NEWS SUMMARY-INTELLIGENCE REPORT FRIDAY 10/4/2019 NEWSDUMP FRIDAY

(SERVICE WILL CONTINUE THROUGH 1 AM OR LATER SATURDAY MORNING EASTERN US TIME)

A  federal court case about a Louisiana law that regulates abortion clinics and the doctors who perform abortions will be heard by the US Supreme Court.

Its similar to a Texas law struck down by the court in recent years,    but there's concern that Justice Brett Kavanaugh may provide a decisive vote to uphold the Louisiana law.

More from "National Public Radio".....LINK

The man behind the knife attack that killed four and wounded one at the Paris police headquarters Thursday had converted to Islam in 2008.    He is said to be close to the Salafist movement in Islam.   

Police in France now conducting a terrorism investigation in the case.

The 45-year old attacker is said to have justified the terrorist attacks in Paris in 2015 on the Charlie Hebdo magazine office and a Jewish grocery store.

All this reported by France's BFM-TV.

The "Wall Street Journal" reporting Friday increasing concern from US officials that Turkey will launch a major military operation against Kurdish forces in Syria.

Turkish displeasure with US policy in Syria on full display in the pro-government media Friday noting that hundreds of truckloads of supplies have been flowing into the northern part of the country near the Turkish border.

Turkey and the US have conducted some joint patrols in northeastern Syria in recent weeks, but Turkey says it wants more US cooperation in establishing an effective "security zone" to prevent Kurdish forces it calls  "terrorists" from operating against Turkey.

The US supporting the Kurdish fighters and using them to implement US policy in Syria.

The Turkish media report notes that in spite of President Trump's remarks last year about pulling US forces out of Syria, the US is maintaining a military presence there.

More from Turkish pro-government media outlet "Yeni Safak".....LINK

"This has NOTHING to do with politics or a political campaign against the Bidens.   This does have to do with their corruption!"

In part that is one of President Trump's Friday morning tweets as the political drama over the "impeachment inquiry" continues in Washington.

The White House planning to ask House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for a full House vote to authorize an "impeachment inquiry" as was done in the cases of former presidents Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton.

Democrats in the House requesting more documents from the White House for their inquiry and the "New York Times" reporting that another whistle blower may come forward from within the intelligence community with a formal complaint about the phone call between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

That phone call discussing a corruption probe involving former Vice-President Joe Biden and his son Hunter in Ukraine.

PRESIDENT TRUMP  ORDERING A REDUCTION OF THE STAFF OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL.   THE NSC RECENTLY GOT A NEW LEADER WITH THE APPOINTMENT OF ROBERT O'BRIEN AT NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER.    THERE ARE CURRENTLY 310 STAFF MEMBERS AT THE NSC.

Unemployment at its lowest rate in 50 years.   The September rate was 3.5 percent, the lowest since December 1969.

Mainstream media reporting speaks of "cautiousness" in hiring but 136-thousand new jobs were added to the economy last month.

A judge in Scotland is being asked by anti-Brexit activists including members of Parliament what can be done if Prime Minister Boris Johnson opts to Leave the European Union without a deal.

A majority in the House of Commons passed legislation to force the government to ask the EU for an extension of talks if no deal is approved by Parliament as of October 19th.

The petitioners broaching various notions including a letter on his behalf extending the negotiations with the EU or fines and imprisonment of the Prime Minister.

Late word in the case is that the government has submitted papers in the Scottish court saying a letter to ask for extension of the October 31st deadline will be sent to the EU if there is no "deal".

White arguments will be heard in the Scottish court this week and next, the talks with the European Union still underway with Johnson working towards a "deal".

Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage's estimation of the situation is that Johnson's latest offer to the EU:

"resembles an attempt to put lipstick on a pig"

and is a sellout to the EU and not real Brexit.   Farage's full tweet.....LINK

The Chinese government authorities in Hong Kong imposing a face-mask ban set to take effect Saturday.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam made the announcement Friday.

Lam saying that the protests in Hong Kong are:

"...destroying the city"

Demonstrators taking to the streets promising to defy the ban and urging others to do so.   One 14-year old protester was shot in the leg.

ALSO WORD FROM HONG KONG THAT THE METRO SYSTEM WILL BE CLOSED ALL DAY SATURDAY WITH SHOPPING MALLS AND SUPERMARKETS CLOSING DOWN AS WELL.

Iraq's top Shia Muslim cleric urging protesters and authorities to refrain from using violence.

A sermon on Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani's behalf read out in the city of Kerbala Friday.

Sistani saying that the government and elected officials have not answered the demands of the people to fight corruption in the country.

At least 60-now reported killed and hundreds more injured as protesters have taken to the streets across Iraq this week and the protests continued Friday.

The Iraqi military saying that unidentified snipers operating in Baghdad have killed four including two police officers.

The government in Iraq says it wants to meet with leaders of the protest and answer their concerns.

Meanwhile, the message from a senior Iranian cleric is that the United States and Israel were fomenting the unrest in Iraq to prevent pilgrims from making a pilgrimage to Kerbala.

Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova says the Iranian ambassador has been summoned over the arrest of Russian journalist Yulia Yuzik.

The Iranians arrested Yuzik alleging she was a spy for Israel.    They intend to put her on trial Saturday with the possibility of ten years in prison.

More from Russia's "Sputnik"......LINK   

Also from Iran word that a couple held for three months are now free.

Jolie King, an Australian-British dual citizen, and her fiance Mark Firkin on their way home with all charges dropped.

Microsoft is saying that Iranian hackers are getting involved in the 2020 presidential campaign and have targeted several candidate websites.

Democrat Presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont released from a Las Vegas hospital Friday.   His campaign confirming that Sanders had a heart attack Tuesday.   More from  "The Guardian".....LINK

There's a two month state of emergency in Ecuador following the withdrawal of subsidies that lowered the cost of fuel in the country.

Withdrawal of the subsidies led to street protests in the country.  The protests continued Friday in the capital city of Quito and in the port city of Guayaquil with makeshift barricades set up and tires being set on fire.

350 arrests reported in the country.

Ecuador's President Lenin Moreno forced to back away from the lower fuel prices in order to get a loan from the International Monetary Fund.

Moreno is saying he will not "negotiate with criminals".

MASS PROTESTS ON THE STREETS OF HAITI FRIDAY DEMANDING THE RESIGNATION OF PRESIDENT JOVENEL MOISE.    PROTESTERS VOWING TO STAY ON THE STREETS UNTIL MOISE GOES DECRYING CORRUPTION, INFLATION AND SHORTAGES OF BASIC GOODS.

Image enhancement from Saudi Arabia with the announcement Friday that women will now be allowed to serve in that country's armed forces.    The latest PR move comes on the week of the anniversary of last year's murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.

And the price of gasoline easing back down to 249.9 a gallon here in the York, PA area.    That's the price at the time of the attack on Saudi oil facilities September 14th.   Saudi Arabia says its got the production levels back up.


And that's the way it really is for Newsdump Friday October 4th, 2019.