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Mauritania isnt typically a major tourist destination. But its only railway has recently become the subject of a viral TikTok travel trend: riding the Iron Ore Train. This 437-mile journey through the Sahara desert offers dramatic selfie backdropsand no shortage of controversy. @marissameizz Replying to @Atticus White STORYTIME: RIDING THE IRON ORE TRAIN IN MAURITANIA.. original sound – MARISSA MEIZZ The History of the Iron Ore Train The Mauritania Railway, or Iron Ore Train, is the countrys only rail line. Since the 1960s, it has transported iron ore from the mining hub of Zouérat to the port city of Nouadhibou. Operated by the state-owned Société Nationale Industrielle et Minire (SNIM), the train is a crucial economic lifeline for Mauritaniahauling up to 16,800 metric tons of iron ore per trip across remote desert terrain in open-air cars stretching up to two miles long. Iron ore makes up nearly 50% of the small nations exports. Why Tourists Are Drawn to the Mauritania Railway Although the Iron Ore Train includes a designated passenger car, the social media trend focuses on riding atop the loaded iron ore carspromoted online as a daring travel adventure. TikTok videos showcase sweeping desert vistas described by commenters as post-apocalyptic. The now-ubiquitous selfies show tourists in what one blogger called the uniform of ski goggles and a seche tied tightly around the head, posing amid clouds of iron dust to survive the elements. @isaacexploress A once in a lifetime experience Thank you Mauritania #ironoretrain #extremetravel #shock #richinmemories Ordinary – Alex Warren The Risks and Challenges of Riding the Iron Ore Cars Many posts highlight the journeys harsh conditionsconstant iron dust coating travelers skin and lungs, freezing nights, scorching days, and no access to food, water, or restrooms for an average of 20 hours. But instead of serving as a warning, these challenges are often framed as selling points, promoting the trip as a bucket list item or once-in-a-lifetime experience. The train offers no safety measures for those riding atop the ore cars. If a rider falls off, operators likely wouldnt knowleaving injured tourists stranded in the middle of the Sahara Desert. The Legal and Ethical Controversy As the trend has grownand as videos show increasingly unsafe behavior, including backflips on moving carsSNIM has officially banned tourists from riding on the iron ore cars. Still, that hasnt stopped social media. Influencers now share tips for evading security, bribing officials, and sneaking onto the train. Some, like Isaac Elam, even sell guides for riding illegally. Social media can be a valuable tool for discovering unique experiencesbut its important to question whos sharing this inside info. Before chasing the latest viral trend, consider the safety, legal, and ethical risks to yourself and the communities you visit. The livelihood of Mauritanias people depends on this railway. If reckless tourist behavior causes delays or shutdowns, the consequences could be far more serious than a missed photo op.
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E-Commerce
The Federal Aviation Administration said Sunday that the helicopter tour company whose sightseeing chopper broke apart in flight and crashed in New York, killing the pilot and a family of five visitors from Spain, is shutting down operations immediately.The FAA, in a statement posted on X, also said it would launch an immediate review of New York Helicopter Tours’ operating license and safety record.The move came hours after New York Sen. Chuck Schumer had called on federal authorities to revoke the operating permits of New York Helicopter Tours.The company’s sightseeing helicopter broke apart in midair and plunged into the Hudson River Thursday, killing the tourists from Spain and the pilot, a Navy SEAL veteran.At a news conference Sunday, before the announcement by the FAA, Schumer said the company should be required to halt all flights as the National Transportation Safety Board investigates the deadly crash.The Senate Democrat minority leader also called on the Federal Aviation Administration to ramp up safety inspections for other helicopter tour companies, accusing them of “cutting corners and putting profits over people.”The victims included passengers Agustin Escobar, 49, his wife, Merc Camprubí Montal, 39, and their three children, Victor, 4, Mercedes, 8, and Agustin, 10. The pilot was Seankese Johnson, 36, a U.S. Navy veteran who received his commercial pilot’s license in 2023.“One of the things we can do to honor those lives and try to save others is to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” Schumer said. “We know there is one thing for sure about New York City’s helicopter tour companies: They have a deadly track record.”Thursday’s crash has renewed safety concerns about New York’s sightseeing excursions, a popular tourist draw that whisks passengers high above the city, offering soaring views of the Statue of Liberty, the World Trade Center, and other landmarks.In the last two decades, five helicopters on commercial sightseeing flights have fallen into the Hudson and East rivers as a result of mechanical failures, pilot errors, or collisions, killing 20 people.The president of New York Helicopter Tours, Michael Roth, did not respond to phone and email inquiries. The company said in a statement published on its website that it was cooperating with authorities in the investigation.In response to Schumer’s calls for more oversight, an industry group, Eastern Region Helicopter Council, said Manhattan’s sightseeing choppers “already operate under the most stringent of regulations.”“We stand ready to work with leaders on finding ways to ensure the safety and preservation of our businesses and aviation community,” the group said.Critics of the industry have long sought to limit or entirely ban nonessential helicopter flights from taking off above the city, though they have had limited success. After New York City capped the number of flights that could take off from Manhattan heliports at 30,000 annually in 2016, many companies moved operations to New Jersey.Two years later, in 2018, five people died when a helicopter offering “open door” flights crashed in the East River after a passenger’s restraint tether snagged on a fuel switch, stopping the engine.The cause of Thursday’s crash is not yet determined. According to Schumer, rescue divers were continuing to search for the helicopter’s main rotor and assembly gear box, which would give clues about what happened. Jake Offenhartz, Associated Press
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E-Commerce
Youre mid-sentence in a meeting, sharing an idea or outlining a strategy youve been thinking through for weeksthen it happens. Someone jumps in, cuts you off, and shifts the conversation. You fade out while they take the spotlight. Its frustratingbut even more so when its subtle. Maybe you werent shouted over, but you were redirected, ignored, or sidelined. Over time, it takes a toll on confidence, clarity, and leadership presence. So how do you know its happeningand how do you stop it? Here are five signs youre being talked over in meetings, plus practical strategies to reclaim your voice and authority. 1. Youre constantly circling back to what you were saying. If you often hear yourself say, As I was saying earlier, or, Just to finish that thought, youre probably being interrupted more than you realize. These polite reentries signal youve been cut offand trained to work around it. What to do: Dont just circle backown the space. Use direct language. Id like to finish my point before we move on, or, I wasnt finished with that thoughtlet me complete it. Its not rude. Its reclaiming your airtime. 2. Youre the idea originatorbut someone else gets the credit. You suggest something early in the meeting. Ten minutes later, someone repeats itand suddenly its a brilliant new direction. This isnt just annoyingits a visibility issue. What to do: Speak upgracefully but clearly. Stating, Thanks for building on my idea from earlier, signals ownership without confrontation. And when others do this to your colleagues, amplify them too. It builds a culture of mutual respect. 3. Youre interrupted before you finish a full sentence. This one is easy to spotbut easy to dismiss. If you rarely get through your full thought before someone else jumps in, youve been conditioned to shrink your communication. You may start to self-edit, speak faster, or say less. What to do: Pause, then continue. Id like to finish my point, is powerful and direct. And dont speed up or apologize. Take your time. If someone consistently interrupts you, address it privately: Ive noticed Im often cut off mid-thought. Can we be more mindful of giving each other space? 4. Your contributions get ignored until they come from someone else. You bring a new perspective. Silence. Later, a colleague echoes itand gets enthusiastic agreement. This isn’t your imagination. What to do: Keep a strong, clear voice. Thats similar to what I shared earliermaybe we can build on that. You can also enlist allies ahead of time to support your points, creating an environment where your voice is heard the first time. 5. You leave meetings feeling invisibleor exhausted. The biggest red flag is how you feel. If meetings leave you drained, frustrated, or questioning your value, its not about being too sensitive. Its a sign your presence isnt being respectedor that youre overworking to be heard. What to do: Set boundaries and speak up. But also, reflect on the environments youre in. Is this a meeting problemor a culture problem? Change what you can, advocate when you need to, and know when its time to take your brilliance somewhere its truly valued. The bottom line Being interrupted or talked over in meetings isnt just annoyingits a leadership issue. When your voice is minimized, so is your influence. These patterns are deeply embedded in workplace culture, but they arent unchangeable. Start with awareness. Add practical language. And remember: owning your voice is one of the most powerful leadership tools you have.
Category:
E-Commerce
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