International

Peruvian JNJ suspends prosecutor Benavides for six months

Photo: Andina

December 7 |

The National Board of Justice (JNJ) of Peru resolved on Wednesday to suspend for six months the prosecutor of the Nation, Patricia Benavides Vargas, who is accused of alleged influence peddling.

The JNJ communicated Wednesday night that the measure taken against the prosecutor of the Nation was decided in the framework of her constitutional functions.

The entity stated in a communiqué that “it unanimously decided, with a duly motivated resolution, to provisionally suspend Ms. Liz Patricia Benavides Vargas for six months as supreme prosecutor of the Public Prosecutor’s Office and, consequently, in the position of prosecutor of the Nation”.

“The precautionary measure (…) is given in the framework of the immediate disciplinary proceeding initiated against Mrs. Benavides Vargas, in order to ensure the normal development of the same, prevent its obstruction and guarantee the effectiveness of the final resolution,” the official press release added.

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The JNJ emphasized that it acts “in strict compliance with the Constitution, its Organic Law and its Regulations of Disciplinary Procedures, guaranteeing the due process and safeguarding the right of defense of the investigated and the public interest”.

The autonomous constitutional body opened last November 28 a disciplinary proceeding against Benavides, following an investigation by the Special Team of Prosecutors against Corruption of the National Power and Police, which accuses her as alleged leader of an alleged criminal organization.

Benavides, while participating earlier in a hearing with the JNJ accused the entity of violating her right to defense and refused to testify in the process that has been opened against her.

“You have instituted a type of procedure that I consider violates my right to defense and the right to due process, for which I have filed several mechanisms for which I have not received any response to this day,” said the now suspended official.

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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.