Friday, October 23, 2026 — Morning Edition

Congress President Tomás Zambrano said he will push legal reforms making gang tattoos—those tied to MS-13 and Pandilla 18—sufficient grounds for prosecution, arguing the measure targets only gang members and would help overcome witness intimidation in high-crime areas.

Also reported by: El Heraldo, El Libertador, Congreso Nacional

Legal experts debated proposed criminal-justice measures aimed at gang violence, warning that harsher penalties without solid investigations risk wrongful arrests and that tattoos should not count as evidence.

Osman Chávez, a two-time World Cup player turned congressman, said he faces only a usurpation-of-office allegation tied to his work on Congress's Permanent Commission and urged the press to report his case responsibly.

Also reported by: Radio Cadena Voces (RCV)

Municipal authorities in Tegucigalpa are inspecting Chinese-owned businesses, citing tax and administrative compliance, but economists and sociologists warn the sweeps risk becoming discrimination based on nationality amid public anti-Chinese commerce messaging.

An estimated 80% of Honduran farmers operate outside the formal economy, locking them out of regulated credit and forcing many to turn to informal lenders at unfavorable rates, a business leader says.

The Central Bank of Honduras auctioned $113.1 million in its October 20 currency sale, setting a weighted average exchange rate of L26.8934 per dollar for October 21.

The government negotiated with producers and retailers to cut a planned egg-carton price increase from 20 to 8 lempiras, while Banasupro will hold its medium carton at L95; rising feed and fuel costs continue to squeeze the poultry sector.

The Honduran petroleum distributors' association expects gasoline and diesel prices to drop in the coming weeks, citing falling international refined-fuel markets even as crude oil tops $100 per barrel.

A Fosdeh economist cautioned that Honduras's return to an interbank foreign-exchange market could enable dollar hoarding and price spikes unless the central bank imposes safeguards, noting that five financial institutions already control 80% of the country's currency trade.

Honduras's agriculture, fishing, forestry and livestock sector grew 4.8%, led by coffee, banana and fruit crops, with added gains from shrimp and tilapia fishing, livestock and poultry.

The Labor Ministry and National Vocational Institute are holding a job fair in Tegucigalpa on October 23 with more than 50 openings in customer service, finance, health and administration; applicants must bring a current résumé.

CEUTEC student David Laitano and Wilfredo Hall launched DoctorYa, a platform that lets Hondurans search for specialists by location, compare profiles and read patient reviews before booking appointments; it has logged more than 900 appointment requests and 100 doctors since its July launch.

An International Monetary Fund delegation opened the sixth and final review of Honduras's economic program through November 2, assessing the government's compliance with commitments on macroeconomic indicators, public finances, energy-sector losses and anti-money-laundering reforms.

ENEE will cut power across parts of Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula and Colón on October 23 for maintenance, with blackouts lasting four to eight hours in each affected area.

Also reported by: TuNota (Canal 5 / TSI), Televicentro, Radio HRN

Roatán's mayor announced infrastructure work in the El Suampo neighborhood—including sidewalks, paving and a bus bay—while the municipality studies traffic flow and maps alternate routes to ease congestion on the island's main highway.

Congressman José Jaar filed a motion urging the Infrastructure Ministry to work with the road concessionaire to improve signage and finish pending four-lane expansions on the CA-5 highway between Siguatepeque and San Pedro Sula.

The main public hospital's sewing department, now running in renovated facilities with a L25 million investment from UNOPS, will produce up to 5,000 hospital gowns, sheets and surgical linens a month after two years of supply shortages.

Also reported by: Radio HRN

Negotiations between Honduras's Medical College and the Health Ministry ended without agreement on settling salary arrears to 727 doctors (per the union) or 158 (per the ministry), leaving 45 days of informational assemblies and pressure campaigns unresolved.

Also reported by: Radio América Honduras

The government is paying back wages to 334 interim doctors, opening six new operating rooms at the Teaching Hospital in Tegucigalpa to double daily surgeries from 60 to 120, and spending 274 million lempiras (about $11 million) on medicines and medical supplies.

Also reported by: Radio América Honduras

The National Congress's Education Commission met with teacher representatives over demands for salary increases topping 3,000 lempiras (about $120) and continued social-security access after retirement, pledging to explore options with the Finance Ministry and the presidency.

Elna Jemima Castro Miller, a teacher at the Adventista Luz del Valle school in Gracias a Dios who held a degree in community health, died October 21 of natural causes, mourned by family, colleagues and the regional education authority.

Honduran winger Dereck Moncada, making his Conference League debut as a starter, set up Albian Ajeti's goal as Lugano rallied from an early deficit to beat Spanish club Getafe 4–1.

Prosecutors challenged a court order that would release Óscar Ramírez Melgar, accused of killing law student María Fernanda Alemán in February 2025, arguing the law requires pretrial detention and that his release endangers witnesses and the victim's family.

National Police arrested several suspected members of MS-13 and Pandilla 18 across Honduras in coordinated operations that yielded firearms, more than 300 pounds of marijuana and other evidence tied to drug trafficking and extortion.

Also reported by: Infobae – Honduras