In a historic moment the central American nation of Honduras is now sworn in its very first female president Xiomara Castro and this comes amidst growing political rebellion in her leftist liberal party that has challenged her authority even before her inauguration.

Honduras swears in Xiomara Castro as first female president

A fight broke out between members of President elect's party. Visuals on your screens show chaotic scenes in Honduras' Congress.

Fight breaks out between members of President elect's party

A dispute among members of president-elect Xiomara Castro's party in the Honduran Congress turned violent on Friday. Several lawmakers took to fighting to put their point forward. &nbsp;&nbsp;

This comes as 20 rebel members proposed Jorge Calix, who was one of their cohorts, as provisional Congress president. On this, the legislators from her leftist Libre party protested. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The loyalists of Castro claimed it to be a violation of the pact with coalition partner of Libre. &nbsp;&nbsp;

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When Calix was being sworn in, angry Libre legislators forced their way to the podium amid cries of "traitors" and "Xiomara!". This forced him to flee under a flurry of punches, pushing and shoving. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Since election in November 2021, it was the first sitting of the 128-member Congress. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The crisis began on Thursday when Castro called 50 legislators of her party for a meeting to ask them to support Luis Redondo of the Salvador party of Honduras (PSH) as Congress president. &nbsp;&nbsp;

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The 20 rebel members did not attend the meeting. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Libre leader Gilberto Rios told AFP on Friday that the 20 are backed by groups that wish to stop Castro's promised anti-corruption campaign, including people in "organised crime" and "drug trafficking." &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

A dispute among members of president-elect Xiomara Castro's party in the Honduran Congress turned violent on Friday. Several lawmakers took to fighting to put their point forward.

A dispute among members of president-elect Xiomara Castro's party in the Honduran Congress turned violent on Friday. Several lawmakers took to fighting to put their point forward. This comes as 20 rebel members proposed Jorge Calix, who was one of their cohorts, as provisional Congress president. On this, the legislators from her leftist Libre party protested. The loyalists of Castro claimed it to be a violation of the pact with coalition partner of Libre. Also Read: Unruly passengers force US plane bound for Tel Aviv to turn around mid-flight. What triggered it? When Calix was being sworn in, angry Libre legislators forced their way to the podium amid cries of "traitors" and "Xiomara!". This forced him to flee under a flurry of punches, pushing and shoving. Since election in November 2021, it was the first sitting of the 128-member Congress. The crisis began on Thursday when Castro called 50 legislators of her party for a meeting to ask them to support Luis Redondo of the Salvador party of Honduras (PSH) as Congress president. Also Read: Stray bullet causes havoc in US, claims life of UK traveller lying in bed. Find out what happened The 20 rebel members did not attend the meeting. Libre leader Gilberto Rios told AFP on Friday that the 20 are backed by groups that wish to stop Castro's promised anti-corruption campaign, including people in "organised crime" and "drug trafficking." (With inputs from agencies)

Dispute among president-elect Castro's party members in Honduras Congress turns violent

Honduras' leftist politician Xiomara&nbsp;Castro, who is on track&nbsp;to be the first female president of the Central American nation, doesn't shy away from making history.

In 2009, she catapulted herself to the helm of a protest movement after her husband, former president Manuel Zelaya, was ousted by a military coup, which pitched Honduras into crisis.

The Liberty and Refoundation (Libre) party emerged out of this movement, and after Sunday's elections it was slated to break a century-long run of governments formed from one of two parties.

Castro, 62, looked set for a landslide victory that would bring an end to 12 years of conservative National Party rule marred by corruption, allegations of the president's links to drug trafficking, and an exodus of migrants.

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The second of five children in a middle-class family,&nbsp;Castro&nbsp;was born in 1959 in Tegucigalpa. She earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and later moved northeast of the capital where she raised four children with Zelaya.

Promoting "democratic socialism,"&nbsp;Castro&nbsp;wants to decriminalize abortion, reduce bank charges for remittances, create a UN-backed anti-corruption commission and repeal new laws that she says feeds corruption and drug trafficking.

"I believe firmly that the democratic socialism I propose is the solution to pull Honduras out of the abyss we have been buried in by neo-liberalism, a narco-dictator and corruption,"&nbsp;Castro&nbsp;said in a campaign speech.

MORE DIRECT DEMOCRACY

"Participatory democracy" in the form of referendums and consultations on big policy changes will be central to&nbsp;Castro's administration, according to a document outlining her government's plans. Previous attempts at more direct democracy in Latin America have at times conversely strengthened patronage politics and leaders' power.

Castro&nbsp;will also convene a national assembly that could allow her to overhaul the constitution, a proposal her husband Zelaya initiated shortly before his overthrow. The document is vague on the goal of the overhaul, but mentions guaranteeing social and economic rights.

When Zelaya was president&nbsp;Castro&nbsp;was especially active in policymaking and pushed for social programs and subsidies for poor children, women and the elderly, which helped build her popularity.

She has also run agricultural and timber companies in the private sector.

Despite similarities in policy, Zelaya did not take a big role in his wife's campaign.

"Ex-president Zelaya knows that as party coordinator, he has a relationship of deferential respect to the president," said historian and longtime friend of the candidate Anarella Velez.

Velez added that&nbsp;Castro's strong-willed personality would keep her firmly in control of government.

The National Party, which was beset by corruption scandals, sought to portray&nbsp;Castro&nbsp;as a dangerous radical in order to remain in power.

Yet, while&nbsp;Castro's party Libre is part of the Sao Paolo Forum, an organization with the goal of reimagining the Latin American left after the fall of the Berlin wall, many doubt&nbsp;Castro&nbsp;will adopt extreme policies.

"We might see some cozying up to governments that preach 19th-century socialism, but it will be more a formality than anything else," said political analyst Raul Pineda.

"Honduras depends on trade with the United States and it's so weak it can't survive even a month of economic isolation from Washington."

Honduras' leftist politician Xiomara Castro, who is on track to be the first female president of the Central American nation, doesn't shy away from making history.

Honduras' leftist politician Xiomara Castro, who is on track to be the first female president of the Central American nation, doesn't shy away from making history. In 2009, she catapulted herself to the helm of a protest movement after her husband, former president Manuel Zelaya, was ousted by a military coup, which pitched Honduras into crisis. The Liberty and Refoundation (Libre) party emerged out of this movement, and after Sunday's elections it was slated to break a century-long run of governments formed from one of two parties. Castro, 62, looked set for a landslide victory that would bring an end to 12 years of conservative National Party rule marred by corruption, allegations of the president's links to drug trafficking, and an exodus of migrants. ALSO READ | Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal said this in his very first e-mail as captain of the ship The second of five children in a middle-class family, Castro was born in 1959 in Tegucigalpa. She earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and later moved northeast of the capital where she raised four children with Zelaya. Promoting "democratic socialism," Castro wants to decriminalize abortion, reduce bank charges for remittances, create a UN-backed anti-corruption commission and repeal new laws that she says feeds corruption and drug trafficking. "I believe firmly that the democratic socialism I propose is the solution to pull Honduras out of the abyss we have been buried in by neo-liberalism, a narco-dictator and corruption," Castro said in a campaign speech. MORE DIRECT DEMOCRACY "Participatory democracy" in the form of referendums and consultations on big policy changes will be central to Castro's administration, according to a document outlining her government's plans. Previous attempts at more direct democracy in Latin America have at times conversely strengthened patronage politics and leaders' power. Castro will also convene a national assembly that could allow her to overhaul the constitution, a proposal her husband Zelaya initiated shortly before his overthrow. The document is vague on the goal of the overhaul, but mentions guaranteeing social and economic rights. When Zelaya was president Castro was especially active in policymaking and pushed for social programs and subsidies for poor children, women and the elderly, which helped build her popularity. She has also run agricultural and timber companies in the private sector. Despite similarities in policy, Zelaya did not take a big role in his wife's campaign. "Ex-president Zelaya knows that as party coordinator, he has a relationship of deferential respect to the president," said historian and longtime friend of the candidate Anarella Velez. Velez added that Castro's strong-willed personality would keep her firmly in control of government. The National Party, which was beset by corruption scandals, sought to portray Castro as a dangerous radical in order to remain in power. Yet, while Castro's party Libre is part of the Sao Paolo Forum, an organization with the goal of reimagining the Latin American left after the fall of the Berlin wall, many doubt Castro will adopt extreme policies. "We might see some cozying up to governments that preach 19th-century socialism, but it will be more a formality than anything else," said political analyst Raul Pineda. "Honduras depends on trade with the United States and it's so weak it can't survive even a month of economic isolation from Washington."

Xiomara Castro vows to pull Honduras 'out of the abyss' as first female president

In what may be their country’s most significant elections in more than a decade, Hondurans will head to the polls Sunday to choose a new president, a political contest that has been marred by violence and is being closely watched in Washington.

With issues like violent crime and poverty forcing an ever-increasing number of Hondurans to flee north, candidates are billing the race as a chance to alter the country’s destiny.

But with corruption seemingly ingrained in the highest levels of power, political analysts say the chances of truly transformative change are slim.

Still, a free and fair election in Honduras, despite its many problems, would be significant for Central America, offering a respite from the region’s anti-democratic turn. And the outcome could be consequential for the Biden administration.

Polls are showing a tight race. But if the opposition triumphs, Honduras would elect its first female president.

Here’s what else you need to know about Honduras’ presidential elections.

What’s at stake for Honduras and the United States?

With poverty and violence continuing to plague daily life for most Hondurans, thousands of whom have fled to the United States, many in the country are desperate for change.

After nearly eight years under President Juan Orlando Hernández, whose administration has been marred by corruption allegations, the country’s two major parties are both pledging a clean break.

For the opposition, Sunday’s elections are a chance to regain power for the first time since 2009, when President Manuel Zelaya was ousted in a coup. The left-leaning coalition has vowed to halt the erosion of democratic norms under Hernández.

For the governing National Party, the elections represent a chance to reestablish some legitimacy following years of corrupt governance and widespread irregularities during the last election.

The elections could have far-reaching repercussions in Washington, where President Joe Biden has so far been stymied in two of his most important foreign policy priorities: controlling migration from Central America and combating corruption there.

With the shadow of authoritarianism hanging over neighboring countries, including Nicaragua and El Salvador, a free and fair election could create a small beacon of democratic hope in the region.

Who is running?

Sunday’s contest pits a charismatic mayor from the capital, Tegucigalpa, against the wife of a former president who is running to become the country’s first female head of state.

Nasry Asfura, 63, more popularly known as Papi, which means “Daddy” in Spanish, is a former businessman who has been mayor of Tegucigalpa since 2014. He has also served in Honduras’ National Congress, representing the National Party.

Running under the slogan “Daddy Is Different,” Asfura is trying to set himself apart from Hernández, a member of his party. But Asfura has also faced corruption allegations and been accused of embezzling public funds. The charges, which Asfura denies, have stalled in court.

Asfura has promised to create new jobs and improve the crippled Honduran economy, and his party accuses the opposition of being communists intent on radically transforming the country.

His opponent is Xiomara Castro, who is married to Zelaya, the former leftist president who was deposed in a 2009 military coup. In the wake of the ousting, Castro led a sustained protest movement. Castro, 62, became the leading opposition candidate after a number of political parties coalesced behind her in October.

Castro has promised to establish diplomatic relations with China, loosen Honduras’ restrictive abortion laws and improve the Honduran economy through, among other things, better managing the nation’s $13 billion debt.

Despite the governing party’s efforts to paint her as an ardent communist, Castro has won the endorsement of the Honduran business sector by bringing respected technocrats into her economic team while also appealing to Zelaya’s more leftist supporters.

Why has this campaign been so deadly?

Political violence has long been a staple of Honduran elections, but this year has been particularly bloody, with almost 30 candidates, activists and their relatives killed in the weeks leading up to Sunday’s election.

Deadly attacks on candidates and their supporters more than doubled in 2021 compared with the previous campaign period four years ago, according to the United Nations. According to the National Autonomous University of Honduras, there have been more than 60 cases of political violence this year. In one particularly egregious example, several men entered the home of Olivia Marcela Zúniga Cáceres, a congresswoman, in October and tried to asphyxiate her, local news media reported.

Experts on electoral violence say that the proliferation of organized criminal groups, the lack of access to justice and the attacks on political rivals under the government of Hernández are partly to blame.

And while neither side of the political divide has been spared the violence, activists say that the attacks are more likely to benefit the incumbent party by creating a climate of fear that could keep voters at home.

Are Hondurans abroad participating?

Hondurans abroad, some 740,000 of whom live in the United States, will be watching the election closely, with the outcome likely to affect friends and family at home.

Hondurans in the United States are an important economic force back home, with billions of dollars in remittances accounting for some 20% of the Honduran economy. Many of those in the United States blame the current government for fomenting the violence, corruption and unemployment that has forced thousands to flee.

While Hondurans living overseas are eligible to vote, some in the United States have complained that the new identity cards required to vote by the Honduran government have been difficult to obtain.

In Honduras, too, some 300,000 people have yet to claim their new ID cards, according to local news media reports.

Fewer than 13,000 Hondurans in the United States registered for the IDs, which were supposed to have been delivered last week, according to a Honduran activist who spoke with The New York Times. The Honduran ambassador to the United States acknowledged flaws in the process but denied any political bias.

What can we expect Sunday?

Voting begins at 7 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. The electoral council is set to announce preliminary results three hours after the polls close, including an estimate of the final results.

With memories of violence and political protests during the 2017 elections still fresh in the minds of many Hondurans, there is widespread fear of unrest and further political instability after the election, and many businesses are shutting down this weekend.

Polls have shown the race growing increasingly tight, with both sides certain of victory. That makes it unlikely that either will concede early, further stoking fears of violence. The 2017 vote was also marred by inconsistencies, and the results remain widely questioned.

The country has since enacted several electoral reforms, but critics say the changes have been insufficient.

In what may be their country’s most significant elections in more than a decade, Hondurans will head to the polls Sunday to choose a new president, a political contest that has been marred by violence and is being closely watched in Washington.

In what may be their country’s most significant elections in more than a decade, Hondurans will head to the polls Sunday to choose a new president, a political contest that has been marred by violence and is being closely watched in Washington. With issues like violent crime and poverty forcing an ever-increasing number of Hondurans to flee north, candidates are billing the race as a chance to alter the country’s destiny. But with corruption seemingly ingrained in the highest levels of power, political analysts say the chances of truly transformative change are slim. Still, a free and fair election in Honduras, despite its many problems, would be significant for Central America, offering a respite from the region’s anti-democratic turn. And the outcome could be consequential for the Biden administration. Polls are showing a tight race. But if the opposition triumphs, Honduras would elect its first female president. Here’s what else you need to know about Honduras’ presidential elections. What’s at stake for Honduras and the United States? With poverty and violence continuing to plague daily life for most Hondurans, thousands of whom have fled to the United States, many in the country are desperate for change. After nearly eight years under President Juan Orlando Hernández, whose administration has been marred by corruption allegations, the country’s two major parties are both pledging a clean break. For the opposition, Sunday’s elections are a chance to regain power for the first time since 2009, when President Manuel Zelaya was ousted in a coup. The left-leaning coalition has vowed to halt the erosion of democratic norms under Hernández. For the governing National Party, the elections represent a chance to reestablish some legitimacy following years of corrupt governance and widespread irregularities during the last election. The elections could have far-reaching repercussions in Washington, where President Joe Biden has so far been stymied in two of his most important foreign policy priorities: controlling migration from Central America and combating corruption there. With the shadow of authoritarianism hanging over neighboring countries, including Nicaragua and El Salvador, a free and fair election could create a small beacon of democratic hope in the region. Who is running? Sunday’s contest pits a charismatic mayor from the capital, Tegucigalpa, against the wife of a former president who is running to become the country’s first female head of state. Nasry Asfura, 63, more popularly known as Papi, which means “Daddy” in Spanish, is a former businessman who has been mayor of Tegucigalpa since 2014. He has also served in Honduras’ National Congress, representing the National Party. Running under the slogan “Daddy Is Different,” Asfura is trying to set himself apart from Hernández, a member of his party. But Asfura has also faced corruption allegations and been accused of embezzling public funds. The charges, which Asfura denies, have stalled in court. Asfura has promised to create new jobs and improve the crippled Honduran economy, and his party accuses the opposition of being communists intent on radically transforming the country. His opponent is Xiomara Castro, who is married to Zelaya, the former leftist president who was deposed in a 2009 military coup. In the wake of the ousting, Castro led a sustained protest movement. Castro, 62, became the leading opposition candidate after a number of political parties coalesced behind her in October. Castro has promised to establish diplomatic relations with China, loosen Honduras’ restrictive abortion laws and improve the Honduran economy through, among other things, better managing the nation’s $13 billion debt. Despite the governing party’s efforts to paint her as an ardent communist, Castro has won the endorsement of the Honduran business sector by bringing respected technocrats into her economic team while also appealing to Zelaya’s more leftist supporters. Why has this campaign been so deadly? Political violence has long been a staple of Honduran elections, but this year has been particularly bloody, with almost 30 candidates, activists and their relatives killed in the weeks leading up to Sunday’s election. Deadly attacks on candidates and their supporters more than doubled in 2021 compared with the previous campaign period four years ago, according to the United Nations. According to the National Autonomous University of Honduras, there have been more than 60 cases of political violence this year. In one particularly egregious example, several men entered the home of Olivia Marcela Zúniga Cáceres, a congresswoman, in October and tried to asphyxiate her, local news media reported. Experts on electoral violence say that the proliferation of organized criminal groups, the lack of access to justice and the attacks on political rivals under the government of Hernández are partly to blame. And while neither side of the political divide has been spared the violence, activists say that the attacks are more likely to benefit the incumbent party by creating a climate of fear that could keep voters at home. Are Hondurans abroad participating? Hondurans abroad, some 740,000 of whom live in the United States, will be watching the election closely, with the outcome likely to affect friends and family at home. Hondurans in the United States are an important economic force back home, with billions of dollars in remittances accounting for some 20% of the Honduran economy. Many of those in the United States blame the current government for fomenting the violence, corruption and unemployment that has forced thousands to flee. While Hondurans living overseas are eligible to vote, some in the United States have complained that the new identity cards required to vote by the Honduran government have been difficult to obtain. In Honduras, too, some 300,000 people have yet to claim their new ID cards, according to local news media reports. Fewer than 13,000 Hondurans in the United States registered for the IDs, which were supposed to have been delivered last week, according to a Honduran activist who spoke with The New York Times. The Honduran ambassador to the United States acknowledged flaws in the process but denied any political bias. What can we expect Sunday? Voting begins at 7 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. The electoral council is set to announce preliminary results three hours after the polls close, including an estimate of the final results. With memories of violence and political protests during the 2017 elections still fresh in the minds of many Hondurans, there is widespread fear of unrest and further political instability after the election, and many businesses are shutting down this weekend. Polls have shown the race growing increasingly tight, with both sides certain of victory. That makes it unlikely that either will concede early, further stoking fears of violence. The 2017 vote was also marred by inconsistencies, and the results remain widely questioned. The country has since enacted several electoral reforms, but critics say the changes have been insufficient.

What’s at stake in the Honduran presidential election?

Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez said on Tuesday that&nbsp;the Central American nation, a long-standing diplomatic ally of Taiwan, could open a trade office in China in a bid to acquire coronavirus vaccines.&nbsp;

Honduras does not have formal relations with China and is one of a group of Latin American nations with strong diplomatic ties to Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory. &nbsp;

Hernandez, frustrated rich countries have 'hoarded' global vaccine supplies, said poorer countries desperately need vaccines and his government was willing to do whatever was necessary to help its people during a global pandemic.&nbsp;

If necessary, his government would open a trade office in China "because it is in the best interest of the Honduran people," he said in a televised speech. &nbsp;

In order to buy Chinese vaccines, Hernandez said he would do as the Chinese had suggested and look for a 'diplomatic bridge’.&nbsp;

He suggested Mexico, Chile, Argentina or El Salvador could help his nation acquire Chinese vaccines, and had also asked Taiwan to press the United States to help.&nbsp;

"As we have a relationship with Taiwan, we have asked Taiwan to help us talk with people in Washington because we have been very close allies with the United States. And they have a huge number of vaccines that are going to expire," Hernandez said.&nbsp;

A host of Latin American nations are receiving Chinese vaccines, although several countries that have built ties with Taipei rather than Beijing, such as Honduras and Guatemala, are not in line to receive them.&nbsp;

Both China and Russia, as well as the United States, have sought to deepen ties through providing vaccines in Latin America, part of 'vaccine diplomacy' efforts to further their countries` geopolitical clout in the region.&nbsp;

Beijing has been gradually whittling away at Taiwan's diplomatic allies, now down to just 15 countries, which has alarmed Washington, nervous about an increased Chinese presence in Latin America and the Pacific where those allies are concentrated.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;

Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez said on Tuesday that the Central American nation, a long-standing diplomatic ally of Taiwan, could open a trade office in China in a bid to acquire coronavirus vaccines.

Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez said on Tuesday that the Central American nation, a long-standing diplomatic ally of Taiwan, could open a trade office in China in a bid to acquire coronavirus vaccines. Honduras does not have formal relations with China and is one of a group of Latin American nations with strong diplomatic ties to Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory. Hernandez, frustrated rich countries have 'hoarded' global vaccine supplies, said poorer countries desperately need vaccines and his government was willing to do whatever was necessary to help its people during a global pandemic. If necessary, his government would open a trade office in China "because it is in the best interest of the Honduran people," he said in a televised speech. In order to buy Chinese vaccines, Hernandez said he would do as the Chinese had suggested and look for a 'diplomatic bridge’. He suggested Mexico, Chile, Argentina or El Salvador could help his nation acquire Chinese vaccines, and had also asked Taiwan to press the United States to help. "As we have a relationship with Taiwan, we have asked Taiwan to help us talk with people in Washington because we have been very close allies with the United States. And they have a huge number of vaccines that are going to expire," Hernandez said. A host of Latin American nations are receiving Chinese vaccines, although several countries that have built ties with Taipei rather than Beijing, such as Honduras and Guatemala, are not in line to receive them. Both China and Russia, as well as the United States, have sought to deepen ties through providing vaccines in Latin America, part of 'vaccine diplomacy' efforts to further their countries` geopolitical clout in the region. Beijing has been gradually whittling away at Taiwan's diplomatic allies, now down to just 15 countries, which has alarmed Washington, nervous about an increased Chinese presence in Latin America and the Pacific where those allies are concentrated. (With inputs from agencies)

In diplomatic shift, Honduran president says he may open China office 

Taiwan&nbsp;on Wednesday condemned China for seeking to use vaccines for political gain after Taipei's diplomatic ally Honduras said it was considering opening an office in China in a bid to acquire much-needed COVID-19 shots.

Honduras does not have formal relations with China and is one of a group of Latin American nations that have formal diplomatic ties with&nbsp;Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory.

Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez said that to buy Chinese vaccines, he would do as the Chinese had suggested and look for a "diplomatic bridge".

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-diplomatic-shift-honduran-president-says-he-may-open-china-office-384426" hreflang="en">In diplomatic shift, Honduran president says he may open China office&nbsp;</a>

Several Latin American nations are receiving Chinese vaccines, but countries that have built ties with Taipei rather than Beijing, such as Honduras and Guatemala, are not.

Taiwan&nbsp;Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou said China was trying to use the same methods it did with Paraguay, another&nbsp;Taiwanese ally that Taipei has complained of Beijing trying to push into a vaccines-for-recognition deal.

"This clearly proves that following the vaccine crisis in Paraguay, the Chinese government is once again using vaccines to exchange political and diplomatic benefits for countries that are in urgent need, a shameful act of disregarding humanitarian needs," Ou said.

Honduras has reaffirmed its ties with&nbsp;Taiwan, and&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;promises to help to the best of its ability to alleviate the health crisis, including working with "like-minded" countries, she added, a reference to democracies such as the United States, the European Union and India.

In Beijing, Zhu Fenglian, a spokeswoman for China's&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;Affairs Office, said China was committed to helping provide vaccines to the developing world as a public good.

China hopes that "relevant countries can appropriately handle&nbsp;Taiwan-related issues according to the one-China principle" she added, which states that&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;is part of China.

Beijing has been gradually whittling away at&nbsp;Taiwan's diplomatic allies,&nbsp;now down to just 15 countries, which has alarmed Washington, nervous about an increased Chinese presence in Latin America and the Pacific where those allies are concentrated.

(With inputs from agencies)

Taiwan on Wednesday condemned China for seeking to use vaccines for political gain after Taipei's diplomatic ally Honduras said it was considering opening an office in China in a bid to acquire much-needed COVID-19 shots.

Taiwan on Wednesday condemned China for seeking to use vaccines for political gain after Taipei's diplomatic ally Honduras said it was considering opening an office in China in a bid to acquire much-needed COVID-19 shots. Honduras does not have formal relations with China and is one of a group of Latin American nations that have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory. Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez said that to buy Chinese vaccines, he would do as the Chinese had suggested and look for a "diplomatic bridge". Also read| In diplomatic shift, Honduran president says he may open China office Several Latin American nations are receiving Chinese vaccines, but countries that have built ties with Taipei rather than Beijing, such as Honduras and Guatemala, are not. Taiwan Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou said China was trying to use the same methods it did with Paraguay, another Taiwanese ally that Taipei has complained of Beijing trying to push into a vaccines-for-recognition deal. "This clearly proves that following the vaccine crisis in Paraguay, the Chinese government is once again using vaccines to exchange political and diplomatic benefits for countries that are in urgent need, a shameful act of disregarding humanitarian needs," Ou said. Honduras has reaffirmed its ties with Taiwan, and Taiwan promises to help to the best of its ability to alleviate the health crisis, including working with "like-minded" countries, she added, a reference to democracies such as the United States, the European Union and India. In Beijing, Zhu Fenglian, a spokeswoman for China's Taiwan Affairs Office, said China was committed to helping provide vaccines to the developing world as a public good. China hopes that "relevant countries can appropriately handle Taiwan-related issues according to the one-China principle" she added, which states that Taiwan is part of China. Beijing has been gradually whittling away at Taiwan's diplomatic allies, now down to just 15 countries, which has alarmed Washington, nervous about an increased Chinese presence in Latin America and the Pacific where those allies are concentrated. (With inputs from agencies)

'Political gain': Taiwan condemns China's vaccine diplomacy with its diplomatic ally Honduras

Police&nbsp;in&nbsp;Honduras, whose president the United States accuses of being a "co-conspirator" in drug-trafficking, unearthed&nbsp;1.5&nbsp;tonnes&nbsp;of&nbsp;cocaine&nbsp;buried&nbsp;in the ground in a small village in the country's north.

They found some 1,450 packets of drugs in 58 sacks&nbsp;buried&nbsp;in three large holes dug with heavy machinery, a&nbsp;police&nbsp;statement said.

The drugs had apparently been brought to Francia, which is near the coast, by sea.

Also read-&nbsp;<a href="US: Woman arrested after cocaine hidden in sole of shoes found in airport">US: Woman arrested after cocaine hidden in sole of shoes found in airport</a>

The haul was the result of intelligence work and served to "demonstrate the hard work done by the National&nbsp;Police&nbsp;in coordination with other institutions, with the aim of dismantling drug trafficking structures operating in the country," according to the head of the special forces&nbsp;police&nbsp;directorate, Miguel Perez.&nbsp;&nbsp;

So far this year, Honduran&nbsp;police&nbsp;have seized more than eight&nbsp;tons&nbsp;of drugs, said the statement.

President Juan Orlando Hernandez has stepped up the fight against drug cartels even as his brother, Tony, was found guilty in a US court in October 2019 of conspiring to import&nbsp;cocaine&nbsp;into the United States.

In March this year, he was sentenced to live in prison on this and other charges.

During his trial, the US government argued the former Honduran congressman was a large-scale drug trafficker who smuggled more than 185&nbsp;tons&nbsp;of&nbsp;cocaine&nbsp;into the United States.

Judge P Kevin Castel found Tony Hernandez had acted as an intermediary in providing bribes to politicians, including his president brother and the ruling National Party.

US prosecutors said the president had been a "co-conspirator" in Tony Hernandez's crimes, though he has not been charged.

Hernandez, who has styled himself as a champion in the fight against drugs, has repeatedly denied allegations of drug trafficking.

In March this year, a New York jury found Geovanny Fuentes Ramirez, an alleged associate of the president, guilty of drug trafficking.

During his trial, US prosecutors said the Honduran leader had helped Fuentes smuggle&nbsp;tons&nbsp;of&nbsp;cocaine&nbsp;into the United States.

President Hernandez accuses the US justice system of giving credibility to drug lords seeking "revenge" for having been extradited to the United States by his government.

Police in Honduras, whose president the United States accuses of being a "co-conspirator" in drug-trafficking, unearthed 1.5 tonnes of cocaine buried in the ground in a small village in the country's north.

Police in Honduras, whose president the United States accuses of being a "co-conspirator" in drug-trafficking, unearthed 1.5 tonnes of cocaine buried in the ground in a small village in the country's north. They found some 1,450 packets of drugs in 58 sacks buried in three large holes dug with heavy machinery, a police statement said. The drugs had apparently been brought to Francia, which is near the coast, by sea. Also read- US: Woman arrested after cocaine hidden in sole of shoes found in airport The haul was the result of intelligence work and served to "demonstrate the hard work done by the National Police in coordination with other institutions, with the aim of dismantling drug trafficking structures operating in the country," according to the head of the special forces police directorate, Miguel Perez. So far this year, Honduran police have seized more than eight tons of drugs, said the statement. President Juan Orlando Hernandez has stepped up the fight against drug cartels even as his brother, Tony, was found guilty in a US court in October 2019 of conspiring to import cocaine into the United States. In March this year, he was sentenced to live in prison on this and other charges. During his trial, the US government argued the former Honduran congressman was a large-scale drug trafficker who smuggled more than 185 tons of cocaine into the United States. Judge P Kevin Castel found Tony Hernandez had acted as an intermediary in providing bribes to politicians, including his president brother and the ruling National Party. US prosecutors said the president had been a "co-conspirator" in Tony Hernandez's crimes, though he has not been charged. Hernandez, who has styled himself as a champion in the fight against drugs, has repeatedly denied allegations of drug trafficking. In March this year, a New York jury found Geovanny Fuentes Ramirez, an alleged associate of the president, guilty of drug trafficking. During his trial, US prosecutors said the Honduran leader had helped Fuentes smuggle tons of cocaine into the United States. President Hernandez accuses the US justice system of giving credibility to drug lords seeking "revenge" for having been extradited to the United States by his government.

Honduras police unearth 1.5 tonnes of buried cocaine

The Biden administration has struck an agreement with Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras to temporarily increase border security in an effort to stop migrants from reaching the US border.

US strikes agreement with Mexico, Honduras and Gautemala to secure borders

The Guatemalan and Mexican governments have taken a harder line against such caravans in recent times under pressure from the United States.

Hundreds of migrants set out from Honduras

A US prosecutor on Tuesday said that Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez helped smuggle a lot of cocaine into the US.

The prosecutor was speaking at the trial of an accused drug trafficker - Geovanny Fuentes who allegedly bribed the president with $25,000. According to prosecutor Jacob Gutwillig, this rendered Fuentes “untouchable”.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-why-migrants-from-honduras-are-rushing-to-the-us-357585/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The prosecutor further said that the president was paid by Fuentes during meetings in 2013 and 2014, which made “the defendant bullet-proof”. Hernandez has continued to deny any links to drugs and bribery, and has been the President of Honduras since January 2014.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/honduras-president-accused-of-accepting-bribes-from-drug-traffickers-355765" hreflang="en">Honduras President accused of accepting bribes from drug traffickers</a>

The meetings between both of them were attended by Jose Sanchez, and accountant, who was reportedly shocked to see the defendant sitting with the president. According to the prosecutor, the money was laundered through a rice-growing company where Sanchez worked.

According to reports, the president told Fuentes "that they'd transport so much cocaine into the US they'd shove the drugs up the noses of the gringos”.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/honduras-becomes-50th-nation-to-ratify-un-nuclear-ban-treaty-337823" hreflang="en">Honduras becomes 50th nation to ratify UN nuclear ban treaty</a>

The defence attempted to derail such claims even before the witnesses showed up. "Supposedly $25,000 is all it costs to bribe a president," said defence attorney Eylan Schulman.&nbsp;

In 2019, the president’s brother, Tony Hernandez was convicted of large-scale drug trafficking. Hernandez, on Monday tweeted that witnesses at the trial were going to give "false testimony" against him.&nbsp;

A US prosecutor on Tuesday said that Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez helped smuggle a lot of cocaine into the US. The prosecutor was speaking at the trial of an accused drug trafficker - Geovanny Fuentes who allegedly bribed the president with $25,000.

A US prosecutor on Tuesday said that Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez helped smuggle a lot of cocaine into the US. The prosecutor was speaking at the trial of an accused drug trafficker - Geovanny Fuentes who allegedly bribed the president with $25,000. According to prosecutor Jacob Gutwillig, this rendered Fuentes “untouchable”. The prosecutor further said that the president was paid by Fuentes during meetings in 2013 and 2014, which made “the defendant bullet-proof”. Hernandez has continued to deny any links to drugs and bribery, and has been the President of Honduras since January 2014. Also read: Honduras President accused of accepting bribes from drug traffickers The meetings between both of them were attended by Jose Sanchez, and accountant, who was reportedly shocked to see the defendant sitting with the president. According to the prosecutor, the money was laundered through a rice-growing company where Sanchez worked. According to reports, the president told Fuentes "that they'd transport so much cocaine into the US they'd shove the drugs up the noses of the gringos”. Also read: Honduras becomes 50th nation to ratify UN nuclear ban treaty The defence attempted to derail such claims even before the witnesses showed up. "Supposedly $25,000 is all it costs to bribe a president," said defence attorney Eylan Schulman. In 2019, the president’s brother, Tony Hernandez was convicted of large-scale drug trafficking. Hernandez, on Monday tweeted that witnesses at the trial were going to give "false testimony" against him.

Honduran President Hernandez helped smuggle 'tons of cocaine' into US, claims prosecutor

The Honduran President,&nbsp;Juan Orlando Hernández, has been accused of accepting bribes from drug traffickers and ordering the country's armed forces to guard a&nbsp;cocaine laboratory and shipments.

US federal prosecutors have filed motions against&nbsp;Hernández and have also submitted evidence claiming he said he wanted to "shove the drugs right up the noses of the gringos by flooding the United States with cocaine".

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/migrant-caravan-sets-off-to-us-from-honduras-risking-new-tensions-348777">Migrant caravan sets off to US from Honduras, risking new tensions</a>

The motions have been filed by the prosecutors in the&nbsp;southern district of New York.&nbsp;Hernández has been referred to as "CC4" or the&nbsp;co-conspirator No4. However, his brother, also a&nbsp;co-conspirator has been specifically named in the motions. His brother's name and his designation as 'President' has made the accusation against&nbsp;Hernández clear.

"By late 2013, the defendant partnered directly with CC4 and high-ranking officials in the Honduran military. At this time, CC4 was pursuing election as the president of Honduras as a member of the Partido Nacional de Honduras (the ‘National Party’)," the motion states.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-and-mexico-leader-discuss-migration-351076">Biden and Mexico leader discuss migration</a>

Despite the conviction of&nbsp;Juan Antonio Hernández, one of his brothers, in 2019, the President has repeatedly denied all accusations against him. He was accused of accepting more than&nbsp;$1m from the Mexican drug trafficker Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán during the 2019 trial, which he denied. The same accusation has been repeated in the recently-filed motions too.

The President, this time, has claimed these accusations are being made by the traffickers as a way to seek&nbsp;vengeance from him after he was 'successful' in clamping down traffickers' operations in the country.

&nbsp;Federal prosecutors have also named several&nbsp;senior military, police, political and business figures in these motions for accepting bribery and laundering money in similar illegal operations.

The Honduran President, Juan Orlando Hernández, has been accused of accepting bribes from drug traffickers and ordering the country's armed forces to guard a cocaine laboratory and shipments.

The Honduran President, Juan Orlando Hernández, has been accused of accepting bribes from drug traffickers and ordering the country's armed forces to guard a cocaine laboratory and shipments. US federal prosecutors have filed motions against Hernández and have also submitted evidence claiming he said he wanted to "shove the drugs right up the noses of the gringos by flooding the United States with cocaine". Also read| Migrant caravan sets off to US from Honduras, risking new tensions The motions have been filed by the prosecutors in the southern district of New York. Hernández has been referred to as "CC4" or the co-conspirator No4. However, his brother, also a co-conspirator has been specifically named in the motions. His brother's name and his designation as 'President' has made the accusation against Hernández clear. "By late 2013, the defendant partnered directly with CC4 and high-ranking officials in the Honduran military. At this time, CC4 was pursuing election as the president of Honduras as a member of the Partido Nacional de Honduras (the ‘National Party’)," the motion states. Also read| Biden and Mexico leader discuss migration Despite the conviction of Juan Antonio Hernández, one of his brothers, in 2019, the President has repeatedly denied all accusations against him. He was accused of accepting more than $1m from the Mexican drug trafficker Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán during the 2019 trial, which he denied. The same accusation has been repeated in the recently-filed motions too. The President, this time, has claimed these accusations are being made by the traffickers as a way to seek vengeance from him after he was 'successful' in clamping down traffickers' operations in the country. Federal prosecutors have also named several senior military, police, political and business figures in these motions for accepting bribery and laundering money in similar illegal operations.

Honduras President accused of accepting bribes from drug traffickers

A few hundred Hondurans formed a caravan bound for the United States on Wednesday after hurricanes battered the country, posing a fresh challenge to efforts to stem illegal immigration from Central America on the cusp of a new U.S. administration.

Mostly younger migrants with backpacks and some women carrying children left the northern city of San Pedro Sula on foot for the Guatemalan border after calls went out on social media to organize a caravan to the United States.

If the exodus grows, it could become the first major caravan to hit the road since Joe Biden defeated U.S. President Donald Trump in a presidential election last month.

Striking just two weeks apart in November, Hurricanes Eta and Iota hammered infrastructure, homes and crops, killing about 100 people in Honduras. The neighboring countries of Guatemala and Nicaragua also suffered widespread damage.

"We lost everything, we have no choice but to go to the United States," an unidentified middle-aged man in the caravan with his wife and cousin told Honduran television.

The man said he was from La Lima, a municipality on the southeastern edge of San Pedro Sula that was hard hit by flooding caused by Eta and Iota.

Guatemala`s migration authorities warned the approaching migrants that to enter the country, they would need negative coronavirus tests and passports.

Central Americans had already begun leaving their homes following the devastating hurricanes.

Trump, who is due to leave office on Jan. 20, has made curbing illegal immigration a top priority, and has put pressure on Mexico to help him. A caravan of thousands moving through Central America was broken up in October.

Biden has vowed to pursue a "humane" migration policy and offer help to Central America to ease migratory pressures.

A few hundred Hondurans formed a caravan bound for the United States on Wednesday after hurricanes battered the country, posing a fresh challenge to efforts to stem illegal immigration from Central America on the cusp of a new U.

A few hundred Hondurans formed a caravan bound for the United States on Wednesday after hurricanes battered the country, posing a fresh challenge to efforts to stem illegal immigration from Central America on the cusp of a new U.S. administration. Mostly younger migrants with backpacks and some women carrying children left the northern city of San Pedro Sula on foot for the Guatemalan border after calls went out on social media to organize a caravan to the United States. If the exodus grows, it could become the first major caravan to hit the road since Joe Biden defeated U.S. President Donald Trump in a presidential election last month. Striking just two weeks apart in November, Hurricanes Eta and Iota hammered infrastructure, homes and crops, killing about 100 people in Honduras. The neighboring countries of Guatemala and Nicaragua also suffered widespread damage. "We lost everything, we have no choice but to go to the United States," an unidentified middle-aged man in the caravan with his wife and cousin told Honduran television. The man said he was from La Lima, a municipality on the southeastern edge of San Pedro Sula that was hard hit by flooding caused by Eta and Iota. Guatemala`s migration authorities warned the approaching migrants that to enter the country, they would need negative coronavirus tests and passports. Central Americans had already begun leaving their homes following the devastating hurricanes. Trump, who is due to leave office on Jan. 20, has made curbing illegal immigration a top priority, and has put pressure on Mexico to help him. A caravan of thousands moving through Central America was broken up in October. Biden has vowed to pursue a "humane" migration policy and offer help to Central America to ease migratory pressures.

Migrant caravan sets off to US from Honduras, risking new tensions

Torrential rain and a bitter cold front linked to storm system Eta have claimed at least 20 lives in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas, officials said Saturday.

And authorities in Honduras said flooding in the north and northwest caused by torrential downpours had now left 23 people dead after another 10 people lost their lives on Friday.

The government of Chiapas -- which borders Guatemala, where about 150 people are dead or missing in the wake of the storm -- said 10 bodies were found in the river in the town of Chenalho.

Early reports indicated they had been swept away by powerful currents.

Eight other people died in the cities of El Bosque and La Grandeza, the government said. Another person was washed away by a stream in Oxchuc, while a youth died in Mitontic.

The storm caused landslides that blocked roads in at least 20 locations in Chiapas, a poor region with a majority indigenous population.&nbsp;

The government said five rivers had overflowed their banks, and flooding cut off three towns.

The United States and Guatemala have sent helicopters to Honduras to help with a rescue mission that involves 50,000 emergency services workers, authorities said.

More than 16,000 people have been rescued by boat and helicopter from regions ravaged by Eta, government disaster relief agency the Permanent Contingencies Committee said.

Honduras has declared a "zero zone" in the northern Sula Valley -- the largest alluvial valley in the country.

It is where the second largest city in Honduras, San Pedro Sula, is located.

The Ulua, Chamelecon and Humuya rivers burst their banks, flooding the valley.

Authorities said that more than 1.7 million people and over one million homes in the country of 9.5 million have been affected.

Central America has been badly hit since Eta made landfall in Nicaragua on Tuesday as a powerful hurricane before losing strength.

Authorities in Panama reported 17 deaths and 68 people missing, Security Minister Juan Pino said.

Cuba is bracing for impact, expected on Sunday, as Eta approaches. It has gained strength from a tropical depression to a tropical storm.

Havana has placed provinces in the center of the island nation on alert.

The Civil Defense agency said on Saturday it expected "strong and intense" rainfall over "large parts" of the archipelago.

The meteorological institute said Eta was packing winds of up to 50 miles (80 kilometers) an hour.

Authorities have suspended bus and train services and begun evacuating people from vulnerable areas.

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Torrential rain and a bitter cold front linked to storm system Eta have claimed at least 20 lives in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas, officials said Saturday.

Torrential rain and a bitter cold front linked to storm system Eta have claimed at least 20 lives in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas, officials said Saturday. And authorities in Honduras said flooding in the north and northwest caused by torrential downpours had now left 23 people dead after another 10 people lost their lives on Friday. The government of Chiapas -- which borders Guatemala, where about 150 people are dead or missing in the wake of the storm -- said 10 bodies were found in the river in the town of Chenalho. Early reports indicated they had been swept away by powerful currents. Eight other people died in the cities of El Bosque and La Grandeza, the government said. Another person was washed away by a stream in Oxchuc, while a youth died in Mitontic. The storm caused landslides that blocked roads in at least 20 locations in Chiapas, a poor region with a majority indigenous population. The government said five rivers had overflowed their banks, and flooding cut off three towns. The United States and Guatemala have sent helicopters to Honduras to help with a rescue mission that involves 50,000 emergency services workers, authorities said. More than 16,000 people have been rescued by boat and helicopter from regions ravaged by Eta, government disaster relief agency the Permanent Contingencies Committee said. Honduras has declared a "zero zone" in the northern Sula Valley -- the largest alluvial valley in the country. It is where the second largest city in Honduras, San Pedro Sula, is located. The Ulua, Chamelecon and Humuya rivers burst their banks, flooding the valley. Authorities said that more than 1.7 million people and over one million homes in the country of 9.5 million have been affected. Central America has been badly hit since Eta made landfall in Nicaragua on Tuesday as a powerful hurricane before losing strength. Authorities in Panama reported 17 deaths and 68 people missing, Security Minister Juan Pino said. Cuba is bracing for impact, expected on Sunday, as Eta approaches. It has gained strength from a tropical depression to a tropical storm. Havana has placed provinces in the center of the island nation on alert. The Civil Defense agency said on Saturday it expected "strong and intense" rainfall over "large parts" of the archipelago. The meteorological institute said Eta was packing winds of up to 50 miles (80 kilometers) an hour. Authorities have suspended bus and train services and begun evacuating people from vulnerable areas.

Storm Eta death tolls rise in Mexico, Honduras

A large 'tsunami' of trash has hit a beach in the town of Omoa in northern Honduras. The garbage traveled from neighboring Guatemala, where anti-waste barriers were damaged by heavy rain.

Honduras' coastline covered with discarded plastic

Close to 1,000 people have gathered in Honduras' second city forming a migrant caravan that will soon head for the United States, a human rights activist told AFP.

Thousands of Central American migrants have been braving the risk of extortion, kidnap and even murder as they flee poverty and gang violence in their homelands in a bid to reach the American dream, much to the annoyance of US President Donald Trump.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/honduras-says-not-considering-safe-third-country-migration-deal-with-us-248818">Also Read: Honduras not considering safe third country migration deal with US</a>

"Right now we're close to 1,000 people but there are buses arriving from different parts of the country," Bartolo Fuentes, a journalist, human rights defender and former lawmaker told AFP on Tuesday night.

The government accused him of organizing the first such caravan in October 2018, a charge he denies.

Under a light drizzle, men women and children congregated in parks and the central metro station in the city of San Pedro Sula, around 180 kilometers (110 miles) north of the capital Tegucigalpa.

Would be migrants, "mostly from rural areas," according to Fuentes, were alerted to the caravan through social media, which was then picked up by television channels.

"Here there's no work for anyone. I was studying ... but for nothing because there are many graduates with the diploma under their arm but without finding work," Yoly Sabillon, 28, told AFP.

Before joining the caravan she left her three children aged three, seven and 13 with her mother.

More than 2,000 Hondurans took part in the original caravan which headed north through Guatemala and then Mexico.

At least three more caravans formed during the first few months of 2019, leading Trump to threaten punitive measures against Central American governments if they did not stem the tide.

Trump sent 6,00 troops to the southern border with Mexico and warned of an "invasion" of "gang members" and "criminals."

Around 30,000 Hondurans migrants remain in Mexico waiting for a response to their US asylum requests. 
&nbsp;

Close to 1,000 people have gathered in Honduras' second city forming a migrant caravan that will soon head for the United States, a human rights activist told AFP.

Close to 1,000 people have gathered in Honduras' second city forming a migrant caravan that will soon head for the United States, a human rights activist told AFP. Thousands of Central American migrants have been braving the risk of extortion, kidnap and even murder as they flee poverty and gang violence in their homelands in a bid to reach the American dream, much to the annoyance of US President Donald Trump. Also Read: Honduras not considering safe third country migration deal with US "Right now we're close to 1,000 people but there are buses arriving from different parts of the country," Bartolo Fuentes, a journalist, human rights defender and former lawmaker told AFP on Tuesday night. The government accused him of organizing the first such caravan in October 2018, a charge he denies. Under a light drizzle, men women and children congregated in parks and the central metro station in the city of San Pedro Sula, around 180 kilometers (110 miles) north of the capital Tegucigalpa. Would be migrants, "mostly from rural areas," according to Fuentes, were alerted to the caravan through social media, which was then picked up by television channels. "Here there's no work for anyone. I was studying ... but for nothing because there are many graduates with the diploma under their arm but without finding work," Yoly Sabillon, 28, told AFP. Before joining the caravan she left her three children aged three, seven and 13 with her mother. More than 2,000 Hondurans took part in the original caravan which headed north through Guatemala and then Mexico. At least three more caravans formed during the first few months of 2019, leading Trump to threaten punitive measures against Central American governments if they did not stem the tide. Trump sent 6,00 troops to the southern border with Mexico and warned of an "invasion" of "gang members" and "criminals." Around 30,000 Hondurans migrants remain in Mexico waiting for a response to their US asylum requests.

Honduran migrants prepare new US-bound caravan

At least&nbsp;36&nbsp;people were killed in weekend&nbsp;clashes&nbsp;in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/18-prisoners-dead-16-injured-after-clash-in-honduras-jail-269515">Honduran prisons</a> as the military and police try to regain control after a spate of murders linked to the criminal gangs plaguing the country.

On Sunday afternoon, 18 gang members died in a clash between inmates at El Porvenir&nbsp;prison, 60 kilometres&nbsp;north of the capital Tegucigalpa.

"Firearms, knives and machetes" were used in the brawl, which also left 10 wounded, Lieutenant Jose Coello, a spokesman for the National Inter-Institutional Security Force (Fusina), told local media.

On Friday night, 18 prisoners died and 16 were wounded in a shooting at the&nbsp;prison&nbsp;in the port town of Tela, northwest of the capital.

The killings came shortly after President Juan Orlando Hernandez - grappling with a wave of&nbsp;prison&nbsp;killings -&nbsp;ordered the army and the police on Tuesday to take control of the country's 27 prisons, which are badly overcrowded with some 21,000 inmates.

The security forces later said they were deploying about 1,200 military and police in 18 facilities classified as "high risk."

Hernandez announced the crackdown after the killings on December 14 of five members of the feared MS-13 gang by a fellow detainee at the high-security&nbsp;prison&nbsp;in La Tolva, east of Tegucigalpa.

That came just a day after Pedro Idelfonso Armas, the warden of&nbsp;Honduras's main high-security&nbsp;prison&nbsp;in Santa Barbara, El Pozo, was shot&nbsp;dead&nbsp;in the south of the country.

The security ministry had suspended Armas shortly before his death, amid an investigation into his presence during the October 26 murder of Magdaleno Meza, a drug kingpin whose confession and notebooks linked him to the president's brother, Juan Antonio "Tony" Hernandez.&nbsp;

Meza's account books were used as evidence in the New York trial of Hernandez, who was subsequently convicted on four counts of drug trafficking. He faces sentencing -&nbsp;possibly for life - in January.

The president condemned the conviction of his younger brother, saying it was based on "the testimony of confessed assassins."

A video circulating on social media shows the 52-year-old Armas talking with Meza when&nbsp;prison&nbsp;guards opened a locked gate, allowing a dozen inmates to burst in to stab and fatally shoot him.

In statements to the AFP, Meza's lawyer, Carlos Chajtur, publicly accused the government of having ordered his client to be killed in retaliation for having collaborated with US justice in the trial against Hernandez.

Watch:&nbsp;Mexico to help create 20,000 jobs in Honduras to curb migration

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/mexico-to-help-create-20000-jobs-in-honduras-to-curb-migration-238977/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Drugs, gangs, poverty

On Sunday night military and police chiefs told the press that the wave of violence inside prisons "is an escalation of the criminal world to try to prevent Fusina (...) from imposing the necessary controls in the country's penal centres".

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in&nbsp;Honduras&nbsp;(OHCHR) said it observed "with alarm the violence inside prisons", and urged the state "to guarantee the life and respect of human rights to those deprived of liberty and proceed to a prompt, effective and transparent investigation."

Honduras&nbsp;is plagued by drug trafficking, gangs, poverty and corruption.

It suffers one of the highest murder rates in the world outside areas of armed conflict, having registered 41.2 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants in 2018.

To fight this scourge, Hernandez created a military police force financed by a new tax and built special prisons for gang members.

The sky-high crime rate has been a key factor behind a wave of migration toward the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-moved-to-freeze-ukraine-aid-90-minutes-after-trump-phone-call-report-269643">United States</a>, notably by minors who say they fear being forced into gangs.

At least 36 people were killed in weekend clashes in Honduran prisons as the military and police try to regain control after a spate of murders linked to the criminal gangs plaguing the country.

At least 36 people were killed in weekend clashes in Honduran prisons as the military and police try to regain control after a spate of murders linked to the criminal gangs plaguing the country. On Sunday afternoon, 18 gang members died in a clash between inmates at El Porvenir prison, 60 kilometres north of the capital Tegucigalpa. "Firearms, knives and machetes" were used in the brawl, which also left 10 wounded, Lieutenant Jose Coello, a spokesman for the National Inter-Institutional Security Force (Fusina), told local media. On Friday night, 18 prisoners died and 16 were wounded in a shooting at the prison in the port town of Tela, northwest of the capital. The killings came shortly after President Juan Orlando Hernandez - grappling with a wave of prison killings - ordered the army and the police on Tuesday to take control of the country's 27 prisons, which are badly overcrowded with some 21,000 inmates. The security forces later said they were deploying about 1,200 military and police in 18 facilities classified as "high risk." Hernandez announced the crackdown after the killings on December 14 of five members of the feared MS-13 gang by a fellow detainee at the high-security prison in La Tolva, east of Tegucigalpa. That came just a day after Pedro Idelfonso Armas, the warden of Honduras's main high-security prison in Santa Barbara, El Pozo, was shot dead in the south of the country. The security ministry had suspended Armas shortly before his death, amid an investigation into his presence during the October 26 murder of Magdaleno Meza, a drug kingpin whose confession and notebooks linked him to the president's brother, Juan Antonio "Tony" Hernandez. Meza's account books were used as evidence in the New York trial of Hernandez, who was subsequently convicted on four counts of drug trafficking. He faces sentencing - possibly for life - in January. The president condemned the conviction of his younger brother, saying it was based on "the testimony of confessed assassins." A video circulating on social media shows the 52-year-old Armas talking with Meza when prison guards opened a locked gate, allowing a dozen inmates to burst in to stab and fatally shoot him. In statements to the AFP, Meza's lawyer, Carlos Chajtur, publicly accused the government of having ordered his client to be killed in retaliation for having collaborated with US justice in the trial against Hernandez. Watch: Mexico to help create 20,000 jobs in Honduras to curb migration Drugs, gangs, poverty On Sunday night military and police chiefs told the press that the wave of violence inside prisons "is an escalation of the criminal world to try to prevent Fusina (...) from imposing the necessary controls in the country's penal centres". The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Honduras (OHCHR) said it observed "with alarm the violence inside prisons", and urged the state "to guarantee the life and respect of human rights to those deprived of liberty and proceed to a prompt, effective and transparent investigation." Honduras is plagued by drug trafficking, gangs, poverty and corruption. It suffers one of the highest murder rates in the world outside areas of armed conflict, having registered 41.2 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants in 2018. To fight this scourge, Hernandez created a military police force financed by a new tax and built special prisons for gang members. The sky-high crime rate has been a key factor behind a wave of migration toward the United States, notably by minors who say they fear being forced into gangs.

Prison clashes leave 36 dead in Honduras

Clashes ensued among prisoners in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-honduras-discuss-temporary-work-opportunities-for-hondurans-251210">Honduras</a>, killing 18 inmates and injuring 16.&nbsp;

According to prison officials, the fighting erupted at a jail in the town of Tela.

The prison is 200 kilometres from the country's capital, Tegucigalpa. Until now, no trigger or cause has been ascertained.

Fusine, the combined national security force had found arms and ammunition in the prison, including 9-millimetre guns.

Earlier, only three deaths were reported, with the toll quickly rising. By Saturday, 14 dead and 15 wounded were identified by the authorities.&nbsp;

Digna Aguilar, a prison spokesperson said that authorities had to enter the area carefully "for fear of being among the victims" because several inmates carried firearms, which slowed the investigation.

Watch: Mexico to help create 20,000 jobs in Honduras to curb migration

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/mexico-to-help-create-20000-jobs-in-honduras-to-curb-migration-238977/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-honduras-agree-to-create-20000-jobs-and-stem-migration-238995">Honduran</a> President Juan Orlando Hernandez, grappling with a recent wave of prison killings, had ordered the army and the police on Tuesday to take full control of the country's 27 prisons, which are badly overcrowded with some 21,000 inmates.&nbsp;

But as of Friday, the military had yet to take complete control of the Tela detention centre, according to Aguilar.

Hernandez was triggered to announce the scheme amid recent violence in prisons. 
On December 14 of five members of feared gang Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) by a fellow detainee at the high-security prison in La Tolva, 25 miles east of Tegucigalpa.&nbsp;

A day earlier. Pedro Idelfonso Armas, the warden of El Pozo, the country's main high-security prison, in the western city of Santa Barbara, was shot dead in the south of the country.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/honduras-says-not-considering-safe-third-country-migration-deal-with-us-248818">Honduras has been trying to deal</a> with drug trafficking, gangs, poverty and corruption.

It suffers from one of the highest homicide rates in the world outside areas of armed conflict, having registered 41.2 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants in 2018.

Described by the local media as ''gang violence'', the tussle led to 17 deaths in the facility and one in the hospital.

(With inputs from agencies)

Clashes ensued among prisoners in Honduras, killing 18 inmates and injuring 16. According to prison officials, the fighting erupted at a jail in the town of Tela.

Clashes ensued among prisoners in Honduras, killing 18 inmates and injuring 16. According to prison officials, the fighting erupted at a jail in the town of Tela. The prison is 200 kilometres from the country's capital, Tegucigalpa. Until now, no trigger or cause has been ascertained. Fusine, the combined national security force had found arms and ammunition in the prison, including 9-millimetre guns. Earlier, only three deaths were reported, with the toll quickly rising. By Saturday, 14 dead and 15 wounded were identified by the authorities. Digna Aguilar, a prison spokesperson said that authorities had to enter the area carefully "for fear of being among the victims" because several inmates carried firearms, which slowed the investigation. Watch: Mexico to help create 20,000 jobs in Honduras to curb migration Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, grappling with a recent wave of prison killings, had ordered the army and the police on Tuesday to take full control of the country's 27 prisons, which are badly overcrowded with some 21,000 inmates. But as of Friday, the military had yet to take complete control of the Tela detention centre, according to Aguilar. Hernandez was triggered to announce the scheme amid recent violence in prisons. On December 14 of five members of feared gang Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) by a fellow detainee at the high-security prison in La Tolva, 25 miles east of Tegucigalpa. A day earlier. Pedro Idelfonso Armas, the warden of El Pozo, the country's main high-security prison, in the western city of Santa Barbara, was shot dead in the south of the country. Honduras has been trying to deal with drug trafficking, gangs, poverty and corruption. It suffers from one of the highest homicide rates in the world outside areas of armed conflict, having registered 41.2 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants in 2018. Described by the local media as ''gang violence'', the tussle led to 17 deaths in the facility and one in the hospital. (With inputs from agencies)

18 prisoners dead, 16 injured after clash in Honduras jail

Honduras will sign an agreement with Cuba to deport Cubans who arrive in the Central American country illegally en route to the United States, Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez said on Sunday.

The announcement comes as the United States presses Central American countries and Mexico to do more to curb the waves of migrants reaching the United States' southern border.

"With Cuba, we are about to sign an agreement at this time that if an irregular migrant Cuban appears, we will immediately return him to Cuba", Hernandez said during an interview on local television that aired Sunday night.

The United States and Honduras said in a joint statement on Saturday that they are discussing how to increase temporary legal employment opportunities for Hondurans in the United States as they hammer out details of an immigration agreement.

The governments are due to continue discussions this week, according to the joint statement.

Honduras will sign an agreement with Cuba to deport Cubans who arrive in the Central American country illegally en route to the United States, Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez said on Sunday.

Honduras will sign an agreement with Cuba to deport Cubans who arrive in the Central American country illegally en route to the United States, Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez said on Sunday. The announcement comes as the United States presses Central American countries and Mexico to do more to curb the waves of migrants reaching the United States' southern border. "With Cuba, we are about to sign an agreement at this time that if an irregular migrant Cuban appears, we will immediately return him to Cuba", Hernandez said during an interview on local television that aired Sunday night. The United States and Honduras said in a joint statement on Saturday that they are discussing how to increase temporary legal employment opportunities for Hondurans in the United States as they hammer out details of an immigration agreement. The governments are due to continue discussions this week, according to the joint statement.

Honduras, Cuba to sign deal on deporting some Cuban migrants

The United States and Honduras are discussing how to increase temporary legal employment opportunities for Hondurans in the United States, as the governments work to hammer out details of an immigration agreement.

In a joint statement issued Saturday, the governments said they would have another round of meetings next week "to ensure that our enhanced cooperation conforms to each nations’ legal requirements while also advancing our mutual objectives."

This week in Tegucigalpa, officials also discussed how to "enhance collaboration in the areas of law enforcement and information-sharing, bolster regional border security, and strengthen migration protections."

Acting US Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan has waged a campaign in recent months to seal immigration deals with the Northern Triangle countries of Central America - Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador - from where many immigrants arriving at the US southern border set out.

Guatemala has signed a so-called "safe third country" deal with the United States that requires asylum seekers who travel through Guatemala on the way to the US-Mexico border to ask for refuge in Guatemala first, instead of in the United States.

The Guatemalan Congress, however, has not ratified the deal.

McAleenan announced a deal with El Salvador on Friday to strengthen the Central American country’s capacity to receive asylum seekers, though he did not detail what the pact would entail.

Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez said this week "we have to construct an agreement across the region, conversing with Mexico, Guatemala, and the United States."

The joint statement said the meetings "demonstrate the commitment of both governments to work together as trusted allies to address shared regional challenges. They recognize Honduras’ progress in the areas of security and migration."

The United States and Honduras are discussing how to increase temporary legal employment opportunities for Hondurans in the United States, as the governments work to hammer out details of an immigration agreement.

The United States and Honduras are discussing how to increase temporary legal employment opportunities for Hondurans in the United States, as the governments work to hammer out details of an immigration agreement. In a joint statement issued Saturday, the governments said they would have another round of meetings next week "to ensure that our enhanced cooperation conforms to each nations’ legal requirements while also advancing our mutual objectives." This week in Tegucigalpa, officials also discussed how to "enhance collaboration in the areas of law enforcement and information-sharing, bolster regional border security, and strengthen migration protections." Acting US Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan has waged a campaign in recent months to seal immigration deals with the Northern Triangle countries of Central America - Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador - from where many immigrants arriving at the US southern border set out. Guatemala has signed a so-called "safe third country" deal with the United States that requires asylum seekers who travel through Guatemala on the way to the US-Mexico border to ask for refuge in Guatemala first, instead of in the United States. The Guatemalan Congress, however, has not ratified the deal. McAleenan announced a deal with El Salvador on Friday to strengthen the Central American country’s capacity to receive asylum seekers, though he did not detail what the pact would entail. Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez said this week "we have to construct an agreement across the region, conversing with Mexico, Guatemala, and the United States." The joint statement said the meetings "demonstrate the commitment of both governments to work together as trusted allies to address shared regional challenges. They recognize Honduras’ progress in the areas of security and migration."

United States, Honduras discuss temporary work opportunities for Hondurans

Honduras is not considering a so-called safe third country designation for migrants seeking refuge in the United States, foreign minister Lisandro Rosales said late on Monday, denying reports of a deal agreed with US officials.

The United States has persuaded neighbouring Guatemala to become a safe third country that would accept US-bound asylum seekers, part of a larger effort by President Donald Trump to reduce the flow of migrants.

The deal has yet to be ratified by Guatemala's government.

A safe third country designation would require asylum seekers to apply for protection in any legally-designated "safe" country they pass through before reaching the United States.

US authorities have said they were working with Honduras on a similar deal, but Rosales said no such agreement is in the works.

"Contrary to some publications, the talks with the United States do not contemplate that Honduras become a safe third country," the minister wrote in a post on Twitter.

Rosales added that the talks are instead focused on regional security, promoting investment and orderly migration.

Honduras is not considering a so-called safe third country designation for migrants seeking refuge in the United States, foreign minister Lisandro Rosales said late on Monday, denying reports of a deal agreed with US officials.

Honduras is not considering a so-called safe third country designation for migrants seeking refuge in the United States, foreign minister Lisandro Rosales said late on Monday, denying reports of a deal agreed with US officials. The United States has persuaded neighbouring Guatemala to become a safe third country that would accept US-bound asylum seekers, part of a larger effort by President Donald Trump to reduce the flow of migrants. The deal has yet to be ratified by Guatemala's government. A safe third country designation would require asylum seekers to apply for protection in any legally-designated "safe" country they pass through before reaching the United States. US authorities have said they were working with Honduras on a similar deal, but Rosales said no such agreement is in the works. "Contrary to some publications, the talks with the United States do not contemplate that Honduras become a safe third country," the minister wrote in a post on Twitter. Rosales added that the talks are instead focused on regional security, promoting investment and orderly migration.

Not considering safe third country migration deal with US: Honduras

Three people were killed and at least 10 injured in riots Saturday night before a football match between rival teams after suspected fans attacked a bus carrying one of the two teams to the game, wounding three players, officials and the team said.

Fans of the Olimpia and Motagua football teams, bitter local opponents, rioted outside Tegucigalpa’s National Stadium after a crowd of people believed to be rival supporters intercepted and vandalized a bus transporting Motagua players, police said.

“Three people died and seven were shot and stabbed. One of them is a boy. Three of the injured adults are in critical condition,” Laura Schoenherr, a spokeswoman for the state University School Hospital, told Reuters.

The riot broke out after crowds threw stones at the bus carrying members of the Motagua team, sending shards of window glass at the players inside, according to the Motagua club, which blamed members of the Ultra-Faithful Olimpia fan club.

“This has to be severely sanctioned by the corresponding authorities,” the Motagua club said in a tweet. “Reprehensible and lamentable,” it added in another tweet.

Three of the players - Emilio Izaguirre, Roberto Moreira, and Jonathan Rougier - were transferred to a hospital with facial wounds, the Motagua club said.&nbsp;

Accompanying video purported to show players in blue uniforms standing in the still-moving bus beside smashed windows and a glass bottle rolling on a seat. “A rock! A rock! There! There!” someone shouts as a siren blares.

A statement from the Ministry of Security confirmed the bus attack and said its perpetrators wore the uniforms of the rival Olimpia team. The ministry added in the statement that it had set up “five rings of security” ahead of the game.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-players-at-greater-risk-of-premature-death-than-baseball-players-study-221388">The National Football League</a> suspended the game after the incident. It had expected some 20,000 fans to attend.

The president of the Olympia club, Rafael Villeda, told the local press that he would meet with the leadership of the National League and Motagua to decide on the future of the game.

Three people were killed and at least 10 injured in riots Saturday night before a football match between rival teams after suspected fans attacked a bus carrying one of the two teams to the game, wounding three players, officials and the team said.

Three people were killed and at least 10 injured in riots Saturday night before a football match between rival teams after suspected fans attacked a bus carrying one of the two teams to the game, wounding three players, officials and the team said. Fans of the Olimpia and Motagua football teams, bitter local opponents, rioted outside Tegucigalpa’s National Stadium after a crowd of people believed to be rival supporters intercepted and vandalized a bus transporting Motagua players, police said. “Three people died and seven were shot and stabbed. One of them is a boy. Three of the injured adults are in critical condition,” Laura Schoenherr, a spokeswoman for the state University School Hospital, told Reuters. The riot broke out after crowds threw stones at the bus carrying members of the Motagua team, sending shards of window glass at the players inside, according to the Motagua club, which blamed members of the Ultra-Faithful Olimpia fan club. “This has to be severely sanctioned by the corresponding authorities,” the Motagua club said in a tweet. “Reprehensible and lamentable,” it added in another tweet. Three of the players - Emilio Izaguirre, Roberto Moreira, and Jonathan Rougier - were transferred to a hospital with facial wounds, the Motagua club said. Accompanying video purported to show players in blue uniforms standing in the still-moving bus beside smashed windows and a glass bottle rolling on a seat. “A rock! A rock! There! There!” someone shouts as a siren blares. A statement from the Ministry of Security confirmed the bus attack and said its perpetrators wore the uniforms of the rival Olimpia team. The ministry added in the statement that it had set up “five rings of security” ahead of the game. The National Football League suspended the game after the incident. It had expected some 20,000 fans to attend. The president of the Olympia club, Rafael Villeda, told the local press that he would meet with the leadership of the National League and Motagua to decide on the future of the game.

The old grudge between Honduras football fans sparks a riot that kills three

A scheme to create 20,000 jobs in Honduras has been agreed between the country's president and Mexico's leader in an attempt to stem the flow of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pompeo-and-mexican-counterpart-welcome-reduced-flow-of-migrants-237547">migrants toward the United States</a>.

Mexico, which is a stepping stone to the US for many from Central America seeking to escape violence and poverty, has seen a wave of migrants sweep through in the past few months, causing tensions with Washington.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/mexico-to-help-create-20000-jobs-in-honduras-to-curb-migration-238977/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador met his Honduran counterpart Juan Orlando Hernandez in the Mexican state of Veracruz on Saturday to sign an agreement to extend a development program to Honduras, which includes a tree-planting scheme already active in Mexico.

Called "Sowing Life", the scheme pays farmers a small monthly stipend to plant trees and crops. Mexico signed a deal with El Salvador last month to introduce the same project to the Central American state.

Hernandez said the scheme was the "correct path" to boost both country's economies and called for the creation of a "great international coalition for generating huge numbers of jobs" in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador.

Mexico will support Honduras "to create 20,000 jobs between now and December," said Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard.

US President Donald Trump had threatened stiff new trade tariffs against the United States' southern neighbour unless it acted decisively to stem the migrant wave. But tensions calmed after Mexico's deployment of thousands of security forces to its borders last month.

The large majority of Central Americans who cross Mexico for the US are from Honduras. Some say they are fleeing persecution by the Hernandez government, having participated in protests after his election.

A scheme to create 20,000 jobs in Honduras has been agreed between the country's president and Mexico's leader in an attempt to stem the flow of migrants toward the United States.

A scheme to create 20,000 jobs in Honduras has been agreed between the country's president and Mexico's leader in an attempt to stem the flow of migrants toward the United States. Mexico, which is a stepping stone to the US for many from Central America seeking to escape violence and poverty, has seen a wave of migrants sweep through in the past few months, causing tensions with Washington. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador met his Honduran counterpart Juan Orlando Hernandez in the Mexican state of Veracruz on Saturday to sign an agreement to extend a development program to Honduras, which includes a tree-planting scheme already active in Mexico. Called "Sowing Life", the scheme pays farmers a small monthly stipend to plant trees and crops. Mexico signed a deal with El Salvador last month to introduce the same project to the Central American state. Hernandez said the scheme was the "correct path" to boost both country's economies and called for the creation of a "great international coalition for generating huge numbers of jobs" in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. Mexico will support Honduras "to create 20,000 jobs between now and December," said Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard. US President Donald Trump had threatened stiff new trade tariffs against the United States' southern neighbour unless it acted decisively to stem the migrant wave. But tensions calmed after Mexico's deployment of thousands of security forces to its borders last month. The large majority of Central Americans who cross Mexico for the US are from Honduras. Some say they are fleeing persecution by the Hernandez government, having participated in protests after his election.

Mexico, Honduras agree to create 20,000 jobs and stem migration

Mexico's government said on Saturday (July 27) it would help Honduras create 20,000 jobs this year and support its coffee farmers as the two countries seek to curb migration to the United States that has created tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and his Honduran counterpart, Juan Orlando Hernandez, pledged to work together to lift prosperity in Central America, where poverty and violence have fuelled an exodus of people north. That migration has angered Trump, who has made border security a priority, and issued economic threats against Mexico and Central America if more is not done to contain the flows. Speaking after the Honduran and Mexican leaders met in the eastern state of Veracruz, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said Lopez Obrador had given instructions to help Honduras create 20,000 jobs between now and December.

Mexico to help create 20,000 jobs in Honduras to curb migration

US President Donald Trump's administration plans to divert more than $40 million in humanitarian aid for Central America to support the US-backed opposition in Venezuela, according to an internal document obtained by Reuters on Tuesday.

The $41.9 million had been destined for Guatemala and Honduras, two of the three Central American countries at the centre of a migration crisis in which thousands of people have fled poverty, violence and corruption and attempted to cross the southern US border.

The congressional notification from the US Agency for International Development said the money will instead be used for salaries, travel, communications equipment, technical assistance and training for the management of a government budget and other needs for the Venezuelan opposition.

The memorandum, dated July 11, says the funds are necessary because of "a significant, exigent event in the US national interest, specifically the rapidly evolving crisis in Venezuela."

The memo and its contents were first reported by the Los Angeles Times.

Spokespeople for the State Department, Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido and Venezuela's Information Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Guaido, the head of Venezuela's National Assembly, invoked the Venezuelan constitution in January to assume an interim presidency, arguing Venezuela`s President Nicolas Maduro is illegitimate.&nbsp;

Maduro, meanwhile, has called Guaido a US-backed puppet and has so far retained his grip on the levers of government.

The State Department announced in June it was slashing hundreds of millions of dollars of aid to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras after Trump said the three countries were not doing enough to stem migration.

US President Donald Trump's administration plans to divert more than $40 million in humanitarian aid for Central America to support the US-backed opposition in Venezuela, according to an internal document obtained by Reuters on Tuesday.

US President Donald Trump's administration plans to divert more than $40 million in humanitarian aid for Central America to support the US-backed opposition in Venezuela, according to an internal document obtained by Reuters on Tuesday. The $41.9 million had been destined for Guatemala and Honduras, two of the three Central American countries at the centre of a migration crisis in which thousands of people have fled poverty, violence and corruption and attempted to cross the southern US border. The congressional notification from the US Agency for International Development said the money will instead be used for salaries, travel, communications equipment, technical assistance and training for the management of a government budget and other needs for the Venezuelan opposition. The memorandum, dated July 11, says the funds are necessary because of "a significant, exigent event in the US national interest, specifically the rapidly evolving crisis in Venezuela." The memo and its contents were first reported by the Los Angeles Times. Spokespeople for the State Department, Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido and Venezuela's Information Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Guaido, the head of Venezuela's National Assembly, invoked the Venezuelan constitution in January to assume an interim presidency, arguing Venezuela`s President Nicolas Maduro is illegitimate. Maduro, meanwhile, has called Guaido a US-backed puppet and has so far retained his grip on the levers of government. The State Department announced in June it was slashing hundreds of millions of dollars of aid to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras after Trump said the three countries were not doing enough to stem migration.

Trump administration plans to divert $40 million in aid to Venezuela's opposition

Five foreigners including the pilot died on Saturday when their private plane crashed into the sea shortly after taking off from Roatán island, a tourist destination on the Atlantic coast of Honduras, local authorities said.

Officials gave conflicting accounts of the victims' nationalities. Armed forces spokesman Jose Domingo Meza said four of the victims were from the United States and the fifth victim's nationality had yet to be determined.

Local emergency services initially said the victims included four <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-formally-arrests-two-canadians-detained-for-months-on-national-security-grounds-219091/amp">Canadians</a> and another victim of unknown nationality.

Local authorities did not immediately offer a cause for the accident.

The Piper PA-32-260 plane was headed to the tourist port city of Trujillo, about 80 kilometres (49.71 miles) from Roatan, a picturesque island frequented by tourists from the United States, Canada and Europe, authorities said.

Five foreigners including the pilot died on Saturday when their private plane crashed into the sea shortly after taking off from Roatán island, a tourist destination on the Atlantic coast of Honduras, local authorities said.

Five foreigners including the pilot died on Saturday when their private plane crashed into the sea shortly after taking off from Roatán island, a tourist destination on the Atlantic coast of Honduras, local authorities said. Officials gave conflicting accounts of the victims' nationalities. Armed forces spokesman Jose Domingo Meza said four of the victims were from the United States and the fifth victim's nationality had yet to be determined. Local emergency services initially said the victims included four Canadians and another victim of unknown nationality. Local authorities did not immediately offer a cause for the accident. The Piper PA-32-260 plane was headed to the tourist port city of Trujillo, about 80 kilometres (49.71 miles) from Roatan, a picturesque island frequented by tourists from the United States, Canada and Europe, authorities said.

Five foreign tourists killed in plane crash in Honduras

Almost 1,000 people gathered Tuesday night in the town of San Pedro Sula in northern Honduras to form a new caravan to reach the United States, police said.

"There are more than 800, almost a thousand," a police official told AFP, with the Red Cross reporting the same number.

The caravan, which followed a call on social media, took the authorities by surprise after similar appeals since February failed to muster numbers.

Many families with children were among those gathered, and some have already started their journeys in crowded minibuses.

Alexis Perez, 27, said,&nbsp;"We are done with this government, there is no work."

Since October 13, when the first caravan of 2,000 set off, three other similar convoys of migrants have left Honduras for the US in search of work or fleeing drug-traffickers.

The groups are a target of President Donald Trump, who has vowed to tighten migration policy and build a wall to stop them from entering the United States through Mexico.

Several thousand Central Americans have trekked across Mexico by caravan since last year, fleeing poverty and violence in their home countries.

They travel en masse in hopes of finding safety in numbers against Mexican gangs that regularly extort, kidnap and kill migrants, sometimes in collusion with local authorities.

 
&nbsp;

Almost 1,000 people gathered Tuesday night in the town of San Pedro Sula in northern Honduras to form a new caravan to reach the United States, police said. "There are more than 800, almost a thousand," a police official told AFP, with the Red Cross reporting the same number.

Almost 1,000 people gathered Tuesday night in the town of San Pedro Sula in northern Honduras to form a new caravan to reach the United States, police said. "There are more than 800, almost a thousand," a police official told AFP, with the Red Cross reporting the same number. The caravan, which followed a call on social media, took the authorities by surprise after similar appeals since February failed to muster numbers. Many families with children were among those gathered, and some have already started their journeys in crowded minibuses. Alexis Perez, 27, said, "We are done with this government, there is no work." Since October 13, when the first caravan of 2,000 set off, three other similar convoys of migrants have left Honduras for the US in search of work or fleeing drug-traffickers. The groups are a target of President Donald Trump, who has vowed to tighten migration policy and build a wall to stop them from entering the United States through Mexico. Several thousand Central Americans have trekked across Mexico by caravan since last year, fleeing poverty and violence in their home countries. They travel en masse in hopes of finding safety in numbers against Mexican gangs that regularly extort, kidnap and kill migrants, sometimes in collusion with local authorities.

Hundreds of migrants form caravan in Honduras to head for the US

A new US-bound caravan of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/migrant-caravan-presses-on-towards-us-despite-offer-of-jobs-from-mexico-173922">Honduran migrants</a> grew to nearly 1,000 people as it neared the Guatemalan border on Tuesday, a Honduran official said, while US President Donald Trump seized on news of the group to try to drum up <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-threatens-to-use-emergency-power-to-build-wall-end-shutdown-189577">support for a border wall</a>.

Honduran Deputy Foreign Minister Nelly Jerez told reporters that there were between 800 and 1,000 people travelling together and headed towards the Agua Caliente border crossing into Guatemala.&nbsp;

Central American migrant caravans heading towards the United States have inflamed the debate over US immigration policy, with Trump using the groups to seek backing for his plan to build a wall on the US-Mexico border.&nbsp;

Television footage on Tuesday showed groups of mostly young men, carrying bags of belongings, leaving the notoriously violent Honduran city of San Pedro Sula and flagging down rides to catch up with the caravan that left the same city on Monday.

"I am going to the United States to see if there is an opportunity to work because here in Honduras there is nothing," a 25-year old named Cristian told reporters.

The group will likely face weeks of travel to get to the US border.&nbsp;

Around 2,500 migrants from a previous wave of Central Americans who crossed Mexico have been camping in squalid shelters in the Mexican border city of Tijuana.

Trump has described the migrants as an invading force and sent troops to reinforce the border last year. On Monday, the Pentagon announced it would extend the deployment of around 2,350 troops to the US border through the end of September.&nbsp;

As a partial government shutdown dragged into its 25th day on Tuesday, Trump invoked the new caravan on Twitter to pressure US lawmakers. Democrats have resisted Trump`s insistence that Congress shell out $5.7 billion for wall funding.

"A big new Caravan is heading up to our Southern Border from Honduras," Trump said. "Only a Wall, or Steel Barrier, will keep our Country safe! Stop playing political games and end the Shutdown!" 
&nbsp;

A new US-bound caravan of Honduran migrants grew to nearly 1,000 people as it neared the Guatemalan border on Tuesday, a Honduran official said, while US President Donald Trump seized on news of the group to try to drum up support for a border wall.

A new US-bound caravan of Honduran migrants grew to nearly 1,000 people as it neared the Guatemalan border on Tuesday, a Honduran official said, while US President Donald Trump seized on news of the group to try to drum up support for a border wall. Honduran Deputy Foreign Minister Nelly Jerez told reporters that there were between 800 and 1,000 people travelling together and headed towards the Agua Caliente border crossing into Guatemala. Central American migrant caravans heading towards the United States have inflamed the debate over US immigration policy, with Trump using the groups to seek backing for his plan to build a wall on the US-Mexico border. Television footage on Tuesday showed groups of mostly young men, carrying bags of belongings, leaving the notoriously violent Honduran city of San Pedro Sula and flagging down rides to catch up with the caravan that left the same city on Monday. "I am going to the United States to see if there is an opportunity to work because here in Honduras there is nothing," a 25-year old named Cristian told reporters. The group will likely face weeks of travel to get to the US border. Around 2,500 migrants from a previous wave of Central Americans who crossed Mexico have been camping in squalid shelters in the Mexican border city of Tijuana. Trump has described the migrants as an invading force and sent troops to reinforce the border last year. On Monday, the Pentagon announced it would extend the deployment of around 2,350 troops to the US border through the end of September. As a partial government shutdown dragged into its 25th day on Tuesday, Trump invoked the new caravan on Twitter to pressure US lawmakers. Democrats have resisted Trump`s insistence that Congress shell out $5.7 billion for wall funding. "A big new Caravan is heading up to our Southern Border from Honduras," Trump said. "Only a Wall, or Steel Barrier, will keep our Country safe! Stop playing political games and end the Shutdown!"

US-bound Honduran migrant caravan grows as Trump argues for wall

Several hundred Honduran <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-demands-us-probe-on-use-of-force-against-migrants-188204&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjUofG8x_HfAhWIro8KHVqDBe4QFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw2LCj7WHGU-g13DtHrIrDra">migrants</a> in a new US-bound caravan crossed into Guatemala on Tuesday, as<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-record-long-government-shutdown-could-be-resolved-in-15-minutes-189918&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwibirubx_HfAhUL2o8KHWfvCJ4QFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw2eiwVWy8P_hAybgiaQRpi0"> US President Donald Trump</a> seized on news of the advancing group to try to build support for a wall along with his country's border with Mexico.

About 200 Hondurans presented documents in the morning to pass through the Agua Caliente border crossing separating the two Central American nations. The group included entire families and young men, plus parents carrying small children.

An additional 350 Hondurans crossed into Guatemalan territory but were being detained by migration officials checking their documents, according to pro-migrant activists travelling with them.

Some migrants ran toward the port of entry where they were met by a large group of Guatemalan police, and nearly 150 were turned away because they lacked proper documents, police said.

"Those who (lack documents) will be turned back," said Alejandra Mena, a spokeswoman for Guatemala's migration authority.

The second group of about 300 Honduran migrants walked along a highway and expected to reach the same border crossing on Tuesday night, activists said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Honduran Deputy Foreign Minister Nelly Jerez told reporters that the caravan at the border numbered between 800 and 1,000 people.&nbsp;

Central American caravans heading toward the United States have inflamed the debate over US immigration policy, with Trump drawing attention to the bedraggled migrants to try to win backing for his plan to build a wall on the US-Mexico border.&nbsp;

As a partial US government shutdown reached its 25th day, Trump invoked the new caravan on Twitter to pressure US lawmakers. Democrats have resisted Trump's insistence that Congress provide $5.7 billion for wall funding.

"A big new Caravan is heading up to our Southern Border from Honduras," Trump tweeted on Tuesday. "Only a Wall, or Steel Barrier, will keep our Country safe! Stop playing political games and end the Shutdown!"

Trump has described the migrants as an invading force and sent troops to reinforce the border last year. On Monday, the Pentagon announced it would extend the deployment of about 2,350 troops to the US border through the end of September.

Television footage on Tuesday showed mainly younger migrants leaving the notoriously violent Honduran city of San Pedro Sula. Some flagged down rides to catch up with the caravan that left the same city on Monday.

"We're asking them to let us cross on our way to Mexico," said Honduran migrant Josue Hernandez ahead of the checkpoint guarded by Guatemalan police.

The group will likely face weeks of travel to get to the US border.&nbsp; 
US Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen said in a post on Twitter that her agency was closely monitoring the new caravan.

"To be clear - participation in a caravan does not grant you a special status or provide you special treatment," she added.

About 2,500 migrants from a previous wave of Central Americans who crossed Mexico have been camping in squalid shelters in the Mexican border city of Tijuana.

Several hundred Honduran migrants in a new US-bound caravan crossed into Guatemala on Tuesday, as US President Donald Trump seized on news of the advancing group to try to build support for a wall along with his country's border with Mexico.

Several hundred Honduran migrants in a new US-bound caravan crossed into Guatemala on Tuesday, as US President Donald Trump seized on news of the advancing group to try to build support for a wall along with his country's border with Mexico. About 200 Hondurans presented documents in the morning to pass through the Agua Caliente border crossing separating the two Central American nations. The group included entire families and young men, plus parents carrying small children. An additional 350 Hondurans crossed into Guatemalan territory but were being detained by migration officials checking their documents, according to pro-migrant activists travelling with them. Some migrants ran toward the port of entry where they were met by a large group of Guatemalan police, and nearly 150 were turned away because they lacked proper documents, police said. "Those who (lack documents) will be turned back," said Alejandra Mena, a spokeswoman for Guatemala's migration authority. The second group of about 300 Honduran migrants walked along a highway and expected to reach the same border crossing on Tuesday night, activists said. Earlier on Tuesday, Honduran Deputy Foreign Minister Nelly Jerez told reporters that the caravan at the border numbered between 800 and 1,000 people. Central American caravans heading toward the United States have inflamed the debate over US immigration policy, with Trump drawing attention to the bedraggled migrants to try to win backing for his plan to build a wall on the US-Mexico border. As a partial US government shutdown reached its 25th day, Trump invoked the new caravan on Twitter to pressure US lawmakers. Democrats have resisted Trump's insistence that Congress provide $5.7 billion for wall funding. "A big new Caravan is heading up to our Southern Border from Honduras," Trump tweeted on Tuesday. "Only a Wall, or Steel Barrier, will keep our Country safe! Stop playing political games and end the Shutdown!" Trump has described the migrants as an invading force and sent troops to reinforce the border last year. On Monday, the Pentagon announced it would extend the deployment of about 2,350 troops to the US border through the end of September. Television footage on Tuesday showed mainly younger migrants leaving the notoriously violent Honduran city of San Pedro Sula. Some flagged down rides to catch up with the caravan that left the same city on Monday. "We're asking them to let us cross on our way to Mexico," said Honduran migrant Josue Hernandez ahead of the checkpoint guarded by Guatemalan police. The group will likely face weeks of travel to get to the US border. US Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen said in a post on Twitter that her agency was closely monitoring the new caravan. "To be clear - participation in a caravan does not grant you a special status or provide you special treatment," she added. About 2,500 migrants from a previous wave of Central Americans who crossed Mexico have been camping in squalid shelters in the Mexican border city of Tijuana.

Watch: US-bound migrant caravan crosses into Guatemala

Honduras on Tuesday discussed with Israel and the United States moving its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a controversial initiative that follows similar gestures by Washington, officials said.

In a meeting with Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, "it was agreed to strengthen political relations and coordinate cooperation on development in Honduras," read a joint statement by Honduras, Israel and the US.&nbsp;

"They also agreed to pursue a plan of action, which includes meetings in their three respective capitals, to advance in the process of the decision to open embassies in both Tegucigalpa and Jerusalem."

The meeting took place in Brasilia on the sidelines of the presidential inauguration of new Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.&nbsp;

Last year, US President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move its embassy there. Months later, Guatemala followed suit.

Bolsonaro said during his presidential campaign that he would switch Brazil's embassy but without offering details.

The Palestinians view east Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state, but Israel asserts that all of Jerusalem is its capital and is keen to see foreign embassies move there to bolster that claim.

Most countries, however, back Israeli-Palestinian negotiations to settle Jerusalem's status as part of a wider peace deal.

Brazil's meat producers are worried that an embassy move could threaten $1 billion in exports to Arab countries. 
&nbsp;

Honduras on Tuesday discussed with Israel and the United States moving its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a controversial initiative that follows similar gestures by Washington, officials said.

Honduras on Tuesday discussed with Israel and the United States moving its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a controversial initiative that follows similar gestures by Washington, officials said. In a meeting with Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, "it was agreed to strengthen political relations and coordinate cooperation on development in Honduras," read a joint statement by Honduras, Israel and the US. "They also agreed to pursue a plan of action, which includes meetings in their three respective capitals, to advance in the process of the decision to open embassies in both Tegucigalpa and Jerusalem." The meeting took place in Brasilia on the sidelines of the presidential inauguration of new Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. Last year, US President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move its embassy there. Months later, Guatemala followed suit. Bolsonaro said during his presidential campaign that he would switch Brazil's embassy but without offering details. The Palestinians view east Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state, but Israel asserts that all of Jerusalem is its capital and is keen to see foreign embassies move there to bolster that claim. Most countries, however, back Israeli-Palestinian negotiations to settle Jerusalem's status as part of a wider peace deal. Brazil's meat producers are worried that an embassy move could threaten $1 billion in exports to Arab countries.

Honduras in talks with US, Israel on moving embassy to Jerusalem

President Donald Trump said Friday that the United States will eliminate all economic assistance to Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador in retaliation for the caravans of Central American migrants arriving at the southern border.

"Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador are doing nothing for the United States but taking our money. Word is that a new Caravan is forming in Honduras and they are doing nothing about it. We will be cutting off all aid to these 3 countries - taking advantage of US&nbsp;for years!," the president wrote on Twitter.

Trump made a similar threat in October, when he said he would "substantially" cut aid to countries making up the Northern Triangle of Central America, but his words were not followed by any action.

During the 2018 fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, the US allocated $84 million in assistance to Guatemala, $58 million to Honduras and $51 million to El Salvador, according to figures from the State Department.

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.....Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador are doing nothing for the United States but taking our money. Word is that a new Caravan is forming in Honduras and they are doing nothing about it. We will be cutting off all aid to these 3 countries - taking advantage of U.S. for years!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1078638249562775552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Some those funds was channeled through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), while the Pentagon provided a total of $42 million across Central America in 2017 to support the war on drugs.

The White House's proposed 2019 budget includes $69 million in aid to Guatemala, $66 million to Honduras and $46 million to El Salvador, a reduction of 29 percent from the levels of fiscal 2018.

The president cannot unilaterally block the disbursement of aid authorized by Congress for the region, according to the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), a think-tank.

Immigration to the US from the countries of the Northern Triangle has increased in recent years.

Since October, at least 9,000 Central Americans, mainly from Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, entered Mexico in several caravans hoping to reach the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-threatens-to-entirely-close-us-mexico-border-unless-wall-demands-met-187046">US border</a> and apply for asylum.

Roughly half of them are gathered in Tijuana, just across the border from San Diego.

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We will be forced to close the Southern Border entirely if the Obstructionist Democrats do not give us the money to finish the Wall &amp; also change the ridiculous immigration laws that our Country is saddled with. Hard to believe there was a Congress &amp; President who would approve!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1078625779670503426?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2018</a></blockquote>
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President Donald Trump threatened Friday to seal off the US-Mexico border "entirely" if Congress does not approve billions of dollars in funding for a wall.

President Donald Trump said Friday that the United States will eliminate all economic assistance to Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador in retaliation for the caravans of Central American migrants arriving at the southern border.

President Donald Trump said Friday that the United States will eliminate all economic assistance to Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador in retaliation for the caravans of Central American migrants arriving at the southern border. "Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador are doing nothing for the United States but taking our money. Word is that a new Caravan is forming in Honduras and they are doing nothing about it. We will be cutting off all aid to these 3 countries - taking advantage of US for years!," the president wrote on Twitter. Trump made a similar threat in October, when he said he would "substantially" cut aid to countries making up the Northern Triangle of Central America, but his words were not followed by any action. During the 2018 fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, the US allocated $84 million in assistance to Guatemala, $58 million to Honduras and $51 million to El Salvador, according to figures from the State Department. .....Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador are doing nothing for the United States but taking our money. Word is that a new Caravan is forming in Honduras and they are doing nothing about it. We will be cutting off all aid to these 3 countries - taking advantage of U.S. for years! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2018 × Some those funds was channeled through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), while the Pentagon provided a total of $42 million across Central America in 2017 to support the war on drugs. The White House's proposed 2019 budget includes $69 million in aid to Guatemala, $66 million to Honduras and $46 million to El Salvador, a reduction of 29 percent from the levels of fiscal 2018. The president cannot unilaterally block the disbursement of aid authorized by Congress for the region, according to the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), a think-tank. Immigration to the US from the countries of the Northern Triangle has increased in recent years. Since October, at least 9,000 Central Americans, mainly from Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, entered Mexico in several caravans hoping to reach the US border and apply for asylum. Roughly half of them are gathered in Tijuana, just across the border from San Diego. We will be forced to close the Southern Border entirely if the Obstructionist Democrats do not give us the money to finish the Wall & also change the ridiculous immigration laws that our Country is saddled with. Hard to believe there was a Congress & President who would approve! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2018 × President Donald Trump threatened Friday to seal off the US-Mexico border "entirely" if Congress does not approve billions of dollars in funding for a wall.

'Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador are doing nothing for US,' says Trump vowing to end all aid

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