The West is not interested in negotiations on a peace settlement in Ukraine, because it is keen to make as much money as possible for its military-industrial complex, Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council Dmitry Medvedev told the media.
"Their speculations to the effect time is ripe to come to the negotiating table and start peace talks merely show how sly they are. They don't want this at all. They want to keep the military flywheel going in order to make money for their budgets," Medvedev said during a visit to the Army-2023 forum.
He recalled that Russian soldiers were "very successful" in burning Western-supplied equipment and would continue to do so. Against the backdrop of losses, the West periodically resumes "speculations that it is necessary to return to the negotiating table to find some compromises," Medvedev said.
"But we need to bear in mind that this is only part of the story, while the other part is the US military-industrial complex, and the European one as well, are making money on this. And this is a way for them to make mammoth profits by supplying their equipment to Ukraine. They are making money on this war," Medvedev explained.
During his visit to the exhibition of weapons seized by Russian forces during the special operation he took a look at many Western-made grenade launchers, anti-tank systems and small arms. He was also shown a US-made M777 artillery system, Hummer armored vehicles and Western communication equipment.
At the open exposition where captured armored vehicles are on display Medvedev was shown Ukrainian T-64BV and T-72AG tanks, a Swedish CV90-40 combat vehicle, as well as a Triton armored vehicle and a US M113 APC upgraded in the Netherlands. At the same exposition, Medvedev saw a burned Australian Bushmaster armored vehicle, a French AMX-10RCR wheeled tank, as well as British combat vehicles Husky, Mastiff and AT105 Saxon.
Western Weapons Captured in Ukraine Displayed at Army-2023 Military Expo in Russia
A number of Western armored vehicles that were provided to the Kiev regime by its foreign sponsors have managed to make it through the Russian defensive lines all the way to Moscow, though probably not the way NATO military strategists hoped.
Over 800 types of Western and Ukrainian weaponry and military vehicles captured by Russian forces in the Ukrainian conflict zone have been put on display during the ARMY-2023 military expo that launched in Kubinka, Moscow Region, this week.
The trophies featured at this exhibition, which takes place at Patriot Park, include pieces of military hardware such as an AMX-10RCR armored fighting vehicle from France, a CV90 infantry combat vehicle from Sweden, a Bushmaster protected mobility vehicle from Australia and even a XA-180 Pasi armored personnel carrier from Finland.
These weapons were originally supplied to Kiev by its foreign backers, who hoped that the Ukrainian troops would use these weapons to defeat Russian forces. Instead, all this gear does now is help satisfy the curiosity of the people visiting the exhibition.
Feel free to peruse this photo gallery by Sputnik that contains images of some of these exhibits.
Pemerintah Kota Sukabumi menutup sementara penggunaan fasilitas umum Lapang Merdeka. Ini dilakukan lantaran ruang publik tersebut akan dijadikan tempat Upacara Hari Kemerdekaan Republik Indonesia ke-78 tingkat Kota Sukabumi.
Informasi soal penutupan sementara Lapang Merdeka disampaikan Pemerintah Kota Sukabumi lewat unggahan akun Instagram @dokpimkotasukabumi pada hari Rabu, 16/08/2023. Adapun penutupan ini dilakukan dua hari yakni pada 17 Agustus 2023 dan 20 Agustus 2023.
"Penutupan dilakukan Kamis, 17 Agustus 2023, dan Minggu, 20 Agustus 2023. Hal ini berkenaan akan dilaksanakanya rangkaian HUT ke-78 Republik Indonesia tingkat Kota Sukabumi," tulis caption yang menyebut 20 Agustus Lapang Merdeka digunakan Kirab Budaya Merah Putih.
Agenda Kirab Budaya Merah Putih akan digelar di Kota Sukabumi, Jawa Barat. Kirab ini diselenggarakan untuk menyemarakkan peringatan ke-78 Hari Kemerdekaan Republik Indonesia.
“Pada 20 Agustus 2023 digelar Kirab Budaya Merah Putih, yang merupakan rangkaian kegiatan Hari Kemerdekaan,” ujar Asisten Daerah Bidang Administrasi Umum Sekretariat Daerah Kota Sukabumi, Iskandar, kepada wartawan di Gedung Juang 45 Kota Sukabumi, hari Selasa, 15/08/2023.
Iskandar mengatakan, Kirab Budaya Merah Putih ini akan melibatkan warga mulai dari kelurahan dan kecamatan, komunitas masyarakat, juga instansi vertikal.
Rencananya agenda kirab dimulai pada hari minggu pagi, 20/08/2023. Iskandar mengatakan, peserta kirab rencananya dilepas dari Lapang Merdeka, kemudian melintasi sejumlah ruas jalan.
Jalan yang akan dilalui kirab ini, yaitu Jalan Suryakencana, Jalan Ahmad Yani, Jalan Gudang, Jalan Siliwangi, Jalan R Syamsudin SH, dan kemudian berakhir di Plaza Balai Kota Sukabumi.
Menurut Iskandar, Kirab Budaya Merah Putih akan didahului penampilan drumben Setukpa Lemdiklat Polri. Kirab ini juga akan menampilkan seni budaya atau ciri khas warga dari kelurahan dan kecamatan. Misalnya, kata Iskandar, Kecamatan Warudoyong menampilkan barongsai dan Citamiang menampilkan dongdang.
Kirab itu juga rencananya melibatkan kafilah peserta Musabaqah Tilawatil Quran (MTQ) Tingkat Kota Sukabumi, yang akan berkompetisi pada ajang tersebut mulai 22 Agustus 2023. Dengan adanya kafilah ini, Iskandar mengatakan, kirab juga bisa menjadi bagian untuk syiar agama.
“Diperkirakan ada ribuan peserta kirab dan warga bisa menyaksikannya,” kata Iskandar.
Sekretaris Daerah Kota Sukabumi Dida Sembada mengatakan, Kirab Budaya Merah Putih ini melibatkan berbagai elemen masyarakat. Dengan begitu, kata dia, diharapkan momen peringatan Hari Kemerdekaan Indonesia di Kota Sukabumi berlangsung semarak.
Lengkap! Isi Pidato Kenegaraan Jokowi di Sidang Tahunan MPR 2023. Presiden Joko Widodo menyampaikan pidato kenegaraan pada Sidang Tahunan MPR dan Sidang Bersama DPR - DPD Tahun 2023 di Gedung Nusantara, Kompleks Parlemen, Senayan, Jakarta, Rabu (16/8/2023). ANTARA FOTO/Galih Pradipta
Presiden Joko Widodo hari ini menyampaikan pidato kenegaraan di Sidang Tahunan MPR. Dalam pidatonya, Jokowi menyinggung soal tren 'arahan Pak Lurah' hingga sebutan tolol yang dilontarkan kepadanya.
Pidato kenegaraan itu disampaikan di Sidang Tahunan MPR di gedung MPR/DPR, Jakarta, pada Rabu, 16/8/2023. Jokowi memulai pidatonya dengan menyinggung ihwal 'Pak Lurah', yang baru diketahuinya sebagai kode yang merujuk pada dirinya.
"Suasana sudah hangat-hangat kuku dan sedang tren ini di kalangan politisi dan parpol. Setiap ditanya capres dan cawapresnya, jawabannya: 'Belum ada arahan Pak Lurah'," kata Jokowi dalam pidato kenegaraan dalam Sidang Tahunan MPR dan Sidang Bersama DPD RI di kompleks Parlemen, Senayan, Jakarta, Rabu, 1608/2023.
Presiden tegaskan Pemerintah sudah gelontorkan dana desa Rp593 triliun
Presiden RI Joko Widodo menegaskan bahwa Pemerintah sudah menggelontorkan dana desa sebesar Rp593 triliun dalam rentang waktu 2015-2023 guna pemerataan ekonomi dari kawasan desa pinggiran dan daerah terluar.
"Pembangunan dari desa pinggiran dan daerah terluar yang pada akhirnya memeratakan ekonomi kita dengan dana desa yang kita gelontorkan total mencapai Rp593 triliun dari tahun 2015—2023," kata Presiden Jokowi saat berpidato pada Sidang Tahunan MPR RI dan Sidang Bersama DPR RI dan DPD RI Tahun 2023 di Gedung MPR/DPR/DPD RI, Jakarta, Rabu.
Selain melalui dana desa, Presiden menyatakan Pemerintah telah meletakkan pondasi berupa pembangunan infrastruktur dan konektivitas guna menaikkan daya saing kita.
Menurut Presiden langkah itu telah menuai hasil positif, mengingat daya saing Indonesia meningkat dari peringkat 44 menjadi 34 pada 2022 berdasarkan International Institute for Management Development (IMD).
"Ini merupakan kenaikan tertinggi di dunia," ujar Jokowi.
Sejalan dengan itu, lanjut Presiden, Pemerintah juga secara konsisten melakukan reformasi struktural khususnya dalam hal penyederhanaan regulasi, kemudahan perizinan, kepastian hukum, dan pencegahan korupsi.
"Semua itu menjadi modalitas kita untuk meraih kemajuan," katanya.
Sebelumnya, Presiden juga menyampaikan keyakinannya bahwa kebijakan hilirisasi industri sumber daya alam (SDA) akan mampu meningkatkan pendapatan per kapita Indonesia hingga dua kali lipat dalam kurun waktu 10 tahun mendatang.
Presiden menyebut pendapatan per kapita Indonesia yang berada di angka Rp71 juta pada 2022 akan meningkat dua kali lipat menjadi Rp153 juta (sekira 10.900 dolar AS) dalam 10 tahun ke depan, Rp217 juta (sekira 15.800 dolar AS) dalam 15 tahun mendatang, dan Rp331 juta (sekira 25.000 dolar AS) pada 22 tahun nanti.
Presiden Jokowi menyampaikan pidato kenegaraan di hadapan pimpinan MPR RI, DPR RI, dan DPD RI dalam Sidang Tahunan 2023 yang turut dihadiri Wakil Presiden RI Ma'ruf Amin, Presiden ke-5 RI Megawati Soekarnoputri, Wakil Presiden ke-10 dan ke-12 RI Jusuf Kalla, Wakil Presiden ke-6 Try Sutrisno, dan Wakil Presiden ke-9 Hamzah Haz.
Turut hadir pula Ketua MPR RI Bambang Soesatyo, Ketua DPR RI Puan Maharani, Ketua DPD RI La Nyalla Mahmud Mattalitti, para menteri kabinet Indonesia Maju, para ketua partai politik dan pejabat negara lainnya.
Russian forces delivered a massive strike by high-precision weapons against key Ukrainian military-industrial sites over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov reported on Tuesday.
"Last night, the Russian Armed Forces delivered a massive strike by airborne and seaborne long-range precision weapons against the Kiev regime’s key military-industrial enterprises," the spokesman said.
The goal of the strike was achieved, the general said.
"All the designated sites were struck. Heavy damage was inflicted on the Ukrainian military-industrial complex," the spokesman stressed.
Russian forces repel six Ukrainian attacks in Kupyansk area over past day
Russian forces repelled six Ukrainian army attacks in the Kupyansk area, eliminating about 100 enemy troops over the past day, Konashenkov reported.
"In the Kupyansk direction, six attacks were repelled by active and well-coordinated operations of units from the western battlegroup, army aviation strikes and artillery fire," the spokesman said.
The enemy’s losses in that direction in the past 24 hours amounted to "as many as 100 Ukrainian personnel, two armored combat vehicles, three pickup trucks, a US-made M777 artillery system, a Polish-manufactured Krab self-propelled artillery gun, a Gvozdika motorized artillery system, two Slovakian-made Zuzana-2 wheeled howitzers, a D-20 howitzer and a US-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radar station," the spokesman said.
Russian forces eliminate 80 Ukrainian troops in Krasny Liman area over past day
Russian forces eliminated about 80 Ukrainian troops in the Krasny Liman area over the past day, Konashenkov reported.
"In the Krasny Liman direction, three attacks by assault groups of the Ukrainian army’s 68th infantry and 42nd mechanized brigades were repulsed by professional actions of units from the battlegroup Center, army aviation strikes and artillery fire in areas near the settlements of Novoyegorovka and Kuzmino in the Lugansk People’s Republic and Vesyoloye in the Donetsk People’s Republic. As many as 80 Ukrainian personnel, three armored combat vehicles, two pickup trucks and a D-30 howitzer were destroyed," the spokesman said.
Russian forces destroy 230 Ukrainian troops in Donetsk area over past day
Russian forces destroyed roughly 230 Ukrainians troops in the Donetsk area over the past day, Konashenkov reported.
"The enemy’s losses in that [Donetsk] direction amounted to 230 Ukrainian personnel, two infantry fighting vehicles, two pickup trucks, six motor vehicles, a US-made M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery gun, an Akatsiya motorized artillery system and a D-20 howitzer," the spokesman said.
Russian forces also repelled 11 enemy attacks in the Donetsk area over the past 24 hours, the general reported.
Russian forces destroy 200 Ukrainian troops in south Donetsk area over past day
Russian forces destroyed roughly 200 Ukrainian troops, a howitzer and a US-made counter-battery radar station in the south Donetsk area over the past day, Konashenkov reported.
"As many as 200 Ukrainian personnel, four armored combat vehicles, three motor vehicles, a Strela-10 anti-aircraft missile launcher, an Msta-B howitzer and a US-made AN/TPQ-37 counter-battery radar station were destroyed" in the south Donetsk direction in the past 24 hours, the spokesman said.
Russian forces neutralize Ukrainian subversive group in south Donetsk area over past day
Russian forces neutralized a Ukrainian subversive group in the south Donetsk area over the past day, Konashenkov reported.
"The activity of a subversive and reconnaissance group from the Ukrainian army’s 31st mechanized brigade was thwarted," the spokesman said.
In the south Donetsk direction, combat aircraft, artillery, heavy flamethrower systems and units of the Russian battlegroup East inflicted damage by combined firepower on Ukrainian troops near the settlement of Priyutnoye in the Zaporozhye Region, the general reported.
Russian forces repulse three Ukrainian attacks in Zaporozhye area over past day
Russian forces repulsed three Ukrainian army attacks in the Zaporozhye area over the past day, Konashenkov reported.
"In the Zaporozhye direction, three attacks by assault groups of the Ukrainian army’s 82nd air assault brigade were repulsed by units of the Russian battlegroup with the support of army aircraft and artillery near the settlement of Rabotino in the Zaporozhye Region," the spokesman said.
The enemy’s losses in the Zaporozhye direction over the past 24 hours totaled over 200 Ukrainian personnel, five tanks, six infantry fighting vehicles, two armored combat vehicles, two motor vehicles and two Msta-B howitzers, the general reported.
Russian forces destroy 35 Ukrainian troops, US-made howitzer in Kherson area over past day
Russian forces destroyed about 35 Ukrainian troops and a US-made howitzer in the Kherson area over the past day, Konashenkov reported.
"In the Kherson direction, the enemy’s losses amounted to 35 Ukrainian personnel, three motor vehicles, a US-made M777 artillery system, a Polish-manufactured Krab self-propelled artillery gun and a D-20 howitzer," the spokesman said.
Russian air defenses intercept four SCALP-EG cruise missiles over past day
Russian air defenses intercepted four SCALP-EG long-range cruise missiles over the past day, Konashenkov reported.
"Air defense capabilities intercepted four French-made SCALP-EG long-range cruise missiles and two rockets of the Uragan multiple launch rocket system," the spokesman said.
During the last 24-hour period, Russian air defense systems also destroyed 25 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles in areas near the settlements of Lisichansk and Svatovo in the Lugansk People’s Republic, Volnovakha, Gorlovka and Makeyevka in the Donetsk People’s Republic and Tokmak in the Zaporozhye Region, the spokesman said.
Russian forces wipe out Ukrainian electronic warfare command post in Kramatorsk
Russian forces destroyed a Ukrainian electronic warfare and air defense command post in Kramatorsk over the past day, Konashenkov reported.
"During the last 24-hour period, operational/tactical and army aircraft, missile troops and artillery of the Russian groupings of forces inflicted damage on enemy manpower and military hardware in 172 areas," the spokesman said.
In addition, an electronic warfare and air defense command post of the Ukrainian army was destroyed in the area of the city of Kramatorsk in the Donetsk People’s Republic, the general said.
Russian forces also obliterated an ammunition depot of the Ukrainian army’s 43rd artillery brigade near the settlement of Omelnik in the Zaporozhye Region, the spokesman said.
In all, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 458 Ukrainian warplanes, 246 combat helicopters, 5,761 unmanned aerial vehicles, 431 surface-to-air missile systems, 11,315 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,144 multiple rocket launchers, 5,893 field artillery guns and mortars and 12,246 special military motor vehicles since the start of the special military operation in Ukraine, Konashenkov reported.
Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump campaigns at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. August 12, 2023. REUTERS/Scott Morgan/File Photo
Donald Trump is likely to claim that his right to free speech and genuine concerns about voter fraud protect him from charges that he pressured Georgia officials to change the results of the 2020 election in his favor.
But legal experts say the case appears to be a straightforward fraud prosecution that will turn on whether Trump knowingly broke the law, regardless of whether he believed his actions were justified.
"Even if he thought he had a right to do what he did, that doesn't justify fraudulent activity," said former federal prosecutor E. Danya Perry. "If you believe money in someone else's bank account is rightfully yours, that doesn't mean you can embezzle it."
Trump, U.S. president from 2017 to 2021 and the front-runnner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, was indicted for a fourth time in nearly five months on Monday. Georgia state prosecutors allege he and 18 co-defendants conspired to illegally change the results of the 2020 election, which he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis charged Trump and his co-defendants with 41 criminal counts.
Trump himself faces 13 counts including racketeering, false statements and soliciting a public servant to violate their oath.
Trump has denied wrongdoing. In a statement before the indictment was released, his campaign accused Willis of being a "rabid partisan" who was trying to undermine his reelection bid.
"It is a dangerous effort by the ruling class to suppress the choice of the people," the statement said.
'FOLLOWING BIDEN'S LEAD': House Speaker Kevin McCarthy blasts the Fulton County, Georgia, district attorney for indicting former President Donald Trump and says she is using it to bolster her career. pic.twitter.com/016QiuXLKM
Trump’s lawyers are likely to argue that his efforts to change the election results were protected speech under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
But the First Amendment does not protect fraud, and many conspiracy cases center on crimes of speech, such as extortion, bribery and solicitation.
"These are all 'word crimes,' and word crimes can be just as serious as crimes involving physical actions," said Pace University law professor and former prosecutor Bennett Gershman.
Trump may fare better arguing that he did not know he was breaking the law and thus lacked the criminal intent required for a conviction, legal experts said.
He would also need just one holdout juror to secure a mistrial.
To that end, Trump's lawyers could claim that he was charged for political reasons by Willis, an elected Democrat, and argue that her use of a racketeering law originally aimed at mafia bosses is excessive.
Defendants rarely prevail making such selective prosecution arguments, however.
Georgia's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations, or RICO, statute is broadly written, and courts have upheld its use in a wide range of contexts, including prosecutions of teachers who falsified standardized test scores.
Trump's lawyers would need to tread lightly if they refer to his conspiracy theories to make their case, legal experts said, because making false claims in court can have serious consequences.
"Lawyers have to be very careful, because if the arguments they make are not based on evidence, they can be sanctioned," Gershman said. "Many of the lawyers who made wild allegations in court after the 2020 election were disciplined because they had no proof."
The Algerian government has banned the American fantasy film Barbie, which had been showing in some cinemas in the country for weeks, local media 24H Algerie reported on Monday.
According to the outlet, the Ministry of Culture and Arts has ordered distributors and theaters to remove the film “immediately” from their programs because it is “damaging morals.”
An official source is quoted by Reuters as saying that the film “promotes homosexuality and other Western deviances,” which “does not comply with Algeria’s religious and cultural beliefs.”
Since its July-21 release, the blockbuster film starring Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken has surpassed $1 billion in box office ticket sales worldwide, Warner Bros. Entertainment announced on Sunday.
In Algeria, it has been seen by more than 40,000 fans since its debut, according to 24H Algerie, which cited a source from the culture ministry in charge of overseeing movie content in the country.
Algeria’s removal of the movie follows that of Middle East countries Kuwait and Lebanon, which have banned the film.
The Lebanese culture ministry pushed to outlaw Barbie from cinemas last week, with minister Muhammad Al-Murtada also claiming it “promotes homosexuality” and contradicts religious values.
Kuwait justified the decision to censor Barbie –as well as the supernatural horror film Talk to Me– as a means of protecting “public ethics and social traditions.”
