NEWS SUMMARY-INTELLIGENCE REPORT FRIDAY 1/31/2020  NEWSDUMP FRIDAY

(SERVICE WHEN ABLE THROUGH LATE FRIDAY INTO EARLY SATURDAY)

FOR THE FOURTH TIME IN RECENT WEEKS WE HAVE AN UPWARDS REVISION OF THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS INJURED IN THE IRANIAN MISSILE STRIKE AT THE AL-ASAD AIR BASE IN IRAQ ON JANUARY 8TH.

FIRST THE NUMBER WAS 11, THEN IT WAS 34 AND THEN IT WAS 50.

BUT  NOW THE NUMBER IS 64 WITH 25 STILL UNDERGOING TREATEMENT IN GERMANY AND THE UNITED STATES FOR TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES (TBI).

GENERAL MARK MILLEY, CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, GIVING THE NEW FIGURE AT THE PENTAGON...NEW YORK POST STORY

The United States lifting sanctions against a unit of the Chinese tanker company COSCO.     The sanctions imposed on the company last September 25th for transporting Iranian oil.

THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL OF PRESIDENT TRUMP ROLLING FORWARD ON NEWSDUMP FRIDAY WITH A VOTE TO NOT CALL ANY WITNESSES AS SOUGHT BY DEMOCRATS.

NO IMMEDIATE VOTE TONIGHT ON THE PRESIDENT'S GUILT WITH THAT DECISION NOW SET FOR WEDNESDAY.

A WOMAN WHO FIGURED PROMINENTLY IN THE HOUSE IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY IS RETIRING FROM THE FOREIGN SERVICE.    MARIE YOVANOVITCH  IS THE FORMER US AMBASSADOR TO UKRAINE.......NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO STORY

The United States moving to restrict immigration from six nations today.

Four African nations on the list Nigeria, Eritrea, Sudan and Tanzania.   Also the Central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan along with the South Asian nation of Myanmar (previously called Burma).

Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said that the countries have failed to meet US standards for security and information sharing.

The US is willing to work with those countries to get them off the list.

People from those nations will still be able to visit the US as tourists.

US OFFICIALS BELIEVE THEY HAVE KILLED A TERRORIST LEADER IN YEMEN WHO LEADS A BRANCH OF AL QAEDA.   THREE SOURCES OFFERING THIS INFORMATION TO THE NEW YORK TIMES.

THE SOURCES SAY AN OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT WILL NOT BE MAKE UNTIL THERE IS CONFIRMATION THAT QASSIM AL RIMI OF AL QAEDA IN THE ARABIAN PENINSULA  IS DEAD FOLLOWING AN ATTACK BY THE US EARLIER THIS MONTH.

MORE ON THIS FROM 'THE NATIONAL' IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES.....LINK

THREE MORTARS FIRED INTO SOUTHERN ISRAEL FRIDAY AFTERNOON FROM GAZA WITH ONE INTERCEPTED BY THE IRON DOME DEFENSE SYSTEM.    TODAY'S INCIDENT FOLLOWS THE FIRING OF THREE ROCKETS THURSDAY NIGHT FROM GAZA WITH TWO OF THOSE INTERCEPTED.

EARLY SATURDAY MORNING ISRAEL LAUNCHED AIRSTRIKES INTO GAZA IN RESPONSE TO THE ATTACKS.

The FBI probing whether an Israeli company, NSO Group, is involved in hacking of individuals and intelligence gathering on governments.    

The FBI ramping up its interviews after Facebook filed suit against NSO in October accusing the company of being involved in the hacking of 1,400 hundred WhatsApp users.

The story as reported by Reuters......LINK

The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressing his anger over the "betrayal" of Arab nations in the face of President Trump's "Deal of the Century" peace plan.     There has been little or no criticism of the plan from Arab countries.  

(COMMENT)

Not mentioned in this week's announcement of the plan are the billions of dollars of Gulf Arab investment in the plan.

Also the ratcheting up of conflict between Sunni Muslim Arabs and Shia Muslim Iran also distracts from any concern Arab countries might otherwise have had for the Palestinians.

This story from "Bloomberg"on that matter....LINK

Also on Mr. Erdgoan's radar and he has discussed the issue with President Trump earlier this week is the Syrian military offensive in Idlib.  Some of the jihadist groups fighting the Syrian government directly supported by Turkey.

Erdogan saying Turkey is willing to use military force to stop the Syrian military which is operating with Russian air support.

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

The Syrian military is reporting progress as it continues to advance in the southern Idlib countryside.

More from the government controlled Syrian Arab News Agency.....LINK

The United States has declared a public health emergency over the coronavirus.

Foreign nationals who have visited China in the last two weeks will be denied entry into the US.

From China Saturday morning, Friday evening US time some 259 deaths reports with 11,700 cases of the coronavirus.

Pilots and flight attendants for US airlines filing a lawsuit to halt flights to China because of the coronavirus.

Airlines from other nations like Air France and British Airways have halted flights to and from China.

Today Pakistan announced a halt of all flights to and from China.  Turkish Airlines today announced a suspension of flights to and from China.  Kenya Airways also announcing a suspension of its China flights.

The Allied Pilots Association (APA) filing the lawsuit in Texas against American Airlines.....NEWS STORY 'AL JAZEERA'

In France one of a group of 180 flown back to the country from China and being quarantined has contracted the virus.   That announcement from France's Health Minister Agnes Buzyn.

Russia announcing its first two cases of the coronavirus today.  Both of them involve Chinese citizens.

Former Coast Guard officer Christopher Hasson, tagged as a "domestic terrorist" by federal prosecutors, sent to prison for 13 years.    Hasson pled guilty to firearms and drug charges.

The BBC has more on this story from its perspective.......LINK

                       (COMMENTING ON BREXIT)

PLENTY OF HYPE AND HOOPLA OVER 'BREXIT' TODAY AS BORIS JOHNSON'S PLAN CRITICIZED FOR BEING TOO LITTLE BY BREXIT ADVOCATES LIKE NIGEL FARAGE GOES INTO FORCE AT  11 PM LOCAL TIME, 6 PM EASTERN US TIME.

THE UK WILL GET A LITTLE INDEPENDENCE FROM THE EU FOR NOW BUT MUCH MORE WILL NEED TO BE ACCOMPLISHED AT A NEGOTIATING TABLE FOR A FULL BREAK LIKE CONTROL OF FISHERIES.

PRESIDENT TRUMP'S CALL  FOR ACTIVISTS LIKE NIGEL FARAGE TO 'WORK WITH BORIS JOHNSON' ENABLED HIS GENERAL ELECTION VICTORY LAST MONTH AND THE MOMENT BEING FETED TODAY.   BUT THIS KIND OF BREXIT WILL ONLY LEAD TO LIMITED BENEFITS FOR THE UNITED STATES IN ANY TRADE DEAL NEGOTIATED WITH THE UK LATER THIS YEAR.

MEANWHILE BLOOMBERG NEWS COMMENTS ON MR. JOHNSON'S PLAN TO 'KILL BREXIT'.......LINK

The Democratic National Committee has changed the rules for upcoming debates among its presidential candidates opening the door for billionaire and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg to be included.

The new rules involve a higher polling threshold but ditch donor requirements.

The campaign of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders quick to react with campaign manager Faiz Shakir saying:    "DNC changing the rules to benefit a billionaire".....BREITBART NEWS STORY

Former Congressman John Delaney of Maryland dropping out of the race for the Democratic Presidential nomination.    Now there are 11  candidates left in the contest.

THE UNITED STATES MILITARY WILL BE ALLOWED TO USE LANDMINES AGAIN.   A RESTRICTION ON THEIR USE BEING LIFTED IN LIGHT OF NEW "SMART" TECHNOLOGY.

THE STORY AS REPORTED BY "DEUTSCHE WELLE" IN GERMANY...LINK

The group Federation of American Scientists says that the United States has deployed low yield nuclear warheads aboard a ballistic missile submarine.    The group posted a message saying in part that the "USS Tennessee" patrolled around a month ago with one for two of the new nuclear warheads.

The move a response to Russian deployment of similar low yield nuclear warheads.    More from National Public Radio......LINK

Best-selling author Mary Higgins Clark is dead at the age of 92.   She was dubbed the "Queen of Suspense.....NEW YORK POST STORY

In South Africa today rolling blackouts from the state-owned power company Eskom.   The blackouts started in some cases on Thursday night.     The company plans to continue the power cuts until Monday morning at 6 am local time...BNN BLOOMBERG NEWS STORY

And looking ahead to the big game, the pre-game portion on Fox Sunday afternoon will include an interview with President Trump conducted by Sean Hannity.


That's the way it really is Friday January 31st, 2020 Newsdump Friday.