Defensive Pact Between Greece and France Signals New European Reality

Defensive Pact Between Greece and France Signals New European Reality

Freedomist Editor October 1, 2021

France and Greece hedge their bets with a new defence pact

From www.economist.com
2021-10-01 01:07:51

Excerpt:

Oct 2nd 2021

KYRIAKOS MITSOTAKIS, Greece’s prime minister, cast it as a love story. “History…wants us together,” he told Emmanuel Macron, France’s president, in Paris on September 28th. “So does geography.” He serenaded Mr Macron with tales of Ionian seafarers landing in Marseilles and the French Philhellenes who backed Greece’s war of independence. Mr Macron said that Greece was “a civilisation that has inspired us and enabled us to be ourselves”. Then the two leaders consummated their courtship with what they are calling a “strategic” defence pact.

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The Franco-Greek relationship has been forged in rivalry with Turkey, which last year squared off with Greek warships around Cyprus, and with French ones off Libya. An anti-Turkey bloc, including France, Greece, Israel, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, has gradually taken shape. Mr Mitsotakis, eager to secure French support and bolster his own armed forces, had already agreed to buy 18 Rafale warplanes from France in January, at a cost of €2.5bn ($2.9bn), and six more in September. Now he will also buy three new French frigates, with the option of one more.

That is a boon for Greece’s navy, which has just 13 ageing frigates against Turkey’s newer fleet of 16. It is also a well-timed consolation prize for Naval Group, the majority-state-owned French arms firm which Australia turfed out of a lucrative sub marine contract on September 15th as part of its AUKUS pact with America and Britain. Naval Group is building the new frigates in Brittany; Greece is supposed to take delivery of its first in 2025.

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Two Two Million Dollar Winning Mega Millions Tickets in One Day

Parker Davis October 1, 2021

Florida Woman Wins $2 Million Twice on the Same Day in Mega Millions Lottery

From www.newsweek.com
2021-09-30 23:25:38

Excerpt:

A woman in Florida has become a multi-millionaire after claiming two winning lottery tickets on the same day earlier this month.

The Florida Lottery announced the player’s win in a news release issued earlier this week. The release identified the winner as Susan Fitton, a 64-year-old woman from Boca Raton in southeastern Florida.

Fitton purchased two $2 million Mega Millions with Megaplier tickets at a Prip Mart in Boca Raton, according to the Florida Lottery. She later claimed the tickets after a drawing at the West Palm Beach District Office on September 14.

According to the release, Fitton’s tickets “matched all five of the white ball numbers but did not match the Mega Ball.”

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Marine Officer Arrested After Viral Protest Video Gets Rally from DC Lawmakers

Ivo Fysic October 1, 2021

Lawmakers rally to cause of Marine jailed for Afghan criticisms

From www.washingtontimes.com
2021-09-30 21:03:41
Mike Glenn
Excerpt:

A growing number of conservative lawmakers on Capitol Hill are rallying to the cause of a Marine lieutenant colonel jailed this week for his outspoken and repeated criticism of his superiors and what he said was their failure to take responsibility for mishandling the chaotic final days of the U.S. war in Afghanistan.

Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller lost his job as commander of the Advanced Infantry Training Battalion at North Carolina’s Camp Lejeune after posting a video demanding accountability from top military leaders after the Aug. 26 suicide…

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YouTube Calls Ron Paul Channel Kill “A Mistake”

Mark Clouse October 1, 2021

YouTube says Ron Paul Institute’s channel was removed by ‘mistake,’ is now reinstated

From www.theblaze.com
2021-09-30 20:55:00
Chris Pandolfo
Excerpt:

YouTube on Thursday restored the Ron Paul Institute channel after mistakenly removing it for violating its community guidelines, the company said.

Responding to a tweet from former Texas Congressman Dr. Ron Paul announcing that his channel had been removed apparently without warning, YouTube said its enforcement action was a “mistake” and quickly corrected the error.

Earlier, Paul tweeted he was “Very shocked that @YouTube has completely removed the Channel of my Ron Paul Institute,” the popular libertarian host of the “Ron Paul Liberty Report,” saying the channel was removed without warning, strikes, nor evidence of wrongdoing.

“Only explanation was ‘severe or repeated violations of our community guidelines.’ Channel is rarely used. The appeal was automatically rejected. Help?” said Paul.

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DNC Gets Hard Cash from Special Interests Face to Face at Fundraiser

Mark Clouse September 29, 2021

Dems turn to lobbyists for cash in first in-person DNC fundraiser of Covid era

From www.politico.com
2021-09-27 21:25:16

Excerpt:

With Daniel Lippman

DNC MARKS A RETURN TO IN-PERSON FUNDRAISING: Eighteen months into the pandemic, the Democratic National Committee is set to hold its first in-person, indoor fundraising event this week, turning to K Street to haul in cash ahead of what is sure to be an expensive midterm cycle, your host reported this weekend. The high-dollar affairs on Wednesday will feature a reception in honor of new DNC Chair Jaime Harrison — himself a former lobbyist — and a performance by legendary singer-songwriter Carole King.

— The reception will be hosted by Elizabeth Frawley Bagley, the former ambassador to Portugal and a bundler for President Joe Biden. According to an invitation obtained by POLITICO, the physical location of the fundraiser will be provided upon RSVP. Tickets will cost $1,000 to get in the door, according to the invitation, but attendees can pay $5,000 to be listed as a supporter or $10,000 to be listed as a friend. And for K Streeters who have been starved of…

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Biden Admin Denies Trade for Huawei CFO and Jailed Canadians

Parker Davis September 29, 2021

Jen Psaki claims ‘no link’ between Huawei CFO’s release and China freeing two Canadians

From www.washingtonexaminer.com
2021-09-27 21:06:15
Jerry Dunleavy
Excerpt:

The Biden administration claimed on Monday there was “no link” between the Justice Department agreeing to drop its charges against a Huawei executive held in Canada and China releasing two Canadians that it had taken hostage shortly after her arrest.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki was asked if the U.S. decision would incentivize China to engage in further hostage diplomacy, and Psaki attempted to reject this.

“I think it’s important to note, that to be very clear about this, there is no link,” Psaki contended. “We have an independent Justice Department. We can’t determine how the Chinese or others manage their business over there. It’s a little bit different. But we have an independent Justice Department that made independent decisions, law enforcement decisions. At the same time, we have made no secret about our push to have the two Michaels released. That’s certainly positive news and good news.”

…

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House Dems Want Higher Cigarette Taxes to Pay for Part of .5 Trillion Plan

House Dems Want Higher Cigarette Taxes to Pay for Part of $3.5 Trillion Plan

Parker Davis September 29, 2021

House Dems Propose $100 Billion Tax Hike Targeting The Poor

From freebeacon.com
2021-09-29 09:00:43
Patrick Hauf
Excerpt:

The Democrats’ $3.5 trillion budget proposal relies on a $100 billion tax hike that disproportionately targets the poor, lines the pockets of organized crime, and increases inequality.

The plan doubles the federal tax on cigarettes, which would break President Joe Biden’s promise to raise taxes only on those earning more than $400,000. Households with an income of $35,000 or less smoke at three times the rate of households with incomes of more than $100,000. Richard Marianos, a 27-year veteran of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives who worked on gang violence, said a tobacco tax increase will punish vulnerable communities.

“You’re punishing lower-income people, which the administration promised it wouldn’t do,”…

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Arizona Abortion Law Halted at Last Moment By Federal Judge

Parker Davis September 29, 2021

Federal judge blocks part of Arizona abortion ban hours before it takes effect

From thehill.com
2021-09-29 02:40:34

Excerpt:

A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked a provision of Arizona’s new abortion ban hours before it was set to take effect, which would have prohibited abortions solely due to a diagnosis of a genetic abnormality or other fetal condition.

In the order granting a partial preliminary injunction against the law, Judge Douglas L. Rayes for the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona wrote that because doctors are required to inform patients of this provision, those who wish “to terminate her pre-viability pregnancy because of a fetal genetic abnormality” may inevitably “conceal this information from or lie to her doctor, neither of which fosters trust or encourages open dialogue.”

Rayes added that “Arizona’s more abstract concern with how the public might perceive the medical profession does not outweigh the concrete damage” that the provision “would do to the doctor-patient relationship.”

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What Did We Learn from Milley and the Senate Post-Afghanistan and China Call?

Freedomist Editor September 29, 2021

7 Takeaways as Generals Testify on Afghanistan, China Phone Calls

From www.dailysignal.com
2021-09-28 22:45:26
Fred Lucas
Excerpt:

In some cases, the answers were surprising. In other cases, the answers were surprising only in hearing top U.S. military leaders state publicly what already was suspected.

The Senate Armed Services Committee got some answers Tuesday from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin; Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and Marine Gen. Kenneth McKenzie Jr., commander of U.S. Central Command.

Most questions from senators focused on the Biden administration’s botched withdrawal from Afghanistan, but they also wanted to know about Milley’s now infamous calls to his Chinese counterpart, Gen. Li Zuocheng of the People’s Liberation Army, while Donald Trump was still president.

Austin, Milley, and McKenzie are set to testify Wednesday before the House Armed Services Committee.

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China’s Rolling Blackouts Shut Down Apple and Tesla

Freedomist Editor September 28, 2021

Apple and Tesla Suppliers Hit By Global Energy Crisis. What to Know.

From www.barrons.com
2021-09-27 14:10:00

Excerpt:

A worldwide energy shortage is threatening to develop into a full-blown crisis.

The scenes in the U.K. over the weekend were reminiscent of the 1970s, as drivers queued at thousands of filling stations amid fears of a fuel shortage, sparked by a lack of truck drivers. But the panic at the pumps is really a sideshow. Natural-gas prices in Europe and around the world have skyrocketed amid shortages, leading to higher household bills and suppliers collapsing.

China is experiencing its own energy crunch as shortages have led to record coal prices and soaring natural-gas costs. It’s beginning to have an impact; production at a number of factories—including some supplying Apple and Tesla—has been halted.