Isolation Due to Ukraine, Gaza Conflicts Signal ‘End of US Hegemony

On Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held meetings with foreign ministers of several countries on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Brazil, showcasing that Russia is not isolated from the world.

The US failed in its goal to isolate and divide Russia but did succeed in its unstated goal of deindustrializing Europe, war correspondent and analyst Elijah Magnier said on Thursday.

“The world is changing indeed, not only because of the war on Russia in Ukraine but also the war in Gaza [...] the Development of the BRICS countries [and] the increase of the Shanghai Cooperation. All these indications lead to one reality, the beginning of the end of US hegemony.”

“Fifty nations gathered to defeat Russia and they failed… Ukraine has been defeated and Europe is defeated,” Magnier added, noting later that Russia’s economy is doing much better than Europe’s.

In addition, the conflict in Gaza has wiped out any remaining pretense of Western moral superiority. “We are confronted [with] the war on Gaza, where none of [that] moral ground is translated into punishment of those who are committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. This is where, today, the Americans are completely isolated, along with their European partners.”

America can only survive through wars, Magnier argued, resulting in NATO threatening war with China when it cannot handle much weaker adversaries.

“The US and UK are failing in front of non-state actors in the Red Sea [like] the Ansar Allah Houthis… So how can we understand that the Americans are ready to start a war against Russia and then against China?”

Co-host Wilmer Leon brought up what he believes to be the “unstated” goal of the war in Ukraine, “the de-industrialization of Europe” which, unlike the stated goal of defeating Russia, “seems to be doing quite well.”

Magnier agreed and expressed shock that Germany has seemingly declined to react. “The Nord Stream II pipeline was blown up and the Germans refused to investigate the terrorist act,” noting that energy prices are rising throughout Europe, even though there are still some European countries buying Russian gas. “When energy is unaffordable… there is a migration of European industry to the United States where energy is cheaper.”

“This is [how] the Americans succeeded in putting the Europeans, literally, on the floor, and this is something that Europeans understand, realize, [and] are fully aware of, but, surprisingly, they're not really reacting and stopping all this useless war that is [leading] them nowhere but to the destruction of the European industry and economy.”

highlight aha two gems

Long before the Russian-Ukrainian war, before the pandemic, US and European commodity producers found it difficult to compete on the world market, unable to compete with China. They rely on marketing unreasonable exorbitant prices with a deceptive package of product exclusivity.

The peak was the Covid-19 pandemic which was initiated at the Economic Forum in 2018, as a tool to boost the US economy and its alliances.

Then, continuing Israel's dream of building a Greater Assyria which failed in 2011 (making Snowden flee to Russia), perhaps they are at the end of their target, they are openly expelling, killing Palestinian civilians and burning down the Palestinian State and this will continue by destroying Syria, to be controlled by Th U.S and alliances.

Watch Russian Attack Helicopter Give Wake Up Call to Ukrainian Targets

Ukrainian Armed Forces operating in the Donetsk People’s Republic have suffered yet another setback after a surprise Russian airstrike.

A Russian Ka-52 attack helicopter managed to take out a Ukrainian drone control center in the Krasny Liman sector and successfully return to base while evading enemy return fire.

According to the pilot who carried out this sortie, Ukrainian troops on the ground fired a Stinger missile at his helicopter but the US-made weapon proved to be no match for the Ka-52's infrared countermeasures.

Russian military helicopter attack teams are usually comprised of a Ka-52 helicopter, a Mi-35 military transport helicopter and a Mi-8 multirole helicopter.

Each team also has dedicated search and rescue units and fire support teams that are ready to provide assistance at a moment’s notice.

Watch Russian Servicemen Dodge Ukrainian Kamikaze Drone in Special Op Zone

Russian troops continue to advance in the special operation zone after liberating the town of Avdeyevka in the Donetsk region last week.

Soldiers of the Tsentr (Center) battlegroup of the Russian Armed Forces have managed to evade a Ukrainian FPV (First Person View) kamikaze drone in Avdeyevka.

In a video obtained by Sputnik, several Russian soldiers can be seen riding in a buggy and then tracking the enemy's unmanned aerial vehicle flying toward them.

The footage then shows a driver of the buggy accelerating and maneuvering, while other soldiers prepare to jump out of the vehicle. An explosion is then heard next to the car, causing only minor injuries to the soldiers, who exchange pleasantries and then move on.

A Tsentr serviceman with the call sign Vesna told reporters earlier that Ukrainian FPV drones began appearing frequently over Avdeyevka after Russian troops took full control of the town last week.

Watch Chinese Military Blogger Report From Avdeyevka

Foreign military experts and reporters are now flocking to the recently liberated settlement of Avdeyevka to show the ins and outs of the town, which was cleared of Ukrainian military by Russian troops.

Chinese military blogger Zhu Haozheng arrived in Avdeyevka, becoming one of the first foreign journalists to assess the situation on the front line with his own eyes after the town's liberation from Ukrainian forces.

"Russian forces are currently in full control of the city. They are also providing security in the city. Moreover, the command reported that the Ukrainian troops offered less resistance during their retreat than before," he shared.

What are the key fronts of Russia's special operation in Ukraine?

Avdeyevka has been successfully liberated by Russian forces. However, fighting near the city's outskirts persists, as well as in other strategically important areas along the frontline for the Russian army.… pic.twitter.com/b7RF2NcHXW

— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) February 20, 2024

Last week, Russian forces entered the heart of the hardened, heavily fortified Donetsk suburb of Avdeyevka, with the Defense Ministry announcing on Sunday that Russian troops had advanced more than 8.5 km deep into Ukrainian positions behind the front line. The total area cleared after fierce fighting was 31.75 square kilometers, with Ukraine losing more than 1,500 soldiers.

This month's liberation of Avdeyevka, along with Russian soldiers completely liberating Maryinka last December, allowed the pushback of the Donetsk front lines, strengthening the city's protection against Ukrainian shells.

Ukraine’s Bloody Maidan Coup: See How It Started

This February marks the 10th anniversary of the Maidan coup that shook Ukraine to the core and sparked a chain of dramatic events throughout the country.

What started as social unrest in late 2013 due to the then-president’s decision to delay a trade agreement between Ukraine and the EU eventually erupted into massive political demonstrations backed by the US and the EU calling for closer ties with Europe.

Amid the bloody developments in the streets of Kiev, political upheaval was brewing in Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada parliament. Radicals soon declared the government as illegitimate, thus resulting in putschists seizing power in direct violation of Ukraine’s Constitution.

The protests quickly grew increasingly violent and ultimately led to full-fledged armed clashes with Ukrainian law enforcement. Pressured by the opposition, President Viktor Yanukovych fled Ukraine, effectively abandoning the country amid a profound crisis.

The new Kiev government took political measures infringing on the rights of Russian-speaking citizens of Ukraine. This prompted people in Eastern Ukraine to take to the streets to oppose the new authorities.

The deep social and political rift within the Ukrainian society sparked the beginning of the ongoing Ukrainian crisis.

Bansos Terus Digelontorkan, Ini Jenis dan Anggarannya

Petugas membantu warga memanggul karung beras saat penyaluran Bantuan Sosial (Bansos) Cadangan Beras Pemerintah (CBP) di kawasan Warakas, Tanjung Priok, Jakarta Utara, Selasa (20/2/2024). Sebanyak 1.000 karung cadangan beras pemerintah disalurkan kepada warga di kelurahan Warakas untuk meringankan beban masyarakat dalam memenuhi kebutuhan konsumsinya ditengah kenaikan harga beras.

Pemerintah terus memberikan bantuan sosial (bansos) kepada masyarakat yang membutuhkan. Dirjen Anggaran Kemenkeu Isa Rachmatarwata menuturkan, total anggaran bansos mencapai Rp 17,5 triliun hingga Juni 2024.

"Anggaran ini di antaranya digunakan untuk menggelontorkan bantuan pangan ke 22 juta penerima," jelas Isa dalam konferensi pers secara virtual, pada hari Kamis, 22/02/2024. Ragam bentuknya pemberian bantuan beras 10 kg per bulan.

Juga tambahan daging ayam serta telur bagi keluarga yang memiliki balita stunting seperti dilakukan akhir tahun lalu. Di sisi lain, ada bantuan langsung tunai (BLT) mitigasi risiko pangan, yang anggarannya mencapai Rp 11,3 triliun.

BLT ini, ujar Isa, diberikan sebesar Rp 600 ribu selama tiga bulan ke 18,8 juta orang."Ini seluruhnya tentunya disiapkan dari cadangan belanja bansos yang memang disediakan dari tiap tahun anggaran," katanya menegaskan.

Kemenkeu meyakini, bansos yang diberikan ke masyarakat akan berdampak besar ke perekonomian nasional. "Tentu belanja bantuan sosial memberikan dampak ke konsumsi masyarakat," ujar Wakil Menteri Keuangan Suahasil Nazara pada kesempatan serupa.

Ia meyakini, konsumsi masyarakat akan meningkat dan daya beli juga tidak akan turun. Seperti diketahui, saat ini pemerintah tengah gencar menyalurkan bansos. Di antaranya yaitu bansos BLT Mitigasi Risiko Pangan.

Putin Congratulates Russians on Defender of Fatherland Day

©Sputnik/Ramil Sitdikov/Go to the mediabank

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday congratulated Russians and all those who served in the military on the Defender of Fatherland Day, celebrated in Russia on February 23, noting that this holiday has long become a popular holiday and is widely celebrated throughout the country.

"I congratulate veterans, military personnel, civilian personnel of the armed forces, all those who have completed military service, on Defender of the Fatherland Day," Putin said in a video message.

The Russian leader noted that this holiday is one of the most revered in Russia.

"It has long become popular and is always celebrated widely throughout the country, in all collectives and families, in every town or village. With the understanding of the great significance of military work, with great respect for our servicepeople, for all those who stand for the fatherland, protect its interests, the security of citizens, the sovereignty and independence of Russia," Putin said.

The Russian president said the high level of combat readiness of the army and navy is a guarantee of Russia's security and its free sovereign development, adding that Russia is proud of the army and navy, their undaunted character and loyalty to the Russian military school.

Putin also said defense industry enterprises in recent years have multiplied delivery of most in-demand weaponry to the army, including precision weapons, drones, tanks, armored vehicles, artillery and air defense systems.

"The development and serial production of advanced equipment and the introduction of artificial intelligence technologies in the military industry are next in line," the president said in a video address.

Russian President noted that four Tu-160 heavy strategic bombers have recently been added to the Russian armed forces in the city of Kazan.

"Just recently, four Tu-160M missile carriers have been delivered to the armed force in Kazan," the president stated.

The Russian president further said that "taking into account real combat experience, we will continue to strengthen the armed force in every way possible and ensure their constant technical reequipment and modernization," adding that "the share of modern weapons and equipment in the strategic nuclear forces has already reached 95%, and in the navy component of the nuclear triad - almost 100%."

Space Nukes & Washing Machines - Western Media Prints 'Anything' to Paint Russia as Threat

Last week, House Intelligence Committee Chair Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) released a document with a cryptic warning that called on US President Joe Biden to declassify information on a “serious national security threat.” Within hours, the story spread like wildfire.

The recent media craze stemming from unfounded claims of a Russian nuclear space weapon exploded and stole headlines for days because “the media” will print anything it is told about Russia, Mark Sleboda, a foreign relations and security expert told Sputnik’s Fault Lines.

“Russia's the gift that keeps on giving, propaganda-wise, because you can accuse Russia of anything, no matter what you said about them [before], about shovels, and microchips or washing machines. And, generally, people will believe it. Or at least the media will print it," he said, referring to previous Western propaganda claims that Russian soldiers were fighting armed only with shovels and that their missiles used microchips from stolen Ukrainian washing machines.

“Then you accuse Russia of having space weapons, space nuclear weapons, or having plans to put nuclear weapons in space, or someone in Russia once thought technically about the contingency of putting weapons in space,” Sleboda scoffed.

As the story made the rounds on the media circuit, US National Security Council John Kirby told reporters that the threat US Rep. Mike Turner raised was related to “an anti-satellite weapon that Russia is developing.” Soon after that, US media outlets began reporting that the mysterious weapon was nuclear.

Russia vehemently denied the accusation, saying it is only developing the same space capabilities that the US has. “Firstly, there are no such projects - nuclear weapons in space. Secondly, the United States knows that this does not exist,” Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said during a televised discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Sleboda noted that for mainstream media, "the details aren’t important as much as the scaremongering factor."

“It’s the same thing with this continual octogenarian fantasy about linking Trump and Russia… all the powers of the US investigative bodies were unable to prove any connection… but that doesn’t stop an enormous number of the American people from believing in it because they want to, and [US Rep.] Nancy Pelosi certainly knows that.”

The analyst further admitted that the latest anti-Russia rhetoric is part of a larger effort in preparation for the November presidential election in the US but that it also "does the double job of, you know, buttressing arguments for providing more US taxpayer dollars for weapons for the regime in Kiev."

Houthis to step up Red Sea strikes, use ‘submarine weapons’, leader says

Ship identified as an Palau-flagged, UK-owned general cargo ship. (FILE/AFP)

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis claimed responsibility for an attack on a UK-owned cargo ship and a drone assault on an American destroyer on Thursday, and they targeted Israel’s port and resort city of Eilat with ballistic missiles and drones.

The statement by a Houthi representative on social media site X came shortly after the group’s leader said it was ramping up attacks on ships in the Red Sea and other waters — including with new “submarine weapons” — to mirror Israel’s military operations in the Gaza Strip.

Houthi militants have launched repeated drone and missile strikes in the Red Sea, Bab Al-Mandab Strait and Gulf of Aden since November in support of Palestinians, as the Israel-Hamas war continues and the Gaza death toll reaches almost 30,000.

“Operations in the Red and Arabian Seas, Bab Al-Mandab Strait, and the Gulf of Aden are continuing, escalating, and effective,” Abdul Malik Al-Houthi added in a televised speech. He gave no details of the submarine weapons.

The group’s strikes are disrupting the vital Suez Canal trade shortcut that accounts for about 12 percent of global maritime traffic, and forcing firms to take a longer, more expensive route around Africa.

The Houthis on Thursday sent shippers and insurers formal notice of what they termed a ban on vessels linked to Israel, the US and Britain from sailing in surrounding seas, seeking to reinforce their military campaign.

The Houthis’ communication, the first to the shipping industry outlining a ban, came in the form of two notices from the Houthis’ newly dubbed Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center sent to shipping insurers and firms. The aim is to force sailing companies to collaborate with the Houthis to guarantee the safety of their ships.

Ships owned by individuals or entities in Israel, the US and UK or sailing under their flags are banned from the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea, Thursday’s notices said.

“The Humanitarian Operations Center was established in Sanaa to coordinate the safe and peaceful passage of ships and vessels that have no connection to Israel,” a senior Houthi official told Reuters on Thursday.

The months of attacks have upset global trade and reset shipping rates at a higher level. Insurance sources on Thursday said there was no change in rates since the issuance of the adviseries because marine underwriters had already restricted coverage availability or increased rates.

“In terms or marine war insurance availability and pricing, we don’t see a significant effect from the Houthi group’s recent announcement since it echoed similar announcements from last year to target Israel, US and UK-linked vessels,” Marcos Alvarez, managing director, global insurance ratings, Morningstar DBRS, told Reuters.

Militant leader Al-Houthi said retaliatory strikes by the US-British coalition have failed to stop its campaign. Earlier on Thursday, two missiles set ablaze a ship some 70 nautical miles southeast of Aden, Yemen, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said. The vessel and crew were reported safe and are proceeding to the next port of call, it said in a later update.

That UK-owned, Palau-flagged ship, the Islander, was en route to Egypt from Thailand, according to British maritime security firm Ambrey and ship tracking data.

Banjir bandang di Cisurupan akibat penyumbatan drainase - BPBD Garut

BPBD Garut: Banjir bandang di Cisurupan akibat penyumbatan drainase Petugas gabungan membersihkan material lumpur pasca banjir bandang melanda Kampung Cibojong, Desa Balewangi, Kecamatan Cisurupan, Kabupaten Garut, Jawa Barat, hari Rabu, 21/02/2024. ANTARA/HO-Polres Garut/am.

Badan Penanggulangan Bencana Daerah (BPBD) Kabupaten Garut, Jawa Barat, melakukan asesmen daerah terdampak banjir bandang yang melanda perkampungan warga di Kecamatan Cisurupan dan hasilnya menyebutkan penyumbatan drainase sebagai pemicu air meluap saat turun hujan.

"Berdasarkan hasil asesmen serta pendataan di lapangan, kejadian tersebut dipicu oleh hujan dengan intensitas tinggi dalam jangka waktu lama serta faktor drainase Cileet terjadi penyumbatan," kata Kepala Bidang Kedaruratan dan Logsitik BPBD Kabupaten Garut Daris Hilman saat dihubungi melalui telepon seluler di Garut, Kamis.

Ia menuturkan bencana banjir bandang yang menerjang pemukiman warga di Kampung Cibojong, Desa Balewangi, Kecamatan Cisurupan, itu terjadi setelah hujan deras mengguyur wilayah tersebut pada hari Rabu, 21/02/2024.

Debit air yang cukup deras itu, kata dia, menyebabkan material tunggul bambu terbawa arus air sehingga terjadi penyumbatan pada saluran drainase yang memicu air meluap lalu menerjang jalan dan pemukiman warga.

"Akibat tunggul bambu yang terbawa oleh debit air yang tinggi sehingga air meluap ke jalan kabupaten setinggi kurang lebih 80 sentimeter," katanya.

Ia menyampaikan daerah yang terdampak bencana banjir itu sudah mendapatkan penanganan dari BPBD Garut dan instansi terkait, termasuk kepolisian, TNI dan sukarelawan, untuk membersihkan lingkungan dan rumah warga yang kotor setelah diterjang banjir.

Peristiwa itu, lanjut dia, tidak menimbulkan korban jiwa, hanya menimbulkan lingkungan dan jalanan banyak material lumpur, namun kondisi tersebut saat ini sudah bersih dan kendaraan bermotor sudah bisa melewati jalan di daerah itu.

"Rumah sudah dilakukan pembersihan sisa material lumpur pascabanjir, UPT Dinas Pemadam Kebakaran Cikajang berupaya membersihkan akses jalan kabupaten, jalan bisa dilalui baik kendaraan roda dua ataupun roda empat," katanya.

Terkait antisipasi agar tidak terjadi lagi banjir bandang saat turun hujan, pihaknya sudah berkoordinasi dengan Dinas Pekerjaan Umum dan Penataan Ruang (PUPR), serta pemerintah kecamatan dan desa untuk melakukan normalisasi drainase.

Selain itu BPBD Garut mengedukasi masyarakat terkait mitigasi bencana alam agar selalu waspada dan memiliki pemahaman dalam menghadapi kejadian bencana yang sewaktu-waktu bisa terjadi sehingga bisa mengurangi dampaknya.

"BPBD melakukan edukasi perihal mitigasi bencana kepada masyarakat sekitar agar selalu waspada mengingat curah hujan tinggi," katanya.

Gunung Semeru erupsi semburkan abu vulkanik setinggi 400 meter

Gunung Semeru erupsi dengan menyemburkan abu vulkanik pada Jumat (23/2/2024), pukul 06.33 WIB. (ANTARA/HO-PVMBG)

Gunung Semeru di perbatasan Kabupaten Lumajang dan Malang, Jawa Timur erupsi dengan menyemburkan abu vulkanik setinggi 400 meter di atas puncak, Jumat, pukul 06.33 WIB.

"Terjadi erupsi Gunung Semeru pada hari Jumat, 23 Februari 2024, pukul 06.33 WIB. Tinggi kolom letusan teramati sekitar 400 meter di atas puncak (sekitar 4.076 mdpl)," kata Petugas Pos Pengamatan Gunung api Semeru, Liswanto dalam keterangan tertulis yang diterima di Lumajang.

Dia mengatakan kolom abu vulkanik teramati berwarna putih hingga kelabu dengan intensitas sedang ke arah selatan, sedangkan saat laporan itu dibuat, erupsi masih berlangsung.

Pada hari Kamis, 22/03/2024, tercatat erupsi gunung tertinggi di Pulau Jawa itu terjadi pada pukul 16.57 WIB, kemudian pada hari Rabu, 21/02/2024, tercatat erupsi sebanyak tiga kali yakni pada pukul 07.11 WIB, 22.19 WIB, dan 23.55 WIB.

Berdasarkan data Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi, jumlah letusan Gunung Semeru yang pernah tercatat sejak 1 Januari hingga 23 Februari 2024 pukul 07.00 WIB sebanyak 63 kali erupsi.

Gunung Semeru Lontarkan abu vulkanik setinggi 1300 meter, 1 hari sebelumnya erupsi setinggi 600 meter.

Status gunung yang memiliki ketinggian 3.676 meter di atas permukaan laut itu masih siaga atau level III, sehingga masyarakat dilarang melakukan aktivitas apapun di sektor tenggara di sepanjang Besuk Kobokan, sejauh 13 km dari puncak (pusat erupsi).

Di luar jarak tersebut, masyarakat tidak melakukan aktivitas pada jarak 500 meter dari tepi sungai (sempadan sungai) di sepanjang Besuk Kobokan karena berpotensi terlanda perluasan awan panas dan aliran lahar hingga jarak 17 km dari puncak.

Masyarakat tidak boleh beraktivitas dalam radius 5 km dari kawah/puncak Gunung Api Semeru karena rawan terhadap bahaya lontaran batu (pijar).

Masyarakat juga diimbau mewaspadai potensi awan panas, guguran lava dan lahar di sepanjang aliran sungai/lembah yang airnya berhulu di puncak Gunung Api Semeru, terutama sepanjang Besuk Kobokan, Besuk Bang, Besuk Kembar, dan Besuk Sat serta potensi lahar pada sungai-sungai kecil yang merupakan anak sungai dari Besuk Kobokan.