Mexico has taken into custody more than 300 Central American men, women, and children who were being smuggled to the United States without water or food, officials said Saturday.

The largest group of 198 people crammed into the bottom of a truck was found in Tamaulipas in the northeast, just below the US state of Texas, Mexican immigration enforcement officials said.

The migrants from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador &quot;were travelling in grossly overcrowded conditions without enough ventilation, food or water,&quot; they said in a statement.

Among the many child migrants, 55 were with their parents or relatives, while 24 were making the dangerous journey alone. Just a week ago, another 174 Central Americans were caught in operations in the Mexican states of Coahuila and Tamaulipas.

Amnesty International recently reported that Mexico deports thousands of Central Americans without taking into account their potential rights to treatment as refugees, such as when they are persecuted by organized crime in their home countries.

The so-called Northern Triangle countries of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras are among the most violent parts of the world outside of war zones.

They are also a major source of migrants flowing into the United States, where President Donald Trump wants to clamp down on both legal and illegal migration.

Among the many child migrants, 55 were with their parents or relatives, while 24 were making the dangerous journey alone

Mexico has taken into custody more than 300 Central American men, women, and children who were being smuggled to the United States without water or food, officials said Saturday. The largest group of 198 people crammed into the bottom of a truck was found in Tamaulipas in the northeast, just below the US state of Texas, Mexican immigration enforcement officials said. The migrants from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador "were travelling in grossly overcrowded conditions without enough ventilation, food or water," they said in a statement. Among the many child migrants, 55 were with their parents or relatives, while 24 were making the dangerous journey alone. Just a week ago, another 174 Central Americans were caught in operations in the Mexican states of Coahuila and Tamaulipas. Amnesty International recently reported that Mexico deports thousands of Central Americans without taking into account their potential rights to treatment as refugees, such as when they are persecuted by organized crime in their home countries. The so-called Northern Triangle countries of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras are among the most violent parts of the world outside of war zones. They are also a major source of migrants flowing into the United States, where President Donald Trump wants to clamp down on both legal and illegal migration.

US-bound migrants 'lacked food and water', freed in Mexico

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/modi-to-inaugurate-metros-magenta-line-today-with-yogi-adityanath-delhi-cm-kejriwal-not-invited-27625" target="_blank">PM&nbsp;Modi to inaugurate Metro&#39;s Magenta Line today with Yogi Adityanath, Delhi CM Kejriwal not invited</a>

The new 12.64-km route -- from Delhi&#39;s Kalkaji Mandir to Noida&#39;s Botanical Garden -- is expected to cut travel time from south Delhi to Noida by as much as 40 minutes.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/kulbhushan-jadhav-to-meet-his-wife-mother-later-today-27627">Kulbhushan Jadhav to meet wife, mother today</a>

Jadhav faces alleged charges of espionage, terrorist and sabotage activities.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rk-nagar-win-for-dinakaran-aiadmk-alleges-tacit-understanding-with-dmk-27622">RK Nagar win for Dinakaran: AIADMK alleges &#39;tacit understanding&#39; with DMK</a>

TTV Dhinakaran, the nephew of jailed leader VK Sasikala, trounced his nearest rival E Madhusudhanan of the ruling AIADMK by over 40,000 votes.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/pope-pleads-for-migrants-at-christmas-mass-27619">Pope pleads for migrants &#39;driven from their land&#39; by leaders willing to shed &#39;innocent blood&#39;</a>

Francis was speaking at his Christmas eve mass at Saint Peter&#39;s Basilica in the Vatican.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/president-morales-decides-to-move-guatemalas-embassy-to-jerusalem-27617">Guatemala to move embassy to Jerusalem</a>

Jimmy Morales, president of Guatemala, has become the first leader to back US President Donald Trump&#39;s change of stance on Jerusalem.

&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Delhi Metro's Magenta Line today

PM Modi to inaugurate Metro's Magenta Line today with Yogi Adityanath, Delhi CM Kejriwal not invited The new 12.64-km route -- from Delhi's Kalkaji Mandir to Noida's Botanical Garden -- is expected to cut travel time from south Delhi to Noida by as much as 40 minutes. Kulbhushan Jadhav to meet wife, mother today Jadhav faces alleged charges of espionage, terrorist and sabotage activities. RK Nagar win for Dinakaran: AIADMK alleges 'tacit understanding' with DMK TTV Dhinakaran, the nephew of jailed leader VK Sasikala, trounced his nearest rival E Madhusudhanan of the ruling AIADMK by over 40,000 votes. Pope pleads for migrants 'driven from their land' by leaders willing to shed 'innocent blood' Francis was speaking at his Christmas eve mass at Saint Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. Guatemala to move embassy to Jerusalem Jimmy Morales, president of Guatemala, has become the first leader to back US President Donald Trump's change of stance on Jerusalem.

WION morning news brief, December 25, 2017

Jimmy Morales, president of Guatemala, has become the first leader to back US President Donald Trump&#39;s change of stance on the holy city of Jerusalem.&nbsp;

Under Morales&#39; leadership, Guatemala is all set to move its embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel to Jerusalem.&nbsp;

The move came shortly after Morales spoke to the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

&quot;One of the most important topics was the return of Guatemala&#39;s embassy to Jerusalem,&quot; Morales shared on his Facebook page. &nbsp;

Necessary instructions have already been given to the foreign ministry to ensure speedy and seamless shift of the embassy, Morales noted.&nbsp;

Guatemala had last week voted against the UN resolution rejecting Trump&#39;s decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem.&nbsp;

(With inputs from AFP)&nbsp;

The announcement came shortly after Guatemala President Jimmy Morales spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Jimmy Morales, president of Guatemala, has become the first leader to back US President Donald Trump's change of stance on the holy city of Jerusalem. Under Morales' leadership, Guatemala is all set to move its embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel to Jerusalem. The move came shortly after Morales spoke to the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. "One of the most important topics was the return of Guatemala's embassy to Jerusalem," Morales shared on his Facebook page. Necessary instructions have already been given to the foreign ministry to ensure speedy and seamless shift of the embassy, Morales noted. Guatemala had last week voted against the UN resolution rejecting Trump's decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem. (With inputs from AFP)

Following Trump's lead, Guatemala to move embassy to Jerusalem

At least 19 teeange girls died after a shelter home in Guatemala caught fire during a fight between the inmates and the staff accused of sexual abuse and other maltreatment.

The victims were between the age of 14 and 17.&nbsp;

Another 25 people suffered burns, according to the firefighting service. The injured were taken to hospitals in Guatemala city.

The fire engulfed the facility when some of the inmates set ablaze a mattress,&nbsp;said Abner Paredes, a prosecutor defending children&#39;s rights.

The fire broke out in the adolescent female wing of the state-run Virgin of the Assumption Safe Home.&nbsp;

The facility, built in 2006, is located in San Jose Pinula, a village 10 kilometers (six miles) east of the capital Guatemala City.

A former employee of the facility, Angel Cardenas, said the packed centre was a ticking time bomb and the tragedy was something that &quot;was to be expected&quot;.

The facility was designed to have 400 inmates but was home to nearly double that number.

At the entrance of the facility, whose imposing, barbed wire-topped concrete wall showed no sign of the drama inside, crying relatives crowded the entrance in search of news of the children kept there. Police blocked access to them and to journalists.

A few survivors were seen hugging kin on the pine tree-lined road. But many other family members were left with no news.

&quot;They don&#39;t want to give any information at all,&quot; stormed Rosa Aguirre, a 22-year-old street vendor who had rushed from the capital to see if her two sisters, aged 13 and 15, and her 17-year-old brother were among the casualties.

She said many frustrated people had gone to the hospitals to see if their relatives were there.

Aguirre said she, too, had lodged complaints about how the center&#39;s charges were treated, but received no attention.&nbsp;

She said brawls broke out often, and her brother was sometimes put in a dark isolation cell nicknamed the &quot;chicken coop.&quot; She said she had tried in vain to be given custody of her siblings after their mother&#39;s death four months ago.

Guatemalan media said the shelters&#39; occupants had revolted overnight and into Wednesday against alleged sexual abuse by staff, and over poor food and conditions.

The United Nations children&#39;s fund UNICEF called the fire and the deaths a &quot;tragedy.&quot; It added in a Twitter post that &quot;these children and adolescents must be protected.&quot;

The center, supervised by state authorities, hosts minors under age 18 who are victims of domestic violence or found living on the street.&nbsp;

They are sent there by court order and are under the responsibility of the social welfare ministry.

The shelter has been the target of multiple complaints alleging abuse. Dozens of children have run away in the past year, reportedly to escape ill treatment inside.

(WION with inputs from AFP)

The children's shelter was engulfed in fire following an overnight rebellion against staff accused of sexual abuse

At least 19 teeange girls died after a shelter home in Guatemala caught fire during a fight between the inmates and the staff accused of sexual abuse and other maltreatment. The victims were between the age of 14 and 17. Another 25 people suffered burns, according to the firefighting service. The injured were taken to hospitals in Guatemala city. The fire engulfed the facility when some of the inmates set ablaze a mattress, said Abner Paredes, a prosecutor defending children's rights. The fire broke out in the adolescent female wing of the state-run Virgin of the Assumption Safe Home. The facility, built in 2006, is located in San Jose Pinula, a village 10 kilometers (six miles) east of the capital Guatemala City. A former employee of the facility, Angel Cardenas, said the packed centre was a ticking time bomb and the tragedy was something that "was to be expected". The facility was designed to have 400 inmates but was home to nearly double that number. At the entrance of the facility, whose imposing, barbed wire-topped concrete wall showed no sign of the drama inside, crying relatives crowded the entrance in search of news of the children kept there. Police blocked access to them and to journalists. A few survivors were seen hugging kin on the pine tree-lined road. But many other family members were left with no news. "They don't want to give any information at all," stormed Rosa Aguirre, a 22-year-old street vendor who had rushed from the capital to see if her two sisters, aged 13 and 15, and her 17-year-old brother were among the casualties. She said many frustrated people had gone to the hospitals to see if their relatives were there. Aguirre said she, too, had lodged complaints about how the center's charges were treated, but received no attention. She said brawls broke out often, and her brother was sometimes put in a dark isolation cell nicknamed the "chicken coop." She said she had tried in vain to be given custody of her siblings after their mother's death four months ago. Guatemalan media said the shelters' occupants had revolted overnight and into Wednesday against alleged sexual abuse by staff, and over poor food and conditions. The United Nations children's fund UNICEF called the fire and the deaths a "tragedy." It added in a Twitter post that "these children and adolescents must be protected." The center, supervised by state authorities, hosts minors under age 18 who are victims of domestic violence or found living on the street. They are sent there by court order and are under the responsibility of the social welfare ministry. The shelter has been the target of multiple complaints alleging abuse. Dozens of children have run away in the past year, reportedly to escape ill treatment inside. (WION with inputs from AFP)

At least 20 girls die in overcrowded Guatemala shelter blaze

The nations,?together known as the Northern Triangle, are plagued by?gangs dealing in murder, extortion and drugs

Presidents of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras have announced the formation of a joint force to combat gangs and organised crime groups that have made their countries among the most dangerous in the world. ? The initiative by the three Central American presidents will begin to be implemented in September, Salvadoran President Salvador S?nchez Cer?n told a news conference after a meeting with his counterparts in his capital city. A joint team of police and soldiers from the three countries will patrol the border areas to check arms and drug smuggling, and also the movement of criminals and gang members, he said. The nations, together known as the Northern Triangle, are plagued by gangs dealing in murder, extortion and drugs. Collectively, there were 17,422 murders in the three countries last year and the homicide rate in each nation is topped only by countries engulfed in war. S?nchez Cer?n, Guatemala's Jimmy Morales and Honduras’ Juan Orlando Hernandez also agreed to keep exchanging intelligence on criminal groups and to speed the arrest and extradition between their countries of wanted suspects. "We are fighting for the most fundamental of human rights, the right to life, the right to liberty, the right to enjoy the fruits one one`s honest labours," Hernandez said. (AFP)

El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras form anti-gang force

Guatemala&#39;s former football chief pleaded guilty in New York on Friday to racketeering and wire fraud conspiracies in connection with the unprecedented FIFA corruption scandal rocking world soccer. 
 
Brayan Jimenez, 62, negotiated and accepted bribes worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in awarding media and marketing rights for his country&#39;s qualifier matches for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, prosecutors said. 
 
Jimenez, a former member of FIFA&#39;s Committee for Fair Play and Social Responsibility, agreed to forfeit $35,000. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years for each count when sentenced, US officials said. 
 
Jimenez, who was detained in January in a disheveled and intoxicated state in a posh suburb of Guatemala City, was extradited to the United States in March. 
 
He initially pleaded not guilty to all charges, which included corruption, money laundering, fraud and embezzlement, and was placed under house arrest after posting a $1.5 million bond, $75,000 of it in cash. 
 
US prosecutors in New York have indicted 40 football and sports marketing executives, including Jimenez, over allegedly receiving tens of millions of bribes and kickbacks in the largest corruption scandal in the history of soccer. 
 
More than a third have since pleaded guilty. None have yet been formally sentenced and a date is still pending to put the rest on trial. 
 
(AFP)

Brayan Jimenez agreed to forfeit $35,000 and faces a maximum sentence for 20 years for each count. He had initially pleaded not guilty

Guatemala's former football chief pleaded guilty in New York on Friday to racketeering and wire fraud conspiracies in connection with the unprecedented FIFA corruption scandal rocking world soccer. Brayan Jimenez, 62, negotiated and accepted bribes worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in awarding media and marketing rights for his country's qualifier matches for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, prosecutors said. Jimenez, a former member of FIFA's Committee for Fair Play and Social Responsibility, agreed to forfeit $35,000. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years for each count when sentenced, US officials said. Jimenez, who was detained in January in a disheveled and intoxicated state in a posh suburb of Guatemala City, was extradited to the United States in March. He initially pleaded not guilty to all charges, which included corruption, money laundering, fraud and embezzlement, and was placed under house arrest after posting a $1.5 million bond, $75,000 of it in cash. US prosecutors in New York have indicted 40 football and sports marketing executives, including Jimenez, over allegedly receiving tens of millions of bribes and kickbacks in the largest corruption scandal in the history of soccer. More than a third have since pleaded guilty. None have yet been formally sentenced and a date is still pending to put the rest on trial. (AFP)

Former Guatemalan football chief pleads guilty to FIFA corruption charges

A hurricane packing 130 kilometer (80 mile) per hour winds and heavy rain made landfall in Central America near Belize&#39;s capital, where officials warned of likely flooding and damage to homes today. 
 
Hurricane Earl swept in from the Caribbean to strike just south of Belize City, population 60,000, around midnight Wednesday (0600 GMT Thursday), according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC).&nbsp; 
 
Along the way, it had gathered strength and dumped rain on northern Honduras as it brushed past at sea.&nbsp; 
 
The hurricane&#39;s heavy rains &quot;could cause flash floods and mudslides especially over higher terrain,&quot; Belize&#39;s National Emergency Management Organization said in a bulletin just before it arrived. 
 
&quot;For coastal areas, there is also a risk for flooding, especially in low-lying areas.&quot; 
 
Nearby Guatemala, Honduras and southern Mexico also issued alerts. 
 
Airports in the area were closed. Earl was expected to weaken as it continued west from Belize City, farther inland, toward northern Guatemala and southeastern Mexico. 
 
The Mexican authorities took no chances, evacuating 300 families living close to a river along the border with Belize in the southeastern state of Quinta Roo for fear of flooding. 
 
More than 750 shelters were readied in the state in preparation for expected high winds and fierce gusts. 
 
Other southern Mexican states likely to be affected were Campeche, Tabasco and Yucatan. 
 
In the northern Guatemala town of Puerto Barrios, a military commander, Colonel Nelson Tun, told AFP that &quot;patrols in vulnerable areas&quot; were being carried out. 
 
&quot;We have identified high areas to where the population can evacuate before possible flooding,&quot; he said. 
 
Guatemala in particular is prone to rainy season flooding and mudslides that often prove fatal. 
 
Guatemala&#39;s population, at 16 million, is much bigger than the 330,000 in Belize, Central America&#39;s only English speaking country. 
 
Guatemala&#39;s president, Jimmy Morales, late Wednesday offered Belize humanitarian aid and shelters along the border if needed. 
 
That gesture was significant after months of tensions between the two countries following a shooting death of a Guatemalan boy by a Belizean border patrol in April. 
 
The fifth named tropical storm of the 2016 season, Earl strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane on Wednesday, according to the NHC. 
 
Winds initially measured at 120 kilometers per hour picked up just before landfall. 
 
Category 1, the lowest of five grades on the hurricane scale, is described as having dangerous winds of between 119 and 153 kilometers per hour that can rip off roofs, bring down trees and cause extensive damage to power lines. 
 
Belizean public and private sector workers were permitted to go to their homes Wednesday to secure property. 
 
Officials warned that people living on the ground floor &quot;will experience flooding&quot; and some older wooden buildings would likely be destroyed. 
 
The authorities have opened 29 shelters. 
 
(AFP)

Earl was expected to weaken as it continued west from Belize City toward northern Guatemala and southeastern Mexico

A hurricane packing 130 kilometer (80 mile) per hour winds and heavy rain made landfall in Central America near Belize's capital, where officials warned of likely flooding and damage to homes today. Hurricane Earl swept in from the Caribbean to strike just south of Belize City, population 60,000, around midnight Wednesday (0600 GMT Thursday), according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC). Along the way, it had gathered strength and dumped rain on northern Honduras as it brushed past at sea. The hurricane's heavy rains "could cause flash floods and mudslides especially over higher terrain," Belize's National Emergency Management Organization said in a bulletin just before it arrived. "For coastal areas, there is also a risk for flooding, especially in low-lying areas." Nearby Guatemala, Honduras and southern Mexico also issued alerts. Airports in the area were closed. Earl was expected to weaken as it continued west from Belize City, farther inland, toward northern Guatemala and southeastern Mexico. The Mexican authorities took no chances, evacuating 300 families living close to a river along the border with Belize in the southeastern state of Quinta Roo for fear of flooding. More than 750 shelters were readied in the state in preparation for expected high winds and fierce gusts. Other southern Mexican states likely to be affected were Campeche, Tabasco and Yucatan. In the northern Guatemala town of Puerto Barrios, a military commander, Colonel Nelson Tun, told AFP that "patrols in vulnerable areas" were being carried out. "We have identified high areas to where the population can evacuate before possible flooding," he said. Guatemala in particular is prone to rainy season flooding and mudslides that often prove fatal. Guatemala's population, at 16 million, is much bigger than the 330,000 in Belize, Central America's only English speaking country. Guatemala's president, Jimmy Morales, late Wednesday offered Belize humanitarian aid and shelters along the border if needed. That gesture was significant after months of tensions between the two countries following a shooting death of a Guatemalan boy by a Belizean border patrol in April. The fifth named tropical storm of the 2016 season, Earl strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane on Wednesday, according to the NHC. Winds initially measured at 120 kilometers per hour picked up just before landfall. Category 1, the lowest of five grades on the hurricane scale, is described as having dangerous winds of between 119 and 153 kilometers per hour that can rip off roofs, bring down trees and cause extensive damage to power lines. Belizean public and private sector workers were permitted to go to their homes Wednesday to secure property. Officials warned that people living on the ground floor "will experience flooding" and some older wooden buildings would likely be destroyed. The authorities have opened 29 shelters. (AFP)

Hurricane Earl hits Belize near capital, prompting flooding fears

Thirteen people were killed on Monday in a prison riot in Guatemala, among them an ex-soldier imprisoned for killing a Roman Catholic bishop almost two decades ago, authorities said. 
 
&quot;Among the dead is Mr (Byron) Lima,&quot; who was convicted for his role in the 1998 murder of Juan Gerardi, and died during a &quot;brawl&quot; among inmates, interior minister Francisco Rivas said. A previous toll had just two dead. 
 
The clash took place inside Pavon prison, just outside the capital, after authorities tossed a grenade at the inmate&#39;s &quot;security detail.&quot; 
 
Rivas said the deadly uprising was linked to Guatemalan drug lord Marvin Montiel Marin, alias &quot;El Taquero,&quot; who has been in the same prison for the 2008 killings of 15 Nicaraguans and a Dutch national. 
 
The bishop had investigated atrocities committed during Guatemala&#39;s civil war, documenting more than 50,000 human rights violations -- most attributed to the army -- during the 1960-1996 armed conflict.&nbsp; 
 
Lima was serving a 20-year prison sentence handed down in 2001. Three others, including his father, a former colonel, were convicted over the bishop&#39;s murder. 
 
While serving his sentence, Lima was considered one of the most powerful figures inside Guatemala&#39;s prison system. 
 
In 2014, a judge charged Lima with leading a criminal network that effectively controlled prison life, including arranging inmate transfers, conjugal visits and access to phones. 
 
(Reuters)

The riot broke out after authorities tossed a grenade at an inmate's 'security detail'

Thirteen people were killed on Monday in a prison riot in Guatemala, among them an ex-soldier imprisoned for killing a Roman Catholic bishop almost two decades ago, authorities said. "Among the dead is Mr (Byron) Lima," who was convicted for his role in the 1998 murder of Juan Gerardi, and died during a "brawl" among inmates, interior minister Francisco Rivas said. A previous toll had just two dead. The clash took place inside Pavon prison, just outside the capital, after authorities tossed a grenade at the inmate's "security detail." Rivas said the deadly uprising was linked to Guatemalan drug lord Marvin Montiel Marin, alias "El Taquero," who has been in the same prison for the 2008 killings of 15 Nicaraguans and a Dutch national. The bishop had investigated atrocities committed during Guatemala's civil war, documenting more than 50,000 human rights violations -- most attributed to the army -- during the 1960-1996 armed conflict. Lima was serving a 20-year prison sentence handed down in 2001. Three others, including his father, a former colonel, were convicted over the bishop's murder. While serving his sentence, Lima was considered one of the most powerful figures inside Guatemala's prison system. In 2014, a judge charged Lima with leading a criminal network that effectively controlled prison life, including arranging inmate transfers, conjugal visits and access to phones. (Reuters)

13 die in prison riot in Guatemala

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