NEWS SUMMARY-INTELLIGENCE REPORT WEDNESDAY 12/19/2018 NEWSDUMP WEEK
(EDITING, ADDITIONS, UPDATES ETC. POSSIBLE UNTIL 8AM EASTERN)
President Trump's Criminal Justice Reform bill has passed the US Senate and now goes to the House for final touches.
The President tweeted his congratulations Tuesday evening on its passage. The bill designed to get non-violent offenders out of prison was worked on extensively by the President's son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Trump met Kim Kardashian to discuss the issue and tweeted a picture of her in the Oval Office with him earlier this year after that discussion.
The Trump Administration's ban on bump stocks for firearms in now official. The devices must be turned in or destroyed by March 21st. Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker signed the regulation Tuesday and its expected to be printed in the Federal Register Friday.
The President decided to ban bump stocks after mass murder incidents involving firearms in Las Vegas and at Parkland High School in Florida.
What about the threat of a partial government shutdown over border wall funding? Word from the White House is that there are ways around the problem and it appears that the President will not follow through with the notion of shutting the government down in part Friday at Midnight over border wall funding.
Trump met Kim Kardashian to discuss the issue and tweeted a picture of her in the Oval Office with him earlier this year after that discussion.
The Trump Administration's ban on bump stocks for firearms in now official. The devices must be turned in or destroyed by March 21st. Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker signed the regulation Tuesday and its expected to be printed in the Federal Register Friday.
The President decided to ban bump stocks after mass murder incidents involving firearms in Las Vegas and at Parkland High School in Florida.
What about the threat of a partial government shutdown over border wall funding? Word from the White House is that there are ways around the problem and it appears that the President will not follow through with the notion of shutting the government down in part Friday at Midnight over border wall funding.
The Prime Minister of Belgium submitted his resignation Tuesday night after the largest party in his government left over the government's signing of the United Nations compact on international migration.
Prime Minister Charles Michel lost the support of the Flemish N-VA party which said the UN compact will end up flooding the country with more immigrants.
Thousands of protesters were on the streets of Belgium in recent days in opposition to the UN migration compact, which is steeped in controversy.
King Philippe of Belgium can now try to hold consultations with political parties or call a new election. But there's no official word yet that the King has accepted the Prime Minister's resignation.
The US is planning to sell Patriot missiles to Turkey, that's the word from Washington. Turkey has also been planning to receive Russia's S-400 air defense system. The State Department approval does not mean final approval of the Patriot sale to Turkey.
Turkey continues to hype an upcoming military operation in Kurdish areas east of the Euphrates River in Syria. The Turkish government says pro-Turkish militias and Turkish military units totalling 24-thousand will be involved. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he's spoken with President Trump who approves of the operation.
Prime Minister Charles Michel lost the support of the Flemish N-VA party which said the UN compact will end up flooding the country with more immigrants.
Thousands of protesters were on the streets of Belgium in recent days in opposition to the UN migration compact, which is steeped in controversy.
King Philippe of Belgium can now try to hold consultations with political parties or call a new election. But there's no official word yet that the King has accepted the Prime Minister's resignation.
The US is planning to sell Patriot missiles to Turkey, that's the word from Washington. Turkey has also been planning to receive Russia's S-400 air defense system. The State Department approval does not mean final approval of the Patriot sale to Turkey.
Turkey continues to hype an upcoming military operation in Kurdish areas east of the Euphrates River in Syria. The Turkish government says pro-Turkish militias and Turkish military units totalling 24-thousand will be involved. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he's spoken with President Trump who approves of the operation.
Turkey's Foreign Minister says that President Trump told the Turkish President Erdogan at the G20 summit in Argentina that the US is working to extradite Islamic cleric Fetullah Gulen to Turkey.
Turkey's government accuses Gulen of being behind the July 2016 coup attempt in Turkey. Gulen lives in a compound near Altoona, Pennsylvania.
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu says the FBI has launched a probe in 15 states of what Turkey calls the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) and already made arrests in New Jersey.
Retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn talked about getting Gullen back to Turkey when he worked with President Trump's campaign and was in a meeting with Turkish representatives back in 2016.
As for General Flynn's sentencing Tuesday in connection with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, the judge postponed the sentence and noted among other things with disdain Flynn's lobbying for the Turkish government.
But US District Judge Emmet Sullivan did tear into Flynn during the hearing accusing him of selling out his country. Sullivan did note that up to six months in prison is suggested for his perjury offense rather than not going to jail as recommended by Mr. Mueller. Sentencing will be at a later date.
In France talks will continue today between government officials and police union representatives. Tens of thousands of police have worked long hours in the face of the Yellow Vests protests accumulating tens of million of hours of unpaid overtime for which they are demanding payment.
Police are blockading their own stations today in France and will only respond to emergency calls.
A big police rally is planned at a police station in Paris near the Champs-Elysees at 930 pm local time tonight.
One aspect of the Yellow Vests protests is the takeover of toll booths on highways operated by private companies. Cars have passed through for free. The VINCI motorway operator in France was trying to collect tolls from motorists passing through without paying tolls. But its now given up in the face of public outcry about a "state within a state" harassing the people.
And as for the "Yellow Vests" more protests of some sort somewhere in France are envisioned this Saturday with plans to gather on the Champs-Elysses New Year's Eve to bring in the New Year.
The Battle of Brexit Tuesday found Prime Minister Theresa May's government making contingencies for a no-deal Brexit on March 29th next year.
This caused an outcry from MP Vince Cable of the anti-Brexit Liberal Democrats party. He said Mrs. May was practicing "psychological warfare" but it remains unclear what the final outcome of the whole Brexit process will be.
Many believe a crisis moment is coming as the situation moves forward into the new year.
For now Mrs. May claims she will bring her controversial Brexit plan opposed by a large majority of the House of Commons the week of January 14th. She backed away from a vote earlier this month when it was clear she would lose it.
The US representative for North Korea is visiting South Korea as the US tries to find a breakthrough with the North aimed at denuclearization. Stephen Biegun's visit is due to last four days according to Reuters.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that the Iranian backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon has shut down precision missile factories that Israel identified publicly several months ago.
In Sweden, the parliament speaker has laid out the timetable for a third attempt to form a new government since last September's general election. Andreas Norlen will meet with party leaders on Monday January 14th and a vote on a new prime minister is set for Wednesday January 16th.
The main stumbling block to a new government is that most parties are unwilling to work with the anti-mass immigration Sweden Democrats. If Sweden cannot form a new government after four tries, new elections will be called. Polling data shows the Sweden Democrats would perform better than the 17.5 percent of the vote they got in the last election.
The Federal Reserve Board meets today with Wall Street jittery about an interest rate hike. President Trump has urged against a rate hike.
Republican Congresswoman Martha McSally lost the US Senate race in Arizona last month, but she's going to the US Senate anyway.
Arizona Governor Doug Doocy appointed McSally today to finish out the term of the late Senator John McCain.
Penny Marshall is dead at the age of 75. The 1970's television star who later became a movie director is well remembered for "Laverne and Shirley" on TV and movies she directed like "Big".
And that's the way it really is this Wednesday morning, December 19th, 2018 on this Newsdump Week before Christmas.
Retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn talked about getting Gullen back to Turkey when he worked with President Trump's campaign and was in a meeting with Turkish representatives back in 2016.
As for General Flynn's sentencing Tuesday in connection with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, the judge postponed the sentence and noted among other things with disdain Flynn's lobbying for the Turkish government.
But US District Judge Emmet Sullivan did tear into Flynn during the hearing accusing him of selling out his country. Sullivan did note that up to six months in prison is suggested for his perjury offense rather than not going to jail as recommended by Mr. Mueller. Sentencing will be at a later date.
In France talks will continue today between government officials and police union representatives. Tens of thousands of police have worked long hours in the face of the Yellow Vests protests accumulating tens of million of hours of unpaid overtime for which they are demanding payment.
Police are blockading their own stations today in France and will only respond to emergency calls.
A big police rally is planned at a police station in Paris near the Champs-Elysees at 930 pm local time tonight.
One aspect of the Yellow Vests protests is the takeover of toll booths on highways operated by private companies. Cars have passed through for free. The VINCI motorway operator in France was trying to collect tolls from motorists passing through without paying tolls. But its now given up in the face of public outcry about a "state within a state" harassing the people.
And as for the "Yellow Vests" more protests of some sort somewhere in France are envisioned this Saturday with plans to gather on the Champs-Elysses New Year's Eve to bring in the New Year.
The Battle of Brexit Tuesday found Prime Minister Theresa May's government making contingencies for a no-deal Brexit on March 29th next year.
This caused an outcry from MP Vince Cable of the anti-Brexit Liberal Democrats party. He said Mrs. May was practicing "psychological warfare" but it remains unclear what the final outcome of the whole Brexit process will be.
Many believe a crisis moment is coming as the situation moves forward into the new year.
For now Mrs. May claims she will bring her controversial Brexit plan opposed by a large majority of the House of Commons the week of January 14th. She backed away from a vote earlier this month when it was clear she would lose it.
The US representative for North Korea is visiting South Korea as the US tries to find a breakthrough with the North aimed at denuclearization. Stephen Biegun's visit is due to last four days according to Reuters.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that the Iranian backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon has shut down precision missile factories that Israel identified publicly several months ago.
In Sweden, the parliament speaker has laid out the timetable for a third attempt to form a new government since last September's general election. Andreas Norlen will meet with party leaders on Monday January 14th and a vote on a new prime minister is set for Wednesday January 16th.
The main stumbling block to a new government is that most parties are unwilling to work with the anti-mass immigration Sweden Democrats. If Sweden cannot form a new government after four tries, new elections will be called. Polling data shows the Sweden Democrats would perform better than the 17.5 percent of the vote they got in the last election.
The Federal Reserve Board meets today with Wall Street jittery about an interest rate hike. President Trump has urged against a rate hike.
Republican Congresswoman Martha McSally lost the US Senate race in Arizona last month, but she's going to the US Senate anyway.
Arizona Governor Doug Doocy appointed McSally today to finish out the term of the late Senator John McCain.
Penny Marshall is dead at the age of 75. The 1970's television star who later became a movie director is well remembered for "Laverne and Shirley" on TV and movies she directed like "Big".
And that's the way it really is this Wednesday morning, December 19th, 2018 on this Newsdump Week before Christmas.
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