NEWS SUMMARY-INTELLIGENCE REPORT THURSDAY 3/19/2020

(LIMITED SERVICE WHEN ABLE THROUGH LATE THURSDAY WITH SERVICE SUSPENDED AT 1130 PM EASTERN US TIME)

Two Turkish soldiers killed by jihadists in northwestern Syria.    That's what the Russian Reconciliation Center representing the Russian military presence there says.   Turks and Russians conducting joint patrol operations there as part of a cease-fire.....TASS NEWS STORY

German police staging raids in ten of the country's 16 states aimed at a "far right. anti-Semitic" group.   Police say they seized firearms and propaganda in the raids....BBC NEWS STORY

Former Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell filed suit last week against Epstein's estate seeking money for legal fees and security arrangements.

In her suit, Maxwell states she had no knowledge of any "alleged misconduct" by Epstein.  Epstein convicted of child sexual abuse and accused of child sex trafficking.

More from the BBC....BBC NEWS STORY

Russia's Foreign Minsitry says the United States is engaging in a campaign of lies alleging that Russia had killed dozens of Turkish soldiers in recent fighting in northwestern Syria that led to a cease-fire deal for the area negotiated by the Russian and Turkish presidents.    US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made the allegation during a Wednesday media briefing......TASS NEWS STORY

AT 1115 PM EASTERN US TIME TONIGHT THE  WORLDOMETERS STATS FOR CORONAVIRUS IN THE US STAND AT 14,322 CASES WITH 218 DEATHS.   THE INFORMATION IS CONSTANTLY UPDATED......WORLDOMETERS CORONAVIRUS USA

California Governor Gavin Newsom issuing a "stay at home" order to prevent coronavirus spread.  Newsom citing an estimate that some 25 million Californians could be sickened by the virus, some 56 percent of the population.   20-thousand more hospital beds would be needed than the state could provide under such a scenario.....REUTERS NEWS STORY....ABC 7 LOS ANGELES EMBEDDED VIDEO LINK

The death toll from coronavirus in Italy now 3,405 making Italy's death toll the highest of any nation in the world.     Some 41,035 cases now reported in the country.

The healthcare system in Italy operating under extreme conditions as reported by Sky News in the UK.....VIDEO LINK

Covid-19 in France now stands at 10,995 cases with 372 deaths.    France's leading opposition politician the National Rally's Marine Le Pen calling for an 8 pm curfew in the country.

Coronavirus in Israel continues to spread with the total number of cases now at 677 and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu imposing emergency restrictions........ISRAEL NATIONAL NEWS RESTRICTIONS STORY

Russia reporting the number of coronavirus cases now up to 199.........TASS NEWS AGENCY

The coronavirus and Walmart cutting hours and limiting purchases of various items ranging from baby food to eggs effective today.    The operating hours of Walmart stores now cut to 7 am to 830 pm each day......BUSINESS INSIDER STORY

The BBC blog follows the coronavirus story worldwide today.....BBC NEWS CORONAVIRUS BLOG

Markets today with the Dow Jones Industrial Average up some 188 points to move over the 20,000 mark and oil rising a dollar a barrel to close at  26 dollars and 33 cents.

That's the way it really is Thursday March 19th, 2020.