>> vladimir putin addresses the bricks summit by video call. pressure's president could not attend because he is wanted -- pressure's president could not attend because he is wanted. ukraine's deputy minister says kyiv's troops are making progress against russian invaders. meanwhile, 11 united nations states have signed the pledge of for ukraine's independence,

including russia's ally serbia. trump says he will turn himself in on thursday. the former u.s. president facing now for criminal indictments. ogre washington bureau chief will give us his analysis. thank you very much for being with us. vladimir putin was the notable absentee from the summit in johannesburg. the russian president was able to make his voice heard by video call and used the opportunity to complain about sanctions over his war in ukraine. south africa recognized the jurisdiction of the international criminal court so have been obliged to arrest and turn in putin, had he landed on their soil. russia is just one part of the bloc. the others, brazil, india, china, and south africa.

officials say there are some 40 countries interested in joining the brics, and the economic potential is massive. >> we require a fundamental reform of the global financial institution so they can be more agile and responsive to the challenges facing developing economies. in this respect, the new development bank established by brics countries in 2015 is leading the way. >> the president of south africa, hosts of this summit. for the analysis, we would join earlier by the fellow of the international economy at the council of foreign relations. i asked about the potential expansion of the bloc. >> as a grouping, it has always been a loose or non-formal

partnership, not a formal alliance. on the other hand, as a group, the countries have always been open to the potential of expansion. finally, the new development has already expanded including countries like egypt. from that point of view, the potential about expansion is not surprising. >> does the situation in ukraine pose a big problem? obviously, vladimir putin with war crimes allegations hanging over him, had an arrest warrant, unable to attend. if he had attended, south africa would have been obliged to arrest him. xi jinping not coming to the event, perhaps in support of vladimir putin. what is your reading of the situation? >> this is actually the second time that xi jinping stepped out

of china. the first time, his trip abroad was to pressure to meet with vladimir putin. this time, his visit to south africa is not just for a visit to the brics summit but also a state visit to south africa. we also visited saudi arabia and there, he visited not just saudi arabia but also arab leaders and leaders in the gulf cooperation council member countries. from that perspective, i think there's a very interesting dynamic going on. on the one hand, you see xi jinping not necessarily having a lot of interest in negotiating with the west and the u.s. in general but on the other hand very interested in expanding china's engagement with global

south. >> ukraine's deputy prime minister spoke this tuesday, brushing aside the idea of the counteroffensive is going too slowly. he said ukraine's troops made progress against russian forces simply by proving they can push back a better armed and numerically superior enemy. two russian boats have been sunk in the black sea. both sides have escalated activity in the black sea since the deal brokered by the united nations fell apart. in ukraine, missile strikes continue, but so do initiatives to counter their effects. a citizens initiative called repair together brings together volunteers who visit disaster-struck villages during the weekend to try to rebuild houses and restore hope to the population. >> those volunteers are spending the weekend with the

organization repair together. over 100 people come from all over the world to rebuild houses destroyed by russian shelley -- shelling. >> we were in the basement for days. the shelling was so intense we could not come out. we moved to the barn and got shelled again. that time my husband was killed. now we are rebuilding the house. that way my grandson will be able to visit and i won't be alone. >> for weeks now, this carpenter has been sharing his expertise with the volunteers on site. >> it is not easy work. it is hot. we are living in tents, but it is enjoyable and rewarding. it is also emotional because you

see the people every day, you see the conditions they live in, the hardship they live in. >> before joining, most volunteers have no prior experience in housebuilding. she left her marketing job in paris to join the project. >> and very happy to be able to rebuild my region, to be part of something that is bigger than myself. it is bigger than anything, and also neighbors can see how much residence count on us. it allows us to make a difference, follow history, and also highlight the fact that together we can rebuild. >> at the end of the day, volunteers finally take a break. repair together is also a time to share. that night, there is a concert in the fields. some down time, a rarity.

>> that insight into groups who came together to try to rebuild communities in ukraine. next, thousands of people near the greek capital have been forced to flee wildfires that have claimed at least 20 lives. an evacuation order was given to 25,000 people northwest of the capital. over 60 fires have erupted in the last 24 hours. all this amid a dangerous mix of gale force winds and temperatures in excess of 40 degrees celsius. >> a grim discovery by firefighters as they battle blazes in the region. 18 charred remains believed to be migrants. critics during on-site inspections by the fire department, officials in the wider area found the bodies of

18 people near a shack. given there have been no reports of disappearances, the possibility is that these -- the possibility that these are people who entered the country illegally is being investigated. >> the bodies were found in an area close to the turkish border where buyers have been burning for days. high wind and temperatures have whipped up a series of blazes across the country. officials were forced to evacuate a hospital in alexandria obelisk -- alexandropolis. meanwhile, new fires have broken out around athens. residents received emergency alert texts telling them to evacuate. >> we are trying to save people's lives at home and then whatever is possible. we are doing the best we can. we are all here to do our best.

>> smoke darkened the skies as homes and factories burn. dozens of firefighters, fire trucks, and motor-dropping helicopters were at the scene -- mortar-dropping -- water-dropping helicopters were at the scene. with the resources stretched thin, the government has appealed for aid from the eu civil protection mechanism. already reinforcements have begun to arrive with firefighters from romania and france joining local teams. >> the former u.s. president, donald trump, says he will turn himself in to authorities this thursday after his indictment on a criminal case. the charges involve his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in the state of georgia. the judge has set trump's bail at $200,000 and warned him from making threatening comments on social media against witnesses in the case. david smith, the bureau chief of

"the guardian" newspaper in washington joins us. he is not going quietly, is he? that's not his way. david: no, that is right. i think this will become another media circus. the cameras following trump into court and out again. we will see if he makes any public statements and what effect this appearance on thursday. will it be once again to start of his rivals of any oxygen? we have the primary debate in milwaukee on wednesday night, but that will be i think perry in the new cycle. once again, it will be trump from wall to wall. and the case goes on. we have seen some of his codefendants in georgia already turned themselves in, including trump's lawyer, john eastman.

trump's chief of staff, mark meadows, trying to switch this case to federal charges in washington, but it is the former president who, as usual, is the center of attention in the inverted moral universe in american politics right now, it actually seems to work to his benefit politically. >> indeed, a fourth indictment in five months if i'm not mistaken. how will this case proceed? >> on thursday, we will get trump going to the courthouse in atlanta, and massive security operation to try to keep the public, protesters and others, out of anywhere to dangerous. we don't know exactly how long trump will be there. there has been much speculation if we will finally get a donald

trump mugshot, as is customary with pretty much every other new criminal in america, and i think that would be a fascinating moment, to see that photograph. i suspect like much else, we would get a polarized reaction. to some people, it would be the rule of law having its way, donald trump finally being brought to justice, but his supporters i suspect would view it as the image of a martyr. it would be a rallying point. so trump will be arraigned. he will have the charges read to him, and then he will leave that courthouse as he has his previous indictments and will enter a period of limbo awaiting a further hearing to actually set a trial date. that begs a whole other set of questions in terms of what order

these trials will take place, and if they will conflict with the presidential election. many experts believe there is time for one trial before the election but certainly not for. >> indeed, and as far as trump is concerned, there is no such thing as bad publicity. david, thank you very much indeed. japan is to release water from the stricken fukushima power plant into the ocean thursday. the prime minister confirmed this news. more than 500 olympic size swimming pools' worth will be poured into the pacific. in spite of neighbors such as china, hong kong, and macau objecting, tokyo says the water is now safe. before we go, some news on the sport of rugby. oh and federal, captain of the england team, has had his red

card reinstated. he was red carded for a tackle on a welsh player in an england warm-up game for the world cup, which takes place in france in just under 20 days' time. farrell had that part of us appeal, so that meant he would be available at the start of the world cup for england, but since then, the world rugby body appealed against that, squashing the red card, and it has now been reinstated. this means the captain of england, who finished as the beaten finalist in the last world cup, will not be available for the next two games against argentina and japan. world controversy and the game has not even kicked off. we will bring you more world news. stay with us here on france 24. ♪

>> a hundred years ago, painters, sculptors, writers, and musicians battled for gold, silver, and bronze at the olympics. to mark a year until the paris games, we are looking at the artistic side of the world's biggest sporting event. we are in the heart of paris were on july 20 6, 20 24, the opening ceremonies take place. we are promised a grandiose spectacle that will tell the story up paris and of france. 600,000 spectators are expected to line the banks of the river

seine, and the well-known and highly acclaimed theater director thomas jolie is the director. ♪ >> it is the show of a lifetime, the biggest show in the world, but to be honest, the work offset the pressure. there is so much to do. it is so amazing to create such a huge show that i more focused on the job. i cannot deny, though, that on the day, a few minutes before the opening ceremony starts, like any actor or artist, i will probably have stage fright, but other than that, i don't really feel the pressure. >> and it will be broadcast live around the world. for once, you are not creating a stage because the stage is the seine. quickly s -- >> the seine is

here, and it was a brilliant idea to use it as the stage. it means having the world's most beautiful city as a backdrop. with the seine river as a stage, and i have to compose with that. i'm very lucky, and i think that for this edition of the olympics, it is a wonderful idea. >> how are you planning this to be a celebration of french culture? you will be highlighting its diversity, i imagine? >> this idea of the seine as the stage is even more relevant that it represents the history of france, the history of paris. one can see it in the buildings and the architecture. there's a history with a capital h, but also smaller stories. with my artistic team, we studied, visited, researched all of this to find what could be

incorporated into the show to tell the story of france, the story of paris, the city where there are many ways of living together. the city which is made of influences from all over the world and which also influences the rest of the world. the city that carries a lot of symbols which will be glorified. >> among the olympic sports, there is a new 1 -- breakdancing or breaking, as it has been called by the international olympic committee. breaking competitions have been taking place all over the world since the 1990's, popularizing the dance that began in urban hip-hop communities. >> to make it in the world of breaking, you need power, muscles, speed, flexibility, rhythm, and style.

here is one of the best-known moves, the head spin, explained by one of france's top breakers. >> i place my hand in front of me. i move them first. then i turned my head. hands, head, forehead. >> when he has reached full speed, it is time to let go of his hands. breakers make dozens of head spins per minute. our champion ends on another iconic figure, the freeze. >> the battle is like a session of q&a. i ask or tell you something. you reply. the dancer with the best to structure and statement, the neatest elaborated statement wins the battle. >> it is also deeply rooted in art. it is linked to hip-hop music and culture. it all started in new york in

the early 1970's and has a dazzled and inspired people across the world. >> when we saw those images on television, we felt something different. these people move in an incredible way. they turn on their heads, their shoulders, their arms. we've come to this club because we want to learn how to do this. >> some got the hang of it. for others, it was more complicated. 40 years later, the style that started on the streets of new york will get a place of honor in the olympics. >> we b-voice started very -- b-voice -- b-boys started very

far from this. >> the goal is to attract new audiences, starting with young women, with the ultimate hope that the competition goes so well breaking will remain an olympic sport after paris. >> a year before the start of the games, the olympics forms festival combines art and sport all summer long in the capital. >> this open air fitness class invites the general public to work out. in an activity that combines dance and weight training. >> in the end, there is still a lot of people dancing, enjoying and sharing this moment, so it is cool. >> this contemporary dance

company offers choreography for all ages. >> parents, kids, everyone was into it. >> summer is always a great opportunity to discover new venues, new areas to enjoy everything paris and the suburbs. >> but it is not just about physical activity. the city of paris one year before the olympic games wants to, above all, combine the worlds of culture and sport. >> the idea is to have the widest audience possible and bring together the most traditional audience of these two worlds so that they unify around a common event, the olympic and paralympic games. >> the public can also rediscover sport facilities like this one. in this gymnasium, 50 microphones are attached around the building. >> we try to make people hear the sound of sport to which we don't normally have access. these are the somewhat intimate sounds of sport. these are the sounds of the athletes' movements. there's a sensor here, and this

plexiglas plate is actually going to make a little bit like a bass drum. >> sport and movement are transformed into musical instruments. >> is it's going to make a noise, and it is a noise that is very pleasing to the air. >> athletes and technicians make the whole building resonate in this immersive show. more than 50 free events will take place between now and mid september. >> for olympic champions, nutrition is synonymous with peak performance and well-being. it is michelin-start chefs who will be doing the cooking for

the athletes. >> she puts the finishing touches on a dish that will be served up at next year's olympics. >> here i have a guinea fowl that we cooked on low heat, so it is still quite pink and juicy. >> the chef was given free reign to come up with some 15 recipes for athletes. >> it is a big challenge because it is obviously symbolic. we represent france, our country, french know how. logistically, too, it is a big because we will welcome huge crowds throughout the games. >> north of paris, constructionist in full swing at the olympic village -- construction is in full swing. athletes will need to be fed 24 hours a day. >> the goal is to feed all 12,500 athletes from 206 delegations from breakfast to dinner, so it is about offering

catering that meets expectation so they can get their best performance. >> another chef who has taken up the challenge is a former basketball player who now boasts three michelin stars. >> the idea is to have something salty but naturally salty. >> he has been working on his recipes for the past two years. plex food is closely linked to performance and to well-being. it is an important factor. >> he's also planning to bring his food truck to paris, giving athletes the option of healthy street food. >> you cannot underestimate the food truck. during lockdown, it made around 1200 sales every day. there were nine of us working inside at the time. that will be the case at the olympics, but we can still do great things -- that will not be

the case at the olympics, but we can still do great things. >> around 40,000 meals will be served each day at the olympics. >> we leave you with an exhibition called victory in collaboration with paris news. it is on until september. thanks for watching. see you next time. ♪ >> i'm gulliver cragg, france 24's correspondent in kyiv. i'm forever crisscrossing ukraine, poland, and other countries in the region to keep you up-to-date with all the news from central and eastern europe. >> gulliver cragg, one of the 200 france 24 correspondence around the world.

08/22/23 08/22/23 [captioning made possible by democracy now!] amy: from new york, this is democracy now! >> donald trump full be in atlanta sometime in the next few days for his arraignment and a mugshot. he will be out on $200,000 bond, which is great for him because he has the money. but a lot of people in this town can't make $5,000 bond and