- Topline DeepSeek released an upgrade to its large language model this week, an update the company said featured “significant improvements” over its predecessor as the China-based startup appeared to escalate its rivalry with OpenAI and other U.S. artificial intelligence firms, after an earlier…
- Artificial intelligence boosts smartphones globally, but Africa faces challenges. AI on smartphones is redefining how we interact with technology, from quicker search with voice to smarter photo edits and predicting daily needs before we realize them; plus, with AI’s pattern-learning, a more…
- Topline Social media platform X said the Turkish government has requested more than 700 accounts be blocked amid protests over the controversial arrest and jailing of Istanbul’s mayor—but X said it wouldn’t comply with the requests, even though some accounts say they’ve been censored. Key Facts In…
- The streaming giant has been unable to disrupt the video game market, but armed with massive resources and time, its new push to level up could leave its competitors in the dust. “Netflix has won the streaming wars. Case closed,” analyst Robert Fishman wrote in a MoffettNathanson report published…
- Towards the end of 2024, the discovery of trafficked minors at the Stilfontein mines in South Africa’s North West province spoke to a severe trafficking crisis. As it emerged, undocumented children, some as young as 10, were reportedly coerced into forced labor under alleged armed criminal…
- Watched by as many as one billion people worldwide, the 1974 bout saw George Foreman undefeated in 40 fights—then the reigning heavyweight champion—overwhelming Muhammad Ali in the early rounds with his raw power. George Foreman, the two-time heavyweight boxing champion who contended with Muhammad…
- As artificial intelligence reshapes healthcare, the fight against cancer is witnessing unprecedented breakthroughs, from microscopic nanorobots to virtual treatment twins. This acceleration in drug discovery is just one example of AI’s impact on oncology, now and in the future. According to the…
- The company known for its festive fruit baskets just launched a new website for hemp-derived, THC-infused beverages and gummies. Edible Brands, the parent company of the fruit basket outfit Edible Arrangements, is taking a bite of the cannabis industry. The Georgia-based company, which had $500…
- The decorated former Olympian and Zimbabwe’s sports minister Kirsty Coventry will replace Thomas Bach as President of the IOC. “It’s a signal that we’re truly global…” Double Olympic champion Kirsty Coventry continues to set new records after she was elected president of the International Olympic…
- These Ugandan game designers and founders are holding up a mirror to society with their art. As many a traveler knows, you’re never alone if you’ve packed some cards. You could indulge in the terse isolation of solitaire, but in East Africa you can make an instant friend with an invitation to a…
- The speed of AI development is leaving countries with limited digital infrastructure behind, and the gap is widening at an unprecedented rate. In Africa, there is a need for massive digital infrastructure investment that prioritizes bridging the digital divide, particularly where the gap is…
- Dr Patrice Motsepe was elected unopposed for a second term as President of Confederation of African Football (CAF) in March, a nod to the progress made since he first took office four years ago as he has proposed a new, ambitious target for the organization. CAF, as with many sporting bodies around…
- It is a word that does not roll off the tongue, though “kakistocracy” perfectly captures the wave of frustrations many encounter at work. Derived from the Greek words ‘kakistos’ (worst) and ‘kratos’ (rule), it refers to leadership by the least competent or most inept. Once confined to political…
- At a time when the global automotive space is navigating an era of transformation, the country’s industry stands at a crossroads. Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) CEO and President, Andrew Kirby, recently depicted a stark yet hopeful vision for the sector. The automotive business council of South…
- Sal Island in Cape Verde became the center of economic dialogue this week as it hosted the Lusophone Africa Investment Forum, an event organized by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to strengthen investment and partnerships in Portuguese-speaking African countries (PALOP). The forum…
- The cultural phenomenon that it now is, since launching in 2016, TikTok has rapidly grown as a social media platform with an audience of over 2.1 billion users. About 25% of those users are between 18-24 years old, according to Exploding Topics, which analyzes millions of searches, conversations…
- Passionate about clean water and advocating for the basic needs for women and girls on the continent, Lumbie Mlambo spoke to us at the 2025 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit about walking the talk when it comes to humanitarian work on the ground in Africa. “We can talk all we want , but if…
- South Africans have responded to the implications of the budget speech while experts have noted the balance between fiscal consolidation and economic growth, though risks remain. South Africa’s Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana delivered the country’s 2025 Budget Speech on March 12; and strong…
- Will Trump’s tariffs and his assault on the federal government lead to a deeper crash, or even a recession? Market experts advise long-term investors and 401(k) holders to sit tight. While the last three weeks have been punishing for the stock market, veteran wealth managers are sounding a similar…
- Minister Enoch Godongwana says the decision to increase Value Added Tax (VAT) “was not made lightly” as proposal also includes no inflationary adjustments for personal income tax brackets. South Africa’s Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana delivered the country’s 2025 Budget Speech on Wednesday,…
- The fact that Africa has a shortage of clinical oncologists has been widely publicized. One international medical journal estimated that Nigeria, for example, has around 70 oncologists to serve a population of 213 million people. In South Africa – and in Johannesburg, in particular – it’s been…
- Topline Even the world’s richest man has bad days, as Elon Musk faced a litany of headaches to start the week Monday—including the crash of his social media site, an 11-figure drop in his net worth as his primary venture Tesla faced brutal losses, while an awkward TV interview only gave critics…
- Through Kante, Afrobeats, and his memories of Nigeria, King Charles III underscored music’s power to unite cultures. King Charles III shared a personal connection to Kante, a song by Nigerian Afrobeats star Davido featuring Fave, recalling how it reminded him of his last visit to Nigeria in 2018…
- Key Facts The ceasefire can be extended if Ukraine and Russia agree to additional terms, the statement said, noting Russia has not yet accepted the ceasefire deal. The U.S. will immediately remove its pause on intelligence sharing and security assistance for Ukraine, according to the statement,…
- FORBES AFRICA was at MWC Barcelona looking into Agentic AI and a raft of new gadgets coming up. Making its global debut at MWC, Xiaomi also showed off its SU7 Ultra EV, which goes from 0-100km/h in a ridiculous 1.98 seconds. It recently went on sale in China and sold over 10,000 unitswithin two…
- Topline The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—which falls under the purview of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—is planning to study potential connections between vaccines and autism, Reuters reported Friday, a link Kennedy has controversially pushed in the past.…
- Progress is uncomfortable. It demands defiance — the audacity to stand firm when the world insists you do not belong. It is lonely, yet never solitary, for this is the story of a collective. Women who refuse to wait for permission, who step into rooms never built for them and take up space. When…
- At the 2025 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Awards, held as a glittering gala at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria on Wednesday, March 5, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), took home the 2025 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Lifetime Achievement Award, while the 2025 FORBES WOMAN…
- Topline Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a statement posted on social media he and Ukraine are still committed to working with President Donald Trump and “it is time to make things right,” one day after Trump announced a pause on military aid to Ukraine after Zelenskyy’s contentious…
- Nigerian singer, songwriter and actor, Tiwa Savage is determined to build an empire that will cement her status among the world’s self-made billionaire women. “I want to go into my mogul era – billionaire Tiwa Savage.” Tiwatope Omolara Savage, professionally known as Tiwa Savage, at the age of 45,…
- The female powerhouses in FORBES AFRICA’S OVER 30 UNDER 50 list – compiled for the second consecutive year-are the business leaders, musicians, models, movie stars, innovators and entrepreneurs who have intent and impact on their vision boards, as they scale greater heights, reinvent themselves and…
- Our smartest technology just might be accelerating environmental challenges rather than solving them. If you’re finding that you’re using generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) more and more to search for things online, you’re not alone. There are a growing number of people who are ditching…
- Trump’s second term may unleash a new wave of acquisitions, and mid-cap stocks could be in the crosshairs of acquirers. The stock market surged higher following Donald Trump’s election win earlier last year as Wall Street celebrated the new business-friendly administration and the more lenient…
- “I try to show myself as an example through excellence,” says Oduwole. Zuriel Oduwole, an education advocate and filmmaker known for her work in global peace and gender equality, has been nominated for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize. The nomination, submitted by a professor of clinical education…
- Eli Lilly is stockpiling massive quantities of an oral weight-loss drug that’s at least a year from launch, with total “pre-launch inventory” of nearly $550 million at Dec. 31, 2024, according to its 10-K financial statements released last week. The unusual move represents a massive bet on a new…
- Topline Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he is ready to sign a stalled minerals deal with the United States in a thread on X on Saturday, in which he also urged the United States to stand strongly behind Ukraine amid its war with Russia, one day after his meeting with President Donald…
- Access to vaccines remains a significant challenge across Africa, but technology is emerging as a key to breaking decades of relying on other nations for vaccine development- and to thereby stop the spread of disease much, much faster. In 2021, Africa’s 1.3 billion people had to wait months for the…
- Chinese brands are gaining momentum and igniting a new era in South Africa’s automotive landscape. Whether it’s a sleek new SUV rolling off a Chinese assembly line or a locally produced vehicle designed to compete on the global stage, the industry is speeding with potential and possibilities. A Few…
- Topline The price of bitcoin dropped below $80,000 Friday, its lowest level since last November, amid a crypto selloff that has wiped out nearly all of the token’s post-election gains as concerns mount about the economic impact of President Donald Trump’s tariffs. Key Facts The price of bitcoin,…
- Topline “Emilia Pérez” star Selena Gomez, billionaire media mogul Oprah Winfrey and Oscar winner Halle Berry are among the stars slated to present at the 97th Academy Awards on Sunday evening, though Harrison Ford is no longer slated to present after receiving a shingles diagnosis Friday. Key Facts…
- The lights have always been on inside the so-called AI black boxes. Shifting commercial expectations and increasing awareness of the technology are seemingly changing the narratives. What if bias is actually fundamental to AI’s ability to work in the first place? Rules are imposed to, essentially,…
- Topline Artificial intelligence powerhouse OpenAI announced its latest chat model Thursday, starting a limited roll out of GPT-4.5, which OpenAI chief Sam Altman called a “giant” and “expensive” model that “feels like talking to a thoughtful person.” Key Facts OpenAI called GPT-4.5 its “largest and…
- The African Development Bank (AfDB), one of Africa’s most powerful financial institutions, is set to elect a new president on May 29 — a decision that could shape the continent’s economic trajectory for years to come. With billions of dollars in funding and development projects at stake, the…
- African entrepreneurs abroad are returning to pursue agriculture and invest in opportunities on the continent, providing subsistence farmers with the tech tools and know-how to bring crops like Fonio And Cassava to the world’s tables. Africa has an estimated 600 million hectares of uncultivated…
- These artifacts, which include a bell, relief plaques, a coconut casing, and a staff, were looted by British soldiers during the 1897 expedition. Nigeria is set to receive the single largest return of Benin antiquities directly linked to the 1897 British punitive expedition. This is according to…
- Topline Hunter Schafer, a transgender actress best known for her role on the HBO drama “Euphoria,” posted a video to her TikTok story stating she had to renew her stolen passport, but the passport she received lists her sex as male, which she said was due to President Donald Trump’s executive order…
- As traditional banking remains out of reach for many still unbanked and underserved In Africa, is Cryptocurrency slowly beginning to take a share of African wallets. The continent is anticipated to reach $2.9 billion in cryptocurrency revenue this year, and this growth is only going to grow…
- Topline Nearly a decade after releasing her most recent album “Anti,” billionaire pop star and beauty mogul Rihanna hinted at her long-awaited new music in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, stating she’s been in the studio for eight years but finally had the realization about what she wants her…
- Heard of catfishing? Disturbing trends from the world of online dating and how these dangerous scams are on the rise. Watch out for the red flags. A 19-year-old university student from South Africa, Tom Harris (name changed to protect identity), is urging people to be more cautious when it comes to…
- Topline Pope Francis had a restful night Saturday, the Vatican said Sunday morning, after the 88-year-old leader of the Catholic Church suffered a respiratory crisis, putting him in critical condition following his week-long hospitalization for a lung infection. Key Facts “The night passed quietly…
