NEWS SUMMARY-INTELLIGENCE REPORT SATURDAY 12/1/2018

(UPDATES, EDITING, ADDITIONS ETC. ARE POSSIBLE UNTIL 815 AM)

Former President George H.W Bush, Bush 41, father of former President George W. Bush, died Friday night at the age of 94.

President Trump and the First Lady issued a statement early this morning from Argentina where they are attending the G20 summit that reads in part:

"Along with his full life of service to country, we will remember President Bush for his devotion to family-especially the love of his life, Barbara...."

George H.W. Bush was in the House of Representatives, was CIA Director and a US representative to China.  Bush offered himself as the moderate Republican alternative to Ronald Reagan in 1980 and was picked as Reagan's running mate.

He served two terms as Vice-President and was elected President in 1988, but lost his bid for re-election to Bill Clinton in 1992.

To the G20 summit....

When they posed for a group picture Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman were at opposite ends of the picture.   Turkey has been in forefront of raising the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consultate in Istanbul as an issue.

Turkish prosecutors have asked that Saudi nationals involved in the murder be extradited to Turkey for prosecution.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin exchanged some friendly greetings with Bin Salman, but his more in depth meetings came with leaders like President Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May.

The US and the UK are the top sellers of military gear to the Saudis.

The "big meeting" of the G20 summit is set for tonight when President Trump has dinner with Chinese President Xi Jinping.   The meeting comes amid the trade dispute between the US and China as President Trump tries to leverage a better deal in the economic relationship for the US.

A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Alaska at around 830am local time Friday, 1230pm Eastern US time.   There was some damage to buildings and highways because of the quake, centered just north of Anchorage.   A tsunami alert was triggered along the Alaska coast.

A third week of Saturday "yellow jacket" protests in France against President Emmanuel Macron's gasoline taxes to combat "climate change".  A center of protest is the Champs Elysees, the main street of Paris.   Many "yellow jackets" were present in various quarters in the center of the French capital this morning.

A group at the Arc de Triomphe sang France's national anthem and chanted:

"Macron Resign"

Police were firing tear gas at the protesters today.   They also employed stun grenades and water cannon to prevent protesters from getting near government buildings and at least 122 were reported arrested as of 745am Eastern time in the US.

Tear gas was limiting visibility in many of the center city streets by mid-day.

For live video on the protests, this video link from BFM TV in France....LINK

The governing parties in Italy are rallying to the defense of Five Star Movement leader Deputy Prime Minister Luigi DiMaio amidst an investigation into the activities of his father that they say is politically motivated.

Fellow Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini of the Five Star's coalition partner, the League, joined in the defense amid the investigation of DiMaio's father by Italy's "independent judiciary" which is seen as a tool of the ruling business and banking elites that support the European Union.

The Science Minister in the British government has resigned over the Prime Minister's Brexit deal.

Sam Gyimah said that it's obvious the deal puts the "EU first" and hurts the United Kingdom.  He said he will vote against her plan.

The opposition to Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit plan is planning a big rally in London on Sunday September 9th, just two days before May intends to put her plan to a vote in the House of Commons.

The United Kingdom Independence Party is behind the event with its leader Gerard Batten working in a planning committee that includes activist Tommy Robinson.

And if one's wondering if Prime Minister May's Brexit plan separates Britain from the European Union, consider this tweet from "Mr. Brexit" Nigel Farage:

"German press are now using the term 'passive membership' for the UK post-Brexit.   This is the worst deal in history."

In the European Parliament, meanwhile, legislation is proposed that will expand the definition of "hate speech" to include criticism of migration with comments critical of migration being defined as "a criminal offense".    Media that criticize migration could be shut down under the EU parliament proposal.

Back here at home the 'lame duck' session of Congress and a proposal from Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina that he calls "bipartisan" to allow more foreign workers into the US.

Tillis's proposal is to increase H-2B visas from 66-thousand per year to 132-thousand.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin commented in Argentina yesterday that something needs to be done about the perpetrators of last weekend's chemical attack in Aleppo, Syria that reportedly injured 107 people.

Russia's Radio Sputnik quotes Putin as saying:

"Such terrorists crimes should not be left unpunished, otherwise they will replicate such antics"

Syrian military forces are reportedly massing in northern Syria to deal with jihadist opposition forces that have repeatedly violated the cease-fire and deconfliction zone in Idlib province.

And a story of the season from Italy.     The ANSA News Agency reports that a 10-year girl had to petition to get the name of "Jesus" into a Christmas song at her school.   "Jesus" was going to be left out so there would be no offense to "non-Catholic students".    This happened in an Italian town between Venice and Padua.

And that's the way it really is on this Saturday morning December 1st, 2018.