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apnews.com

Brazil recognizes 6 Indigenous areas in boost for Amazon

Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has approved the creation of six Indigenous territories, the first such move after a five-year hiatus in Indigenous demarcation. Lula’s action delivers in part on a campaign promise and also serves to help protect critical Amazon rainforest from commercial exploitation. Lula's predecessor, far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, had suspended Indigenous demarcation in deference to agribusiness interests that opposed it. The largest of the areas recognized Friday is in the Amazon, the world's largest tropical forest and a critical factor in the world's ability to sequester carbon and stem climate change.

www.yahoo.com

Russia's Wagner group could soon cease to exist, founder tells blogger

Russia's private Wagner militia, which is leading the assault on Bakhmut in Ukraine and has been active in Africa, could soon cease to exist, founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said in video remarks to a blogger that were released on Friday. It was not immediately clear when Prigozhin had spoken and how serious he was being. Prigozhin has complained repeatedly about how Russia is conducting the war in Ukraine.