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Parents of Aussies killed in Mexico share heartwarming update

<p>The grieving parents of the two Aussie brothers who were killed in Mexico while on a surfing trip have shared a heartwarming update more than four months after their deaths. </p> <p>Jake and Callum Robinson were tragically killed in the province of Baja California in Mexico on April 27th, as their bodies were discovered at the bottom of a 15-metre-deep well during a large scale police operation. </p> <p>Following their deaths, more than $520,000 was raised by the community to help the boy's parents, Martin and Debra, who have revealed the money has helped create a foundation to continue their sons' legacy through philanthropic activities.</p> <p>The heartwarming update was shared by Perth not-for-profit group Indian Ocean Paddlers on the family's behalf on Monday. </p> <p>The group was among thousands of donors, who rallied behind the family to assist with costly expenses, including repatriation and funeral costs.</p> <p>The Robinsons are "forever grateful" for the support received, writing, "We have been overwhelmed by the love we have received in Australia."</p> <p>"To drive this initiative, we have created a foundation as a tribute to Callum and Jake and will be guided by people well versed in caring for others."</p> <p>"Although it’s early days, we hope to have a webpage available soon which will provide information on how your precious donation money will be spent. Your support is more than just a financial gift; it’s testament to the power of community and the belief that together, we can create lasting change."</p> <p>"You have played a crucial role in making our vision a reality, and for that, we will be forever grateful."</p> <p>The Robinsons also opened up on how they're coping four months on from losing their sons, saying, "Not a day goes by when we don’t think about our beautiful sons, the connections they had with people like you and the lives they could have had."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

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Fourth person arrested over alleged murders of Perth brothers

<p>A fourth person has been arrested over the alleged murders of Perth brothers Jake and Callum Robinson, who went missing in Mexico earlier this year. </p> <p>The brothers were on a surf trip and were camping in the Baja California region of Mexico, near Ensenada, along with their American friend Jack Rhoad, when they disappeared on April 27. </p> <p>They were found weeks later near their remote campsite and three people were arrested soon after, with one of the suspects carrying a mobile phone belonging to one of the victims.  </p> <p>It is believed that the brothers were  shot dead in a "robbery gone wrong".</p> <p>Now, another man has been arrested in connection to their alleged murders, just one month after the brothers' bodies were found 10 metres down a well. </p> <p>According to 9News, authorities have not yet provided any further details or the identity of the man. </p> <p>The Robinson brothers were <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/love-harder-perth-brothers-farewelled-at-emotional-memorial-service" target="_blank" rel="noopener">laid to rest</a> earlier this month, with hundreds grieving friends and family watching the memorial service at Perth's Sacred Heart College, where the brothers attended high school. </p> <p>Debra Robinson paid tribute to her sons, along with her husband Martin during the service. </p> <p>“We loved that Jake was curious, kind and happy and never judgmental,” Mrs Robinson said at the time. </p> <p>“Callum always made a conscious decision to wake up and be positive every day. He saw so much fun in life. We miss you beyond description, Callum and Jakey boy, please shine on us.”</p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

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Touching tribute for surfer brothers killed in Mexico

<p>A touching tribute has been held in San Diego, USA for the two Australian brothers killed in Mexico. </p> <p>Jake and Callum Robinson were honoured in a paddle-out into the surf, with their parents Debra and Martin Robinson also flying into San Diego where Callum had been living. </p> <p>Dozens of locals and friends gathered in the surf at one of Callum's favourite beaches to honour the boys' lives, and their father was among those who paddled out and paid tribute to his sons.  </p> <p>Callum's lacrosse team paid tribute to a "beautiful and bright human".</p> <p>"That guy was a ball of sunshine, so grateful my path crossed with his," one surfer said.</p> <p>"He just brought so much passion and joy to everything he was apart of."</p> <p>Friends have also said that the brothers had a passion for sport and being outdoors. </p> <p>"In the middle of our ceremony a large wave rolled in and it felt like Callum was there with us and everyone said that's Callum," another surfer said. </p> <p>Two men and one woman have been <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/arrests-made-over-aussie-surfers-missing-in-mexico" target="_blank" rel="noopener">arrested</a> over their suspected involvement in the "robbery gone wrong", after the bodies of the two Aussie brothers and their American friend Jack Carter Rhoad were discovered 10 metres <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/tragic-new-details-emerge-over-aussie-brothers-missing-in-mexico" target="_blank" rel="noopener">down a well</a> near their campsite.</p> <p><em>Images: Nine</em></p> <p> </p>

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New claim from Mexican criminal cartel over murdered Aussie brothers

<p>A member of the Sinaloa Cartel has claimed that they were the ones who handed the robbers accused of <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/i-killed-them-major-twist-in-slain-aussie-brothers-case" target="_blank" rel="noopener">murdering two Aussie brothers</a> and their American friend over to police. </p> <p>The city of Ensenada, near where the murders occurred, is under the control of a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, and now they have debunked <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-trouble/doesn-t-add-up-new-theory-emerges-in-perth-brothers-deaths" target="_blank" rel="noopener">previous theories </a>that believed the cartel were involved somehow. </p> <p>“They were low-level robbers acting alone,” a member of the group, who chose to remain anonymous, told <em>The Daily Beast</em>. </p> <p>“But we handed them over. We learned that the cops were looking for the gringos and also began looking for those who were responsible. We called the authorities to let them know where to find them.”</p> <p>The cartel member added that the group was afraid of "unwanted attention" from Mexican authorities. </p> <p>Callum Robinson, 33, Jake Robinson, 30, and their friend Jack Carter Rhoad, 30, were all killed in what police have characterised as a bungled robbery while they were camping in the Baja California region during a surfing trip. </p> <p>The trio were reported missing on April 27 after they failed to check-in at their next accommodation. Their bodies were discovered in a well over the weekend with <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/tragic-new-details-emerge-over-aussie-brothers-missing-in-mexico" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gunshots </a>to the head, around seven kilometres from where they were killed. </p> <p>Three people have been arrested, with the alleged ringleader charged with “forced disappearance”. He has not yet entered a plea and charges are expected to be upgraded to murder in the coming days. </p> <p><em>Image: Instagram/ 7NEWS</em></p>

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"I killed them": Major twist in slain Aussie brothers case

<p>The girlfriend of the man who allegedly killed Perth brothers Callum and Jake Robinson has reportedly "flipped" on her partner, becoming the star witness in the case. </p> <p>Ari Gisel García Cota was arrested earlier this week, along with her partner Jesús Gerardo Garcia Cota and his brother Cristian Alejandro Garcia, after the bodies of the Robinson brothers and their friend were found on Saturday in a desolate section of Santo Tomas in the Baja California region.</p> <p>According to Mexico police, the three men were killed as a result of a failed robbery, after locals attempted to steal the tyres from their pick-up truck.</p> <p>The bodies of the three men were recovered from a 15-metre deep well, with each man having fatal gun shot wounds to the head. </p> <p>In a major twist to the case, prosecutors revealed to court on Wednesday that Ari Gisel García Cota had become a key witness in the case after turning on the "ringleader" of the crime. </p> <p>“She has flipped on the ringleader and the evidence she’s provided to the prosecution will lead this case going forward,” Nine News correspondent Alison Piotrowski, who was in the courtroom, told 2GB’s Ben Fordham on Thursday.</p> <p>“What’s alleged is that Jesús Gerardo was driving her car that night when he went out to that remote campsite. The prosecution is saying what we’ve been talking about for the last couple of days has potentially happened, that the two Aussies and their American friend were ambushed.”</p> <p>Prosecutors allege Jesús Gerardo “killed them, took their tyres, put the tyres on her car and drove back”.</p> <p>When he went back to their house, the court heard he allegedly told Ari Gisel, “I f**ked up three gringos (English-speaking foreigner).”</p> <p>“She said to him, ‘What do you mean by that?’ And he told her, ‘I killed them’, and then showed her the vehicle with Jake, Callum and Jack’s tyres on her car,” Piotrowski said.</p> <p>“Ari was arrested later that day, she had fled to her mother’s house to get away from him. When the officers arrested her they said, ‘You have the right to remain silent’, and she said, ‘I don’t want to be silent, I want to tell you what I know. I’m a victim of domestic violence, I want to protect my four-year-old so let me help you with this case.’ So she has spectacularly turned on him and will now be crucial in this case moving forward.”</p> <p>Piotrowski added that the stunning revelation explained why Mexican officials “have been able to put him behind bars so quickly and also how they found the bodies”.</p> <p>“This conversation that he had with his girlfriend is pretty damning,” she said.</p> <p>So far only Jesús Gerardo Garcia Cota has been charged in connection with the deaths of the three men, and only with forced kidnapping, while Ari Gisel García Cota and Cristian Alejandro Garcia have only been charged with drug possession.</p> <p>Piotrowski said the kidnapping charges may not be upgraded to murder until the next court hearing, although the judge has more questions about how the three men were killed. </p> <p>“The judge did say that he can’t understand how one sole person could have done this, essentially kidnap and kill three men and take their tyres, it seems like too much,” she said.</p> <p>“He suggested that the prosecution needed to look into more suspects, that they needed to broaden their investigation because it couldn’t have been done by one man alone.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram / State Commission of the Penitentiary System of Baja California</em></p>

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"Doesn't add up": New theory emerges in Perth brothers' deaths

<p>A private security worker in Mexico has cast doubt on the police narrative on how two brothers from Perth were found dead. </p> <p>According to Mexico police, Callum and Jake Robinson were caught up in a robbery gone wrong while they were on a surfing holiday in Baja California with an American friend. </p> <p>“They approached, with the intention of stealing their vehicle and taking the tyres and other parts to put them on the older-model pick-up they were driving,” Baja California Attorney-General Maria Elena Andrade Ramírez said.</p> <p>“When they (the victims) came up and caught them, surely, they resisted."</p> <p>“And these people, the assailants, took out a gun and first they killed the one who was putting up resistance against the vehicle theft, and then others came along and joined the fight to defend their property and their companion who had been attacked, and they killed them too.”</p> <p>However, those with intimate knowledge of the turbulent area have offered another theory about how the Robinson brothers were killed, suggesting a much more sinister alternative. </p> <p>A source who does private security work in Mexico told the New York Post that the police narrative "doesn't add up", and it is far more likely that the trio were killed by cartel members who were in search of a rival gang. </p> <p>“Basically, the reasoning of them being carjack victims gone wrong makes very little sense,” the source said. </p> <p>The source described the situation as “deeply disturbing”, while also sharing how Baja California is in the midst of a drug war. </p> <p>“These surfers were well travelled and would most likely know better than to try to fend off a truck jacking. My guess is they were mistakenly identified as a rival criminal organisation and murdered."</p> <p>“That being exposed would create an ongoing investigation that no cartel wants to deal with and would create a devastating impact on tourism in the area, which is popular with surfers and visitors from the US," the source explained.</p> <p>Three people have been arrested in connection with the deaths of the three men, although no charges have yet been laid. </p> <p>Travel website SmartTraveller notes Mexico as a dangerous destination, warning tourists of Baja California in particular, as one of multiple areas most affected by drug-related and gang violence.</p> <p>“Mexico has a high risk of violent crime, including murder, armed robbery, sexual assault and kidnapping. Don’t travel at night outside major cities. Drug-related violence is widespread,” Smartraveller warns.</p> <p>“Kidnapping and extortion are serious risks. Don’t draw attention to your money or business affairs. Only use ATMs in public spaces and during the daytime. Stop at all roadblocks, or you risk getting killed.”</p> <p>According to the New York Post, Baja California is one of Mexico’s most violent states because of organised crime gangs, and their relationships with corrupt police officers. </p> <p>Heritage Foundation Latin America expert Andres Martinez-Fernandez said corruption could easily be at play with the Perth brothers and the true nature of their deaths.</p> <p>“The case is highly unusual, as presented by Mexican police, who say the supposed robbery was done by small-time criminals who ended up destroying the vehicle they were allegedly trying to steal,” he told the Post.</p> <p>“Given the deep and widespread corruption in the Mexican police, it hard to dismiss the possibility of a cover-up, potentially to shift blame away from a powerful drug cartel. This would certainly align with the Mexican government’s efforts to downplay the severity of cartel violence in Mexico,” he added.</p> <p>Just days after they went missing, the bodies of Callum and Jake Robinson, along with Jack Carter Rhoad, were found down a well with fatal gunshot wounds to the head.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram / 7News </em></p> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-size: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </p>

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"My heart is shattered": Girlfriend's tribute to partner killed in Mexico

<p>The girlfriend of one of the Perth brothers killed in Mexico has paid tribute to her partner, just days after the news of his tragic death broke. </p> <p>Brothers Callum and Jake Robinson were travelling in Mexico with their American friend, Jack Carter Rhoad, when they went missing. </p> <p>Days after their disappearance, their bodies were found in a well and identified by their families. </p> <p>Authorities believe all three were shot in the head in a botched robbery by thieves who wanted their ute for spare parts.</p> <p>Now, Callum's girlfriend Emily Horwath has shared a heart-breaking tribute to her partner, sharing loved up photos of the couple on Instagram.</p> <p>Horwath said her partner was “one of one”, writing, “My heart is shattered into a million pieces.”</p> <p>“I don’t have the words right now. I will love you forever.”</p> <p>Emily also shared the link to a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/callum-and-jake-robinson-support-the-robinson-family?utm_campaign=p_cp+fundraiser-sidebar&amp;utm_content=anyword&amp;utm_medium=copy_link_all&amp;utm_source=customer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> page made to support the Robinson family, which has raised almost $400,000. </p> <p>Other close friends remembered the 33-year-old as “one of the most beautiful and loving souls”.</p> <p>“This world lost one of its kindest, silliest and most genuine souls this week,” one friend said.</p> <p>“Heaven welcomed the purest, kindest angel,” another said.</p> <p>A friend of Jake paid tribute to the 30-year-old, saying, “it was an honour to have known and worked with you.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

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Tragic new details emerge over Aussie brothers missing in Mexico

<p>Authorities have recovered three bodies <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #202223; font-family: Montserrat, Helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">in the Baja California region of Mexico, </span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">believed to be those of brothers Callum and Jake Robinson and their American friend who went missing while on a surfing trip. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">The Perth siblings and their American friend </span>Jack Carter Rhoad went missing last week after they failed to show up at their planned accommodations. </p> <p>Mexican Authorities believe that the brothers were attacked in a robbery gone wrong, and fought back, prompting gunfire from the alleged thieves. </p> <p>The three bodies had gunshots to the head, execution-style, and were found 10 metres down a well outside Santo Tomás about 2km away from what is believed to be the men's campsite.</p> <p>While officials are waiting for DNA results, they believe that there is a "very high probability that it is them". </p> <p>"They were in a state of decomposition. That is why we have to run the genetic tests," Baja California Attorney General Maria Elena Andrade Ramírez told <em>9News</em>.</p> <p>Police have also said that shell casings were found at the scene. </p> <p><a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/arrests-made-over-aussie-surfers-missing-in-mexico" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Two men and one woman</a> have been arrested in connection with the attempted robbery, after they were found in possession of methamphetamines and one of the missing men's phones.</p> <p>Ramírez also said evidence found along with the abandoned tents was linked to the three people being questioned about the missing foreigners.</p> <p> Local TV network Milenio reported that the suspects appeared to have stolen the surfers’ truck and some of its parts were found in another truck belonging to one of the suspects.</p> <p>"A working team (of investigators) is at the site where they were last seen, where tents and other evidence was found that could be linked to these three people we have under investigation," Ramírez said on Thursday.</p> <p>"There is a lot of important information that we can't make public."</p> <p>A fourth body was also found deeper down the well, but Ramirez confirmed that it had no connection to the investigation. </p> <p><em>Image: Nine</em></p>

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Arrests made over Aussie surfers missing in Mexico

<p>Police in Mexico have arrested two men and one woman in connection to the disappearance of two Aussie brothers who went missing while on a surfing trip. </p> <p>Jake and Callum Robinson, originally from Perth, were travelling with an American friend in Baja California in Mexico's north-west, near the city of Tijuana when they were last seen. </p> <p>The trio failed to check into their accommodation <span style="font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Segoe UI, Roboto, Helvetica Neue, Arial, sans-serif;">in the city of Rosarito, as their mother put sounded the alarm on social media to help find her boys. </span></p> <p class="paragraph_paragraph___QITb" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">"They have not contacted us since April 27 … they are travelling with another friend; an American citizen," she wrote on a local Baja Facebook group.</p> <p class="paragraph_paragraph___QITb" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">"Callum is a Type 1 diabetic so there is also a medical concern. Please contact me if you have seen them or know their whereabouts."</p> <p class="paragraph_paragraph___QITb" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">In the days after news of their disappearance broke, Baja California Attorney-General María Elena Andrade Ramírez has confirmed that three people have been arrested in connection to the case.</p> <p class="paragraph_paragraph___QITb" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">A 23-year-old woman was arrested along with two men, as one of the brother's mobile phones was found in the woman's possession. </p> <p class="paragraph_paragraph___QITb" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">"That is actually how [the three people] were found," local journalist Oliver Quintero told <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-03/missing-surfers-jake-callum-robinson-mexico/103799272" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>ABC Radio Perth</em></a>.</p> <p class="paragraph_paragraph___QITb" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">"The police were able to track the GPS on one of the phones and that's how they got the lady – she was the one who had the phone and was with the other two gentlemen."</p> <p class="paragraph_paragraph___QITb" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">The car the trio had been travelling in was also found burnt out on a ranch south of the city of Ensenada, where they had been camping out close to a popular surfing spot. </p> <p class="paragraph_paragraph___QITb" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was hopeful a local search would result in a positive outcome.</p> <p class="paragraph_paragraph___QITb" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">"We certainly hope these brothers are found safely but there is real concern about the fact that they've gone missing," he said.</p> <p class="paragraph_paragraph___QITb" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">While Baja California is one of the most dangerous areas of Mexico due to organised crime and rampant presence of drug cartels, there is no evidence that the brothers' disappearance is linked to organised crime.</p> <p class="paragraph_paragraph___QITb" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;"><em>Image credits: Facebook </em></p>

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Horrifying moment plane crashes in gender reveal stunt

<p>A gender reveal party in Mexico has ended in tragedy after the stunt plane crashed killing the pilot. </p> <p>The video, filmed by a party guest, showed an expecting couple smiling as they waited for the plane to ascend and perform the reveal. </p> <p>The pair stood in front of a sign that read: "Oh baby!" as the small plane approached them releasing pink smoke, signalling to the couple that they are having a girl. </p> <p>Tragedy struck when the pilot pulled the Piper PA-25-235 Pawnee aircraft upwards and the left wing suddenly gave way, sending aircraft into a tailspin, ultimately leading to the fatal crash. </p> <p><em>The Sun</em> reported that the attendees seemed oblivious to the crash as they continued to celebrate the gender reveal. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Pilot killed after his Piper PA-25 left wing failed at a gender reveal party in the town of San Pedro, Mexico. <a href="https://t.co/6JILK7fsGm">pic.twitter.com/6JILK7fsGm</a></p> <p>— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) <a href="https://twitter.com/aviationbrk/status/1698255432630796349?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>Later on, graphic photos of the horrendous aftermath emerged showing the 32-year-old pilot,  Luis Angel N., lying in the wreckage of the plane before he was rushed to hospital where he unfortunately passed away, according to local media reports. </p> <p>A few other photos of the wreckage has also been posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, with a few people rushing to get the pilot out. </p> <p>Footage of the gender reveal party has since gone viral, with viewers sharing their condolences to the pilot, while others slammed the "extreme gender reveals". </p> <p>"The way the camera panned back to the couple with not the slightest care in the world for the pilot is sad," one commented. </p> <p>“Why do they have to do such extreme gender reveals lately? Why can’t they just settle for something simple?” added another. </p> <p>“It looks like he over stressed the aircraft. I wonder if he was above safe manoeuvring speed? I hate to see it," wrote a third. </p> <p>A fourth person commented: “Whats the point of this at the first place? I see so many accidents and incidents doing gender reveals.”</p> <p><em>Images: Twitter</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Rescued sailor speaks after being adrift for months with his dog

<p dir="ltr">Australian sailor Timothy Shaddock has spoken up about the three months he spent lost at sea with nothing but his dog Bella.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 54-year-old was rescued by a Mexican tuna boat in the Pacific Ocean after a helicopter spotted his incapacitated catamaran 1900 km from land.</p> <p dir="ltr">When he was found by the Maria Delia crew, which is part of the Grupomar fleet, Shaddock and his dog were in a “precarious” state after surviving three months without provisions and shelter.</p> <p dir="ltr">Shaddock, who was sailing from Mexico to French Polynesia lost contact because his boat’s electronic system was damaged during rough seas.</p> <p dir="ltr">When the helicopter first discovered him, they threw him a drink and flew away before returning with the tuna trawler to rescue him. This was his first contact with humans since early May.</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite the horrifying ordeal and the fear of not being able to survive an impending hurricane, the sailor remained positive and said that he enjoyed being out at sea.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I did enjoy being at sea. I enjoyed being out there," he told reporters during a news conference in Manzanillo, Mexico on Tuesday, after he safely made it back to land.</p> <p dir="ltr">"But when things get tough out there, you know, you have to survive. And then when you get saved, you feel like you want to live. So, I'm very grateful."</p> <p dir="ltr">Shaddock said that he passed the time by fixing things and tried to stay positive by going into the water to “just enjoy” it.</p> <p dir="ltr">The sailor survived on a diet of raw fish after the storm knocked out his electronics and ability to cook.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I did a lot of fishing,” Shaddock said. “There was a lot of tuna sushi.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The emaciated sailor who survived was immediately given food, water and medication upon being rescued.</p> <p dir="ltr">In one of the photos shared by the Grupomar, a thin and bearded Shaddock was pictured in the boat's cabin with a blood pressure cuff around his arm and a huge smile on his face despite the entire ordeal.</p> <p dir="ltr">In a few others, Bella was pictured lying on the deck and receiving pats for being the bravest pup. Shaddock expressed his gratitude for his loyal companion.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Bella found me in Mexico, she’s Mexican. She is the spirit of the middle of the country, and she wouldn’t let me go,” he said. “She’s amazing, that dog is something else.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m just grateful she’s alive. She’s a lot more brave than me.”</p> <p dir="ltr">He revealed that the hardest part of surviving was the fatigue, but this incident will not stop him from going into the ocean in the future.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’ll always be in the water, I don’t know how far out in the ocean I’ll be,” he said.</p> <p><em>Images: ABC News/ 9news/ Facebook</em></p>

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"We love each other": Mayor marries reptile in stunning ceremony

<p dir="ltr">Love comes when you least expect it and for one mayor in the small town of San Pedro Huamelula, Mexico, his match caiman he never looked back.</p> <p dir="ltr">Victor Hugo Sosa, the mayor of the town has said “I do” to his “princess girl”, a caiman named Alicia Adriana, and his wedding speech is one for the books.</p> <p dir="ltr">'I accept responsibility because we love each other. That is what is important. You can't have a marriage without love... I yield to marriage with the princess girl,' he vowed.</p> <p dir="ltr">Onlookers clapped and danced in celebration as the mayor kissed and embraced his new bride who was dressed in a white gown and veil.</p> <p dir="ltr">The ceremony is part of a 230-year tradition which symbolises the joining of humans with the divine, as she is thought to be a deity representing mother earth.</p> <p dir="ltr">It also commemorates the day when two Indigenous groups came to peace- with the marriage between a Chontal king, now represented by the mayor, and a princess girl of the Huave Indigenous group, now represented by the female alligator.</p> <p dir="ltr">The age-old ritual involves the reptile being taken house to house before the wedding so that residents can take their turn dancing with it.</p> <p dir="ltr">She is later on changed into her wedding dress, which Olivia Perez was in charge of during this ceremony.</p> <p dir="ltr">"For us, the crocodile is important because she is the princess who comes to bring us water, a good harvest, rains, so that God the Almighty Father sends us food, fish, corn, the harvest," she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">After the wedding, the mayor dances with his bride to traditional music.</p> <p dir="ltr">Local fishermen would also take part in the ritual and toss their nets on the ground in hopes that their marriage would bring “'good fishing, so that there is prosperity, equilibrium and ways to live in peace.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty, Oaxaca Informa10 Twitter</em></p>

Relationships

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Couple die in hot air balloon tragedy

<p>A hot air balloon disaster above Mexico City has claimed the lives of one couple, and put their seriously injured daughter in hospital, after the basket they were travelling in caught fire.</p> <p>According to <em>The Daily Mail</em>, 50-year-old Jose Nolasco and his 38-year-old wife Viridiana Becerril - who called the nearby city of Cuajimalpa de Morelos home - were confirmed by Mexican authorities as the fatalities of the accident. </p> <p>The tragic incident was caught on camera by people who had been nearby, and clips have since surfaced online of the moments the basket burst into flame, and the plunge of desperate passengers falling - or trying to escape - from the balloon. </p> <p>It is believed that the couple’s daughter - Regina Itzani - was one of such occupants, and she is expected to survive despite suffering a broken arm and second-degree burns. </p> <p>Authorities have been unable to confirm whether or not a pilot was also onboard at the time of the tragedy - though some believe them to have been a second figure plummeting from the balloon - which occurred while the craft was flying over the pre-Hispanic site of Teotihuacan, north of the city. The location is considered to be a popular one for tourists and hot air balloon rides.</p> <p>The footage also shows the balloon deflating as the flames threaten to overtake everything, with one onlooker declaring in Spanish that people are falling, while the craft itself appears to still be tethered to the ground. Authorities have not yet confirmed that it was - and if so, why.</p> <p>As for why the family were taking the trip, social media posts have suggested that Regina and Jose had actually organised the whole experience for Viridiana’s birthday. </p> <p>“It was the birthday of my daughter Viridiana, Regina’s mum,” Regina’s mother, Reyna Gloria Sarmiento, explained to local reporters, “and they had prepared this ride as a surprise for her.”</p> <p>She also noted that her granddaughter was in a stable condition in hospital, and that she was conscious, before sharing that Regina had been able to share one final hug with her parents before making her escape from the balloon’s basket. </p> <p>Authorities are investigating the fatal incident, and although initial reports suggest the fire could be connected to a fault with the fuel storage system on the balloon, nothing has been confirmed. </p> <p>Meanwhile, officials in the family’s hometown, have shared their condolences for the loss, releasing a statement that reads “we send our condolences to the family, friends and acquaintances of Jose Nolasco and Viridiana Becerril who died in the hot air balloon tragedy in Teotihuacan,' they shared Sunday.</p> <p>“Our solidarity and prayers are with Regina and we wish her a speedy recovery.”</p> <p><em>Images: Twitter</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Nick Kyrgios' girlfriend hospitalised

<p>Costeen Hatzi, the girlfriend of tennis star Nick Kyrgios, has opened about her dramatic health scare that saw her in hospital when she was in Mexico last month.</p> <p>Taking to Instagram, Hatzi shared a picture of herself in a hospital bed, revealing she had a kidney infection calling the episode “scary”.</p> <p>In an Instagram Q&amp;A, Hatzi said: “I was so sick in hospital I didn’t get to see much of Mexico! “I had a fever on the flight and ended up going straight to emergency when we landed. I had a kidney infection.”</p> <p>Kyrgios was in Mexico in November for an event called the Tennis Showdown.</p> <p>While Hatzi admitted to being quite concerned about her kidney infection, there was a silver lining about being stuck in a Mexico hospital.</p> <p>“Luckily the tennis association and hospital staff were so extremely caring and helpful. But it was a little scary being so sick in a whole different country.</p> <p>“The tacos were amazing though.”</p> <p>She also said since becoming the tennis star’s partner she had been a “little overwhelmed” by the constant travelling. The couple have constantly been in the spotlight since they first became an item around 12 months ago.</p> <p>Kyrgios has often spoken about Hatzi and how he is now happier than he has ever been in a relationship.</p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

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Missing cruise passenger rescued after over 15 hours in ocean

<p dir="ltr">A passenger on a Carnival Valor cruise ship has been rescued by the US Coast Guard after spending more than 15 hours in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 28-year-old was with his sister at the ship’s bar on the night of Wednesday, November 23, but didn’t return after he left to use the toilet.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to a statement from Carnival, the sister reported her brother missing the following day.</p> <p dir="ltr">Another passenger on the cruise, Mike Anderson, told <em>CNN </em>that announcements were made on the ship and people “noticed security starting to search the boat with a photo of the missing (passenger) in their phones”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Anderson said passengers were later told their arrival to their port of call in Cozumel, Mexico, was delayed, while his wife said one of the pools was drained.</p> <p dir="ltr">After a lengthy search, the man was finally spotted about 30 kilometres off the coast of Louisiana on Thursday night by rescue crews that had been scouring a 320-kilometre area along the gulf.</p> <p dir="ltr">Lieutenant Seth Gross of the US Coast Guard said the man may have been in the water for over 15 hours, the “absolute longest that I’ve heard about”.</p> <p dir="ltr">He said that “all available resources” were launched to locate the man, including a small boat from Florida, a New Orleans-based helicopter, and planes from Florida and Alabama.</p> <p dir="ltr">The man was hoisted onto the helicopter and was responsive.</p> <p dir="ltr">"He was able to identify his name, confirmed that he was the individual that fell overboard," Lieutenant Gross told <em>CNN </em>on Friday, adding that the man had signs of “hypothermia, shock and dehydration” but could walk and talk.</p> <p dir="ltr">"The fact that he was able to keep himself afloat and above the surface of the water for such an extended period of time, it's just something you can't take for granted and certainly something that'll stick with me forever," Lieutenant Gross added, describing it as “just one of those Thanksgiving miracles”.</p> <p dir="ltr">He said that the case was unlike anything he had seen in his 17-year career with the Coast Guard and “could have had a much more difficult ending”.</p> <p dir="ltr">"It took a total team effort from Coast Guard watchstanders, response crews, and our professional maritime partners operating in the Gulf of Mexico to locate the missing individual and get him to safety,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">While the man has been reported to be in a stable condition, it is still unclear how or when he fell into the water.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-8ec41e9a-7fff-4d90-5291-7ba679087764"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Cruising

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As countries ranging from Indonesia to Mexico aim to attract digital nomads, locals say ‘not so fast’

<p>Should your community welcome <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/digital%20nomad">digital nomads</a> – individuals who work remotely, allowing them freedom to bounce from country to country?</p> <p><a href="https://global.oup.com/academic/product/digital-nomads-9780190931780?cc=us&amp;lang=en&amp;">Our research</a> has found that workers are eager to embrace the flexibility of not being tied to an office. And after experiencing economic losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, cities and countries are concocting ways to entice visitors.</p> <p>One idea involves stretching the meaning of tourism to include remote workers.</p> <p>Today, a growing number of countries offer so-called “<a href="https://nomadgirl.co/countries-with-digital-nomad-visas/">digital nomad visas</a>.” These visas allow longer stays for remote workers and provide clarity about allowable work activities. For example, officials in Bali, Indonesia, are looking to formalize a process for remote workers to procure visas – “<a href="https://coconuts.co/bali/features/the-faster-the-better-bali-tourism-agency-head-tjokorda-bagus-pemayun-talks-digital-nomad-visa-plans-and-what-it-means-for-the-island/">the faster, the better</a>,” as the head of the island’s tourism agency put it.</p> <p>Yet pushback from locals in cities ranging <a href="https://time.com/6072062/barcelona-tourism-residents-covid/">from Barcelona</a> to <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/07/28/mexico-city-residents-angered-by-influx-of-americans-speaking-english-gentrifying-area-report/">Mexico City</a> has made it clear that there are costs and benefits to an influx of remote workers. </p> <p>As we explain in our new book, “Digital Nomads: In Search of Freedom, Community, and Meaningful Work in the New Economy,” the trend of “work tourism” <a href="https://global.oup.com/academic/product/digital-nomads-9780190931780?cc=us&amp;lang=en&amp;">comes with a host of drawbacks</a>.</p> <h2>Wearing out their welcome</h2> <p>For as long as there’s been tourism, locals have griped about the outsiders who come and go. These travelers are usually a welcome boost to the economy – <a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/overtourism">up to a point</a>. They can also wear out their welcome. </p> <p>Perhaps the classic example is <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-06-25/venice-reinventing-itself-as-sustainable-tourism-capital">Venice</a>, where high numbers of tourists stress the canal-filled city’s fragile infrastructure.</p> <p>In the U.S., New Jersey shore residents have long used the term “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoobie">shoobies</a>” to denigrate the annual throng of short-term summer tourists. In our research on digital nomads in Bali, locals referred to digital nomads and other tourists as “bules” – a word that roughly translates as “foreigners.”</p> <p>Generally the terms are used to express minor annoyance over crowds and increased traffic. But conventional tourists come and go – their stays usually range from a couple of nights to a couple of weeks. Remote workers stay anywhere from weeks to months – or longer. They spend more time using places and resources traditionally dedicated to the local residents. This raises the chances that outsiders become a grating presence. </p> <p>Excessive numbers of visitors can also raise sustainability concerns, as waves of tourists tax the environment and infrastructure of many destinations. Many of Bali’s beautiful rice fields and surrounding lush forests, for example, are being converted into hotels and villas to serve tourism.</p> <h2>Digital nomads look to stretch their dollars</h2> <p>Whether they’re lazing around or plugging away on their laptops, privileged tourists ultimately change the economics and demographics of an area. </p> <p>Their buying power increases costs and displaces residents, while traditional businesses make way for ones that cater to their tastes. <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-food-became-the-perfect-beachhead-for-gentrification-167761">Where once there was a neighborhood food stand</a>, now there’s an upscale cafe. </p> <p>This dynamic is only exacerbated by long-term tourists. Services like VRBO and Airbnb make it easy for digital nomads to rent apartments for weeks or months at a time, and <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/business-45083954">people around the world are increasingly alarmed</a> at how quickly such rentals can change the affordability and character of a place.</p> <p>Living a vacation lifestyle on a long-term basis implies a need to choose lower-cost destinations. This means that remote workers may particularly contribute to gentrification as they seek out places where their dollars go furthest.</p> <p>In <a href="https://travelnoire.com/digital-nomads-see-why-mexicans-are-fed-up-with-them">Mexico City</a>, residents fear displacement by remote workers able to pay higher rents. In response to calls to choose Mexico City as a remote working destination, one local succinctly expressed opposition: “<a href="https://www.vox.com/the-goods/22999722/mexico-city-pandemic-remote-work-gentrification">Please don’t</a>.”</p> <p>And in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/mar/13/new-orleans-airbnb-treme-short-term-rentals">New Orleans</a>, almost half of all properties in the historic <a href="https://nola.curbed.com/2018/5/16/17356630/treme-new-orleans-neighborhood-history-pictures">Tremé district</a> – one of the oldest Black neighborhoods in the U.S. – have been converted to short-term rentals, displacing longtime residents.</p> <h2>Culture becomes commodified</h2> <p><a href="https://suitcasemag.com/articles/neocolonial-tourism">Neocolonialism</a> in tourism refers to the way processes such as overtourism and gentrification create a power imbalance that favors newcomers and erodes local ways of life. </p> <p>“There’s a distinction between people who want to learn about the place they are in and those who just like it because it’s cheap,” one digital nomad living in Mexico City <a href="https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2022-07-27/americans-are-flooding-mexico-city-some-mexicans-want-them-to-go-home">recently told the Los Angeles Times</a>. “I’ve met a number of people who don’t really care that they’re in Mexico, they just care that it’s cheap.”</p> <p>Bali, where <a href="https://www.aseantoday.com/2020/10/balis-economy-struggles-to-survive-without-tourists/">as much as 80%</a> of the island’s economy is estimated to be affected by tourism, offers a stark example. </p> <p>People come to Bali to be immersed in the culture’s spiritual rituals, art, nature and dance. But there’s also resentment over yoga lovers, resortgoers and digital nomads “taking over” the island. And some locals come to see the tourism in and around temples and rituals as the transformation of something cherished – the nuanced and spiritual aspects of their culture – into experiences to be bought and sold. </p> <p>For instance, Balinese dance performances are huge tourist draws and are even featured in global promotions for tourism on the island. Yet these performances also have cultural and spiritual meaning, and the impact of tourism on these aspects of dance is <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/37628994_Authenticity_and_commodification_of_Balinese_dance_performances">debated even among performers</a>.</p> <p>So there is inevitably friction, which can be seen in the high levels of <a href="https://coconuts.co/bali/features/living-in-a-petty-crimes-paradise-balis-unreported-thefts-and-muggings/">petty crime</a>against foreigners. Neocolonialism can also pit people from the same country or culture against one another. For example, <a href="https://www.travelmole.com/news/bali-taxi-wars-flare-again/">conflicts arise</a> between local Balinese taxi cooperatives and taxi services that employ drivers from other parts of Indonesia. </p> <p>Although remote employees still make up a small portion of the overall tourist population, their work-related needs and longer stays mean they’re more likely to use services and places frequented by locals.</p> <p>Whether this leads digital nomads to be welcomed or scorned likely depends on both government policies and tourists’ behavior. </p> <p>Will governments take measures such as protecting locals from mass evictions, or will landlords’ desire for higher rents prevail? Will guests live lightly and blend in, trying to learn the local language and culture? Or will they simply focus on working hard and playing harder? </p> <p>As remote work reaches an unprecedented scale, the answers to such questions may determine whether “<a href="https://coconuts.co/bali/features/the-faster-the-better-bali-tourism-agency-head-tjokorda-bagus-pemayun-talks-digital-nomad-visa-plans-and-what-it-means-for-the-island/">the faster, the better</a>” attitude toward digital nomad visas and other incentives continues.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/as-countries-ranging-from-indonesia-to-mexico-aim-to-attract-digital-nomads-locals-say-not-so-fast-189283" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.</em></p>

Travel Tips

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Mayan city collapse over 500 years ago linked to drought and social instability

<p>The Mayan civilisation was among the most advanced on Earth, based in Central America. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing even before the arrival of Europeans in the 16th century.</p> <p>Mayapán, 40km to the south-east of the modern city of Merida, in Mexico, was the political and cultural capital of the Maya in the Yucatán peninsula with thousands of buildings and a population of 15,000-17,000 during the city’s peak. Emerging in 1200CE, the city was eventually abandoned in 1450CE after its despotic rulers from the house of Cocom were overthrown.</p> <p>New research published in Nature Communications suggests that the civil unrest which led to the collapse of Mayapán emerged as a result of climatic changes.</p> <p>The interdisciplinary team included researchers from Australia’s University of New South Wales, the University of California in the US and the University of Cambridge in the UK. Their findings shed light on the impact of changes in the climate on societies, making use of records from the city from before the Colonial Period.</p> <p>A prolonged drought, the authors suggest, lasting between 1400 and 1450CE escalated existing social tensions in the city. The effects of the drought on food availability in particular provided the impetus for the civil conflict which eventually led to the city’s abandonment.</p> <p>“Our data indicate that institutional collapse occurred in the environmental context of drought and conflict within the city,” the authors explain. “Vulnerabilities of this coupled natural-social system existed because of the strong reliance on rain-fed maize agriculture, lack of centralised long-term grain storage, minimal opportunities for irrigation, and a sociopolitical system led by elite families with competing political interests, from different parts of the Yucatán Peninsula. We argue that long-term, climate-caused hardships provoked restive tensions that were fanned by political actors whose actions ultimately culminated in political violence more than once at Mayapán.”</p> <p>In addition to looking at the climate (political and environmental) during the collapse of Mayapán, the researchers also looked directly at human remains found in the ancient city.</p> <p>“Direct radiocarbon dates and mitochrondrial DNA sequences from the remains of individuals in the city’s final mass grave suggest they were family members of the heads of state (the Cocoms), ironically and meaningfully laid to rest at the base of the Temple of K’uk’ulkan, the iconic principal temple and ritual centtr of Mayapán.”</p> <p>The winds of revolution, the authors argue, were fanned by political actors while conditions were worsening for the city’s inhabitants. Chief leaders of the change in political power were the members of the Xiu family house.</p> <p>“Our results suggest that rivalry among governing elites at Mayapán materialised into action in the context of more frequent and/or severe droughts. Comparatively, such climate challenges present a range of opportunities for human actors, from the development of innovative adaptations to the stoking of revolution. These climate hardships and ensuing food shortages would have undermined the city’s economic base and enabled the Xiu-led usurpation. The unifying and resilient institutions that held the Mayapán state together until approximately 1450CE were ultimately eroded, the confederation dissolved, and the city largely abandoned,” they explain.</p> <p>But the researchers also note the ability of the Maya to persist despite their difficulties. Those that abandoned Mayapan went to other cities, towns and villages. “Yet economic, social, and religious traditions persevered until the onset of Spanish rule, despite the reduced scale of political units, attesting to a resilient system of human-environmental adaptations.”</p> <p>Such stories from human history provide food for thought as we face our own self-inflicted climate crisis which is exacerbating hardship for many millions around the world.</p> <p>The authors conclude: “Our transdisciplinary work highlights the importance of understanding the complex relationships between natural and social systems, especially when evaluating the role of climate change in exacerbating internal political tensions and factionalism in areas where drought leads to food insecurity.”</p> <p><strong><span id="docs-internal-guid-2bf462a3-7fff-8906-6d44-3d64cbb8ab38">This article originally appeared on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/history/mayan-city-collapse-drought/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Evrim Yazgin.</span></strong></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Inside the world’s most expensive Airbnb

<p dir="ltr">If you are in the market for the most luxurious holiday experience you could possibly imagine, then look no further than Casa Tau. </p> <p dir="ltr">The resort is located on the white sandy beaches of Mexico, and will set you back $20,750AUD per night, or $234,800 per week. </p> <p dir="ltr">The luxe villa has recently been revealed as the world’s most expensive Airbnb, with an extraordinary list of amenities to justify the hefty price tag. </p> <p dir="ltr">According to the <a href="https://www.airbnb.com.au/luxury/listing/30417501?source_impression_id=p3_1646011614_0Fvm46BCI%2BOjEwCp&amp;guests=11&amp;adults=11&amp;check_in=2022-06-26&amp;check_out=2022-07-03">online listing</a>, the resort boasts 12 bedrooms and 12 bathrooms across the main villa and two adjoining guest houses. </p> <p dir="ltr">On top of all the regular hotel luxuries such as coffee machines, full kitchen, smart TVs and many more, Casa Tau comes with a heated infinity pool, spa, a full serviced bar, a stone pizza oven and beach volleyball area. </p> <p dir="ltr">The extraordinary price of Casa Tau also includes 8 housekeeping staff, 2 chefs, 8 butlers and 2 concierges to make sure your every need is met during your stay. </p> <p dir="ltr">The villa has private beach access to the picturesque Mexican ocean and all the adjoining beach clubs and golf courses. </p> <p dir="ltr">Built in December 2018, the villa is on the exclusive Punta Mita 600-hectare peninsula on the southwest coast of Mexico, which is a popular holiday destination for many celebrities. </p> <p dir="ltr">With all these high-end finishes and opulent amenities, it’s no wonder this slice of paradise comes at such a steep cost. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Airbnb</em></p>

International Travel

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Rowdy passengers stranded in Mexico by airlines

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A group of rowdy travellers have been stranded in the Mexican city of Cancun after their in-flight conduct saw several airlines refuse to take them home. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The group flew from Montreal, Canada, on December 30th onboard a charter flight organised by “exclusive private group” 111 Private Club. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Videos have since emerged from the party that took place in the sky, showing travellers drinking, smoking and dancing in the aisles, which has caused outrage in Canada. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The incident is being investigated by Transport Canada, with the passengers each facing hefty fines. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was "extremely frustrated" with the incident.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"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 recent briefing.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Passengers flying from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canada?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canada</a> to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cancun?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cancun</a> take to partying during flight 🃏 <a href="https://t.co/BhxPax28QH">pic.twitter.com/BhxPax28QH</a></p> — Public Outsider (@publicoutsider) <a href="https://twitter.com/publicoutsider/status/1479232708479967233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2022</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Event organiser and TripleOne president James William Awad took to his blog after the videos from the plane went viral, saying, "I understand why many fellow citizens are upset about the current situation."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The airline has cancelled the group’s return flight, which was scheduled for January 5th, because the travellers did not adhere to the terms outlined by the airline. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Both Air Canada and Air Transat have refused to fly the group back to Canada, citing the safety of their crew and other passengers had to be taken into account. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Transport Canada said that each of the travellers could face fines of up to $5,000 Canadian dollars for their behaviour on the aircraft, while also facing the risk of jail time if any traveller is caught providing false information on their return to Canada. </span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credits: Instagram</span></em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Farmer rescues “five little baby girls” found crying, abandoned

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A Texan farmer made a shocking discovery on his ranch near the southern border with Mexico.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Five abandoned girls from Honduras and Guatemala were reportedly found on Sunday, May 9 (local time) by farmer Jimmy Hobbs while he was “doing the rounds of his property”, according to local congressman Tony Gonzales.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“While we thank God they were found alive, these tragic scenes are happening more and more,” he tweeted.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Take a good hard look at the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BidenBorderCrisis?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BidenBorderCrisis</a> These young girls were found outside a ranch near Quemado, Texas in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TX23?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TX23</a>. The Del Rio Sector border patrol tell me they are uninjured, healthy, and in good spirits. 🙏 <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> enough is enough let’s work together solve this crisis. <a href="https://t.co/mt5P7ysN9g">pic.twitter.com/mt5P7ysN9g</a></p> — Tony Gonzales (@TonyGonzales4TX) <a href="https://twitter.com/TonyGonzales4TX/status/1391529589256695810?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a video posted on social media, Mr Hobbs described the moment he found the girls.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“About 8.30 in the morning, just driving along and then all of a sudden I see them, laying there, right beside the bank of the river,” he said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Five little baby girls, all by themselves - hungry, crying, one didn’t have any clothes on. One wasn’t even old enough to walk.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Three of the girls are reportedly from Honduras, aged seven, three, and two, while the other two, aged five and 11-months-old, are from Guatemala.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Hobbs said he called Border Patrol and gave the girls something to eat and drink.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I don’t think they would have made it if I hadn’t found them,” he told congressman Gonzales.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Unaccompanied children are often sent across the border with the hope they can stay in the US following Biden’s winding back of some of the harsher border policies of the Trump administration.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Unaccompanied children have been exempted from expulsion under President Biden, allowing them to stay in America while pursuing asylum claims.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The number of unaccompanied children encountered on the US-Mexico border has also been reduced from an all-time high in March, according to authorities, with more adults found coming without families.</span></p> <p><strong>Image credit: Tony Gonzales / Twitter</strong></p>

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