NEWS SUMMARY AND INTELLIGENCE REPORT TUESDAY 4/23-WEDNESDAY 4/24/2019

(WORK IN PROGRESS, MORE EDITING, ADDITIONS UPDATES ETC. THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING)






359 now dead in Sunday's suicide bombing terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka.     The Islamic State claiming responsibility through its media portal.  

Police in Sri Lanka investigating the local Islamic group NTJ with 40 suspects arrested but one of those in custody is reported to be a Syrian national.

The Minister of Mass Media and State Minister of Defense in Sri Lanka's government said Tuesday that the NTJ group launched the attacks in response to the attacks on mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand last month.

Ruwan Wijewardene posted on Twitter that:

"Initial investigations reveal Easter Sunday attacks were by local extremists in response to the New Zealand Christchurch mosque attack"

Wijewardene also said this in parliament.

Mass funerals underway Tuesday for victims of the terrorist attacks.


In Syria, another shelling attack in the north.   This time a town in Latakia province hit by jihadist forces attacking in violation of a deconfliction zone in the region.

In Libya, the eastern forces of the Libyan National Army vow to step up their efforts to take the capital city of Tripoli from the Government of National Accord backed by the United Nations.

Claims and counterclaims amidst continuing fighting in Libya that has killed several hundred people in the recent weeks.

President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner is talking about the "Deal of the Century" peace plan for Israel and the Palestinians set to be unveiled in June.

Kushner, who's been a key player in the drafting of the plan, says its "different" from past plans.

He also said the notion of a two-state solution, one Jewish state next to one Palestinian state, is an "old talking point".

Voters in Egypt approving constitutional amendments that could allow President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi to remain in power until 2030.    Sissi led the overthrow of the Islamist president in 2013 and has been in power since then.

88.83 percent of voters supported the amendments with 44.33 percent of voters turning out in a three-day national referendum held from Saturday through Monday.

Election Day Tuesday in Canada's smallest province, Prince Edward Island.   The results 12 seats for the Conservatives, 8 for the Greens and six for the Liberals with one seat set for a by-election in the next three months because of the sudden death of the Green candidate for that seat.   Its a Conservative minority government in the maritime province of Canada.

More on the story from the CBC.....HERE

The talks moving forward between Prime Minister Theresa May's government and the opposition Labor Party Tuesday.    The objective is an agreement to push Mrs. May's treaty with the European Union through.

Some tough differences remain to be overcome according to media reports.

May calls it Brexit, leaving the European Union, but opponents say it does not reflect the will of the majority of voters who opted for Leave in the 2016 referendum.   Others say it is "treason" with a number of Conservative Party MP's and leaders calling on Mrs. May to resign.   That's something May has said she will do if her plan is approved.

It appears her objective is to get the deal through by May 22nd to shut down the European Parliament elections set for May 23rd where her party is set to suffer a major defeat.

In nine days local government elections are likely to give the Conservative Party a jolt as it is.

In a sign that Prime Minister May does indeed plan to wrap up her agreement with the European Union by Wednesday May 22nd, an announcement Tuesday that President Trump will be in the UK for a state visit.

Mr. Trump visiting the UK Monday June 3rd to Wednesday June 5th is the word from Buckingham Palace.   Trump has spoken in favor of a full exit from the European Union saying the United States stands ready to conclude a good trade deal if the UK fully exits the EU.

The May "Brexit" plan would limit the ability of the UK to freely and fully trade with the United States and only a much smaller and limited deal would be possible during a Trump visit if May's plan goes through.

From Hong Kong, four pro-democracy activists given sentences of up to 16 months in prison for participating in protests.

Four others were given suspended sentences and one had sentencing deferred until June.

The nine found guilty for being part of the "Umbrella Movement" protests of 2014,

North Korea's ruler Kim Jong-un has arrvied in Russia by train for a Thursday meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.    Kim meeting with Putin in the far east of  Russia on an island in the city of Vladivostok.

One killed and four injured in three separate attacks on white farmers in South Africa Sunday and Monday.

More at this link from TR.NEWS......HERE

A woman said to have suffered a "severe brain injury" in a traffic accident  in 1991 is making what appears to be a miraculous recovery.

Munira Abdulla regained consciousness in a German hospital last year after being in a coma for 27 years.    Her son Omar Webair said this to "The National" newspaper in the United Arab Emirates:

"The reason I shared her story is to tell people not to lose hope on their loved ones, don't consider them dead when they are in such a state"

The BBC published a story about the matter.....LINK


And that's the way it really is on this Wednesday morning April 24th, 2019