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By Chukwuma Umeorah Nigeria may be losing billions of naira, if the Federal Government fails to urgently reform the gaming and lottery industry, which presently contributes an estimated $250 million (approximately N500 billion) to the nation’s GDP annually. According to the National Union of Gaming and Lottery Workers (NUGLOW), this contribution highlights the sector’s potential to drive economic growth, create jobs and serve the public good in Africa’s largest economy. Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, NUGLOW’s National Treasurer, David Omaghomi, emphasized the need for reforms to harness the industry’s full potential while ensuring fairness, professionalism, and improved conditions for workers and stakeholders. He noted that Nigeria’s gaming market outpaces that of neighbouring countries, including the popular Ghana Games, which contributes only $64 million annually. “Our potential is huge, our population is huge, and our market is huge. Beyond the contribution to GDP, the industry employs 650,000 people, with Lagos being the highest contributor,” he said. Omaghomi pledged to improve working conditions, stating: “Better workers mean better results, and better results mean better contributions to societal development.” He also highlighted the underutilized potential of the industry, pointing out that unregulated operators exploit the market, depriving the government of revenue and workers of fair benefits. Omaghomi criticised foreign operators for exploiting the local market, evading taxes, and failing to contribute to Nigeria’s economy. He pledged the union’s collaboration with regulatory authorities to address these practices and uphold the industry’s integrity. The union also underscored the significance of a landmark Supreme Court ruling that nullified the National Lottery Act, enabling states to regulate gaming activities within their jurisdictions. The NUGLOW’sTreasurer, described the ruling as a pivotal development that will “change the interface of gaming” by fostering collaboration with state regulators, who are better positioned to oversee activities at the grassroots level. He noted that the ruling clarified gaming and lottery regulation as outside the exclusive legislative list, paving the way for a more decentralised and inclusive framework. However, despite its economic contributions, the industry faces numerous challenges, including illegal operators, underage betting, multiple taxation, worker exploitation, public harassment, and fraudulent activities. The union expressed concerns over poor working conditions and the lack of representation for workers in regulatory policies. “Appointments are made, positions are given, and decisions are made, yet the workers of the industry are not captured,” Omaghomi lamented. To address this, NUGLOW plans to advocate for amendments to the National Lottery Act to ensure workers’ rights and welfare are adequately protected. To further tackle these issues, the union announced two key events: a Stakeholders Summit scheduled for December 14, 2024, and a National Delegates Conference from January 23 to 25, 2025. The summit, the union said will provide a platform for open dialogue on industry reforms and policies, while the conference aims to establish a new leadership framework for the union. These events will focus on fostering transparency, professionalism, and growth within the sector. The union also called for a paradigm shift, emphasizing the critical role of workers as ambassadors of the industry. Initiatives such as accreditation of the Gaming Workers Institute, micro-pension schemes, health insurance coverage, and thrift and savings programs were announced to improve workers’ welfare and professional standards. Additionally, the union criticised cultural and religious stigmatisation of gaming, arguing that it is widely misunderstood. Omaghomi urged stakeholders to highlight the industry’s positive contributions instead of perpetuating negative stereotypes. In line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, NUGLOW pledged to align its efforts with the administration’s goals of fostering job creation, spurring economic growth, and promoting societal development.African Union chairperson candidates advocate for permanent UN Security Council seats
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Taylor Swift has made a surprise stop at a Kansas City children’s hospital, shocking parents and patients alike as she laughed with them, posed for photos and exchanged gifts. All parent Cassie Thomas was told beforehand was that she might want to brush her hair and teeth because there was going to be a special visitor. But she was stunned when Swift, fresh off her Eras Tour and one day before her 35th birthday, walked into her son's son Beckett Thomas' room on Thursday at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. “No rumors. Like, we literally had absolutely no idea this was happening,” Thomas recalled. Her 13-year-old son, Beckett Thomas, is a cancer patient and a fan of Swift's Kansas City Chiefs tight-end boyfriend, Travis Kelce. Beckett uses a 3D printer to make earrings bearing his and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes' names, walking around the hospital unit selling them to nurses. Now, Swift has a pair as well. “She was amazing,” Beckett's mom said. “So down to earth.” Another patient told Swift that her favorite song was “Love Story" and had some questions about San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy, whose team played the Chiefs in the Super Bowl earlier this year. Surprised, Taylor, muttered: “Brock Purdy, What? I mean, I don’t mind Brock Purdy.” She then continued: “He put me through a lot last February.” Asked before the Super Bowl whether he was prepared to disappoint Swift, Purdy responded: “Yes.” The game ended with Mahomes rallying the Chiefs to second straight Super Bowl title, 25-22 over the 49ers in overtime. “I was very stressed for a second but it all ended up fine,” Swift told the girl, their recorded conversation posted online. The girl then chimed in: “I like Travis now.” Swift responded with: “Me too. That’s an absolute yes on that one." There is no word on whether Swift will be in the stands when the Chiefs play the Browns on Sunday in Kelce’s hometown of Cleveland.
When you splurge on a luxurious beef tenderloin for the holidays, consider reverse searing as the cooking method. Reverse searing is a foolproof way to respect the integrity of a rich and tender cut of lean meat. While the term may sound intimidating, it’s a straightforward technique that ensures a luscious, evenly pink interior and a browned outer crust. Reverse searing requires a long, slow cook for the meat to reach temperature, followed by a hot sear to finish and brown the exterior. The technique is simple; all you need is a meat thermometer to rely on to gauge doneness. For extra ease, you can have your butcher truss the meat for an even cook. To truss the meat yourself, trim the tenderloin of any fat and silver skin. Fold the narrow end under the filet for even presentation and truss with kitchen string in 1-inch intervals. Begin the night before cooking: Evenly salt the meat. Then refrigerate it overnight, uncovered, to air-dry. The overnight rest allows the salt to penetrate the meat, and air-drying ensures browning when cooking. Let the meat rest at room temperature one hour before roasting. Finish with a sauce of your choice. This recipe includes a rich port wine sauce, worthy of a special meal. Reverse Seared Beef Tenderloin with Port Wine Sauce Yield: Serves: 4 to 6 1 center-cut beef tenderloin, 2 to 3 pounds Kosher salt 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided, plus 2 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter 1 shallot, chopped, about 1/4 cup 1 large garlic clove, chopped 2 cups beef stock 1 cup ruby port wine 1 cup full-bodied red wine 2 rosemary sprigs 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Thyme sprigs 1. Evenly season the meat with the salt. Place the beef on a rack over a rimmed baking sheet. Refrigerate, uncovered, for 24 hours. Remove from the refrigerator 1 hour before roasting and let stand at room temperature. 2. To make the sauce, melt 1 tablespoon butter in a wide saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallot and saute until soft without coloring, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds more. Add the beef stock, port wine, red wine and rosemary. Bring to a boil and continue to boil until the liquid is reduced to about 2 cups, about 25 minutes. 3. Strain the sauce through a fine-meshed sieve into a small saucepan, pushing down on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Add the vinegar and bring the sauce to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer until reduced to about 1 cup and slightly syrupy, about 10 minutes. Season with 1/4 teaspoon each salt and black pepper. Taste for seasoning and set aside. 4. Heat the oven to 250 degrees. Place the baking sheet with the rack and meat in the oven. Roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the roast registers 115 degrees, about 60 minutes, depending on the thickness of the meat. Remove the beef from the oven and rest for 10 minutes. Carefully remove the twine. 5. Melt 2 tablespoons butter a large skillet over high heat. Add the tenderloin and thyme. Sear the meat on all sides until well browned and the temperature registers 125 degrees to 130 degrees, basting with the butter and thyme. Transfer the meat to a cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes. 6. While the meat is resting, gently reheat the sauce over medium-low heat. Whisk in the 2 tablespoons chilled butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, until emulsified (do not boil or the sauce will break). Remove from the heat. 7. Cut the tenderloin across the grain in thick slices. Stir any juices from the cutting board into the sauce. Serve the meat immediately with the sauce. Lynda Balslev is an award-winning writer, cookbook author and recipe developer, and authors the blog TasteFood, More recipes can be found at chicago.suntimes.com/taste .
West Lafayette, INDIANA — Imagine this: Two days before your family holiday party, you get a text about an online order you placed a week ago, saying the package is at your door. It comes with a photo – of someone else’s door. When you click the attached link, it takes you to the online store, where you enter your username and password. Somehow that doesn’t work, even though you answered your security questions. Frustrated, you call customer service. They tell you not to worry since your package is still on the way. You receive your package a day later and forget all about the earlier hassle. In the end, it was just a mistake. You are unaware of the terrifying thing happening in the background. You’ve fallen for a classic package-delivery scam , and a form of “ smishing ,” or SMS phishing. And you’re not alone. One in three Americans have fallen victim to cybercrime, according to a 2023 poll. That’s up from 1 in 4 in 2018. As cybersecurity researchers , we want to spread the word to help people protect themselves. Old-fashioned threats haven’t disappeared – identity thieves still steal wallets, dumpster dive for personal information and skim cards at ATMs – but the internet has made scamming easier than ever. Digital threats include phishing attacks that use fake emails and websites, data breaches at major companies , malware that steals your information , and unsecured Wi-Fi networks in public places. A WHOLE NEW WORLD OF SCAMS Generative AI – which refers to artificial intelligence that generates text, images and other things – has improved dramatically over the past few years. That’s been great for scammers trying to make a buck during the holiday season. Consider online shopping. In some cases, scammers craft deepfake videos of fake testimonials from satisfied “customers” to trick unsuspecting shoppers. Scam victims can encounter these videos on cloned versions of legitimate sites, social media platforms, messaging apps and forums. Scammers also generate AI-cloned voices of social media influencers appearing to endorse counterfeit products and create convincing but fraudulent shopping websites populated with AI-generated product photos and reviews. Some scammers use AI to impersonate legitimate brands through personalized phishing emails and fake customer service interactions. Since AI-generated content can appear remarkably authentic, it’s become harder for consumers to distinguish legitimate online stores from sophisticated scam operations. But it doesn’t stop there. “ Family emergency scams ” exploit people’s emotional vulnerability through deepfake technology. Scammers use AI to clone the voices of family members, especially children, and then make panic-inducing calls to relatives where they claim to be in serious trouble and need immediate financial help. Some scammers combine voice deepfakes with AI-generated video clips showing the “loved one” in apparent distress. These manufactured emergency scenarios often involve hospital bills, bail money or ransom demands that must be paid immediately. The scammer may also use AI to impersonate authority figures like doctors, police officers and lawyers to add credibility to the scheme. Since the voice sounds authentic and the emotional manipulation is intense, even cautious people can be caught off guard and make rushed decisions. HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF Protecting yourself against scams requires a multilayered defense strategy. When shopping, verify retailers through official websites by checking the URL carefully – it should start with the letters “HTTPS” – and closely examining the site design and its content. Since fake websites often provide fake contact information, checking the “Contact Us” section can be a good idea. Before making purchases from unfamiliar sites, cross-reference the business on legitimate review platforms and verify their physical address. It’s essential to keep all software updated, including your operating system, browser, apps and antivirus software. Updates often include security patches that fix vulnerabilities hackers could exploit. For more information on the importance of software updates and how to manage them, check out resources like StaySafeOnline or your device manufacturer’s official website. Regular updates are a crucial step in maintaining a secure online shopping experience. Make sure you only provide necessary information for purchases – remember, no one needs your Social Security number to sell you a sweater. And keeping an eye on your bank statements will help you catch any unauthorized activity early. It may seem like another chore, and it probably is, but this is the reality of our digital world. To protect against family emergency scams, establish family verification codes, or a safe word, or security questions that only real family members would know. If you do get a distressed call from loved ones, remain calm and take time to verify the situation by contacting family members directly through known and trusted phone numbers. Educate your relatives about these scams and encourage them to never send money without first confirming the emergency with other family members or authorities through verified channels. If you discover that your identity has been stolen, time is critical. Your first steps should be to immediately contact your banks and credit card companies, place a fraud alert with the credit bureaus, and file a report with the Federal Trade Commission and your local police. In the following days, you’ll need to change all passwords, review your credit reports, consider a credit freeze , and document everything. While this process can be overwhelming – and extremely cumbersome – taking quick action can significantly limit the damage. Staying informed about AI scam tactics through reputable cybersecurity resources is essential. Reporting suspected scams to relevant authorities not only protects you, but it also helps safeguard others. A key takeaway is that staying vigilant is critical to defending against these threats. Awareness helps communities push back against digital threats. More importantly, it’s key to understand how today’s scams aren’t like yesteryear’s. Recognizing the signs of scams can provide stronger defense during this holiday season. And as you develop your threat identification techniques, don’t forget to share with your family and friends. Who knows? You could save someone from becoming a victim.None