Monday, August 17, 2026 — Evening Edition

The president of the Supreme Court said a former judge accused of extortion will not be reinstated despite any appellate rulings and must first face administrative review by the Judicial Career Council.

Honduras's judges are urging Congress to act on a sweeping overhaul of the judicial-career rules, sent on June 10, that would tighten the selection of council members and head off conflicts of interest after a decade marked by constitutional violations and criminal charges against previous officeholders.

Tegucigalpa's water utility says 40% of the water entering its distribution system is lost through damaged pipes, deepening the capital's severe drought as authorities expand rationing and drill new wells.

The National Port Authority signed agreements with regional operator OPC and specialized-terminal firm Logra to raise Puerto Cortés's capacity to 1.4 million TEU a year and modernize its bulk terminals, backed by 621 million lempiras (about $25 million) in investment.

The Property Institute plans to start handing out metal license plates in the last quarter of 2026 to roughly one million vehicles now running on temporary three-month permits, with owners paying 500 lempiras (about $20) per plate.

Honduras has issued an expropriation decree to acquire land for the Libramiento Sur, an 8.8-kilometer bypass south of Tegucigalpa; the Infrastructure Ministry will begin notifying owners, with $16 million set aside for compensation and completion targeted for late 2027 or early 2028.

UNAH geologists warn that GPS readings show 2–3 mm of ground movement a year in Valle de Sula's seismically active zones, raising doubts about whether buildings could withstand a major earthquake.

Tegucigalpa's two main reservoirs — La Concepción at 29.85% capacity and Los Laureles at 37.56% — remain critically low for lack of rain, prompting authorities to weigh raising the alert level and to work on recovering 11 wells to shore up the water supply.

Also reported by: HCH

Rising numbers of visitors to El Merendón's natural attractions and cafés — including flower farms, mountain biking, and hiking — have led police to increase patrols to protect tourists and local businesses in the mountain communities.

Olancho FC beat Juticalpa 1–0 in the Olancho regional derby on August 16, with Machuca Ramírez scoring the winner after Juticalpa's Maylor Núñez was sent off for a foul in the 45th minute.

Honduran forward Dereck Moncada scored in the 12th minute as Switzerland's FC Lugano crushed fifth-division Vedeggio Calcio 10-1 in a Swiss Cup match, his third goal in nine games since joining the club.

A law exempting returning Honduran migrants from import duties on household goods, work tools, and vehicles takes effect on August 28 after a wait for regulations.

President Asfura blamed the US cancellation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 50,000 Hondurans on strained relations between the previous Castro administration and the White House, saying that stance damaged the legal standing of Hondurans in the program for decades.

Honduras's Foreign Ministry has published a practical guide for Hondurans affected by the end of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in the United States, covering legal options, how to safeguard documents, work-authorization alternatives, and warnings against immigration fraud.

The end of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Honduras leaves about 55,000 Hondurans in the United States without legal work authorization and at risk of deportation, said former INM director Wilson Paz, who noted they had contributed to both economies through taxes and remittances.

A 17-year-old in Siguatepeque, Comayagua, faked his own abduction and sent his mother threatening videos demanding 15,000 lempiras (about $600) to recover a pawned motorcycle; he and his 17-year-old accomplice were detained on August 15 and turned over to juvenile prosecutors.

ATIC agents and military intelligence arrested Yasser José Castillo Méndez on charges of aggravated drug trafficking as a member of "Los Castillos," a criminal group operating in southern Honduras.

Suany Aguilera, 35, was killed in a drive-by shooting on August 13 as she and her sister drove toward Santa Lucía on a road through El Sitio; her sister was wounded but survived.

Also reported by: TuNota (Canal 5 / TSI)