NEWS SUMMARY-INTELLIGENCE REPORT SUNDAY 3/21/2020

(FINAL POSTINGS WILL BE TOWARDS MIDNIGHT EASTERN TIME)

The coronavirus news later but first........

In Colombia tonight at least 23 reported dead, others injured in a prison riot.   83 were also injured in what is being called an attempted breakout from the La Modelo prison in the capital city of Bogota.

Protests reported at prisons across the country Sunday decrying overcrowding and poor health services in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak......BBC NEWS STORY

"If it doesn't take steps to hold accountable those responsible for the attacks on coalition forces, which are there at the invitation of the Iraqi government, the US will be forced to continue to protect our forces proactively"

US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Schenker held a conference call with the media on Friday to discuss recent attacks on US and allied forces in Iraq......AL-MONITOR NEWS STORY

The US announced a realignment of its forces in Iraq Friday to use fewer bases in the country.

Fighting continuing in Libya between forces of the UN recognized and Turkish backed Government of National Accord and the forces of the Libyan National Army of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar backed by the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.

The LNA forces are trying to seize control of the capital Tripoli from the GNA.    There's currently talk of a humanitarian cease-fire in the country but that has not materialized yet.

This news report from the Turkish government owned Anadolu News Agency mentions a rocket attack launched today by the LNA that killed one civilian and injured two others....LINK

Police in Germany have made an arrest of a 51 year old man accused of tampering with railroad tracks.      The sabotage was discovered by train operators who noticed a difference in the tracks on a high speed rail line right before a bridge.  The damage could have caused trains to derail and or plunge off the bridge.

No specific motive mentioned by the German police but the words "possible attack attempt" were used.....BBC NEWS STORY

IN SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE TODAY AN EARTHQUAKE IN THE NATION OF CROATIA.    THE 5.4 QUAKE LATER REPORTED 5.3 CENTERED SOME SIX MILES FROM THE CAPITAL CITY OF ZAGREB.  INJURIES AND DAMAGE  REPORTED WITH PEOPLE WHO WENT OUT INTO THE STREETS BECAUSE OF THE QUAKE URGED TO MAINTAIN 'SOCIAL DISTANCING' BECAUSE OF COVID-19.....AL JAZEERA QATAR NEWS STORY.....BBC NEWS STORY

"We are in the midst of the toughest epidemic we have seen since the Middle Ages.    Most countries are on the verge of losing control, including advanced countries such as Germany, France-and soon the United States as well"

That's the stark assessment of Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking in an Israeli television interview Saturday night.   Netanyahu also warned Israelis that tougher control measures might be needed to prevent the  spread of Covid-19....ISRAEL NATIONAL NEWS STORY

"Americans have said several times they are ready to help with treatment and medicine; just ask us and we will help.   This is one of the weirdest things which they tell us to ask them.   Firstly you have a shortage of yourself and this is what American officials say.  Secondly, you are accused of producing the virus.    I do not know how true this accusation is, but when such an accusation is made, which wise person will ask for your help?"

Those words spoken today in a televised address by Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as he called the United States "the most evil enemy of the Iranian nation".....PRESS TV IRAN NEWS STORY

The Covid-19 statistics from the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University as of 1140 pm Eastern US time tonight:

336,000 cases worldwide

33,276 cases in the USA

14,641 deaths reported worldwide

417 deaths reported in the USA

New stats from New York state tonight 15,793 cases statewide with 117 deaths.....In New York City those numbers 10,745 cases and 99 deaths....NEW YORK DAILY NEWS STORY

Earlier  New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced 15,168 cases of Covid-19 in New York state today with 9,045 cases in New York City....QUARTZ STORY

Some 38 individuals including prison guards, staff and prisoners have tested positive for the coronavirus at New York City's Rikers Island prison.

And a famous inmate transferred from Rikers to an upstate New York prison near Buffalo recently is reported to have tested positive for Covid-19.    The Niagara Gazette reporting that movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, convicted of rape and sexual assault and sentenced to 23 years, did test positive.

Also word tonight that US Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky, has tested positive for the coronavirus.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel going into self-isolation after a doctor who gave her a vaccination tested positive for Covid-19.      Merkel's isolation began after she held a news conference announcing a ban on groups of two or more people.....DEUTSCHE WELLE STORY

A shutdown of non-essential services ordered in Australia because of coronavirus....BBC NEWS STORY

India moving into a shutdown mode as well involving a halt to railroad and bus services across India's states with some localities shutting down businesses deemed non-essential....NDTV INDIA NEWS STORY

Russian doctors, specialists and equipment flying to Italy today to help that nation combat the coronavirus......TASS NEWS STORY 

The coronavirus story around the world as reported by the BBC.....BBC CORONAVIRUS BLOG

Vice-President Mike Pence and his wife have tested negative for the coronavirus.    The testing done after a member of Pence's staff tested positive for Covid-19.

Qatar is providing 150 million dollars worth of coronavirus assistance to the Gaza Strip.   The territory ruled by the militant group Hamas reported its first two coronavirus cases this weekend....The government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu routinely allows cash assistance to Gaza from Qatar to the consternation of conservative third parties not affiliated with his Likud Party....ISRAEL NATIONAL NEWS STORY

Qatar Airways is providing free flights to transport medical aid to Iran.   More from Saudi Arabia's "Al Arabiya".....LINK

Venezuela reported closing gas stations to ration dwindling gasoline supplies as a quarantine to prevent the spread of the coronavirus is shutting down the country......BNN BLOOMBERG NEWS STORY

A plane load of medical equipment and supplies from China has arrived in the Czech Republic in recent hours to help with the fight against Covid-19.......SPUTNIK NEWS RUSSIA REPORT

Most markets in Asia down in Monday trading so far with Dow Futures down some 4 percent or 774 points near midnight Sunday.

Russia has launched dozens of satellites into space for the UK based "One Web" venture.  One Web now has some 74 satellites in space designed to be part of a network to eventually blanket the whole world providing internet service....TASS NEWS STORY.....BBC NEWS STORY

And that's the way it really is Sunday March 22nd, 2020.