NEWS SUMMARY-INTELLIGENCE REPORT TUESDAY 3/31/2020 ISRAELI ATTACK, 'HARD DAYS AHEAD'

(LIMITED SERVICE WHEN ABLE THROUGH LATE TUESDAY)

President Trump telling Americans that "hard days" lie ahead but first.......

BREAKING NEWS:  SYRIAN STATE MEDIA SAYS MISSILES FIRED BY ISRAELI PLANES WERE DOWNED TONIGHT IN THE HOMS REGION.

THE SYRIAN ARAB NEWS AGENCY SAYS THAT THE ATTACK OCCURRED AT AROUND 825 PM LOCAL TIME, 125 PM EASTERN US TIME.....

SYRIAN ARAB NEWS AGENCY REPORT

THE PRO-OPPOSITION SYRIAN OBSERVATORY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS SAYS THE ATTACK ON THE SHAYRAT AIRFIELD INVOLVED 'MORE THAN EIGHT MISSILES'.....

YNET NEWS ISRAEL REPORT

THE SOUTHFRONT WEBSITE REPORTS AT LEAST 10 MISSILES WERE LAUNCHED BY ISRAELI AIRCRAFT FROM LEBANESE AIRSPACE.....

SOUTHFRONT STORY

A "Democratic Transition Framework" for Venezuela rolled out by the United States for Venezuela today. 

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announcing the framework.

The US Special Representative to Venezuela Elliot Abrams wrote an opinion piece for the "Wall Street Journal" that was published this morning.

Abrams says the proposal envisions the resignations of Nicolas Maduro as President and of Juan Guaido as the Interim President to be replaced by a five-member Council of State to serve as a transitional government.      Four of the members of the council to be chosen by the opposition controlled National Assembly with the four picking a fifth person to be designated as "Interim President".....BNN BLOOMBERG NEWS STORY.

The regime of Nicolas Maduro firmly rejected the US proposal......TASS NEWS STORY

Is the US getting ready to launch new attacks in Iraq that may involve assassinations of militia leaders over recent attacks on US bases and facilities?     It was reported last week that plans for attacks have been ordered by top US officials over the objection of the top commander in Iraq.

Now there's word of "unauthorized flights" over Iraq near military areas where attacks may occur....ASHARQ AL-AWSAT NEWS STORY

The militias the United States is targeting are supported by Iran and Iran's elite military force has a warning for enemies of Iran.     The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps warning against the "slightest mistake" by "vicious and adventurous enemies"....PRESS TV NEWS REPORT

Saudi air attacks on the Yemeni capital Sanaa continued late Monday as the Saudi-led military coalition apparently retaliates for the missiles launched last Saturday night at the Saudi capital of Riyadh by the Houthi rebels.     More from the perspective of Iran's Press TV....PRESS TV STORY

19 deaths in a forest fire in the Sichuan province of China.   18 firefighters and their guide engulfed by the blaze when wind direction changed.....BBC NEWS STORY

The US Justice Department reported to be in the early stages of a probe about possible insider trading by United States senators ahead of the recent sharp downturn in the stock market.

At least one of them, US Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina, said to have already been contacted by the FBI......CNN NEWS STORY

PRESIDENT TRUMP APPEARED BEFORE THE MEDIA LATE THIS AFTERNOON SAYING THAT IT IS "FRANKLY A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH" FOR AMERICANS TO FOLLOW GUIDELINES ON SOCIAL DISTANCING AND OTHER PRECAUTIONS TO PREVENT SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS FOR THE NEXT 30 DAYS.

THE PRESIDENT SAID AMONG OTHER THINGS:

'I WANT EVERY AMERICAN TO BE PREPARED FOR THE HARD DAYS AHEAD'

THE PRESIDENT AND HIS HEALTH EXPERTS PRESENTING '30 DAYS TO SLOW THE SPREAD' GUIDELINES.....FULL VIDEO WHITE HOUSE BRIEFING 3/31/2020

"The spread of the disease is ongoing and accelerating....sailors do not need to die"

That's the report from the Captain of the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier currently docked in Guam.    The "San Francisco Chronicle" with an exclusive story including Capt. Brett Crozier's letter to the US Navy.   The Chronicle reporting there are now over 100 cases of coronavirus on board the carrier....BUSINESS INSIDER STORY (WITH LINK TO CHRONICLE)...Later the US Navy said that its "moving quickly to take all necessary measures to ensure the health and safety of the crew of USS Theodore Roosevelt"....CNN NEWS STORY......LATE WORD ON THIS STORY IS THAT MOST OF THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER IS TO BE EVACUATED FOR DISINFECTION....DEFENSE POST STORY

The coronavirus numbers from New York State at mid-day 8,470 new cases in the state with 208 new deaths.     The statewide totals now 75,795 cases and 1,550 deaths.  The number of cases adjusted upwards to 75,893 late this evening.

Chris Cuomo, CNN host and brother of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, testing positive for Covid-19.    Cuomo will stay home quarantined in his basement and he presented his program from there tonight.

In Israel more than  five thousand Covid-19 cases now reported......ISRAEL NATIONAL NEWS STORY

The coronavirus story in France with hospitals in the eastern part of the country jammed with patients causing transfer by helicopter and even train to other hospitals further west and even to neighboring Germany.

The AFP News Agency has been told by Dominique Martin,  Director General of France's version of the FDA for drugs (ANSM),  that there have been serious side effects from the use of various treatments for Covid-19.     Martin says that 30 serious side effects including three deaths have been reported with the use of hydroxychloroquine.       But Martin says final conclusions are still pending further analysis.

Mexico broadening its shutdown of "non-essential activities" for the next 30 days......ASSOCIATED PRESS STORY

US Defense Secretary Mark Esper has ordered commanders at bases worldwide to stop publicly announcing new coronavirus cases.    Its a move designed to protect "operational security"....STARS AND STRIPES STORY

A Russian aircraft carrying masks and medical equipment left tonight for the United States....TASS NEWS STORY

A storm of controversy surrounding Amazon and the call for a strike of Amazon workers today.....BBC NEWS STORY

The BBC News coronavirus blog for today.....BBC NEWS CORONAVIRUS BLOG 3/31/2020

And in Bolivia police dressing up as "coronaviruses" to promote compliance with government imposed restrictions.......SOUTHFRONT STORY

The coronavirus stats at 1120 pm tonight Eastern US time are from Worldometers for the USA with 188,578 cases,  3,890 deaths and 7,251 recoveries.....and the Johns Hopkins worldwide stats are 858,785 cases with 42,151 deaths and 178,119 recoveries......

Other news tonight......

A 6.5 magnitude earthquake rocked Idaho and six surrounding states at 552 pm Idaho time tonight, 752 pm Eastern US time.

The epicenter 45 miles west of Challis and 73.3 miles north of Meridian.

Aftershocks were felt several times tonight.

No reports so far tonight of any severe damage......

KTVB BOISE NEWS STORY

And that's the way it really is Tuesday March 31st, 2020.

NEWS SUMMARY-INTELLIGENCE REPORT MONDAY 3/30/2020

(SERVICE SUSPENDING AT 10 PM MONDAY NIGHT)

Republican Governors issue orders to stay home giving them a new and different name but first.....

"We discussed with each other whether our rights can be taken by an order from a governor or an agency, and if they can be, what good are our rights?"

Ammon Bundy spoke those words Friday following a Thursday night meeting in Emmett, Idaho in response to the "stay at home" order issued by Idaho's Republican Governor Brad Little.

Bundy is an activist who was involved in defending his family's ranch in Nevada back in 2014 and in defending two Oregon ranchers jailed as terrorists when he led the Oregon Standoff protest in early 2016.

Bundy spoke at the meeting of providing a legal, political and physical defense for anyone being pressured by authorities in Idaho to comply with the coronavirus related order.

More on this story including an embedded Facebook video of the meeting as published by the "Idaho Press" last Friday March 27th.....IDAHO PRESS STORY

Other coronavirus news later but now other news.....

In Iraq the United States has deployed two Patriot missile batteries and is expected to eventually deploy at least four.   The US contending with repeated Iraqi militia attacks on US bases and facilities following the targeted assassination of an Iranian general and Iraqi militia leader in January.......MIDDLE EAST EYE STORY

THE SAUDI LED COALITION STAGING AIR STRIKES ON THE YEMENI CAPITAL SANAA TODAY.   THE ATTACKS FOLLOWING THE FIRING OF TWO MISSILES BY THE HOUTHI REBELS AT SAUDI ARABIA'S CAPITAL RIYADH SATURDAY NIGHT.....YENI SAFAK TURKEY NEWS REPORT

NORTH KOREA IS REACTING WITH DISDAIN TO US SECRETARY OF STATE MIKE POMPEO'S HOPE FOR TALKS ON DENUCLEARIZAION  TO RESUME.   THE GOVERNMENT NEWS AGENCY SAYING POMPEO'S  "LUDICROUS LANGUAGE" MEANS "WE WILL WALK OUR OWN WAY".....THE GUARDIAN UK NEWS REPORT

North Korea says it tested "super-large" multiple rocket launchers over the weekend.    That word from the state media today.   It described the test as being "conducted successfully"....YONHAP NEWS AGENCY SOUTH KOREA REPORT....The US flew an intelligence gathering plane over South Korea on Sunday hours after the North Korean missile test....YONHAP NEWS AGENCY SOUTH KOREA REPORT

TALIBAN ATTACKS OVER THE WEEKEND KILLED AT LEAST 18 MEMBERS OF THE AFGHAN GOVERNMENT SECURITY FORCES....UPI NEWS STORY 

President Trump on the phone Monday with Russia's President Vladimir Putin and oil prices very high on the agenda.    Russia moved earlier this month to end a cap on oil production with Saudi Arabia following in its footsteps.    This led to a collapse in oil prices.    The leaders agreed to consultations between each country's energy ministers.....REUTERS NEWS STORY.....TASS NEWS STORY......Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov talking with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo today.....TASS NEWS STORY

SAUDI ARABIA ANNOUNCING TODAY THAT IT WILL RAISE OIL EXPORTS TO RECORD LEVELS IN MAY.....AFP NEWS STORY VIA YAHOO NEWS

China making its financial moves Monday mimicking the actions of other nations in a more modest way.   China's central bank cutting the interest rate from 2.40 to 2.20 percent and a seven billion dollar injection of support into the country's financial system.....AFP NEWS STORY

The covornavirus story in the USA with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issuing a "safer-at-home" order for the four southeastern Florida counties until mid-May.   Broward, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and Monroe counties affected by the order.......THE HILL NEWS STORY

Another Republican governor adopting the apparent new catch-phrase for orders to stay home from governors who are Republicans.     Governor Bill Lee of Tennessee issuing a "safer-at-home" executive order.   The order starts at 1159 pm Tuesday and will be in effect for two weeks.....BRETBART NEWS STORY

PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYING TODAY THAT HE BELIEVES THE ECONOMY WILL COME BACK AND THAT HIS MAIN FOCUS NOW IS ON "SAVING LIVES"....VIDEO LINK

PRESIDENT TRUMP ALSO REVEALING AT HIS DAILY NEWS CONFERENCE TODAY THAT RUSSIA AND CHINA HAVE SENT MEDICAL AID TO THE UNITED STATES TO HELP DEAL WITH THE CORONAVIRUS.....TASS NEWS STORY

"If you are asking who helped us most, it was China and not Europe"

Those words from Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic in a television interview where he discussed the coronavirus situation in the southeastern European country.....TASS NEWS AGENCY STORY

Israel relying on its spy agency, the Mossad, for help in obtaining supplies to fight Covid-19......ISRAEL NATIONAL NEWS STORY

TONIGHT STRICTER MEASURES ANNOUNCED IN ISRAEL BY PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU INCLUDING BANNING OF OUTDOOR PRAYERS AND CROWDS OF TWO OR MORE PEOPLE OUTSIDE......ISRAEL NATIONAL NEWS STORY

Spreading "fake news" about the coronavirus could result in a fine that equals 88-hundred US dollars in Russia.....TASS NEWS STORY.....The lockdown in Moscow has now spread to Russia's second city St. Petersburg....TASS NEWS STORY

In Hungary parliament voting 138-53 more than the 2/3 majority required to allow Prime Minister Viktor Orban to rule by decree in light of the coronavirus situation.    Opponents of Orban in the "international community" are disturbed by the move....CNN NEWS STORY

Research at Hong Kong University says that the coronavirus is most active at approximately four degrees Celsius or 39.2 degrees Fahrenheit.     Warmer temperatures diminish its stability with the virus only able to last five minutes at the very hot temperature of 70 degrees Celsius or 158 degrees Fahrenheit.....TASS NEWS STORY

THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS CHANGED THE RULES ON ABORTION PILLS FOR THE CORONAVIRUS LOCKDOWN.   THEY CAN BE TAKEN AT HOME WITHOUT HAVING TO TRAVEL TO A CLINIC.....TIME NEWS STORY

BBC News is reporting the coronavirus story around the world today through a blog......BBC NEWS CORONAVIRUS BLOG MONDAY 3/30/2020

COVID-19 NUMBERS TONIGHT FIRST THE WORLD-WIDE JOHNS HOPKINS NUMBERS AT OF 935 PM EASTERN US TIME.....784,314 CASES.....37,638 DEATHS....165,288 RECOVERIES...THE WORLDOMETERS NUMBERS IN THE USA ARE .....163,844 CASES.....3,156 DEATHS....5,506 RECOVERIES

ONE LOCAL TAKEAWAY FROM THE STATS IS WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NEW YORK JUST NORTH OF THE CITY WHERE THERE ARE 9,326 CASES WITH 10 DEATHS AND 0 RECOVERIES SO FAR....THE POPULATION THERE CLOSE TO ONE MILLION AND THAT AMOUNT OF CASES EQUAL TO SOME 80-THOUSAND CASES IN A POPULATION THE SIZE OF NEW YORK CITY WHICH IS NOW REPORTING SOME 38,087 CASES.

Other news today......

Police investigating the  early morning theft of a Vincent Van Gogh painting from an art museum in the Netherlands.      The Singer Laren museum east of Amsterdam targeted ...THE INDEPENDENT UK STORY

The left-wing ELN group in Colombia is declaring what it calls "humanitarian cease-fire" for the next month in its war against the Colombian government.......BBC NEWS STORY

An attempt to bring a court case against a rarely enforced law prohibiting homosexuality failed in Singapore with a presiding judge saying the law was "important in reflecting public sentiment and beliefs" in the southeast Asian city-state.....BBC NEWS STORY

That's the way it really is Monday March 30th, 2020.

NEWS SUMMARY-INTELLIGENCE REPORT SUNDAY 3/29/2020

(FINAL POSTING LATER TONIGHT TOWARDS MIDNIGHT EASTERN TIME US)

A projection of how many will die from Covid-19 infection in the United States and the President signaling a longer duration for the coronavirus situation but first......

A riot broke out at a prison in northeastern Syria housing Islamic State detainees and operated by Kurdish elements of the "Syrian Democratic Forces".      Some prisoners escaped and others took over a floor of the prison......DEUTSCHE WELLE NEWS STORY

The shape of a new "unity government" in Israel is emerging that will raise the profile of the political faction headed by the former Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Benny Gantz that calls itself the Israel Resilience Party.

His party will hold many posts in the new cabinet pushing aside Likud Party and conservative third party ministers currently occupying those spots.   Religious party cabinet ministers will remain in the new government soon to form.

Current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will remain in his post for the next 18 months, then be replaced by Gantz.   For now, Mr. Gantz is set to become Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.....

ISRAEL NATIONAL NEWS STORY

A medical evacuation plane exploded into a ball of flames as it was taking off from Manila International Airport in the Philippines bound for Japan.   All eight people on board were killed.....SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST NEWS REPORT FROM NEWS AGENCIES...The plane had a crew of three flying it, three medical personnel, one patient and one companion of the patient.   Six Filipinos, one American and one Canadian on board.

THE AFGHAN MILITARY IN ACTION TODAY ATTACKING TALIBAN FORCES.   THEY SAY 13 TALIBAN FIGHTERS WERE KILLED,   THE OPERATION SAID TO BE ONE TO STOP PLANNED ATTACKS ON AFGHAN GOVERNMENT FORCES....THE NATIONAL UNITED ARAB EMIRATES NEWS STORY

Turkey has reportedly deployed the US made Hawk anti-aircraft missile system to northwestern Syria this weekend.  Currently a cease-fire underway in the "Greater Idlib Region" but tensions are high with jihadist attacks breaking the calm from time to time.    For what it's worth this story published by "Ahval"...LINK

Six injuries reported after a tornado struck Jonesboro, Arkansas Saturday afternoon.....CNN REPORT WITH VIDEO OF TORNADO EMBEDDED

The Houthi rebels  (Ansar Allah) in Yemen reported to have fired missiles at Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh last night on the fifth anniversary of the beginning of the civil war in Yemen.   The Saudis say they intercepted both incoming missiles.

Saudi Arabia leading an international coalition with US and British backing to fight the Houthis.

Meanwhile Houthi leader Abdul Malek al-Houthi says he'll swap a Saudi pilot and other prisoners of war in exchange for Palestinians detained in Saudi Arabia.....JERUSALEM POST STORY

The coronavirus story today with one of the big highlights for mainstream media reporting Dr. Anthony Fauci's rough estimation of how many will die in the United States from Covid-19.   The number anywhere from 100,000 to 200,000.   Here is how the story was reported by CBC News from Canada......VIDEO LINK

PRESIDENT TRUMP THIS EVENING ANNOUNCING THAT "SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES" SENT BY POSTCARD TO EVERY HOUSEHOLD IN THE COUNTRY WILL BE IN EFFECT UNTIL APRIL 30TH......VIDEO LINK

THE PRESIDENT ALSO SAID IN THAT VIDEO HE WILL  LIKELY HAVE ANNOUNCEMENTS ON TUESDAY BUT ALSO ADDING THAT:

".......WE CAN EXPECT THAT BY JUNE 1ST WE WILL BE WELL ON OUR WAY TO RECOVERY. WE THINK BY JUNE 1ST A LOT OF GREAT THINGS WILL BE HAPPENING.....".

"...in a globalized world when most states have close transportation links, bringing an infection from one place of the planet to another is just a matter of a few hours....."

Part of the critique coming from an anonymous official at Russia's foreign ministry aimed at the United States in regards to the coronavirus.    The criticism focused on the US promotion of a global economy in the first place and calls for an "international" investigation into the origins of coronavirus.

There have been notions presented from various quarters of a conspiracy by either China or the United States involving Covid-19.....TASS NEWS AGENCY STORY

RUSSIA MOVING TO RESTRICT ACTIVITY IN MOSCOW WHERE MANY OF THE COUNTRY'S CORONAVIRUS CASES ARE CLUSTERED.....

Australia's Prime Minister announcing new restrictions Sunday night that limit gatherings to two people.  Scott Morrison clamping down tighter from a previous restriction of gatherings to ten people.

The Chief Medical Officer of Australia, Brendan Murphy, said people have engaged in what he called "silly behaviour....particularly outdoors".......ABC AUSTRALIA NEWS STORY

In Israel the Director-General of the Ministry of Health warning against Passover preparations that involve crowds of people and any celebration of the holiday itself that involves any large gatherings.

Moshe Bar Siman says any "wrong behavior.....will  be devastating and fatal" due to the coronavirus....ISRAEL NATIONAL NEWS STORY....A Saturday night funeral brought hundreds together in a religious neighborhood in Israel and brought outrage from a hospital director....ISRAEL NATIONAL NEWS STORY

India's Prime Minister asking for "forgiveness" over his decision to impose a three week lockdown on the country with only four hours notice......BBC NEWS STORY

There's one European country where the restrictive measures existing in the other countries can for the most part not be found.    That's Sweden....BBC NEWS STORY.....There are 3,447 cases of Covid-19 reported in Sweden with 105 deaths and 16 recoveries.

Military reservists called up to enforce the lockdown in South Africa.    More on the story of Covid-19 there from the "Sunday Times".......LINK

The first federal inmate death reported because of Covid-19 in the United States.  49-year old Patrick Jones was serving time on a drug charge at a prison in Oakdale, Louisiana.....REUTERS NEWS STORY

The worldwide coronavirus story reported today on the BBC News blog.....BBC NEWS CORONAVIRUS BLOG 3/29/2020

And finally the coronavirus stats provided by Worldometers tonight as totals of deaths and cases are blocked tonight on the Johns Hopkins "dashboard" link from being seen?

THE STATS AS WE APPROACH MIDNIGHT EASTERN US TIME.....

WORLDWIDE

722,196 CASES

33,976  DEATHS

151,766 RECOVERIES

IN THE UNITED STATES

142,178 CASES

2,484 DEATHS

4,559 RECOVERIES

And that's the way it really is Sunday March 29th, 2020.

FRANCE YELLOW VESTS WEEK 72:  THE CORONAVIRUS CONFINEMENT CONTINUES

On Newsdump Friday Premier Edouard Philippe announced continuation of restrictions on movement in France in the face of the coronavirus until April 15th.    A serious situation in France as evidenced by news in the last 24 hours that two coronavirus patients were airlifted from the northeastern French city of Metz to Germany....AFP NEWS AGENCY VIDEO

The protest continues from "confinement" today via video posts on You Tube:

VIDEO ONE WITH NARRATION IN FRENCH

This second video is nine minutes long and shows protesting alternatives to the usual kind for the Yellow Vests movement.....VIDEO TWO WITH VARIOUS VIDEOS AND PICTURES

Another video posted online today brought some yellow into the picture with a picture of the dandelions on the grass......GILETS JAUNES (YELLOW VESTS) AUXERRE 89 YONNE, FRANCE

Late today the figures on coronavirus from the government in France are 313 additional deaths in the last 24 hours and now the total is 2,314.    There are 37,575 Covid-19 cases now recorded in France.    Some 4,273 people in intensive care at French hosptials right now with the coronavirus.

For now that's the story of the Yellow Vests in France under the coronavirus restrictions.

NEXTRUSH UNPLUGGED: WEEKEND VERSION NO TOILET PAPER WASHINGTON USES THE CONSTITUTION INSTEAD CORONAVIRUS NEWS PLUS THE OTHER NEWS

"They don't want to be on record as making the biggest mistake in history"

US  Representative Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky) March 27, 2020

SIX POINT TWO TRILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF BAILOUT RUSHED THROUGH CONGRESS FRIDAY WITH SOME GOING TO THE LITTLE FOLKS BUT A LOT GOING TO THE BIG FOLKS AND THE BIG BANKS.

'WE ARE ALL SOCIALISTS NOW'

THE LEADERSHIP OF THE HOUSE REFUSED TO HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE YESTERDAY SO YOU COULD KNOW WHERE THE MEMBERS STOOD......

"THERE'S A BIG COVER UP IN THERE"-TWITTER VIDEO REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS MASSIE (R-KENTUCKY)

All that's been done to financially manipulate things by the Federal Reserve means us little folks are going to need more money to manage things because prices are going to go up sooner or later because the value of the money is being reduced so prices will rise to compensate for that devaluation of money through "qualitative easing" etc. etc. etc.

Music Links:

"EVERYBODY PLAYS THE FOOL"-THE MAIN INGREDIENT

"THE NIGHT THEY DROVE OLD DIXIE DOWN"-JOAN BAEZ

"GREENBACK DOLLAR"-KINGSTON TRIO

"WHEN THE LIGHTS GO ON AGAIN"-VAUGHN MONROE

Not too many weeks ago this video was shared here with actor Ned Beatty in the 1976 movie "Network" telling us how the system really works and its not about democracy or a representative republic or whatever......

"THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM OF CURRENCY"-NED BEATTY MONOLOGUE FROM "NETWORK" 1976

"The world is a business"

we are told in the video........

And the business cannot be allowed to fail so we must bear the 6.2 trillion dollar burden....

Whoa!

News related to the coronavirus being put out on the BBC blog today Saturday March 28th.....

BBC NEWS CORONAVIRUS BLOG 3/28/2020

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE:  AIR BRIDGE FROM CHINA TO BRING 600 MILLION MASKS TO FRANCE

FROM BFM-TV IN FRANCE WORD THAT FRANCE IS JOINING FIVE OTHER NATIONS IN EUROPE IN PICKING UP HUGE AMOUNTS OF SUPPLIES FROM CHINA NEEDED TO FIGHT THE CORONAVIRUS

The first flight being tomorrow March 29th with others following as soon as two days later..

The last two paragraphs of the BFM-TV story translated into English via Google reads:

"A mutual aid operation (Europe) had sent 56 tons of medical supplies to China in February) which Beijing plans to transform into a rescue operation on its part.  After overcoming the health crisis,  China is now playing the card of its influence (its "soft power") by offering its aid to many countries in the world which do not have its capacities for large-scale production.   Italy, Spain, Serbia, Greece and France have thus received Chinese equipment.

An influence that Beijing intends to transform into political support.   Thus, according to the German weekly Der Spiegel, during a G 7 videoconference, France thus opposed the United States which wished in a joint press release to speak of the "Wuhan virus"preferring the most diplomatic term of "pandemic" from COVID-19.   In the end China,  helped by its European partners, won the case.   No joint declaration with the 'Wuhan virus'"

Music Links:

"SHE BLINDED ME WITH SCIENCE"-THOMAS DOLBY

"FOR WHAT ITS WORTH"-BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD

"MAMA TOLD ME (NOT TO COME)"-THREE DOG NIGHT

"STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU"-STEALERS WHEEL

Well here we are in "FUBARLAND" courtesy of the "Clowns on the Left" the Democrats and "Jokers on the Right" the Republicans.

The notion of inflating and devaluing the currency came to us out of Lyndon Johnson's "Great Society" in the 1960's all that spending of the big bucks between the Democrat policies of the limited war in Vietnam and the social programs.

Then Republican Richard Nixon "opened up"  China and 50 years later look what "spilled out" to put the USA on the skids and open up the situation to China's advantage.


Nixon told the political journalist Theodore White before he entered the White House:

"we can't run the world without China"

The architect of the Nixon foreign policy Dr. Henry Kissinger, the Nelson Rockefeller adviser.

A man still with us but in his 90's.......



What about the current President?    He moves one way, then another.    Keeps hustling and trying to paint a positive picture about America getting back to business by Easter.


Like Bill Clinton's political guru James Carville said in the 1992 campaign.

"It's the economy stupid"

Its easy for patriots and conservatives to be angry with the Trump trashing of Congressman Massie.

I simply say God Bless Congressman Massie and President Trump and move forward.

I am not the HIGHER POWER with the final call on who's right or wrong here,  am  I.

The drunk in me wants to be God and I am not.

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE:   RUSSIA

Russia reporting 1,264 coronavirus cases today, 228 more than yesterday......TASS NEWS AGENCY


RUSSIA CLOSING ITS BORDER THIS MONDAY MARCH 30TH.

The story of the coronavirus lockdown across India as reported by the BBC.....BBC NEWS STORY

Today's BBC News blog on Covid-19.........BBC NEWS CORONAVIRUS LIVE BLOG 3/28/2020

OTHER NEWS-RUSSIAN PIPE LAYING VESSEL ON ROUND THE WORLD JOURNEY TO ATTEMPT NORD STREAM 2 COMPLETION

When President Trump signed a defense spending bill just before Christmas, it included sanctions against companies helping Russia build the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

A Swiss company then ceased laying pipe along the last stretch of a project designed to bring Russian natural gas directly to Germany, a direct threat to the US energy industry.    The industry now hit very hard by the Russian-Saudi decision to boost oil production driving oil prices dramatically lower.

More on the journey of the Akademik Chersky vessel from Russia's Far East around the world towards Europe....TASS NEWS STORY

NEWSDUMP ALERT:  US SAID TO BE ORDERING MILITARY CAMPAIGN IN IRAQ

Militia forces that are part of Iraq's military but as Shia Muslims are close to Iran have been targeted by the US with one of their leaders killed alongside the Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in the targeted assassinations back in January.

US forces consolidating their positions in the country to a smaller number of bases in recent days.

NOW MAINSTREAM MEDIA REPORTS SAY THAT THE US ORDERED ITS FORCES IN IRAQ TO PREPARE FOR A MILITARY CAMPAIGN AGAINST IRANIAN RELATED TARGETS INCLUDING THE IRAQI KATAIB HEZBOLLAH GROUP...THE NATIONAL UNITED ARAB EMIRATES NEWS STORY

SYRIA UPDATE-REPORTS OF REINFORCEMENTS ON BOTH SIDES OF IDLIB CEASE-FIRE SUGGEST POTENTIAL RESUMPTION OF FIGHTING

From northwestern Syria there are reports asserting that military reinforcements are moving in first on the Syrian side involving the Syrian army and Iranian backed militia forces and on the other side Turkey establishing more "observation posts" with additional air defenses.    It all suggests a confrontation is in the making....SOUTHFRONT STORY

Pouring down rain here in Central PA today with the "stay at home" order starting here in York County,  PA last night at 8 pm......

Music Links:

"RAINY DAYS AND MONDAYS"-THE CARPENTERS

"RETURN TO ME"-DEAN MARTIN

"PAPER DOLL"-DEAN MARTIN AND THE MILLS BROTHERS (LIVE)



"ACROSS THE ALLEY FROM THE ALAMO"-THE MILLS BROTHERS

The observations I see locally show roads busy today with vehicles moving heck a trailer with cars on it (headed for an auto dealer) being pulled down US Route 30 in the York PA area during the "stay at home" order....


France and the Yellow Vests a post launched in the last hour which you can see at this link.   I will update if there is more later on.....FRANCE YELLOW VESTS WEEK 72 POST

INDIANA CORONAVIRUS UPDATE-CASES JUMP BY 25 PERCENT IN LATEST REPORT

There are now 1,232 coronavirus cases reported from Indiana jumping 251 from 981.....Of the 1,232 cases 584 are reported from Marion County (Indianapolis)....RTV 6 THE INDY CHANNEL NEWS STORY

NEWSDUMP UPDATE:  MOODY'S RATING SERVICE REDUCES SOUTH AFRICA'S CREDIT RATING TO JUNK

The credit rating of South Africa reduced to junk status with the government of the country saying it "could not have come at a worse time"


The announcement made late Friday as South Africa began a three-week coronavirus lockdown.


And blame being put at the doorstep of the government led by the African National Congress and President Cyril Ramaphosa.


AFP NEWS STORY

NEWSDUMP UPDATE: FITCH RATINGS SERVICE CUTS UK CREDIT RATING

The UK now has an AA- rating putting it on a par with Belgium and the Czech Republic.   The UK's rating with a negative outlook suggesting further lowering of the country's rating.     Fitch saying the country's public finances are weakened with deep near-term damage underway to its economy, Expectations of a four percent shrinkage in Britain's economy this year.....

THE GUARDIAN NEWS STORY

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE:  PENNSYLVANIA CASES UP BY 533 TO 2,751

That is the word today from the PA Department of Health with 12 new deaths bringing the state total to 34......PENN LIVE NEWS STORY....Philadelphia has 709 and Allegheny County where Pittsburgh is has 219 cases.    Closer to home 45 cases in Lancaster County and 37 in York County....

NEW YORK GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO HOLDING HIS DAILY NEWS CONFERENCE WITH HOPE THAT THE TREND IS SLOWING BUT NEW YORK CASES UP SOME 6,056 TO 52,318 AND THE NUMBER OF DEATHS RISING 122 TO 728.....GOVERNOR CUOMO NEWS CONFERENCE VIDEO

Music Links:

"LOVE OF ANOTHER KIND"-AMY GRANT

"DON'T LET THE GOOD TIMES FOOL YOU"-MELBA MONTGOMERY (LIVE)

"TO FORGIVE"-STEVE TAYLOR

"WHEN YOU GONNA WAKE UP"-BOB DYLAN (LIVE)

Powerful message from Bob Dylan circa 1980 talking about "your insane asylums are filled" but the judges had another idea and the mentally ill are largely living next to you and me in these crazy times circa 2020 something to remember so we can forgive their faults like those uncontrolled laughs I'm hearing around me nowadays.

Steve Taylor sang "To Forgive".   Resentment and anger fuel leading to intoxication which none of us need right now.

Alcohol and other drugs like lust out there so Melba Montgomery reminds us as I heard her sing that song on country music radio from the 1970's that a "body can't hold you tenderly and greet you with a happy smile" so watch where you eyes are going nowadays.

HECK THE FLASHING LIGHT IS OUT AT THE LOCAL MASSAGE PARLOR LATELY UNDER THE BUSINESS CLOSURE ORDER.   OH YEAH, DON'T JUST KEEP YOUR HANDS AWAY FROM YOUR FACE?????

Love is a giving thing linked to the Higher Power of my understanding and Amy Grant takes note of that with "Love of Another Kind".

"We Need To Talk About Sex Addiction" and here is a brief video presentation about that notion.....

VIDEO LINK


Men (and women, too) use sexual activities to cope, to feel normal so they can face the world each day.


I am a drunk and I need to forgive others who I think are crazy and nuts and perhaps there's someone you need to forgive for being a "pervert".


Getting back to alcohol Clancy I AA speaker noted that his "coping mechanism" was adult beverages.....


CLANCY I AA SPEAKER-ONE OF HIS FUNNIEST TALKS EVER

NEWSDUMP ALERT:  PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNS ORDER FOR CALL UP OF MILITARY RESERVISTS

On Friday President Trump signed an executive order authorizing the call up of  as many as one million military reservists by the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security.

ISRAEL NATIONAL NEWS STORY

The Vice-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General John Hyten, offering up comment on parts of the country that US military leaders are concerned about.

And Iran's Press TV is offering up its version of that story.......

PRESS TV IRAN NEWS STORY

Music Links:

"TRAINS AND BOATS AND PLANES"-DIONNE WARWICK

"I APOLOGIZE"-BILLY ECKSTINE



"WABASH CANNONBALL"-ROY ACUFF



"FOGGY MOUNTAIN BREAKDOWN"-LESTER FLATT AND EARL SCRUGGS (LIVE)

BREAKING NEWS:  SAUDI ARABIA INTERCEPTS MISSILE OVER CAPITAL CITY RIYADH

Missiles intercepted over Saudi Arabia tonight including one over the capital city of Riyadh.    The source of the missiles not identified but Houthi rebels in Yemen have claimed responsibility for attacks in the past because of Saudi involvement in trying to put down their rebellion.

The incident happened as factions in the Yemeni civil war were talking "cease fire" because of the coronavirus....

DEUTSCHE WELLE NEWS STORY

BREAKING NEWS:  NORTH KOREA FIRES AT LEAST ONE PROJECTILE NOW BELIEVED TO BE TWO

Its Sunday morning in North Korea where there's word that at least one projectile has been fired eastwards into the sea.    The announcement from South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff.  Later word is that two missiles were launched....

YONHAP NEWS AGENCY SOUTH KOREA STORY

LATER ASSOCIATED PRESS NEWS STORY.....LATER STORY FROM YONHAP NEWS AGENCY

RUSSIAN OIL COMPANY SHUTS DOWN VENEZUELAN OPERATIONS, SELLS ASSETS TO RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT

The Russian oil company Rosneft, cited by the US for its involvement in evasion of sanctions on Venezuela, shutting down Venezuelan operations and selling its assets to the Russian government...TASS NEWS STORY ONE.......TASS NEWS STORY TWO

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE:  BRAZILIAN COURT RULES THAT GOVERNMENT MUST STOP 'PROPAGANDA' AGAINST CONFINEMENT MEASURES

While some local governments have instituted restrictions in Brazil, the national government is acting against those restrictions leading Brazil's Attorney General to seek a court order against President Jair Bolsonaro.

The federal court in Rio de Janiero ruling against the national government on Saturday.    

Brazil, a country with some 209.3 million people in it almost 2/3 of the population of the USA, now reporting some 3,904 cases with 114 deaths and six recoveries.,

AFP NEWS STORY

Music Links:

"I WRITE THE SONGS"-BARRY MANILOW (LIVE)

"I GOT A NAME"-JIM CROCE

"OLD CAPE COD"-PATTI PAGE



"WHEN I FALL IN LOVE"-NAT KING COLE (LIVE)

ISRAELI POLITICS:  THE TALKS FOR A NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT UNDERWAY

Tonight Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White Party leader Benny Gantz meeting to forge a national unity government that's expected to see Gantz's party with key cabinet posts and allow Mr. Netanyahu to remain Prime Minister for a period of up to 18 months.    Also in the cards legislation that would allow Netanyahu to serve while he is on trial for corruption charges with the trial now delayed because of the coronavirus.

Also joining in the meeting a key Blue and White member and along with Gantz a former Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi.

ISRAEL NATIONAL NEWS STORY

Some commentary supporting the notion of such a government published by Israel's left-leaning "Haaretz" tonight.....

GIDEON LEVY COMMENTARY HAARETZ

              CORONAVIRUS BREAKING NEWS:   

PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYS NO QUARANTINE FOR NORTHEASTERN STATES AS HE SUGGESTED EARLIER TODAY TO THE MEDIA.....VIDEO LINK FROM REUTERS... JUST A STRONG TRAVEL ADVISORY FROM THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL WITH THE 'FINANCIAL SERVICES' INDUSTRY EXEMPT AMONG OTHERS

THE PRESIDENT TWEETING THE NEWS TONIGHT......TRUMP TWEET ONE....TRUMP TWEET TWO

Before we go the numbers tonight showing nationwide some 123,750 coronavirus cases with 53,393 in New York, 11,124 in New Jersey and 5,659 in California as of 10 pm Eastern US time.....WORLDOMETERS

And I won't link to the "dashboard" from Johns Hopkins just some numbers worldwide up there right now at 10 pm Eastern.

663,828 CASES

30,822 DEATHS

139,451 RECOVERIES

ONE EXTRA BONUS TO ADD TO THIS POST, THIS WEEKEND'S PETER HITCHENS COLUMN WHICH STARTS:

"As I watched the Prime Minister order mass house arrest on Monday night, I felt revulsion, anger and grief-as anyone brought up when this was a free and well-governed country would.  I also felt terribly alone".......

'THERE'S POWERFUL EVIDENCE THIS GREAT PANIC IS FOOLISH, YET OUR FREEDOM IS STILL BROKEN AND OUR ECONOMY CRIPPLED-PETER HITCHENS

Best wishes for sane and sober living in the midst of all the madness.   Good Night and God Bless.

Music Links:

'THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC"-ABBA

"BLAME IT ON THE ONE I LOVE"-KELLY WILLARD

"SAN ANTONIO STROLL"-TANYA TUCKER

"PENNSYLVANIA SIX-FIVE THOUSAND"-GLENN MILLER

NEWS SUMMARY-INTELLIGENCE REPORT FRIDAY 3/27/2020 NEWSDUMP FRIDAY

(SERVICE WHEN ABLE WITH FINAL POSTINGS LATE FRIDAY NIGHT, EARLY SATURDAY)

Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky and activist Ammon Bundy take stands for the US Constitution in the face of America's "Coronavirus Crisis" but first......

French President Emmanuel Macron expressing his gratitude to Iraqi authorities over the release of four workers from a French Christian charity who were kidnapped in Iraq back in January.

The Macron announcement comes one day after it was revealed that France would withdraw its troops currently stationed in Iraq due to the coronavirus pandemic....BBC NEWS STORY

The espionage trial of former US Marine and multinational citizen Paul Whelan will not start in Moscow Monday.    Its been delayed by Russian authorities for two weeks because of the coronavirus.....RADIO FREE EUROPE STORY

Israeli air force planes attacking targets in Gaza tonight after a rocket was launched from the Gaza Strip that landed in an open field......YNET NEWS STORY

PRESIDENT TRUMP CALLING FOR THE EJECTION OF LIBERTARIAN REPUBLICAN US REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS MASSIE OF KENTUCKY FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY FOR INSISTING ON A ROLL CALL VOTE TO PASS THE MULTI-TRILLION DOLLAR CORONAVIRUS BAILOUT BILL.....POLITICO

MASSIE SAYS THE PEOPLE DESERVE THE 13-THOUSAND DOLLAR PLUS PER PERSON VALUE OF IT SENT TO THEM DIRECTLY RATHER THAN HAVING IT FUNNELED INTO BANKS AND CORPORATIONS.

MASSIE SAYS THERE SHOULD BE A RECORDED VOTE ON 'THE BIGGEST SPENDING BILL IN HISTORY".......

.....THOMAS MASSIE TWITTER

IN THE END THE RULES WERE BENT TO FORCE THE LEGISLATION THROUGH THE HOUSE WITHOUT A ROLL CALL VOTE AND PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNED THE MASSIVE AND UNPRECEDENTED SPENDING PLAN.

PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYS THAT GENERAL MOTORS ISN'T MOVING FAST ENOUGH TO MANUFACTURE VENTILATORS FOR HOSPITALS AND WANTS TO CHARGE TOO MUCH FOR MAKING THEM......BNN BLOOMBERG STORY...... THE PRESIDENT URGING GM AND FORD VIA TWITTER TO MAKE VENTILATORS.....PRESIDENT TRUMP TWITTER....THE PRESIDENT ACTING TO INVOKE THE DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT TO FORCE GM TO MAKE VENTILATORS.....VIDEO LINK PRESIDENT TRUMP

MINUTES AFTER TWEETING ABOUT MAKING VENTILATORS THE PRESIDENT SAID VIA TWITTER THAT NEW YORK HAS 'THOUSANDS OF VENTILATORS' IN STORAGE AND THE STATE MUST DISTRIBUTE THEM......PRESIDENT TRUMP TWITTER

Billionaire Bill Gates says that he thinks that the US must shut down completely for a short period of time because of the coronavirus and that the cases will peak in the United States some one month from now in late April.    He spoke to CNN....ISRAEL NATIONAL NEWS STORY WITH VIDEO EMBEDDED

Activist Ammon Bundy calling a meeting in Emmett, Idaho Thursday night following an order from the state government led by Republican Governor Brad Little for people in the state to self-isolate and stay at home.....KIVI TV NEWS.... noting the Constitutional right of the people of the United States to assemble in the First Amendment.......FACEBOOK VIDEO FROM AMMON BUNDY 3/26/2020

Inmates being released from prisons in New York including New York City's Rikers Island on grounds they are showing symptoms of Covid-19 infection and are on work release.   Some benefits being given the inmates a source of controversy.....NEW YORK POST STORY

US Attorney General William Barr directing the federal Bureau of Prisons to increase use of home confinement for older inmates with underlying conditions to mitigate coronavirus spread in the federal prison system.    Some 10-thousand federal prison inmates over the age of 60 with a third having "pre-existing conditions".    THOSE NUMBERS DO NOT INCLUDE 21-THOUSAND FEDERAL PRISONERS HELD IN  PRIVATELY OWNED PRISONS.....CBS NEWS STORY

Coronavirus testing for all 5-thousand sailors on board the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier as 15 more sailors tested positive Thursday for Covid-19.     Three tested positive on Tuesday and five on Wednesday.  The carrier has now docked in Guam.....USA TODAY NEWS STORY

The US cancelling planned military exercises with the Philippines set to run from May 4th to 15th because of coronavirus concerns.....REUTERS NEWS STORY

The number of coronavirus cases in Russia topping one thousand today with three deaths and 45 recoveries reported.

Iran reporting 32,332 coronavirus cases today with some 2,378 deaths.  The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps setting up a field hospital in Tehran....PRESS TV IRAN

The coronavirus situation leading to communication between two estranged leaders.   The Crown Prince of the United Arab Emirates,  Mohammed bin Zayed, offering support to the Syrian people to deal with Covid-19 in a phone conversation with President Bashar Assad.   In the past the UAE has supported jihadist forces opposing President Assad.....SYRIAN ARAB NEWS AGENCY STORY

The British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the Health Secretary Matt Hancock have both tested positive for Covid-19 and are in self-isolation.

The French Premier Edouard Philippe announcing that the confinement of the French people to their homes will continue until April 15th.

The story of coronavirus in Canada continues to unfold with more than four thousand cases and at the CBC News website full news coverage and an embedded video link to a live video stream from the CBC News Channel.....LINK

Four are dead on a cruise ship that's being denied use of the Panama Canal.   The Holland America Line's MS Zaandam anchored off Panama with dozens of passengers experiencing flu like symptoms.....SKY NEWS UK STORY....BBC NEWS STORY

As of Midnight Eastern US time the total number of coronavirus cases in the USA is 104,205 with 1,701 deaths and 2,525 recoveries......WORLDOMETERS

The worldwide data is 597,304 cases with 27,364 deaths and 131,708 recoveries......

The coronavirus story around the world as reported by BBC News......BBC NEWS CORONAVIRUS BLOG 3/27/2020

In other news.....

The nation of North Macedonia, formerly Macedonia, is now a member of NATO.   NATO Secretary Jens Stoltenberg making the announcement today.    NATO now has 30 member nations.....ANADOLU NEWS AGENCY TURKEY NEWS STORY

An alleged accomplice of Venezuela's ruler Nicolas Maduro is in US custody.     Retired Venezuelan general Cliver Alcala being flown back to the United States by Drug Enforcement Agency agents.   Maduro and other leading Venezuelan officials charged with drug trafficking by the US Justice Department yesterday......REUTERS NEWS STORY

A militant Muslim cleric extradited from Norway to Italy Thursday.     Mullah Krekar, who is Kurdish, is considered a terrorist by the United States.

An Italian court sentenced him to 12 years in prison last year for ties to a Kurdish group linked to Islamic State.

His lawyers fought against his extradition citing the serious coronavirus situation in Italy.

The BBC interprets the story calling him a "fundamentalist cleric" without making reference to Islam....BBC NEWS STORY

"This is an unreleased song we recorded a while back that you might find interesting.   Stay observant, stay safe, and may God be with you".

The message from Nobel laureate and music legend Bob Dylan releasing a 17 minute song called "Murder Most Foul" via You Tube .......VIDEO LINK

That's the way it really is Friday March 27th, 2020.

NEWS SUMMARY-INTELLIGENCE REPORT THURSDAY 3/26/2020

(LIMITED SERVICE WHEN ABLE THROUGH LATE THURSDAY)

The United States now leads the world in the number of coronavirus cases but first......

BREAKING NEWS ISRAELI POLITICS:

The outline of an emergency unity government of various Israeli politicians appears to be taking shape.    The main opposition politician,  former Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Benny Gantz, who heads the Blue and White Party becoming Speaker of the parliament with support from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party and allies.    Expectations are of a government embracing much of Gantz's party and the forces supporting Mr. Netanyahu. 

The leader of the secularist Yesh Atid party that was part of Blue and White with Benny Gantz, Yair Lapid, says that Gantz stole votes in the last election only to give them to Mr. Netanyahu......YNET NEWS STORY

Two rockets landed in the Green Zone of Baghdad early today striking near an Iraqi command center a few hundred meters from the US Embassy which has been the frequent target of rocket attacks....

ASHARQ AL ASWAT NEWS STORY

THE LEADERS OF THE G 20 NATIONS MET IN A VIDEO CONFERENCE FORMAT TODAY......TASS NEWS STORY...RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN PROPOSING A MORATORIUM ON SANCTIONS AGAINST COUNTRIES AFFECTED BY THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC....TASS NEWS STORY...CHINA'S PRESIDENT XI JINPING PUSHING FOR 'STRONGER INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ON ALL FRONTS'....SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST STORY

PRESIDENT TRUMP DISCUSSED THE G 20 CONFERENCE CALL IN HIS NEWS CONFERENCE LATE THIS AFTERNOON.....VIDEO LINK

In New Zealand the man accused of mass murder at two mosques in Christchurch on March 15th of last year entered an unexpected guilty plea today.

Brenton Tarrant was accused of 51 counts of murder and 40 counts of attempted murder.

Tarrant appeared by video link at the hastily arranged court hearing so he could change his plea to guilty.

No sentencing date has been set.....TIME MAGAZINE STORY

A federal judge urged Wednesday by actress Lori Loughlin and other defendants in the "college admissions bribery case" to dismiss charges because of "extraordinary misconduct" by federal prosecutors.

Defense attorneys for the accused arguing that the feds bullied an informant into lying and concealed evidence that would prove the innocence of the defendants.  The story as interpreted by the "New York Post".....LINK

The FBI shot and killed a man described as a "potentially violent extremist" in Missouri.   Timothy Wilson caught in an FBI sting operation where he was led to believe that he would be given an explosive device in a vehicle that would enable him to bomb a hospital.   Wilson said by the FBI to have expressed religious and racial hatred and "anti-government sentiment".

Wilson was said to have been frustrated by the government's policy towards the coronavirus.

More from "The Guardian" in the UK........LINK

The number of Covid-19 cases surged past 80-thousand today as testing picks up across the United States and by late this evening the total was over 85-thousand meaning that the USA leads the world in the number of reported coronavirus cases.   Well over 12-hundred now reported dead with over 1850 recovered from the virus.

THE US TOTALS VIA WORLDOMETERS AS OF 1105 PM EASTERN US TIME TONIGHT ARE 85,594 CASES WITH 1,300 DEATHS AND 1,868 RECOVERED.

Tonight in New York state some 38,977 cases reported with 466 deaths.....In New York City the totals some 23,112 cases with 365 deaths...More than 300 members of the New York Police Department have tested positive for Covid-19 and NYPD says some 3,200 members are now out on sick leave.

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS STORY

New York City reported some 20,011 confirmed cases and 280 deaths as of Wednesday night.     Mayor Bill DeBlasio believes that half the city's population will become sick with most people experiencing minor symptoms......

Last night at 10 pm a one month lockdown began in Washington DC.....

Around the world for a moment, in France today the number of cases up to 29,155 with 1,696 dead.

In Russia the number of coronavirus cases now stands at 840.    In Moscow the only stores allowed to open will be grocery stores between now and April 5th.

Meanwhile Russian medical teams on the ground in hard-hit Italy to help treat coronavirus patients....SOUTHFRONT STORY

The coronavirus story worldwide as reported by the BBC.......BBC NEWS CORONAVIRUS BLOG 3/26/2020

The world wide total of coronavirus cases as of 1105 pm Eastern US time tonight is 531,860 with 24,057 deaths and 122,203 reported recovered.

Commentary on the coronavirus situation posted by Ammon Bundy on Facebook and reposted by activist Gavin Seim.....AMMON BUNDY COMMENTARY REPOSTED BY GAVIN SEIM

Other news today........

The US Justice Department announcing the indictment of the Venezuelan ruler Nicolas Maduro on drug trafficking and "narcoterrorism" charges.    Also accused are others in the leadership of Maduro's government.......AFP NEWS STORY

The US State Department backing up the Justice Department with a 15 million dollar bounty on Maduro and a 10 million dollar bounty for some of the others accused......NEWS STORY FROM THE NATIONAL IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

In a show of strength to China a US warship sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday.    The USS McCampbell, a guided-missile destroyer, transited the strait in what a US Seventh Fleet spokesman a "routine Taiwan Strait transit" in accordance with what "international law allows".

China blasted the action with its Defense Ministry spokesman describing it as something that "interfered in China's internal affairs" and "extremely dangerous" among other things.....REUTERS NEWS STORY

And for now that's the way it really is Thursday March 26th, 2020.

NEWS SUMMARY-INTELLIGENCE REPORT WEDNESDAY 3/25/2020  ISRAELI POLITICAL CRISIS

(LIMITED SERVICE WHEN ABLE THROUGH LATE WEDNESDAY SUSPENDING AT 11 PM EASTERN US TIME)

LATE WORD FROM ISRAEL TONIGHT THAT PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU AND ISRAEL'S LEADING OPPOSITION POLITICIAN BENNY GANTZ OF THE BLUE AND WHITE PARTY HAVE SPOKEN BY PHONE ABOUT ESTABLISHING AN EMERGENCY GOVERNMENT IN THE FACE OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC....HAARETZ NEWS REPORT

The Likud Party Speaker of the Knesset, Israel's Parliament, resigning today.  Yuli Edelstein resigned after the Supreme Court in Israel ordered him to allow a vote for a new speaker by 5 pm today local time.

"The High Court's decision is not based on the law, but on a partisan and extreme interpretation"

was part of the message from Edelstein in his resignation.

The move will allow a majority, including Arab members of the parliament, to assert control over parliament.    The new majority may move legislation that would bar an indicted parliament member like Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from forming a new government and becoming Israel's next prime minister....

YNET NEWS STORY

Israel's "Haaretz"  reports that Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz, who controls the anti-Netanyahu parliamentary majority, will install Blue and White party member Meir Cohen as Speaker and focus on parliamentary control while allowing Netanyahu's caretaker government to remain in existence.....

HAARETZ STORY

Israel's Attorney General says that Mr. Edelstein, regardless of his resignation, is obliged to convene the parliament to vote on his successor as Speaker.......

YNET NEWS STORY

In northwestern Syria today a bridge blown up along the M4 highway being used by Turkish and Russian military forces for joint patrols as part of the cease-fire agreement.....SYRIAN ARAB NEWS AGENCY REPORT

An attack on a Sikh temple in Kabul Afghanistan today with at least 25 now reported killed.    The Taliban has denied any responsibility.  Islamic State has attacked Sikhs in Afghanistan in the past and claimed responsibility for today's attack.......SCROLL INDIA REPORT....BBC NEWS REPORT

FRANCE IS PULLING ITS SOLDIERS OUT OF IRAQ.   THAT WORD FROM IRAQI OFFICIALS.    THEY SAY FRANCE HAS AGREED WITH TO THE TROOP PULLOUT.   FRENCH SOLDIERS FIGHTING IN THE ANTI-ISIS COALITION.   THE CZECH REPUBLIC ALSO PULLING SOLDIERS OUT OF IRAQ.     THE STORY AS INTERPRETED BY TURKEY'S ANADOLU NEWS AGENCY.....LINK

The Pentagon rolling out a ten year plan for the US Marine Corps this week that will involve ditching tanks and reducing infantry while increasing rocket and missile batteries, drones and transport aircraft.

The "reform" of the Marines designed to counter ChinThe ese technological advances....IRISH INDEPENDENT NEWS STORY

Some 68,203 cases of coronavirus reported in the United States tonight at 1045 pm Eastern US time with some 1,027 deaths according to the Worldometers site......WORLDOMETERS

And the 11 pm worldwide totals from the Johns Hopkins dashboard are 470,973 cases worldwide with 21,276  deaths.....

THERE'S BEEN AN UPTICK IN CORONAVIRUS CASES IN SOUTH KOREA IN RECENT DAYS WITH THE SEOUL AREA BEING OF CONCERN.   NEW CASES NOW BEING IMPORTED INTO SOUTH KOREA.......YONHAP NEWS AGENCY SOUTH KOREA

The US military restricting the movement of thousands of personnel in Asia, Europe and the Middle East due to the coronavirus.    Some 10-thousand personnel either in isolation, quarantine or some other restriction in movement.....REUTERS NEWS STORY

Portland, Oregon police noticing a spike in calls related to suicide in recent days.    Perhaps a sign of tensions rising because of the coronavirus situation.   Overall the Portland Police Bureau seeing a ten percent reduction in 911 calls.....OREGON LIVE NEWS STORY

Turkey has detained some 410 people over what the authorities call "provocative and abusive" social media posts about the coronavirus pandemic.....PRESS TV IRAN NEWS STORY

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited patients at a hospital treating coronavirus today wearing a protective suit.   He later spoke about coronavirus in a national speech.   658  cases reported there today.

"Believe me, the safest thing right now is to stay home"

was part of Putin's message.      The Russian President declaring next week a paid national holiday and cancelling a constitutional amendment referendum planned for next month that could have approved an amendment allowing Putin to run for a third term.

The coronavirus story around the world as reported by the BBC......BBC NEWS CORONAVIRUS BLOG 3/25/2020

With the multi-trillion dollar stimulus plan now moving through Congress enroute to President Trump, there was another up day on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average up 495.64 points closing at 21,200.55, a 2.39 percent increase in value today.

That's the way it really is Wednesday March 25th, 2020.

NEWS SUMMARY-INTELLIGENCE REPORT TUESDAY 3/24/2020

(LIMITED SERVICE WHEN ABLE THROUGH LATE TUESDAY EVENING AFTER 11 PM EASTERN US TIME WITH SERVICE SUSPENDED AT 1120 PM EASTERN US TIME)

"the continued refusal to allow or a full vote in the Knesset for the election of a permanent Knesset speaker undercuts the foundations of the democratic process"

The words of Israel's Chief Justice Esther Hayut in her Monday ruling that current parliament Speaker Yuli Edelstein must allow a vote on a new speaker by 5 pm Wednesday.

A majority of the 120 member parliament (Knesset) is poised to replace Edelstein, of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party, as speaker but Edelstein suspended parliament last week.

On Monday night parliament met to establish committees chaired by Benny Gantz's Blue and White Party and other parties supporting it who constitute a majority of the parliament with members supporting Mr. Netanyahu boycotting the meeting.

The end game objectives of the new majority in Israels' parliament will be the election of a new speaker and the passing of legislation that would prohibit a member of parliament under indictment from forming a new government.     This would preclude Benjamin Netanyahu, under indictment and facing trial on corruption charges, from forming the next government.

YNET NEWS ISRAEL REPORT

Conservative Israeli politician and former Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked says she believes that Mr. Edelstein will honor the order of the court and allow a vote on his successor.....JERUSALEM POST

Police in India ending an anti-government protest in opposition to the country's new citizenship law because of its effect on the country's Muslim minority.    Dozens of protesters staging a sit-in in the capital city Delhi.

Authorities citing the ban on public gatherings due to the coronavirus for sending hundreds of riot police to end the protest.    The story as interpreted by Turkey's TRT World....LINK

The United States appointing a special energy representative to Saudi Arabia.   The move comes amid a price war involving Russia and the Saudis that has slashed the price of a barrel of oil in half threatening the US energy industry.

Victoria Coates, a security aide to President Trump, will be based in Saudi Arabia to do her job but her start date for the new post is unknown because of the coronavirus situation.....REUTERS NEWS STORY PUBLISHED BY THE NATIONAL IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES...Word is that the United States is seeking an "oil alliance" with the Saudis.

Russia's navy shadowing two NATO frigates, one Italian the other Canadian, that entered the Black Sea Monday.   NATO conducting land, sea and air military maneuvers near Russia......TASS NEWS AGENCY

In northwestern Syria's Idlib region today a mine (Improvised Explosive Device) explosion as a Turkish military convoy passed.    One Turkish soldier wounded according to one report with the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reporting two Turkish soldiers wounded.   A truck also reported damaged.......SOUTHFRONT STORY

THE NUMBER OF WORLDWIDE CORONAVIRUS CASES MORE THAN DOUBLING IN THE LAST SIX DAYS NOW STANDING AT SOME 422,652 as of 1120 pm Eastern US time.....The number of deaths standing at 18,901.

The total number of coronavirus cases in the US showing at some 52,145 by 5 pm today with the number via Worldometers at 1120 pm Eastern US time tonight 54,823 with  778 deaths reported......

"400 ventilators?  I need 30,000 ventilators.  You want a pat on the back for sending 400 ventilators?  You're missing the magnitude of the problem.......You pick the 26-thousand people who are going to die"......VIDEO LINK

Tough talk from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo at a news conference Tuesday morning saying he expects a quicker spread of the coronavirus and an early peak of cases in New York.

ITS BEEN CALLED THE 'CHINESE VIRUS' BUT A NEW TALKING POINT MAY BE EMERGING ONLINE AND FROM GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS NAMELY:

'THE NEW YORK VIRUS'

THE WHITE HOUSE PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERT FRONTING NEWS BRIEFINGS NOW DR. DEBORAH BIRX SAYS THAT 'NO MATTER WHERE THEY HAVE GONE' ANYONE WHO LEFT NEW YORK SHOULD SELF-QUARANTINE FOR 14 DAYS......CNN REPORT WITH EMBEDDED VIDEO

The Canadian province of Quebec which neighbors New York state registering an increase in Covid-19 cases to 1,013 today.   Four deaths reported there.

"I would love to have the country opened up and raring to go by Easter"   President Trump said during a live "town hall" event on the Fox News Channel this afternoon......NEW YORK POST STORY

A three-week nationwide lockdown imposed in India to prevent spread of the coronavirus......NDTV INDIA NEWS STORY

The ruler of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, says that 10-thousand test kits from Russia have been received.......TASS NEWS STORY....So far the country reports 84 cases of Covid-19.

China's government ending the lockdown in Hubei province tomorrow March 25th and in Wuhan considered to be the origination point of Covid-19 on April 8th.

The leaders of the G20 nations to hold a video conference this Thursday......

In Spain 514 more reported dead today bringing the death toll to 2,696.    The number of coronavirus cases now stands at 39,673....BBC NEWS STORY

The Mayor of Moscow, who heads up Russia's effort against the coronavirus, is saying that all people over age 65 living in major cities with over one million population should be in quarantine....TASS NEWS REPORT

In Switzerland some 8,836 coronavirus cases reported today, 776 more than yesterday.   20 more reported today to bring the total to 86.....TASS NEWS AGENCY REPORT

Some 1,930 cases reported in Israel of Covid-19 where three have died....

The story of the coronavirus around the world today as reported by the BBC.....BBC NEWS CORONAVIRUS BLOG 3/24/2020

Wall Street sharply higher today in early trading following comments online and in person from President Trump suggesting the US will be getting "back to business" soon.    There was a 2,100 plus point gain over 11.3 percent in value on Wall Street today.

Oil prices up a little but still at 24.24 a barrel.   The downward pressure on gas pump prices gaining the upper hand with pump prices here in York, PA moving down three cents a gallon to 2.12.9.

Other news....

A federal lawsuit against US Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina by a shareholder of Wyndham Hotels and Resorts.   The plantiff alleging that the Republican chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee may have committed securities fraud by selling stock ahead of the recent sharp drop on Wall Street triggered by coronavirus concerns.....BREITBART STORY

Russia calling on the United States to lift sanctions on Iran.   The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says its time amidst the coronavirus situation to lift the "anti-human" sanctions against Iran.....TASS NEWS REPORT

Film director Woody Allen's autobiography-memoir that was dropped by one publisher earlier this month has been published by another one.....JERUSALEM POST

That's the way it really is Tuesday March 24th, 2020........