President Donald Trump-backed candidate Nasry Asfura won Honduras’ presidential election, ending a weeks-long count that has whittled away at the credibility of the Central American nation’s fragile electoral system.
The election is continuing Latin America’s swing to the right, coming just a week after Chile chose far-right politician José Antonio Kast as its next president.
Asfura, of the conservative National Party, received 40.27% of the vote in the Nov. 30 election, edging out four-time candidate Salvador Nasralla of the conservative Liberal Party, who finished with 39.53% of the vote.
The election faced delays and accusations of fraud, with Asfura’s supporters celebrating his victory. Trump endorsed Asfura days before the vote, sparking controversy. The European Union and other leaders have congratulated Asfura. The election is seen as a setback for the current leftist leader, Xiomara Castro, and her party.
Kimmel feud: Talk show host Jimmy Kimmel took aim at Trump as he warned Thursday about the rise of fascism in an address to U.K. viewers dubbed “The Alternative Christmas Message.”
The message, aired on Channel 4 on Christmas Day, reflected on the impact of Trump’s second term in office, which Kimmel said has made the president act like a king.
“From a fascism perspective, this has been a really great year,” he said. “Tyranny is booming over here.”
Channel 4 began the tradition of airing an alternative Christmas message in 1993 as a counterpart to the British monarch’s annual televised address to the nation. The channel said the message is often a thought-provoking and personal reflection on the events of the year.
The comedian has skewered Trump since returning to the air after ABC indefinitely suspended “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in September following criticism of comments the host made over the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Maxwell scrutiny: British socialite and onetime Jeffrey Epstein girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell is back in the spotlight after the Trump administration publicly released investigative records tied to her 2021 sex trafficking conviction. Among the materials unsealed were records related to grand jury proceedings that led to her indictment. She is serving a 20-year prison sentence.
Maxwell was moved to a minimum-security camp in Texas earlier this year soon after she submitted to two days of questioning by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. Two weeks ago, she asked a federal judge to free her, claiming she was unjustly convicted. The public release of investigative materials brings fresh light to the evidence against her.
— From Associated Press reports