop-out-third-senator-joins-30-other-congressional-democrats/">Democrats in Congress</a>&nbsp;urged him to do so, and after a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2024/07/18/biden-pressure-grows-top-dems-think-hell-drop-out-within-days-report-says/">flurry of reports</a>&nbsp;that Democratic leaders in Congress were working behind the scenes to push Biden to end his bid.</p>



<p>Biden has faced questions for months about whether he is too old to serve another term, but the party largely stood behind him until his disastrous June 27 debate performance, when Biden often appeared bewildered, gave disjointed answers and spoke in a soft, raspy voice—leading to an onslaught of backlash from pundits, major newspapers, celebrities, donors and elected Democrats.</p>



<p>Biden’s decision to leave the race at this stage in the election cycle is unprecedented in modern politics and sets up a mad dash to choose his replacement, just weeks before the party is set to formally choose its nominee in a virtual roll call the first week of August.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-will-a-new-nominee-be-chosen">WHEN WILL A NEW NOMINEE BE CHOSEN?</h2>



<p>Democrats plan to hold a virtual roll call to formally select their nominee as soon as Aug. 1 and before Aug. 7, ahead of the party’s Aug. 19 convention. The party initially planned the early roll call to ensure Biden would be on the ballot in Ohio, which previously required nominees to be confirmed 90 days before the election. Ohio has since revised its law, but it doesn’t take effect until Sept. 1, so Democrats have said they will move forward with the early nomination anyway.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-will-democrats-replace-biden">HOW WILL DEMOCRATS REPLACE BIDEN?</h2>



<p>The approximately 4,700 Democratic delegates will choose a new candidate by majority vote. About 4,000 delegates are “pledged” to Biden, but by stepping down, he effectively releases them from their obligation to vote for him. The 700 “unpledged” delegates—also known as superdelegates and can vote for whoever they please—are allowed to vote in a second round if a candidate does not secure the majority votes needed to win in the first round.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-an-open-convention">WHAT IS AN OPEN CONVENTION?</h2>



<p>An open convention would occur if multiple candidates are presented to delegates at the convention, and Biden hasn’t endorsed a replacement, leaving his delegates free to vote for anyone.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-a-mini-primary">WHAT IS A ‘MINI-PRIMARY’?</h2>



<p>The process of choosing a new nominee isn’t exactly clear, but some have floated a “mini primary” involving a series of campaign events—such as debates, high-profile interviews or town halls—between potential Biden replacements prior to delegates casting their votes. Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., has said he would support Harris as the nominee if Biden dropped out and the party coalesced around her, but he has also suggested Democrats could conduct a “mini primary” to survey other candidates, an idea New York Times columnist&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/07/opinion/biden-jim-clyburn-democrats.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Ezra Klein</a>&nbsp;and longtime Democratic political consultant&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/08/opinion/biden-democratic-nominee.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">James Carville</a>&nbsp;also endorsed.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-are-the-top-contenders-to-replace-biden">WHO ARE THE TOP CONTENDERS TO REPLACE BIDEN?</h2>



<p>Harris is the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2024/07/18/these-are-the-likely-democratic-presidential-candidates-if-biden-drops-out/">top contender</a>, but other names commonly floated include California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Illinois Gov. J.B.&nbsp;<a href="https://abc7chicago.com/president-joe-biden-documents-doj-report-governor-jb-pritzker/14405259/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Pritzker</a>, Michigan Gov. Gretchen&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wxyz.com/news/democracy-2022/whitmer-says-she-wont-run-for-president-in-2024-if-biden-chooses-not-to-run" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Whitmer</a>, Colorado Gov. Jared&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/11/politics/biden-democratic-primary-challenge-2024/index.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Polis</a>, and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/pennsylvania-gov-josh-shapiro-biden-trump-brain-fog-2024-rcna125771" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Shapiro</a>. Previous Democratic presidential candidates Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., are also among the potential contenders. No Democrats who have been seriously floated as potential replacements have said they’re interested in the 2024 nomination.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-is-kamala-harris-polling">HOW IS KAMALA HARRIS POLLING?</h2>



<p>Similar to Biden and slightly better than all other potential replacements surveyed, but still worse than Trump,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2024/07/18/heres-how-kamala-harris-performs-in-polls-against-trump-as-she-emerges-as-most-likely-biden-replacement/">according to most surveys</a>. A mid-July&nbsp;<a href="https://d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/econTabReport_sPu9WiO.pdf" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">YouGov poll</a>&nbsp;(margin of error 3.1) found Biden would lose to Trump by two points and Harris would lose by three, while a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/race-presidency-remains-unchanged-wake-assassination-attempt-trump" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Reuters/Ipsos poll</a>&nbsp;found both Biden and Harris are virtually statistically tied with Trump. In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/02/politics/cnn-poll-post-debate/index.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">CNN/SSRS poll</a>&nbsp;(margin of error 3.5) conducted days after the debate, Harris outperformed Biden, and three other potential candidates commonly floated to replace him, in a hypothetical matchup against Trump—but she would still lose to the former president by two points (while Biden would lose to Trump by six points).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-do-supporters-and-critics-say-about-harris">WHAT DO SUPPORTERS—AND CRITICS—SAY ABOUT HARRIS?</h2>



<p>Several prominent Democrats explicitly mentioned Harris as the most viable option to replace Biden prior to him announcing his resignation from the race. Clyburn has said he believes Harris would do “very well” at the top of the ticket and the party should do everything it can to “bolster” her would-be candidacy. Harris has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2024/07/18/kamala-harris-as-biden-replacement-grows-more-likely-as-he-reportedly-weighs-dropping-out-heres-what-to-know-about-her-record/">downsides</a>, however, including a relatively low approval rating (though it’s likely a direct reflection of Biden’s own low approval rating) and a series of negative stories about her job performance as vice president, including that she’s been largely absent from the public eye. Her record as a state and local prosecutor has also drawn ire from some progressives who have accused her of not doing enough to investigate police misconduct and have pointed out her history of prosecuting marijuana-related offenses. Harris’ views on criminal justice seem to have evolved however, as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-vp-harris-talk-marijuana-reform-white-house-friday-2024-03-15/#:~:text=United%20States-,No%20one%20should%20go%20to%20jail%20for%20'smoking%20weed%2C',Harris%20says%20at%20White%20House&amp;text=WASHINGTON%2C%20March%2015%20(Reuters),others%20pardoned%20for%20marijuana%20convictions." rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">she’s endorsed</a>&nbsp;Biden’s pardoning of federal marijuana-related convictions and she has spoken out against the notion that putting more police in the streets increases public safety. Former Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, slammed Harris’ detractors in endorsing her to replace Biden in a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsweek.com/kamala-harris-should-democratic-nominee-president-2024-opinion-1919894" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Newsweek op-ed</a>, calling her “a joy to hang out with . . . brilliant, compassionate, engaging, funny and totally down to earth.” Harris, he said, “can energize the electorate and govern effectively.”</p>



<p><em>This is a developing story. Check back for updates.</em></p>


President Biden Addresses NAACP Convention In Las Vegas

Biden Drops Out Of 2024 Race—Here’s What Happens Next


<p><strong>Stellenbosch University’s Clive Gray receives the Harry Oppenheimer Fellowship Award, advancing his pioneering research on the effects of long-term antiretroviral treatment in HIV-positive mothers, shedding light on its link to premature births.</strong></p>



<p>In a groundbreaking study, Professor Clive Gray of Stellenbosch University, South Africa, has established a significant link between long-term antiretroviral treatment in HIV-positive mothers and premature births. This research, supported by the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust&#8217;s Harry Oppenheimer Fellowship Award, could reshape our understanding of the effects of antiretroviral therapy (ART) on maternal and child health.</p>



<p>“What we found is that women who received pre-pregnancy antiretroviral treatment had a higher risk of maternal vascular malperfusion,” explains Professor Gray to FORBES AFRICA. This condition, characterized by the improper penetration of maternal blood vessels into the placenta, leads to insufficient oxygen and nutrient delivery to the fetus, increasing the risk of premature birth and low birth weight.</p>



<p>The research identified a key molecule, referred to as Factor X, found in lower levels in the placentas of women who give birth prematurely. Factor X, an enzyme present in macrophages (a type of white blood cell), is crucial for proper placental blood vessel formation. This discovery paves the way for developing predictive markers for adverse birth outcomes.</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/2024/07/Prof-Clive-Gray-Image-supplied-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-62467" style="width:554px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Prof-Clive-Gray-Image-supplied-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Prof-Clive-Gray-Image-supplied-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Prof-Clive-Gray-Image-supplied-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Prof-Clive-Gray-Image-supplied.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em><strong>Prof Clive Gray; Image supplied</strong></em></figcaption></figure></div>


<p>“Our aim is not to change policy or the use of antiretrovirals, but to understand their implications,” emphasizes Professor Gray. “If we can identify who is at risk, we can recommend adjunctive treatments to mitigate these risks.”</p>



<p>The implications of this research are profound. Maternal vascular malperfusion not only affects the immediate health of the newborn but also has long-term impacts, including developmental delays and neurocognitive disorders. Children exposed to HIV in-utero but not infected often exhibit learning difficulties, increased susceptibility to infections, and other health challenges.</p>



<p>“These HIV exposed uninfected children are not healthy,” Gray notes. “They suffer from more bacterial and viral infections, especially in the first few years of life, than their counterparts who are born to HIV uninfected mothers.”</p>



<p>The study highlights the need for a deeper understanding of how antiretroviral drugs interact with placental and fetal development. Gray’s team is investigating the exact mechanisms through which these drugs influence maternal vascular malperfusion and seeking to develop a biomarker for predicting which women are at risk.</p>



<p>Gray&#8217;s research has been significantly bolstered by the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust&#8217;s Harry Oppenheimer Fellowship Award. This award, recognizing world-class research with far-reaching impacts, will fund the continuation and expansion of Gray&#8217;s studies.</p>



<p>With the award’s support, Gray’s team aims to refine their predictive marker and explore potential interventions to counteract the negative effects of antiretrovirals on placental development. The ultimate goal is to ensure that HIV-positive mothers can receive effective treatment without compromising their babies&#8217; health.</p>



<p><strong>A New Frontier in HIV Research</strong></p>



<p>Gray&#8217;s work is pioneering in the field of reproductive immunology and HIV research. The findings challenge the existing understanding of antiretroviral therapy&#8217;s safety during pregnancy and highlight the need for ongoing investigation into its long-term effects.</p>



<p>“There is a substantial body of research on the HIV-exposed infant, but what&#8217;s missing is the immunological perspective, particularly concerning the placenta,” Gray explains. “Our research fills this gap and opens up new possibilities for improving maternal and child health outcomes.”</p>



<p>As Gray’s team continues to investigate the complex interactions between antiretroviral drugs and placental development, their work promises to have significant implications for public health policies and clinical practices worldwide.</p>



<p>“Our findings underscore the importance of monitoring and supporting the health of HIV-positive mothers and their babies,” Gray concludes. “By understanding the risks and developing targeted interventions, we can improve outcomes for both mothers and children.”</p>



<p><strong>Looking Ahead</strong></p>



<p>The future of this research holds promise. Gray and his team are writing grants to the National Institutes of Health to further investigate the link between HIV infection, placental dysfunction, and child development outcomes. They aim to establish a comprehensive understanding of the impact of antiretroviral therapy on both maternal and child health.</p>



<p>“Our goal is to create a predictive model for adverse birth outcomes and to develop interventions that can mitigate these risks,” Gray states. “We are committed to ensuring that HIV-positive mothers can receive the best possible care without compromising their children’s health.</p>


Premature baby holds mothers hand

‘New Possibilities For Improving Maternal And Child Health Outcomes’: South African Professor On Path-Breaking HIV Research


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



<p>Microsoft and the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike have issued fixes for the global outage impacting computers running the Windows operating system, though issues still linger as the outage has forced major airlines to ground flights, disrupted television and put banking services offline.</p>



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



<p>The outage has been blamed on a software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which has resulted in many Windows systems experiencing the dreaded “Blue Screen of Death” (BSOD) while booting.</p>



<p>The underlying issue causing outages for Microsoft’s 365 apps and services—including Outlook, Teams and Office—has been fixed, the company&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/MSFT365Status/status/1814250426763751858" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">said</a>, though a “residual impact” is continuing to affect some services.</p>



<p>CrowdStrike president and chief executive George Kurtz&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/George_Kurtz/status/1814235001745027317" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;the company was “actively working” with customers impacted by an issue found in a content update on Windows computers, adding the “issue has been identified, isolated and a fix has been deployed.”</p>



<p>Microsoft&nbsp;<a href="https://azure.status.microsoft/en-us/status" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;it is aware of the issue affecting machines running Windows, and noted it is affecting systems running CrowdStrike’s Falcon security software.</p>



<p>The U.S. Emergency Alerts System&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/ENSAlerts/status/1814199937753620491" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;911 lines in multiple states were down.</p>



<p><a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/19/business/delta-american-airlines-flights-outage-intl-hnk/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">According to</a>&nbsp;the Federal Aviation Administration, nearly all major American carriers—including Delta, American and United—have been forced to temporarily ground all their flights due to the outage, while carriers and airports including&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/airindia/status/1814211516079681809" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Air India</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/KLM/status/1814215826301448539" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">KLM</a>, Hong Kong International Airport, Berlin Brandenburg Airport and London Stansted also reported disruptions, forcing some of them to rely on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3271092/global-microsoft-aviation-outage-hits-hong-kongs-airport-check-services-operated-manually" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">manual check-ins</a>&nbsp;with long queues being reported.</p>



<p>The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/lsegs-workspace-platform-suffers-outage-market-sources-say-2024-07-19/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">London Stock Exchange</a>&nbsp;group said its workspace platform was also facing an outage preventing it from publishing statements while banks and payment terminals in Australia were also&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/crowdstrike-it-outage-hits-airports-banks-supermarkets-emergency-committee-to-meet/ezge7qp0g" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">affected</a>, though the New York Stock Exchange&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/19/us-stock-exchanges-say-markets-are-operating-normally-not-impacted-by-crowdstrike-outage.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">reportedly</a>&nbsp;said its systems were unaffected.</p>



<p>CrowdStrike’s shares tanked nearly 16.8% to $285.49 in pre-market trading, while Microsoft’s stock slipped around 2.3% to $430.28.</p>



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



<p>1,281. That’s the number of flight cancellations across the U.S. on Friday, in addition to 2,905 delays as of 9:15 a.m. EDT, according to&nbsp;<a href="http://flightaware.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">FlightAware.com</a>. It’s estimated that up to 3.7 million passengers are flying out of U.S. airports on Friday across 24,000 domestic flights and 3,000 international flights, the aviation analytics firm Cirium&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/suzannerowankelleher/2024/07/19/1200-canceled-us-flights-and-climbing-due-to-microsoft-outage/">said</a>.</p>



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



<p>Ciaran Martin, former director of the U.K. National Cyber Security Centre, told Forbes: “The damage happened where CrowdStrike and Windows are both used &#8230; That’s a lot of important companies. It’s a striking and very concerning illustration of the fragility of digital infrastructure.” Ciaran noted that while the update fixing the issue can be rolled out “quite quickly,” different organizations could take time to implement it “And then there’s the massive logistical tailback in things like aviation.”</p>



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



<p>CrowdStrike’s website describes Falcon—the software whose update has been blamed for the crash—as a “platform purpose-built to stop breaches… including malware and much more.” The service’s frequently asked questions (FAQ) page describes Falcon as “unobtrusive,” adding: “There’s no UI, no pop-ups, no reboots, and all updates are performed silently and automatically.”</p>



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



<p>While CrowdStrike said it has rolled out a fix, it could take companies some time to deploy it. Brian Honan, founder of Ireland’s Computer Emergency Response Team told Forbes the fixes require “manual intervention to each individually impacted device, which could lead to a long recovery time from this problem.”</p>



<p>Forbes Daily: Join over 1 million Forbes Daily subscribers and get our best stories, exclusive reporting and essential analysis of the day’s news in your inbox every weekday.Get the latest news on special offers, product updates and content suggestions from Forbes and its affiliates.Sign Up</p>



<p><em>This is a developing story.</em></p>



<p><a href="https://x.com/George_Kurtz/status/1814235001745027317" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"><em></em></a></p>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/"></a></p>


Major IT Outage Grounds Flights And Impacts Businesses Globally

CrowdStrike Update Causes Global Microsoft Outage Affecting Banks, Airlines And More


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



<p>A German man appears to have been cured of HIV after he received a first-of-its-kind stem cell transplant procedure nearly a decade ago, according to findings announced Thursday, as researchers say he is probably the seventh person worldwide to be cured of the virus affecting tens of millions of people globally.</p>



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



<p>The German man—referred to as the “next Berlin patient,” after the first person cured of HIV—stopped taking antiretroviral treatment for HIV in late 2018 after receiving a stem cell transplant for leukemia in 2015, researchers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.iasociety.org/news-release/first-its-kind-hiv-cure-case-among-scientific-highlights-aids-2024" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">announced</a>&nbsp;ahead of the International AIDS Conference in Munich, Germany, adding he was still in HIV remission.</p>



<p>This appears to be the first case in which HIV is cured in a patient whose stem cell donor had a single HIV-resistant mutation, rather than two, which physician Christian Gaebler said could have “promising implications” for future cure strategies.</p>



<p>HIV can still be spread to people with the mutation, which removes a protein the virus uses to enter blood cells, Gaebler said, though the virus progresses slowly if they don’t receive antiretroviral treatment.</p>



<p>The case suggests “we can broaden the donor pool” for other similar cases, Sharon Lewis, president of the International AIDS Society, said.</p>



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



<p>In 2009, Timothy Ray Brown, referred to as the “Berlin patient,” was the first person researchers said appeared to be cured of HIV. Ten years later, the “London patient” appeared to be cured, followed by “The City of Hope” and “New York” patients in 2022. Two people, the “Geneva patient” and the “Düsseldorf patient” appeared to be cured last year. All six underwent stem cell transplants to treat blood cancer, while the first five received an HIV-resistant mutation from their donor.</p>



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



<p>39 million. That’s the estimated number of people across the world who are living with HIV as of the end of 2022, the World Health Organization&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=how+many+people+have+hiv&amp;oq=how+many+people+have+hiv&amp;gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIGCAEQRRhAMgwIAhAjGCcYgAQYigUyDAgDECMYJxiABBiKBTIMCAQQABgUGIcCGIAEMgoIBRAAGLEDGIAEMgcIBhAAGIAEMgcIBxAAGIAE0gEIMjQzMmowajeoAgCwAgA&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">said</a>. About 630,000 people died of HIV-related illnesses worldwide that year, according to the organization.</p>



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



<p>There is no effective cure for human immunodeficiency virus, a virus that attacks the body’s immune system, <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/whatishiv.html#:~:text=It%20was%20probably%20passed%20to,the%20mid%20to%20late%201970s." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according</a> to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In recent years, researchers have <a href="https://www.cirm.ca.gov/our-progress/disease-information/hivaids-fact-sheet#:~:text=The%20team%20at%20is%20taking,make%20them%20resistant%20to%20HIV." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">studied</a> whether stem cell transplants could be used as treatment, with doctors using anti-HIV genes or mutations to combat the virus. If not treated, the virus can result in AIDS, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, the agency noted, adding, “Once people get HIV, they have it for life.” The virus is often detected through symptoms that resemble flu-like symptoms within two to four weeks after infection, though diagnosis is only possible through testing.</p>


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