oc genie 4

It was a warm Monday morning in September when a group of fishermen came across a wooden canoe packed with dead migrants floating 43 miles from Senegal’s capital . The migrants, whose bodies were in an “advanced state of decomposition”, are believed to have been making the treacherous 1,250 mile-long journey from to the Spanish off the coast of north-west Africa. It was not the first ghost boat to be discovered by fishermen, with more and more desperate migrants cramming on to rickety wooden boats that often fall apart or are blown across the Atlantic before reaching their destination. Despite knowing the risks, which include death by starvation, dehydration, and drowning, thousands of migrants from Senegal brave the journey every year, and there are no signs of the route slowing down, unlike most other migration journeys in Europe. Migration crossings through the west decreased by one per cent in the first nine months of the year, while the central Mediterranean saw journeys plummet by 64 per cent. But the West African route has surged 100 per cent this year, figures show, bucking a wider trend. Ousmane* made the week-long journey from Senegal to the Canary Islands on a rickety wooden boat surrounded by lifeless bodies fearing he would be the next to die. “Women cry and cry, and so do the men, just because it is so hard to be in the bottom of the boat, surrounded by death. Sometimes you even lose your memory and black out,” Ousmane told The Telegraph. The young man, who would not reveal his name or age, completed his journey, but fellow passengers weren’t so lucky. The death toll along the migration route has surpassed more than 800 this year, a 76 per cent increase compared with the same period last year. The real death toll is likely to be even higher, authorities fear. On some journeys, none of the migrants makes it to their destination alive. At least 30 bodies were found on that boat off the coast of Senegal in September, according to military authorities. Judging by the decomposed state of the bodies, the migrant boat had likely been adrift on the Atlantic Ocean for several days before it was found. Similarly, the bodies of 24 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa were brought to land by Spain’s at the start of August. Two of those who died were children. The route has become a major talking point in Senegal, the Canary Islands and mainland Spain. One migrant who made the journey in a small fishing boat told The Telegraph emotionally: “The number of people that are dying – there are thousands of people losing their lives on the way. Some boats never reach their destination.” The reasons for the surge are complex, according to Inhira García Belda, who works as a social integrator for asylum seekers in Tenerife, the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands. “We are talking about thousands of people, some of them are looking for a better job in Europe, others are asylum seekers ... fleeing due to Macky Sall’s regime,” she said. Poverty is a major factor driving people out of Senegal, according to Douglas Yates, an associate professor who specialises in African politics at the American Graduate School in Paris. “A typical Senegalese person eats rice, and if they can get it, a little fish. That’s it... so this kind of poverty, which has been around for ever, is driving people away. There are no real jobs or opportunities,” he told The Telegraph. Mr Yates pointed out that a large proportion of Senegalese migrants making the journey are young men, who are prone to being influenced on social media. “Everybody there has a phone, so they see the rich world, and they look at their own situation and see there are no opportunities. They also see Senegalese people, especially in the capital, getting rich.” He explained that , who was president of Senegal until March of this year, had promised to “jumpstart” the country’s economy, but for many people, their economic situation worsened – especially after Covid. Oumar*, who also made the journey from Senegal to the Canary Islands this year, did so for this reason. “I decided to take the leap because life in Senegal is very, very hard. There’s no work, there’s nothing,” he told The Telegraph. The Canary Islands have become the favoured destination for migrants, and therefore smugglers, because it is seen as an entry point into Europe, given the Canary Islands’ status as a Spanish autonomous community. “Spain might not be the final destination,” Ms Belda explains, “but it is the closest European country to the west African coast... they are unable to reach the continent by plane due to visa rejections so the only way to get there is by boat.” It is not always what migrants expect either, one Senegalese national told The Telegraph. “The journey was so risky and dangerous, it can’t even be described. The sea was so rough that the captain wanted to return, but others wanted to continue, so a fight broke out,” they explained. “No matter your situation, it is not worth making this deadly journey because not everyone makes it.” Senegal’s government announced a 10-year plan in August to tackle illegal crossings and the surge in migrant deaths. It has also become a political football between the Spanish government and authorities in the Canary Islands, which saw 40,000 illegal crossings in 2023, the highest for three decades. Fernando Clavijo, president of the Canary Islands, has called on , the Spanish prime minister, to do more to resolve the crisis. “Every 45 minutes, a migrant dies trying to reach our beaches. This means trafficking mafias are increasingly becoming more powerful,” he said. Earlier this summer Mr Sánchez ended a tour of Africa in Senegal, announcing a plan to tackle illegal immigration at a press conference alongside , who replaced Mr Sall in April of this year. “This region is of the utmost strategic importance for Spain, and we want to contribute to its stability and prosperity,” Mr Sánchez insisted. But as Mr Yates explained, these sort of complex political agreements “take time” to come into effect, and there are no signs that the deep-rooted economic issues causing poverty in Senegal will abate under the new regime. “They have a development plan but it’s not going to increase Senegal’s GDP,” Mr Yates said. “Senegal can create rich people but it doesn’t make anything... instead they’re doing this kind of symbolism stuff, like anti-colonialism. It’s just rhetoric.” All this means the number of migrants making the treacherous journey to the Canary Islands is unlikely to fall anytime soon. Moussa*, despite knowing what he knows about the danger surrounding the journey, still plans to make his way to the Canary Islands next year. “I want to work, integrate and to have a quiet, peaceful, stable life.” *oc genie 4 。

TikTok is inching closer to a potential ban in the US. So what’s next?

WASHINGTON (AP) — Special counsel Jack Smith moved to abandon two criminal cases against Donald Trump on Monday, acknowledging that Trump’s return to the White House will preclude attempts to federally prosecute him for retaining classified documents or trying to overturn his 2020 election defeat. The decision was inevitable, since longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. Yet it was still a momentous finale to an unprecedented chapter in political and law enforcement history, as federal officials attempted to hold accountable a former president while he was simultaneously running for another term. In court filings, Smith's team emphasized that the move to abandon their prosecutions was not a reflection of the merit of the cases but a recognition of the legal shield that surrounds any commander in chief. “That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government’s proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind,” the prosecutors wrote in one of their filings. Smith’s team said it was leaving intact charges against two co-defendants in the classified documents case — Trump valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira — because “no principle of temporary immunity applies to them.” Steven Cheung, Trump's incoming White House communications director, welcomed the decision to drop the prosecutions against the president-elect, describing it as a “major victory for the rule of law.” "The American People and President Trump want an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and we look forward to uniting our country,” Cheung said in a statement. Trump has long described the investigations as politically motivated, and he has vowed to fire Smith as soon as he takes office in January. Now he will re-enter the White House free from criminal scrutiny by the government that he will lead. The election case brought last year was once seen as one of the most serious legal threats facing Trump as he tried to reclaim the White House. He was indicted for plotting to overturn his defeat to Joe Biden in 2020, an effort that climaxed with his supporters' violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. But the case quickly stalled amid legal fighting over Trump’s sweeping claims of immunity from prosecution for acts he took while in the White House. The U.S. Supreme Court in July ruled for the first time that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution, and sent the case back to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to determine which allegations in the indictment, if any, could proceed to trial. The case was just beginning to pick up steam again in the trial court in the weeks leading up to this year’s election. Smith’s team in October filed a lengthy brief laying out new evidence they planned to use against him at trial, accusing him of “resorting to crimes” in an increasingly desperate effort to overturn the will of voters after he lost to Biden. The separate case involving classified documents had been widely seen as legally clear cut, especially because the conduct in question occurred after Trump left the White House and lost the powers of the presidency. The indictment included dozens of felony counts accusing him of illegally hoarding classified records from his presidency at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, and obstructing federal efforts to get them back. He has pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing. The case quickly became snarled by delays, with U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon slow to issue rulings — which favored Trump’s strategy of pushing off deadlines in all his criminal cases — while also entertaining defense motions and arguments that experts said other judges would have dispensed with without hearings. In May, she indefinitely canceled the trial date amid a series of unresolved legal issues before dismissing the case outright two months later. Smith’s team appealed the decision, but now has given up that effort. ___ Associated Press writer Colleen Long contributed to this story. Alanna Durkin Richer, Eric Tucker And Chris Megerian, The Associated Press

Interdisciplinary mental well-being-focused studies by Hong Kong Baptist University’s researchers offer vital insights in STEM education and social media

US budget airlines are struggling. Will pursuing premium passengers solve their problems? DALLAS (AP) — Delta and United Airlines have become the most profitable U.S. airlines by targeting premium customers while also winning a significant share of budget travelers. That is squeezing smaller low-fare carriers like Spirit Airlines, which filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday. Some travel industry experts think Spirit’s troubles indicate less-wealthy passengers will have fewer choices and higher prices. Other discount airlines are on better financial footing but also are lagging far behind the full-service airlines when it comes to recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Most industry experts think Frontier and other so-called ultra-low-cost carriers will fill the vacuum if Spirit shrinks, and that there's still plenty of competition to prevent prices from spiking. Bitcoin ticks closer to $100,000 in extended surge following US elections NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin is jumping again, setting another new high above $99,000 overnight. The cryptocurrency has been shattering records almost daily since the U.S. presidential election, and has rocketed more than 40% higher in just two weeks. It's now at the doorstep of $100,000. Cryptocurrencies and related investments like crypto exchange-traded funds have rallied because the incoming Trump administration is expected to be more “crypto-friendly.” Still, as with everything in the volatile cryptoverse, the future is hard to predict. And while some are bullish, other experts continue to warn of investment risks. Australia rejects Elon Musk's claim that it plans to control access to the internet MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — An Australian Cabinet minister has rejected X Corp. owner Elon Musk’s allegation that the government intends to control all Australians' access to the internet through legislation that would ban young children from social media. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said on Friday that Musk’s criticism was “unsurprising” after the government introduced legislation to Parliament that would fine platforms including X up to $133 million for allowing children under 16 to hold social media accounts. The spat continues months of open hostility between the Australian government and the tech billionaire over regulators’ efforts to reduce public harm from social media. Parliament could pass the legislation as soon as next week. Oil company Phillips 66 faces federal charges related to alleged Clean Water Act violations LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oil company Phillips 66 has been federally indicted in connection with alleged violations of the Clean Water Act in California. The Texas-based company is accused of discharging hundreds of thousands of gallons of industrial wastewater containing excessive amounts of oil and grease. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the indictment on Thursday. Phillips is charged with two counts of negligently violating the Clean Water Act and four counts of knowingly violating the Clean Water Act. An arraignment date has not been set. A spokesperson for the company said it was cooperating with prosecutors. US regulators seek to break up Google, forcing Chrome sale as part of monopoly punishment U.S. regulators want a federal judge to break up Google to prevent the company from continuing to squash competition through its dominant search engine after a court found it had maintained an abusive monopoly over the past decade. The proposed breakup floated in a 23-page document filed late Wednesday by the U.S. Justice Department calls for Google to sell its industry-leading Chrome web browser and impose restrictions designed to prevent Android from favoring its search engine. Regulators also want to ban Google from forging multibillion-dollar deals to lock in its dominant search engine as the default option on Apple’s iPhone and other devices. What you need to know about the proposed measures designed to curb Google's search monopoly U.S. regulators are proposing aggressive measures to restore competition to the online search market after a federal judge ruled that Google maintained an illegal monopoly. The sweeping set of recommendations filed late Wednesday could radically alter Google’s business. Regulators want Google to sell off its industry-leading Chrome web browser. They outlined a range of behavioral measures such as prohibiting Google from using search results to favor its own services such as YouTube, and forcing it to license search index data to its rivals. They're not going as far as to demand Google spin off Android, but are leaving that door open if the remedies don't work. Stock market today: Wall Street gains ground as it heads for a winning week NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks gained ground on Wall Street, keeping the market on track for its fifth gain in a row. The S&P 500 was up 0.4% in afternoon trading Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 351 points and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.2%. Retailers had some of the biggest gains. Gap soared after reporting quarterly results that easily beat analysts' estimates. EchoStar fell after DirecTV called of its purchase of that company's Dish Network unit. European markets were mostly higher and Asian markets ended mixed. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. Crude oil prices gained ground. Apple and Google face UK investigation into mobile browser dominance LONDON (AP) — A British watchdog says Apple and Google aren't giving consumers a genuine choice of mobile web browsers. The watchdog's report Friday recommends they face an investigation under new U.K. digital rules taking effect next year. The Competition and Markets Authority took aim at Apple, saying the iPhone maker’s tactics hold back innovation by stopping rivals from giving users new features like faster webpage loading. The CMA’s report also found that Apple and Google manipulate the choices given to mobile phone users to make their own browsers “the clearest or easiest option.” Apple said it disagreed with the findings. German auto supplier Bosch to cut 5,500 jobs in further sign of carmakers' woes FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Germany's technology and services company Bosch is cutting its automotive division workforce by as many as 5,500 jobs in the next several years, in another sign of the headwinds hitting the German and global auto industries. The company cited stagnating global auto sales, too much factory capacity in the auto industry compared to sales prospects and a slower than expected transition to electric-powered, software-controlled vehicles. Some 3,500 of the job reductions would come before the end of 2027 and would hit the part of the company that develops driver assistance and automated driving technologies. About half those job reductions would be at locations in Germany. At least 15 people are sick in Minnesota from ground beef tied to E. coli recall U.S. health officials say at least 15 people in Minnesota have been sickened by E. coli poisoning tied to a national recall of more than 160,000 pounds of potentially tainted ground beef. Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. recalled the meat this week after Minnesota state agriculture officials reported multiple illnesses and found that a sample of the product tested positive for E. coli O157:H7, which can cause life-threatening infections. Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include fever, vomiting, diarrhea and signs of dehydration.Drop in Boxing Day footfall ‘signals return to declining pre-pandemic levels’

The San Francisco 49ers are 0-5 in games in which Nick Bosa and Trent Williams do not play. After heavy defeats to the Green Bay Packers and Buffalo Bills without the All-Pro pair, there is a small chance the 49ers could get one of them back on Sunday against the Chicago Bears. While left tackle Williams has been ruled out for a third straight game, the 49ers have listed Bosa as doubtful, despite the defensive end once again missing an entire week of practice. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Bosa was able to do a little bit more this week, but Williams will once again be a spectator as Jaylon Moore continues to hold the fort at left tackle. Left guard Aaron Banks is listed as questionable as he remains in concussion protocol, but defensive tackle Jordan Elliott is off the injury report with the same issue. Ben Bartch is likely to again deputize for Banks if he cannot go, Bartch having impressed in the loss to Buffalo. Safety Talanoa Hufanga (wrist) is also questionable, leaving open the possibility of him being activated from injured reserve. However, linebacker Dre Greenlaw will not be activated to the 53-man group this week, with his long-awaited return from his Super Bowl Achilles injury more likely to come next Thursday against the Los Angeles Rams. Safety George Odum will miss out with a knee injury that popped up on Thursday, but cornerback Deommodore Lenoir will return from a knee injury that kept him out of the Bills game. Defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos has also shaken off a knee issue and is off the injury report. This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

U.S. Gold Corp. Closes $10.2 Million Non-Brokered Registered Direct OfferingTonal Partners with Truemed to Expand Access to Strength Training Through HSA/FSA Eligibility