Thursday, July 9, 2026 — Evening Edition

Former ENEE chief Erick Tejada accused the utility's current head of signaling a government drive to privatize Honduras's electricity sector, pointing to France, Costa Rica and other countries as examples of successful public energy systems.

Also reported by: Radio Cadena Voces (RCV)

Human-rights and pro-democracy groups warn that Honduras's new Beneficial Owner Law—meant to identify the true owners of businesses and fight money laundering—could be turned against NGOs and civil-society groups critical of the government, especially if the CNBS uses it to impose extra requirements that choke off their financing.

Honduras sent its joint military chief to the 17th Conference of Defense Ministers of the Americas in Cusco, Peru, where 33 countries are discussing regional security, disaster response and modernizing their armed forces through July 10.

Experts and civic groups are demanding transparent audits of municipal vehicle-tax revenue to confirm the money goes to road maintenance and repairs, as protests mount over rate increases that residents say have done nothing to improve streets and highways.

Congressman Marco Antonio Midence says a law requiring central registration of beneficial owners would help Honduras meet international anti-money-laundering standards and get off the Financial Action Task Force gray list.

Also reported by: Radio América Honduras

Honduras's public-sector union (ANDEPH) is preparing a formal request to the government for a 3,000-lempira (about $120) raise for roughly 120,000 state employees, citing a year without meaningful increases and inflation above 4.5%.

The board of the National Agricultural Development Bank has ordered an investigation into its credit approvals to determine whether the process involved irregularities and to assign responsibility.

Liliana Castillo, former head of Honduras's economists' association, projects the lempira could fall to 27 per US dollar by September if it keeps sliding at its current pace of about 6 centavos a month—a gradual slide she says would shield domestic prices better than a sharper drop.

The Infrastructure Ministry poured high-strength concrete to reinforce the ramp foundations of the Juan Manuel Gálvez Bridge, with structural work to follow.

Honduras's Foreign Ministry and Supreme Court have launched an online platform that lets Hondurans request authenticated criminal records and apostilles (official document certifications) faster and more cheaply, with apostilles costing 150 lempiras (about $6) and payable online or at consulates.

Construction of a tunnel at Río Blanco in San Pedro Sula began Wednesday and is expected to take six months, affecting a corridor that serves more than 20,000 families and about 18,000 vehicles a day; authorities recommend four alternate routes to ease delays.

The Infrastructure Ministry set July 24 as the deadline for bids on road and protective-infrastructure projects in Cortés, Yoro and Colón meant to strengthen regional connectivity and development.

Honduras is carrying out a $624 million upgrade of Puerto Cortés, expanding docks 4 and 5, adding container cranes and buying specialized equipment to boost capacity and efficiency at the country's main Caribbean logistics hub.

Honduras's electricity regulator has ordered Roatán Electric Company to stop charging 114 customers and correct June billing errors, while giving other affected users up to five months to pay without penalties.

Edwin Vega, a forestry official investigating an oil spill from an agro-industrial plant owned by the Jaremar Group in Blanca Jeannette Kawas National Park, says he was fired before finishing his technical report, preventing the notification of authorities the law requires.

Also reported by: HCH

The first swamper iguanas (Ctenosaura bakeri) of the 2026 breeding season have hatched on Utila, boosting efforts to conserve a critically endangered species found only in the island's mangroves; the hatchlings will be raised at a research station before their release into the wild.

Roatán drew 1.56 million visitors in the first six months of 2026, with cruise ships accounting for 83.2% of arrivals, cementing the island's standing as a major Caribbean tourism destination.

Said Martínez, the first Honduran referee to officiate a World Cup match, was left off FIFA's quarterfinal assignments after earlier turns in the group stage and the round of 16, leaving his tournament future uncertain.

Real España has signed defender Jeffrey Ramos, who is already training with the team, but Real Sociedad says he remains under contract with them through August 15, a dispute that may end up in court.

Police arrested Maykel Cruz Cruz, 20, in Nacaome after a digital investigation found he had sexually abused a girl since she was 8, recorded the assaults and sold the videos online; the victim, now 13, has been placed in protective custody.

Also reported by: Policía Nacional de Honduras

Steven Jhoet Rodríguez Martínez, a student at Juan Lindo School in La Ceiba's Perú village, died after being struck by a vehicle on Highway CA-13 as he left class; the driver was detained and charged with negligent homicide, and residents threatened to block the road unless authorities install speed bumps.

Also reported by: HCH

Mario Josué Valladares, a 24-year-old motorcyclist, was shot and killed by the driver of a white sedan after a collision in San Pedro Sula's Felipe Zelaya neighborhood; the gunman fled and remains at large.

Also reported by: Radio HRN

Police arrested a man accused of taking part in a child-trafficking network who allegedly paid L4,000 (about $160) a week to procure girls, according to investigators.