Russian Jets Escort NATO Aircraft Away From Border For 2nd Time In Two Days

The situation between Russia and US and Western military aircraft over the Black Sea continues to be a tense one. There's been a new incident with NATO aircraft on Thursday, coming less than 24 hours after Russia's Foreign Ministry handed a "note of protest" to the US Embassy-Moscow, warning of "dangerous consequences" should any "provocations near Russia's borders" ensue. The message appeared specifically geared toward tensions over Donbass in Ukraine.

A French Army statement described of Thursday's incident: "Two French warplanes and a refuelling aircraft were being tracked on Thursday by two Russian fighter jets in international air space over the Black Sea, the second such interaction this week."

It was the second consecutive day that Russian fighters were scrambled in order to "escort" French jets away from Russian airspace. "A Russian jet had already escorted two French warplanes on Wednesday, which Moscow had said aimed to prevent the French aircraft from entering Russian air space," Reuters noted.

France's military confirmed it was part of ongoing NATO observation missions, done in accord with international regulations. "The two (French) planes remotely detected two Russian fighter planes which have just come closer to them, but which are not disturbing or hindering the progress of the mission," France's Armed Forces Spokesman Colonel Pascal Ianni said.

Since last week the Kremlin has been angry over what it says is a pattern of unsafe US spy plane maneuvers over the Black Sea, which threaten civilian aviation. An Aeroflot fight from Israel to Moscow reportedly had to drastically reduce altitude when an American spy plane came too close without warning or proper communications.

"Increased U.S. and NATO warplanes activity near Russian borders creates risks of dangerous incidents for civilian aviation," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a written statement Sunday. "If this time a catastrophe over the Black sea was avoided, this doesn’t mean U.S. and NATO could risk people’s lives in the future without punishment," Zakharova added.

Video of Thursday's Black Sea "shadowing" of French warplanes was released by the Russian Defense Ministry. It appears the Russian jets were very close…

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/russian-jets-escort-nato-aircraft-away-border-2nd-time-two-days

Ghislaine Maxwell trial suddenly cut short Thursday after lawyer falls ill

The judge said the trial will resume Friday morning

The federal sex-trafficking trial of Ghislaine Maxwell was abruptly cut short Thursday after one of the attorneys in the case suddenly got sick.

The court was adjourned at about 10:30 a.m. after Judge Alison Nathan was informed of the attorney's status. She also said the court has "no reason to believe it is COVID-related."

It is unclear who the sick attorney is.

"We urge you to respect the privacy of all parties to this litigation and not disclose the identity of that attorney," said a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Manhattan Office.

The announcement was made following an extended meeting between the defense, prosecutors and the judge in her chambers. The meeting had been requested by prosecutors.

Prior to the unexpected break, prosecutors had been scheduled to call their final witnesses before resting their case.

The trial, said Nathan, will resume Friday.

https://justthenews.com/government/courts-law/ghislaine-maxwell-trial-suddenly-cut-short-thursday-after-lawyer-falls-ill

“End of Message” – Joe Biden Reads Instruction off Teleprompter in Tribute to Bob Dole

This guy is negotiating with Vladimir Putin.

Joe Biden on Thursday paid tribute to Senator Bob Dole in the Capitol Rotunda.

Bob Dole passed away over the weekend at the age of 98 after a battle with cancer.

Joe Biden and congressional leaders honored the late Senator at the US Capitol as Bob Dole lay in state.

“We meet here in the very heart of American democracy… the Capitol of the United States of America to receive a hero of that democracy for a final time,” Biden said.

“We meet here in the very heart of American democracy… the Capitol of the United States of America to receive a hero of that democracy for a final time,” Biden said.

“We’ve always found ways to come together. We could find that unity again – and the message said – end of message,” Biden said.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/12/end-message-joe-biden-reads-instruction-off-teleprompter-tribute-bob-dole-video/

Democratic Dark Money Giant Tides Poured Millions Into Bail Funds In 2020 That Helped Alleged Violent Criminals Back Onto The Streets

A prominent Democratic dark money group funneled nearly $6 million into bail funds in 2020, some of which have a history of helping allegedly violent criminals back onto the street, tax records show.

Among the bail funds that received funding from the Tides Center in 2020 include the Minnesota Freedom Fund, which helped post bail for a man accused of sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl in July 2020, and the Massachusetts Bail Fund, which helped post bail for a woman accused of stuffing her newborn baby in a garbage can outside a Boston pizza shop in February 2021.

The Tides Center reported in its 2020 Form 990 that it provided a sum total of $5.97 million to 23 bail funds in 2020, a dramatic increase from the year prior when it reported donating just $216,000 to eight bail funds.

The Tides Center is one of the five Tides charitable funds, which, according to their consolidated financial statements, raised nearly $1.4 billion from anonymous donors in 2020 to support left-wing causes.

Bail funds across the country saw an influx of cash following the police killing of George Floyd in late May 2020. The Minnesota Freedom Fund reportedly received $40 million in 2020 thanks in part to support from prominent politicians such as Vice President Kamala Harris.

“Bail funds are seeking radical change,” Tides wrote in a July 17, 2020, Facebook post. “We must end the two-tiered bail system of those who can afford to pay, and those who cannot. Philanthropy can greatly aid in achieving this crucial goal.”

The Minnesota Freedom Fund helped post bail for multiple individuals accused of committing violent crimes after donations started pouring in following Floyd’s killing, the Daily Caller News Foundation previously reported. The bail fund helped bail out a man accused of assaulting an elderly woman as he burglarized her home, court records show, as well as an additional six men accused of domestic violence between June and August 2020.

https://dailycaller.com/2021/12/09/tides-center-donated-millions-bail-funds/

Mark Meadows Reportedly Gave 1/6 Committee Texts, Emails That 'May Not Reflect Well' On Trump

After Former Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows gave the CCP-tied January 6 Committee thousands of emails and text messages from January 6, the commission is now saying that the texts “may not reflect well on” 45th President Donald Trump.

President Trump’s former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows originally agreed to cooperate with the sham January 6 commission, providing the Committee with thousands of emails and text messages from the day of the Capitol protest. Now, the commission and liberal media reports are claiming that those text messages “may not reflect well” on President Trump.

From CNN:

The messages on Meadows’ personal cell phone and email account, which were voluntarily handed over without any claim of executive privilege, relate to “what Donald Trump was doing and not doing during the riot,” the source added.

These communications offer a window into what people were texting to Meadows on January 6, what he was telling them about Trump in real time, and what the former President was doing for those hours while the Capitol was under attack and rioters were chanting “Hang Mike Pence,” according to the source.

After providing the commission with the communications, Meadows reversed course when National File reported on his connections to Mark Epstein’s Humpty Dumpty Institute – a mysterious Chinese military-linked nonprofit organization advised by dozens of congressional Democrats, including two Democrat Congressmen who are currently sitting on the January 6 Committee; Reps. Bennie Thompson and Adam Schiff.

Now, Meadows is suing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the January 6 Committee over executive privilege.

https://nationalfile.com/mark-meadows-reportedly-gave-1-6-committee-texts-emails-may-not-reflect-trump/

Austria to Impose $4,000 Quarterly Fine on Those Flouting Vaccine Mandate

Austria’s health minister on Thursday released the details of a government-imposed COVID-19 vaccine mandate that will take effect early next year.

The new measure will require all persons, starting on Feb. 1, who have a place of residence in Austria and are aged 14 and over to get the shot or face heavy quarterly fines.

Austrian authorities announced last month that it would implement a general mandate for the shot early next year, becoming the first European country to do so.

“So-called ‘vaccination deadlines’ take place every quarter,” Austria’s Health Minister Wolfgang Mueckstein explained in a statement, adding that for citizens who do not meet this deadline, a procedure will be initiated.

“[The] procedure amounts to up to €3,600 [$4,071]—taking into account the income and financial circumstances,” Mueckstein said. “Unvaccinated people are reminded every quarter to be vaccinated until the next ‘vaccination deadline’ or to register a reason for an exception.”

The income and other financial obligations of Austrian’s will be taken into account in calculating fines. Alternatively, officials can opt to impose a fine of up to 600 euros (about $680) in shortened proceedings.

People excluded from the measure include pregnant women, children under age 14, and Austrian’s who cannot get the shot for health reasons.

Authorities will write to unvaccinated people every three months reminding them to get their shots or get a doctor to certify their right to an exemption before the next cutoff date. If they continue not to comply, fines can be imposed every three months. Proceedings will be dropped if people produce proof of vaccination in the meantime.

About 68 percent of the Central European nation’s population is vaccinated against the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes the disease COVID-19, according to government data.

A large percentage of the public in the Central European nation is skeptical about COVID-19 vaccines. Austria has one of the lowest vaccination rates in Western Europe.

https://www.ntd.com/austria-to-impose-4000-quarterly-fine-on-those-flouting-vaccine-mandate_712216.html