La Police Républicaine a procédé, vendredi 16 février 2024, à l'interpellation de 10 individus dans le 12e arrondissement de la ville de Cotonou.
Descente inopinée de la police républicaine dans un café-bar transformé en un coin d'activités cybercriminels et d'usage de produits psychotropes dans le 12e arrondissement. L'opération a permis de maîtriser 10 individus et de saisir 8 téléphones Android contenant des informations compromettantes liées à des activités de cybercriminalité. Des individus ont pris la poudre d'escampette en laissant 9 téléphones portables Android, un routeur wifi et une quantité importante de chanvre indien. Les individus interpellés ont été confiés à l'Office Central de Répression de Cybercriminalité (OCRC) pour la suite de la procédure.
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Un conducteur de taxi-moto a été interpellé, mercredi 14 février 2024, à Hêvié pour avoir tenté de vendre son petit-fils âgé d'environ 1 an.
Un sexagénaire, conducteur de taxi-moto séjourne désormais en prison pour trafic d'être humain au quartier Hêvié-Houinmè. Il a tenté de vendre son petit-fils âgé d'environ 1 an. Le présumé trafiquant a été interpellé le mercredi 14 février par les éléments du commissariat de l'arrondissement de Hêvié après une alerte. Selon les informations de la Police Républicaine, il a contacté « un de ses amis lui demandant de chercher un client en vue de vendre son petit-fils pour des pratiques occultes à un montant de dix millions (10.000.000) FCFA. C'est l'ami qui a alerté le commissariat de l'arrondissement de Hêvié ».
La Police s'est rendue au domicile du suspect. Il a été retrouvé en possession de son petit fils âgé d'environ un an. Le présumé trafiquant a reconnu les faits lors de son interpellation. Il a été présenté au procureur de la république près le tribunal de première instance de 2ème classe d'Abomey-Calavi. Le sexagénaire a été déposé à la maison d'arrêt d'Abomey-Calavi depuis le lundi 19 février 2024.
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On 15 February 2024, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (POiD) had the immense privilege of hosting Ms. Rachel Schiller, the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Programs and Operations in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs and Mr. Rodney A. Robideau, the U.S. Conventional Weapons Destruction Program Manager from the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement at the Regional Explosive Hazards Training Centre (REHTC) of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Tajikistan.
During their visit, the esteemed guests were warmly welcomed by the OSCE POiD Officer-in-Charge, Jukka Tuononen, and Integrated Co-operation on Explosive Hazards Programme Officer, Sonja Stanisavljevic who provided an overview of the ongoing training and upcoming project activities, which have been supported by the U.S. Government as of mid- 2013.
Major-General Sharaf Egamzod, Tajikistan’s Deputy Minister of Defence also extended a warm welcome to the delegation and highlighted the priorities of the Ministry of Defence within the framework of the training co-operation with the United States Army Central (USARCENT).
The REHTC’s Director, Colonel Sulaimon Qodirzoda, provided a comprehensive presentation of centre’s training activities.
The high-level visit coincided with the regional Explosive Ordnance Disposal Level 3 (EOD3) training, attended by participants from Kazakhstan, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Within the framework of EOD3, the distinguished guests had the opportunity to observe and be engaged in two practical exercises, where participants showcased technical knowledge and skills obtained in hook and line techniques, as well as in the safe removal and detachment of detonators using sticky tape and ropes.
The REHTC officers also presented demining equipment, provided by the USARCENT, which is being used during the conduct of EOD training.
During the meeting, all project partners underlined the vital role of the OSCE in fostering regional co-operation and co-ordination on explosive hazards reduction in Central Asia. Such partnership has been instrumental in promoting peace, stability, and security across the region.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed interacts with Sophia the robot at the “The Future of Everything – Sustainable Development in the Age of Rapid Technological Change” meeting. Credit: United Nations/Kensuke Matsue
By UN News
UNITED NATIONS, Feb 20 2024 (IPS)
Artificial intelligence (AI) is ripe to help resolve certain major problems in Africa, from farming to the health sector, but Senegalese expert Seydina Moussa Ndiaye is warning of a new “colonization” of the continent by this new technology if foreign companies continue to feed on African data without involving local actors.
One of 38 members of the new UN advisory body on machine learning, Mr. Ndiaye spoke with UN News about the landscape ahead, building on his experience in helping to drive Senegal’s digital transformation in higher education, serving as an expert to the African Union in drafting the Pan-African Strategy on AI and in contributing to the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI).
AI expert Seydina NDiaye is one of the 38 experts of the UN High-Level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence. Credit: Courtesy Seydina Ndiaye
There are several African countries that are beginning to have a dedicated strategy for artificial intelligence. However, there is a pan-African strategy that will soon be published, with a continental vision of AI development.
More and more, young people launching startups are interested in this, and they have a real thirst for knowledge in the field of AI. This growing interest can be accelerated with international help.
However, there is a wall in some areas, and AI can in fact be used to solve certain problems, including in agriculture. In the health sector, AI could solve a lot of problems, especially the problem of a lack of personnel.
The other element that is also very important is the development of cultural identity. Africa has been seen as a continent with a cultural identity that has not been able to impose itself across the world. With the development of AI, we could use this channel so that African cultural identities are better known and better valued.
Are there bad sides of AI threatening Africa?
The biggest threat is colonization. We may end up with large multinationals in AI that will impose their solutions throughout the continent, leaving no room for creating local solutions.
Most of the data currently generated in Africa is owned by multinationals whose infrastructure is developed outside the continent, where most African AI experts also operate. It’s a loss of African talent.
The other important element to consider is in the context of the fourth industrial revolution. The power of AI combined with advances in biotechnology or technology could be used, and Africa could be the place where all these new solutions are actually being tested.
If it’s not supervised, we could end up with tests that would take place on humans with chips or even integrated biotechnology elements that we improve. These are technologies that we don’t really master well.
In regulatory terms, there are certain aspects that have not been considered. The very framework for the application of ideas and existing regulations is not effective.
In concrete terms, and when you don’t control these things, it could happen without anyone knowing. We could have Africa being used as a guinea pig to test new solutions, and this could be a great, great threat for the continent.
Do you think that the UN’s new AI advisory group is going to be a platform that will allow you to put these problems on the table?
Yes, absolutely. We’ve started our work, and it’s really very open. These are high-level people who understand international issues well, and there are no taboo subjects.
It’s important that the voice of Africa is represented in the group. International scientific cooperation will be strengthened and not limited to the major powers. At the international level, it includes everyone and also helps the least developed countries.
Currently, there is a real gap, and if this is not resolved, we risk increasing inequalities.
Source: Africa Renewal published by the UN Department of Global Communications.
IPS UN Bureau
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