International

Bolsonaro meets Hungary’s Orban after Putin talks

AFP

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro met Hungarian nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban Thursday, a day after talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin amid fears Moscow is planning to invade Ukraine.

On Wednesday, Putin welcomed “constructive” talks with Bolsonaro, following his first official trip to Moscow.

Western leaders remain fearful of a Russian attack on its neighbour Ukraine. Bolsonaro had brushed off pressure from Washington, Brazil’s traditional ally, and his own cabinet to cancel the trip, justifying the focus on trade.

Before the South American set off for Russia, Brazil publicly reaffirmed its diplomatic ties with Kyiv.

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In Hungary, Bolsonaro met President Janos Ader followed by Orban, marking the first time a Brazilian leader has visited the EU member.

Bolsonaro told reporters in a joined press conference with Orban that he considered Hungary as “our little-big brother”.

“Small, if we take into account the differences in our respective territorial dimensions. And big, because of the values we represent, which can be summed up in four words: God, homeland, family and freedom,” he said.

Orban said Bolsonaro’s visit was a “great honour”, praising his South American counterpart for his “very precious” diplomatic efforts to discuss the Ukraine crisis during his Moscow visit.

Brazil is one of Hungary’s most important trading partners in Latin America, and Orban was one of few Western leaders to attend Bolsonaro’s inauguration in January 2019.

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In late 2020, Hungary signed a deal to buy two Brazilian KC-390 military transport aircraft at an undisclosed price.

Critics have slammed the visit of Bolsonaro, who has been likened to former US president Donald Trump and who has expressed admiration for Putin.

One Hungarian news portal described the visit as a “diplomatic tour de force” ahead of April elections, where Orban is expected to face his toughest fight yet against a united opposition since returning to power in 2010.

Orban himself met Putin early this month despite objections from the opposition and his European allies.

Next month, a flagship US conservative conference is to take place in Budapest with Orban as key speaker.

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During his three straight terms in office, the nationalist leader has branded his foreign policy as “eastern opening,” cozying up to Russia and China, while often antagonising European allies.

International

Brazil offers to mediate Colombia-Ecuador tensions, calls for restraint

The government of Brazil has offered to mediate in the ongoing tensions between Colombia and Ecuador, while calling on both nations to exercise restraint.

In a statement released Wednesday, Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the parties involved to act with moderation and seek a peaceful resolution to the dispute.

“Brazil encourages all sides to act with moderation in order to find a peaceful solution to the controversy. It stands ready to support dialogue efforts aimed at preserving peace and security in the region,” the statement said.

Brazil also expressed “serious concern” over reports of deaths in the border area between Colombia and Ecuador, noting that the circumstances surrounding the incidents have not yet been clarified.

The diplomatic move comes amid rising tensions between the neighboring countries, increasing regional concern over stability and security along their shared border.

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International

U.S. lowers travel advisory for much of Venezuela but keeps high-risk zones under warning

The U.S. Department of State announced on Thursday that it has lowered its travel advisory for much of Venezuela to Level 3 (“Reconsider Travel”), reflecting what it described as improved security conditions in parts of the country.

However, the agency will maintain the highest Level 4 warning (“Do Not Travel”) for several regions, including the states of Táchira, Amazonas, Apure, Aragua and Guárico, as well as rural areas of Bolívar, citing ongoing risks such as crime, kidnapping and terrorism.

The updated advisory marks a shift from December, when the United States raised the alert for Venezuela to Level 4 nationwide, warning of severe security threats.

Despite the partial downgrade, U.S. authorities continue to urge caution, emphasizing that conditions remain volatile in certain areas and that travelers should carefully assess risks before planning any trips to the country.

International

EU lawmakers move to ban AI tools that generate non-consensual nude images

Members of the European Parliament are pushing to ban across the bloc artificial intelligence services that allow users to digitally “undress” people without their consent.

The proposal, adopted on Wednesday at committee level, aims to prohibit applications that generate non-consensual explicit images. Irish lawmaker Michael McNamara, one of the sponsors, said the measure seeks to stop tools that “have caused significant harm for the benefit of a few.”

Dutch MEP Kim van Sparrentak welcomed the move, calling it “a major victory, especially for women and children in Europe.”

The amendment, part of broader EU legislation on artificial intelligence, was approved by the Parliament’s civil liberties and internal market committees. It specifically targets systems that use AI to create or manipulate sexually explicit or intimate images resembling identifiable individuals without their consent.

The proposal will be put to a full vote in the European Parliament on March 26. If adopted, lawmakers and European Union member states will need to agree on a final version before it can take effect.

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Separately, representatives of the 27 EU countries recently backed a Franco-Spanish amendment seeking to ban AI services used to generate non-consensual sexual images or child sexual abuse material.

The initiative follows controversy surrounding a feature introduced in Grok, developed by xAI, which allowed users to create simulated nude images from real photos. The tool sparked widespread criticism and prompted an EU investigation.

In response, xAI restricted image generation features in mid-January to paying subscribers and stated it blocks the creation of sexualized images in jurisdictions where such content is illegal.