NEWS SUMMARY-INTELLIGENCE REPORT THURSDAY 1/23/2020

(LIMITED SERVICE WHEN ABLE THROUGH LATE THURSDAY)

In Iraq tomorrow (Friday) mass marches and rallies planned in opposition to the US military presence in the country.

Millions expected to heed the call of influential Shia cleric Moqtada Al-Sadr who called for a "Million Man March" following the US assassination of Iranian General Qassam Soleimani and an Iraqi Shia militia leader in Baghdad earlier this month.

"a denial of justice"

The words of a spokeswoman for the British Home Office commenting on US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's refusal to agree to an extradition request involving the wife of a US diplomat.

Anne Sacoolas is charged with causing the death of  teenager Harry Dunn last August as he rode a motorcycle.     

The US says that Sacoolas has diplomatic immunity in the case.

Airports and train stations ordered shut down in a second Chinese city some 40 miles from Wuhan (Huanggang) to prevent spread of the coronavirus that has led to at least 617 cases, mostly in China.

A third city near Wuhan (Ezhou) also reported shutting down public transportation according to the Russian Tass News Agency.

26 are reported dead because of the virus as of Friday morning China time.   Total confirmed cases of the virus reported to be 849 in China.    13 confirmed cases outside the country.   Also inside China more than one thousand suspected cases.

The lockdown of Huanggang began at Midnight local time, 11 am Eastern US time today.

The BBC published a live blog on the story of the virus Thursday.....LINK      The BBC's latest story.......LINK   Tass News Agency reports the 26th death in China in a province bordering Russia and the latest figure of 849 cases........LINK

The International Court of Justice issuing an emergency order today directing the nation of Myanmar (formerly Burma) to take:

"all measures within its power"

to prevent genocide against its Rohingya Muslim minority.

The court heard arguments last month with the de-facto leader of Myanmar,  Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, telling the court violence in her country is caused by Rohingya terrorist attacks on the country's Buddhist majority.

DAY TWO OF THE DEMOCRATS OPENING ARGUMENTS FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP'S REMOVAL FROM OFFICE AT THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL TODAY.     CONGRESSMAN ADAM SCHIFF TELLING THE SENATORS WHO ARE THE JURY THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP COULD 'MAKE A LOT OF MISCHIEF' IF HE IS NOT FOUND GUILTY.

Jihadist opposition forces in Syria reported to have killed some 40 Syrian soldiers in attacks in Idlib overnight.

The Russian mission in Syria says both sides are taking casualties.

More from "Southfront".......LINK

In a December 26th tweet, President Trump said that Russia, Syria and Iran were planning a "massacre" of civilians in Idlib.

As we move towards Newsdump Friday talk of new restrictions on some foreign nationals entering the US.

One restriction would involve an attempt to prevent mothers entering the United States so that their babies would be born here that would give the children US passports.

And President Trump says additional countries will be added to the list of nations whose citizens are limited when it comes to entry to the US.   Current countries on the list include North Korea, Syria, Iran and Venezuela.     Other countries that may join the list include Belarus, Myanmar, Nigeria and Tanzania.

Also in Washington action expected today to roll back wetlands regulations that have hampered America's farming industry.

Three Americans died fighting bushfires in Australia when their C-130 Hercules water bomber crashed in the state of New South Wales.

More from ABC in Australia........LINK

In Israel today a World Holocaust Forum on the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland.

World leaders on hand with the United States represented by Vice-President Mike Pence.   Other leaders including the King of Spain, the President of Greece, French President Emmanuel Macron and the Russian President Vladimir Putin.

A Saudi delegation in Israel with a cleric leading prayers for the Auschwitz victims.

Russian President Vladimir Putin meeting with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and joined by the parents of an Israeli woman currently jailed on drug charges in Russia.

The case of Naama Issachar very high on Israel's agenda and Putin offering reassurance to her parents at the meeting.

The Trump Administration moving to roll out its "Deal of the Century" peace plan inviting Israel's top political leaders to the White House to hear about it.

The invitation to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White Party leader Benny Gantz comes as Israel moves towards its third election in less than a year on March 2nd.

Both men invited to the White House next Tuesday.

"Israel National News" has more.......LINK

That's the way it really is Thursday January 23rd, 2020.