NEWS SUMMARY-INTELLIGENCE REPORT THURSDAY 10/24/2019

(LIMITED SERVICE WHEN ABLE THROUGH LATE THURSDAY)

The "New York Times" is reporting that the Justice Department is conducting a criminal investigation into how the probe of alleged Russian collusion involving President Trump got started.

Prosecutor John Durham is in charge and he will have the ability to impanel a grand jury and file criminal charges should violations of the law be found.

You can read what the "New York Post" is saying about the story......LINK

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he wants a General Election on December 12th.   Johnson anticipating a Brexit extension from the European Union tomorrow which causes him to want the election.

The opposition Labor Party will have to agree as it will take a two-third's majority of the House of Commons to call an election.

Johnson linking the election to giving Parliament more time to consider his "Great New Deal" on Brexit.

Reacting to the news on his radio show, Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage said:

"So Boris having to admit we're not leaving and I think he thought 'Well I've got to do something to try and divert attention away' so he's calling for a General Election"

You can watch the whole "Nigel Farage Show" for today here......LINK

Lebanese President Michel Aoun spoke to his country Thursday as protests against corruption and poor economic conditions in the country continued into an eighth day.

Aoun expressing a willingness to talk to protesters but not making any concrete changes including replacing members of the country's cabinet.

Banks in the country plan to remain closed tomorrow out of fear over the security situation.

With the Iranian backed Hezbollah seen as a major force behind Lebanon's government there is room to speculate about anti-Iran nations like Saudi Arabia, Israel and the United States being involved in recent developments in Lebanon.

Tightening of sanctions against Hezbollah in recent years are one contributing factor to the country's economic challenges.

Offering commentary and analysis on the situation is contributor David Rosenberg in Israel's "Haaretz".......LINK

Israel's Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi sees Israel's main security challenge lying on its northern border with Lebanon.

More from Israel's "Ynet".....LINK

FIGHTING REPORTED IN SYRIA TODAY WITH THE KURDS SAYING THE TURKS ARE VIOLATING THE CEASE-FIRE AGREED TO BY RUSSIA AND TURKEY.

'SOUTHFRONT' REPORTING TURKISH BACKED MILITANTS IN COMBAT WITH SYRIAN ARMY FORCES IN NORTHEASTERN SYRIA AND THE KURDS FIGHTING BACK REPORTEDLY INJURING TURKISH SOLDIERS.

OVERALL THOUGH THE CEASE-FIRE IS SAID TO BE HOLDING.

THE SYRIAN ARMY REPORTED LAUNCHING A GROUND OFFENSIVE IN NORTHWESTERN SYRIA AFTER DAYS OF AIRSTRIKES IN THE REGION BY RUSSIAN AND SYRIAN AIRCRAFT.

'SOUTHFRONT' IS FOLLOWING THE MILITARY ACTION IN SYRIA AND OTHER DEFENSE RELATED NEWS.....LINK

An unnamed Pentagon official telling "Newsweek" that the United States is planning to deploy as many as 30 Abrams battle tanks to Syria to secure the oil fields east of the Euphrates River.

The total number of US troops involved could be as many as 500.

Police in the UK say that the 39 people found dead yesterday in a trailer were all Chinese nationals.

Police found the bodies in the trailer, whose trip had originated  in Bulgaria, at an industrial park in Essex early yesterday morning.    The driver being held on suspicion of murder.

British authorities have begun the process of removing the bodies.

Bolivia's left-wing President Evo Morales claiming a victory in last Sunday's presidential election with a vote count that now shows him at 46.83 percent of the vote and his main opponent former President Carlos Mesa at 36.7 percent.     The ten percent plus margin is what is legally necessary for Morales to be elected outright in the first round.

The opposition has been crying foul and protesting over what they suspect is a rigged vote count to give Morales the victory.    The vote count is at 98 percent of the total.

Major League Baseball targeting an umpire for tweeting about the notion of a civil war over the political drama in Washington.

Rob Drake's tweet has been deleted and he has deactivated his account.    

Later in the day Drake apologized for his comments.

In the mix of mainstream media spin is the BBC......LINK

THERE WERE CLASHES BETWEEN POLICE AND PROTESTERS IN CHILE TODAY IN BOTH THE CAPITAL SANTIAGO AND THE SECOND CITY VALPARAISO.

PROTESTERS SAYING REFORMS OFFERED BY THE GOVERNMENT ARE NOT ENOUGH.

Former NSA contractor Edward Snowden who leaked information about US government surveillance methods says he's now "trapped in Russia".

Snowden, who is facing charges of violating the Espionage Act in the United States, was interviewed on the "Joe Rogan Experience" podcast.

Snowden fled from prosecution in the US in 2013 and ended up being granted asylum in Russia.

Russia's Tass News Agency has more on this story......LINK 

The French Minister of State for the Interior, Laurent Nunez, says the authorities are tracking nine thousand people suspected of "radicalization" in the country and that 27 people working at police headquarters in Paris have been reported for "radicalization".

Nunez was interviewed Wednesday by BFM-TV.

Nunez admitting that there was an error because the troubling behavior of Michael Harpon, perpretrator of the terrorist attack at the police headquarters in Paris earlier this month, was known.

Four stabbed to death and one wounded in the October 3rd attack by Harpon, who was an adherent of Salafist Islam.

Fulfilling a political promise, Spain's Socialist Party caretaker goverment is acting days before the November 10th election to remove the remains of Spain's longtime ruler, Generalissimo Francisco Franco.

The remains being moved from a large mausoleum in the Madrid area to a less auspicious place by helicopter.

Live video is here......LINK

Wildfires raging in northern and southern California with some 40-thousand ordered to evacuate in Los Angeles County.

And for now that's the way it really is for Thursday October 24th, 2019.