International
Latin American Presidents urge the UN to show more solidarity during the pandemic
Yesterday, several Latin American Presidents called for a more modern and supportive United Nations, especially, in times of a pandemic, when poor countries in the region will need urgent access to a vaccine to fight the virus.
In her speech, Jeanine Añez, President of Bolivia, said the pandemic “has given us a wake–up call about the need to modernize the UN.” She added that it was necessary to “envision the new challenges, like an affordable new vaccines.”
Manuel López Obrador, President of Mexico, highlighted the need for cooperation between countries. “We need to be fraternal, to help each other, now that we are all dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. We need to be supportive,” he said.
In addition, PAHO said that they were working with several Latin American countries to ensure that part of their population has access to a vaccine against the virus.
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.
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.
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.
-
International3 days agoTwo killed in shooting at restaurant near Frankfurt Airport
-
International4 days agoGerman president warns Iran war could spread and disrupt Strait of Hormuz
-
Central America3 days agoEl Salvador destroys $166 million worth of cocaine seized from Tanzanian vessel
-
International3 days agoU.S. counterterrorism chief resigns over opposition to war in Iran
-
International5 days agoNoboa intensifies anti-cartel crackdown as violence persists in Ecuador
-
Central America2 days agoCosta Rica closes embassy in Cuba, citing human rights concerns
-
International4 days agoVenezuela’s foreign minister accuses UN rights chief of “immoral bias”
-
International4 days agoMexico security chief meets DEA director in Washington to boost anti-drug cooperation
-
International5 days agoPeruvian presidential candidate Napoleón Becerra dies in campaign road accident
-
Central America3 days agoAnalyst questions IACHR role over report on El Salvador emergency measures
-
International2 days agoHiroshima survivor who embraced Obama dies at 88
-
International19 hours agoMeningitis outbreak in England rises to 27 cases with two deaths reported
-
International19 hours agoU.S. lowers travel advisory for much of Venezuela but keeps high-risk zones under warning
-
International19 hours agoEU lawmakers move to ban AI tools that generate non-consensual nude images
-
International19 hours agoBrazil offers to mediate Colombia-Ecuador tensions, calls for restraint
-
International2 days agoColombia seeks ‘total suffocation’ of armed groups with regional support
-
Central America2 days agoCosta Rica closes Cuba embassy as president escalates rhetoric

























