South Africa remains resolute in hosting the AGOA summit despite prior tensions with the US. The upcoming event, slated for November, signifies renewed commitment to strengthen trade ties. South Africa&#8217;s call for a decade-long AGOA extension underscores the pivotal role this partnership plays in fostering economic growth and cooperation.



South Africa is set to host the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Summit later this year, despite recent diplomatic tensions between the country and the United States (US). In June this year, US legislators called for the relocation of the summit due to controversy surrounding alleged arms shipments to Russia by South Africa. Cleared of any wrongdoing by an internal judicial panel, the US has reaffirmed its commitment to shared growth with South Africa.



“The AGOA Forum is an opportunity for the United States to build upon the success of the Africa Leaders’ Summit and further our economic partnership with AGOA countries,” stated US Ambassador Katherine Tai in a statement announcing this year&#8217;s summit from Washington.



South African President Cyril Ramaphosa not only celebrated the country&#8217;s hosting of the summit but also called for the renewal of the agreement for another decade. The current format of AGOA is set to expire in 2025. Emphasizing the importance of South Africa-US relations, Ramaphosa declared: &#8220;The US remains a very important economic partner in trade and investment, with great potential to further expand economic ties,&#8221; in a press release.



AGOA currently benefits eligible sub-Saharan countries by providing access to US markets for several thousand products, including duty-free access for some exports. South Africa continues to be the largest exporter in the agreement, generating approximately $2.7 billion in revenue for the country as of 2021, primarily from vehicles, jewelry, and metals.



The controversy surrounding the visit of a Russian ship, the Lady R, docking at a South African military base in December 2022, led to the politicization of the AGOA agreement by bipartisan representatives in the US. However, a subsequent South African investigation cleared the country of exporting arms to Russia as part of the incident, resulting in a restored commitment by representatives of both countries to mend strained relations.



The AGOA summit, scheduled for early November in South Africa, will bring together key delegations from all member countries, regional economic entities, as well as representatives from the private and public sectors. The goal is to strengthen trade and economic ties between the US and sub-Saharan Africa.



The summit will also feature a ‘Made in Africa’ exhibition, specifically focused on demonstrating regional value chains on the continent.



“AGOA has helped promote the export of African goods to the United States, and we believe there is scope to deepen its impact on African industrialization,&#8221; said South Africa&#8217;s Minister of Trade and Industry, Ebrahim Patel, reaffirming Ramaphosa&#8217;s commitment to extending the deal. &#8220;Extending it beyond 2025 will promote inward investment in Africa and support our efforts to increase growth through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which will cover 54 countries and 1.4 billion people.”

Untitled design (33)

Renewed Commitment: South Africa To Host AGOA Summit Amid Calls for Extension

The tech behemoth’s latest iPhone features a new USB-C charging port and titanium frame for its higher-end models.



Apple has unveiled the iPhone 15, with the base models 15 and 15 Plus priced at $799 and $899 respectively, in its most anticipated product event of the year. The higher-end 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max will be priced at $999 and $1,199 respectively.



As usual, the iPhone 15 will come equipped with a better camera and upgraded processing power, but it will also feature a significant change: a USB-C port for charging and data transfers. Apple was forced to do away with its Lightning port in iPhones after the European Union passed a law last year that requires all mobile devices to accommodate a common&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2022/10/26/weve-no-choice-apple-says-iphones-will-switch-over-to-usb-c-chargers-to-comply-with-new-eu-law/?sh=786790cabcde">USB-C&nbsp;</a>charger.



The consumer tech giant also announced two new makes of the Apple Watch: the Apple Watch Series 9, which it said was its first carbon neutral product ever, and the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Sustainability was one of the central themes of the event, where Apple detailed its increased use of recycled materials like cobalt in the battery and energy efficient manufacturing and transportation practices to produce the Apple Watch Series 9. This comes ahead of the company’s goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.



With inconspicuous changes in design and appearance, the screen sizes for the standard iPhone 15 models are the same as before (6.1 inch and 6.7 inch), but the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max have a slightly larger display as their bezels are thinner than previous iPhones, the company announced. The Pro iPhones are built with Grade 5 titanium frames for the first time rather than stainless steel, making them the lightest Pro phones Apple has ever built.



Similar to its predecessor, iPhone 15 has a matte finish, but the edges of the phone are more rounded than before. The regular models are available in pink, yellow, green, blue and black while the Pro models come in black, blue and white titanium. All new phones have the “Dynamic Island,” an interface that was first added to iPhone 14 Pro that lets users see notifications in the black pill-shaped notch at the top of the display.



Apple touted the phone’s upgraded camera capabilities: a 48-megapixel camera sensor is replacing the 12-megapixel and lets users zoom into photos while capturing minute details and nuances. The new Pro phones come with a feature that uses machine learning to detect when a person is in the photo, enabling you to automatically switch to portrait mode even after a photo has been taken.



If you’re on a call using the iPhone 15 Pro, a machine learning-based feature called “voice isolation” prioritizes the speaker’s voice and drowns out background voice. The phones are also enabled with an emergency SOS service and roadside assistance while off the grid.



The pricier models come with a performance edge, thanks to a new A17 chip. All new iPhones are embedded with a new ultrawide-band semiconductor, a technology that uses radio waves to send and receive signals, to make location tracking on the Find My app more accurate.



The ring/mute slide switch, which has never changed since Apple launched the original iPhone in 2007, has been replaced in iPhone 15 Pro models with an “Action Button” that can be customized to set different functionalities like starting a voice recording, launching the camera or opening the flashlight.



For the Apple Watch Series 9 and a second generation of the Apple Watch Ultra , the look and design for the new watches has remained consistent, but their guts have gotten an upgrade, with 30% faster processing speed and brighter screens. The two new Apple Watches are equipped with a feature that lets users double tap their index finger and thumb to carry out actions like accepting or ending a call, and playing or pausing music with just one hand.



Apple’s latest product reveal comes at a crucial time for the company. Demand for smartphones is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2023-08-06/apple-iphone-15-comes-amid-us-sales-slowdown-tim-cook-q3-earnings-comments-lkzfs14u" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">slowing</a>&nbsp;down across the industry, and Apple’s iPhone sales dropped about 2% year over year in the third quarter of 2023. Core to its business, iPhones, Apple Watches and AirPods accounted for about 60% of Apple’s $394.3 billion annual revenue in 2022.



Although more mainstream, the new iPhone and Apple Watches aren’t the only products that Apple announced this year. In June, alongside new Macs, Apple introduced the <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnpaczkowski/2023/06/07/this-is-what-its-like-to-use-apples-new-vision-pro-mixed-reality-headset/?sh=43c3323539e4">Apple Vision Pro</a> mixed-reality headset, its first major new product category since the Apple Watch made waves in 2015. The iPhone 15 lets users create photos and videos that are compatible with the Apple Vision Pro.

Apple Holds Product Unveiling Event

Apple Kills Lightning In iPhone 15 And Announces Carbon Neutral Apple Watches

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



Apple and Nvidia stocks tanked for the second consecutive trading session Thursday, a rare down stretch for the Silicon Valley titans this year fueled by concerns about each of their explosive sales.



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



Apple shares slipped 3.4% by 2:25 p.m. Eastern time after Bloomberg&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-09-07/china-plans-to-expand-iphone-ban-to-some-state-backed-firms-in-blow-to-apple?srnd=premium" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>&nbsp;China is considering banning iPhone usage among some government workers and employees at state-owned corporations, casting doubt on Apple’s strength in the country which accounts for roughly a fifth of its sales.



The slide comes a day after Apple shed 3.6% – its 6.9% dip since Tuesday marks the steepest two-day loss for the world’s most valuable company since November.



Nvidia shares also dropped about 3% Thursday, bringing its two-day loss to 5.5% as the S&amp;P 500’s best-performer of 2023 suffered a rare tumble.



The artificial intelligence leader’s stock slump came as a dubious conspiracy theory&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/JesseCohenInv/status/1699307464619876691" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">proliferated&nbsp;</a>on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter, suggesting that Nvidia has artificially inflated revenue in its AI segment by lying about its sales to CoreWeave, a Nvidia-backed cloud computing startup&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-08-30/coreweave-said-to-seek-stake-sale-at-up-to-8-billion-valuation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reportedly</a>&nbsp;valued at about $8 billion.



That theory is “nonsense,” Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon wrote in a Thursday note to clients he “very grudgingly” sent out, encouraging investors to not get “your investment thesis from Twitter randos.”



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



$250 billion. That’s how much market capitalization Apple and Nvidia shed over the last two days.



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



Apple and Nvidia are two of the seven tech stocks&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2023/04/10/these-7-tech-stocks-command-almost-90-of-the-sp-500s-gains-signaling-market-rally-may-not-be-so-healthy/?sh=65e0aafc65d5">accounting for</a>&nbsp;a large majority of major stock indexes’ gains this year, leading to lingering questions about the depth of the strong market (Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft and Tesla round out the super seven). Both Apple and Nvidia set all-time high share prices this year, but on far different trajectories. Apple rode a steady 42% gain this year, just ahead with the tech-heavy Nasdaq’s 32% rise, thanks to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2023/05/04/apple-beats-quarterly-profit-sales-estimates-despite-interest-rate-headwinds/?sh=77f139f03637">solid</a>&nbsp;5% and 6% earnings beats during the first and second quarters, respectively, while Nvidia more than tripled in share price due to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2023/08/23/nvidia-earnings-stock-soars-as-ai-giant-again-smashes-quarterly-expectations/">exploding</a>&nbsp;expectations about its AI business, which grew by 141% just last quarter.



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



“The Nasdaq is sinking as one bad Apple spoils a bunch of mega-cap tech stocks,”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marketpulse.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oanda</a>&nbsp;analyst Edward Moya wrote Thursday. The index is down 2% over the last two days, steeper than the S&amp;P 500’s 1% loss.



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



<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/tosv2.html?vid=&amp;uuid=14d8c1fa-4dad-11ee-bf85-ff6800d7a7ae&amp;url=L25ld3MvYXJ0aWNsZXMvMjAyMy0wOS0wNy9jaGluYS1wbGFucy10by1leHBhbmQtaXBob25lLWJhbi10by1zb21lLXN0YXRlLWJhY2tlZC1maXJtcy1pbi1ibG93LXRvLWFwcGxlP3NybmQ9cHJlbWl1bQ==" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BLOOMBERGBloomberg</a>



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2023/08/23/nvidia-earnings-stock-soars-as-ai-giant-again-smashes-quarterly-expectations/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MORE FROM FORBESNvidia Earnings: Stock Soars As AI Giant Again Smashes Quarterly ExpectationsBy&nbsp;Derek Saul</a>



<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2023/8/8/23824661/coreweave-nvidia-debt-gpu-ai-chips-collateral" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">THE VERGEHow to get your startup a loan with one easy computer part</a>

Apple Ahead Of The IPhone 15 Launch

Apple And Nvidia’s Losses This Week Hit $250 Billion

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



The Food and Drug Administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-takes-action-updated-mrna-covid-19-vaccines-better-protect-against-currently-circulating" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gave its approval</a>&nbsp;for emergency use Monday to new updated Covid-19 vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna that are specially designed to protect against the latest dominant strain of the coronavirus, Omicron variant XBB.1.5—the latest effort of drugmakers, regulators and doctors to keep up with the virus’ ever evolving nature.



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



Anyone 5 or older is eligible to receive a single booster dose of the newly updated vaccines regardless of how many shots they’ve received before, as long as it’s at least 2 months since the last dose they received of any Covid-19 vaccine, the FDA announced.



Children between the ages of six months and four years are eligible to receive one or two doses of the new vaccines if they’ve been vaccinated against Covid-19 before, but if they’ve never received a vaccine, they’re eligible to receive three doses of the new Pfizer-BioNTech shot or two doses of Moderna, the FDA said.



This comes after the new XBB lineage of coronavirus, a group of new variants that emerged in late 2022, became the most common strain.



After the emergence of this new lineage, the FDA encouraged Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Novavax to create new vaccines specialized to defend against it.



These will be the first Covid-19 vaccines that aren’t free and paid for by the U.S. government, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-business-covid-medicare-1a5d65356ebc7b5bc76524ae99deb55e" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pfizer</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/moderna-expects-price-its-covid-vaccine-about-130-us-2023-03-20/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Moderna</a>&nbsp;both estimating their shots will cost between $110 and $130 per dose, though many health insurances plans will cover it and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/bridge/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CDC’s Bridge Program</a>&nbsp;will pay for some uninsured Americans’ vaccines.



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



Drugmakers have released a number of new iterations after the first Covid-19 vaccines were administered in late 2020. In fall 2021, the first booster shots were authorized by the FDA and were meant to help replenish waning immunity to the virus months after people received their initial doses. Then, after a new variant of the virus called Omicron, which was more resistant to the original vaccines, sparked a vicious new wave of the pandemic, drugmakers released a modified “bivalent” booster shot in fall 2022. That vaccine was designed to protect against both the original virus as well as Omicron. This new booster will attempt to do what that bivalent booster did with Omicron, but with the new XBB strains.



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By signing up, you accept and agree to our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/terms-and-conditions" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Terms of Service</a>&nbsp;(including the class action waiver and arbitration provisions), and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/privacy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Privacy Statement</a>.



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



Now that the FDA has approved the drugs, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/08/25/2023-18288/advisory-committee-on-immunization-practices" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">scheduled to meet</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday to decide whether it will recommend people receive the new booster shots, an additional standard regulatory step that each of the previous iterations of the vaccines have had to complete. People won’t be able to receive the new vaccines until the CDC gives its signoff.



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



While Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna’s new vaccines were approved on Monday, the FDA still hasn’t approved Novavax’s. The company, which was a late entry into the Covid-19 vaccine market, had its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/covid-19-vaccine-comparison#:~:text=Status%3A%20The%20vaccine%20was%20authorized,it%3A%20People%2012%20and%20older." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">first vaccines approved</a>&nbsp;in July 2022. Its vaccines, unlike Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna’s do not use mRNA technology, but rather are subunit vaccines that use a piece of the virus to invigorate a body’s immune response. The company said in an email Monday its vaccines have already arrived in the U.S. and, despite not being approved alongside Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna’s, are still awaiting FDA approval. The company reiterated that its vaccines will be widely available across the country, but “timing is ultimately at the discretion of the FDA.” By 2:45 p.m. Eastern Time, Novavax’s stock price had fallen 10% to around $8 a share. Neither Pfizer nor Moderna’s stock moved significantly. Both fell less than 1.5%.



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



This comes as Covid-19 hospitalizations begin to rise across the U.S. In the week ending August 27, the most recent data available, hospital admissions for Covid-19 were up 15.7%, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#maps_new-admissions-rate-county" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the CDC</a>. That’s 17,418 hospital admissions during that week, and while that is still a far cry from the peak in January 2022, when there were around 150,000 hospitalizations a week, doctors believe it signals that a new wave could be coming in the fall.



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



These new vaccines follow doctors’ long held predictions that Covid-19 vaccines will likely become similar to the influenza vaccine, where a new iteration is released annually to keep up with new strains of the virus. At a September 2022 White House briefing, Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the leader of the federal government’s response to the pandemic, said: “We likely are moving towards a path with a vaccination cadence similar to that of the annual influenza vaccine, with annual updated Covid-19 shots matched to the currently circulating strains for most of the population.”



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



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2023/09/01/its-ok-to-get-your-covid-flu-and-rsv-shots-at-the-same-time-experts-say/?sh=7a857a4c3099">It’s Okay To Get Your Covid, Flu And RSV Shots At The Same Time, Experts Say</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2023/09/06/modernas-updated-covid-vaccine-is-effective-against-pirola-variant-as-concern-over-new-strain-grows/?sh=18b82c3a1a06">Moderna’s Updated Covid Vaccine Is Effective Against Pirola Variant—As Concern Over New Strain Grows</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2023/09/06/fda-may-approve-new-covid-boosters-by-friday-as-deaths-spike-report-says/?sh=5bc3a51b54f2">FDA May Approve New Covid Boosters By Friday As Deaths Spike, Report Says</a> (Forbes)<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/willskipworth/"></a>

Injection of the third dose of the covid 19 vaccine at a Covid-19 vaccination center in Dinan, Brittany

FDA Approves New Covid Vaccines To Target Latest Strains

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



The death toll from extreme flooding in Libya over the weekend is estimated to be at least 250 by the Red Crescent of Benghazi, though one of the country’s officials said thousands could be dead from the catastrophic storm,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/11/storm-and-floods-kill-at-least-150-people-in-libya-says-red-crescent.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/derna-disaster-zone-libya-storm-daniel-floods-8fac4fe35b962242568ff219456c6870" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;say</a>.



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



The Red Crescent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/powerful-storm-rolls-through-eastern-libya-killing-least-three-2023-09-11/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told</a>&nbsp;Reuters on Monday morning that the flooding caused by Mediterranean storm Daniel killed a confirmed 150 people in Derna, a coastal city in eastern Libya, over the weekend, but the organization expects the death toll to increase to 250.



Ossama Hamad, prime minister of the parliament-supported government in Libya, said in a phone interview with a local television station on Monday that he fears 2,000 are dead in Derna, the city hit the hardest by the floods, and thousands more are missing, the Associated Press&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/derna-disaster-zone-libya-storm-daniel-floods-8fac4fe35b962242568ff219456c6870" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>.



Water levels in Derna, which was declared a disaster zone, reached as high as 10 feet over the weekend, and the storm also hit the Libyan cities of Benghazi, Susa, Bayda and al-Marj.



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



Last week, the storm hit parts of Turkey, Greece and Bulgaria, killing at least 15—with two still missing—and causing the “most intense rain storm” in almost a century, Reuters&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/three-more-bodies-found-after-greece-storm-raising-toll-14-2023-09-10/#:~:text=ATHENS%2C%20Sept%2010%20(Reuters),since%20records%20began%20in%201930." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>. More than 4,250 people were evacuated from Greece as of early Monday, authorities said, due to rivers overflowing and damaging villages beyond the aftermath of the storm. On Sunday, Bloomberg&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-09-10/greek-premier-to-request-eu-support-for-country-s-flood-damage?utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&amp;cmpid=socialflow-twitter-business&amp;utm_content=business&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>&nbsp;that Greece&#8217;s prime minister will meet with the head of the European Commission on Tuesday to ask for support from the EU.



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



<a href="https://apnews.com/article/derna-disaster-zone-libya-storm-daniel-floods-8fac4fe35b962242568ff219456c6870" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AP NEWSLibyan prime minister says 2,000 people believed dead in flooding in eastern Libya following storm</a><a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/powerful-storm-rolls-through-eastern-libya-killing-least-three-2023-09-11/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">REUTERSStorm and floods kill at least 150 people in Libya-Red Crescent</a>

Death toll in Derna city tops 2,000 after floods hit eastern Libya

Hundreds Dead In Libya After Devastating Floods, But Official Warns It Could Be Thousands

In a significant development for Africa&#8217;s digital landscape, Lagos-based Itana, formerly known as Talent City, has announced that it secured $2 million in pre-seed funding.



The investment is led by backers, including LocalGlobe, Amplo, Pronomos Capital and Future Africa, marking a step toward realizing Africa&#8217;s inaugural Digital Free Zone.



Founded by Luqman Edu, Coco Liu, and Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, this funding is pivotal in realizing their vision to enhance Nigeria&#8217;s ease-of-doing-business index, stimulate foreign direct investment, and catalyze employment opportunities within the nation.



As of early 2022, the self-described charter city, backed by Charter Cities Institute and Pronomos Capital, a Peter Thiel-backed venture fund, had secured over $10 million for the project situated within Alaro City, in the Lekki Free Zone, just outside of Nigeria&#8217;s largest city, Lagos.



&#8220;We are building an online jurisdiction that allows global companies to remotely incorporate and operate in a Nigerian Digital Free Zone in partnership with Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority to develop relevant policies for a groundbreaking &#8216;virtual city.&#8217; Itana Free Zone will be powered by a one-stop-shop platform for business and government services, including taxation, business visas, banking, capital repatriation, and supportive legislation for businesses. We will also be building a business marketplace, working with trusted service providers including legal, tax, banking, and more. We hope to help the businesses in our zone navigate the business landscape and operations with transparency and clarity to enable growth,&#8221; Itana tweeted on the announcement.



Aboyeji, one of the co-founders, emphasizes the importance of creating a conducive environment for Nigerian tech companies to thrive locally.



&#8220;In 2016 when I incorporated @theflutterwave, my first Delaware company, I never imagined incorporating a Delaware company would become the default for Nigerian companies looking to go global. For me, it was just a clever hack. But it became a movement.



&#8220;Post SVB crash crisis, incorporating a Delaware company and getting a bank account from Nigeria has quietly become a little more stressful. With the ascension of one of our own, @bosuntijani, as Minister, it has become imperative to bring our tech companies home. However, to do so, we need the right regulatory environment with the right benefits and opportunities that allow them to compete globally from right here in Nigeria,” tweeted Aboyeji. &#8220;This is why I’m so grateful for @ItanaAfrica and the incredible cast of mentors and investors who have come together to make this possible. If you are a Nigerian company and you want to come home, head on to itana.africa and incorporate your FZE today. Super excited to welcome you home.&#8221;



The announcement of Itana&#8217;s funding has garnered enthusiastic support from the tech community.



Pronomos Capital tweeted: &#8220;We&#8217;ve been working with the @ItanaAfrica team for 3 years now, and we love them, their concept, and its traction. Also big fans of @iaboyeji&#8217;s leadership, and since co-founders Luqman &amp; @cocobliu joined, it&#8217;s been build mode beast time!&#8221; Victor Ndukwe tweeted: &#8220;Super proud to be a part of the dream team. Building the gateway to the digital economy in Africa is audacious, and with the right kind of folks around, it becomes one of the most exciting journeys. Cheers to a prosperous Africa as we build to expand its trillion-dollar economy!&#8221;

Luqman Edu and Iyinoluwa Aboyeji marking a step toward realizing Africa’s inaugural Digital Free Zone; Image supplied

$2 Million Pre-Seed Funding For Africa’s First Digital Free Zone

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



Google plans to require verified election advertisers to make “clear and conspicuous” disclosures when their advertisements contain AI-generated content, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/13755910?hl=en&amp;ref_topic=29265" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">blog post</a>&nbsp;from the tech giant, which will institute the changes as artificial intelligence becomes more commonplace in the leadup to the 2024 presidential election.



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



The update to Google’s political content policy will arrive in mid-November and will require disclosures to be placed in clear locations on images and videos.



Audio content is included in the disclosure requirements, though AI generated content “inconsequential to the claims made in the ad,” such as color corrections, image resizing and cropping, are exempt.



Videos uploaded to YouTube that aren’t paid advertising are also exempt, even if the content is uploaded by political campaigns.



Election advertisers who want to run election ads through Google are already required to go through a&nbsp;<a href="https://support.google.com/adspolicy/troubleshooter/9973345" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">verification process</a>&nbsp;requiring basic information from applicants.



A mix of human and tech tools will be used to enforce the disclosure requirements.



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



Google is one of several tech companies that has faced scrutiny over its handling of misinformation. YouTube, which was acquired by Google in 2006, faced backlash after announcing this year it would&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/youtube-will-stop-removing-false-claims-2020-election-fraud-rcna87503" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stop taking down content</a>&nbsp;containing false claims about the 2020 presidential election—when former President Donald Trump baselessly claimed voter fraud was rampant in an election he still considers rigged. YouTube said in a blog post it made the decision to protect its “community” and provide “a home for open discussion and debate.” The company was also criticized in 2020 for slowly removing or labeling videos with election misinformation.



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



X, formerly known as Twitter, does not have specific guidelines for AI-generated ad content. Meta, the owner of Instagram and Facebook, does not have similar policies either, though it does have a ban against “<a href="https://about.fb.com/news/2020/01/enforcing-against-manipulated-media/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">manipulated media</a>” such as deepfakes—videos that typically use digital alterations to copy someone&#8217;s likeness and convey false information.



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



<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/youtube-will-stop-removing-false-claims-2020-election-fraud-rcna87503" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YouTube will stop removing false claims about 2020 election fraud</a>&nbsp;(NBC News)



<a href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/06/google-ai-election-ads-disclosure" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Google to require disclosure for AI in election ads</a> (Axios)

In this photo illustration, a woman holds a smartphone with

Google Will Require Advertisers To Add Disclosures For AI-Generated Election Ads

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



With a potential winter and fall surge of the flu, Covid and RSV, some experts recommend getting all three shots at the same time, while limited research shows doing so might cause rare side effects.=



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



It’s “acceptable” to get the new respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine co-administered with other vaccines, including the flu and Covid vaccines,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/meetings/downloads/slides-2023-06-21-23/07-RSV-Adults-Britton-508.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according</a>&nbsp;to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.



For the first time, two RSV vaccines have been greenlit by the FDA to protect&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/mollybohannon/2023/05/03/fda-approves-first-ever-rsv-vaccine-after-brutal-2022-season/?sh=3dd0ac5910b2">older Americans</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2023/08/21/fda-approves-first-rsv-vaccine-for-kids-given-to-pregnant-moms-heres-what-to-know/?sh=75ffd2ab813e">infants</a>&nbsp;against the virus, which are expected to be available this fall, and the agency also approved an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2023/08/03/first-rsv-vaccine-for-infants-approved-by-cdc-and-fda-other-top-vaccines-and-their-effectiveness/?sh=7a5031872040">antibody shot</a>&nbsp;for infants and toddlers in August.



New monovalent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2023/08/21/new-covid-boosters-expected-this-fall-why-some-doctors-suggest-holding-off-on-getting-your-next-booster-until-then/?sh=18f37e73438b">Covid boosters</a>&nbsp;to protect against variants of the dominant XBB lineage are being developed by Moderna, Pfizer and Novavax at the request of a Food and Drug Administration panel and also are predicted to be available this fall.



As the fall and winter seasons approach, there are concerns another respiratory virus “tripledemic”—caused by a simultaneous rise in flu, Covid and RSV cases, causing hospitals to become overwhelmed—may happen again this year.



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



It’s “more probable that we&#8217;ll have a high viral season” this year with people getting Covid, the flu and RSV around the same time, so getting vaccinated is an important preventative step, Sharon Nachman, the chief of the division of pediatric infectious diseases at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, told&nbsp;Forbes.



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



<a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Covid</a>&nbsp;hospitalizations in recent weeks ticked up, increasing by almost 19% between August 13 and August 19, while deaths increased almost 18% between July 8 and August 26, as EG.5, or the Eris variant, made up the majority of cases. Though national&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/surveillance/nrevss/images/trend_images/RSV14Num_Nat.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RSV cases</a>&nbsp;have increased slightly since June—they went from 149 cases in the week of June 17 to 423 cases the week of August 26—cases were over four times higher around this time last year.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Flu cases</a>&nbsp;aren’t witnessing a spike just yet, as flu season is expected to begin in October, but updated vaccines are available for the upcoming season.



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



50,000. That’s how many people in the U.S. died from Covid infection between November 2022 and March 2023,&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#maps_deaths-total" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according</a>&nbsp;to the CDC. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/preliminary-in-season-estimates.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">flu</a>&nbsp;accounted for around 58,000 deaths during last year’s tripledemic and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/research/rsv-net/dashboard.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RSV</a>&nbsp;killed 10,000 people—mostly seniors—and caused twice as many hospitalizations than in prepandemic years.



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



A good number of patients last year were admitted into Nachman’s hospital with “more than one virus” at a time. So, she recommends those who are eligible to first get their doctors’ approval and then get all three shots in preparation for the upcoming seasons. Other than approving the co-administration of the RSV shot with other vaccines, the CDC also&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/coadministration.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">endorses</a>&nbsp;co-administration of the Covid and flu vaccines. Nachman said there’s a “better immune response” when more than one vaccine is administered at the same time. A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X22015687" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a>&nbsp;published in&nbsp;Elsevier&nbsp;found dual vaccination of Covid and the flu saw a reduced risk of infection than in unvaccinated people.



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



Epidemiologist Richard Reithinger told&nbsp;Forbes, “People are a little bit more cautious” about getting the RSV vaccines at the same time as the other two because they were only recently approved by the FDA this year. There is limited evidence on whether the new RSV vaccines negatively interact with the Covid and flu vaccines. However, there were rare instances in a clinical trial where people developed severe side effects after getting the RSV and flu shots at the same time. Two 71-year-old participants developed acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (<a href="https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/acute-disseminated-encephalomyelitis#:~:text=Acute%20disseminated%20encephalomyelitis%20(ADEM)%20is,helps%20with%20electrical%20nerve%20signaling." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ADEM</a>), a neurological disorder that causes widespread swelling in the brain and spinal cord that damages the nerves’ protective coating, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/pdfs/mm7229a4-H.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a>&nbsp;by a CDC advisory committee. One of these instances resulted in death. However, researchers aren’t sure if these cases were a result of the vaccines being administered together, or just a coincidence. The study also found that RSV and flu antibodies were slightly lower when administered together, though the “clinical significance is unknown.” If people are unsure about getting all three vaccines at once, it’s okay to “just take the flu vaccine [right now] and then wait for the Covid-19 and RSV” vaccines to be released later this year, according to Reithinger. Although he believes getting all three vaccines at the same time is safe, he ultimately recommends people consult with their doctors on timing.



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



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2023/08/21/new-covid-boosters-expected-this-fall-why-some-doctors-suggest-holding-off-on-getting-your-next-booster-until-then/?sh=18f37e73438b">New Covid Boosters Expected This Fall: Why Some Doctors Suggest Holding Off On Getting Your Next Booster Until Then</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2022/12/20/heres-why-there-is-a-shortage-for-childrens-tylenol-advill-and-motrin-and-what-to-do-about-it/?sh=3a6e33ce28f4">Here’s Why There Is A Shortage For Children&#8217;s Tylenol, Advil And Motrin—And What To Do About It</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/mollybohannon/2023/05/03/fda-approves-first-ever-rsv-vaccine-after-brutal-2022-season/?sh=3dd0ac5910b2">FDA Approves First-Ever RSV Vaccine After Brutal 2022 Season</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2023/08/21/fda-approves-first-rsv-vaccine-for-kids-given-to-pregnant-moms-heres-what-to-know/?sh=75ffd2ab813e">FDA Approves First RSV Vaccine For Kids—Given To Pregnant Moms—Here’s What To Know</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2023/08/03/first-rsv-vaccine-for-infants-approved-by-cdc-and-fda-other-top-vaccines-and-their-effectiveness/?sh=7a5031872040">First RSV Shot For Infants Approved By CDC And FDA: Other Top Shots And Their Effectiveness</a> (Forbes)

It’s Okay To Get Your Covid, Flu And RSV Shots At The Same Time, Experts Say

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



Officials in New York City this week&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-12471305/NYC-Health-Department-tells-New-Yorkers-MASKING-Labor-Day-good-idea-new-Covid-variants-drive-infection-rates.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reportedly</a>&nbsp;urged residents to wear masks in public as a new strain of Covid-19 continues to spread throughout the country, while some hospitals and schools have also reimplemented mask mandates, though medical experts say masking requirements might not last long, and might not be necessary for the entire population.



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



New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan this week warned the virulent Ba.2.86 variant is “likely to evade immunity that has developed from vaccination or prior infection,” while a city health official told the Daily Mail it would be a “good idea” to mask up in crowded indoor places over the holiday weekend.



In Atlanta, Morris Brown College—a historically Black university—implemented a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/morris-brown-college-implements-two-week-covid-19-mask-mandate-as-cases-climb" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">two-week mask mandate</a>&nbsp;for all students and faculty last week as students move back on campus, also re-imposing social distancing amid “reports of positive cases among students.”



California-based healthcare facility Kaiser Permanente&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/kaiser-permanente-reinstates-covid-19-mask-mandate-amid-spike-in-cases-but/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reinstated</a>&nbsp;its mask mandate at its facilities in Santa Rosa, California last week “amid an uptick in patients testing positive,” while in New York, a group of hospitals also imposed mask mandates,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fox4news.com/news/citing-rising-covid-cases-these-us-hospital-systems-have-now-reinstated-mask-mandates" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">including</a>&nbsp;United Health Services, Auburn Community Hospital and University Hospital in Syracuse, New York.



In Santa Monica, California, Hollywood studio&nbsp;Lionsgate&nbsp;also&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/hollywood-studio-covid-rates-mask-mandates-back-1235571466/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">requested</a>&nbsp;employees wear masks in certain parts of its facilities in response to a rise in cases last month.



A mask mandate is also in effect in&nbsp;<a href="https://sf.gov/information/know-when-masks-are-needed#:~:text=There%20are%20no%20longer%20masking,or%20people%20living%20in%20jails." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">San Francisco</a>&nbsp;for healthcare workers when around patients, as well as for employees at jails.



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



Officials have been torn on mask mandate policies since the start of the pandemic, while studies have found mandates might not be a guaranteed safeguard from community-wide spread. George Washington University Dr. Leana Wen told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/31/health/labor-day-coronavirus-increase-wellness/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CNN</a>&nbsp;this week the decision to mask up also depends on an array of factors, including a person’s age and whether they’re at high risk of contracting the virus—she also said children in schools who are at low risk should not be required to mask up. When asked about Labor Day weekend precautions, Wen added people who didn’t cancel their plans last year probably don’t need to cancel them either, despite cases being on the rise.



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



Vaccine boosters from drugmakers Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2023/08/21/new-covid-boosters-expected-this-fall-why-some-doctors-suggest-holding-off-on-getting-your-next-booster-until-then/?sh=6d037a70438b">expected</a>&nbsp;to be ready for use later this month and widely available in October, though they are still pending Food and Drug Administration approval. Those boosters, unlike their predecessors, target newer coronavirus strains, including the Eris strain and other XBB subvariants, adding to Americans’ arsenal to combat Covid, though only 17% of Americans have received the current bivalent booster shot,&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations_vacc-people-booster-percent-pop5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according to</a>&nbsp;the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.



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



15,067. That’s the number of Covid hospitalizations in the U.S. over the week ending August 19, an increase of 18.8% from the week before, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#maps_new-admissions-rate-county" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CDC data</a>. More than 6.27 million people in the U.S. have been hospitalized since the outbreak of the pandemic more than three years ago.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chief-critic">CHIEF CRITIC</h2>



Despite the rise in cases, Republican lawmakers have slammed Covid mask mandates, with Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R)&nbsp;<a href="https://mailchi.mp/5dd152f9c1de/governor-tate-reeves-mask-mandates?e=ae3824fee2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">swearing off</a>&nbsp;potential mask orders, saying, “MIssissippians will not and should not submit to fear again.” In a&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/110979968873429026" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">video</a>&nbsp;posted on his social media platform Truth Social, former President Donald Trump argued mask mandates amounts to “fear mongering,” calling lawmakers “Covid tyrants,” and vowing: “We will not shut down our schools, we will not accept your lockdowns, we will not abide by your mask mandates and we will not tolerate your vaccine mandate.”



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



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2023/08/21/new-covid-boosters-expected-this-fall-why-some-doctors-suggest-holding-off-on-getting-your-next-booster-until-then/?sh=6d037a70438b">New Covid Boosters Expected This Fall: Why Some Doctors Suggest Holding Off On Getting Your Next Booster Until Then</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/williamhaseltine/2023/08/25/wastewater-analysis-update-on-ba286-in-the-united-states-its-here-be-careful/?sh=6ab2e5353cc0">Wastewater Analysis Update On BA.2.86 In The United States: It’s Here, Be Careful</a> (Forbes)

Business owner setting up face mask required sign in cafe window

Will Covid Mask Mandates Return? Here’s Where They’re Making A Comeback

According to MedicineNet, at least 10% of the world’s population is affected by chronic pain. Eight out of those 10 patients are affected by depression, and lower back pain is the most common chronic condition, globally. It’s no wonder that pain clinics are popping up everywhere, some of them being called ‘pill mills’, one-stop shops for the medicine that specialists are becoming cautious of prescribing.



“Are they really clinics? My answer is no,” says Dr Marnin Romm, a specialist interdisciplinary pain management clinician and assistant and associate professor based in Boston, United States (US), but born in South Africa.



“A true pain clinic, by definition, is interdisciplinary.”



For Romm, one of the biggest problems with pain management is the commercial side of the business. “It’s ludicrous. Where’s the sustainability of the practitioner?” he asks. “Pain is more complex than just cracking your back, or going to a physiotherapist and feeling okay for a day or two until the pain comes back with a vengeance and you have to go back. That tells me you’re not managing the patient properly, you’re not doing the right treatment and if you keep doing the same thing day in and day out, where’s the ethics?”



Based on his training, clinical experience and work as an academic, Romm believes that pain management is about self-management.



His goal is to help his patients, many of whom have gone down the Dr Google rabbit hole, to stop relying on healthcare providers – including himself.



“It’s for the greater purpose of the good of the patient,” he explains. “I’m not here to fix them. I’m here to guide and navigate in terms of their self-management to different modalities, different tools, and a mixture of different tools, a mix of pharmacology.”



According to Romm, there has been a shift in terms of understanding the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying chronic pain. Instead of understanding the pathophysiology underlying chronic pain, healthcare providers use pharmacological agents and invasive interventions.



<div class="wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile" style="grid-template-columns:33% auto"><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="681" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Dr-Marnin-Romm-681x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-59398 size-full" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Dr-Marnin-Romm-681x1024.jpeg 681w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Dr-Marnin-Romm-200x300.jpeg 200w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Dr-Marnin-Romm-768x1154.jpeg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Dr-Marnin-Romm-1022x1536.jpeg 1022w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Dr-Marnin-Romm-1363x2048.jpeg 1363w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Dr-Marnin-Romm-scaled.jpeg 1703w" sizes="(max-width: 681px) 100vw, 681px" /></figure><div class="wp-block-media-text__content">
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
“IN MEDICAL SCHOOL, THE AVERAGE AMOUNT OF TIME SPENT TRAINING DOCTORS OR PHYSIOTHERAPISTS (OR ANYONE INVOLVED IN PAIN) OVER THE SPAN OF SEVEN YEARS IS FOUR HOURS… FOUR HOURS. FOR A PANDEMIC. SO, YOU’RE SAYING YOU CAN LEARN EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PAIN MECHANISM IN FOUR HOURS? THAT’S IMPOSSIBLE.”
<cite>—Dr Marnin Romm</cite></blockquote>
</div></div>



“And it’s not their fault. The reason for this is that in medical school, the average amount of time spent training doctors or physiotherapists (or anyone involved in pain) over the span of seven years is four hours,” he says. “Four hours. For a pandemic. So, you’re saying you can learn everything you need to know about pain mechanism in four hours? That’s impossible.”



Romm, who spent two years in London doing a master’s degree in pain neuroscience, says that the reason healthcare practitioners find it difficult to treat chronic pain is because they’re unable to identify what mechanisms are at play.



“In my assessments, I find out what is going on in the body and then target those mechanisms. Whether the treatment is pharmacological, more invasive, or psychological to reduce stress and anxiety or even exercise-based, but one of the biggest problems in pain management now is that’s still not the case,” adds Romm.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center" id="h-making-money-off-pain">MAKING MONEY OFF PAIN</h4>



There’s no question that opioids are both oversupplied and overprescribed in high-income countries. Patrick Radden Keefe’s 2021 exposé about Purdue Pharma and the opioid epidemic, Empire of Pain, pinpointed the Sackler family’s marketing strategy to generate billions of dollars – which resulted in millions of addicts.



In sub-Saharan Africa, there has been a sharp increase in treatment admission trends for opioids and opioid-related disorders. A BBC investigative documentary called Sweet Sweet Codeine uncovered corruption at major pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria with staff running drug syndicates to meet the high demands of the black market. A few years after banning cough syrup containing codeine, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) reportedly shut down three pharmaceutical firms. Whether used to combat pain or recreationally, the United Nations (UN) put in a report that west, north and central Africa jointly account for 87% of all pharmaceutical opiates seized globally.



Another problem sub-Saharan Africa faces is the use of fake or substandard medications. Drugs are big business which means counterfeits and poorly-made medication benefits the pharmaceutical company that doesn’t know these products are infiltrating their supply chain and the street vendors who knowingly peddle these drugs.



A report from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime showed that 267,000 deaths in Sahel countries (Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and the Niger) were linked to fake or below-par antimalarial medication. Just under 170,000 deaths have been linked to falsified antibiotics used to treat severe pneumonia in children. Sahel countries rely on imports of medical products due to their own pharmaceutical industries being in the earlier stages of development.



It is believed the counterfeit drugs are imported from pharmaceutical exporters (like Belgium, France, China and India), and diverted from the legal supply chain, or manufactured in neighboring countries.



An alternative to opioids is cannabidiol, or CBD. Different to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which also comes from cannabis plants, CBD is non-intoxicating in its pure form. While regulations around the world differ due to the insufficiency of solid evidence to establish its benefit versus the risks, there are many countries that have approved its use for pain. A Forbes Health survey found that 60% of the adults who use CBD in America do so for its pain relief effects. When it comes to cancer pain, Canada has given the thumbs up for CBD and so has the UK to treat the pain that comes with multiple sclerosis stiffness and spasms. In Lesotho, marijuana has become a cash crop as the small landlocked country grows and exports medical cannabis to Europe. In South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address, he said that the legal hemp and cannabis sector has the potential to create over 130,000 new jobs in the country – the pharmaceutical market has been estimated at over R100 billion ($53 million) a year. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center" id="h-brain-training-and-tech-to-track-and-treat-pain">BRAIN TRAINING AND TECH TO TRACK AND TREAT PAIN</h3>



There’s more to the business of pain management than drugs, pharmaceuticals and otherwise. Exciting technology such as AI tools to monitor and track pain with big data to non-invasive devices that stimulate nerve fibers are being researched. Telemedicine has also become a big part of chronic pain care as some patients cannot travel to see specialists but still need to consult a doctor.



Another type of technology that’s up-and-coming in the pain space is virtual reality (VR) distraction therapy for pain relief. Dr David Binder, the director of innovation at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston, US, has been studying VR for a number of years. He explains that stimuli can distract the brain from receiving pain signals. In a paper for Harvard Health Publishing, he writes: “We already take advantage of this wiring all the time. For example, if you hit your elbow by accident, and it hurts, you rub the elbow and it feels better. You’re tricking the brain by producing the sensory reaction of touching the elbow, which cancels some pain signals.”



Dr Todd Maddox is part of AppliedVR, a company in Texas in the US that makes prescription VR-based therapeutics for chronic pain management. “One of the ways people learn to deal with chronic pain is with breathing mechanisms – this deals with a part of the brain that learns behavior and the goal is to engage those centers in the brain,” he explains.



Maddox explains chronic pain (and where technology fits in) as something that gets worse over time because the brain gets you into a habit that you cannot break out of. Chronic pain is not only about issues with the tissues as muscles, as one example, usually heal within six to 12 weeks, it’s how your brain processes information.


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/AppliedVR-1024x576.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-59396" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/AppliedVR-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/AppliedVR-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/AppliedVR-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/AppliedVR-1536x864.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/AppliedVR-2048x1152.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">AppliedVR makes prescription VR-based therapeutics for chronic pain management</figcaption></figure></div>


“So much of how we approach chronic pain is cognitive… but the behavior centers in the brain don’t listen to the cognitive centers very well,” says Maddox. This is why talking to someone and telling them what to do with chronic pain doesn’t always work – someone may do the exercises recommended by a physiotherapist but they also might not.



“Here’s what VR does: it broadly engages the brain. It engages your sensory and perception centers – the parts of the brain that say you’re there. It engages cognitive centers, emotional centers, you get motivated, excited and are poised for behavior change…” The research behind this non-pharmacologic form of chronic relief is exciting but it’s something that depends on good content which costs money to create. There’s also the fact that at this point, VR for pain isn’t covered by insurance unless you’re in a nursing home in America and on a CareWell plan. The alternative to what a company like AppliedVR offers is a patient buying their own VR headset and downloading a meditation app like TRIPP which combines tried- and-tested relaxation techniques with binaural audio – it just won’t be supervised by a specialist and the content won’t be specifically designed around pain relief.



Smartphones have given rise to numerous apps to track pain and others that take a more multidisciplinary approach, pairing users with a health coach who can create customized care plans. 



One piece of wearable tech that is making the rounds on social media is Healy, an expensive, palm-sized device which delivers mild electrical currents to the wearer. Robyn Gilbert, a mom of two, discovered Healy from a friend. “I have pain from an autoimmune condition and Healy can mitigate it almost completely,” she says. “It has also improved my sleep, my overall energy levels, and my general sense of emotional wellbeing.” While Gilbert doesn’t feel the current – in fact, it is recommended to keep the stimulation levels low so the user doesn’t feel it – she says she felt a mental shift straight away. “People experience profound changes in many different ways, from the cessation of pain to an overall sense of wellbeing on an emotional and mental level,” she adds. Healy was invented by Marcus Schmieke, founder of the Existential Consciousness Research Institute. It isn’t approved by the FDA but that hasn’t stopped over 300,000 people from buying a device.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center">‘IT’S ALL IN YOUR… GUT?’</h3>



Chronic pain may be common but it’s complex and the idea that it’s all ‘in your head’ is something not every doctor agrees on.



Dr Sarette Zecharia is a clinical psychologist who works with alternative forms of pain management, including traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda, and is on the board of the Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology. “Medication is a quick fix but the issue is that it’s foreign to the body and you end up taking more medication to cover up the side effects,” she says. “What I recently heard is that for each decade you’re in, you have to be on two medications and if 



you’re not, it’s mind-boggling. It’s no longer normal to not be on medication.”



<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="20" height="20" src="">Zecharia has seen incredible (and less expensive) results with her pain patients by simply managing diet, using food as fuel. “In modern science, it’s very easy to find the one thing that’s the cause of everything – and medicate. Pain is in every single system, the energetic system, the physical system, the mental system, the emotional system, the spiritual system, and it has to be dealt with on all of those levels,” she adds.



New research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has shown that there is a connection between the gut and chronic pain because the bacteria living



in our gut can influence some neurological diseases – when the microbiome is disrupted, the communication between the gut and brain is disrupted. There is also research in the Nature science journal which validates that an out-of-balance microbiome can lead to chronic inflammatory disease. “If you think about all these psychotropic medications that people are given, it disrupts the gut and the gut is where you make the majority of your neurotransmitters. That’s where your mood comes from and that’s why food is so important,” she adds.



“Food is not important to people whose mood is regulated, but the moment your mood isn’t regulated, you start to realize the importance of food.”



The connection between pain, food and diet culture is complicated and can be attributed to various factors, including societal pressure, media influence and individual experiences. Living a ‘healthy lifestyle’ comes at a cost and the diet industry globally is worth billions ($282.53 billion by 2028 per GlobeNewswire), profiting off those who struggle with their relationship with food and body image.



While Zecharia does believe food is fuel and has seen regenerative diets work for those in pain, she says making money off pain is easy because you can charge people a fortune and “keep giving them stuff that’s just knocking them more off their center line”.



Where does the spend stop and relief begin? For those dealing with pain, chronic or acute, finding a quick fix can take a dark turn but as the field expands and researchers across different disciplines collaborate, there is hope. Says Zecharia: “I’m not saying don’t take psychotropic medication if you need it. The problem is when someone gets medication from a healthcare provider who doesn’t really know what they have. And if it doesn’t work, you keep upping the dosage, messing up your gut biome…”

Closeup female hand neatly placing medicament at domestic first aid kit top view. Storage organization in transparent plastic box drug, pill, syringe, bandage. Fast health help safety emergency supply

The Business Of Pain Management: Expert-Speak From Africa

At day three of the 15th BRICS Summit, the bloc’s expansion, welcoming Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, heralds a new phase of global collaboration and influence.



In a significant move that has captured global attention, the BRICS bloc is set to welcome new members for the first time since the adoption of South Africa in 2010, ushering in a chapter of expanded collaboration and shared markets. Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are poised to become full members of the BRICS family, amplifying the possible leverage the bloc is able to implement globally, as well as increasing the entity’s capability as a counterbalance to the West.



“The world is changing,” commented South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in his closing remarks at the three-day BRICS Summit in Johannesburg. “New economic, political, social, and technological realities call for greater cooperation between nations. These realities call for a fundamental reform of the institutions of global governance, so that they may be more representative and better able to respond to the challenges that confront humanity.”



The expansion announcement was made by Ramaphosa, who chaired the summit. It represents a carefully deliberated and agreed-upon step signifying consensus among the existing BRICS members – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – to broaden the bloc&#8217;s scope and deepen its collaborative efforts.



The BRICS grouping, which collectively represents a significant portion of the global economy, trade, and population, has garnered attention not only for its economic significance but also for its potential to shape international discourse and policy. The inclusion of Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE extends this influence to regions that bring unique perspectives, resources, and challenges.



The invitations to join the bloc are particularly significant given the close relationship between Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the West, for which BRICS has increasingly come to counterbalance. The expansion indicates a clear view for a multipolar world order characterized by equitable development, sustainable growth, and collective security. It is a testament to the bloc&#8217;s commitment to fostering cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, technology exchange, and cultural understanding. By embracing these new members, BRICS solidifies its role as a platform for dialogue and collaboration, even as the global geopolitical landscape continues to evolve.



This multipolar support was no clearer than in the addresses of China’s President Xi Jinping, noting the event&#8217;s historic significance; “The expansion is also a new starting point for BRICS cooperation. It will bring new vigor to the BRICS cooperation mechanism and further strengthen the force for world peace and development.”



President Vladimir Putin too gave a closing address via video call.



Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, a key player in the BRICS partnership, emphasized the expansion&#8217;s significance in his address; “India has always supported the expansion of BRICS. India has always believed that adding new members will strengthen BRICS as an organization.” Modi highlighted that the inclusion of these nations is a symbol of openness, inclusivity, and cooperation that extends beyond national boundaries. This sentiment resonates with the BRICS ethos of mutual respect and the pursuit of common goals for the betterment of all member nations.



The BRICS expansion holds the potential to foster economic growth, innovation, and the sharing of best practices among member nations. It is anticipated to enhance trade ties and investment opportunities. This enlargement positions the BRICS bloc as a resilient and collaborative force, capable of influencing economic outcomes and promoting stability.



Beyond the economic realm, the expansion offers an avenue for constructive dialogue on pressing global issues. By incorporating nations from different regions, the BRICS bloc can diversify its perspectives and responses to challenges such as climate change, cybersecurity, and geopolitical tensions. The inclusion of nations like Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE brings a heightened focus on Middle East dynamics, allowing for enhanced dialogue and understanding.



Of note regarding the attempts at the bloc&#8217;s expansion are the inclusion of offerings of membership of the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which have long-established relationships with the West, with which the Russian Federation and China find themselves opposed with the war in Ukraine and trade conflicts, respectively.



As the world watches this expansion unfold, it&#8217;s worth noting that BRICS is not merely an economic or political grouping but a lever of global diplomatic influence.

Brics Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa August 22-24, 2023

New Name For BRICS? Summit In South Africa Unveils Newer Members In The Bloc

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



New Covid boosters pending approval will only target the coronavirus’ Eris strain and other XBB subvariants, which make up most cases in the U.S., causing some experts to encourage patients to wait for the new shots instead of getting a current bivalent booster.



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



In June, a Food and Drug Administration panel&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/media/169591/download?attachment" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recommended</a>&nbsp;Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax formulate their new Covid booster shots to be monovalent and only protect against the XBB.1.5 variant and other XBB sublineages—as opposed to the currently available shots, which were designed to combat earlier coronavirus strains.



The companies are still awaiting FDA approval: The new vaccines are estimated to be ready by late September but probably won’t be widely available until October, CBS News&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-vaccine-booster-xbb-variants-september-2023/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>.



XBB.1.5 (also known as “Kraken”) is a descendent of the omicron variant and was the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/xbb15-omicron-subvariant-questions-patients-may-have" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">most dominant</a>&nbsp;strain in the U.S. earlier this year, but is now the eighth dominant strain.



The reason the FDA recommended monovalent boosters that protect against one strain is because most of the circulating variants are XBB descendants—as of June, over 95% of the Covid variants in the U.S. were XBB sublineages, the agency said in its report.



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2023/08/10/what-we-know-about-eris-covid-variant-eg5-the-dominant-stain-driving-an-uptick-in-cases/?sh=22a519ab1627">EG.5</a>&nbsp;or “Eris” is an XBB subvariant and the dominant strain in the U.S., accounting for 20.6% of all cases in the U.S. between August 6 and 10,&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according</a>&nbsp;to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.



The second most common variant, FL.1.5.1, made up 13.3% of cases in the country within that same time period and is also an XBB subvariant.



On Thursday, Moderna&nbsp;<a href="https://investors.modernatx.com/news/news-details/2023/Moderna-Clinical-Trial-Data-Confirm-Its-Updated-COVID-19-Vaccine-Generates-Robust-Immune-Response-in-Humans-Against-Widely-Circulating-Variants/default.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a>&nbsp;its new Covid vaccine generated a “robust immune response” against Eris and other XBB variants.



A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-023-02228-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a>&nbsp;published in&nbsp;Nature Medicine&nbsp;found that although any available booster offers good protection against Covid, variant-specific shots—like the new monovalent XBB ones awaiting approval—offer about 1.6 times more immunity.



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



676,728,782. That’s how many vaccines have been administered in the U.S. according to CDC&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations_vacc-people-booster-percent-pop5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">data</a>. However, only 17% of the population has received an updated bivalent booster.



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



Some experts believe that since the new vaccines expected to release this fall are specifically aimed at targeting XBB variants, Americans should hold off on getting updated boosters until then. Paul Sax, the clinical director of the division of infectious diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/article/covid-booster-fall.html#:~:text=The%20short%20answer%2C%20according%20to,the%20Omicron%20XBB.1.5%20variant" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told</a>&nbsp;the&nbsp;New York Times&nbsp;that “waiting makes more sense” for most people looking to get a new vaccine. The current booster is a bivalent shot designed to protect against omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5, which were once the dominant strains in the U.S. but now make up less than&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">1%</a>&nbsp;of cases combined. A January&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7205e1.htm?s_cid=mm7205e1_w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a>&nbsp;conducted by the CDC found the bivalent vaccines were about 50% effective at protecting against XBB and XBB.1.5 in most adults and about a third effective in those 65 years and older. Raina MacIntyre, head of the biosecurity program at the medical research organization the Kirby Institute,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/four-fifths-of-australian-adults-have-failed-to-get-a-bivalent-booster-here-s-why-that-is-a-problem-20230814-p5dwb5.html#" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told</a>&nbsp;the Sydney Morning Herald&nbsp;the available bivalent boosters “do not provide enough protection against EG.5.1, but the XBB subvariant boosters that are being made by most companies will protect against EG.5.1.” Similarly, University of Michigan infectious disease expert Preeti Malani&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2023/08/11/1193229029/coronavirus-faq-is-it-wiser-to-get-a-booster-now-or-wait-for-the-new-fall-booste" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told NPR</a>&nbsp;the updated booster shots “will provide a better match to the currently circulating variants,” so most patients are better off waiting for it to be approved.



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



The CDC&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/clinical-considerations/interim-considerations-us.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">still recommends</a>&nbsp;that most people receive at least one bivalent booster shot. The agency&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/madelinehalpert/2022/09/01/cdc-advisory-panel-recommends-new-covid-booster-shots-targeting-omicron-heres-what-you-need-to-know/?sh=e92dc701da8c">first signed off</a>&nbsp;on Pfizer and Moderna’s updated boosters almost a year ago.



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



A new Covid variant called BA.2.86, or “Pirola,” was&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1692255671687794902" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">labeled</a>&nbsp;as a variant under monitoring by the World Health Organization on Thursday due to the “large number of mutations it carries.” That same day, the CDC&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/CDCgov/status/1692326710262304890?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a>&nbsp;it was monitoring the variant as it’s been reported in the U.S., Israel and Denmark. It is the descendant of omicron subvariant BA.2, which was the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/what-doctors-wish-patients-knew-about-ba2-omicron-subvariant" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dominant strain</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. earlier this year, at one point making up 85% of cases in the country. An&nbsp;<a href="https://slides.com/jbloom/new_2nd_gen_ba2_variant?ftag=YHF4eb9d17#/3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">analysis</a>&nbsp;by Jesse Bloom, an evolutionary biologist at Fred Hutch Cancer Center, found the variant had 36 additional spike protein mutations than XBB.1.5 and 34 more mutations than BA.2. The number of mutations BA.2.86 has in comparison to other variants makes it “comparable to [the] number of mutations in [the] first Omicron strains relative to” the original Covid strain, according to Bloom. Although its prevalence in the U.S. isn’t large enough to appear on the CDC’s variant tracker—it’s being lumped in with BA.2 cases—there might be concern that the new monovalent vaccines won’t protect against it because it’s not an XBB variant. However, in a report shared with&nbsp;Forbes,&nbsp;Pfizer-BioNTech said evidence shows their new monovalent boosters should offer some protection against BA.2.86.



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



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2023/08/10/what-we-know-about-eris-covid-variant-eg5-the-dominant-stain-driving-an-uptick-in-cases/?sh=22a519ab1627">What We Know About ‘Eris’ Covid Variant EG.5: The Dominant Strain Driving An Uptick In Cases</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/article/covid-booster-fall.html#:~:text=The%20short%20answer%2C%20according%20to,the%20Omicron%20XBB.1.5%20variant" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Don’t Get Your Next Covid Booster Quite Yet</a>&nbsp;(New York Times)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2023/01/26/covid-vaccines-heres-evidence-they-work-despite-persistent-misinformation-along-with-side-effects-and-common-misconceptions/?sh=2d67186147c3">Covid Vaccines: Here’s Evidence They Work—Despite Persistent Misinformation—Along With Side Effects And Common Misconceptions</a> (Forbes)

A healthcare worker administers the Pfizer-BioNTech (

New Covid Boosters Expected This Fall: Why Some Doctors Suggest Holding Off On Getting Your Next Booster Until Then

The new domestic soccer season gets underway in August and the Mamelodi Sundowns dynasty lives on. Can anyone break their stranglehold on the South African domestic league title? We speak to some of the top coaches.



Mamelodi Sundowns won an unprecedented sixth South African DStv Premiership title in a row in the 2022/23 season as their dominance of the domestic league continues in relentless fashion.



It is not just the fact they have lifted the trophy, but the manner of the victories has been so emphatic that the last three seasons in particular have been a one-horse race from the off.



They finished 13 points clear in 2020/21, and 16 points in front of second place in each of the last two seasons. The remainder of the league simply could not keep up with them.



Looking to the new campaign that starts in August, the question 



now is whether anyone can rise from the chasing pace and dethrone The Brazilians.



The most likely pretenders to the throne are Orlando Pirates, a giant of the local game who last lifted the league trophy in 2011/12 but went toe-to-toe with Sundowns in the second half of last season after a sticky start.



Pirates picked up 35 points in their final 15 games and Sundowns 33, as The Buccaneers’ Spanish coach José Riveiro got to grips with the DStv Premiership and the players at his disposal in his first year in charge.



If they can keep up that level through the 30 games of this coming season, they will have an excellent chance of being crowned champions.



“We have a fantastic group [of players] and resources,” Riveiro tells FORBES AFRICA.



“Emotionally, it’s been a tough fi rst season. It is not easy to do what you love in a different country. For me to be here, the learning process was dificult and things were not easy from the start.



“If we do the same things [next season], we are going to get less [success], so we have to do different things to improve.”



One factor that may hold the Pirates back in the coming campaign is that they will have the considerable distraction of the CAF Champions League.



The same is true for Sundowns, but at this stage the latter perhaps have a squad with more depth that makes them better equipped to juggle domestic and continental matters. Riveiro is confident his side can make an impact in both though.



“We are going into Africa to dream that we have the potential to go all the way. I’m a very optimistic person, so I have the intention to win it.



“We know we will fi nd dificult trips, difficult opponents and dificulties from the referees, but Mamelodi Sundowns did a fantastic job in the competition [last season] and showed that it’s possible for South African teams to compete.”



It will mean bolstering his squad, and just who they manage to sign will be key.



“There’s going to be players coming and going like every season. I hope not too many because it is important to have continuity to build on the things we have done already.”



As for who else could rival Sundowns, the pickings are slim. Kaizer Chiefs continue to falter and went backward in the last campaign, while SuperSport United overachieved but are in a constant cycle of having to sell their best players to balance the books. This transfer window looks no different.



“They’ve set the bar so high, I don’t think anybody is going to catch them in the next few years,” SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt says, adding other teams simply cannot match Sundowns in the transfer market. 



“Give us the fi ve to six players from Sundowns and we will show you where we can go,” he says ruefully. “We have a salary cap here, that is how we operate. That’s unfortunate, but we will have to find new players, try to build a team that is competitive and try to close the gap.”



Former Chiefs head coach Arthur Zwane, who has since been replaced in the hotseat by Molefi Ntseki but remains an assistant with the team, also doesn’t see Sundowns dropping their level anytime soon, so it is up to the rest of the league to find a way to close that gap. 



“I think it is a challenge for everyone to take our game to another level. For us, we are a work in progress and we are getting better and better,” Zwane said. “It boils down to a lot of things: chemistry, preparation and having a long-term plan. We still have a long way to go. I wouldn’t talk about other teams because I don’t know what their plan is.



But as for us, we are on that journey of trying to revive the glory days.”



For anyone else hoping to win the DStv Premiership this coming season, the only thing that will get them over the line is consistency in performance, because relying on Sundowns to falter looks a pipe dream.

sundowns

Mamelodi Sundowns’ Dominance Of The South African Domestic League Title

Quote Boards (Twitter Post)

From Madiba To The Pan-Africanist: Playing His Part For The Continent

Africa’s secret weapon in the global energy race – green hydrogen. The continent has the potential to flip the script, transitioning from a fossil fuel consumer to a green energy titan.



The global energy transition has a burgeoning champion – green hydrogen. Often overshadowed by solar and wind, this renewable resource is increasingly crucial for a sustainable future.



The current global hydrogen market is over $130 billion. The World Bank predicts an annual growth of over 9%. Although the surge is likely niche until 2030, the growing demand for renewable energy means that green hydrogen could accelerate rapidly thereafter. Regions with low-cost markets and abundant renewable resources, like Africa, become attractive production markets.



The principle is straightforward. Use renewable energy sources to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The result? A fuel source that releases only water upon consumption. The applications are limitless, from powering cars to heating homes.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-green-hydrogen">What is green hydrogen?</h3>



At its core, green hydrogen is simple. It’s hydrogen, the universe’s most abundant element, produced environmentally friendly. But how do we make it, and why does it matter?



Green hydrogen is generated via electrolysis, which splits water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity. But for the hydrogen to be ‘green’, the electricity must come from renewable sources, like wind or solar power. The only byproduct is oxygen, a harmless gas we breathe every day.



In contrast, most hydrogen produced today is ‘grey’ or ‘blue’. It’s derived from fossil fuels, mainly natural gas, and the process releases significant amounts of carbon dioxide, a harmful greenhouse gas. Green hydrogen represents a shift away from this environmentally damaging status quo. However, green hydrogen faces challenges. Currently, it accounts for less than 1% of all hydrogen production. The main obstacle is the production cost, which is not yet competitive compared to grey or blue hydrogen. Most green hydrogen is used in energy-intensive industries like steel and chemical manufacturing.



The path to economic viability for green hydrogen lies in a combination of technological advancements, increased global development investment, and legislative commitments. These factors are expected to make green hydrogen a serious market contender in the coming decades.



Africa is fast becoming a frontrunner in the green hydrogen race.



<div class="wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile"><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="682" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/GettyImages-1240573620.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-59195 size-full" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/GettyImages-1240573620.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/GettyImages-1240573620-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/GettyImages-1240573620-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure><div class="wp-block-media-text__content">
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
“FROM SOLAR TO BIOGAS, FROM WIND TO BATTERY STORAGE, THESE INVESTMENTS ARE LEADING ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT GROWTH INDUSTRIES IN OUR COUNTRY.&#8221;
<cite>—South African President Cyril Ramaphosa</cite></blockquote>
</div></div>



Blessed with an abundance of sunlight and wind, Africa is ideally positioned to exploit green hydrogen’s potential. Groundbreaking projects are taking shape across the continent.



From the ambitious SA-H2 venture announced recently in South Africa to a green hydrogen initiative between Namibia and Botswana, these projects signal profound economic opportunities for job creation, growth, and sustainable development.



The Africa Green Hydrogen Alliance (AGHA), established in 2022, emphasizes Africa’s competitive edge due to low production costs. Masopha Moshoeshoe, Green Economy Specialist at the Investment and Infrastructure Office in the Presidency of South Africa, stated in a press release issued by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change on the launch of the alliance: “Green hydrogen has the potential to marry South Africa’s significant mineral endowment with its significant renewable revolutionize its energy sector. The SA-H2 fund, which aims to establish a hydrogen ecosystem in South Africa, is at the forefront of this exciting transition.



The $1-billion fund was announced in June as part of a joint effort between the Netherlands, Denmark and South Africa.



“From solar to biogas, from wind to battery storage, these investments are leading one of the most important growth industries in our country,” said South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the announcement in Pretoria.



Blended finance is a key concept underpinning this project.



Andrew Johnstone, the CEO of Climate Fund Managers, explains to FORBES AFRICA that it refers to the strategic use of public



or philanthropic funds to mobilize private sector investment in sustainable development. In the context of SA-H2, this means bringing together private and public funding to make projects economically viable.



“They (the funds) act as a “spark” to ignite and mobilize belief, technology, and other forms of capital,” says Johnstone.



“The SA-H2 project should be seen as part of a larger effort across the region to leverage blended finance for sustainable energy development.”



The project is financed by a combination of different forms of capital, each with a different return requirement. This includes donor capital, commercial capital, and guarantees. By bringing these diverse sources of funding together, the project achieves a lower average cost of capital.



Johnstone explains, “Blended finance means in this context&#8230; to bring in capital in defined proportions in pursuit of a low average cost of capital.” Notably, this blended finance model also allows



for differential risk sharing. If a project underperforms, certain investors may not receive a return, thus sharing the risk in a structured and agreed-upon manner.



Once a project is up and running, it has an obligation to repay its funders, whether those are lenders through equity or energy loans, or others through dividends. Johnstone describes this repayment as a “waterfall”, with those who took the least risk and accepted a lower return being repaid first.



It’s important to highlight the transparency and regulation of these funds. They operate similarly to companies, are regulated by appropriate bodies, and are overseen by advisory boards and investment committees populated by investors or independent representatives. This governance structure ensures a high level of oversight and accountability.



Another key aspect of the SA-H2 project is the co-existence of different funds. The development side of the project is planned with public contracts and equity funds in mind. This co-existence helps redefine what “bankable” means in the context of these projects, potentially accelerating the implementation process.



These blended finance projects aim to create scalable, replicable, and improvable markets, serving as a catalyst for broader change in the energy sector.



South Africa’s SA-H2 initiative is not alone in its ambition.



Namibia is also making significant strides in the green hydrogen sector.



Noteworthy is a project in the Tsau Khaeb National Park, near Lüderitz, with the Namibian government proactively confirming a 24% equity stake in this $10 billion project, almost equivalent to the country’s gross domestic product.



This initiative, led by Hyphen Hydrogen Energy, is gaining momentum with several key partners signing a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on the necessary infrastructure for Namibia’s green hydrogen production ambitions.



“Namibia is perfectly positioned to produce low-cost green hydrogen and ammonia for domestic and international markets,” said Frans Kalenga, Technical Advisor to the Minister of Mines and Energy of Namibia on Namibia’s joining of the AGHA, in a press statement. “[It] provides a platform for us to collaborate with neighboring countries. AGHA’s report reaffirms the potential, and provides important recommendations on how we can work together to unlock the extraordinary potential.”



This potential is estimated to generate 15,000 jobs during the direct construction of the project, and a further 3,000 created permanently when the project is fully underway.



Namibia’s Vice President Nangolo Mbumba acknowledged the global transition toward green hydrogen, as well as the country’s abundant natural resources and landscape assisting in the suitability of its development as an industry.



“We are now approaching new fields of economy. Everybody is talking about green hydrogen. Three-four years ago, even the pronunciation was not known,” he said, speaking during the Forbes Under 30 Summit Africa in Botswana in April. “People need energy, and plenty of it,” he continued, acknowledging the international collaboration, local training and investment in education to develop the skills needed for green hydrogen initiatives.



“If we succeed, we will produce enough energy for the whole region of southern Africa,” added Mbumba.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Policy and profitability</h3>



A confluence of factors is propelling the growth of green hydrogen in Africa. The continent’s abundant natural resources, particularly sunlight and wind, provide an ideal setting for green hydrogen production. Escalating global demand for clean energy is creating opportunities for African nations to emerge as green hydrogen exporters. Moreover, policymakers are increasingly recognizing green hydrogen’s potential in achieving climate goals and fostering sustainable development.



The advent of green hydrogen presents a substantial opportunity for job creation across the African continent.



With Africa positioned as a potential global exporter of green hydrogen, the sector could become a significant contributor to the continent’s GDP. Moreover, the revenues generated from green hydrogen exports could be reinvested into local communities, improving infrastructure, education, and healthcare.



An analysis by McKinsey on behalf of AGHA identified a possible increase in GDP for member countries of between $66 billion and $126 billion by 2050, as well as up to 4.2 million new jobs as a result of green hydrogen investments.



The potential offers a pathway for nations to build a more resilient future, mitigating economic risks tied to unpredictable oil and gas prices. By developing a green hydrogen industry, nations could foster local technological innovation and enhance their manufacturing capabilities.



This prospect could shift Africa’s role in the global energy landscape, transitioning from a net importer of fossil fuels to a significant exporter of clean energy.



However, the promise of green hydrogen is not solely economic. It also offers a sustainable solution that addresses the pressing issues of economic development and climate change simultaneously.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Green Hydrogen is a tool for survival</h3>



As the world stands on the brink of a pivotal moment in its fight against climate change, green hydrogen emerges as a powerful ally. As a clean, carbon-free source of energy, green hydrogen can replace fossil fuels in various sectors, leading to a dramatic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.



In Africa, where climate change threatens both people and ecosystems, investing in green hydrogen will not only enable nations to contribute to global emission reductions but also helps them build resilience against climate change impacts at home.



Even though Africa is responsible for only a fraction of global carbon emissions, the continent is actively taking steps to reduce its carbon footprint.



Green hydrogen can play a significant role in these efforts, replacing carbon-intensive fuels across the economy and leading to substantial emission reductions.



Moreover, exporting green hydrogen to other continents could further reduce global carbon emissions, enhancing Africa’s contribution to the global fight against climate change.



Renewable energy has been identified by many African countries as a key element of their climate change mitigation strategies. Incorporating green hydrogen into these strategies could hasten their progress towards achieving climate goals.



By offering a means to store and transport renewable energy, green hydrogen could solve one of the significant challenges of the energy transition: the intermittency of wind and solar power. This could facilitate a more extensive and efficient use of renewable energy, driving further emission reductions.



At the heart of the global energy transition, green hydrogen stands out as a beacon of hope. This renewable resource, making waves in the energy sector worldwide, has found a promising home in Africa. The continent, blessed with abundant wind and sunlight, is quickly gaining recognition as a potential global leader in green hydrogen production.



Pioneering projects across the continent signify Africa’s commitment to embracing green hydrogen.



Yet, the narrative of green hydrogen extends beyond economics. It is a tale of resilience and innovation in the face of climate change. Looking ahead, it’s clear that green hydrogen could reshape Africa’s energy landscape, transforming the continent from a net importer of fossil fuels to a major exporter of clean energy. Such a transformation could not only stimulate economic growth but also enhance Africa’s influence in global energy and climate policy discussions.



For Africa, the opportunity is now. It’s an opportunity that calls for further research, investment, and policy support, for the sake of the continent and the world.

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