NEWS SUMMARY-INTELLIGENCE REPORT WEDNESDAY 1/29/2020

(LIMITED SERVICE WHEN ABLE THROUGH LATE WEDNESDAY)

A corruption investigation launched in Ukraine involving former President Barack Obama, former Vice-President Joe Biden and former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.

That's the word from a Ukrainian legislator via social media....TASS NEWS STORY

At the impeachment trial in Washington Presidential defense attorney Jay Sekulow naming former Vice-President Biden, his son Hunter along with House Impeachment Manager Congressman Adam Schiff and "the whistleblower" (Eric Ciaramella) as the witnesses he would like to see if the Senate votes on allowing them in the trial.

A vote on allowing witnesses expected to materialize on Newsdump Friday with plenty of mainstream media speculation about its outcome.    Democrats seeking witnesses most notably former National Security Adviser John Bolton.

IN SYRIA'S IDLIB THE STRATEGIC TOWN OF MAARAT AL-NUMAN ON THE KEY M5 HIGHWAY NOW IN THE HANDS OF SYRIAN GOVERNMENT FORCES.   THE GOVERNMENT OFFENSIVE IN IDLIB MOVING FORWARD AFTER ATTACKS BY JIHADIST OPPOSITION FORCES SLOWED IT DOWN.

THE SYRIAN MILITARY ALSO ADVANCING WEST OF ALEPPO TRYING TO CLEAR AN AREA FROM WHICH JIHADISTS HAVE LAUNCHED ATTACKS ON CIVILIAN AREAS OF THE CITY.

THE US STATE DEPARTMENT IS SUPPORTING TERRORISTS IN SYRIA WHO ARE FIGHTING AGAINST THE ASSAD GOVERNMENT INCLUDING AL QAEDA.

THAT'S PART OF THE MESSAGE TODAY FROM IGOR KONASHENKOV, SPOKESMAN FOR RUSSIA'S DEFENSE MINISTRY.

KONASHENKOV SAYS THAT US SECRETARY OF STATE MIKE POMPEO IS CALLING THE JIHADISTS WHO ARE TARGETED BY THE RUSSIAN AND SYRIAN AIR FORCES AS INNOCENT PEACEFUL CIVILIANS.

MORE FROM RUSSIA'S TASS NEWS AGENCY.......LINK

The European Parliament voting to approve the Brexit plan today.   The UK moving out of the EU Friday night to the extent that the plan allows.

Today's parliament vote the last one for Brexit advocate and Brexit Party leader Member of European Parliament Nigel Farage.  Farage held a news conference in Brussels today.

Farage talked about the possibility of other nations leaving the EU at some point in the future and he also noted that the UK needs to regain control over matters like its fishing waters......FULL NEWS CONFERENCE VIDEO NIGEL FARAGE

Farage offered his final speech to the European Parliament opposing political union and saying the UK should have a relationship based on friendship instead of control from a central power and he waved the Union Jack at the end of it.....FARAGE FINAL SPEECH TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

Farage says his future will involve speaking and broadcasting, writing etc. with frequent trips to the United States.

The US is suspending arms deliveries to Iraq, citing security concerns.   Impacted by the decision will be missiles used by Iraq's F-16 aircraft in the fight against ISIS.

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

Updating the coronavirus in China some 170 deaths reported as of Thursday morning local time with 7,711 confirmed cases in that country.

201 Americans flown out of the city of Wuhan where the virus originated have arrived at a military base near Riverside, California.    They will be monitored at the base for the next three days then be able to go home to be monitored by health officials for the next 14 days.    

More on that from CNN......LINK

The World Health Organization set for a Thursday emergency meeting to discuss the coronavirus situation and the status of its alert level over the virus.

Airlines moving to curtail or suspend flights to China amidst the spread of the coronavirus.

British Airways moving to suspend all flights to and from mainland China.

The US has not yet decided on an official suspension of airline flights to and from China.

Some nations moving to establish a quarantine on passengers arriving from the city that is the center of the virus, Wuhan.

A British military base will be used in the UK and Australia designating Christmas Island as its quarantine site.

A pardon from Russia's President Vladimir Putin for an Israeli woman, Naama Issachar.   Putin's pardon coinciding with a visit by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Moscow.   Issachar returning home with Netanyahu.    She was arrested, convicted and jailed in Russia for marijuana possession.....ISRAEL NATIONAL NEWS  STORY

For now that's the way it really is Wednesday January 29th, 2020.