Mexican authorities said at least 22 people have been injured in a brawl on Saturday when soccer fans stormed the field during a top-flight match between mid-table Queretaro and last year's Liga MX champions Atlas.

Pictures and videos shared on social media showed people being beaten, kicked and dragged while others had been left lying on the ground, covered in blood, in what appeared to be the seating area of the stadium in the central city of Queretaro.

Reuters could not independently verify the footage, which was also shown by local television channels.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Thoughts are with the situation in Mexico right now where violence between fans of Queretaro and Atlas has led to multiple unconscious people laying around the field and stadium. 
 
A stain on the sport in the region. <a href="https://t.co/a0dzH5DBe1">pic.twitter.com/a0dzH5DBe1</a>
— MLS Buzz (@MLS_Buzz) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLS_Buzz/status/1500292949548183556?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bundesliga-thomas-mullers-own-goal-proves-costly-as-leverkusen-hold-bayern-munich-for-a-draw-459391">Bundesliga: Thomas Muller's own goal proves costly as Leverkusen hold Bayern Munich for a draw</a>

"The violence in the La Corregidora stadium in Queretaro is unacceptable and unfortunate," Liga MX said on its Twitter account.

"Those responsible for the lack of security in the stadium will be especially punished."

Liga MX suspended the match after 62 minutes with visitors Atlas leading 1-0.

Civil protection authorities said nine of the 22 injured have been transferred to hospital, with two in serious condition.

Mexican authorities said at least 22 people have been injured in a brawl on Saturday when soccer fans stormed the field during a top-flight match between mid-table Queretaro and last year's Liga MX champions Atlas.

Mexican authorities said at least 22 people have been injured in a brawl on Saturday when soccer fans stormed the field during a top-flight match between mid-table Queretaro and last year's Liga MX champions Atlas. Pictures and videos shared on social media showed people being beaten, kicked and dragged while others had been left lying on the ground, covered in blood, in what appeared to be the seating area of the stadium in the central city of Queretaro. Reuters could not independently verify the footage, which was also shown by local television channels. Thoughts are with the situation in Mexico right now where violence between fans of Queretaro and Atlas has led to multiple unconscious people laying around the field and stadium. A stain on the sport in the region. pic.twitter.com/a0dzH5DBe1 — MLS Buzz (@MLS_Buzz) March 6, 2022 × ALSO READ: Bundesliga: Thomas Muller's own goal proves costly as Leverkusen hold Bayern Munich for a draw "The violence in the La Corregidora stadium in Queretaro is unacceptable and unfortunate," Liga MX said on its Twitter account. "Those responsible for the lack of security in the stadium will be especially punished." Liga MX suspended the match after 62 minutes with visitors Atlas leading 1-0. Civil protection authorities said nine of the 22 injured have been transferred to hospital, with two in serious condition.

22 injured in brawl as football fans storm the field during clash between Queretaro and Atlas in Mexico

Mexico will launch its first mission of sending autonomous mini-robots to the Moon for soil exploration in a scientific first.

Gustavo Medina Tanco, head of the space instrumentation laboratory at the National Autonomous University of Mexico's Institute for Nuclear Sciences (UNAM), said the first-of-its-kind scientific mission is a part of the Colmena project, that envisions the two-wheeled bots scrambling across the lunar surface while taking sophisticated measurements.

"Taking nature as an example, Colmena will show that very small robots can operate both as researchers and miners when coordinated," he said.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-a-mysterious-space-object-has-spooked-astronomers-448271/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The mission is poised to launch on a United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket and would be the first American spacecraft to land on the moon in nearly 50 years.

"This is a small mission where we'll test the concept, and afterwards we'll undertake other missions, first to the moon and then on to asteroids," said Gustavo Medina Tanco, a UNAM scientist who heads the Colmena project, which means "beehive" in Spanish.

Medina Tanco explained that the bots, made of stainless steel, titanium alloys, and space-grade aluminum, are equipped to gather lunar minerals that could be useful in future space mining.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/why-has-space-business-has-become-the-final-profitable-frontier-452928" hreflang="en">Why has space business has become the final profitable frontier?</a>

The first mission of the Colmena project involves five robots weighing less than 0.1 pounds each, with a diametre of 4.7 inches.

A distinctive feature of these mini-robots is the positioning of all electronic devices in 0.8 inches directly above the soil. They are expected to independently perform coordinated functions and work on the surfaces of non-atmospheric space bodies, with the mission lasting about 13 terrestrial days or one lunar day.

The bots are scheduled to launch in June on Astrobotic's Peregrine lander, originally developed for Google's Lunar-X-Prize.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/new-artificial-intelligence-model-shows-hidden-turbulence-in-suns-atmosphere-457528" hreflang="en">New artificial intelligence model shows hidden turbulence in Sun's atmosphere</a>

During their month-long mission, the nanorobots will take first-ever lunar plasma temperature, electromagnetic and regolith particle size measurements, according to an UNAM article on the project published earlier this month.

Medina Tanco expressed pride about the upcoming mission, which also included contributions from some 200 engineering, physics, math and chemistry students.

"No one has done this, nobody, not just in Mexico," he said.

"We can make a difference in the technology and for international cooperation that can then lead to important joint ventures to study the minerals or undertake other scientific exploration."

UNAM's Colmena project started its operation in 2016 aiming to study the potential of mini-robots working in space and the possibilities of their self-organization, as well as the potential of mining rare earth metals on asteroids.

(With inputs from agencies)

Mexico will launch its first mission of sending autonomous mini-robots to the Moon for soil exploration in a scientific first. Gustavo Medina Tanco, head of the space instrumentation laboratory at the National Autonomous University of Mexico's Institute for Nuclear Sciences (UNAM), said the first-of-its-kind scientific mission is a part of the Colmena project, that envisions the two-wheeled bots scrambling across the lunar surface while taking sophisticated measurements.

Mexico will launch its first mission of sending autonomous mini-robots to the Moon for soil exploration in a scientific first. Gustavo Medina Tanco, head of the space instrumentation laboratory at the National Autonomous University of Mexico's Institute for Nuclear Sciences (UNAM), said the first-of-its-kind scientific mission is a part of the Colmena project, that envisions the two-wheeled bots scrambling across the lunar surface while taking sophisticated measurements. "Taking nature as an example, Colmena will show that very small robots can operate both as researchers and miners when coordinated," he said. The mission is poised to launch on a United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket and would be the first American spacecraft to land on the moon in nearly 50 years. "This is a small mission where we'll test the concept, and afterwards we'll undertake other missions, first to the moon and then on to asteroids," said Gustavo Medina Tanco, a UNAM scientist who heads the Colmena project, which means "beehive" in Spanish. Medina Tanco explained that the bots, made of stainless steel, titanium alloys, and space-grade aluminum, are equipped to gather lunar minerals that could be useful in future space mining. Also see | Why has space business has become the final profitable frontier? The first mission of the Colmena project involves five robots weighing less than 0.1 pounds each, with a diametre of 4.7 inches. A distinctive feature of these mini-robots is the positioning of all electronic devices in 0.8 inches directly above the soil. They are expected to independently perform coordinated functions and work on the surfaces of non-atmospheric space bodies, with the mission lasting about 13 terrestrial days or one lunar day. The bots are scheduled to launch in June on Astrobotic's Peregrine lander, originally developed for Google's Lunar-X-Prize. Also read | New artificial intelligence model shows hidden turbulence in Sun's atmosphere During their month-long mission, the nanorobots will take first-ever lunar plasma temperature, electromagnetic and regolith particle size measurements, according to an UNAM article on the project published earlier this month. Medina Tanco expressed pride about the upcoming mission, which also included contributions from some 200 engineering, physics, math and chemistry students. "No one has done this, nobody, not just in Mexico," he said. "We can make a difference in the technology and for international cooperation that can then lead to important joint ventures to study the minerals or undertake other scientific exploration." UNAM's Colmena project started its operation in 2016 aiming to study the potential of mini-robots working in space and the possibilities of their self-organization, as well as the potential of mining rare earth metals on asteroids. (With inputs from agencies)

Mexico to send mini-robots to Moon for soil exploration in scientific first

U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu was forced to retire with a left hip injury in the deciding set of her opening match against Australia's Daria Saville on Tuesday in the WTA 250 tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico.

The 19-year-old from Britain was playing her first match since last month's painful exit in the second round of the Australian Open, when a blistered racket hand contributed to a three-set defeat by Danka Kovinic.

The British player was two points from victory at the Abierto Akron Zapopan against former world number 20 Saville, who has slipped to 610 in the rankings after undergoing surgery on her Achilles tendon last year.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/mexican-open-daniil-medvedev-beats-frances-benoit-paire-in-pursuit-of-world-no-1-ranking-455587">Mexican Open: Daniil Medvedev beats France's Benoit Paire in pursuit of world no. 1 ranking</a>

Serving for the match at 7-5 5-3 Raducanu failed to close out the game with the Australian fighting back to level the contest at 1-1 in the tiebreaker.

Both women suffered physically during the deciding set, with Saville battling leg cramps while the 12th-ranked Raducanu went off the court for a medical timeout.

Raducanu returned with her upper left leg heavily taped and after two more games decided to quit with Saville leading 5-7 7-6(4) 4-3 after three hours and 36 minutes - the longest WTA match of the season.

U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu was forced to retire with a left hip injury in the deciding set of her opening match against Australia's Daria Saville on Tuesday in the WTA 250 tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico.

U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu was forced to retire with a left hip injury in the deciding set of her opening match against Australia's Daria Saville on Tuesday in the WTA 250 tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico. The 19-year-old from Britain was playing her first match since last month's painful exit in the second round of the Australian Open, when a blistered racket hand contributed to a three-set defeat by Danka Kovinic. The British player was two points from victory at the Abierto Akron Zapopan against former world number 20 Saville, who has slipped to 610 in the rankings after undergoing surgery on her Achilles tendon last year. ALSO READ: Mexican Open: Daniil Medvedev beats France's Benoit Paire in pursuit of world no. 1 ranking Serving for the match at 7-5 5-3 Raducanu failed to close out the game with the Australian fighting back to level the contest at 1-1 in the tiebreaker. Both women suffered physically during the deciding set, with Saville battling leg cramps while the 12th-ranked Raducanu went off the court for a medical timeout. Raducanu returned with her upper left leg heavily taped and after two more games decided to quit with Saville leading 5-7 7-6(4) 4-3 after three hours and 36 minutes - the longest WTA match of the season.

Emma Raducanu retires with hip injury in WTA 250 tournament in Guadalajara

The Mexican Army has released footage of them following a speed boat at high speeds in the Pacific Ocean, in a scene reminiscent of Live and Let Die.

The chase took place 68 miles off the coast of Baja California Sur and resulted in three arrests and the seizure of three tonnes of cocaine.&nbsp;

Mexico's army recovered three tonnes of cocaine after a helicopter caught the high-speed chase.&nbsp;

Mexico is a key narcotics transit and production hub.

It is the most important foreign supplier of cannabis in the United States, as well as a major entry point for South American cocaine and Asian methamphetamine.

Cannabis is thought to account for about half of the cartels' revenue.

The majority of the trafficking and processing operations that get the drug to US customers are controlled by Mexican drug cartels.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The Mexican Army has released footage of them following a speed boat at high speeds in the Pacific Ocean, in a scene reminiscent of Live and Let Die. The chase took place 68 miles off the coast of Baja California Sur and resulted in three arrests and the seizure of three tonnes of cocaine.

The Mexican Army has released footage of them following a speed boat at high speeds in the Pacific Ocean, in a scene reminiscent of Live and Let Die. The chase took place 68 miles off the coast of Baja California Sur and resulted in three arrests and the seizure of three tonnes of cocaine. Mexico's army recovered three tonnes of cocaine after a helicopter caught the high-speed chase. Mexico is a key narcotics transit and production hub. It is the most important foreign supplier of cannabis in the United States, as well as a major entry point for South American cocaine and Asian methamphetamine. Cannabis is thought to account for about half of the cartels' revenue. The majority of the trafficking and processing operations that get the drug to US customers are controlled by Mexican drug cartels. (With inputs from agencies)

A high-speed boat chase off Mexico leads to seizure of 3 tonnes of cocaine

Standoff between the United States and Mexico over Avocados continues. The United States department of agriculture has said that US imports of new Mexican avocado will stay suspended for as long as necessary to ensure safety of American inspectors who were threatened verbally in Mexico.

United States suspend Mexican avocado imports

A viral video shows hundreds of migratory birds falling to death in Mexico. Some netizens say the birds flew through power lines. Some blame the death on 'magnetic field issues'. Experts have a different explanation. Palki Sharma brings you a report.

Gravitas: Why hundreds of birds fell to death in Mexico

According to a new research, the mega-drought that has parched the southwestern United States and parts of Mexico over the last two decades is the worst to hit the region in at least 1,200 years.

Research: Western mega-drought is most severe in 1,200 years

In a viral video, hundreds of yellow-headed blackbirds can be seen appearing to fall from the sky. &nbsp;

Some of the birds couldn’t survive the fall and died. The mysterious incident has happened in the northern Mexican city of Cuauhtémoc. &nbsp;

The cause of the incident is still unclear. But experts say that a predatory bird making efforts to make the kill may be the reason. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/new-species-of-crocodile-from-cretaceous-period-found-in-australia-say-scientists-453388" hreflang="en">New species of crocodile from Cretaceous period found in Australia, say scientists</a>

The video is actually the footage from a security camera. &nbsp;

In it, a flock of migratory birds descended on to the houses like a cloud of black smoke. Some birds managed to fly off but others couldn’t make it and perished. In subsequent footage, carcasses of the distinctive black and yellow birds can be witnessed scattered on streets of the city. &nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Stange stuff... 
Moment hundreds of birds suddenly drop from the sky in Mexico leaving dead bodies strewn across the sidewalk... <a href="https://t.co/j1LqnnwGdW">pic.twitter.com/j1LqnnwGdW</a>
— ʍąɾէìղᎠօմցӀąʂ (@martinfactual) <a href="https://twitter.com/martinfactual/status/1493230663109156867?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

According to local reports, the incident occurred on the morning of February 7. These birds usually breed farther north in the US and Canada. They migrate to south in Mexico for the winter. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/to-bring-silence-to-streets-paris-unveils-first-noise-radar-453353" hreflang="en">To bring ‘silence’ to streets, Paris unveils first noise radar</a>

Dr Richard Broughton, ecologist, UK Centre for Ecology &amp; Hydrology, said that although a raptor cannot be seen in the footage, it must have been caused by a predatory bird only. &nbsp;&nbsp;

“This looks like a raptor like a peregrine or hawk has been chasing a flock, like they do with murmurating starlings, and they have crashed as the flock was forced low. You can see that they act like a wave at the beginning, as if they are being flushed from above,” Broughton said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

In a viral video, hundreds of yellow-headed blackbirds can be seen appearing to fall from the sky. Some of the birds couldn’t survive the fall and died. The mysterious incident has happened in the northern Mexican city of Cuauhtémoc.

In a viral video, hundreds of yellow-headed blackbirds can be seen appearing to fall from the sky. Some of the birds couldn’t survive the fall and died. The mysterious incident has happened in the northern Mexican city of Cuauhtémoc. The cause of the incident is still unclear. But experts say that a predatory bird making efforts to make the kill may be the reason. Also Read: New species of crocodile from Cretaceous period found in Australia, say scientists The video is actually the footage from a security camera. In it, a flock of migratory birds descended on to the houses like a cloud of black smoke. Some birds managed to fly off but others couldn’t make it and perished. In subsequent footage, carcasses of the distinctive black and yellow birds can be witnessed scattered on streets of the city. Stange stuff... Moment hundreds of birds suddenly drop from the sky in Mexico leaving dead bodies strewn across the sidewalk... pic.twitter.com/j1LqnnwGdW — ʍąɾէìղᎠօմցӀąʂ (@martinfactual) February 14, 2022 × According to local reports, the incident occurred on the morning of February 7. These birds usually breed farther north in the US and Canada. They migrate to south in Mexico for the winter. Also Read: To bring ‘silence’ to streets, Paris unveils first noise radar Dr Richard Broughton, ecologist, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, said that although a raptor cannot be seen in the footage, it must have been caused by a predatory bird only. “This looks like a raptor like a peregrine or hawk has been chasing a flock, like they do with murmurating starlings, and they have crashed as the flock was forced low. You can see that they act like a wave at the beginning, as if they are being flushed from above,” Broughton said. (With inputs from agencies)

Hundreds of yellow-headed blackbirds fall from sky in Mexico. Want to know why?

Who says Mexico’s cartels just deal in drugs. Now, they seem to have found a new way to make money. &nbsp;

Well, the answer is the manipulation of prices of lime. Yes, you read it right. It is lime. &nbsp;&nbsp;

If you want to know why do the cartels have an interest in lime, keep reading. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chile-government-pledges-new-safety-measures-after-trucker-protest-452854" hreflang="en">Chile government pledges new safety measures after trucker protest</a>

Criminal groups have been fixing prices for lime aggressively as the country is the world’s largest producer of fruit. &nbsp;

Since January 2021, the average cost of limes has tripled to around 56 pesos per kilo, as per state data. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The prices of lime have reached sky high this year due to continued exports, falling production and colder weather. During the crop season, cartels are also imposing increasing controls over producers to fund an escalating war in the state of Michoacán. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/15-year-old-spanish-boy-mercilessly-kills-parents-10-year-old-brother-in-argument-over-bad-grades-452804" hreflang="en">15-year-old Spanish boy mercilessly kills parents, 10-year-old brother in argument over bad grades</a>

The soaring prices have been tormenting several residents. &nbsp;&nbsp;

“The lime trade is a billion-dollar industry and, for any criminal group, it’s very easy and extremely profitable for them to go to the farmers and tell them what they need to pay for protection. It’s classic mafia,” said Romain Le Cour, security and violence reduction programme officer, thinktank México Evalúa. &nbsp;

“The cartels impose the price of the lime, they decide whether or not to pick them,” an industry worker told Reforma newspaper. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Who says Mexico’s cartels just deal in drugs. Now, they seem to have found a new way to make money. Well, the answer is the manipulation of prices of lime. Yes, you read it right.

Who says Mexico’s cartels just deal in drugs. Now, they seem to have found a new way to make money. Well, the answer is the manipulation of prices of lime. Yes, you read it right. It is lime. If you want to know why do the cartels have an interest in lime, keep reading. Also Read: Chile government pledges new safety measures after trucker protest Criminal groups have been fixing prices for lime aggressively as the country is the world’s largest producer of fruit. Since January 2021, the average cost of limes has tripled to around 56 pesos per kilo, as per state data. The prices of lime have reached sky high this year due to continued exports, falling production and colder weather. During the crop season, cartels are also imposing increasing controls over producers to fund an escalating war in the state of Michoacán. Also Read: 15-year-old Spanish boy mercilessly kills parents, 10-year-old brother in argument over bad grades The soaring prices have been tormenting several residents. “The lime trade is a billion-dollar industry and, for any criminal group, it’s very easy and extremely profitable for them to go to the farmers and tell them what they need to pay for protection. It’s classic mafia,” said Romain Le Cour, security and violence reduction programme officer, thinktank México Evalúa. “The cartels impose the price of the lime, they decide whether or not to pick them,” an industry worker told Reforma newspaper. (With inputs from agencies)

Now, cartels in Mexico shift attention towards lime, fix prices aggressively

Mexico is witnessing one of the deadliest years for media persons in the country. Five Journalists have been killed this year so far.

Mexico reports a spike in violence against Journalists

Mexico&nbsp;is&nbsp;on&nbsp;course for one of its&nbsp;deadliest&nbsp;years&nbsp;yet for the press, with five journalists murdered already in 2022, prompting calls for authorities to end a culture of impunity.

Reporters in the Latin American country are killed "because it's cheap," Juan Vazquez, spokesman for&nbsp;media&nbsp;rights group Article 19, told AFP.

"Those who run the greatest risk are the journalists with their pen, computer, recorder or microphone. In the end those who run the least risk are those who pull the trigger," he said.

The latest victim was Heber Lopez Vazquez, the 39-year-old manager of news website Noticias Web in the southern state of Oaxaca who was shot dead&nbsp;on&nbsp;Thursday.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/worlds-most-dangerous-countries-for-journalists-another-journalist-killed-in-mexico-the-fifth-this-year-452407">'World's most dangerous countries for journalists': Another journalist killed in Mexico, the fifth this year</a>

Two suspects were arrested as they tried to flee the scene of the crime, according to prosecutors.

Lopez had previously received threats that he believed were linked to allegations of corruption against a local mayor, said Balbina Flores, representative for&nbsp;media&nbsp;watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Even so, he was not part of a government program providing protection for around 500 journalists.

His murder puts&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;on&nbsp;course to surpass the toll of seven journalists killed in 2021.

"The first six weeks of 2022 have been the&nbsp;deadliest&nbsp;for the Mexican press in over a decade," said Jan-Albert Hootsen, representative of the Committee to Protect Journalists.

The&nbsp;media&nbsp;rights group said it "urges Mexican authorities to immediately and transparently investigate all murders and bring the perpetrators to justice."

Mexican authorities said Wednesday that three men had been arrested over the murder of journalist Lourdes Maldonado last month&nbsp;in Tijuana.

Her death came in the wake of the shooting of photographer Margarito Martinez in the same northwestern border city.

Roberto Toledo, who worked with a news site in the central state of Michoacan, as well as Jose Luis Gamboa, a journalist and social&nbsp;media&nbsp;activist in eastern Veracruz state, were also killed in January.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-mexico-fourth-journalist-killed-in-less-than-a-month-449402">In Mexico, fourth journalist killed in less than a month</a>

'Zero impunity'

Around 150 journalists have been murdered since 2000 in&nbsp;Mexico, and only a fraction of the crimes have resulted in convictions, according to RSF.

Around 100 of them were killed under presidents Felipe Calderon (2006-2012) and Enrique Pena Nieto (2012-2018), whose terms were marked by a bloody war&nbsp;on&nbsp;drug trafficking.

Another 29 murders have been registered since President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador took office in 2018 championing a "hugs not bullets" strategy to tackle violent crime at its roots by fighting poverty and inequality.

"This six-year term (of Lopez Obrador) will be classified as one of the bloodiest" for the press, Flores predicted.

Mexico's president&nbsp;on&nbsp;Friday promised "zero impunity" for the latest murder.

His critics argue that his outspoken attacks against a&nbsp;media&nbsp;that he calls "mercenary" and accuses of serving the interests of his opponents only add to the difficulties facing journalists.

The fact that more than 90 percent of the murders of&nbsp;media&nbsp;workers go unpunished in&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;is a major driver of the violence, according to activists.

If the authorities had taken tougher action to prevent such crimes, relatives would not be burying more victims, said Vazquez.

Mexico&nbsp;was failing to comply with its obligations in terms of protection and prevention of deadly attacks against journalists, he said.

This country of 126 million people plagued by drug cartel-related violence, ranks 143rd out of 180 nations in RSF's World Press Freedom Index.

Watch |&nbsp;Mexicans protest journalist killings, calls for protection

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/mexicans-protest-journalist-killings-calls-for-protection-447751/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Most of the crimes against Mexican&nbsp;media&nbsp;involve small outlets whose journalists are "very vulnerable" and sometimes unaware of the protection mechanisms available to them, Flores said.

Given the poor pay this kind of work offers, they often combine journalism with other jobs.

This means authorities can sometimes be quick to separate the crimes from the victims'&nbsp;media&nbsp;activities and not to investigate them as violations of press freedom.

Journalism is a "very precarious" way of eking out a living in&nbsp;Mexico, said Flores.

Mexico is on course for one of its deadliest years yet for the press, with five journalists murdered already in 2022, prompting calls for authorities to end a culture of impunity.

Mexico is on course for one of its deadliest years yet for the press, with five journalists murdered already in 2022, prompting calls for authorities to end a culture of impunity. Reporters in the Latin American country are killed "because it's cheap," Juan Vazquez, spokesman for media rights group Article 19, told AFP. "Those who run the greatest risk are the journalists with their pen, computer, recorder or microphone. In the end those who run the least risk are those who pull the trigger," he said. The latest victim was Heber Lopez Vazquez, the 39-year-old manager of news website Noticias Web in the southern state of Oaxaca who was shot dead on Thursday. Also read | 'World's most dangerous countries for journalists': Another journalist killed in Mexico, the fifth this year Two suspects were arrested as they tried to flee the scene of the crime, according to prosecutors. Lopez had previously received threats that he believed were linked to allegations of corruption against a local mayor, said Balbina Flores, representative for media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Even so, he was not part of a government program providing protection for around 500 journalists. His murder puts Mexico on course to surpass the toll of seven journalists killed in 2021. "The first six weeks of 2022 have been the deadliest for the Mexican press in over a decade," said Jan-Albert Hootsen, representative of the Committee to Protect Journalists. The media rights group said it "urges Mexican authorities to immediately and transparently investigate all murders and bring the perpetrators to justice." Mexican authorities said Wednesday that three men had been arrested over the murder of journalist Lourdes Maldonado last month in Tijuana. Her death came in the wake of the shooting of photographer Margarito Martinez in the same northwestern border city. Roberto Toledo, who worked with a news site in the central state of Michoacan, as well as Jose Luis Gamboa, a journalist and social media activist in eastern Veracruz state, were also killed in January. Also read | In Mexico, fourth journalist killed in less than a month 'Zero impunity' Around 150 journalists have been murdered since 2000 in Mexico, and only a fraction of the crimes have resulted in convictions, according to RSF. Around 100 of them were killed under presidents Felipe Calderon (2006-2012) and Enrique Pena Nieto (2012-2018), whose terms were marked by a bloody war on drug trafficking. Another 29 murders have been registered since President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador took office in 2018 championing a "hugs not bullets" strategy to tackle violent crime at its roots by fighting poverty and inequality. "This six-year term (of Lopez Obrador) will be classified as one of the bloodiest" for the press, Flores predicted. Mexico's president on Friday promised "zero impunity" for the latest murder. His critics argue that his outspoken attacks against a media that he calls "mercenary" and accuses of serving the interests of his opponents only add to the difficulties facing journalists. The fact that more than 90 percent of the murders of media workers go unpunished in Mexico is a major driver of the violence, according to activists. If the authorities had taken tougher action to prevent such crimes, relatives would not be burying more victims, said Vazquez. Mexico was failing to comply with its obligations in terms of protection and prevention of deadly attacks against journalists, he said. This country of 126 million people plagued by drug cartel-related violence, ranks 143rd out of 180 nations in RSF's World Press Freedom Index. Watch | Mexicans protest journalist killings, calls for protection Most of the crimes against Mexican media involve small outlets whose journalists are "very vulnerable" and sometimes unaware of the protection mechanisms available to them, Flores said. Given the poor pay this kind of work offers, they often combine journalism with other jobs. This means authorities can sometimes be quick to separate the crimes from the victims' media activities and not to investigate them as violations of press freedom. Journalism is a "very precarious" way of eking out a living in Mexico, said Flores.

Mexico on track for one of deadliest years for media

A&nbsp;journalist&nbsp;was shot dead Thursday in&nbsp;Mexico, an official said, the&nbsp;fifth&nbsp;such killing this&nbsp;year&nbsp;in a country notoriously dangerous for reporters.

Heber Lopez Vazquez, who ran a news website called Noticias Web in the southern state of Oaxaca, was shot in his car, state prosecutor Arturo Calvo told the TV channel Milenio.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/violent-crimes-on-the-rise-in-us-survey-452354">Violent crimes on the rise in US: Survey</a>

Two suspects were arrested as they tried to flee the scene of the crime and their guns were recovered, Calvo said, adding it was not known who ordered the killing.

Lopez's death brings the number of journalists&nbsp;killed&nbsp;in&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;this&nbsp;year&nbsp;to five, according to an AFP tally based on data from press freedom advocacy organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Mexico&nbsp;is considered one of the world's most dangerous countries for journalists.

At least seven were murdered last&nbsp;year, according to RSF, although it is not known whether in all of those cases the killing was linked to their work.

Watch |&nbsp;Mexicans protest journalist killings, calls for protection

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/mexicans-protest-journalist-killings-calls-for-protection-447751/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">
Mexican authorities said Wednesday that three men had been arrested over the murder of&nbsp;journalist&nbsp;Lourdes Maldonado, whose killing last month&nbsp;in Tijuana sparked international condemnation and calls for the government to do more to protect media workers.

Her death came in the wake of the shooting of photographer Margarito Martinez in Tijuana.&nbsp;
Roberto Toledo, who worked with a news site in the central state of Michoacan, as well as Jose Luis Gamboa, a&nbsp;journalist&nbsp;and social media activist in eastern Veracruz state, were also&nbsp;killed&nbsp;in January.</div>

A journalist was shot dead Thursday in Mexico, an official said, the fifth such killing this year in a country notoriously dangerous for reporters. Heber Lopez Vazquez, who ran a news website called Noticias Web in the southern state of Oaxaca, was shot in his car, state prosecutor Arturo Calvo told the TV channel Milenio.

A journalist was shot dead Thursday in Mexico, an official said, the fifth such killing this year in a country notoriously dangerous for reporters. Heber Lopez Vazquez, who ran a news website called Noticias Web in the southern state of Oaxaca, was shot in his car, state prosecutor Arturo Calvo told the TV channel Milenio. Also read | Violent crimes on the rise in US: Survey Two suspects were arrested as they tried to flee the scene of the crime and their guns were recovered, Calvo said, adding it was not known who ordered the killing. Lopez's death brings the number of journalists killed in Mexico this year to five, according to an AFP tally based on data from press freedom advocacy organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Mexico is considered one of the world's most dangerous countries for journalists. At least seven were murdered last year, according to RSF, although it is not known whether in all of those cases the killing was linked to their work. Watch | Mexicans protest journalist killings, calls for protection Mexican authorities said Wednesday that three men had been arrested over the murder of journalist Lourdes Maldonado, whose killing last month in Tijuana sparked international condemnation and calls for the government to do more to protect media workers. Her death came in the wake of the shooting of photographer Margarito Martinez in Tijuana. Roberto Toledo, who worked with a news site in the central state of Michoacan, as well as Jose Luis Gamboa, a journalist and social media activist in eastern Veracruz state, were also killed in January.

'World's most dangerous countries for journalists': Another journalist killed in Mexico, the fifth this year

The floating gardens of Mexico city are a UNESCO world heritage site but as it has happened with most parts of the world the floating gardens of Mexico city are battling a chronic problem of plastic pollution, our next report gets you all the details.

Plastic pollution at Mexico's floating gardens is worrisome

Magic tricks often evoke varied forms of reactions. There have been a lot of videos where people’s reaction to the sleight of hand tricks has triggered laughter.

But a priceless reaction of a monkey leaving bemused to a simple magic trick has gone viral in social media, and it has netizens in splits.

The video was posted on TikTok last week by Maximiliano Ibarra.

In the clip, Ibarra is seen holding a leaf in front of the monkey, which was sitting inside his glass enclosure, in Mexico’s Chapultepec Zoo.

Initially, the monkey, a Japanese macaque, seemed disinterested when Ibarra was performing the trick. But all that changed when he made the leaf ‘vanish’ with a sleight of hand trick.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2rvcHmCzqwo" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The “witchcraft” seemed to have dazzled the monkey as it leapt forward with its jaw dropped and eye wide-open&nbsp;in disbelief.

Ibarra then made the leaf reappear and disappear and the monkey reacted by running up and down, putting its hand to its face and looking over its shoulder as if checking whether anyone else is seeing the tricks.

The primate’s reaction seemed to have impressed many as the TikTok clip has received more than 1.6 million likes, reports The Daily Mail.

Several users were in awe of the ape’s “humanlike” expression.

“I could binge watch animals reacting to magic tricks for months straight,” a user wrote. While another user said, “What witchcraft is this?”

“That's hilarious, yet amazing to watch the intelligence of monkeys,” one commenter wrote.

Magic tricks often evoke varied forms of reactions. There have been a lot of videos where people’s reaction to the sleight of hand tricks has triggered laughter.

Magic tricks often evoke varied forms of reactions. There have been a lot of videos where people’s reaction to the sleight of hand tricks has triggered laughter. But a priceless reaction of a monkey leaving bemused to a simple magic trick has gone viral in social media, and it has netizens in splits. The video was posted on TikTok last week by Maximiliano Ibarra. In the clip, Ibarra is seen holding a leaf in front of the monkey, which was sitting inside his glass enclosure, in Mexico’s Chapultepec Zoo. Initially, the monkey, a Japanese macaque, seemed disinterested when Ibarra was performing the trick. But all that changed when he made the leaf ‘vanish’ with a sleight of hand trick. × The “witchcraft” seemed to have dazzled the monkey as it leapt forward with its jaw dropped and eye wide-open in disbelief. Ibarra then made the leaf reappear and disappear and the monkey reacted by running up and down, putting its hand to its face and looking over its shoulder as if checking whether anyone else is seeing the tricks. The primate’s reaction seemed to have impressed many as the TikTok clip has received more than 1.6 million likes, reports The Daily Mail. Several users were in awe of the ape’s “humanlike” expression. “I could binge watch animals reacting to magic tricks for months straight,” a user wrote. While another user said, “What witchcraft is this?” “That's hilarious, yet amazing to watch the intelligence of monkeys,” one commenter wrote.

Watch: Zoo monkey wonderstruck by visitor’s magic trick

For the fourth time in less than a month, a journalist in Mexico has been killed. Roberto Toledo was shot dead by three gunmen. He worked for the local news outlet Monitor Michoacán.

Mexico does not offer a safe atmosphere for journalists for a long time now, but the situation is only getting worse with each passing day.

The journalist&nbsp; was shot dead in a parking lot area in the city of Zitácuaro.&nbsp;

Monitor Michoacán's director, Armando Linares, in a social media post expressed his condolences to Toledo’s family.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-mexico-second-journalist-is-murdered-in-less-than-a-week-447115">Also read |&nbsp;In Mexico, second journalist is murdered in less than a week</a>

Linares said, "Toledo lost his life at the hands of three people who shot him in a mean and cowardly manner. We don’t carry weapons. We only have a pen and a notebook to defend ourselves.”

According to a report by The Guardian, The Committee to Protect Journalists has said that 32 members of the media have been murdered since President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has come to power.&nbsp;

Journalists have accused the President of failing to protect the journalists.

Earlier, in January, for the second time in less than 7 days, a journalist was killed in Tijuana. Baja California state prosecutor's office, in a report by AFP, said that Lourdes Maldonado Lopez was "attacked with a firearm while she was in a vehicle."

Maldonado had worked with multiple news outlets, including Primer Sistema de Noticias (PSN).&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

For the fourth time in less than a month, a journalist in Mexico has been killed. Roberto Toledo was shot dead by three gunmen. He worked for the local news outlet Monitor Michoacán.

For the fourth time in less than a month, a journalist in Mexico has been killed. Roberto Toledo was shot dead by three gunmen. He worked for the local news outlet Monitor Michoacán. Mexico does not offer a safe atmosphere for journalists for a long time now, but the situation is only getting worse with each passing day. The journalist was shot dead in a parking lot area in the city of Zitácuaro. Monitor Michoacán's director, Armando Linares, in a social media post expressed his condolences to Toledo’s family. Also read | In Mexico, second journalist is murdered in less than a week Linares said, "Toledo lost his life at the hands of three people who shot him in a mean and cowardly manner. We don’t carry weapons. We only have a pen and a notebook to defend ourselves.” According to a report by The Guardian, The Committee to Protect Journalists has said that 32 members of the media have been murdered since President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has come to power. Journalists have accused the President of failing to protect the journalists. Earlier, in January, for the second time in less than 7 days, a journalist was killed in Tijuana. Baja California state prosecutor's office, in a report by AFP, said that Lourdes Maldonado Lopez was "attacked with a firearm while she was in a vehicle." Maldonado had worked with multiple news outlets, including Primer Sistema de Noticias (PSN). (With inputs from agencies)

In Mexico, fourth journalist killed in less than a month

Official figures in US showed on Monday that about 180,000 migrants were apprehended while attempting to enter the US from Mexico in December. These detentions brought total number of these detentions to almost 2 million. This is a record.

As the figure emerged, the Republican Party accused Democratic President Joe Biden and VP Kamala Harris of creating a "historic humanitarian crisis."

"On their watch, cartels and smugglers are thriving, border officials are overwhelmed, our communities are less safe," said Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel in a statement.

Migrant arrivals to the United States declined markedly during the initial phase of the Covid-19 pandemic but began to pick up later in 2020, before surging since President Joe Biden took office in January last year.

His arrival in the White House, with a promise of a more humane approach towards migrants, led to an increase in flows of undocumented foreigners fleeing poverty and violence.

Figures over the summer demonstrated a deviation from seasonal trends.

Punishingly hot summer weather usually sees the number of migrants attempting to cross decrease but the US Department of Homeland Security said an "unprecedented" number of migrants -- around 200,000 -- were intercepted illegally crossing the US-Mexico border in July.

The arrivals pose a considerable human, logistical and financial challenge to the Democratic administration, particularly as it has pledged not to turn back unaccompanied minors.

Its efforts to overhaul the migration system have stalled in Congress, and the issue is expected to be a major issue in the midterm elections in November.

(With inputs from agencies)

Official figures in US showed on Monday that about 180,000 migrants were apprehended while attempting to enter the US from Mexico in December. These detentions brought total number of these detentions to almost 2 million.

Official figures in US showed on Monday that about 180,000 migrants were apprehended while attempting to enter the US from Mexico in December. These detentions brought total number of these detentions to almost 2 million. This is a record. As the figure emerged, the Republican Party accused Democratic President Joe Biden and VP Kamala Harris of creating a "historic humanitarian crisis." "On their watch, cartels and smugglers are thriving, border officials are overwhelmed, our communities are less safe," said Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel in a statement. Migrant arrivals to the United States declined markedly during the initial phase of the Covid-19 pandemic but began to pick up later in 2020, before surging since President Joe Biden took office in January last year. His arrival in the White House, with a promise of a more humane approach towards migrants, led to an increase in flows of undocumented foreigners fleeing poverty and violence. Figures over the summer demonstrated a deviation from seasonal trends. Punishingly hot summer weather usually sees the number of migrants attempting to cross decrease but the US Department of Homeland Security said an "unprecedented" number of migrants -- around 200,000 -- were intercepted illegally crossing the US-Mexico border in July. The arrivals pose a considerable human, logistical and financial challenge to the Democratic administration, particularly as it has pledged not to turn back unaccompanied minors. Its efforts to overhaul the migration system have stalled in Congress, and the issue is expected to be a major issue in the midterm elections in November. (With inputs from agencies)

Nearly 2 million migrants apprehended on US-Mexico border in 2021, a record figure

Recent killing of three reporters has sparked a nationwide protest by the Mexican journalists in the country. These journalists have demanded more protection and an end to impunity. This is according to the reports, Mexico has been constantly deemed as one of the world's most dangerous countries for journalists where over 145 have been killed between 2000 to 2021.

Mexicans protest journalist killings, calls for protection

Mexico does not offer a safe atmosphere for journalists for a long time now, but the situation is only getting worse with each passing day. For the second time in less than 7 days, a journalist was killed in Tijuana on Sunday. Baja California state prosecutor's office, in a report by AFP, said that Lourdes Maldonado Lopez was "attacked with a firearm while she was in a vehicle."

Maldonado had worked with multiple news outlets, including Primer Sistema de Noticias (PSN).&nbsp;

It is owned by Jaime Bonilla, who was governor of Baja California from 2019 to late 2021.&nbsp;

As per reports by local media, a few days ago, the journalist won a lawsuit against PSN for unfair dismissal.&nbsp;

She had also asked Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador for "support, help and justice" as she was scared for her life.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-vs-biden-gun-violence-in-joe-bidens-us-sees-a-sharp-escalation-447054">Also read |&nbsp;Trump vs Biden: Gun violence in Joe Biden's US sees a sharp escalation</a>

The Committee to Protect Journalists on Twitter said that it was "shocked by the murder of Lourdes Maldonado, the second reporter to be killed in the city of Tijuana in less than a week."

It also called on local authorities to "thoroughly and transparently investigate the attack."

Reporters Without Borders, a media rights watchdog, ranks Mexico with Afghanistan and Yemen among the world's most dangerous places media.

(With inputs from agencies)

Mexico does not offer a safe atmosphere for journalists for a long time now, but the situation is only getting worse with each passing day. For the second time in less than 7 days, a journalist was killed in Tijuana on Sunday.

Mexico does not offer a safe atmosphere for journalists for a long time now, but the situation is only getting worse with each passing day. For the second time in less than 7 days, a journalist was killed in Tijuana on Sunday. Baja California state prosecutor's office, in a report by AFP, said that Lourdes Maldonado Lopez was "attacked with a firearm while she was in a vehicle." Maldonado had worked with multiple news outlets, including Primer Sistema de Noticias (PSN). It is owned by Jaime Bonilla, who was governor of Baja California from 2019 to late 2021. As per reports by local media, a few days ago, the journalist won a lawsuit against PSN for unfair dismissal. She had also asked Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador for "support, help and justice" as she was scared for her life. Also read | Trump vs Biden: Gun violence in Joe Biden's US sees a sharp escalation The Committee to Protect Journalists on Twitter said that it was "shocked by the murder of Lourdes Maldonado, the second reporter to be killed in the city of Tijuana in less than a week." It also called on local authorities to "thoroughly and transparently investigate the attack." Reporters Without Borders, a media rights watchdog, ranks Mexico with Afghanistan and Yemen among the world's most dangerous places media. (With inputs from agencies)

In Mexico, second journalist is murdered in less than a week

Mexico may have slipped into a bit of a recession, the economy of the Latin American nation has shrunk by almost about two percentage points in the month of December in comparison with the same period back in the year 2020.

Mexico slips into recession, economy shrunk by 0.2% in December

Registering its second annual decline in a row Mexico's auto production fell by almost two percent last year in comparison to 2022. This is Mexico's flagship industrial sector struggling to pull past the pandemic shocks and also a global semiconductor shortage.

World Business Watch: Mexico's flagship industrial sector struggles

A 17-year-old science prodigy in Mexico is working on an app for her dear sister. Now this app will revolutionise sign language and communication for the hearing impaired.

Mexican science prodigy invents application for deaf sister

In a strange incident, an SUV filled with ten bodies was left outside the office of a Mexican state governor, located in a public square, which was lit up with Christmas decor all around. The bodies were loaded in a Mazda SUV which was parked in the main plaza of the state capital of Zacatecas.

David Monreal, governor of the central state of Zacatecas said, "A grey Mazda van and that was left with the bodies in front of the Government Palace."

In a video, he said that the car contained bodies of people with signs of beating and bruising.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/to-strengthen-ties-us-japan-look-to-ink-crucial-defence-pacts-soon-442795">Also read |&nbsp;To strengthen ties, US, Japan look to ink crucial defence pacts soon</a>

The public security agency, in a statement, said that government officials found the car after a suspicious vehicle was seen driving in the area. The federal security ministry revealed that there were 10 bodies inside.

Zacatecas is considered to be a transit point of drugs as it was once dominated by the Zetas cartel. The region now sees the presence of several cartels.&nbsp;

A report by The Guardian suggests that there were 31,615 killings in the first 11 months of 2021. However, Monreal has claimed that security has been one of the major challenges in Zacatecas and he would work on bringing down the violence.

(With inputs from agencies)

In a strange incident, an SUV filled with ten bodies was left outside the office of a Mexican state governor, located in a public square, which was lit up with Christmas decor all around.

In a strange incident, an SUV filled with ten bodies was left outside the office of a Mexican state governor, located in a public square, which was lit up with Christmas decor all around. The bodies were loaded in a Mazda SUV which was parked in the main plaza of the state capital of Zacatecas. David Monreal, governor of the central state of Zacatecas said, "A grey Mazda van and that was left with the bodies in front of the Government Palace." In a video, he said that the car contained bodies of people with signs of beating and bruising. Also read | To strengthen ties, US, Japan look to ink crucial defence pacts soon The public security agency, in a statement, said that government officials found the car after a suspicious vehicle was seen driving in the area. The federal security ministry revealed that there were 10 bodies inside. Zacatecas is considered to be a transit point of drugs as it was once dominated by the Zetas cartel. The region now sees the presence of several cartels. A report by The Guardian suggests that there were 31,615 killings in the first 11 months of 2021. However, Monreal has claimed that security has been one of the major challenges in Zacatecas and he would work on bringing down the violence. (With inputs from agencies)

Mexico: 10 bodies left in car outside a state governor's office

A group of passengers who were found partying and breaking several Covid norms aboard a chartered flight from Montreal to Mexico have been left stranded after three airlines declined to fly them home to Canada.

Several videos of the party, which is said to have taken place on December 30, were shared on social media, showing unmasked passengers in close proximity. In one video, a large bottle of vodka appears to be passed among passengers and a woman appears to be smoking an electronic cigarette.

According to Canadian media reports, some in the unruly crowd have also tested positive for COVID-19 since then.

Three airlines have refused to take them home. Sunwing Airlines cancelled the return charter flight from Cancun that had been scheduled for Wednesday while Air Transat and Air Canada have also declined to carry the passengers.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="wionews.com/world/omicron-surge-uk-to-deploy-troops-military-medics-to-help-hospital-staff-442887">Omicron surge: UK to deploy troops, military medics to help hospital staff</a>

The whole incident has caused outrage in Canada, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau saying that he was “extremely frustrated” with the incident.

“It’s a slap in the face to see people putting themselves, putting their fellow citizens, putting airline workers at risk by being completely irresponsible,” Trudeau said at a briefing.

Among those who tested positive include a 19-year-old student from Quebec who said she felt abandoned, not knowing how she’ll pay for her hotel room as her stay is extended indefinitely.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explainer-chinas-zero-covid-strategy-what-it-is-how-it-functions-and-does-it-work-442865">Also Read |&nbsp;Explainer: China's 'zero covid' strategy; what it is, how it functions and does it work?</a>

“The organizer just left everybody. I don’t know who’s still here. All the flights have been cancelled,” Rebecca St-Pierre, who is quarantined in a Mexico hotel, told The Canadian Press.

She estimated that about 30 others on the flight have tested positive.

(With inputs from agencies)

A group of passengers who were found partying and breaking several Covid norms aboard a chartered flight from Montreal to Mexico have been left stranded after three airlines declined to fly them home to Canada.

A group of passengers who were found partying and breaking several Covid norms aboard a chartered flight from Montreal to Mexico have been left stranded after three airlines declined to fly them home to Canada. Several videos of the party, which is said to have taken place on December 30, were shared on social media, showing unmasked passengers in close proximity. In one video, a large bottle of vodka appears to be passed among passengers and a woman appears to be smoking an electronic cigarette. According to Canadian media reports, some in the unruly crowd have also tested positive for COVID-19 since then. Three airlines have refused to take them home. Sunwing Airlines cancelled the return charter flight from Cancun that had been scheduled for Wednesday while Air Transat and Air Canada have also declined to carry the passengers. Also read | Omicron surge: UK to deploy troops, military medics to help hospital staff The whole incident has caused outrage in Canada, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau saying that he was “extremely frustrated” with the incident. “It’s a slap in the face to see people putting themselves, putting their fellow citizens, putting airline workers at risk by being completely irresponsible,” Trudeau said at a briefing. Among those who tested positive include a 19-year-old student from Quebec who said she felt abandoned, not knowing how she’ll pay for her hotel room as her stay is extended indefinitely. Also Read | Explainer: China's 'zero covid' strategy; what it is, how it functions and does it work? “The organizer just left everybody. I don’t know who’s still here. All the flights have been cancelled,” Rebecca St-Pierre, who is quarantined in a Mexico hotel, told The Canadian Press. She estimated that about 30 others on the flight have tested positive. (With inputs from agencies)

Party gone wrong: Canadian passengers stranded in Mexico after airlines refuse to fly them home

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, accused of espionage by the USA and held in Belmarsh Prison outside the British capital London, received a political asylum offer from Mexico.

Mexico offers political asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange

Two children were among 8 killed during a gun attack in the central Mexico region which is rife with turf wars between drug cartels.

According to officials, two gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire at homes in the Silao municipality of Guanajuato state late Tuesday.

The assailants were reportedly targeting four men who were at one home, killing them and a woman, the authorities said.

At a nearby house, a one-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl also died of gun wounds, police said, adding that it wasn’t clear whether these two were specifically targeted or hit by stray bullets during the gun assault.

Guanajuato state prosecutors said three other people were wounded and were in serious condition at local hospitals.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indian-travel-blogger-killed-in-mexico-gang-shootout-423400">Indian travel blogger killed in Mexico gang shootout</a>

The gangs have been fighting over control of the lucrative drug trafficking and stolen fuel markets, according to the regional prosecutor’s office.

State interior secretary Libia García expressed condolences to the lives lost and assured to bring perpetrators to justice.

“What happened today in Silao hurts us deeply and as the government of Guanajuato, we will continue to work together to give no quarter to those cowards who take other peoples' lives,” Libia García wrote in her Twitter account.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-mexico-border-arrests-reach-record-highs-reveals-report-423367">US-Mexico border: Arrests reach record highs, reveals report</a>

“Justice will be done for the victims.”

In mid-November, two similar attacks took place in which 11 people were killed in Silao.

Guanajuato has become one of Mexico's most violent states due to fighting between the Santa Rosa de Lima and Jalisco New Generation cartels.

Since 2006 when the government launched a controversial anti-drug military operation, Mexico has recorded more than 300,000 murders, according to official figures.

(With inputs from agencies)

Two children were among 8 killed during a gun attack in the central Mexico region which is rife with turf wars between drug cartels. According to officials, two gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire at homes in the Silao municipality of Guanajuato state late Tuesday.

Two children were among 8 killed during a gun attack in the central Mexico region which is rife with turf wars between drug cartels. According to officials, two gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire at homes in the Silao municipality of Guanajuato state late Tuesday. The assailants were reportedly targeting four men who were at one home, killing them and a woman, the authorities said. At a nearby house, a one-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl also died of gun wounds, police said, adding that it wasn’t clear whether these two were specifically targeted or hit by stray bullets during the gun assault. Guanajuato state prosecutors said three other people were wounded and were in serious condition at local hospitals. Also read | Indian travel blogger killed in Mexico gang shootout The gangs have been fighting over control of the lucrative drug trafficking and stolen fuel markets, according to the regional prosecutor’s office. State interior secretary Libia García expressed condolences to the lives lost and assured to bring perpetrators to justice. “What happened today in Silao hurts us deeply and as the government of Guanajuato, we will continue to work together to give no quarter to those cowards who take other peoples' lives,” Libia García wrote in her Twitter account. Also Read | US-Mexico border: Arrests reach record highs, reveals report “Justice will be done for the victims.” In mid-November, two similar attacks took place in which 11 people were killed in Silao. Guanajuato has become one of Mexico's most violent states due to fighting between the Santa Rosa de Lima and Jalisco New Generation cartels. Since 2006 when the government launched a controversial anti-drug military operation, Mexico has recorded more than 300,000 murders, according to official figures. (With inputs from agencies)

Two children among 8 killed in Mexico gun attack

A cruise ship from San Diego has returned to port after being turned away in Mexico. The Holland America ship Koningsdam was turned away from Puerto Vallarta in Mexico after authorities barred the guests from leaving the ship. 21 crew members tested positive upon arrival in Puerto Vallarta later the owner company Holland America confirmed that a small number of crew members have tested positive for Covid-19.

Holland America cruise skips Mexico stop after 21 crew members tested positive for Covid-19

Verónica Cruz spent years defying the law in Mexico, helping thousands of women get abortions. Now that Mexico has declared that abortion is no longer a crime, Cruz and activists like her are planning to bring their mission to a country moving in the opposite direction: the United States.

Abortion restrictions have been multiplying across the United States for years, including just over Mexico’s border in Texas. Now the Supreme Court is considering a case that could diminish or completely overrule Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that established a constitutional right to abortion. That would likely set off new restrictions in at least 20 states.

But in much of Latin America, where access to abortion has long been severely limited, highly organized feminist groups have distributed abortion-inducing drugs for years, making it harder for governments to enforce bans on the procedure.

Cruz and other activists are planning to help shuttle Texans and other Americans seeking abortions into Mexico, and to build networks to ferry the abortion pills north of the border or send them by mail — something they’ve already started doing and now plan to expand.

“We aren’t afraid,” Cruz said. “We are willing to face criminalization, because women’s lives matter more than their law.”

The strategy is highly contentious, because it involves foreign activists working directly to undermine U.S. law. It also illustrates what activists on both sides of the abortion debate see as a new frontier of the battle: the government’s ability to control abortion when women can perform them in the privacy of their homes, with pills that are becoming more widely available than ever.

On Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration said that abortion drugs can be delivered by mail, making permanent a measure enacted because of the pandemic and broadening access for women who find it difficult to travel to a provider to end their pregnancies.

But several states ban the delivery of these pills by mail, or still require that the drugs be dispensed by providers in person, on top of other restrictions on their use.

In Texas, a new law bars doctors from providing pills to induce abortions after seven weeks of pregnancy, and adds penalties of jail time and a fine of up to $10,000 for anyone who mails or delivers the medication.

Legal experts say such laws may be challenged after the FDA decision, but for now, these state measures could discourage U.S. doctors from sending pills to parts of the country with restrictive regulations.

“For the first time, Texas does have a way to protect women, through our criminal law, from people bringing dangerous abortion pills,” said Joe Pojman, executive director of the Texas Alliance for Life, an organization that helped craft the measure. “We’ll have to wait to see how well it is enforced in the coming months.”

Anti-abortion groups acknowledge that criminally punishing activists who distribute the pills, especially if they are from Mexico, may prove difficult. They would have to be caught and arrested in Texas, or extradited, experts say.

“This is a really terrible, lawless attack on life,” John Seago, the legislative director for Texas Right to Life, said of the Mexican activists’ plan to help women in Texas get abortions, adding that such efforts would “make it absolutely more difficult to do it, to enforce these laws.”

Dr. Rebecca Gomperts, the leader of Aid Access, an Austria-based group that provides abortion pills to women across the world, confirmed she has been prescribing the medication to women in Texas — who then receive the drugs by mail from a pharmacy in India — even after the state’s law went into effect this month.

The drug misoprostol, originally created to treat stomach ulcers, but which also induces abortions, has upended access to the procedure around the globe by giving women a safe, effective and often cheap method of ending their pregnancies in private.

Taking the drug, either alone or in combination with another called mifepristone, causes what is called a “medication abortion.”

Across Latin America, networks of activists who work on the margins of the legal system deliver the pills to women and walk them through using the medication to end pregnancies.

The groups, often in coordination with allies in the medical community, use a model now known as “accompaniment,” in which they disseminate pills and also provide medical counseling and psychological support to women in a deeply Catholic region where abortions are often shunned and outlawed.

The arrival of misoprostol and mifepristone was “revolutionary,” said Giselle Carino, CEO of Fòs Feminista, an international alliance of health groups. “But it wouldn’t have been so effective in saving women’s lives without the feminist networks of accompaniment and health professionals willing to engage in civil disobedience.”

Cruz, the Mexican activist, helped found an organization called Las Libres, which means “the free ones,” in 2000. She began knocking on gynecologists’ doors in her conservative state of Guanajuato, asking them to provide free abortions to rape victims.

A few years later, one of the doctors she had been working with came back from a conference with some news: There was a pill that could safely cause abortions at home. Misoprostol can be obtained without a prescription in Mexico, and the World Health Organization has a protocol for administering it to perform abortions in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

“That’s when I knew we had a solution,” Cruz said. “We didn’t need doctors anymore.”

At the time, the pills were prohibitively expensive. So, Cruz said, she came up with a strategy: A woman who could afford to buy the medication would keep the pills left over after her procedure, then pass the box on to the next woman who needed it, while coaching her through the process.

“And that’s how the first networks were formed, organically,” Cruz said. The goal, she says, was never to just provide abortions. It was to turn every Mexican woman into someone who could help someone else get an abortion.

The handful of employees who work with Las Libres have boxes of the drugs, which they buy or receive as donations, strewn everywhere — in their cars, their homes, even their pockets. Each woman who reaches out to the group is assigned a “companion” to bring her pills and then follow her, through video calls, phone calls or WhatsApp messages, through every step of the abortion.

A recent study of more than 900 people in Nigeria and Argentina, published in The Lancet medical journal, found that accompanying patients as they manage their own abortions is “highly effective and safe.” It led to complete abortions — not requiring follow-up surgical intervention to finish — for 97% of those surveyed. For women living under strict abortion bans, it is also difficult to detect.

Erika Sandoval, 23, said she had an abortion at home this month in Mexico after texting an activist with Cruz’s group. She got the medication from the activist’s brother, followed instructions delivered in a voice memo and finished the process two days later.

“All this from a voice memo,” she said two days after she took her last pill.

Sofía, also 23, said she took the medicine in the house she shares with her parents in Mexico, closing the door of her room while she texted with a woman from Cruz’s group. When she finished, she said, she told her parents she had been feeling ill after eating tacos.

“They made me chicken soup,” she said. Her parents never realized what had happened, and Sofía asked to only be identified by her first name so they wouldn’t find out.

In September, days after Texas began enacting a new ban on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, Mexico’s Supreme Court ruled that abortion could no longer be treated as a crime. Cruz and her colleagues soon hatched a plan to work with Texas reproductive groups on making it easier for women in the state to end their pregnancies at home.

Dozens of activists are meeting in January to work out the strategy. One of them, Crystal P. Lira, said she has already brought pills from Tijuana to California, and then shipped them to Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts and Texas.

Cruz said the new Texas laws would not stop them from crossing the border with abortion drugs — even if it means risking jail time.

“If that’s the only way that people will become conscious that what the government is doing is a major violation of human rights,” she said, “then yes.”

Verónica Cruz spent years defying the law in Mexico, helping thousands of women get abortions. Now that Mexico has declared that abortion is no longer a crime, Cruz and activists like her are planning to bring their mission to a country moving in the opposite direction: the United States.

Verónica Cruz spent years defying the law in Mexico, helping thousands of women get abortions. Now that Mexico has declared that abortion is no longer a crime, Cruz and activists like her are planning to bring their mission to a country moving in the opposite direction: the United States. Abortion restrictions have been multiplying across the United States for years, including just over Mexico’s border in Texas. Now the Supreme Court is considering a case that could diminish or completely overrule Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that established a constitutional right to abortion. That would likely set off new restrictions in at least 20 states. But in much of Latin America, where access to abortion has long been severely limited, highly organized feminist groups have distributed abortion-inducing drugs for years, making it harder for governments to enforce bans on the procedure. Cruz and other activists are planning to help shuttle Texans and other Americans seeking abortions into Mexico, and to build networks to ferry the abortion pills north of the border or send them by mail — something they’ve already started doing and now plan to expand. “We aren’t afraid,” Cruz said. “We are willing to face criminalization, because women’s lives matter more than their law.” The strategy is highly contentious, because it involves foreign activists working directly to undermine U.S. law. It also illustrates what activists on both sides of the abortion debate see as a new frontier of the battle: the government’s ability to control abortion when women can perform them in the privacy of their homes, with pills that are becoming more widely available than ever. On Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration said that abortion drugs can be delivered by mail, making permanent a measure enacted because of the pandemic and broadening access for women who find it difficult to travel to a provider to end their pregnancies. But several states ban the delivery of these pills by mail, or still require that the drugs be dispensed by providers in person, on top of other restrictions on their use. In Texas, a new law bars doctors from providing pills to induce abortions after seven weeks of pregnancy, and adds penalties of jail time and a fine of up to $10,000 for anyone who mails or delivers the medication. Legal experts say such laws may be challenged after the FDA decision, but for now, these state measures could discourage U.S. doctors from sending pills to parts of the country with restrictive regulations. “For the first time, Texas does have a way to protect women, through our criminal law, from people bringing dangerous abortion pills,” said Joe Pojman, executive director of the Texas Alliance for Life, an organization that helped craft the measure. “We’ll have to wait to see how well it is enforced in the coming months.” Anti-abortion groups acknowledge that criminally punishing activists who distribute the pills, especially if they are from Mexico, may prove difficult. They would have to be caught and arrested in Texas, or extradited, experts say. “This is a really terrible, lawless attack on life,” John Seago, the legislative director for Texas Right to Life, said of the Mexican activists’ plan to help women in Texas get abortions, adding that such efforts would “make it absolutely more difficult to do it, to enforce these laws.” Dr. Rebecca Gomperts, the leader of Aid Access, an Austria-based group that provides abortion pills to women across the world, confirmed she has been prescribing the medication to women in Texas — who then receive the drugs by mail from a pharmacy in India — even after the state’s law went into effect this month. The drug misoprostol, originally created to treat stomach ulcers, but which also induces abortions, has upended access to the procedure around the globe by giving women a safe, effective and often cheap method of ending their pregnancies in private. Taking the drug, either alone or in combination with another called mifepristone, causes what is called a “medication abortion.” Across Latin America, networks of activists who work on the margins of the legal system deliver the pills to women and walk them through using the medication to end pregnancies. The groups, often in coordination with allies in the medical community, use a model now known as “accompaniment,” in which they disseminate pills and also provide medical counseling and psychological support to women in a deeply Catholic region where abortions are often shunned and outlawed. The arrival of misoprostol and mifepristone was “revolutionary,” said Giselle Carino, CEO of Fòs Feminista, an international alliance of health groups. “But it wouldn’t have been so effective in saving women’s lives without the feminist networks of accompaniment and health professionals willing to engage in civil disobedience.” Cruz, the Mexican activist, helped found an organization called Las Libres, which means “the free ones,” in 2000. She began knocking on gynecologists’ doors in her conservative state of Guanajuato, asking them to provide free abortions to rape victims. A few years later, one of the doctors she had been working with came back from a conference with some news: There was a pill that could safely cause abortions at home. Misoprostol can be obtained without a prescription in Mexico, and the World Health Organization has a protocol for administering it to perform abortions in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. “That’s when I knew we had a solution,” Cruz said. “We didn’t need doctors anymore.” At the time, the pills were prohibitively expensive. So, Cruz said, she came up with a strategy: A woman who could afford to buy the medication would keep the pills left over after her procedure, then pass the box on to the next woman who needed it, while coaching her through the process. “And that’s how the first networks were formed, organically,” Cruz said. The goal, she says, was never to just provide abortions. It was to turn every Mexican woman into someone who could help someone else get an abortion. The handful of employees who work with Las Libres have boxes of the drugs, which they buy or receive as donations, strewn everywhere — in their cars, their homes, even their pockets. Each woman who reaches out to the group is assigned a “companion” to bring her pills and then follow her, through video calls, phone calls or WhatsApp messages, through every step of the abortion. A recent study of more than 900 people in Nigeria and Argentina, published in The Lancet medical journal, found that accompanying patients as they manage their own abortions is “highly effective and safe.” It led to complete abortions — not requiring follow-up surgical intervention to finish — for 97% of those surveyed. For women living under strict abortion bans, it is also difficult to detect. Erika Sandoval, 23, said she had an abortion at home this month in Mexico after texting an activist with Cruz’s group. She got the medication from the activist’s brother, followed instructions delivered in a voice memo and finished the process two days later. “All this from a voice memo,” she said two days after she took her last pill. Sofía, also 23, said she took the medicine in the house she shares with her parents in Mexico, closing the door of her room while she texted with a woman from Cruz’s group. When she finished, she said, she told her parents she had been feeling ill after eating tacos. “They made me chicken soup,” she said. Her parents never realized what had happened, and Sofía asked to only be identified by her first name so they wouldn’t find out. In September, days after Texas began enacting a new ban on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, Mexico’s Supreme Court ruled that abortion could no longer be treated as a crime. Cruz and her colleagues soon hatched a plan to work with Texas reproductive groups on making it easier for women in the state to end their pregnancies at home. Dozens of activists are meeting in January to work out the strategy. One of them, Crystal P. Lira, said she has already brought pills from Tijuana to California, and then shipped them to Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts and Texas. Cruz said the new Texas laws would not stop them from crossing the border with abortion drugs — even if it means risking jail time. “If that’s the only way that people will become conscious that what the government is doing is a major violation of human rights,” she said, “then yes.”

A plan forms in Mexico: Help Americans get abortions

While criticising US President Joe Biden's immigration policies, Texas Governor inaugurated the first stretch of border barrier.

Amid the ongoing migrant crisis, Texas starts constructing its own border wall with Mexico

Maya, a rail project connecting Mexico's famous beaches to archaeological sites has become a major environmental issue, our next report tells you what the controversy is about.

Mexico divided over Maya Train project, govt says it will 'boost development'

Activists in Mexico express rage over the Maya train project that will through a forest. People in Mexico stand divided over the issue.

Activists protest against 'Ecocide'

In another apparent case of femicide in Mexico, a Mexican singer and actress was shot dead in Morelos state while waiting to pick up her 11-year-old son from a football academy.&nbsp;

According to reports, on Tuesday, two armed men approached Tania Mendoza on a motorbike and shot her multiple times before escaping. Mendoza along with other parents was reportedly waiting outside the sporting complex when this attack occurred.

Data shows that an average of ten women were murdered in the country every day last year.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/google-trends-imply-femicide-i-am-going-to-kill-her-searched-178-million-times-in-2020-381315">Google trends imply femicide: 'I am going to kill her' searched 178 million times in 2020</a>

The human rights group Amnesty International in a report called it a "shocking epidemic", pointing out that around a third of the 940 victims were femicide cases, which is the intentional killing of women because of their gender.

As per the report, various problems contribute to the authorities' inability to investigate femicides in Mexico, including evidence being lost, insufficient investigation, and inadequate understanding of gender.

Mexico has long been plagued with high levels of crime, with much of the violence caused by drug cartels. Although there has been a growing campaign to raise awareness of femicide, authorities have not been able to prevent it from happening.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/activists-paint-barriers-with-names-of-femicide-victims-in-mexico-368914">Activists paint barriers with names of femicide victims in Mexico</a>

Amnesty International also reports that most cases go uninvestigated and perpetrators are typically unpunished.

Mendoza rose to fame after playing the lead in the 2005 film La Mera Reyna del Sur.&nbsp;

In 2010, she was kidnapped along with her husband and 6-month-old son from the couple's car wash business. Since then, she had reported multiple death threats to the Morelos State Attorney General's Office.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: UK's 'epidemic of violence' against women

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-uks-epidemic-of-violence-against-women-417494/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Mendoza's murder remains a mystery, and no motive has yet been determined. After the shooting, police conducted an operation to search for the suspects, but no arrests were made.

Efe news agency reported that the Attorney General's Office would investigate the case as femicide, but no specifics were provided.

In another apparent case of femicide in Mexico, a Mexican singer and actress was shot dead in Morelos state while waiting to pick up her 11-year-old son from a football academy.

In another apparent case of femicide in Mexico, a Mexican singer and actress was shot dead in Morelos state while waiting to pick up her 11-year-old son from a football academy. According to reports, on Tuesday, two armed men approached Tania Mendoza on a motorbike and shot her multiple times before escaping. Mendoza along with other parents was reportedly waiting outside the sporting complex when this attack occurred. Data shows that an average of ten women were murdered in the country every day last year. Also read | Google trends imply femicide: 'I am going to kill her' searched 178 million times in 2020 The human rights group Amnesty International in a report called it a "shocking epidemic", pointing out that around a third of the 940 victims were femicide cases, which is the intentional killing of women because of their gender. As per the report, various problems contribute to the authorities' inability to investigate femicides in Mexico, including evidence being lost, insufficient investigation, and inadequate understanding of gender. Mexico has long been plagued with high levels of crime, with much of the violence caused by drug cartels. Although there has been a growing campaign to raise awareness of femicide, authorities have not been able to prevent it from happening. Also read | Activists paint barriers with names of femicide victims in Mexico Amnesty International also reports that most cases go uninvestigated and perpetrators are typically unpunished. Mendoza rose to fame after playing the lead in the 2005 film La Mera Reyna del Sur. In 2010, she was kidnapped along with her husband and 6-month-old son from the couple's car wash business. Since then, she had reported multiple death threats to the Morelos State Attorney General's Office. Watch | Gravitas: UK's 'epidemic of violence' against women Mendoza's murder remains a mystery, and no motive has yet been determined. After the shooting, police conducted an operation to search for the suspects, but no arrests were made. Efe news agency reported that the Attorney General's Office would investigate the case as femicide, but no specifics were provided.

Mexico's 'shocking epidemic': Actress, singer Tania Mendoza becomes the latest victim of femicide

mexico

Mexico, News on Mexico, stories on Mexico, articles on Mexico, Mexico stories at Wion, Mexico news, Mexico latest news