NEWS SUMMARY-INTELLIGENCE REPORT TUESDAY 5/7-WEDNESDAY 5/8/2019

(WORK IN PROGRESS, UPDATES, EDITING AND ADDITIONS POSSIBLE THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING)

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov have agreed to meet again next week in Sochi, Russia following their meeting in Helsinki, Finland.   The meeting set for next Tuesday with Russian media suggesting that President Vladimir Putin may also meet with Pompeo.

Pompeo arrived in Baghdad for an unannounced visit late Tuesday.

Pompeo meeting with top Iraqi officials amidst a US warning to Iran based on Israeli intelligence reports, citing an Iranian threat to US interests.

The message to the media is that Pompeo was assuring the Iraqi government of US support for Iraqi sovereignty.    Pompeo saying he got assurances of Iraqi protection of US troops and facilities in Iraq.

A US carrier strike group and a US bomber group are being moved into the Persian Gulf region as part of the warning.

Iran made official Wednesday what it was already reported to be doing in recent days.   Iranian President Hassan Rouhani informed Russia, China and other nations still involved in the 2015 JCPOA nuclear agreement (France, Germany, United Kingdom) that Iran is pulling out of parts of the deal immediately and will pull out of other parts in 60 days.

The Iranians pulling back from "some commitments" under the deal that the United States has already pulled out of completely.    

Enriched uranium will no longer be shipped out of the country   Instead Iran will sell surplus enriched uranium and heavy water.

President Rouhani said that uranium enrichment will again be resumed and that it will develop the heavy water reactor at Arak unless the five nations still involved in JCPOA meet financial and oil commitments with Iran in violation of US sanctions.

Rouhani also said there would be a "very decisive reaction" if Iran ended up being referred to the United Nations Security Council.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacting Wednesday saying:

"Israel won't let Iran get nuclear weapons"

More on this from Israel National News.....LINK

The Syrian Army repelling counterattacks from jihadists in northern Hama Province on the border with Idlib.    The Syrians took several towns and villages in the area with air support from Russian and Syrian air forces earlier this week.

Late word Wednesday is that Syrian forces are trying to advance deeper into jihadist held territory in northern Hama and that Russian airstrikes are underway in northeastern Latakia province.

One dead, eight wounded, two suspects in custody following a shooting at a charter school in suburban Denver.

The Douglas County Sheriff says one suspect is an adult and the other a juvenile.

The 18 year old adult suspect identified in media reports that quote law enforcement sources as Devon Erickson.

A key aide to British Prime Minister Theresa May admitting that the country will participate in the European Parliament elections.    David Lidington says an agreement on Brexit is not possible as talks with the Labor Party continue.     Lidington says May "deeply regrets" the lace of agreement and hopes one can be reached by the latest deadline extension of June 30th.

Theresa May meeting with the head of the Conservative Party's 1922 Committee Graham Brady Tuesday as the committee seeks clarification of May's stated position that she will resign after her proposal for Brexit is approved by Parliament.

The controversial plan, called "fake", a "sellout" and even "treason", has triggered deep division within the Conservative Party with local associations of the party invoking a rule for a non-biding vote of confidence in her leadership on June 15th.

The order by Turkey's electoral board for a new mayoral election in the country's largest city, Istanbul, triggered protests Monday night with some protesters beating on pots and pans.

The opposition CHP, a secularist party, said the decision was a political one forced by the ruling AKP, an Islamist party.

The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed Tuesday that the election was influenced by organized crime and corruption.

The Mayor elected in the March 31st vote with a margin of just under 14-thousand votes and now stripped of his duties,  Ekrem Imanoglu, called the decision "treacherous".    The European Parliament criticized the decision, saying it takes away the credibility of Turkish election.

The new election set for June 23rd.   Supporters of the CHP opposition concerned the new election will be rigged.

Venezuela says security forces are taking control of all the country's airports.

The move apparently meant to control who enters or leaves the country.


Here in the USA a federal magistrate judge has ruled that Coast Guard officer Christopher Hasson could be released from jail to house arrest.   Maryland US Magistrate Judge Charles Day noted that Hasson is not charged with any terrorist offenses.

The Justice Department is appealing the judge's ruling and Hasson remains in jail.   He was arrested on charges of using firearms and drugs improperly.    Federal prosecutors seeking to keep him behind bars assert that Hasson is a domestic terrorist who had a hit list of individuals in politics and the media.

The Taliban taking responsibility for a bombing near a Sufi Muslim temple in Lahore, Pakistan Wednesday.   Five dead and 24 wounded in the blast.

A Christian woman from Pakistan, who's death sentence conviction for blasphemy was overturned by that country's Supreme Court last year, has left the country for Canada.

Pakistani officials have confirmed that Asia Bibi left the country, but they did not disclose where she went.   Her lawyer revealed her arrival in Canada.    She was kept at a secret location for her safety while plans were made for her to leave the country amidst death threats.

Samoan rugby player Israel Folau found guilty by Rugby Australia for violating its code of conduct.

Folau posted on social media that "hell awaits" homosexuals.

The three member panel that ruled him guilty will now decide on  punishment.

And that's the way it really is on this Wednesday morning May 8th, 2019.