Friday, June 19, 2026 — Morning Edition

Congress unanimously passed the Financial Relief Law for Agricultural Producers, letting Banadesa and Senprende restructure and refinance overdue farm loans at a maximum 2% interest rate over 10 years, with the government using 100 million lempiras to subsidize 80% of crop-insurance premiums.

Congress begins a one-month recess on June 23 and returns July 24, but Congress President Tomás Zambrano said lawmakers can be called back at any time if an emergency or matter of national interest demands immediate action.

The US Embassy welcomed the Asfura government's push to overhaul Honduras's electricity law, saying the changes would draw US investment, spur economic growth, strengthen energy security, and give Hondurans more reliable, affordable power.

Congress unveiled an online platform that lets citizens track each lawmaker's voting record, proposed bills, committee assignments, and attendance — the first time such detailed legislative data has been public in Honduras's 44-year democratic era.

Tensions inside Honduras's Liberal Party have deepened as its executive council president and rival factions clash over financial transparency and accountability for money spent in the 2025 elections.

Honduras's human-rights ombudsman handled 17,334 complaints filed by women between 2021 and June 2026 — an average of nine a day — according to CONADEH's statistics unit.

Honduras and the Dominican Republic are weighing direct flights to San Pedro Sula and closer cooperation on tourism, trade, and investment to create jobs and growth in both countries.

The Central Bank of Honduras sold $79.9 million at its June 18 foreign-exchange auction, setting the average exchange rate at L26.7074 per dollar for June 19.

German business leaders met with President Nasry Asfura and Foreign Minister Mireya Agüero and announced plans for an official visit to Honduras within 12 months to explore closer economic ties and possible investments.

The congressional telecommunications committee approved a measure requiring cable and telecom companies to remove unused cables within 60 days or face fines of up to L250,000 (about $10,000).

Energy analyst Salomón Ordóñez says Honduras's state power utility needs roughly L50 billion (about $2 billion) to upgrade its distribution and transmission infrastructure, with private investment possible once electricity-sector reforms pass.

Honduras's National Autonomous University pushed its registration deadline for the PHUMA entrance exam to Friday, June 19, citing technical problems and network congestion that hit applicants the day before.

A tropical wave and weather troughs are expected to bring heavy rain and thunderstorms to Honduras in the coming days.

Also reported by: Radio Cadena Voces (X)

Argentine coach Héctor Vargas, a two-time Liga Nacional champion with Olimpia and Marathón, has been hired to lead CD Choloma as the club chases its first playoff berth since reaching the top flight.

A Honduran court ordered the Public Prosecutor's Office to return more than 60 assets to the retailer Mangys Store after its lawyers showed the goods were obtained lawfully and had no link to money laundering or other crimes.

Attorney Francisco Pascua filed complaints with Honduras's human-rights ombudsman and the National Police after his vehicle was broken into and items stolen, which he says is part of a pattern of surveillance and intimidation tied to his legal criticism of past government decisions.

A 40-year-old tow-truck driver from Choloma was handed over to prosecutors over a June 17 crash on Highway CA-5 that killed seven National Police officers and injured dozens when his truck lost control on a downhill grade, overturned, and struck a police bus.

Also reported by: Ministerio Público (X)

Police rescued a student held for ransom in Siguatepeque after kidnappers demanded 2 million lempiras (about $80,000) for his release.