World

Dec. 9 (UPI) — Honduras’ attorney general on Monday night announced that he had issued an international arrest warrant for former President Juan Orlando Hernandez, days after he was released from a U.S. prison following a pardon from President Donald Trump.

Attorney General Johel Antonio Zelaya Alvarez said in a statement that he had instructed ATIC, Honduras’ elite criminal investigative body housed within the Public Prosecutor’s Office, to pursue the international arrest warrant, while urging security agencies and international allies, including INTERPOL, to do the same.

“We have been lacerated by the tentacles of corruption and by criminal networks that have deeply marked the life of our country,” he said.

Hernandez is accused of money laundering and fraud in what is known as Pandora II, a corruption case in which prosecutors allege that between 2010 and 2013, a network siphoned nearly $12 million in public funds meant to alleviate extreme poverty in Honduras through abuse of authority, fraud and money laundering.

As part of the sprawling case investigating several government officials, including ministers, Honduras’ Public Prosecutor’s Office filed a criminal complaint against Hernandez in October 2023. Prosecutors accuse him of receiving at least $2.5 million of the siphoned funds through foundations, front men and fictitious contracts. The money was allegedly used to finance his political campaign.

In the United States, Hernandez was charged with drug trafficking and weapons offenses in late January 2022 during the Biden administration amid its crackdown on corruption in Central and South America.

Honduran authorities arrested him in February 2022 and extradited him to the United States, where he was convicted in March 2024 on all counts and sentenced in June of that year to 45 years in prison.

U.S. prison officials released Hernandez earlier this month after receiving a pardon from Trump, who said the disgraced Honduran president had been “treated very harshly and unfairly.”

Trump made the announcement while urging Hondurans to vote for conservative Nasry “Tito” Asfura for president ahead of the Nov. 30 elections, in which he is challenging left-leaning President Xiomara Castro, moves widely seen as opposition to her government.

The announcement of the pardon was met with criticism from both Democrats and Republicans, as well as critics of Trump’s administration, which has killed 86 people in 22 military strikes targeting alleged drug-trafficking boats in international waters.

“Hernandez once boasted at a meeting of narco-traffickers that ‘together they would shove the drugs right up the noses of the gringos.’ What message does pardoning this criminal send to parents who have lost children to narcotics, to law enforcement officers risking everything to stop the flow of deadly drugs?” Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said in a Dec. 2 floor speech.

“This disgraceful pardon should be met with bipartisan condemnation as an affront to our values, our safety, our rule of law, our democracy.”

Hernandez served two terms as president, from 2014 to 2022.

The election between Asfura and Castro was still too close to call as of Monday night.

Dec. 8 (UPI) — Dr. Gabrielle Henry suffered an intracranial hemorrhage when she fell from the stage as Miss Jamaica during preliminary competition of the Miss Universe pageant last month.

The Miss Universe Organization gave an update Monday in a news release, saying she suffered loss of consciousness, a fracture, facial lacerations “and other significant injuries” on Nov. 19.

That day, Miss Universe Jamaica posted on Facebook she was “not suffering any life-threatening injuries; however they continue to conduct tests to ensure her full recovery.”

The 28-year-old physician was caught on video in the fall while wearing a long, flowing orange dress on Nov. 19. She was admitted in intensive care at a hospital Bangkok, according the the release.

“Certain media reports suggesting that Dr. Henry contributed in any way to the incident are entirely inaccurate,” the organization said. “The Miss Universe Organization has never attributed blame to Dr. Henry and confirms that those suggestions are unfounded and do not reflect the facts.”

Henry has remained in critical condition under neurological monitoring and requires 24-hour specialist supervision, the organization said.

“From the time the incident took place, the Miss Universe Organization has stood beside Gabrielle and her family as if she were their own, assuming full and immediate responsibility without hesitation,” the release read.

In a few days, Henry will return to Jamaica with a full medical escort team and transferred directly to a hospital in her home country for continued treatment and recovery, the organization said.

The organization has covered all hospital, medical and rehabilitation expenses in Thailand, as well as the accommodation and living costs for her mother and sister.

The organization also said it’s paying for Henry’s medically escorted flight home to Jamaica and has committed to covering all future medical expenses from this incident.

“The Henry family is deeply grateful to the Miss Universe Organization for their unwavering compassion, presence and love shown,” the release said. “Their response so far has gone beyond professional responsibility and reflected devotion and protection of the family.”

The release ended: “Dr. Henry and her family extend their heartfelt thanks to the people of Jamaica, the Miss Universe community, and supporters worldwide for the overwhelming outpouring of love, prayers, and encouragement.”

Miss Universe Jamaica posted an updated profile of her on Jan. 9, 10 days before her fall.

Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch was crowned Miss Universe on Nov. 21. It was broadcast live on Telemundo and streamed on Peacock.

In early November, Miss Universe Thailand director Nawat Itsaragrisil called her “stupid” during a livestreamed speech to contestants on Nov. 4. Several contestants walked out after the comments.

The pageant has been marred by other controversies: Jakkaphong “Anne” Jakrajutatip of Thailandout as CEO, financial instability, accusations of rigged judging and resignations by two of them, and protests by several contestants.

The co-owners of the Miss Universe Organization are facing charges: Jakkaphong with failing to appear at a hearing involving fraud and Rocha Cantu of Mexico on accusations that include drug and fuel trafficking.

Thai police investigated allegations that event publicity included illegal promotion of online casinos.

Brigitta Schaback, who represented Estonia, announced that she was stepping down from her title.

The next day, Olivia Yace, who was the pageant’s fourth runner-up as Miss African and Oceania, also resigned. She added that she was also removing herself from “any future affiliation with the Miss Universe Committee.”

Days before the pageant began on Nov. 2, Mario Bucaro of Guatemala succeeded Jakrajutatip, who resigned from the position on June 20.

Donald Trump owned the pagent from 1996-2015 when he sold it to WME/IMG. In 2022, Thai media conglomerate JKN Global Group, led by Jakrajutatip, purchased the organization. In early 2024, JKN sold a 50% stake to Cantu’s Legacy Holding Group USA.