Honduras Daily by Location

Former government official Julissa Villanueva denied Monday that she received a formal summons from the Special Prosecutor's Office, contradicting the public ministry's claim that she failed to appear for questioning, and said she is ready to testify once properly served.

Honduras recorded 17 deaths from whooping cough through July 2026, more than double the eight deaths in all of 2025, with infants and young children bearing the brunt of the highly contagious bacterial infection.

Cenaos says a tropical wave and Pacific moisture will bring scattered light showers to southern and southwestern Honduras on Tuesday, July 28, while the north, center, and departments of Olancho and Colón may see brief showers by late afternoon, as the dry season's canícula keeps all rainfall weak and intermittent.

Próspera BioHUB signed a partnership with Merck Life Science, and researchers from Stanford, Harvard, Navarra, and UNAH convened at Honduras's First International Medical Encounter.

Cheetah Research AI, an artificial-intelligence research tool developed by the Honduran firm Marketing Total, was chosen by Greenbook to showcase at its 2026 Insights Tech Summit, marking recognition of Honduras-based technical innovation competing at international standards.

Honduras's net international reserves reached $1.165 billion as of July 24, up from January 27, with import coverage holding steady at 6.6 months.

Honduras's banking regulator has ordered banks to equip affiliated merchants with mobile point-of-sale terminals to accept credit and debit card payments in person.

The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization warns that 150,839 agricultural households—mostly in drought-stricken regions including Santa Bárbara, Choluteca, and Lempira, plus flood-prone Cortés—will need emergency aid this year due to droughts, floods, lost crops, and livestock disease.

Congress secretary Carlos Ledezma introduced a bill to strengthen the law protecting Honduran migrants returning from any country, extending tax-exempt benefits to returnees and their relatives up to the fourth degree of kinship.

Honduras's National Congress approved two cross-border electricity contracts to buy 80 megawatts—50 from Panama and 30 from Nicaragua—at 8 cents per kilowatt-hour to help address the national power deficit.

The Infrastructure Ministry officially took over the El Tablón multipurpose project from the national utility, which aims to generate electricity, supply water, and control flooding while ensuring continuity of technical, administrative, and contracting work.

Congress is considering legislation to limit cellphone use during school hours, and Education Minister Arely Argueta said the ministry supports measures to reduce classroom distractions while preserving access for emergencies and safety.

Congresswoman Alía Kafati withdrew her proposal to limit Honduras presidents to one reelection and bar them from running again after two consecutive terms.

Shelters for women fleeing domestic violence across Honduras operate in crisis on international donations despite a 2024 law mandating state funding, while a new Tegucigalpa facility remains half-built after eight months.

Education Minister Arely Argueta said the ministry is analyzing which support staff to cut from schools, citing excess administrative personnel; about 2,000 civil-service employees have already been dismissed nationwide, prompting protests from parents, teachers, and unions.

Six hospital projects show a split picture: facilities in Choluteca, Tocoa, and Bay Islands are 24–58% complete and funded by international development banks, while hospitals in Santa Bárbara, Ocotepeque, and Olancho face investigations, contract disputes, and budget shortfalls that threaten completion.

Honduras's Constitutional Court admitted a legal challenge to a 2026 law that broadly expanded the definition of terrorist association, with critics warning its vague language could criminalize legitimate protest, strikes, and indigenous territorial rights.

A northern Honduras fuel distributor says crude-oil prices will continue climbing for at least two weeks due to Middle East tensions, though he notes price controls are managed through international regulations to prevent sharp spikes in the basic basket and inflation.

The government, agro-industry, and producer associations agreed on a bulk purchase price of 680 lempiras per quintal (about $27 per 100 lb) of white corn for the 2026–2027 agricultural cycle, with agro-industrial buyers committing to purchase 880,000 to 1.4 million quintals.

Motagua coach Javier López warned his team not to overlook Belize's Verdes in their Central American Cup opener on July 28, saying regional football has grown more competitive and that no rival should be taken lightly.

The National Housing Bank (BANHPROVI) plans to begin distributing L11 billion (about $440 million) in new financing from the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) for housing projects starting in late September 2026.

The Honduran Labor Ministry announced temporary job openings in Spain, Canada, and the United States for Honduran citizens meeting requirements including a clean criminal and migration record, with positions in agriculture, hospitality, logistics, and other sectors.

The Central Bank of Honduras allocated $95.6 million in its July 27 currency auction, establishing a weighted average exchange rate of L26.7885 per US dollar for July 28.

The National Financial Inclusion Strategy (ENIF) 2025–2030 aims to expand access to bank accounts, digital payments, and formal credit for rural Hondurans, women, and small businesses historically locked out of the formal system.

A community advocate reported that more than 25,000 Hondurans are in ICE custody and that those with Temporary Protected Status are now being sought at their homes, criticizing the Honduran government's response to migrant hardship in the United States.

Transport leaders from five major cities announced plans for a nationwide strike next week unless the government pays a pending compensation bonus and addresses security threats facing the sector.

Former deputy security minister Semma Julissa Villanueva did not appear Monday for a scheduled testimony with the Special Organized Crime Prosecutor's Office in the investigation of missing woman Angie Peña, whom Villanueva had publicly commented on.

Olimpia, Motagua, and Marathón will represent Honduras in the 2026 Concacaf Central American Cup starting July 28, competing for the regional title and a spot in the 2027 Champions Cup.

Honduras's National Anti-Corruption Council released a report analyzing the implications of former President Juan Orlando Hernández's return to the country, stating that his presence is a test of whether the justice system can investigate and prosecute alleged crimes with independence and impartiality.

A upper-level trough and tropical wave will bring widespread rain and thunderstorms across Honduras on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the heaviest rainfall expected Wednesday in the southwestern region.