NEWS SUMMARY-INTELLIGENCE REPORT MONDAY 12/23/2019   NEWSDUMP CHRISTMAS WEEK

(LIMITED SERVICE WHEN ABLE THROUGH LATE MONDAY)

A court in Saudi Arabia handing down five death sentences in connection with the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on October 2nd, 2017.

Khashoggi, a critic of the Saudi government, wrote articles for the "Washington Post".

A Saudi prosecutor called the killing a "rogue operation" and 11 people were put on trial over the killing but recorded evidence from Turkish authorities and other intelligence information points to involvement at the highest level of Saudi government, the country's de-facto ruler,  Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

None of the 11 tried were named by the Saudis and a UN expert has called for the Crown Prince to be investigated in connection with the murder.

It was the most downloaded social app in the US last week but the "New York Times" reports that ToTok is a spying tool for the United Arab Emirates.

ToTok according to the "Times" is actually a covert operation of a company called DarkMatter.   DarkMatter is based at Abu Dhabi in the Emirates and is believed to have hired former Israeli intelligence officers for large salaries.

More on this from "Haaretz" in Israel......LINK

The CEO of Boeing, Dennis Muilenberg, fired today.   Muilenberg replaced with Chairman of the Board Dennis Calhoun.

The company struggling amidst a crisis involving its Boeing 737 Max aircraft, grounded around the world following two deadly plane crashes.

In Argentina emergency economic measures announced by the country's new left wing government this evening.

Tax hikes imposed on foreign currency purchases, agricultural exports and car sales.

Those measures impacting the middle and upper classes.     The government of the new President Alberto Fernandez also handing out a 160 dollar bonus to pensioners and freezing utility rates for six months.

Riot police clashing with protesters at the Gare de Lyon metro station in Paris today as the strike and protests against President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform plan continue.

Strikers on France's railroads easing their job action so special rail traffic can flow before Christmas including special travel arrangements for children.

Talks between the government and unions set for January 7th.

Video of today's metro station protest from "LCI" in France......LINK

From the political drama in Washington as Democrats demand an impeachment trial with witnesses the notion again mentioned by Democrat Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, the Republican Senate Majority Leader also had something to say, too.

Mitch McConnell saying that he hasn't ruled out the notion of witnesses also noting there's an impasse and urging everyone "to enjoy the holidays".

In a tweet this evening, President Trump said that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is on her way to losing the Speakership in next year's elections and that she is trying to "take over the Senate" with her refusal to pass along the articles of impeachment:

LINK TO PRESIDENT TRUMP TWEET 513 PM EASTERN US 12/23/2019

A member of the US military killed in action in northern Afghanistan Monday.   The Taliban taking responsibility for the killing.  The Pentagon announcing the death and withholding the name until family are notified.      20 members of the US military killed in action this year in Afghanistan.

IN SYRIA THE GOVERNMENT FORCES CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS IN THEIR OFFENSIVE IN SOUTHERN IDLIB ADVANCING WESTWARD TOWARDS THE KEY M5 HIGHWAY.      JIHADIST FORCES ARE SAID TO BE TRYING TO NEGOTIATE THE GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF THE CITY OF MAARAT AL NUMAN.

Iran is prepared to take a fifth step in moving away from the JCPOA nuclear agreement of 2015 unless the United Kingdom, France and Germany take steps to uphold their commitments to maintain trade with Iran guaranteed under the agreement.

President Trump has withdrawn the US from the JCPOA and imposed steadily increasing sanctions on Iran.

The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani delivered the warning on Sunday.

Iran's "Press TV' has more.....LINK

The Libyan National Army, which controls the eastern part of the country, threatening to shoot down aircraft carrying military supplies to the Government of National Accord based in Tripoli.

The LNA says it monitored an aircraft that flew from Istanbul to Libya carrying military equipment.

Turkey and the LNA have signed a military cooperation agreement.

Details on this story from Iran's "Press TV"......LINK

And the Christmas message of Her Majesty The Queen is leaking out 48 hours before its broadcast to the world on the afternoon of Christmas Day.

She says the past year has been "quite bumpy".      The BBC offers its interpretation......LINK

And for now that's the way it really is Monday December 23rd, 2019.