The coach of Tanzania’s national football team, Adel Amrouche, has been handed an eight-match suspension by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), following charges of misconduct.
According to the Burkina Information Agency, both the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) and Adel Amrouche were found guilty of bringing CAF into disrepute. This verdict came after comments and allegations Amrouche made in the media about the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF). The disciplinary action was taken under articles 82, 83, 84, and 131 of the CAF Disciplinary Code.
In addition to the suspension of Amrouche, the Tanzania Football Federation has been fined USD 10,000. This decision marks a significant disciplinary action by CAF against a national team coach in the ongoing CAN 2023 tournament.
Narok, Kenya: In a groundbreaking development in Narok County, Kenya, small-scale gold miners in Lolgorian ward, Transmara South Sub County, have welcomed a new Artificial Intelligence tool named “Dr. Mining Manhattan AI”. This AI ‘man’ is set to revolutionize the local gold mining industry, offering expert guidance and solutions to long-standing challenges faced by the mining community.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Co-chair of the Global Community Miners Forum and the driving force behind this initiative, Dr. Mining Manhattan AI is a conversational robot designed to provide real-time assistance to miners. It operates through social media networks such as WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook, answering queries and offering advice through a question-and-answer format. Hales, who has been closely working with the community since 2017, highlights the AI’s capacity to understand over 105 languages and respond to voice interactions.
The AI, taking five months to develop, is not just a technological tool but a catalyst for change in the mining sector. Hales emphasizes that Dr. Manhattan’s ability to learn from each interaction will continually refine its effectiveness and relevance to miners’ needs. The project, however, faces financial challenges, and Hales is seeking sponsorship from organizations to sustain this innovative program.
The pilot program, if successful, has the potential to impact 45 million artisanal and small-scale miners worldwide, across more than 80 countries. Hales notes the collaboration with local organizations, including the Farmers of Gold association and the Artisanal Small Scale Miners Association of Kenya (ASMAK), to ensure the pilot’s success before its next phase in Indonesia.
Miners are encouraged to test Dr. Manhattan by messaging it on WhatsApp. Despite its ongoing development, Hales is confident in the AI’s capability, drawing inspiration from a character in the movie ‘The Watchman’. He envisions Dr. Manhattan as a ubiquitous, highly knowledgeable presence across all social media platforms.
The program aligns with the goals of the Global Community Miners Forum and meets all legal mining requirements in Kenya. One of the challenges Hales mentions is the accuracy of data, as not all mining information is available online. The reliance on customs data can slow down the AI’s response time.
Lilian Achieng, a miner with a decade of experience, anticipates that Dr. Manhattan will offer essential education on best mining practices and technologies. Dan Odida, National Chairman of ASMAK, applauds the innovation for addressing the information gap that has often led to losses in the mining sector. He expresses hope for the AI’s further development to cater to the sector’s evolving needs.
Counties like Taita Taveta, Kwale, Migori, Narok, Turkana, Kisii, Kakamega, and Nyamira, among others, are expected to benefit from this vast data resource. Over 1.5 million Kenyans are involved in mining, with Migori’s Nyatike area alone housing over 12,000 miners.
ICT expert Calvin Ochieng encourages those without smartphones to access Dr. Manhattan through cyber cafes and appeals for government support in providing free wifi in market centers. Hales underscores the importance of collaboration among all stakeholders, including miners, tech developers, ASM associations, and government bodies, for the successful implementation of this program. He urges the Kenyan government to provide verified data on legal mining operations to scale the pilot program and create an enabling environment for mining activities.