NEWS SUMMARY-INTELLIGENCE REPORT SUNDAY 10/20/2019

(SERVICE THROUGH LATE SUNDAY,  WILL BE EXPANDED LATER)

Is an attempt under way to destabilize Lebanon?   For the fourth day today protesters in the streets opposing taxes and corruption from a government backed by the Iranian supported Hezbollah movement, arch enemies of Israel also considered a terrorist organization by the United States.

"Newsweek" quotes local media reports of well over 1 million people in the streets of the country...LINK

Media reports also speak of demonstrators calling for a "revolution" in the country.   Yesterday a political party in Lebanon's Christian community, considered to be pro-US, withdrew its support from the government.

Street demonstrations led to the conflict in Libya that overthrew Muammar al-Qadaffi in 2011 and the eight-year long war in Syria that same year.

The government will roll out its plans for reform on Monday.

"We are at war against a powerful enemy, who is willing to use violence without any limits"

The words of Chile's President Sebastian Pinera late tonight speaking from army headquarters.

There are now five deaths reported  in the torching of a garment factory near Santiago, Chile after three deaths in the torching of a supermarket in the capital city itself,  the first fatalities in the rioting in the streets of Chile this weekend.

The nationwide death toll in the rioting is now 10.

Protests began several days ago against increased subway fares in the capital city and have expanded nationwide over the weekend.

By the middle of the day today protesters again on the streets of Santiago with tear gas being employed against them.

Curfews in effect in Chile's major cities overnight tonight.

Live reporting in Spanish with video from "24 Horas" news channel in Chile.....LINK

Reuters offering this late update on the situation in Chile......LINK

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab says Prime Minister Boris Johnson has the votes to pass his "deal" on Brexit tomorrow.

A test vote came out of an amendment vote in Parliament Saturday showing Johnson seven votes short of victory in the House of Commons.

Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage told "Sky News" today that the "European Research Group" Conservative Party members of the House of Commons who claim to support Brexit would never have voted for  Johnson's "deal" six months ago.   Farage saying the "deal" is "not Brexit".

Tens of thousands marching in Hong Kong Sunday defying a ban on protests.   After the democracy protesters marched there was an attack on a police station by a smaller group dressed in black.   Police used tear gas against them.

A man distributing flyers in Hong Kong Saturday to promote the Sunday protest was injured in a knife attack.

THE PROTEST CONTINUING IN SPAIN'S CATALONIA REGION TODAY.  DEMONSTRATORS ON THE STREET OF THE CAPITAL BARCELONA FOR THE SEVENTH DAY FOLLOWING SPAIN'S SUPREME COURT DECISION TO JAIL NINE CATALAN LEADERS FOR 100 YEARS IN CONNECTION WITH THE 2017 INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM.

A SMALLER RALLY OF HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HELD IN BARCELONA TODAY BY THOSE WHO SUPPORT CONTINUED UNITY WITH SPAIN.  BUT THERE WAS A LARGER RALLY IN MADRID.   BOTH PRO-UNITY RALLIES ORGANIZED BY THE CIUDADANOS (CITIZENS) PARTY.

THE LEADER OF CIUDADANOS, ALBERT RIVERA,   SPOKE AT THE MADRID RALLY DEMANDING A CRACKDOWN ON CATALONIA INCLUDING SUSPENSION OF ITS AUTONOMY AND REMOVAL OF ITS GOVERNMENT FROM OFFICE.

LIVE VIDEO FROM "RUPTLY".....LINK

Election  news Sunday.   Bolivia's longtime left-wing president Evo Morales forced into a runoff.   Results counted so far from the first round showing Morales at 45 percent.   He will face former president Carlos Mesa who got 38 percent of the vote in the second round.

In Switzerland  after today's election the populist People's Party projected the top party again but gains for two Green parties in the complex system where election results are translated into distribution of power in the country.

In Syria Kurdish forces leaving the town of Ras al-Ain today pulling back from an area that's part of the "safe zone" designated by Turkey.

The Turkish Defense Ministry says one soldier was killed and one wounded by Kurdish forces and that its military fired back in self-defense near the town of Tell Abyad.

A five day cease fire is in effect to facilitate a Kurdish withdrawal from the northeastern part of Syria near Turkey's border.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper says withdrawing US forces moving to Iraq to fight ISIS.  British special forces also pulling out of northeastern Syria.

The Syrian government's SANA News Agency reporting that American forces are transporting wives of ISIS members from a camp in northeastern Syria.    More from "Southfront"......LINK

Also in Syria Russian warplanes hitting terrorist targets in northwestern Syria Sunday with 13 reported killed.

A protest for freedom of  the press by Australia's private owned media companies and the government funded ABC.    The protest over legislation banning reporters from "sensitive information".   Earlier this year Australian federal police raided the offices of the Australian Broadcasting Commission in Sydney.   ABC was reporting on possible human rights violations by the Australian military deployed overseas.

The media also upset they could not report more openly about the criminal case against Cardinal George Pell when he was found guilty of child sex abuse charges.

London's "Daily Telegraph" reports......LINK

And the weather tonight stormy weather with at least one tornado reported touching down in the Dallas area.   CBS in Dallas reporting the story.....LINK

And for now that's the way it really is on this Sunday October 20th, 2019/