Tuesday, August 18, 2026

The initial hearing in the Pandora II case against former President Juan Orlando Hernández, accused of fraud and money laundering tied to public funds diverted between 2010 and 2013, resumes August 18 after prosecutors presented 49 pieces of evidence.

Five Garífuna community defenders charged with usurpation in a July eviction from ancestral San Juan lands remain without a judge after a national court voided the earlier proceedings, while their lawyers argue the case violates constitutional protections and Inter-American Court rulings.

Hondurans now enrolled in universities abroad can apply for government scholarships through August 24, part of 264 million lempiras (about $10.6 million) the government has set aside this year for undergraduate and graduate study at home and abroad.

Gloria María Coca Viera, who served as mayor of Guaimaca in Francisco Morazán from 1982 to 1990 across two terms and was a prominent Liberal Party leader, has died of natural causes, leaving her mark on the community.

President Nasry Asfura asked the United States to weigh each Honduran affected by the suspension of Temporary Protected Status case by case, noting that many have lived, worked, and raised families in the US for decades since the program began after Hurricane Mitch 28 years ago.

Honduras's largest auto trade show runs September 4–6 in Tegucigalpa and September 25–27 in San Pedro Sula, featuring major distributors, Ford, financing options, and a motorcycle zone.

Honduras's insurance market is expanding steadily, driven by life, auto, fire, and health coverage that make up more than 80% of premiums, drawing reinsurers and widening economic protection for families.

The national utility ENEE will shut off power in parts of El Paraíso, Intibucá, Francisco Morazán, and Valle on August 18 and 19 for scheduled maintenance of distribution lines.

A magnitude 3.3 earthquake centered about 18 kilometers north of Las Lajas in Comayagua struck late on August 16 at a depth of 5 kilometers, with no reported injuries or damage; authorities also recorded two other seismic events in the region within 12 hours.

A magnitude 4.6 earthquake struck off the Atlantic coast near Puerto Cortés at 4:07 p.m., followed eight minutes later by a 3.7 aftershock; the quake was felt in San Pedro Sula and Puerto Cortés.

Motagua coach Javier López owned up to defensive errors and missed chances after his team fell 3-1 to rival Olimpia, refusing to blame injuries and vowing to fix lapses in concentration.

Honduras's national sports authority is carrying out technical surveys in the Bay Islands to assess sports facilities and secondary roads for possible upgrades, with plans to improve stadiums in Roatán and Utila and pursue projects in football, basketball, volleyball, and baseball.

Honduran Andy Nájar opened his MLS scoring account with a header in the 17th minute as Nashville beat Inter Miami, who started Lionel Messi, in a match at Geodis Park.

Fifty Hondurans and 36 Mexicans arrived in Tegucigalpa aboard a US military aircraft from Fort Lauderdale, pushing the running tally of Hondurans returned by air to 28,001, as officials warn the TPS cancellation could speed up returns in the coming months.

A Honduran extradition judge ordered the provisional arrest of Darwin Espinal del Cid, detained Monday in Choluteca on a US warrant in connection with the killing of a 23-year-old Guatemalan woman in Pennsylvania, with a hearing set for September 2.

Also reported by: Once Noticias, Radio Cadena Voces (RCV)

A young man was shot and killed in the Villa Nueva neighborhood of Tegucigalpa; authorities are investigating and forensic teams are working the scene.

Dereck McNiel, a tourism businessman and son of prominent attorney Claudeth McNiel, was shot and killed on August 17 while driving in Roatán after dropping his child at school; he had been a protected witness in the investigation into the 2022 disappearance of Angie Peña, though authorities have not yet confirmed a motive.

Also reported by: HCH