News Wire | June 2023 Archive

South Africa Grants Putin and BRICS Leaders Diplomatic Immunity for Summit

By Patrick Wintour | The Guardian

South Africa has issued blanket diplomatic immunity to all leaders attending an August summit, meaning Vladimir Putin might be able to travel to Johannesburg and not fear the country acting on an international criminal court warrant for his arrest.

Violent Clashes Trigger Fears of New War in Europe

By Bojan Pancevski | The Wall Street Journal (free)

U.S. and European diplomats are rushing to contain spiraling violence at the heart of Europe and prevent a fresh conflict on a continent shaken by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Brazil’s Congress Weakens Pro-Environment Ministries in a Rejection of Lula

By Fabiano Maisonnave | Associated Press (free)

 Brazil’s Congress has stripped powers away from the country’s new Ministry of Indigenous Peoples and Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, both led by women environmentalists. It’s a rejection of the priorities of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who took office in January,

More from WPR: In Brazil, Lula’s Green Agenda Is Putting Him in a Political Bind

Ukraine Says it Downed 36 Russian Missiles and Drones

By Pavel Polityuk | Reuters (registration required)

Ukrainian forces in Kyiv said on Friday they shot down 36 Russian missiles and drones in and around the capital overnight, with two people injured by falling debris before authorities lifted air raid alerts across most of the country.