LONDON, United Kingdom, March 10, 2025/APO Group/ –In celebration of Commonwealth Day, the Youth Charter (www.YouthCharter.org) is calling for enhanced collaboration and a unified approach to leverage the power of sport for development and peace. As nations across the Commonwealth come together to honour shared values and aspirations, it is imperative that we recognise the unique role of youth and sport in driving positive change within our communities.

Sport has long been recognized as a powerful tool for fostering social cohesion, promoting inclusion, and empowering young people. It transcends boundaries and brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, encouraging teamwork, respect, and mutual understanding. The Youth Charter believes that by harnessing this potential, we can address critical challenges such as youth unemployment, gender inequality, and conflict resolution.

“We urge governments, organisations, and stakeholders across the Commonwealth to prioritise and invest in coordinated efforts that integrate sport into development initiatives,” said Geoff Thompson, Chair of the Youth Charter. “By working together, we can create sustainable programmes that not only enhance physical well-being but also cultivate essential life skills and promote peace.”

The Youth Charter emphasises the importance of engaging young people in the planning and implementation of these initiatives. Their voices and perspectives are crucial in shaping programmes that resonate with their needs and aspirations. As we commemorate Commonwealth Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to empowering youth through sport and creating pathways for dialogue, understanding, and peace.

We invite all Commonwealth nations to join us in this call to action. By fostering partnerships and sharing best practices, we can create a more inclusive and peaceful world where every young person has the opportunity to thrive.

#TogetherWeThrive

Links: https://apo-opa.co/4kDEb6L

https://apo-opa.co/4hpUgdw

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, March 10, 2025/APO Group/ –Security researchers at Kaspersky (www.Kaspersky.co.in/) have revealed how cybercriminals used geofencing, compromised business accounts and coordinated bot networks to distribute malware disguised as DeepSeek AI software, generating over 1.2 million views on X.

Kaspersky’s Threat Research and AI Technology Research have jointly identified a sophisticated deception campaign exploiting the rapid growth and public interest surrounding DeepSeek AI — a popular generative AI chatbot — in order to distribute malware through fraudulent websites.

In their investigation, Kaspersky researchers revealed that cybercriminals established deceptive replicas of the official DeepSeek website, using domain names like “deepseek-pc-ai[.]com” and “deepseek-ai-soft[.]com.” A distinctive feature of this campaign was its use of geofencing technology, where malicious websites examine each visitor’s IP address and dynamically alter content presentation based on geographic location, enabling attackers to fine-tune their approach and reduce detection risks.

“This campaign demonstrates notable sophistication beyond typical social engineering attacks,” explained Vasily Kolesnikov, senior malware analyst at Kaspersky Threat Research. “Attackers exploited the current hype around generative AI technology, skillfully combining targeted geofencing, compromised business accounts and orchestrated bot amplification to reach a substantial audience while carefully evading cybersecurity defenses.”

According to Kaspersky’s analysis, the campaign’s primary distribution channel was the social media platform X. Attackers strategically compromised the social media account of a legitimate Australian company to widely disseminate fraudulent links. This single malicious post drew significant attention, reaching approximately 1.2 million impressions and generating hundreds of reposts. Researchers determined that these reposts largely originated from coordinated bot accounts — evident due to their similar naming conventions and profile characteristics — indicating a deliberate amplification of the malicious content.

Visitors lured to the fraudulent websites were directed to download a fabricated DeepSeek client application. Instead of the authentic software, these sites delivered malicious installers using the Inno Setup installation platform. Once executed, these compromised installers attempted to contact remote command-and-control servers to retrieve Base64-encoded PowerShell scripts. These scripts subsequently activated Windows’ built-in SSH service, reconfigured it with attacker-controlled keys and enabled full remote unauthorised access to compromised systems.

All malware payloads connected to this campaign are proactively identified and blocked by Kaspersky security products such as Trojan-Downloader.Win32.TookPS.* variants.

To remain secure, Kaspersky advises people to do the following:

• Check URLs meticulously. Fraudulent AI websites often use domain names that closely resemble legitimate services but contain subtle differences. Before downloading any AI software, verify that the website URL exactly matches the official domain with no additional words, hyphens or spelling variations.
• Use comprehensive security protection. Deploy a robust security solution like Kaspersky Premium on all devices to detect and block malicious installers and websites before they can compromise your system.
• Keep all software updated. Many security vulnerabilities exploited by malware can be addressed by installing the latest versions of your operating system and applications, particularly security software.

Read more on Securelist.com and Kaspersky Daily blog (https://apo-opa.co/4iDjGFt).

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, March 10, 2025/APO Group/ –Angola has set a target to become a key exporter of value-added critical minerals in the next 10 to 15 years. As the country pursues this goal, the upcoming African Mining Week (AMW) – Africa’s premier mining event – will spotlight Angola’s growing potential as global critical minerals exporter.

Angola has identified 34 of the 54 critical minerals recognized by the European Union across its mineral-rich basins and is ramping up exploration, production and downstream projects to unlock its industry potential. The government is promoting investment across the critical mineral value chain as a strategy to advance economic diversification while unlocking greater revenue generation from the mining industry.

AMW serves as a premier platform for exploring the full spectrum of mining opportunities across Africa. The event is held alongside the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energy 2025 conference from October 1 -3 in Cape Town. Sponsors, exhibitors and delegates can learn more by contacting  sales@energycapitalpower.com.

Across the country, various mining developments are taking off. In January 2025, UK-based Pensana secured funding from South Africa’s Absa Bank to accelerate the development of the Longonjo Rare Earth Project. The $325 million project is expected to supply 5% of the world’s high-grade rare earth carbonate, generate $6 billion in export revenue and contribute $1 billion in tax revenue to regional treasuries, helping Angola diversify its revenue generation.

Meanwhile, Chinese mining firm Shining Star is set to commence production this year at the 40-million-ton Mavoio-Tetelo copper project in northern Angola. The project is expected to produce 300,000 tons of copper per annum, significantly boosting Angola’s mining revenue. Australian firm Tyranna Resources – in partnership with China’s Sinomine – is advancing multiple lithium projects in Angola, with ongoing drilling activities identifying additional reserves and expediting mine development. These projects include the Namibe and Muvero lithium mines. Canada’s Ivanhoe Mines has also initiated a series of copper exploration projects in Angola’s Moxico and Cuando Cubango provinces, contributing to efforts to diversify the nation’s mining sector and revenue streams.

To increase value addition across the manganese sector, Angola is developing a $250 million manganese-to-silica processing facility in partnership with Chinese firm ST New Materials. The project is expected to be operational in 2025. The country is also spearheading projects to produce steel from iron mined in the Kasinga region.

As Angola seeks to attract new investors across the critical mineral value chain, AMW 2025 will bring together Angolan stakeholders and global investors to discuss partnerships and industry growth opportunities. AMW will host panel discussions, project showcases and exclusive networking opportunities, connecting international investors with Angola’s rapidly expanding critical minerals market.