Category: General

Google has pledged 25 million euros ($26.98 million) to help people in Europe learn to use artificial intelligence (AI). Announcing the funding on Monday, the tech giant said it had opened applications for social enterprises and nonprofits that could help reach those most likely to benefit from training. The firm will also run a series of 'growth academies' to support companies using AI to scale their companies and has expanded its free online AI training courses to 18 languages. 'Research shows that the benefits of AI could exacerbate existing inequalities - especially in terms of economic security and employment,' said Adrian Brown, executive director of the Centre for Public Impact, which is running the nonprofit scheme alongside Google. 'This new program will help people across Europe develop their knowledge, skills and confidence around AI, ensuring that no one is left behind,' Source: Ghana News Agency

Kenya and world sport, are mourning the death of marathon world record holder, Kelvin Kiptum, who died at age 24 in a car accident on Sunday night in his home country. Kiptum died together with his coach Gervais Hakizimana, who was in the car with him, in the accident along Eldoret-Kaptagat Road in Kenya, the ruling body World Athletics said in an obituary. Kiptum dethroned countryman Eliud Kipchoge as world record holder by 34 seconds, with a time of 2 hours 35 seconds last October in Chicago. He was tipped to become the first man to go below 2 hours in a regular race, after Kipchoge had achieved the feat under lab conditions, which don't allow ratification as a record. Kipchoge said on social media he was 'deeply saddened by the tragic passing' of Kiptum, 'an athlete who had a whole life ahead of him to achieve incredible greatness.' Multiple world and Olympic distance running champion, Mo Farah of Britain said on X, formerly Twitter: 'Kelvin was an amazingly talented athlete, and had already achieved so much. 'He truly had a special talent, and I have no doubt he would have gone on to have had an incredible career.' World Athletics President, Sebastian Coe, said in a federation obituary: 'We are shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the devastating loss of Kelvin Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana.' 'On behalf of all World Athletics, we send our deepest condolences to their families, friends, teammates and the Kenyan nation. 'An incredible athlete leaving an incredible legacy, we will miss him dearly.' International Olympic Committee (IOC) president, Thomas Bach, also reacted shocked. 'It is with extreme sadness that I learnt of the tragic passing of world marathon record-holder Kelvin Kiptum from Kenya in a car accident,' Bach said on the IOC account on X. 'We had been looking forward to welcoming him into the Olympic community at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, and seeing what the fastest marathon runner in the world could achieve.' In Kenya, the nation's president, William Ruto, said on X that 'Kiptum was our future. 'Kelvin Kiptum was a star. Arguably one of the world's finest sportsmen who broke barriers to secure a marathon record. An extraordinary sportsman has left an extraordinary mark in the globe. Our thoughts are with the family and the sporting fraternity. Rest In Peace,' Ruto said. Sports minister Ababu Namwamba said that 'the cruel hand of death has robbed Kenya and the world a truly precious sporting gem. 'Kelvin was only getting started, and was destined to rule the world of elite marathon running for long. My deepest condolences to the family of Kelvin and the entire athletics and sporting fraternity. Rest well champion,' he said on X. Kiptum only started running seriously from age 13, and unlike other marathon greats, never really spent any time on stadium tracks. He arrived on the scene in December 2022 in Valencia, with the fastest ever debut over the 42.195 kilometres, 2:01:52 hours. In April he won the London Marathon in 2:01:25 before getting the record in Chicago. K iptum was set to run his next marathon in April in Rotterdam, which also has the reputation of a very fast course. That ended on Sunday night at around 11pm, when according to news reports, citing local police, Kiptum as the driver, lost control of the car, swerved off the road, and hit a tree before coming to a standstill in a ditch. No other vehicles were reportedly involved. Kiptum and Hakizimana died on the scene, while a female passenger was taken to hospital with serious injuries. Source: Ghana News Agency

The debts of three public transport companies to the social security funds have reached around TND 600 million, Director General of Social Security, Nader Ajabi, said during a study day on "the state's social policy" organised by the Parliamentary Academy at the Assembly of People's Representatives (ARP) Monday. "The Tunisian transport company (TRANSTU), the national railway company (SNCFT) and the national interurban transport company (SNTRI) owe the social security funds TND 600 million," he pointed out. He recalled that the debt of the National Company of Cellulose and Esparto Paper (SNCPA) had reached TND 60 million, while that of the Company of Pharmaceutical Industries of Tunisia (SIPHAT) had reached TND 18 million. He pointed out that the social security funds will continue with the direct transfer of contributions, in addition to imposing late payment fines at modified rates. Ajabi added that H the social security funds would resort to forced collection procedures and that institutions that did no t pay their debts to the social security funds would be subject to late payment fines. He recalled that Minister of Social Affairs, Malek Zahi, recently announced a social amnesty aimed at resolving the situation of business enterprises, adding that the amnesty will not be renewed or extended. It comes one year after the success of a social amnesty which helped mobilise resources worth TND 500 million last year, he further noted. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

The Ashaiman District Court has remanded James Yaovi Kumordzi, a 22-year-old taxi driver, into police custody for concealing a heavy-duty cutter in the bonnet of his car in preparation to rob an unsuspecting member of the public. Kumordzi, whose plea was not taken, was charged with preparation to commit crime, namely stealing. The Court, presided over Mr Derick Parden Eshun, remanded him to enable investigations to be completed on the case and for the suspect to reappear on February 23, 2024. Prosecuting, Inspector Tetteh Nartey told the court that personnel from the Afienya Police District Command on February 3, 2024, at about 1800 hours, went on their usual motorbike patrols within Afienya and its environs due to reports of robbery attacks on some residents. However, on February 4, 2024, at about 0215 hours, the police personnel saw a Kia Picanto Taxicab with registration number GW 6397-22, (red and yellow), parked near the Afienya lorry station. The prosecutor said the complainants promptly approached the taxicab and saw Kumordzi and two other people on board, but the two accomplices managed to escape while preliminary interrogations were ongoing. The accused person was apprehended and a thorough search was conducted on the vehicle, which revealed a heavy-duty cutter concealed in the bonnet with some coins totaling Gh?160.00 at the back seat. He was, thus, sent to the Afienya Police Station along with the exhibits and a complaint made against him and his accomplices, who were at large. The investigation disclosed that the said taxicab was the property of P. K. Assan Enterprise at Agona Swedru in the Central Region and was officially being driven by Ato Kwamena Eric Tawiah within Tema Community Two, under the supervision of Michael Appiah Junior, prosecutor said. Inspector Nartey said further inquiry revealed that on February 4, 2024, at about 0100 hours, Kumordzi used the said taxicab to carry his accomplices, concealed the heavy-duty cutter in its bonnet, and embarked on a stealing expedition within A fienya and its environs. He said investigation was still ongoing to arrest his accomplices and also track the source of the coins. Source: Ghana News Agency

Nana Akua Anokowa I, the newly installed development Chief of the Edelesuazo community, has called on residents in the community to rally behind her to foster peace and unity to accelerate development in the area. She said unity was the surest way through which they could realise the development they desired as a people; hence it was necessary for them to be united for that purpose. As the development chief, she would lead the people to more developmental projects to modernize the community. Nana Anokowa I, known in private life as Madam Judith Korsah, a professional nurse, made the call during her installation ceremony at Edelesuazo in the Nzema-East Municipality of the Western Region. Touting some of her development initiatives, she indicated that she had so far rolled out an apprenticeship programme for about 20 young girls to equip them with self-employable skills in the community among others. Nana Anokowa I, thanked the family and community for the confidence reposed in her to champion the d evelopment of the community and said she would do more to help grow the area. Madam Catherine Abenlemah Afeku, a former Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, charged the newly installed development chief to channel more efforts into girl-child education with special reference to Technical, Vocational, and Education Training. She donated 10 sewing machines as part of efforts to support apprenticeship training for young girls in Edelesuazo. Mr Isaac Kofi Sorpka, Nzema-East Municipal Police Commander, encouraged the newly installed development chief to work assiduously to ensure peace and development in the area. Source: Ghana News Agency