National News

Eight current and former Central Bank of Honduras employees accused of misappropriation in connection with an 88.6-million-lempira embezzlement linked to former prosecutor Francia Medina will face trial while free, with an initial hearing set for June 18.

The National Hurricane Center is monitoring two low-pressure areas off Central America and Mexico with 70% and 80% chances of cyclonic development within seven days; tropical storm Amanda poses no threat to the region.

The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights warned that Honduras's newly approved agroindustrial law could harm indigenous and rural communities' land and territorial rights and deepen social conflict, urging Congress to align it with international standards.

Congress passed legislation declaring legally registered agricultural properties exempt from seizure and ordering police and judicial authorities to respond immediately to illegal occupations affecting sectors such as palm oil, coffee, sugar cane, and citrus.

Agriculture Minister Moisés Molina warned that Honduras faces a prolonged dry season exceeding two months due to El Niño, threatening grain production and food security, though the government has allocated 1.5 billion lempiras in production incentives and will provide technical support to farmers.

Honduras's deaf community has complained that the National Congress hired an unqualified sign-language interpreter for official broadcasts, violating their right to equal access to information, and is calling for a certified professional.

Congress approved a law prioritizing agroindustrial activity as a national interest, expediting evictions and broadening criminal penalties for land occupations and blockades, drawing warnings from Cespad, a democracy-studies center, that it criminalizes peasant land-defense organizing.

Honduras's central bank auctioned $81 million in its June 4 foreign-exchange sale, setting a weighted average exchange rate of L26.67 per dollar for June 5.

Prosecutors have formally charged a man accused of orchestrating four murders, including the killing of a son of former president Porfirio Lobo Sosa.

Honduras's Special Prosecutor for Tax Crimes has recovered more than L31.9 million (roughly $1.28 million USD) in unpaid taxes from smuggling cases in the northern region.

Liberal Party congressman Roberto Pineda Chacón introduced a motion Thursday to impose penalties for burning tires during protests and for dumping tires in public spaces, citing environmental protection ahead of World Environment Day.

A government commission liquidating ministries from the former Castro administration found contracts charging up to L70,000 (about $2,800) per broadcast minute, along with evidence of political spending and missing computer hard drives, sending its findings to the audit court and prosecutor.

The vice president of the Tegucigalpa Chamber of Commerce warned that while Honduras has made macroeconomic progress, inflation, insecurity, unemployment, and extortion continue to prevent those gains from improving living standards for ordinary Hondurans.

Domestic rice output has fallen below 500,000 quintals against annual demand of 6 million, leaving Honduras to import roughly 90% of its supply from the US, Brazil, and Paraguay.

A proposal by Liberal congressman Yury Sabas would lower the minimum driving age to 16, permitting teenagers to operate light vehicles between 5 a.m. and 8 p.m. under a reformed Traffic Law.

Congress is considering a proposal that would create a legal presumption protecting homeowners and business owners who use deadly force to repel intruders, aiming to prevent automatic criminal prosecution of property defenders.

Liberal congressman Roberto Pineda Chacón introduced legislation to punish the burning and improper disposal of tires in public spaces, arguing the measure targets environmental damage and public-health risks, not protests.

Environmental and human-rights organizations are calling on President Asfura to veto a newly approved law strengthening agroindustry protections, arguing it weakens environmental controls, blocks land reform, and criminalizes peasant land claims under the guise of fighting land invasions.

Honduras's state power utility is auctioning L2.2 billion (about $88 million) in bonds at interest rates of 10.6% to 12.2% to pay down arrears exceeding L16.4 billion owed to private energy suppliers.

A bill before Congress would raise femicide sentences to 25–30 years (or 30–40 for aggravated cases), create specialized courts nationwide to handle gender-violence crimes, and broaden the legal definition of power imbalance between men and women.

Honduras is servicing over $3.3 billion in foreign loans for 66 active projects, 76% of which have failed to reach 50% execution by end of 2025, including 19 that have not begun, forcing taxpayers to cover interest and fees on work generating no public benefit.

A proposal by the current director of Honduras's state electricity utility to reorganize its structure into three separate companies and create an independent grid operator would undermine state control and pave the way for privatization, according to former ENEE manager Erick Tejada.

The National Congress reversed its previous day's approval of a two-month extension for candidates who failed to file required campaign-finance reports, leaving them exposed to fines up to 90,000 lempiras and prosecution by the attorney general's office.

Prosecutors arrested 11 current and former Central Bank of Honduras employees, including two active managers, on suspicion of 100 counts of embezzlement tied to the systematic theft of public funds over several years.

Liberal congressman Roberto Pineda Chacón introduced a proposal to impose fines and penalties for burning tires during demonstrations and for improperly dumping tires in public spaces, citing environmental protection on World Environment Day.

Honduras's National Migration Institute is now requiring travelers departing to countries with active measles circulation to show proof of vaccination, a Health Secretariat-backed measure to prevent the virus from being imported into Honduras.

Honduras's Central Bank said it respects ongoing investigations after prosecutors charged current and former employees with 100 counts of negligent embezzlement tied to a multimillion-lempira theft, with arrests made in Choluteca, Francisco Morazán, and Cortés.

The state power utility ENEE will cut electricity Friday, June 5, in multiple regions including the capital, San Pedro Sula, and the Atlantic coast for scheduled grid maintenance.

Congress approved a two-month amnesty allowing vehicle and motorcycle owners to settle outstanding tax debts without paying accumulated penalties, fines, or interest, covering obligations from 2025 and earlier years.

Congress approved legislation declaring agricultural and agro-industrial lands exempt from land reform and other seizure, mandating immediate police action against invasions and road blockades, and requiring streamlined permitting for the sector, which contributes roughly 6.5 billion lempiras to GDP.