Latest news with #Omer
Business Insider
20-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
War-ravaged Sudan sets new gold production record with $1.57 billion in exports
Despite the devastating impact of ongoing conflict, Sudan's gold production has surged to a record high of 64 tonnes, a remarkable 53% increase from 41.8 tonnes in 2022. Sudan's gold production reached a record high of 64 tonnes in 2023, a significant 53% increase compared to 2022. The growth generated $1.57 billion in legal export revenue, providing vital support to Sudan's struggling economy. Despite the increase, issues such as smuggling and insecurity hinder full economic benefits from gold production. According to the Sudanese Mineral Resources Company (SMRC), this growth generated $1.57 billion in legal export revenue for the conflict-torn nation's struggling economy. SMRC director Mohamed Tahir Omer announced the figures during a media briefing in Cairo, Egypt. Notably, the surge comes amid the unending political rivalry between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has crippled the economy and displaced over 12.5 million people since April 2023. Gold has been a vital source of foreign exchange and economic lifeline for Sudan as it battles some of its highest levels of inflation in history. Omer highlighted the sector's growth, noting that workforce capacity has expanded from 5% to 40%. He emphasized the mining sector's potential, stating, "The mining sector has the ability to lead the country towards recovery and economic renaissance. ' The Sudanese Mineral Resources Company has also projected gold production of 37 tonnes in the first half of 2025, which is expected to bring in 403 billion Sudanese pounds in government revenue. Smuggling, insecurity undermine Sudan's gold gains However, the country's ability to benefit from its mineral wealth is being undermined by persistent smuggling and territorial insecurity. According to SMRC's director, 'nearly half of the state's production is smuggled across borders.' Key mining sites along the borders of South Sudan and the Central African Republic are currently under RSF control, further complicating government oversight and revenue collection. Estimates by international watchdogs such as Chatham House and Swissaid indicate that Sudan's actual gold production could reach up to 80 tonnes annually, with a market value exceeding $6 billion. However, a significant portion of this gold is believed to be traded illegally, with revenues allegedly fuelling both sides of the ongoing civil war; even as the country grapples with the world's largest internal displacement crisis. The stark contrast between official revenues and potential earnings underscores the structural challenges Sudan faces in leveraging its mineral resources for national recovery. With the economy in turmoil and humanitarian needs going unmet, the fight to control gold revenues has become a defining factor in the country's fragile political and economic future.
Scottish Sun
07-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Expert's seven tips to save HUNDREDS on Amazon Prime Day – and the big mistakes to avoid
"Cybercriminals are capitalising on the buzz around Amazon Prime Day 2025" PRIME TARGET Expert's seven tips to save HUNDREDS on Amazon Prime Day – and the big mistakes to avoid CYBER criminals are cashing in on a shopping boost sparked by Amazon Prime Day, experts have warned. Today, and for the next three days, the online marketplace offers up thousands of hard-to-resist deals. 2 Shoppers will be online today snapping up deals 2 Omer Dembinsky gives his expert tips And the high-stakes buying frenzy is a magnet for scammers, according to the team at Check Point research. In June alone, more than 1,000 new domains with names resembling Amazon appeared online. A total of 87 per cent of these have already been flagged as malicious or suspicious. The fake domains, which try to masquerade as authentic Amazon portals, aim to steal login credentials and personal information. Omer Dembinsky, Group Manager in Research and Threat Intelligence at Check Point Software Technologies, said: 'Cybercriminals are already capitalising on the buzz around Amazon Prime Day 2025, creating fake websites and phishing scams designed to trick shoppers out of their personal and payment information.' Here the expert shares seven ways shoppers can avoid falling victim to the online fraudsters. FAKE SALE SCAMMERS are getting ever more clever in their pursuit of fraud - and creating fake sites to lure in shoppers is one of the newest ways they're cashing in. The Check Point experts revealed that Amazon02atonline51[.]online is just one newly-registered, fraudulent site designed to mimic the Amazon Sign-in page. In reality, this is a phishing site that targets German customers. And a successful attack can lead to unauthorised purchases, identity theft or gift card abuse. Omer said: 'Many malicious domains closely mimic Amazon's real URL. Look out for extra characters, odd domain endings (like .top or .online), or hyphenated brand names.' Monzo App Outage: What Happened and What Customers Should Know MAKES YOU LINK ONE of the classic tricks scammers use to con shoppers is phishing. Messages are crafted to create urgency like 'refund errors' or 'account issues,' luring victims into clicking. Check Point Research recently intercepted a phishing campaign spoofing Amazon. One email used the subject line 'Refund Due – Amazon System Error', tricking recipients into clicking a link to 'update their address.' It led to a fraudulent page created to harvest the user's credentials. Omer added: 'If you receive an email about your Amazon account, don't click links. Instead, open your browser and go directly to or use the official Amazon app.' LOCK IT IN THERE are ways to make sure a website is safe and secure to visit. Omer says shoppers should make sure any website they enter personal information on uses HTTPS. He said: ' Look for this and the padlock in the address bar - though remember that even some malicious sites can fake this, so always double-check the URL itself.' Meanwhile, once you are on a safe website it's essential you use a strong password to log in. The expert added: 'Use a password manager to generate and store strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication on your Amazon account to reduce the risk of account takeover.' PRIMAL FEAR ONLINE fraudsters tend to prey on people's worries and fears to dupe them out of personal details and money, often creating a false sense of urgency. The experts say that you should always slow down and take time to think if you receive a message that tries to force you into quick action. Just like banks, bona fide platforms will never make you act impulsively or share information without good reason. Omer said: 'Scammers often try to panic you into acting fast. Be wary of any message that tells you your account will be suspended unless you act immediately.' DEAL'S A STEAL WHILE there are some brilliant offers available during Amazon Prime Day, watch out for bargains that seem unrealistic. Con artists use hard-to-resist deals, with low prices on typically expensive items, to lure in victims, often suggesting they are available for a limited time. But often this is just another way to scam people out of information and cash. Watch out for poor grammar and vague details on these buys. Omer added: 'If an offer looks too good to be true, especially outside Amazon's official site, it probably is. Luxury goods or electronics at extreme discounts are a common bait.' PAY THE PRICE HOW you pay is just as important as making sure you are on a safe and secure site. Payment options like direct wire transfers, debit cards and prepaid cards are all considered to be less secure, as they don't offer as much protection against fraud compared to credit cards. Meanwhile, using third-party payment apps, such as Venmo or CashApp, with strangers can be risky too. The expert says: 'Whenever possible, use secure and traceable payment options, such as virtual credit cards or payment apps, which add layers of protection and are easier to dispute in the case of fraud.' APPY SHOPPER MOST people these days shop on their phones while they are out and about. But it can be easy to make mistakes. Omer says: 'If you're browsing deals on your phone, stick to official retailer apps downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play. 'Avoid clicking on promotional links in text messages, social media ads or pop-up banners, as these are common tactics used by cybercriminals to deliver fake deals or phishing pages. 'Shopping through verified apps not only ensures you're accessing legitimate deals but also adds an extra layer of security, with built-in protections from the mobile platforms.'
CBS News
20-06-2025
- CBS News
Viral TikTok shows deserted Elk Grove construction site over fears of ICE raid
A TikTok post of a deserted Elk Grove construction site is going viral, after the poster said everyone left because U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was showing up. It comes as ICE raids continue to be rampant across the state and now some immigrants are worried ICE is active in Sacramento. "As an immigrant myself, a refugee from Bosnia, I have a green card and everything, but I am still nervous around here that ICE is just going to come up and take me from my family," said Omer, who works at the same construction development that was in the TikTok. The TikToker said the video was taken at Madeira Ranch, a Taylor Morrison Construction site. CBS Sacramento reached out to Taylor Morrison and is waiting for a response. Omer said what used to be 30 people working on a site is now sometimes 10. "Everybody is scared that ICE is going to come up and snatch them," Omer said. "Everybody is kind of on the lookout." Immigration consultant with Pacific Immigration, Amy Nguyen, said immigrants are the backbone of the California and U.S. economy. She confirmed many are too fearful to show up to work or even leave the house. "Definitely, I see a shortage coming and that will create an increase in pricing for everything," Nguyen said. She believes the impacts will be felt in multiple businesses, from agriculture to construction, and believes both documented and undocumented immigrants are at risk of being detained by ICE. Nguyen's group helps people get their citizenship, green cards and legal status to stay and work in the U.S. She said that the demand has increased four times the amount it was a year ago. "My message would be don't be panicked," Nguyen said. "Find the help. If you're eligible, go do it." Omer said that he has heard of job sites getting visited before or after he shows up to work, but has not personally seen ICE in action. CBS Sacramento reached out to ICE and the Department of Homeland Security and is still waiting for a response.
Gulf Today
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Gulf Today
UAE badminton players shine at Spanish International U-19 Championship
Alicante: In a sensational display of rising talent and determination, the UAE Junior Badminton Team etched their name in history by securing gold and silver medals in both men's and women's Singles at the Spanish International U19 Championship, which concluded in Alicante. This remarkable feat propelled the UAE to the top of the overall medal tally, ahead of badminton powerhouses such as Germany, Thailand, and Denmark. In the Boys' Singles U19, Riyan Malhan, who just turned 15, clinched gold after a series of stunning victories over higher-ranked and older opponents. His compatriot, Adam Jeslin, who is yet to turn 15, showcased equal resilience and skill to earn the Silver, making it a clean sweep for the UAE. In the women's singles U-19, the top honors went to Prakriti Bharath, who lived up to her second seeding with an emphatic, undefeated run. She overcame her teammate Mysha Omer in the finals, who fought valiantly to bring home the silver. Adding to the medal count, the new pairing of Jeslin and Omer brought home a well-earned bronze in the mixed doubles category. The duo stunned the second-seeded German pair in an early round, before bowing out in the semi-finals to the eventual champions from Thailand. They secured two gold medals in the singles events, with Malhan triumphing in the boys' singles and Prakriti claiming the top spot in the girls' singles. Adding to the tally were two silver medals: Jeslin finished as runner-up in the boys' singles, while Omer earned silver in the girls' singles. The duo of Jeslin and Omer also combined to win a bronze medal in the mixed doubles event, rounding off a successful showing for the team.
Al Etihad
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Al Etihad
Young badminton players do UAE proud in Spain
10 June 2025 00:15 KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)The teen members of the UAE Junior badminton team notched memorable performances while representing the country over the weekend in Alicante, Spain.A haul of five medals – two golds, two silvers and one bronze – at the Spanish International Under-19 Championship at the Pabellon Municipal Centre courts propelled the UAE to dominate the podium in three out of the five categories and finished ahead of badminton powerhouses such as Germany, Thailand, and the Men's Singles, days after turning 15, Riyan Malhan overcame some nervous moments but moved from strength to strength against higher-ranked and older opponents before eventually taking the gold in a proud achievement for the Dubai-born Indian teen."Winning the Spanish International U19 is a dream come true," said Malhan in a message from Spain. "I'm grateful to my coaches, teammates, and the UAE Badminton Federation for believing in me. This is just the beginning – I'll keep working harder to make my country proud on the world stage."The prodigy had also made history last year by becoming the first player from the UAE and West Asia to clinch a medal, bronze, at the Badminton Asia U17 & U15 Junior Championships in Chengdu, China. His father was a state-level player in India before moving to the UAE many years back as an this is not enough, there is more promising talent in the pipeline as was evident when his compatriot, Adam Jeslin, who is yet to turn 15, showcased equal resilience and skill to earn the silver medal behind the Women's Singles, there was familiarity on the honours board where Prakriti Bharath lived up to her second-seed billing with an emphatic, undefeated run to defend her title."Standing on top of the podium means more than just a win; it is a reward for every early morning and every tough training session. I'm proud to represent the UAE and hope this inspires more girls back home to chase their badminton dreams," Prakriti said on her successive title from the Spanish tournament. In doing so, she overcame her teammate Mysha Omer in the finals, who fought valiantly to bring home the to the medal count, the new pairing of Jeslin and Omer, 17, brought home a respectable bronze in the Mixed Doubles category, given their ages and mixed experience. Omer had won the women's doubles bronze last year with Taaiba with the raw talent of Jeslin, the experienced Omer still had to impress to stun the second-seeded German pair of Alexander Zhang and Aurelia Wulandoko though they could not prevent the latter from taking the silver. The UAE mixed pair then bowed out from the semi-final stage, losing to the eventual champions and Thailand's siblings, Tonkid Saeheng and Tonrug marked improvement in the performances is a reflection of the robust infrastructure and vision laid out by the UAE Badminton High-Performance Department, led by Michael Norbek as Performance Director. With strategic support from the UAE Ministry of Sports and development programmes such as "Road to Dakar 2026" and "Pathway to Los Angeles 2028", UAE's young shuttlers are firmly stepping onto the global stage. "To stand atop the medal tally in a field that includes Europe's and Asia's finest is a proud moment for UAE badminton. These results reflect our belief that excellence is achievable with the right support and hard work," a statement from UAE Badminton Federation President Noura Al Jasmi said. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
