NEWS SUMMARY-INTELLIGENCE REPORT FRIDAY 3/13/2020  NEWSDUMP FRIDAY

(LIMITED SERVICE WITH CONCLUSION LATE FRIDAY-EARLY SATURDAY POSTING ENDING AT 1220 PM UNTIL AFTER 10 PM TONIGHT EASTERN US TIME)

The story of the coronavirus ahead but first.......

The Pentagon says that two aircraft carrier battle groups will be in the Persian Gulf region to counter the threat to US forces in Iraq.......AFP NEWS STORY PUBLISHED BY SAUDI ARABIA'S AL ARABIYA

Iran rejecting the United States assertion of Iranian involvement in the attack on a US base in Iraq this week that killed two Americans and a Briton.  The Iranian foreign ministry spokesman says the US is making "baseless accusations" and "dangerous moves".    He also says that the US should reassess the presence in the region. 

The US announced air strikes yesterday on targets related to an Iraqi militia group with ties to Iran.

PRESS TV IRAN NEWS STORY

The US airstrikes condemned by the Iraqi military saying they were based on a "false pretext" that "leads to escalation".......REUTERS REPORT YNET NEWS ISRAEL

RUSSIA'S RECONCILIATION CENTER IN SYRIA SAYS THAT IN THE 24 HOURS ENDING FRIDAY THERE WERE NO CEASE-FIRE VIOLATIONS IN THE GREATER IDLIB REGION OF NORTHWESTERN SYRIA......TASS NEWS STORY

Russia and China pose a threat to Canada described as a "clear and continuing danger" that includes targeting of the country's electoral process.

That's what a prominent Canadian MP is saying.   David McGuinty chairs the country's intelligence oversight committee.    The BBC reports that the British parliamentary committee has reached similar conclusions and that former Secretary of State and Democrat presidential candidate Hillary Clinton wants the findings made public.....BBC NEWS STORY

President Trump announcing a national state of emergency at the White House this afternoon because of the coronavirus.   The president's announcement helping Wall Street with the Dow finishing more than 9 percent higher at the close.

Republicans and Democrats in agreement on coronavirus legislation expected to pass Congress and be on President Trump's desk next week.

School closings announced today in locations from coast to coast because of the coronavirus.    A shutdown of schools in Los Angeles, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Oregon among other places.

LATE TONIGHT THE NUMBER OF CORONAVIRUS CASES IN THE US STANDING AT 2294 WITH 50 DEATHS REPORTED......LINK

Montana Governor Steve Bullock says his state has its first four cases of coronavirus.

New York has the most cases of any US state now at 421 with 420 cases in Washington state.   

41 cases here in Pennsylvania with most in the eastern part of the state but three in central Pennsylvania's Cumberland County and one in Washington County in the western part of the state.......LEHIGH VALLEY LIVE STORY

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer late Thursday ordered the closure of all K-12 school buildings in the state of  starting Monday in a bid to prevent spread of Covid-19....MICHIGAN LIVE STORY...Ohio also closing all schools in the state with a top health officer there believing that one percent of the state's population is infected with coronavirus.

The federal government's appeal of the dismissal of charges against Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy and other key defendants in the Bunkerville Standoff case is now canceled.

The US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals will not hear oral arguments in Las Vegas March 23rd out of concern over the coronavirus......LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL STORY

In Austria today the announcement that the number of coronavirus cases in the country neighboring hard-hit Italy has risen from 361 to 428 in the past 24 hours.....TASS NEWS STORY

798 cases now reported in the United Kingdom as of Friday afternoon......

79 dead with 3,661 cases in France reported on Friday.....

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro reported to have tested positive for coronavirus but he is denying those reports.

Russia now reporting 45 coronavirus cases.....TASS NEWS STORY

The coronavirus story around the world is being reported on the BBC News blog.....BBC NEWS BLOG CORONAVIRUS

THE US SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ANNOUNCING CHARGES AGAINST A RUSSIAN NATIONAL.  DENIS SOTNIKOV ACCUSED OF LURING INVESTORS INTO BUYING FAKE CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT LEADING TO 26 MILLION DOLLARS OF THEFT FROM INVESTORS, MANY OF THEM ELDERLY PEOPLE.......TASS NEWS STORY

President Trump signing legislation aimed at the Chinese telecom giant Huawei.    The "Secure and Trusted Communications Act" prohibits federal funds from being used to purchase telecommunications equipment from companies deemed to be a threat to national security.

The bill sponsored by both Republicans and Democrats in the House and Senate.....THE HILL STORY

A Pakistani media mogul is in jail over alleged improprieties involving government owned land some 30 years ago.     The arrest of Mir Shakilur Rahman is suspected to be related to government attempts to control and intimidate non-government media in Pakistan......BBC NEWS STORY

Bill Gates stepping down from the board of the company he founded.  Gates leaving the Microsoft board along with the board of Berkshire Hathaway.   He says it will allow him time to focus on philantrophy.....NINE NEWS AUSTRALIA STORY

And that's the way it really is Friday March 13th, 2020.