National News

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Marlina Dubón issued a dissenting vote in former military commander Romeo Vásquez Velásquez's appeal and publicly warned of selective justice in Honduras's judiciary, arguing that procedural law does not allow alternative measures for serious crimes such as murder.

Honduras's journalists' association called for an immediate investigation into allegations that magistrates Sonia Marlina Dubón and Mario Díaz pressured the judge overseeing the criminal trial of former military commander Roosevelt Hernández, claims brought by two civil society organizations, ASOPODEHU and JOPRODEHU.

Honduras's Energy Ministry shifted the weekly fuel-price adjustment from 6 a.m. to 12:01 a.m. on Mondays to align with gas stations' weekend supply logistics, a change implemented 30 days ago but announced publicly this week.

New Walk Productions announced that Viento en contra, a historical drama about the 1969 armed conflict between Honduras and El Salvador, will open in Honduran cinemas on September 3, aiming to recover the country's historical memory and promote regional reconciliation.

Former Congress President Luis Redondo's legal team filed an injunction to block the swearing-in of a forensic expert commissioned to analyze videos of a National Congress session on January 8, 2026, in a public ministry investigation into former Permanent Commission members.

Tens of thousands of Honduran deportees face collection efforts after the US plans to hire a private contractor to locate and notify them of unpaid civil immigration fines — part of an estimated $423 million owed by roughly 66,387 people across Honduras, Mexico, and Guatemala.

Honduras is considering opening its electricity market to multiple operators in generation, distribution, transmission, and sales—similar to Costa Rica's hybrid system—to boost investment, diversify energy sources, and increase regional competition.

Honduras's anti-corruption council announced investigations into alleged corruption at the Social Housing Fund (Fosovi) and at least seven other public institutions, urging prosecutors to bring those responsible to justice.

Honduras's Liga Nacional continues its Apertura 2026–27 tournament across August 8–9 with six matches, including Jornada 1 winners Motagua, Real España, Olimpia, Génesis, Marathón, and Olancho FC all back in action.

Honduras's banking system is reallocating resources toward longer-term domestic financial instruments, signaling a shift toward more structurally oriented investments.

Honduras's Cacao Ecotourism Route (RETCACAOH) connects family-run cacao farms, natural reserves, and tourism parks across the country where visitors can learn chocolate production from harvest to finished product, with the government and farmers aiming to diversify rural incomes through sustainable agritourism.

An investigation into former Congress President Luis Redondo and members of the Permanent Commission moves forward Friday with a court hearing to swear in an expert witness to analyze a disputed January 8 session.

Honduras's shrimp producers face mounting losses from drought-driven higher salinity in ponds, production costs up 15–18%, and depressed international prices worsened by Ecuadorian oversupply, threatening employment in the southern region.

Honduras's banking regulator (CNBS) announced an August supervisory examination of state agricultural bank Banadesa to review its loan portfolio, use of public funds, and operational controls, citing suspected irregularities in credits approved under previous administrations.

Rodrigo de Olivera's goal gave Motagua a 1–0 victory over El Salvador's FAS in the second group stage of the Central American Cup, putting the Honduran club atop its group with six points.

The Central Bank set the official exchange rate at 26.8141 lempiras per dollar for buying and 26.9482 for selling on Friday, a slight uptick that carries direct effects on import costs, consumer prices, and the value of remittances received by Honduran families.

Real España recovered two key players—forward Eddie Hernández from injury and midfielder Nixon Cruz from suspension—ahead of Saturday's second matchday match against Génesis FC in the Apertura tournament.

Congress approved two loans worth $225 million from the World Bank's International Development Association and the Inter-American Development Bank to support public finances and the national budget, with low interest rates and extended repayment periods.

State institutions have accumulated over 20 billion lempiras (roughly $800 million) in unpaid electricity bills to ENEE, with much of the debt dating back more than 15 years; the utility is auditing its accounts receivable and also grappling with 34% energy losses due partly to theft.

Construction of a 140-meter bridge over the Uyuca fault on the CA-6 Eastern Corridor highway continues, with crews focusing on foundation and drainage work; the project is expected to improve safety and connectivity between Tegucigalpa and Danlí and will create over 250 jobs.

The National Congress authorized 371 construction and supervision contracts totaling L2.4 billion (about $96 million) to restart stalled education, road, and water-supply projects across 40 municipalities, most halted from the previous administration.

Honduras unveiled a 2026–2030 incentive strategy for agriculture with FAO support, aiming to attract investment, create jobs, incorporate technology, and boost competitiveness in a sector that contributes 13% of GDP and over a third of exports.

BCH president Roberto Lagos projects inflation will continue easing to about 5.5% in August from nearly 6%, while international reserves reached a record $11.7 billion, equivalent to seven months of import coverage and strengthening financial stability.

The electricity regulator said it will evaluate the Liberal Party's counterproposal for power-sector reforms, insisting any changes must balance lower tariffs, fair competition, and fiscal impact while rejecting open-ended incentives.

Gasoline and diesel prices will increase on August 10, with diesel rising the most (L4.80 per gallon in Tegucigalpa), while the government continues to subsidize domestic cooking gas to cushion the impact on households.

Honduras's customs agency collected L41 billion ($1.64 billion) through July 30, exceeding its mid-year target by more than 102%, with strong inflows from merchandise imports, vehicles, and fuel driving confidence it will surpass the full-year goal of L69 billion.

Honduras's Financial Relief Law for agricultural producers took effect, allowing farmers, rice growers, salt producers, and shrimp farmers to refinance debts at a maximum interest rate of 2% annually over up to 15 years through Banadesa and Senprende.

Sedesol says more than 29,000 applications for its 2026 National Scholarship Program are under technical and documentary review, with the first contract-signing session for approved applicants scheduled for August 10.

The US dollar strengthened to 26.81 lempiras at purchase and 26.94 at sale on August 6, according to the Central Bank's official rate, affecting imports, prices, and remittances to Honduran families.

Honduras's Supreme Court of Accounts found that judges nationwide ordered seizures totaling L921 million (about $37 million) from the state treasury without following required procedures, and referred findings to prosecutors for possible criminal liability.