Mexico's state oil firm, Pemex, did not close the valve at a leaking <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.wionews.com/world/death-toll-raised-to-79-in-mexico-pipeline-blast-new-focus-on-fuel-theft-191662&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjUl5HpgP7fAhXXfH0KHRLhDcEQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw2jsTSJCsn0q0s5OFNcj89X">gasoline pipeline</a> when first notified because it was not initially thought to be an "important" leak, Mexico's security minister said on Sunday.

The pipeline in central Mexico exploded on Friday, leaving 85 people dead who were collecting gasoline at the leak, officials said.&nbsp;

Security Minister Alfonso Durazo told a news conference that Mexico's military detected the leak about four hours before Pemex closed the valve.

Mexico's state oil firm, Pemex, did not close the valve at a leaking gasoline pipeline when first notified because it was not initially thought to be an "important" leak, Mexico's security minister said on Sunday.

Mexico's state oil firm, Pemex, did not close the valve at a leaking gasoline pipeline when first notified because it was not initially thought to be an "important" leak, Mexico's security minister said on Sunday. The pipeline in central Mexico exploded on Friday, leaving 85 people dead who were collecting gasoline at the leak, officials said. Security Minister Alfonso Durazo told a news conference that Mexico's military detected the leak about four hours before Pemex closed the valve.

Mexico gasoline pipeline leak detected hours before fatal blast

Mexico suffered a record 33,341 homicides in 2018, according to official statistics released Monday, breaking the record set in 2017, as violence fueled by a war on the country's powerful drug cartels plagues the country.

More than 200,000 people have been murdered in Mexico since the government controversially deployed the army to fight drug trafficking in 2006. The previous record was 28,866 homicides in 2017.

The new record shows the grim challenge facing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, an anti-establishment leftist who took office in December with a promise to curb the gruesome violence.

His strategy is built on creating a national guard that will officially bring civilian police duties under military control.

Critics say that will only prolong the militarization of the crackdown on drug cartels and exacerbate human rights abuses, which activists say have soared since the army was sent into the streets.

In a concession to critics, Lopez Obrador agreed to put the new force under civilian command, but opponents say that will do little to resolve the underlying problems.

Creating the national guard will require a constitutional amendment.

The legislation cleared the lower house last week with the required two-thirds majority, in a major victory for Lopez Obrador -- though he complained the bill as passed did not give the military enough powers during the transition to the new force.

The plan still has to pass the Senate, also with a two-thirds majority, and half of Mexico's 32 state legislatures -- most controlled by Lopez Obrador's party, Morena.

Mexico suffered a record 33,341 homicides in 2018, according to official statistics released Monday, breaking the record set in 2017, as violence fueled by a war on the country's powerful drug cartels plagues the country.

Mexico suffered a record 33,341 homicides in 2018, according to official statistics released Monday, breaking the record set in 2017, as violence fueled by a war on the country's powerful drug cartels plagues the country. More than 200,000 people have been murdered in Mexico since the government controversially deployed the army to fight drug trafficking in 2006. The previous record was 28,866 homicides in 2017. The new record shows the grim challenge facing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, an anti-establishment leftist who took office in December with a promise to curb the gruesome violence. His strategy is built on creating a national guard that will officially bring civilian police duties under military control. Critics say that will only prolong the militarization of the crackdown on drug cartels and exacerbate human rights abuses, which activists say have soared since the army was sent into the streets. In a concession to critics, Lopez Obrador agreed to put the new force under civilian command, but opponents say that will do little to resolve the underlying problems. Creating the national guard will require a constitutional amendment. The legislation cleared the lower house last week with the required two-thirds majority, in a major victory for Lopez Obrador -- though he complained the bill as passed did not give the military enough powers during the transition to the new force. The plan still has to pass the Senate, also with a two-thirds majority, and half of Mexico's 32 state legislatures -- most controlled by Lopez Obrador's party, Morena.

Mexico murders set new record in 2018: Official statistics

The number of people who died from a gasoline pipeline explosion in central Mexico has risen to 85, Mexico's health minister said on Sunday.

An additional 58 people were hospitalized, Health Minister Jorge Alcocer told a news conference. <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/death-toll-raised-to-79-in-mexico-pipeline-blast-new-focus-on-fuel-theft-191662">The explosion took place on Friday</a>, when about 800 people in Hidalgo state's Tlahuelilpan district were collecting fuel from a leak at a major pipeline.

The number of people who died from a gasoline pipeline explosion in central Mexico has risen to 85, Mexico's health minister said on Sunday. An additional 58 people were hospitalized, Health Minister Jorge Alcocer told a news conference.

The number of people who died from a gasoline pipeline explosion in central Mexico has risen to 85, Mexico's health minister said on Sunday. An additional 58 people were hospitalized, Health Minister Jorge Alcocer told a news conference. The explosion took place on Friday, when about 800 people in Hidalgo state's Tlahuelilpan district were collecting fuel from a leak at a major pipeline.

Death toll from Mexico pipeline blast rises to 85: Health Minister

In pictures: The week that was

At least 20 people were killed and 54 were injured on Friday when a ruptured pipeline exploded in central Mexico as people were trying to fill up containers with fuel, the government of Hidalgo state said.

Mexican television footage showed flames leaping into the night sky as the pipeline burned in the municipality of Tlahuelilpan near the Tula refinery to the north of Mexico City while people shouted and cried for help.

"The preliminary report I`ve been passed is very serious, they`re telling me 20 people have died, charred, and that 54 are injured, burned," Hidalgo state governor Omar Fayad told Mexican television. "There are many injured. Many."

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has launched a major crackdown on rampant fuel theft, which the government said cost the country more than $3 billion last year.

Lopez Obrador expressed his concern on Twitter&nbsp;and said he wanted "the entire government" to help people at the scene.

Separate television footage showed the pipeline gushing fuel earlier in the day and people moving in with containers.

At least 20 people were killed and 54 were injured on Friday when a ruptured pipeline exploded in central Mexico as people were trying to fill up containers with fuel, the government of Hidalgo state said.

At least 20 people were killed and 54 were injured on Friday when a ruptured pipeline exploded in central Mexico as people were trying to fill up containers with fuel, the government of Hidalgo state said. Mexican television footage showed flames leaping into the night sky as the pipeline burned in the municipality of Tlahuelilpan near the Tula refinery to the north of Mexico City while people shouted and cried for help. "The preliminary report I`ve been passed is very serious, they`re telling me 20 people have died, charred, and that 54 are injured, burned," Hidalgo state governor Omar Fayad told Mexican television. "There are many injured. Many." Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has launched a major crackdown on rampant fuel theft, which the government said cost the country more than $3 billion last year. Lopez Obrador expressed his concern on Twitter and said he wanted "the entire government" to help people at the scene. Separate television footage showed the pipeline gushing fuel earlier in the day and people moving in with containers.

At least 20 killed in pipeline explosion in central Mexico

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador pledged to step up efforts to stamp out fuel theft on Saturday after <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-20-killed-in-pipeline-explosion-in-central-mexico-191328">an explosion at a pipeline killed at least 21 people</a> and injured dozens more.

The blast at the pipeline, which was ruptured by suspected thieves, sent flames shooting into the skies in the municipality of Tlahuelilpan in the central state of Hidalgo on Friday.

Video footage showed residents scrambling to fill containers from the burst pipe and badly burned victims, raising questions about the management of an issue Lopez Obrador has made a top priority since taking office on December 1.

Veteran leftist Lopez Obrador launched a crackdown on fuel theft on December 27 and ordered pipelines to be closed temporarily to stop illegal taps draining billions of dollars from the heavily-indebted state oil firm Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex).

"Far from stopping the fight ... against fuel theft, it's going to become stronger, we'll continue until we've eradicated these practices," Lopez Obrador, who has said he will step up the security presence in sensitive areas, said.

Video on social media of people filling buckets from the pipeline during daylight hours in the presence of the armed forces prompting questions about why authorities had not acted.

The government said soldiers reached the scene after Pemex detected the illegal tap, but could not secure the area in time.

"At some point, there were too many people there and the army and military personnel withdrew to avoid problems," Public Security Minister Alfonso Durazo told broadcaster Televisa. "It was just as they were withdrawing that the explosion occurred."

DEATH TOLL COULD RISE

Aerial footage on Mexican television showed what appeared to be smouldering corpses scattered on the ground near the blaze.

Hidalgo's governor Omar Fayad said that emergency services had registered the charred bodies of 21 people and that at least 71 others had been injured. However, he said the death toll could still rise as authorities reviewed the site.

Lopez Obrador says his shutdown greatly reduced theft, but it sparked fears for the economy, as well as triggering shortfalls in central Mexico, including Hidalgo.

Soon after the government said Friday's blaze had been put out, TV footage showed tense exchanges between authorities guarding the site and residents arguing that the death toll was significantly higher than 21.

The damage also raised the prospect of a new setback in the government's bid to restore fuel supply.

Pemex Chief Executive Officer Octavio Romero said the ruptured pipeline, which Durazo said early findings suggested had been tapped before, was vital to transporting an additive needed for gasoline produced in Mexico. 
&nbsp;

The blast at the pipeline, which was ruptured by suspected thieves, sent flames shooting into the skies in the municipality of Tlahuelilpan in the central state of Hidalgo on Friday.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador pledged to step up efforts to stamp out fuel theft on Saturday after an explosion at a pipeline killed at least 21 people and injured dozens more. The blast at the pipeline, which was ruptured by suspected thieves, sent flames shooting into the skies in the municipality of Tlahuelilpan in the central state of Hidalgo on Friday. Video footage showed residents scrambling to fill containers from the burst pipe and badly burned victims, raising questions about the management of an issue Lopez Obrador has made a top priority since taking office on December 1. Veteran leftist Lopez Obrador launched a crackdown on fuel theft on December 27 and ordered pipelines to be closed temporarily to stop illegal taps draining billions of dollars from the heavily-indebted state oil firm Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex). "Far from stopping the fight ... against fuel theft, it's going to become stronger, we'll continue until we've eradicated these practices," Lopez Obrador, who has said he will step up the security presence in sensitive areas, said. Video on social media of people filling buckets from the pipeline during daylight hours in the presence of the armed forces prompting questions about why authorities had not acted. The government said soldiers reached the scene after Pemex detected the illegal tap, but could not secure the area in time. "At some point, there were too many people there and the army and military personnel withdrew to avoid problems," Public Security Minister Alfonso Durazo told broadcaster Televisa. "It was just as they were withdrawing that the explosion occurred." DEATH TOLL COULD RISE Aerial footage on Mexican television showed what appeared to be smouldering corpses scattered on the ground near the blaze. Hidalgo's governor Omar Fayad said that emergency services had registered the charred bodies of 21 people and that at least 71 others had been injured. However, he said the death toll could still rise as authorities reviewed the site. Lopez Obrador says his shutdown greatly reduced theft, but it sparked fears for the economy, as well as triggering shortfalls in central Mexico, including Hidalgo. Soon after the government said Friday's blaze had been put out, TV footage showed tense exchanges between authorities guarding the site and residents arguing that the death toll was significantly higher than 21. The damage also raised the prospect of a new setback in the government's bid to restore fuel supply. Pemex Chief Executive Officer Octavio Romero said the ruptured pipeline, which Durazo said early findings suggested had been tapped before, was vital to transporting an additive needed for gasoline produced in Mexico.

Mexico vows fuel theft crackdown after deadly pipeline blast

Hundreds of mostly <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/hondurans-form-a-new-us-bound-caravan-drawing-fire-from-trump-191110">Honduran migrants</a> entered southern Mexico on Friday, joining around 1,000 other people from Central America who crossed a day earlier and putting to the test Mexico`s vows to guarantee the safe and orderly flow of people.

The cohort crossed the Guatemalan border into Chiapas state before dawn without needing the wrist bands that Mexican officials on Thursday gave migrants to wear until they could register with authorities, several migrants and an official told Reuters.&nbsp;

"The road today was open," said Marco Antonio Cortez, 37, a baker from Honduras travelling with his wife and children, ages 2 and 9. "They didn`t give us bracelets or anything, they just let us pass through Mexico migration."

A migration official at the entry point, who asked not to be named because she was not authorized to speak to media, said that at least 1,000 people crossed from Guatemala into Mexico before dawn, without putting on wrist bands.

Asked why migrants did not receive wrist bands, David Leon, the director of civil protection, said authorities faced a caravan of hundreds of people early in the morning and let them pass rather than risk a confrontation.

The migrant group proceeded on foot alongside cars on a highway, accompanied by federal police officers, arriving at a shelter in the city of Tapachula around midday.

Sitting by the side of the road rubbing cream onto his children`s feet, 40-year-old Honduran migrant Santos Pineda said he and his family entered Mexico easily, and without having to provide documents or wear any wrist bands. The family`s plan was to press on to the United States, he said.

A migration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said those who entered without wrist bands ran the risk of being detained for crossing illegally. 
Around 300 mostly Honduran migrants with wrist bands were still waiting to cross into Mexico on Friday afternoon.

Mexico`s migration institute said the migrants can stay in temporary shelters in Mexico until they receive humanitarian visas allowing them to remain in the country, or they can wait in Guatemala for their document to be ready.

Groups of migrants left El Salvador and Honduras earlier in the week, the latest in a string of caravans of people largely fleeing poverty and violence.&nbsp;

The caravans have inflamed the debate over US immigration policy, with President Donald Trump using the migrants to try to secure backing for his plan to build a wall on the US-Mexican border.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is pursuing a "humanitarian" approach to the problem, vowing to stem the flow of people by finding jobs for the migrants. In exchange, he wants Trump to help spur economic development in the region.

Hundreds of mostly Honduran migrants entered southern Mexico on Friday, joining around 1,000 other people from Central America who crossed a day earlier and putting to the test Mexico`s vows to guarantee the safe and orderly flow of people.

Hundreds of mostly Honduran migrants entered southern Mexico on Friday, joining around 1,000 other people from Central America who crossed a day earlier and putting to the test Mexico`s vows to guarantee the safe and orderly flow of people. The cohort crossed the Guatemalan border into Chiapas state before dawn without needing the wrist bands that Mexican officials on Thursday gave migrants to wear until they could register with authorities, several migrants and an official told Reuters. "The road today was open," said Marco Antonio Cortez, 37, a baker from Honduras travelling with his wife and children, ages 2 and 9. "They didn`t give us bracelets or anything, they just let us pass through Mexico migration." A migration official at the entry point, who asked not to be named because she was not authorized to speak to media, said that at least 1,000 people crossed from Guatemala into Mexico before dawn, without putting on wrist bands. Asked why migrants did not receive wrist bands, David Leon, the director of civil protection, said authorities faced a caravan of hundreds of people early in the morning and let them pass rather than risk a confrontation. The migrant group proceeded on foot alongside cars on a highway, accompanied by federal police officers, arriving at a shelter in the city of Tapachula around midday. Sitting by the side of the road rubbing cream onto his children`s feet, 40-year-old Honduran migrant Santos Pineda said he and his family entered Mexico easily, and without having to provide documents or wear any wrist bands. The family`s plan was to press on to the United States, he said. A migration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said those who entered without wrist bands ran the risk of being detained for crossing illegally. Around 300 mostly Honduran migrants with wrist bands were still waiting to cross into Mexico on Friday afternoon. Mexico`s migration institute said the migrants can stay in temporary shelters in Mexico until they receive humanitarian visas allowing them to remain in the country, or they can wait in Guatemala for their document to be ready. Groups of migrants left El Salvador and Honduras earlier in the week, the latest in a string of caravans of people largely fleeing poverty and violence. The caravans have inflamed the debate over US immigration policy, with President Donald Trump using the migrants to try to secure backing for his plan to build a wall on the US-Mexican border. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is pursuing a "humanitarian" approach to the problem, vowing to stem the flow of people by finding jobs for the migrants. In exchange, he wants Trump to help spur economic development in the region.

Hundreds of Central American migrants enter Mexico with few checks

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-bound-honduran-migrant-caravan-grows-as-trump-argues-for-wall-190630">Hundreds of Hondurans</a> have set out on a trek to the United States, forming another caravan that US President Donald Trump cited Tuesday to justify building a wall on the border with Mexico.

"A big new Caravan is heading up to our Southern Border from Honduras," Trump tweeted Tuesday. "Only a Wall, or Steel Barrier, will keep our Country safe! Stop playing political games and end the Shutdown!"

As the procession left the town of San Pedro Sula under a steady rain Monday night, one of the migrants summed up their plight: "We are leaving because there is crime and no work," said Juan Garcia, 52.

Many said they had answered an anonymous social media posting referring to a January 15 <a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/need-to-solve-a-border-dispute-look-to-ethiopia-and-uzbekistan-188937">migrant </a>caravan leaving Honduras' second city. Most are young men, but the caravan also includes older people, including women carrying children. Some had wrapped themselves in the blue-and-white Honduran flag.

"In this country, there is nothing. Only unemployment, corruption, violence, extortion, which is why we fled the country," said Darwin Omar Reyes, 19, from the capital Tegucigalpa.

More than 500 people set out from the center of San Pedro Sula, which is 180 kilometers (110 miles) north of the capital Tegucigalpa.

It was from the same transport hub that some 2,000 Hondurans left on October 13 in the first of a series of US-bound caravans. That and other migrant flows from El Salvador and Guatemala came to total some 13,000 people.

Tougher border policies

More than half turned around and went home, eventually. Hundreds -- down from much larger numbers late last year -- remain at the Mexican border with the United States, held back by tougher border policies under Trump and support among his base for his proposed border wall.

Marlin Alcantara, 31, said from among a group of people in the back of a pick-up truck that she was fleeing domestic violence and had documentation that would support her entry to the US. She was travelling with two daughters aged nine and 13.

"My particular case is delicate. We were victims of my mother's husband. The miserable man is in prison now but it's not enough. The worst thing is that she is on his side," said Alcantara. "That's why I made the decision to go," she said.

Kevin Ramos, 18, worked at a coffee plantation in western Honduras before he was made unemployed two months ago.&nbsp;

"With God's help, we can get a job in the United States," he said. He said his father had urged him to join the caravan.

Many said they had lost hope under President Juan Orlando Hernandez. "We don't want that president, who is destroying our lives," said Javier Moran.

Hernandez's rise to power in 2014 elections provided a surge of hope for Hondurans, but Moran said that a year into his second term, that hope had dissipated.&nbsp;

Living in shelters

According to Honduras' embassy in Mexico, around 2,500 Hondurans from earlier caravans are currently living in shelters in Mexico, and that only about 3 per cent of them are likely to achieve their goal of asylum in the United States.

The Honduran foreign ministry estimates that, in all, around 13,000 Hondurans arrived in Mexico in recent months, of which around 7,200 voluntarily returned to their country after being blocked at the Mexico-US border. A total of 11 migrants had died.

The first caravan, on October 13, sparked a Twitter-borne stream of anti-migrant invective from the US president.

Trump has refused to sign off on budgets for swaths of government departments in a showdown with Democrats over funding for his border wall project, leading to the longest government shutdown in US history.

The president has made the migrant caravans one of his main targets as part of his broader anti-immigration drive in mid-term elections last November.

Hundreds of Hondurans have set out on a trek to the United States, forming another caravan that US President Donald Trump cited Tuesday to justify building a wall on the border with Mexico.

Hundreds of Hondurans have set out on a trek to the United States, forming another caravan that US President Donald Trump cited Tuesday to justify building a wall on the border with Mexico. "A big new Caravan is heading up to our Southern Border from Honduras," Trump tweeted Tuesday. "Only a Wall, or Steel Barrier, will keep our Country safe! Stop playing political games and end the Shutdown!" As the procession left the town of San Pedro Sula under a steady rain Monday night, one of the migrants summed up their plight: "We are leaving because there is crime and no work," said Juan Garcia, 52. Many said they had answered an anonymous social media posting referring to a January 15 migrant caravan leaving Honduras' second city. Most are young men, but the caravan also includes older people, including women carrying children. Some had wrapped themselves in the blue-and-white Honduran flag. "In this country, there is nothing. Only unemployment, corruption, violence, extortion, which is why we fled the country," said Darwin Omar Reyes, 19, from the capital Tegucigalpa. More than 500 people set out from the center of San Pedro Sula, which is 180 kilometers (110 miles) north of the capital Tegucigalpa. It was from the same transport hub that some 2,000 Hondurans left on October 13 in the first of a series of US-bound caravans. That and other migrant flows from El Salvador and Guatemala came to total some 13,000 people. Tougher border policies More than half turned around and went home, eventually. Hundreds -- down from much larger numbers late last year -- remain at the Mexican border with the United States, held back by tougher border policies under Trump and support among his base for his proposed border wall. Marlin Alcantara, 31, said from among a group of people in the back of a pick-up truck that she was fleeing domestic violence and had documentation that would support her entry to the US. She was travelling with two daughters aged nine and 13. "My particular case is delicate. We were victims of my mother's husband. The miserable man is in prison now but it's not enough. The worst thing is that she is on his side," said Alcantara. "That's why I made the decision to go," she said. Kevin Ramos, 18, worked at a coffee plantation in western Honduras before he was made unemployed two months ago. "With God's help, we can get a job in the United States," he said. He said his father had urged him to join the caravan. Many said they had lost hope under President Juan Orlando Hernandez. "We don't want that president, who is destroying our lives," said Javier Moran. Hernandez's rise to power in 2014 elections provided a surge of hope for Hondurans, but Moran said that a year into his second term, that hope had dissipated. Living in shelters According to Honduras' embassy in Mexico, around 2,500 Hondurans from earlier caravans are currently living in shelters in Mexico, and that only about 3 per cent of them are likely to achieve their goal of asylum in the United States. The Honduran foreign ministry estimates that, in all, around 13,000 Hondurans arrived in Mexico in recent months, of which around 7,200 voluntarily returned to their country after being blocked at the Mexico-US border. A total of 11 migrants had died. The first caravan, on October 13, sparked a Twitter-borne stream of anti-migrant invective from the US president. Trump has refused to sign off on budgets for swaths of government departments in a showdown with Democrats over funding for his border wall project, leading to the longest government shutdown in US history. The president has made the migrant caravans one of his main targets as part of his broader anti-immigration drive in mid-term elections last November.

Hondurans form a new US-bound caravan, drawing fire from Trump

Accused Mexican drug lord <a href="http://www.wionews.com/entertainment/el-chapo-dreamed-of-biopic-for-years-before-capture-says-trial-witness-190401">Joaquin "El Chapo" </a>Guzman once paid a $100 million bribe to former Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, an ex-Guzman associate testified on Tuesday that he previously told US&nbsp;authorities. 
&nbsp; 
Alex Cifuentes, who has described himself as Guzman`s onetime right-hand man, discussed the alleged bribe under cross-examination by Jeffrey Lichtman, one of Guzman's lawyers, in Brooklyn federal court. Asked if he told authorities in 2016 that Guzman arranged the bribe, he answered, "That's right."

Reuters could not immediately reach Pena Nieto or his former spokesman for comment. He has previously denied taking bribes.

The allegations are among the most explosive to emerge from Guzman`s trial, which began in November and has so far featured the testimony of lower-level corruption.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/mexican-drug-lord-el-chapo-faces-biggest-us-drugs-trial-175595">Guzman,</a> 61, was extradited to the United States in 2017 to face charges of trafficking cocaine, heroin and other drugs into the country as leader of the Sinaloa Cartel.

Cifuentes testified that he had told US&nbsp;prosecutors that Pena Nieto initially reached out to Guzman, asking for $250 million. Cifuentes told the prosecutors that the bribe was paid in October 2012, when Pena Nieto was president-elect, he testified.

Cifuentes also said testified that Guzman once told him he had received a message from Pena Nieto saying he did not have to live in hiding anymore.

Lichtman had promised jurors in his opening statement last November they would hear how Mexican drug kingpin Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada bribed Pena Nieto and another former president as part of a scheme to frame Guzman. He said Zambada was the real boss of the cartel.

Pena Nieto at the time called the claim "completely false and defamatory." 
US&nbsp;District Judge Brian Cogan, however, refused to allow Guzman`s lawyers to question Zambada`s brother about the alleged bribes last year.

It was unclear how Cifuentes` testimony, which appeared to implicate Guzman, could be used to defend him, though Lichtman homed in on inconsistencies in Cifuentes` memory. Cifuentes admitted that at a meeting last year, he told prosecutors he was no longer sure of the exact amounts of the bribes but did not elaborate.

Pena Nieto was president of Mexico from December 2012 until November 2018. He was once a rising star in Mexico’s long-dominant Institutional Revolutionary Party or PRI. He was the former governor of the state of Mexico, the country’s most populous, and married a glamorous telenovela actress just a couple years before winning the presidency.

But the president ended his term a much-diminished figure, pummeled by conflict-of-interest scandals, rampant crime and a lacklustre economy.

While Pena Nieto himself was barred by law from running for a second term in 2018, his centrist party suffered a historic defeat at the polls as leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador won in a landslide, relegating the PRI to the role of a marginal player in the new Congress.

Captured by Pena Nieto`s government in February 2014, Guzman broke out of prison for a second time some 17 months later, escaping through a mile-long tunnel dug right into in his cell.

The jailbreak humiliated the government and battered the president`s already damaged credibility, though Pena Nieto personally announced news of the kingpin`s third capture when he was again arrested in northwestern Mexico in January 2016.

Colombian-born Cifuentes is one of about a dozen witnesses who have so far testified against Guzman after striking deals with US&nbsp;prosecutors, in a trial that has provided a window into the secretive world of the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the world`s most powerful drug trafficking organization.

Cifuentes earlier on Tuesday had also testified that Guzman asked an associate to pay a $10 million bribe to a general. The witness said the bribe was never paid and Guzman subsequently ordered the associate killed, though the hit was never carried out. 
&nbsp;

Accused Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman once paid a $100 million bribe to former Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, an ex-Guzman associate testified on Tuesday that he previously told US authorities.

Accused Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman once paid a $100 million bribe to former Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, an ex-Guzman associate testified on Tuesday that he previously told US authorities. Alex Cifuentes, who has described himself as Guzman`s onetime right-hand man, discussed the alleged bribe under cross-examination by Jeffrey Lichtman, one of Guzman's lawyers, in Brooklyn federal court. Asked if he told authorities in 2016 that Guzman arranged the bribe, he answered, "That's right." Reuters could not immediately reach Pena Nieto or his former spokesman for comment. He has previously denied taking bribes. The allegations are among the most explosive to emerge from Guzman`s trial, which began in November and has so far featured the testimony of lower-level corruption. Guzman, 61, was extradited to the United States in 2017 to face charges of trafficking cocaine, heroin and other drugs into the country as leader of the Sinaloa Cartel. Cifuentes testified that he had told US prosecutors that Pena Nieto initially reached out to Guzman, asking for $250 million. Cifuentes told the prosecutors that the bribe was paid in October 2012, when Pena Nieto was president-elect, he testified. Cifuentes also said testified that Guzman once told him he had received a message from Pena Nieto saying he did not have to live in hiding anymore. Lichtman had promised jurors in his opening statement last November they would hear how Mexican drug kingpin Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada bribed Pena Nieto and another former president as part of a scheme to frame Guzman. He said Zambada was the real boss of the cartel. Pena Nieto at the time called the claim "completely false and defamatory." US District Judge Brian Cogan, however, refused to allow Guzman`s lawyers to question Zambada`s brother about the alleged bribes last year. It was unclear how Cifuentes` testimony, which appeared to implicate Guzman, could be used to defend him, though Lichtman homed in on inconsistencies in Cifuentes` memory. Cifuentes admitted that at a meeting last year, he told prosecutors he was no longer sure of the exact amounts of the bribes but did not elaborate. Pena Nieto was president of Mexico from December 2012 until November 2018. He was once a rising star in Mexico’s long-dominant Institutional Revolutionary Party or PRI. He was the former governor of the state of Mexico, the country’s most populous, and married a glamorous telenovela actress just a couple years before winning the presidency. But the president ended his term a much-diminished figure, pummeled by conflict-of-interest scandals, rampant crime and a lacklustre economy. While Pena Nieto himself was barred by law from running for a second term in 2018, his centrist party suffered a historic defeat at the polls as leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador won in a landslide, relegating the PRI to the role of a marginal player in the new Congress. Captured by Pena Nieto`s government in February 2014, Guzman broke out of prison for a second time some 17 months later, escaping through a mile-long tunnel dug right into in his cell. The jailbreak humiliated the government and battered the president`s already damaged credibility, though Pena Nieto personally announced news of the kingpin`s third capture when he was again arrested in northwestern Mexico in January 2016. Colombian-born Cifuentes is one of about a dozen witnesses who have so far testified against Guzman after striking deals with US prosecutors, in a trial that has provided a window into the secretive world of the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the world`s most powerful drug trafficking organization. Cifuentes earlier on Tuesday had also testified that Guzman asked an associate to pay a $10 million bribe to a general. The witness said the bribe was never paid and Guzman subsequently ordered the associate killed, though the hit was never carried out.

'El Chapo' paid ex-Mexican president $100 million bribe, says trial witness

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

President Donald Trump has attributed <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/top-republicans-oppose-border-emergency-as-shutdown-drags-on-190088">the partial government shutdown</a>, which is now into its 24th day, to the opposition Democrats who have blocked his proposal of $5.7 billion in Congressional funding to build a wall along the US-Mexico border.

He also said that he will "never ever back down" when it comes to keeping the American people safe.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/pompeo-hopes-for-imminent-end-to-us-government-shutdown-190082">The partial government shutdown</a>, which is the longest ever, has left more than 800,000 federal government workers out of work across the key departments.

"The government remains shut down for one reason and one reason only, the Democrats will not fund border security, our safety, our national security," Trump said on Monday while addressing to a rally of farmers in Louisiana.&nbsp;

Referring to his visit to the Mexico border last week, Trump said illegal aliens not only from Mexico but also from other nations enter the country from the southern border.&nbsp;

"People come from many countries. When I was at the wall the other day, Border Patrol said they have 150 people they caught that day who weren't from Mexico. I said that's a strange statement," he said.

"They said no, these are the people that weren't from Mexico and I was surprised. Three were from Pakistan, four from another Mideast, two Mideast countries and many were from other countries including China, countries all over the world.&nbsp;

"150 of the people, as he said, were not from Mexico. Now they caught, many, many more but that's 150 people coming from countries that you wouldn't believe," Trump said.

He said the Democrats will not approve the measures he needs to keep America safe.&nbsp;

"We can't do that. We can't do that because this is of paramount importance to our country and again, I could take it nice and easy. I could enjoy myself. I could relax. I have been in the White House because I think it's very important to be there," he said.

He alleged that the Democrat leaders went on a nice wonderful vacation over the weekend.

"They had a great time but I would have loved to have been with them. I didn't like the look of it. I would have loved to have been with them but we have a very big problem. This should have been done by other presidents just like the moving of the embassy to Jerusalem should have been done. It was promised by many other presidents," the US President said.

Trump insisted that the US needed a wall all around, all the length of the border.&nbsp;

"We have got to stop the drug packers bringing drugs to poison our people," he said, arguing that walls, as being said by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, are not immoral.

"I've travelled around the world and the biggest wall I have ever seen is around the Vatican. Now you can't tell me that the wonderful priests and officials of the Roman Catholic church including the Pope are immoral. They have a wall. Why can't we?" he said.

Asserting that the defense of the nation is his highest and most important duty, Trump said when it comes to keeping the American people safe, he will never ever back down.

"I didn't need this fight. This is a real fight. We are dealing against people who think if they can stop me from building the wall again, we've already done a lot of work but they think that's a good thing for 2020 because they're not going to win.&nbsp;

"They think if they can't stop me from building the wall that's good. This is the reason why they don't want the wall built because they all know it works, they all approved it numerous times," he said.

The partial government shutdown, which is the longest ever, has left more than 800,000 federal government workers out of work across the key departments.

President Donald Trump has attributed the partial government shutdown, which is now into its 24th day, to the opposition Democrats who have blocked his proposal of $5.7 billion in Congressional funding to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. He also said that he will "never ever back down" when it comes to keeping the American people safe. The partial government shutdown, which is the longest ever, has left more than 800,000 federal government workers out of work across the key departments. "The government remains shut down for one reason and one reason only, the Democrats will not fund border security, our safety, our national security," Trump said on Monday while addressing to a rally of farmers in Louisiana. Referring to his visit to the Mexico border last week, Trump said illegal aliens not only from Mexico but also from other nations enter the country from the southern border. "People come from many countries. When I was at the wall the other day, Border Patrol said they have 150 people they caught that day who weren't from Mexico. I said that's a strange statement," he said. "They said no, these are the people that weren't from Mexico and I was surprised. Three were from Pakistan, four from another Mideast, two Mideast countries and many were from other countries including China, countries all over the world. "150 of the people, as he said, were not from Mexico. Now they caught, many, many more but that's 150 people coming from countries that you wouldn't believe," Trump said. He said the Democrats will not approve the measures he needs to keep America safe. "We can't do that. We can't do that because this is of paramount importance to our country and again, I could take it nice and easy. I could enjoy myself. I could relax. I have been in the White House because I think it's very important to be there," he said. He alleged that the Democrat leaders went on a nice wonderful vacation over the weekend. "They had a great time but I would have loved to have been with them. I didn't like the look of it. I would have loved to have been with them but we have a very big problem. This should have been done by other presidents just like the moving of the embassy to Jerusalem should have been done. It was promised by many other presidents," the US President said. Trump insisted that the US needed a wall all around, all the length of the border. "We have got to stop the drug packers bringing drugs to poison our people," he said, arguing that walls, as being said by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, are not immoral. "I've travelled around the world and the biggest wall I have ever seen is around the Vatican. Now you can't tell me that the wonderful priests and officials of the Roman Catholic church including the Pope are immoral. They have a wall. Why can't we?" he said. Asserting that the defense of the nation is his highest and most important duty, Trump said when it comes to keeping the American people safe, he will never ever back down. "I didn't need this fight. This is a real fight. We are dealing against people who think if they can stop me from building the wall again, we've already done a lot of work but they think that's a good thing for 2020 because they're not going to win. "They think if they can't stop me from building the wall that's good. This is the reason why they don't want the wall built because they all know it works, they all approved it numerous times," he said.

Government shutdown because of opposition Democrats: US President Trump

The major events of the world captured through the lens.

In Pics: Mexico to China- Events that captured the world's imagination

Mexican authorities said Thursday they had found 21 bodies on the US-Mexican border after a drug-gang shootout in a town near where <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-will-skip-davos-meeting-if-us-government-shutdown-continues-189462">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;visited&nbsp;later in the day.

The bodies -- some of them badly burned -- were found Wednesday in the border town of Miguel Aleman, about 170 miles (270 kilometres) from McAllen, Texas, the city Trump was due to visit as he continues his push to build his long-sought border wall.

"We have reports there was a shootout yesterday (Wednesday) between two criminal groups that ended with 21 people dead," the security spokesman for the state of Tamaulipas, Luis Alberto Rodriguez, told Mexican TV news channel Milenio.

"Some of them were burned. Seven vehicles were also located... It was a confrontation between two rival groups that are involved in a turf war over drug-trafficking routes."

The Mexican army found the bodies in a remote area following a tip-off, he said.

Tamaulipas has become one of the most violent states in Mexico as rival drug cartels fight each other for its strategic position on the US border.

Mexico has been racked by drug-related violence in recent years -- something Trump has alluded to in arguing his wall is needed to keep out violent criminals and narcotics.

McAllen, where he was meeting with border patrol agents, sits across from Tamaulipas. The US State Department has issued its most severe travel warning for the state because of violent crime, classifying it alongside countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan.

More than 200,000 people have been murdered in Mexico since the government deployed the army to fight the country's powerful drug cartels in 2006, including a record 28,711 in 2017.

Preliminary figures indicate the homicide record was broken again in 2018.

Mexican authorities said Thursday they had found 21 bodies on the US-Mexican border after a drug-gang shootout in a town near where President Donald Trump visited later in the day.

Mexican authorities said Thursday they had found 21 bodies on the US-Mexican border after a drug-gang shootout in a town near where President Donald Trump visited later in the day. The bodies -- some of them badly burned -- were found Wednesday in the border town of Miguel Aleman, about 170 miles (270 kilometres) from McAllen, Texas, the city Trump was due to visit as he continues his push to build his long-sought border wall. "We have reports there was a shootout yesterday (Wednesday) between two criminal groups that ended with 21 people dead," the security spokesman for the state of Tamaulipas, Luis Alberto Rodriguez, told Mexican TV news channel Milenio. "Some of them were burned. Seven vehicles were also located... It was a confrontation between two rival groups that are involved in a turf war over drug-trafficking routes." The Mexican army found the bodies in a remote area following a tip-off, he said. Tamaulipas has become one of the most violent states in Mexico as rival drug cartels fight each other for its strategic position on the US border. Mexico has been racked by drug-related violence in recent years -- something Trump has alluded to in arguing his wall is needed to keep out violent criminals and narcotics. McAllen, where he was meeting with border patrol agents, sits across from Tamaulipas. The US State Department has issued its most severe travel warning for the state because of violent crime, classifying it alongside countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan. More than 200,000 people have been murdered in Mexico since the government deployed the army to fight the country's powerful drug cartels in 2006, including a record 28,711 in 2017. Preliminary figures indicate the homicide record was broken again in 2018.

21 bodies found after drug gang shootout on US-Mexico border as Trump visits

Reggie Singh, the brother of Indian-origin policeman Ronil "Ron" Singh killed in California and described a national hero by Donald Trump, has said he supported the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-will-skip-davos-meeting-if-us-government-shutdown-continues-189462">US president's efforts on border security </a>so that others do not experience what his family has been going through since the incident.

Corporal Ronil Singh, 33, of the Newman Police Department was shot and killed during a traffic stop on December 26 allegedly by an illegal immigrant.

During a visit to the southern border state Texas on Thursday to push for his controversial <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-pushes-wall-plan-in-us-mexico-border-visit-189471">US-Mexico border wall plan</a>, Trump attended a border patrol roundtable at McAllen, where Reggie Singh was seated next to the president.

There the US president said, "I watched a family right around Christmas time... Suffer and I'd like to ask Reggie, maybe you could say a few words about your incredible brother, the job he was doing. He was so beloved by the people of the department and beyond the department."

To this, Reggie Singh told the president, "The way he (Ronil Singh) was killed, what my family is going through right now, I do not want any other family, law enforcement person to go through that."

"Whatever it takes to minimize... Put a stop to it, my family fully supports it," Reggie Singh said.

In the last few days, Trump has made it a point to mention the killing of Ronil Singh by an illegal immigrant to build a strong case in favour of a stronger border security to prevent entry of illegal immigrants.

"We are deeply moved to have with us Reggie Singh, whose brother, Ronil Singh, incredible guy. I mean, I watched, and I've rarely felt worse and watching news of our nation than watching your family and the love that you have for your brother," Trump said.

During the roundtable meeting, Reggie Singh said he and his brother are originally from Fiji.

"He (Ronil) always wanted to be in law enforcement. So legally we migrated to America to fulfil his dream of joining the law enforcement," he said.

"English is our second language. He worked on that, got his education, applied for law enforcement agency and he was asked to get his citizenship. He worked towards that and he became a cop, K-9, Corporal K-9," Reggie Singh said.

"At 33, Ronil Singh was cremated and I had to pick up his remains. It breaks my heart and no one should ever go through that. Seeing a five-month-old baby looking for his dad, no one should ever go through that on Christmas Day," he told Trump.

The president replied, "We are with you. You know that, right."

"That was a tough one, too. That was a tough one for a lot of people, not only the family, for a lot of people in this country. That was a tough thing to watch," Trump said.

"I can see that, the way it came through. It came through loud and clear. And there are so many other people who have the same -- nobody covers them..., nobody talks about how unfair it is to the victims of these brutal killings," he said.

On Tuesday, Trump spoke with the family members and law enforcement colleagues of Singh, a native of Fiji who joined the force in July 2011 and said America's heart broke the day the young officer was "savagely murdered" in cold blood by an "illegal alien".

Trump has asked for US $5.6 billion from the Congress to construct a wall along the US-Mexico border, which he said is crucial to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and smuggling of drugs into the country.

The Democrats argue that constructing a wall is not the best use of taxpayers' money.

The sharp differences between the Trump administration and the opposition Democrats over border security has resulted in a partial government shutdown, which entered its 20th day on Thursday, making it the second-longest in history after the 21-day shutdown in 1995-96.

Reggie Singh, the brother of Indian-origin policeman Ronil "Ron" Singh killed in California and described a national hero by Donald Trump, has said he supported the US president's efforts on border security so that others do not experience what his family has been going through since the incident.

Reggie Singh, the brother of Indian-origin policeman Ronil "Ron" Singh killed in California and described a national hero by Donald Trump, has said he supported the US president's efforts on border security so that others do not experience what his family has been going through since the incident. Corporal Ronil Singh, 33, of the Newman Police Department was shot and killed during a traffic stop on December 26 allegedly by an illegal immigrant. During a visit to the southern border state Texas on Thursday to push for his controversial US-Mexico border wall plan, Trump attended a border patrol roundtable at McAllen, where Reggie Singh was seated next to the president. There the US president said, "I watched a family right around Christmas time... Suffer and I'd like to ask Reggie, maybe you could say a few words about your incredible brother, the job he was doing. He was so beloved by the people of the department and beyond the department." To this, Reggie Singh told the president, "The way he (Ronil Singh) was killed, what my family is going through right now, I do not want any other family, law enforcement person to go through that." "Whatever it takes to minimize... Put a stop to it, my family fully supports it," Reggie Singh said. In the last few days, Trump has made it a point to mention the killing of Ronil Singh by an illegal immigrant to build a strong case in favour of a stronger border security to prevent entry of illegal immigrants. "We are deeply moved to have with us Reggie Singh, whose brother, Ronil Singh, incredible guy. I mean, I watched, and I've rarely felt worse and watching news of our nation than watching your family and the love that you have for your brother," Trump said. During the roundtable meeting, Reggie Singh said he and his brother are originally from Fiji. "He (Ronil) always wanted to be in law enforcement. So legally we migrated to America to fulfil his dream of joining the law enforcement," he said. "English is our second language. He worked on that, got his education, applied for law enforcement agency and he was asked to get his citizenship. He worked towards that and he became a cop, K-9, Corporal K-9," Reggie Singh said. "At 33, Ronil Singh was cremated and I had to pick up his remains. It breaks my heart and no one should ever go through that. Seeing a five-month-old baby looking for his dad, no one should ever go through that on Christmas Day," he told Trump. The president replied, "We are with you. You know that, right." "That was a tough one, too. That was a tough one for a lot of people, not only the family, for a lot of people in this country. That was a tough thing to watch," Trump said. "I can see that, the way it came through. It came through loud and clear. And there are so many other people who have the same -- nobody covers them..., nobody talks about how unfair it is to the victims of these brutal killings," he said. On Tuesday, Trump spoke with the family members and law enforcement colleagues of Singh, a native of Fiji who joined the force in July 2011 and said America's heart broke the day the young officer was "savagely murdered" in cold blood by an "illegal alien". Trump has asked for US $5.6 billion from the Congress to construct a wall along the US-Mexico border, which he said is crucial to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and smuggling of drugs into the country. The Democrats argue that constructing a wall is not the best use of taxpayers' money. The sharp differences between the Trump administration and the opposition Democrats over border security has resulted in a partial government shutdown, which entered its 20th day on Thursday, making it the second-longest in history after the 21-day shutdown in 1995-96.

Brother of slain Indian-origin cop supports Trump on border security

By Nick Megoran

Border disputes have recently taken on renewed importance, threatening political crisis in the UK, US and EU. Yet 2018 saw positive steps towards resolving some of the world’s most difficult border conflicts, between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan and Ethiopia and Eritrea. What lessons can be drawn from these examples?

International boundaries are not the same as international borders. Boundaries are invisible vertical planes extending upwards into airspace and downwards into the subsoil, marking the legal limit of states. Borders, on the other hand, are the practices associated with managing movement over boundaries, such as customs checkpoints, passport controls, and fences. Although literally at the edge of states, they can symbolically figure at the heart of a nation’s politics.

This was amply demonstrated in 2018. In the UK, the “Irish backstop” question plunged the country into an unprecedented political crisis. In the Mediterranean, meanwhile, over 2,200 migrants died attempting to evade the EU’s draconian border controls. At the same time, political gains have been made by parties of the right who regard the EU’s border-control policies as not draconian enough.

Across the Atlantic, meanwhile, US President Donald Trump’s tub-thumping over a “caravan” of Central American migrants supposedly threatening the US border made 2017’s hotly-contested midterm elections even uglier. Tussles with lawmakers over funding a border wall with Mexico have now led to a government shutdown.

All this is a long way away from the “borderless world” that 1990s globalisation theorists such as Kenichi Ohmae predicted would follow the end of the Cold War. Instead, we are seeing a “rebordering” of the world, the physical and symbolic reinforcement of what historian Timothy Synder has called “the wall around the West”.

But the Western perspective isn’t the only one. Indeed, 2018 saw a number of hopeful and instructive developments in Asia and Africa.

Central Asia

Created in the 1920s by the Soviet Union, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan became independent states in 1991. Their mutual boundary was an internal division within the Soviet Union, and was never intended to be an international boundary. Consequently, when the two states became independent, there were numerous disputes about its precise course. Villages, ethnic groups, families, farms, transport links and utility provision crisscrossed the borderlands.

Nonetheless, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the authoritarian president of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, imposed unilateral border controls. Visas were demanded, crossborder bridges demolished, roads blocked, and bus routes terminated. Villages that straddled the boundary were demolished and residents forcibly moved elsewhere. Barbed wire fences were erected, unmarked mine fields laid, and soldiers deployed to the border frequently used violence on petty traders and other borderlanders. A boundary commission was established, but its work stalled as relations between the two states deteriorated.

Populists in Kyrgyzstan reacted furiously, alleging that Uzbekistan was invading them. Inter-ethnic dynamics within Kyrgyzstan worsened, culminating in 2010 with pogroms against the country’s Uzbek minority.

Karimov died in 2016 and was succeeded by his protege, Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Mirziyoyev prioritised rebuilding regional relations, kick-starting delimitation negotiations and in late 2017 unilaterally reopened many border crossings.

In 2018, I visited the border and saw crowds of people crossing for trade and to visit family members, many of whom they had not seen for a decade and a half. Ethnic and interstate relations have improved as a result.

Ethiopia-Eritrea

An even more striking example from 2018 was the ending of the Ethiopian-Eritrean border conflict. As with Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, this boundary was a colonial legacy that artificially divided populations – and between 1998 and 2000, the two countries fought a bitter border war during which some 70,000 people died. The disputed territories were relatively small and of little economic value, but became heavily politicised by the militaristic governments of both countries.

The Eritrea–Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC) was established under a 2000 peace agreement to end the war. It rendered its decision in 2002 and planned to oversee demarcation in 2003. Although previously agreeing that the ruling would be binding, Ethiopia took the highly unusual position of refusing to accept it. Despite pressure from the UN Security Council, troops continued to occupy disputed territory, refugees remained in camps, and crossborder contact was minimal. The threat of renewed war continued.

But in April 2018, the relatively youthful Abiy Ahmed took over as Ethiopian prime minister. He moved rapidly to improve relations with Eritrea, accepting the EEBC ruling and pulling troops back from disputed areas. A mere three months after taking office, he signed a peace accord with his Eritrean counterpart, formally ending the war. This was accompanied by joyful scenes of families reunited after two decades.

How to make good borders

Good borders are not about technical lines on a map, but political will. Changes in leadership in Uzbekistan and Ethiopia were crucial in restarting boundary delimitation and border management processes that had become deadlocked. As a result, families have been reunited, ethnic tensions reduced, and trade opportunities increased.

There are broader lessons here. The impasses created by the Irish border question in the Brexit negotiations and Trump’s border wall have created a political crisis, poisoned politics, and fanned xenophobia. More migrants die each year because of the EU’s militarised border controls than at any other border on Earth. These outcomes are not inevitable; they are political choices.

The EU, UK and US like to see themselves as moral standard-bearers in the international community. When it comes to border politics, however, they could do a lot worse than look to Uzbekistan and Ethiopia in 2019.

(Nick Megoran is Reader in Political Geography, Newcastle University)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/need-to-solve-a-border-dispute-look-to-ethiopia-and-uzbekistan-109149">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

 
&nbsp;

By Nick Megoran Border disputes have recently taken on renewed importance, threatening political crisis in the UK, US and EU. Yet 2018 saw positive steps towards resolving some of the world’s most difficult border conflicts, between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan and Ethiopia and Eritrea.

By Nick Megoran Border disputes have recently taken on renewed importance, threatening political crisis in the UK, US and EU. Yet 2018 saw positive steps towards resolving some of the world’s most difficult border conflicts, between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan and Ethiopia and Eritrea. What lessons can be drawn from these examples? International boundaries are not the same as international borders. Boundaries are invisible vertical planes extending upwards into airspace and downwards into the subsoil, marking the legal limit of states. Borders, on the other hand, are the practices associated with managing movement over boundaries, such as customs checkpoints, passport controls, and fences. Although literally at the edge of states, they can symbolically figure at the heart of a nation’s politics. This was amply demonstrated in 2018. In the UK, the “Irish backstop” question plunged the country into an unprecedented political crisis. In the Mediterranean, meanwhile, over 2,200 migrants died attempting to evade the EU’s draconian border controls. At the same time, political gains have been made by parties of the right who regard the EU’s border-control policies as not draconian enough. Across the Atlantic, meanwhile, US President Donald Trump’s tub-thumping over a “caravan” of Central American migrants supposedly threatening the US border made 2017’s hotly-contested midterm elections even uglier. Tussles with lawmakers over funding a border wall with Mexico have now led to a government shutdown. All this is a long way away from the “borderless world” that 1990s globalisation theorists such as Kenichi Ohmae predicted would follow the end of the Cold War. Instead, we are seeing a “rebordering” of the world, the physical and symbolic reinforcement of what historian Timothy Synder has called “the wall around the West”. But the Western perspective isn’t the only one. Indeed, 2018 saw a number of hopeful and instructive developments in Asia and Africa. Central Asia Created in the 1920s by the Soviet Union, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan became independent states in 1991. Their mutual boundary was an internal division within the Soviet Union, and was never intended to be an international boundary. Consequently, when the two states became independent, there were numerous disputes about its precise course. Villages, ethnic groups, families, farms, transport links and utility provision crisscrossed the borderlands. Nonetheless, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the authoritarian president of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, imposed unilateral border controls. Visas were demanded, crossborder bridges demolished, roads blocked, and bus routes terminated. Villages that straddled the boundary were demolished and residents forcibly moved elsewhere. Barbed wire fences were erected, unmarked mine fields laid, and soldiers deployed to the border frequently used violence on petty traders and other borderlanders. A boundary commission was established, but its work stalled as relations between the two states deteriorated. Populists in Kyrgyzstan reacted furiously, alleging that Uzbekistan was invading them. Inter-ethnic dynamics within Kyrgyzstan worsened, culminating in 2010 with pogroms against the country’s Uzbek minority. Karimov died in 2016 and was succeeded by his protege, Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Mirziyoyev prioritised rebuilding regional relations, kick-starting delimitation negotiations and in late 2017 unilaterally reopened many border crossings. In 2018, I visited the border and saw crowds of people crossing for trade and to visit family members, many of whom they had not seen for a decade and a half. Ethnic and interstate relations have improved as a result. Ethiopia-Eritrea An even more striking example from 2018 was the ending of the Ethiopian-Eritrean border conflict. As with Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, this boundary was a colonial legacy that artificially divided populations – and between 1998 and 2000, the two countries fought a bitter border war during which some 70,000 people died. The disputed territories were relatively small and of little economic value, but became heavily politicised by the militaristic governments of both countries. The Eritrea–Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC) was established under a 2000 peace agreement to end the war. It rendered its decision in 2002 and planned to oversee demarcation in 2003. Although previously agreeing that the ruling would be binding, Ethiopia took the highly unusual position of refusing to accept it. Despite pressure from the UN Security Council, troops continued to occupy disputed territory, refugees remained in camps, and crossborder contact was minimal. The threat of renewed war continued. But in April 2018, the relatively youthful Abiy Ahmed took over as Ethiopian prime minister. He moved rapidly to improve relations with Eritrea, accepting the EEBC ruling and pulling troops back from disputed areas. A mere three months after taking office, he signed a peace accord with his Eritrean counterpart, formally ending the war. This was accompanied by joyful scenes of families reunited after two decades. How to make good borders Good borders are not about technical lines on a map, but political will. Changes in leadership in Uzbekistan and Ethiopia were crucial in restarting boundary delimitation and border management processes that had become deadlocked. As a result, families have been reunited, ethnic tensions reduced, and trade opportunities increased. There are broader lessons here. The impasses created by the Irish border question in the Brexit negotiations and Trump’s border wall have created a political crisis, poisoned politics, and fanned xenophobia. More migrants die each year because of the EU’s militarised border controls than at any other border on Earth. These outcomes are not inevitable; they are political choices. The EU, UK and US like to see themselves as moral standard-bearers in the international community. When it comes to border politics, however, they could do a lot worse than look to Uzbekistan and Ethiopia in 2019. (Nick Megoran is Reader in Political Geography, Newcastle University) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Need to solve a border dispute? Look to Ethiopia and Uzbekistan

Mexico on Friday called on its peers to refrain from interfering in Venezuela`s internal affairs, declining to back a regional declaration that urged Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro not to take office on January 10.

Mexico was the sole country in the 14-member Lima Group that opted not to sign a statement critical of Maduro, the first time Mexico has not backed a declaration by the group since it was created in 2017 to push for democratic reforms in Venezuela.

Mexico was once among the most outspoken critics of Maduro. But ties with Venezuela have warmed under leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who invited Maduro to his inauguration last month.

Maximiliano Reyes, Mexico`s deputy foreign minister responsible for Latin America, said Mexico was concerned about the "situation regarding human rights" in Venezuela but would not comment on the legitimacy of its government.

Instead, he asked the Lima Group to rethink its approach.

"We call for reflection in the Lima Group about the consequences for Venezuelans of measures that seek to interfere in internal affairs," Reyes said in a statement following a Lima Group meeting in Peru.

"Mexico believes the most effective way to achieve the objectives for which this group was created is through mediation and dialogue, not isolation," he added.

The comments were a blow to regional efforts to ramp up pressure on Maduro ahead of his inauguration, which Venezuela`s opposition hoped would be a watershed moment to highlight how he has undermined democracy and mismanaged the country’s once-booming economy.

But diplomatic measures from neighbouring countries remain timid, and Friday`s communique added little to previous statements that urged Maduro to step down but offered few concrete mechanisms to make this happen.

Peru said last month that it would propose ending diplomatic relations with Venezuela to Lima Group members. But no country has yet announced it would sever ties with Caracas.

The 13 remaining countries in the Lima Group that signed Friday`s statement, which include Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Colombia, called Maduro`s new term "illegitimate" and urged him to hand power over to the National Assembly until democratic elections can be held.

They also said they would seek to bar high-ranking Venezuelan officials from entering their territory or accessing their financial systems.

"What`s happening January 10 is a turning point," Peruvian Foreign Minister Nestor Popolizio told journalists.

Venezuela`s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Mexico on Friday called on its peers to refrain from interfering in Venezuela`s internal affairs, declining to back a regional declaration that urged Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro not to take office on January 10.

Mexico on Friday called on its peers to refrain from interfering in Venezuela`s internal affairs, declining to back a regional declaration that urged Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro not to take office on January 10. Mexico was the sole country in the 14-member Lima Group that opted not to sign a statement critical of Maduro, the first time Mexico has not backed a declaration by the group since it was created in 2017 to push for democratic reforms in Venezuela. Mexico was once among the most outspoken critics of Maduro. But ties with Venezuela have warmed under leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who invited Maduro to his inauguration last month. Maximiliano Reyes, Mexico`s deputy foreign minister responsible for Latin America, said Mexico was concerned about the "situation regarding human rights" in Venezuela but would not comment on the legitimacy of its government. Instead, he asked the Lima Group to rethink its approach. "We call for reflection in the Lima Group about the consequences for Venezuelans of measures that seek to interfere in internal affairs," Reyes said in a statement following a Lima Group meeting in Peru. "Mexico believes the most effective way to achieve the objectives for which this group was created is through mediation and dialogue, not isolation," he added. The comments were a blow to regional efforts to ramp up pressure on Maduro ahead of his inauguration, which Venezuela`s opposition hoped would be a watershed moment to highlight how he has undermined democracy and mismanaged the country’s once-booming economy. But diplomatic measures from neighbouring countries remain timid, and Friday`s communique added little to previous statements that urged Maduro to step down but offered few concrete mechanisms to make this happen. Peru said last month that it would propose ending diplomatic relations with Venezuela to Lima Group members. But no country has yet announced it would sever ties with Caracas. The 13 remaining countries in the Lima Group that signed Friday`s statement, which include Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Colombia, called Maduro`s new term "illegitimate" and urged him to hand power over to the National Assembly until democratic elections can be held. They also said they would seek to bar high-ranking Venezuelan officials from entering their territory or accessing their financial systems. "What`s happening January 10 is a turning point," Peruvian Foreign Minister Nestor Popolizio told journalists. Venezuela`s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Mexico urges regional bloc not to meddle in Venezuela

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Friday he owns no real estate, vehicles or personal property, echoing what experts say is a pattern among the country's politicians of shifting assets to relatives.

Lopez Obrador, who took office in December, told a regular news conference his family's cars and home are in his wife's name.

The veteran leftist won a landslide victory in July after a campaign centred on rooting out corruption in Mexico, which experts say is among the worst in Latin America. He cuts an austere figure, ditching the presidential residence, flying coach and driving a white Volkswagen Jetta.

Transparency advocates welcome Lopez Obrador's disclosure after battling to get members of his predecessor Enrique Pena Nieto's administration to open up about their finances, said Alexandra Zapata of the Mexican Institution for Competitiveness (IMCO), a think-tank that promotes good governance and fighting corruption.

But his declaration raised as many questions about his wealth as it answered, she added.

"The president, in an effort to send this message of austerity, loses credibility in how he talks about his property, his assets and his interests," said Zapata, who is the group's director of education and civic innovation.

Lopez Obrador disclosed monthly net income of 108,744 pesos ($5,600) from his government work and savings worth 446,068 pesos.

In addition to real estate and vehicles, Lopez Obrador's personal possessions and household goods, including works of art and other valuable objects, were disclosed in his wife's name, a spokesman for the president's office said.

Mexican politicians have long been accused of obscuring their wealth by registering assets under relatives' names. Those who absorb the assets are sometimes referred to as "prestanombres," or people who lend their names.

Lopez Obrador has slashed salaries for public officials, including his own, and stressed on Friday that others in his administration would be required to declare their assets, too.

The president said during the news conference that his principal asset had been a property in the southern state of Chiapas, which he inherited from his parents and is now registered under his children's names.

"Money has never interested me," he said. "I fight for ideals, for principles."

Under a new national anti-corruption system, federal, state and local officials will soon be required to submit detailed disclosures about their income and assets, as well as those of their families.

Lopez Obrador has long cast himself as a man of the people in a poor country.

During the news conference, he said he has no credit card, a common refrain in his speeches. Just 37 per cent of Mexicans had an account with a bank or other type of financial institution in 2017, according to a World Bank study of people over 15 years old.

Former Mexican President Vicente Fox, who backed another candidate in the election, criticized the disclosure.

"Only his grandmother could believe this," Fox wrote in a post on Twitter. "Wake up, Mexico!!!"

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Friday he owns no real estate, vehicles or personal property, echoing what experts say is a pattern among the country's politicians of shifting assets to relatives.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Friday he owns no real estate, vehicles or personal property, echoing what experts say is a pattern among the country's politicians of shifting assets to relatives. Lopez Obrador, who took office in December, told a regular news conference his family's cars and home are in his wife's name. The veteran leftist won a landslide victory in July after a campaign centred on rooting out corruption in Mexico, which experts say is among the worst in Latin America. He cuts an austere figure, ditching the presidential residence, flying coach and driving a white Volkswagen Jetta. Transparency advocates welcome Lopez Obrador's disclosure after battling to get members of his predecessor Enrique Pena Nieto's administration to open up about their finances, said Alexandra Zapata of the Mexican Institution for Competitiveness (IMCO), a think-tank that promotes good governance and fighting corruption. But his declaration raised as many questions about his wealth as it answered, she added. "The president, in an effort to send this message of austerity, loses credibility in how he talks about his property, his assets and his interests," said Zapata, who is the group's director of education and civic innovation. Lopez Obrador disclosed monthly net income of 108,744 pesos ($5,600) from his government work and savings worth 446,068 pesos. In addition to real estate and vehicles, Lopez Obrador's personal possessions and household goods, including works of art and other valuable objects, were disclosed in his wife's name, a spokesman for the president's office said. Mexican politicians have long been accused of obscuring their wealth by registering assets under relatives' names. Those who absorb the assets are sometimes referred to as "prestanombres," or people who lend their names. Lopez Obrador has slashed salaries for public officials, including his own, and stressed on Friday that others in his administration would be required to declare their assets, too. The president said during the news conference that his principal asset had been a property in the southern state of Chiapas, which he inherited from his parents and is now registered under his children's names. "Money has never interested me," he said. "I fight for ideals, for principles." Under a new national anti-corruption system, federal, state and local officials will soon be required to submit detailed disclosures about their income and assets, as well as those of their families. Lopez Obrador has long cast himself as a man of the people in a poor country. During the news conference, he said he has no credit card, a common refrain in his speeches. Just 37 per cent of Mexicans had an account with a bank or other type of financial institution in 2017, according to a World Bank study of people over 15 years old. Former Mexican President Vicente Fox, who backed another candidate in the election, criticized the disclosure. "Only his grandmother could believe this," Fox wrote in a post on Twitter. "Wake up, Mexico!!!"

Mexican president owns no cars or real estate, but his wife does

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-refuses-to-sign-us-government-shutdown-legislation-over-mexico-wall-funding-185571">Mexican and US citizens </a>who live near the border separating San Diego and Tijuana said a threat from <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-threatens-to-entirely-close-us-mexico-border-unless-wall-demands-met-187046">US President Donald Trump </a>to close the southern US border with Mexico unless he gets the money he wants for a wall would wreak havoc on their livelihoods.

Tens of thousands of Mexicans enter the United States daily to work or study and closure of the border could mean they can no longer cross upending their lives.

Asked about Trump's threat on Friday (December 28), Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador told reporters it was an internal US government matter.

Lopez Obrador added, however: "Of course we will always defend our sovereignty ... we have already demonstrated our respect for (migrants) human right to migrate."

Mexican and US citizens who live near the border separating San Diego and Tijuana said a threat from US President Donald Trump to close the southern US border with Mexico unless he gets the money he wants for a wall would wreak havoc on their livelihoods.

Mexican and US citizens who live near the border separating San Diego and Tijuana said a threat from US President Donald Trump to close the southern US border with Mexico unless he gets the money he wants for a wall would wreak havoc on their livelihoods. Tens of thousands of Mexicans enter the United States daily to work or study and closure of the border could mean they can no longer cross upending their lives. Asked about Trump's threat on Friday (December 28), Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador told reporters it was an internal US government matter. Lopez Obrador added, however: "Of course we will always defend our sovereignty ... we have already demonstrated our respect for (migrants) human right to migrate."

People living near border slam Trump’s threat to close US border with Mexico

About 100 migrants from Central America are in limbo at American and Mexican border cities, awaiting their fate after applying for US&nbsp;asylum.

In El Paso, Texas, these migrant families spent their Christmas with local charity The Home Border Institute. The charity is working with these families on their rights and on the asylum process ahead, which could take some months.

On the Mexican side of the border in Ciudad Juarez, shelters are full, with migrants having to sleep on the floor in wintery conditions.

A local fire station is being used to temporarily house some migrant families.

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump has sought to make it harder to get asylum, claiming criminals are among the migrant group. But a federal court has placed a temporary restraining order on his policy which only allowed for asylum claims that were made at official ports of entry.

Under former President Barack Obama, a system dubbed "metering" began which limits how many applicants can ask for asylum each day in Tijuana. Lawyers say Trump is using the system more aggressively to stem the flow at the port of entry. 
&nbsp;

About 100 migrants from Central America are in limbo at American and Mexican border cities, awaiting their fate after applying for US asylum. In El Paso, Texas, these migrant families spent their Christmas with local charity The Home Border Institute.

About 100 migrants from Central America are in limbo at American and Mexican border cities, awaiting their fate after applying for US asylum. In El Paso, Texas, these migrant families spent their Christmas with local charity The Home Border Institute. The charity is working with these families on their rights and on the asylum process ahead, which could take some months. On the Mexican side of the border in Ciudad Juarez, shelters are full, with migrants having to sleep on the floor in wintery conditions. A local fire station is being used to temporarily house some migrant families. US President Donald Trump has sought to make it harder to get asylum, claiming criminals are among the migrant group. But a federal court has placed a temporary restraining order on his policy which only allowed for asylum claims that were made at official ports of entry. Under former President Barack Obama, a system dubbed "metering" began which limits how many applicants can ask for asylum each day in Tijuana. Lawyers say Trump is using the system more aggressively to stem the flow at the port of entry.

Migrants in limbo at US and Mexican border cities

The governor of the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/no-signed-agreement-with-us-on-asylum-seekers-mexico-185795">Mexican state </a>of Puebla and her husband, a senator and former governor, were killed on Monday in a helicopter crash, the country's president said.

"My deepest condolences to the relatives of Senator Rafael Moreno Valle and his wife, governor of Puebla Martha Erika Alonso," <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-president-lopez-obrador-wants-to-eliminate-presidential-immunity-181582">President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador </a>wrote on Twitter.

"I assume the commitment to investigate the causes" and &nbsp;"tell the truth about what happened," Lopez Obrador wrote.

Local media reported that the pilot and another person were also killed in the accident.

The aircraft crashed in the Santa Maria Coronango area of Puebla, and the cause of the crash is still unknown.

Alonso was sworn in as governor on December 14 after an electoral tribunal certified her victory in July polls.

She was the first woman to occupy the position in Puebla, where her husband was governor from 2011 to 2017.

According to the local constitution, the state legislature will have to appoint an interim governor and to call an extraordinary vote that must be held in three to five months.

The governor of the Mexican state of Puebla and her husband, a senator and former governor, were killed on Monday in a helicopter crash, the country's president said.

The governor of the Mexican state of Puebla and her husband, a senator and former governor, were killed on Monday in a helicopter crash, the country's president said. "My deepest condolences to the relatives of Senator Rafael Moreno Valle and his wife, governor of Puebla Martha Erika Alonso," President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador wrote on Twitter. "I assume the commitment to investigate the causes" and "tell the truth about what happened," Lopez Obrador wrote. Local media reported that the pilot and another person were also killed in the accident. The aircraft crashed in the Santa Maria Coronango area of Puebla, and the cause of the crash is still unknown. Alonso was sworn in as governor on December 14 after an electoral tribunal certified her victory in July polls. She was the first woman to occupy the position in Puebla, where her husband was governor from 2011 to 2017. According to the local constitution, the state legislature will have to appoint an interim governor and to call an extraordinary vote that must be held in three to five months.

Helicopter crash kills Mexican governor, senator husband

There is no signed agreement allowing third-country migrants to stay in Mexico while their <a href="http://13.232.42.114/world/us-judge-rules-in-favour-of-asylum-seekers-185388">asylum applications</a> are processed in the United States, Mexico's new foreign minister said Friday.

Marcelo Ebrard spoke one day after US Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-government-shuts-down-at-midnight-as-house-adjourns-with-no-deal-185738">Donald Trump</a> administration will send migrants who cross the southern US border back to Mexico while their cases are being heard.

"We have signed no treaty, nor will we do it," Ebrard said during the daily press conference of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who took office on December 1.

Mexico's Washington charge d'affairs Jose Antonio Zabalgoitia told reporters Thursday his country would "guarantee that foreign people who have received their appointment (in the United States) fully enjoy the rights and freedoms recognized by the constitution."&nbsp;

But he also urged Washington "not to turn migrants into ping-pong balls."

"The measure applies only to people seeking asylum" in the United States, Zabalgoitia said. "We will not accept people deported from the United States."

In Mexico, some critics thought that meant their new government had signed an agreement with Washington formalizing the procedure.

Not so, said Ebrard.

"Mexico would not accept such a treaty, we have told them many times," he said.

Ebrard said officials were asking Washington for more details on what they are doing so they can give a "more accurate position" regarding the policy on Monday.

The US announcement came after US courts rebuffed Trump administration orders to deny asylum to tens of thousands of Central Americans, mostly from Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, who have headed northward fleeing poverty and violence in their countries.

Since Mexico will not accept non-Mexican migrants returned by the United States, US officials are forced to register those people, either charging them with illegal entry or recording their asylum requests.

Then they are released within the United States to await future hearings. Nielsen says few ever show up for their asylum hearings.

On Tuesday the United States said it was ready to support $4.5 billion in investment in Central America and southern Mexico in hopes of stemming migration.

There is no signed agreement allowing third-country migrants to stay in Mexico while their asylum applications are processed in the United States, Mexico's new foreign minister said Friday.

There is no signed agreement allowing third-country migrants to stay in Mexico while their asylum applications are processed in the United States, Mexico's new foreign minister said Friday. Marcelo Ebrard spoke one day after US Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said the Donald Trump administration will send migrants who cross the southern US border back to Mexico while their cases are being heard. "We have signed no treaty, nor will we do it," Ebrard said during the daily press conference of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who took office on December 1. Mexico's Washington charge d'affairs Jose Antonio Zabalgoitia told reporters Thursday his country would "guarantee that foreign people who have received their appointment (in the United States) fully enjoy the rights and freedoms recognized by the constitution." But he also urged Washington "not to turn migrants into ping-pong balls." "The measure applies only to people seeking asylum" in the United States, Zabalgoitia said. "We will not accept people deported from the United States." In Mexico, some critics thought that meant their new government had signed an agreement with Washington formalizing the procedure. Not so, said Ebrard. "Mexico would not accept such a treaty, we have told them many times," he said. Ebrard said officials were asking Washington for more details on what they are doing so they can give a "more accurate position" regarding the policy on Monday. The US announcement came after US courts rebuffed Trump administration orders to deny asylum to tens of thousands of Central Americans, mostly from Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, who have headed northward fleeing poverty and violence in their countries. Since Mexico will not accept non-Mexican migrants returned by the United States, US officials are forced to register those people, either charging them with illegal entry or recording their asylum requests. Then they are released within the United States to await future hearings. Nielsen says few ever show up for their asylum hearings. On Tuesday the United States said it was ready to support $4.5 billion in investment in Central America and southern Mexico in hopes of stemming migration.

No signed agreement with US on asylum seekers: Mexico

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Thursday that he did not discuss the US administration's proposed border wall, when he spoke with President Donald Trump on Wednesday to talk about the issue of migration.

"We have not discussed that issue, in any conversation ... It was a respectful and friendly conversation," said Lopez Obrador.

Lopez Obrador had earlier said in a tweet that he held a telephonic conversation with US President Donald Trump and discussed the issue of migration with him.

He said that the two leaders discussed the possibility of creating a joint program for development and job creation in Central America and Mexico.

Thousands of migrants are living in crowded shelters and encampments in Tijuana after travelling from Central America to escape poverty and violence. They may have to wait weeks or months to claim asylum at the US border.

Illegal immigration was a central theme of Trump's presidential bid, and he repeatedly invoked the issue ahead of the November 6 midterm elections and deployed some 5,800 US troops to the border.

Trump has reiterated his campaign promise to build a wall along the US-Mexico border, even after Mexico repeatedly rejected his demand that it pay for the multibillion-dollar project.

Lopez Obrador has pledged to discourage migration through economic development and wants the United States to contribute to a plan focused on Mexico's poorer south and Central America.

Shortly after Lopez Obrador took office on December 1, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard to discuss border issues.

(With inputs from agencies)

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Thursday that he did not discuss the US administration's proposed border wall, when he spoke with President Donald Trump on Wednesday to talk about the issue of migration.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Thursday that he did not discuss the US administration's proposed border wall, when he spoke with President Donald Trump on Wednesday to talk about the issue of migration. "We have not discussed that issue, in any conversation ... It was a respectful and friendly conversation," said Lopez Obrador. Lopez Obrador had earlier said in a tweet that he held a telephonic conversation with US President Donald Trump and discussed the issue of migration with him. He said that the two leaders discussed the possibility of creating a joint program for development and job creation in Central America and Mexico. Thousands of migrants are living in crowded shelters and encampments in Tijuana after travelling from Central America to escape poverty and violence. They may have to wait weeks or months to claim asylum at the US border. Illegal immigration was a central theme of Trump's presidential bid, and he repeatedly invoked the issue ahead of the November 6 midterm elections and deployed some 5,800 US troops to the border. Trump has reiterated his campaign promise to build a wall along the US-Mexico border, even after Mexico repeatedly rejected his demand that it pay for the multibillion-dollar project. Lopez Obrador has pledged to discourage migration through economic development and wants the United States to contribute to a plan focused on Mexico's poorer south and Central America. Shortly after Lopez Obrador took office on December 1, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard to discuss border issues. (With inputs from agencies)

Mexico President says did not discuss border wall with US President Trump

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Tuesday that he will ask the Senate to reform the Mexican Constitution to eliminate a provision barring criminal prosecution of the head of state for any offense short of treason.

"The initiative that I am sending to the Senate is to end this immunity. The impunity established by the constitution is over. The president will be judged like any other citizen for any crime," Lopez Obrador said during his morning press conference.

Lopez Obrador, who took office last Saturday, recalled that since 1917 the head of the Mexican state may only be prosecuted for "the crime of treason" and he said he disagreed with the fact that a president cannot be held accountable for crimes of corruption.

He also expressed confidence that lawmakers in the Senate and the lower house, where his Leftist Morena party has a majority, will approve the initiative so that "the immunities and privileges are ended."

In his inaugural address, Lopez Obrador declared that he intends to put a "definitive end" to corruption, although he announced that his government will not push for investigations against his presidential predecessors.

The elimination - or at least reduction - of certain privileges for top public officials is one of his "republican austerity" measures, which also include selling the presidential jet and refusing to live in the Los Pinos presidential residence, as well as the decision to slash his own salary by 60 per cent.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Tuesday that he will ask the Senate to reform the Mexican Constitution to eliminate a provision barring criminal prosecution of the head of state for any offense short of treason.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Tuesday that he will ask the Senate to reform the Mexican Constitution to eliminate a provision barring criminal prosecution of the head of state for any offense short of treason. "The initiative that I am sending to the Senate is to end this immunity. The impunity established by the constitution is over. The president will be judged like any other citizen for any crime," Lopez Obrador said during his morning press conference. Lopez Obrador, who took office last Saturday, recalled that since 1917 the head of the Mexican state may only be prosecuted for "the crime of treason" and he said he disagreed with the fact that a president cannot be held accountable for crimes of corruption. He also expressed confidence that lawmakers in the Senate and the lower house, where his Leftist Morena party has a majority, will approve the initiative so that "the immunities and privileges are ended." In his inaugural address, Lopez Obrador declared that he intends to put a "definitive end" to corruption, although he announced that his government will not push for investigations against his presidential predecessors. The elimination - or at least reduction - of certain privileges for top public officials is one of his "republican austerity" measures, which also include selling the presidential jet and refusing to live in the Los Pinos presidential residence, as well as the decision to slash his own salary by 60 per cent.

Mexico President Lopez Obrador wants to eliminate presidential immunity

On Friday night, Mexico's presidential residence was the scene of a gala reception for the king of Spain.&nbsp;

Hours later, its doors were thrown open so tens of thousands of ordinary people could stare slack-jawed at its opulent rooms.

Welcome to the new Mexico of President <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-set-to-inaugurate-new-president-lopez-obrador-180702">Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador</a>.

Mexico's new leader is an anti-establishment leftist who has made it his trademark to reject the trappings of power.

He has cut his own salary by 60 per cent, put the<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/mexicos-new-government-prepares-sale-of-former-presidents-plane-181131"> presidential jet up for sale</a>, eliminated the presidential security detail and forsaken the presidential residence, Los Pinos, opting to stay in his own modest home. But he didn't stop there.

Within hours of officially starting his six-year term at midnight on Saturday even before taking the oath of office &nbsp;Lopez Obrador, 65, had opened up the sprawling residence to the public.

In scenes reminiscent of the fall of Moamer Kadhafi in Libya, Saddam Hussein in Iraq or Viktor Yanukovych in Ukraine, huge crowds of ordinary Mexicans were suddenly meandering through the lavish rooms and leafy grounds of what had hours earlier been the country's most heavily guarded seat of power.

The difference is that Lopez Obrador did not replace some reviled dictator in a bloody regime change: he won a democratic election to replace Enrique Pena Nieto.

But he is using Los Pinos to hammer home his message that Mexico which had been governed by the same two parties for 89 years until his landslide victory has been ruled by a "mafia of power" that lived like kings by stealing the nation's resources and the hard-earned taxes of ordinary people.

'Very ostentatious'

Judging by the reactions at Los Pinos&nbsp;which received 85,000 visitors in the first two days that public relations coup appears to be working.

"This is very ostentatious. I never imagined a place like this," said Alejandra Barreto, 50, a shopkeeper from the central state of Puebla who was visiting Mexico City.

"The rooms are frankly enormous. Why would one family need all this?"

After waiting in long lines, visitors were able to stroll up a stone avenue lined with statues of the presidents who have lived at Los Pinos since 1935 and wander through the series of mansions that form the compound.

The first stop is the plush office suites used by the three most recent presidents.

Then visitors arrive at the second-story presidential bedroom, complete with a dressing room of some 30 square meters (325 square feet) and a palatial TV room.

On the first floor, there is a dining room with a 28-seat table, where Pena Nieto's family ate daily.

In the basement, there is a private movie theatre with 35 reclining leather armchairs.

&nbsp;'Breaking paradigms'&nbsp;

Officially, the residence is now a cultural center.

But besides a scattering of musicians playing in the halls, there was not much culture on display the first day. The culture ministry, which now controls the complex, had no time to revamp it.

Instead, the objective appeared to be to show Mexicans just how large their leaders had been living while the rooms were still practically warm with their presence.

"This is a pharaonic situation. It's completely unreal for any Mexican," said Gilberto Gutierrez, 30, from the northern state of Aguascalientes and a local leader in Lopez Obrador's party, Morena -- now Mexico's largest party, with majorities in both houses of Congress for its coalition.

With 56,000 square meters in all, Los Pinos is 14 times the size of the White House.

"It's a place that marks the enormous distance between (Mexican leaders) and the rest of the population, and also the ostentatious way that the country's politicians have lived," said political analyst Hernan Gomez, who visited on the first day.

Ileana Ramirez, a 43-year-old domestic worker, agreed after sitting on the lawn at Los Pinos to watch a huge screen broadcasting Lopez Obrador's inaugural address, in which the new president promised a "deep and radical transformation."

He is breaking the paradigms of everything we've lived our entire lives. For as long as I can remember, I'd never felt like power was in the hands of the people," she said.

On Friday night, Mexico's presidential residence was the scene of a gala reception for the king of Spain. Hours later, its doors were thrown open so tens of thousands of ordinary people could stare slack-jawed at its opulent rooms.

On Friday night, Mexico's presidential residence was the scene of a gala reception for the king of Spain. Hours later, its doors were thrown open so tens of thousands of ordinary people could stare slack-jawed at its opulent rooms. Welcome to the new Mexico of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Mexico's new leader is an anti-establishment leftist who has made it his trademark to reject the trappings of power. He has cut his own salary by 60 per cent, put the presidential jet up for sale, eliminated the presidential security detail and forsaken the presidential residence, Los Pinos, opting to stay in his own modest home. But he didn't stop there. Within hours of officially starting his six-year term at midnight on Saturday even before taking the oath of office Lopez Obrador, 65, had opened up the sprawling residence to the public. In scenes reminiscent of the fall of Moamer Kadhafi in Libya, Saddam Hussein in Iraq or Viktor Yanukovych in Ukraine, huge crowds of ordinary Mexicans were suddenly meandering through the lavish rooms and leafy grounds of what had hours earlier been the country's most heavily guarded seat of power. The difference is that Lopez Obrador did not replace some reviled dictator in a bloody regime change: he won a democratic election to replace Enrique Pena Nieto. But he is using Los Pinos to hammer home his message that Mexico which had been governed by the same two parties for 89 years until his landslide victory has been ruled by a "mafia of power" that lived like kings by stealing the nation's resources and the hard-earned taxes of ordinary people. 'Very ostentatious' Judging by the reactions at Los Pinos which received 85,000 visitors in the first two days that public relations coup appears to be working. "This is very ostentatious. I never imagined a place like this," said Alejandra Barreto, 50, a shopkeeper from the central state of Puebla who was visiting Mexico City. "The rooms are frankly enormous. Why would one family need all this?" After waiting in long lines, visitors were able to stroll up a stone avenue lined with statues of the presidents who have lived at Los Pinos since 1935 and wander through the series of mansions that form the compound. The first stop is the plush office suites used by the three most recent presidents. Then visitors arrive at the second-story presidential bedroom, complete with a dressing room of some 30 square meters (325 square feet) and a palatial TV room. On the first floor, there is a dining room with a 28-seat table, where Pena Nieto's family ate daily. In the basement, there is a private movie theatre with 35 reclining leather armchairs. 'Breaking paradigms' Officially, the residence is now a cultural center. But besides a scattering of musicians playing in the halls, there was not much culture on display the first day. The culture ministry, which now controls the complex, had no time to revamp it. Instead, the objective appeared to be to show Mexicans just how large their leaders had been living while the rooms were still practically warm with their presence. "This is a pharaonic situation. It's completely unreal for any Mexican," said Gilberto Gutierrez, 30, from the northern state of Aguascalientes and a local leader in Lopez Obrador's party, Morena -- now Mexico's largest party, with majorities in both houses of Congress for its coalition. With 56,000 square meters in all, Los Pinos is 14 times the size of the White House. "It's a place that marks the enormous distance between (Mexican leaders) and the rest of the population, and also the ostentatious way that the country's politicians have lived," said political analyst Hernan Gomez, who visited on the first day. Ileana Ramirez, a 43-year-old domestic worker, agreed after sitting on the lawn at Los Pinos to watch a huge screen broadcasting Lopez Obrador's inaugural address, in which the new president promised a "deep and radical transformation." He is breaking the paradigms of everything we've lived our entire lives. For as long as I can remember, I'd never felt like power was in the hands of the people," she said.

Mexico's new leader opens plush presidential residence to public

The big, luxurious airplane used to ferry&nbsp;Mexico's former president around the globe is about to fly away permanently in one of the first moves by the new president to rid the country of what he has derided as a towering symbol of excess.

"We are selling all the planes and helicopters that the corrupt politicians used," President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador told a rally in Xalapa, Veracruz, near the end of his first full day as president. The crowd roared its approval.

Finance Minister Carlos Urzua convened a news conference in&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;City earlier on Sunday, attended by a small army of local reporters in front of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner to announce that the plane will "very soon" be put up for sale.

Photographers and camera crews were then ushered into the aircraft to see for themselves the spacious interior emblazoned with official government seals on the walls and flat-screen monitors, as well as the presidential bedroom and what appeared to be a marble-lined bathroom.

The $218 million presidential jet acquired in late 2012 is one of 60 government planes that will be sold, in addition to 70 helicopters, said Urzua.

It will be flown on Monday to the Victorville airport in southern California at Boeing's recommendation as it awaits a new owner, according to a statement by the finance ministry.

At the rally, Lopez Obrador ticked off other populist campaign promises, including ending the pensions for ex-presidents and a pay cut for senior government officials that he described as significant money savers.

On Saturday morning, just before his formal inauguration, the veteran leftist ordered the doors open at Los Pinos, the opulent residence of Mexican presidents dating back eight decades.

Families lounged in the gardens, ran through corridors to peek into offices and rooms, and listened to musical ensembles that were invited to play.

Known for his frugal living, Lopez Obrador has often said he will not live at Los Pinos and instead will convert the sprawling property into a cultural centre.

Lopez Obrador won a landslide election victory in large part by seizing on widespread disgust with&nbsp;Mexico's governing elite, viewed by many as out-of-touch and deeply corrupt.

The big, luxurious airplane used to ferry Mexico's former president around the globe is about to fly away permanently in one of the first moves by the new president to rid the country of what he has derided as a towering symbol of excess.

The big, luxurious airplane used to ferry Mexico's former president around the globe is about to fly away permanently in one of the first moves by the new president to rid the country of what he has derided as a towering symbol of excess. "We are selling all the planes and helicopters that the corrupt politicians used," President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador told a rally in Xalapa, Veracruz, near the end of his first full day as president. The crowd roared its approval. Finance Minister Carlos Urzua convened a news conference in Mexico City earlier on Sunday, attended by a small army of local reporters in front of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner to announce that the plane will "very soon" be put up for sale. Photographers and camera crews were then ushered into the aircraft to see for themselves the spacious interior emblazoned with official government seals on the walls and flat-screen monitors, as well as the presidential bedroom and what appeared to be a marble-lined bathroom. The $218 million presidential jet acquired in late 2012 is one of 60 government planes that will be sold, in addition to 70 helicopters, said Urzua. It will be flown on Monday to the Victorville airport in southern California at Boeing's recommendation as it awaits a new owner, according to a statement by the finance ministry. At the rally, Lopez Obrador ticked off other populist campaign promises, including ending the pensions for ex-presidents and a pay cut for senior government officials that he described as significant money savers. On Saturday morning, just before his formal inauguration, the veteran leftist ordered the doors open at Los Pinos, the opulent residence of Mexican presidents dating back eight decades. Families lounged in the gardens, ran through corridors to peek into offices and rooms, and listened to musical ensembles that were invited to play. Known for his frugal living, Lopez Obrador has often said he will not live at Los Pinos and instead will convert the sprawling property into a cultural centre. Lopez Obrador won a landslide election victory in large part by seizing on widespread disgust with Mexico's governing elite, viewed by many as out-of-touch and deeply corrupt.

Watch: Mexico's new president to sell official planes, helicopters

The US consulate in Mexico's second city, Guadalajara, was attacked with explosives hours before a visit to the country by Vice President Mike Pence and first daughter Ivanka Trump, authorities said Saturday.

The explosion late Friday night damaged a wall but caused no injuries, they said.

"The investigation has been handed over to federal authorities, who will give information on developments in due time," the prosecutor's office for the western state of Jalisco, where Guadalajara is located, said on Twitter.

The attack ocurred just before Pence and President Donald Trump's daughter and adviser Ivanka flew into Mexico City on Saturday morning at the head of a high-level US delegation attending the inauguration of Mexico's new president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

Prosecution sources said a person threw an explosive device at the building and ran away. The suspect was caught on film by security cameras but evaded authorities, despite the heavy security presence at the building.

Grenade fragments were found at the scene, according to investigation sources who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The blast left a 40-centimeter (16-inch) hole in an exterior wall.

In a video posted online in recent days, purportedly by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, the powerful drug trafficking organization had threatened to attack the consulate.

The cartel, one of the largest and most violent in Mexico, is a top target for US anti-drug operations.

The US consulate in Mexico's second city, Guadalajara, was attacked with explosives hours before a visit to the country by Vice President Mike Pence and first daughter Ivanka Trump, authorities said Saturday.

The US consulate in Mexico's second city, Guadalajara, was attacked with explosives hours before a visit to the country by Vice President Mike Pence and first daughter Ivanka Trump, authorities said Saturday. The explosion late Friday night damaged a wall but caused no injuries, they said. "The investigation has been handed over to federal authorities, who will give information on developments in due time," the prosecutor's office for the western state of Jalisco, where Guadalajara is located, said on Twitter. The attack ocurred just before Pence and President Donald Trump's daughter and adviser Ivanka flew into Mexico City on Saturday morning at the head of a high-level US delegation attending the inauguration of Mexico's new president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Prosecution sources said a person threw an explosive device at the building and ran away. The suspect was caught on film by security cameras but evaded authorities, despite the heavy security presence at the building. Grenade fragments were found at the scene, according to investigation sources who spoke on condition of anonymity. The blast left a 40-centimeter (16-inch) hole in an exterior wall. In a video posted online in recent days, purportedly by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, the powerful drug trafficking organization had threatened to attack the consulate. The cartel, one of the largest and most violent in Mexico, is a top target for US anti-drug operations.

US consulate in Mexico's Guadalajara attacked

The Pentagon received a request on Friday from the Trump administration to extend its deployment of troops to the US border with <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-deports-scores-of-central-american-migrants-that-stormed-us-border-179645">Mexico</a> beyond December 15 authorisation date to the end of January, officials said.&nbsp;

President Donald Trump ordered the deployment shortly before November congressional elections as a part of an effort to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-should-move-the-flag-waving-migrants-we-will-permanently-close-the-border-warns-trump-179588">crack down on illegal immigration</a>, as waves of thousands of migrants escaping violence in Central America trekked towards the United States.&nbsp;

Border security is a major issue among voters in Trump`s Republican Party.

Critics, including opposition Democrats in Congress but also some US military veterans, have derided the troop deployment as a political stunt. Democrats have threatened to investigate the deployment once they take control in the House of Representatives next year.

The Department of Homeland Security, in a statement, cited the "the very real threat we face at the border from potential mass migration actions" when it confirmed the extension of the mission, which had been reported earlier on Friday by Reuters.

"The president has made it clear that border security is a top administration priority," DHS spokeswoman Katie Waldman said in a statement.

This request refines support to ensure it remains aligned with the current situation, the nature of the mission, and Customs and Border Patrol operational requirements.

About 5,600 troops have been deployed to the border, but many of them have been involved in efforts to improve security around border crossings, including stringing up concertina wire. Many of those troops could be sent home. Remaining troops could focus on other missions, including helping fly US border personnel to new positions along the border.

Still, officials caution that its unclear how far troop levels will decline. One US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said troop levels were not expected to decline dramatically.

Neither the Pentagon nor the DHS speculated about troop levels on Friday.

The Trump administration has justified the high-profile border mission on a perceived threat to the border, as thousands of migrants, mostly migrants from Honduras, flooded into the city of Tijuana across the border from San Diego, California, over the past several weeks.

US customs and border control officers fired tear gas canisters into Mexico at dozens of migrants who tried to rush border fencing on Sunday.

Under the harsh immigration policies introduced by the Trump administration, US border officials say the migrants may have to stay put in Mexico for months before they can petition authorities for asylum.

The Pentagon received a request on Friday from the Trump administration to extend its deployment of troops to the US border with Mexico beyond December 15 authorisation date to the end of January, officials said.

The Pentagon received a request on Friday from the Trump administration to extend its deployment of troops to the US border with Mexico beyond December 15 authorisation date to the end of January, officials said. President Donald Trump ordered the deployment shortly before November congressional elections as a part of an effort to crack down on illegal immigration, as waves of thousands of migrants escaping violence in Central America trekked towards the United States. Border security is a major issue among voters in Trump`s Republican Party. Critics, including opposition Democrats in Congress but also some US military veterans, have derided the troop deployment as a political stunt. Democrats have threatened to investigate the deployment once they take control in the House of Representatives next year. The Department of Homeland Security, in a statement, cited the "the very real threat we face at the border from potential mass migration actions" when it confirmed the extension of the mission, which had been reported earlier on Friday by Reuters. "The president has made it clear that border security is a top administration priority," DHS spokeswoman Katie Waldman said in a statement. This request refines support to ensure it remains aligned with the current situation, the nature of the mission, and Customs and Border Patrol operational requirements. About 5,600 troops have been deployed to the border, but many of them have been involved in efforts to improve security around border crossings, including stringing up concertina wire. Many of those troops could be sent home. Remaining troops could focus on other missions, including helping fly US border personnel to new positions along the border. Still, officials caution that its unclear how far troop levels will decline. One US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said troop levels were not expected to decline dramatically. Neither the Pentagon nor the DHS speculated about troop levels on Friday. The Trump administration has justified the high-profile border mission on a perceived threat to the border, as thousands of migrants, mostly migrants from Honduras, flooded into the city of Tijuana across the border from San Diego, California, over the past several weeks. US customs and border control officers fired tear gas canisters into Mexico at dozens of migrants who tried to rush border fencing on Sunday. Under the harsh immigration policies introduced by the Trump administration, US border officials say the migrants may have to stay put in Mexico for months before they can petition authorities for asylum.

Pentagon appears poised to extend Mexico border deployment

Fleeing the frosts of Canada and the United States, monarch butterflies each year travel 4,200 km (some 2,600 mi.) to reach the forests of Mexico, pollinating millions of flowers along the way.

Once they arrive in the sanctuaries of the states of Mexico and Michoacan, the forests return the favor by sheltering them throughout the winter, when tourists flock to the area to observe the monarchs.

During a visit to the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, the director of the terrestrial ecosystem program of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Eduardo Rendon, said that the value of the service the monarchs provide to the ecosystem is "incalculable."

"Millions of them came through the ecosystems of Canada and the United States visiting plants with flowers, which means they came doing the ecosystem the service of pollination," the biologist explained.

Scientists are now "trying to determine what type of plants (the butterflies) use during their trip" to determine the magnitude of this migratory phenomenon.

This year, as per the monitoring conducted during the migration, it is estimated that more butterflies will arrive in Mexico than last year, which was one lowest in recent years.

"Last year we had 2.48 hectares (6.1 acres) of forests occupied by butterflies in all hibernation sites, and that represented a 40 per cent decrease from the previous season. But what we saw this year with the monitoring of migration is that more butterflies are coming," he said.

In the sanctuary located in El Rosario, which can only be accessed on horseback, butterflies take wing when the sun brightens the forests.

The Mexican forests in which the monarchs live are of vital importance, especially because they are part of the watersheds that - through the Cutzamala System - supply 4.1 million people in Mexico City and the state of Mexico with water.

These forests full of oyamels - or sacred firs - are in a good state of conservation, in Rendon's opinion, even though in March 2016 a storm in the core area of the reserve knocked down about 22,000 trees that are in the process of being replaced.

According to data from WWF Mexico, there has been a significant reduction in illegal logging since 2009 thanks to the commitment of area farmers and the residents of nearby indigenous communities, the monitoring efforts and the payments for environmental services.

The degradation of the reserve decreased by 57 percent last year.

Fleeing the frosts of Canada and the United States, monarch butterflies each year travel 4,200 km (some 2,600 mi.) to reach the forests of Mexico, pollinating millions of flowers along the way.

Fleeing the frosts of Canada and the United States, monarch butterflies each year travel 4,200 km (some 2,600 mi.) to reach the forests of Mexico, pollinating millions of flowers along the way. Once they arrive in the sanctuaries of the states of Mexico and Michoacan, the forests return the favor by sheltering them throughout the winter, when tourists flock to the area to observe the monarchs. During a visit to the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, the director of the terrestrial ecosystem program of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Eduardo Rendon, said that the value of the service the monarchs provide to the ecosystem is "incalculable." "Millions of them came through the ecosystems of Canada and the United States visiting plants with flowers, which means they came doing the ecosystem the service of pollination," the biologist explained. Scientists are now "trying to determine what type of plants (the butterflies) use during their trip" to determine the magnitude of this migratory phenomenon. This year, as per the monitoring conducted during the migration, it is estimated that more butterflies will arrive in Mexico than last year, which was one lowest in recent years. "Last year we had 2.48 hectares (6.1 acres) of forests occupied by butterflies in all hibernation sites, and that represented a 40 per cent decrease from the previous season. But what we saw this year with the monitoring of migration is that more butterflies are coming," he said. In the sanctuary located in El Rosario, which can only be accessed on horseback, butterflies take wing when the sun brightens the forests. The Mexican forests in which the monarchs live are of vital importance, especially because they are part of the watersheds that - through the Cutzamala System - supply 4.1 million people in Mexico City and the state of Mexico with water. These forests full of oyamels - or sacred firs - are in a good state of conservation, in Rendon's opinion, even though in March 2016 a storm in the core area of the reserve knocked down about 22,000 trees that are in the process of being replaced. According to data from WWF Mexico, there has been a significant reduction in illegal logging since 2009 thanks to the commitment of area farmers and the residents of nearby indigenous communities, the monitoring efforts and the payments for environmental services. The degradation of the reserve decreased by 57 percent last year.

The invaluable journey of monarch butterflies to Mexico

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador will be sworn in as Mexico's next president Saturday, as a country fed up with corruption, crime and poverty seeks a new direction under the divisive anti-establishment leftist.

The man widely known as "AMLO" won Mexico's July 1 elections in a landslide, and his coalition -- led by the party he founded four years ago, Morena -- took strong majorities in both houses of Congress.

It was the biggest win for any president, and the first for a leftist, since Mexico transitioned to multi-party democracy in 2000.

As the sharp-tongued, silver-haired leader prepares to slip on the presidential sash for a six-year term, the question is: what will he do with that mandate?

Lopez Obrador, 65, has been short on specifics of how he plans to deliver the "transformation" he promises.

He inherits a sticky set of problems from his unpopular predecessor, Enrique Pena Nieto.

They include endemic corruption, gruesome violence fueled by Mexico's war on drug cartels, and the caravan of 6,000 Central American migrants camped at the US-Mexican border -- not to mention the minefield that diplomacy with Mexico's giant northern neighbor has become under President Donald Trump.

Facing crises on multiple fronts, Lopez Obrador is promising a presidency like no other in Mexican history.

He has forsworn the presidential residence, the presidential jet, more than half the presidential salary and the presidential security detail, promising to lead his anti-corruption, pro-austerity charge by example.

But critics fear his government will be one of radicalism and authoritarian tendencies. The business world is particularly nervous: the Mexican peso and stocks have plunged since the election.

However, the former Mexico City mayor has not lost his popular support. His approval rating is 66 percent, according to a poll published Monday by newspaper El Financiero.

"I think he still has a fairly romantic honeymoon ahead of him -- but there are signs his support could deteriorate very quickly," said Mexico specialist Duncan Wood of the Wilson Center in Washington.

Market jitters

The biggest warning sign: jitters over the future of Latin America's second-largest economy.

Lopez Obrador has tried to sooth the markets, promising fiscally conservative policies.

But the five-month transition period has been bumpy.

Lopez Obrador incensed business leaders when he announced he would cancel construction of a new $13-billion airport for Mexico City, after holding a referendum on the issue that was plagued by irregularities.

Moves by lawmakers in his coalition to slash banking fees and bring pension funds under state control have also stoked fears.

Mexican stocks have lost more than 12 percent since his election. On Monday, they hit their lowest level since March 2014.

And on Wednesday, the central bank lowered its economic growth forecast for 2019, citing uncertainty over Lopez Obrador's policies.

Trump troubles?

Then there is the tricky matter of Trump.

The American president bullied the Pena Nieto administration with his vows to make Mexico pay for a wall on the border and brinksmanship in negotiating an updated trade deal between the US, Mexico and Canada -- which will ultimately be signed the day before Lopez Obrador takes office.

So far, Lopez Obrador and Trump have gotten off to a warm start. Trump said they had a "great talk" after the election, and reportedly even calls his new counterpart "Juan Trump" -- a nod to their shared populism and anti-establishment victories.

But Trump is pressuring Lopez Obrador on immigration, pushing a deal to keep asylum-seeking migrants in Mexico while their claims are processed in the United States.

The day after the inauguration, Lopez Obrador's foreign minister, Marcelo Ebrard, is due to meet with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Washington for talks on the issue.

"The policies coming out of Washington are putting Lopez Obrador in a very difficult situation," said Pamela Starr of the University of Southern California.

"That said, while Trump has bashed the migrant caravan... he has never bashed Lopez Obrador. That gives me pause to think that potentially the two of them might be able to work something out."

Vague plans

Political analysts have been critical of Lopez Obrador's vague plans.

Despite promising sweeping change, he has offered few new policy ideas on his key issues: fighting corruption, crime and poverty.

For his highly energized voter base, that does not seem to matter -- for now.

"They're buying his promises," Mexican political analyst Jose Antonio Crespo told AFP.

"He has generated very high expectations. It will take people a while to figure out who their new president really is."

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador will be sworn in as Mexico's next president Saturday, as a country fed up with corruption, crime and poverty seeks a new direction under the divisive anti-establishment leftist.

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador will be sworn in as Mexico's next president Saturday, as a country fed up with corruption, crime and poverty seeks a new direction under the divisive anti-establishment leftist. The man widely known as "AMLO" won Mexico's July 1 elections in a landslide, and his coalition -- led by the party he founded four years ago, Morena -- took strong majorities in both houses of Congress. It was the biggest win for any president, and the first for a leftist, since Mexico transitioned to multi-party democracy in 2000. As the sharp-tongued, silver-haired leader prepares to slip on the presidential sash for a six-year term, the question is: what will he do with that mandate? Lopez Obrador, 65, has been short on specifics of how he plans to deliver the "transformation" he promises. He inherits a sticky set of problems from his unpopular predecessor, Enrique Pena Nieto. They include endemic corruption, gruesome violence fueled by Mexico's war on drug cartels, and the caravan of 6,000 Central American migrants camped at the US-Mexican border -- not to mention the minefield that diplomacy with Mexico's giant northern neighbor has become under President Donald Trump. Facing crises on multiple fronts, Lopez Obrador is promising a presidency like no other in Mexican history. He has forsworn the presidential residence, the presidential jet, more than half the presidential salary and the presidential security detail, promising to lead his anti-corruption, pro-austerity charge by example. But critics fear his government will be one of radicalism and authoritarian tendencies. The business world is particularly nervous: the Mexican peso and stocks have plunged since the election. However, the former Mexico City mayor has not lost his popular support. His approval rating is 66 percent, according to a poll published Monday by newspaper El Financiero. "I think he still has a fairly romantic honeymoon ahead of him -- but there are signs his support could deteriorate very quickly," said Mexico specialist Duncan Wood of the Wilson Center in Washington. Market jitters The biggest warning sign: jitters over the future of Latin America's second-largest economy. Lopez Obrador has tried to sooth the markets, promising fiscally conservative policies. But the five-month transition period has been bumpy. Lopez Obrador incensed business leaders when he announced he would cancel construction of a new $13-billion airport for Mexico City, after holding a referendum on the issue that was plagued by irregularities. Moves by lawmakers in his coalition to slash banking fees and bring pension funds under state control have also stoked fears. Mexican stocks have lost more than 12 percent since his election. On Monday, they hit their lowest level since March 2014. And on Wednesday, the central bank lowered its economic growth forecast for 2019, citing uncertainty over Lopez Obrador's policies. Trump troubles? Then there is the tricky matter of Trump. The American president bullied the Pena Nieto administration with his vows to make Mexico pay for a wall on the border and brinksmanship in negotiating an updated trade deal between the US, Mexico and Canada -- which will ultimately be signed the day before Lopez Obrador takes office. So far, Lopez Obrador and Trump have gotten off to a warm start. Trump said they had a "great talk" after the election, and reportedly even calls his new counterpart "Juan Trump" -- a nod to their shared populism and anti-establishment victories. But Trump is pressuring Lopez Obrador on immigration, pushing a deal to keep asylum-seeking migrants in Mexico while their claims are processed in the United States. The day after the inauguration, Lopez Obrador's foreign minister, Marcelo Ebrard, is due to meet with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Washington for talks on the issue. "The policies coming out of Washington are putting Lopez Obrador in a very difficult situation," said Pamela Starr of the University of Southern California. "That said, while Trump has bashed the migrant caravan... he has never bashed Lopez Obrador. That gives me pause to think that potentially the two of them might be able to work something out." Vague plans Political analysts have been critical of Lopez Obrador's vague plans. Despite promising sweeping change, he has offered few new policy ideas on his key issues: fighting corruption, crime and poverty. For his highly energized voter base, that does not seem to matter -- for now. "They're buying his promises," Mexican political analyst Jose Antonio Crespo told AFP. "He has generated very high expectations. It will take people a while to figure out who their new president really is."

Mexico heads for new era under leftist president Lopez Obrador

Ten Central American women taking part in the migrant caravan camped on the US-Mexican border said Thursday they were starting a hunger strike to pressure American authorities to let them apply for asylum.

"Since no one is listening to us, we've decided as a women's movement... to launch a hunger strike," said Claudia Miranda of Honduras at an improvised press conference in the border city of Tijuana.

More than 6,000 migrants who traveled to the northern Mexican city by caravan are camped out hoping to apply for asylum or sneak into the United States, fleeing poverty and violence in their home countries.

US President Donald Trump, who has called the caravan an "invasion" full of "hardened criminals" and "thugs," is seeking to overhaul asylum policy to keep applicants out pending approval.

Draped in white flags, the women tried to picket in front of the immigration offices at the border, but were blocked by a heavy police contingent.

The women are also calling on Mexican migration authorities to grant speedy humanitarian visas to migrants who want to remain in Mexico.

They did not say how long they planned to maintain their hunger strike.

After walking and hitch-hiking more than 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) to the US southern border, some 500 migrants tried to breach it on Sunday. They were forced back by US Border Patrol agents, who fired tear gas and rubber bullets. 
&nbsp;

Ten Central American women taking part in the migrant caravan camped on the US-Mexican border said Thursday they were starting a hunger strike to pressure American authorities to let them apply for asylum.

Ten Central American women taking part in the migrant caravan camped on the US-Mexican border said Thursday they were starting a hunger strike to pressure American authorities to let them apply for asylum. "Since no one is listening to us, we've decided as a women's movement... to launch a hunger strike," said Claudia Miranda of Honduras at an improvised press conference in the border city of Tijuana. More than 6,000 migrants who traveled to the northern Mexican city by caravan are camped out hoping to apply for asylum or sneak into the United States, fleeing poverty and violence in their home countries. US President Donald Trump, who has called the caravan an "invasion" full of "hardened criminals" and "thugs," is seeking to overhaul asylum policy to keep applicants out pending approval. Draped in white flags, the women tried to picket in front of the immigration offices at the border, but were blocked by a heavy police contingent. The women are also calling on Mexican migration authorities to grant speedy humanitarian visas to migrants who want to remain in Mexico. They did not say how long they planned to maintain their hunger strike. After walking and hitch-hiking more than 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) to the US southern border, some 500 migrants tried to breach it on Sunday. They were forced back by US Border Patrol agents, who fired tear gas and rubber bullets.

Caravan migrants declare hunger strike to pressure US

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Mexico should send <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-will-hold-us-bound-refugees-while-claims-processed-trump-179220">migrants seeking asylum in the United States</a> back to their home countries, a day after US authorities shut the country's busiest southern border crossing and fired tear gas into the crowd.

US officials on Sunday had reopened the crossing at the San Ysidro port of entry between San Diego and Tijuana, the most heavily trafficked land border in the Western Hemisphere after shutting it down for several hours.

US border patrol agents have arrested 42 Central American migrants who crossed the southern frontier from Mexico, Chief Patrol Agent Rodney Scott said on Monday.

"Forty-two people crossed the border and were arrested. To be completely frank there were numerous people who actually made it across the border," Scott, of the San Diego Sector Border Patrol, told CNN, adding that the majority of those detained were men.&nbsp;

Trump has vowed the asylum seekers would not easily enter the country and on Monday threatened again to shut down the US-Mexico border, which stretches 2,000 miles (3,200 km).

The president repeated his call on Congress to fund his long-promised border wall as US lawmakers return to Washington on Monday after the US Thanksgiving holiday break with federal government funding set to expire on December 7. He has repeatedly threatened to shut down the federal government unless the wall is funded.

The showdown on Sunday took place at part of the border where there is already a physical barrier.

"Mexico should move the flag-waving Migrants, many of whom are stone cold criminals, back to their countries. Do it by plane, do it by bus, do it anyway you want, but they are NOT coming into the USA We will close the Border permanently if need be. Congress, fund the WALL!" Trump tweeted.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Mexico should move the flag waving Migrants, many of whom are stone cold criminals, back to their countries. Do it by plane, do it by bus, do it anyway you want, but they are NOT coming into the U.S.A. We will close the Border permanently if need be. Congress, fund the WALL!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1067015026995879937?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Hundreds of caravan members including women and children protested peacefully on Sunday with chants of "We aren't criminals! We are hard workers." As they neared the US border, they were stopped by Mexican authorities, who told them to wait for permission.

The migrants who are mostly Honduran are fleeing poverty and violence and have said they would wait in Tijuana until they could request asylum in the United States.

For weeks before the November 6 congressional elections, Trump raised alarm about the caravan of Central American migrants headed for the United States and ordered some 5,800 US troops to the border to support US Customs and Border Protection.

Trump has just a few weeks left to push his fellow Republicans who control both chambers of Congress to make good on the wall before Democrats take control of the US House of Representatives in January following their election gains.

Democrats have urged more comprehensive immigration reform in addition to additional border security, but have fiercely opposed the wall.

US and Mexican negotiators on Sunday also discussed a plan to keep the migrants in Mexico while their asylum claims are heard. Asylum seekers typically announce their intention at US ports of entry or after crossing the border illegally.

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Mexico should send migrants seeking asylum in the United States back to their home countries, a day after US authorities shut the country's busiest southern border crossing and fired tear gas into the crowd.

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Mexico should send migrants seeking asylum in the United States back to their home countries, a day after US authorities shut the country's busiest southern border crossing and fired tear gas into the crowd. US officials on Sunday had reopened the crossing at the San Ysidro port of entry between San Diego and Tijuana, the most heavily trafficked land border in the Western Hemisphere after shutting it down for several hours. US border patrol agents have arrested 42 Central American migrants who crossed the southern frontier from Mexico, Chief Patrol Agent Rodney Scott said on Monday. "Forty-two people crossed the border and were arrested. To be completely frank there were numerous people who actually made it across the border," Scott, of the San Diego Sector Border Patrol, told CNN, adding that the majority of those detained were men. Trump has vowed the asylum seekers would not easily enter the country and on Monday threatened again to shut down the US-Mexico border, which stretches 2,000 miles (3,200 km). The president repeated his call on Congress to fund his long-promised border wall as US lawmakers return to Washington on Monday after the US Thanksgiving holiday break with federal government funding set to expire on December 7. He has repeatedly threatened to shut down the federal government unless the wall is funded. The showdown on Sunday took place at part of the border where there is already a physical barrier. "Mexico should move the flag-waving Migrants, many of whom are stone cold criminals, back to their countries. Do it by plane, do it by bus, do it anyway you want, but they are NOT coming into the USA We will close the Border permanently if need be. Congress, fund the WALL!" Trump tweeted. Mexico should move the flag waving Migrants, many of whom are stone cold criminals, back to their countries. Do it by plane, do it by bus, do it anyway you want, but they are NOT coming into the U.S.A. We will close the Border permanently if need be. Congress, fund the WALL! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 26, 2018 × Hundreds of caravan members including women and children protested peacefully on Sunday with chants of "We aren't criminals! We are hard workers." As they neared the US border, they were stopped by Mexican authorities, who told them to wait for permission. The migrants who are mostly Honduran are fleeing poverty and violence and have said they would wait in Tijuana until they could request asylum in the United States. For weeks before the November 6 congressional elections, Trump raised alarm about the caravan of Central American migrants headed for the United States and ordered some 5,800 US troops to the border to support US Customs and Border Protection. Trump has just a few weeks left to push his fellow Republicans who control both chambers of Congress to make good on the wall before Democrats take control of the US House of Representatives in January following their election gains. Democrats have urged more comprehensive immigration reform in addition to additional border security, but have fiercely opposed the wall. US and Mexican negotiators on Sunday also discussed a plan to keep the migrants in Mexico while their asylum claims are heard. Asylum seekers typically announce their intention at US ports of entry or after crossing the border illegally.

Mexico should move migrants, we will permanently close the border, warns Trump

mexico

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