NEWS SUMMARY-INTELLIGENCE REPORT SUNDAY 4/19/2020

(LATE POSTS TOWARDS MIDNIGHT EASTERN US TIME)

AT LEAST 16 ARE DEAD IN CANADA'S NOVA SCOTIA PROVINCE AFTER A MASS MURDER RAMPAGE BY A MAN WHO WAS DRESSED AS A ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE CONSTABLE.      THE ATTACKER ALSO DROVE A CAR MADE TO LOOK LIKE AN RCMP VEHICLE PART OF THE TIME  DURING HIS ATTACKS......THE ATTACKER IS NOW DEAD.....CBC NEWS STORY

THE IRANIAN REVOLUTIONARY GUARD CORPS ISSUING A TOUGH STATEMENT TODAY ABOUT LAST WEEK'S INCIDENT WHEN THE THE US SAID NAVY AND COAST GUARD VESSELS WERE HARASSED BY IRANIAN SPEED BOATS IN THE NORTHERN PERSIAN GULF.

THE IRGC SAYS THAT THE US NAVY HAS BEEN HARASSING IRANIAN VESSELS CAUSING THE IRGC TO INCREASE ITS PATROLS IN RECENT WEEKS.

THE STATEMENT DECRIED THE "HOLLYWOOD-STYLE" ACCOUNT OF LAST WEEK'S INCIDENT PRESENTED BY THE US AND SAID 'THE ILLEGAL PRESENCE OF THE US TERRORIST REGIME IS THE SOURCE AND ORIGIN OF MISCHIEF AND INSECURITY'.

THE IRGC STATEMENT PROMISED A "DECISIVE RESPONSE TO ANY MISCALCULATION" FROM FOREIGN FORCES IN THE VICINITY OF IRAN.......PRESS TV IRAN STORY.....BBC NEWS

"Get back to work"

was the message sent by a protest in Salt Lake City, Utah Saturday evening demanding an end to Republican Governor Gary Herbert's shut down of the state because of the coronavirus.

Fox 13 News reporting that more than a thousand people joined a protest that ended at the steps of the State Capitol.    Governor Herbert opposed the protest and opened up state parks on Saturday to offer a diversion but remains committed to the economic shutdown for now.....VIDEO LINK FOX 13 NEWS STORY

Plans are being developed to "reopen" the state but the conditions will be strictly regulated and controlled in the name of preventing spread of Covid-19....THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE NEWS STORY

(COMMENT)

And a controlled and regulated "opening up of the economy" is what every American should expect as political leaders hail what will happen in the weeks ahead.    And a reminder to put your mask on for starters when you leave the house.

THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR OF ARIZONA HEARD FROM CITIZENS TODAY WHO CAME TO PHOENIX CALLING FOR THE STATE'S ECONOMY TO REOPEN....ARIZONA CENTRAL STORY WITH VIDEO EMBEDDED

TODAY IN DENVER COLORADO'S STATE CAPITOL WAS THE SITE OF A PROTEST CALLING FOR THE ENDING OF HOUSE ARREST RESTRICTIONS TO GET THE STATE'S ECONOMY MOVING AGAIN.  REPUBLICAN POLITICIANS  INVOLVED IN THE PROTEST OF THE DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR SAYING MAY 1ST SHOULD BE DAY FOR THE RESTRICTIONS TO END.   CARS HONKING THEIR HORNS CONVERGED ON THE CENTER OF THE CITY.......DENVER 7 NEWS REPORT

Other protests across the country in Ohio and in New Hampshire this weekend where a crowd gathered in the capital city of Concord......VIDEO LINK

Cars paraded through the streets of Maryland's capital city of Annapolis Saturday with horns honking calling for an immediate re-opening of shut down businesses in the state.

Republican Governor Larry Hogan who ordered the shut down says:

"I want to get our economy back and get things opened up as quickly as possible just as much as anybody does.   But we're also going to have to do that in a safe manner"....CAPITAL GAZETTE STORY

WITH HAWAII'S TOURISM INDUSTRY NOW SHUT DOWN A MAJOR REVENUE STREAM FOR THE GOVERNMENT THERE IS DRIED UP RAISING THE PROSPECTS OF PAY CUTS FOR GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES INCLUDING TEACHERS.   THIS EDITORIAL FROM THE HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER TALKS ABOUT THE SITUATION THERE....RICHARD BORRECA EDITORIAL HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISTER

In Libya the Turkish backed and UN recognized Government of National Accord making major military gains on the ground in its fight with eastern Libya based Libyan National Army.

Forces aligned with the GNA continuing their offensive this weekend approaching the city of Tarhouna, a major stronghold of the LNA in western Libya.....AL JAZEERA QATAR NEWS REPORT....The GNA claims to have captured 102 LNA soldiers in the offensive....SOUTHFRONT STORY (WITH VIDEO EMBEDDED)

The pro-opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights group says more Turkish military vehicles have moved into northwestern Syria this weekend.    Turkey maintains military positions called "observation posts" amidst jihadist forces including Al Qaeda that it has supported in their fight against the Syrian government.    

The "Southfront" website reporting that a 59th such "observation post" was established in the region today,

A  cease-fire administered jointly by Russia and Turkey is supposed to be in force in the Greater Idlib region but has frequently been violated and broken down completely at times....AHVAL TURKISH NEWS WEBSITE

The army was deployed Saturday in the southern African nation of Lesotho by Prime Minister Thomas Thabane.    Thabane suspected of murdering his ex-wife.   His current wife is already charged.  Police chiefs in the country say Thabane is trying to intimidate them.     Lesotho is a landlocked country surrounded by South Africa.

The troops were later withdrawn from the streets as South Africa sent a special envoy to the country.

Prime Minister Thabane's move came after a court ruling against his plans to suspend parliament in the face of a no-confidence vote.....AL JAZEERA QATAR NEWS STORY

In the African nation of Chad 44 imprisoned Islamic jihadists dead from poisoning.      They were members of the Boko Haram group captured by Chad's military recently.    An investigation underway after autopsies revealed that a lethal substance was present.....BBC NEWS STORY

ISRAEL WILL CONTINUE THE PROCESS OF RELAXING COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS IN COMING DAYS BUT WILL OPERATE UNDER NEW LIMITATIONS.   PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION WILL BEGIN TO OPERATE WITH BUSES LIMITED TO 20 PASSENGERS, BUT TRAIN SERVICE WILL REMAIN SHUT DOWN.....ISRAEL NATIONAL NEWS STORY

There was the "Global Citizen" concert over the weekend called "One World: Together at Home" with plenty of singers, bands and celebrities along with former First Ladies Michelle Obama and Laura Bush.      The World Health Organization involved in the event.

But on the outs for this coronavirus related event both President Trump and the mainland of China.....The perspective on China's outsider status from Hong Kong's "South China Morning Post"....LINK

The story of the coronavirus around the world today as reported by BBC News on its blog.....BBC NEWS BLOG CORONAVIRUS 4/19/2020

That's the way it really is Sunday April 19th, 2020.