NEWS SUMMARY-INTELLIGENCE REPORT WEDNESDAY 3/11/2020 TRUMP ADDRESSES CORONAVIRUS, AMERICANS KILLED IN ROCKET ATTACK IN IRAQ

(LIMITED SERVICE WHEN ABLE THROUGH LATE WEDNESDAY WITH THIS SUMMARY STARTED JUST BEFORE MIDNIGHT TUESDAY)

There's been an attack on a military base in Iraq with two Americans and a Briton killed but first....

President Trump addressing the coronavirus situation tonight with a speech announcing a travel ban from Europe effective Friday at midnight. 

The President said that the European Union has not done enough to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Also announced a program of small business loans to help businesses affected by the coronavirus and the President called on Congress to act quickly to provide tax relief via a payroll tax cut.    That's the tax that funds Social Security.

More on coronavirus later with updated figures for Wednesday evening in the US and other nations.

Another rough day on Wall Street with a nearly six percent drop in share value.     The market is now down 20 percent from its peak and officially a "bear" market.

In Iraq two Americans, one military, one a civilian contractor are dead along with a British soldier in an attack on the Taji base north of Baghdad.     12 wounded in the rocket attack.     Some 18 rockets fired at the base.   An investigation underway.   More from the BBC.......BBC NEWS STORY

Late word tonight of retaliatory airstrikes in the Syria-Iraq border region that killed 18 Iraqis who are members of the Popular Mobilization Units.....PRESS TV IRAN NEWS REPORT

A 23 year prison sentence for movie mogul and longtime Democatic Party donor Harvey Weinstein in New York today.   Weinstein convicted of rape and sexual assault charges.

Appearing in court in a wheelchair following recent treatment for heart disease Weinstein expressed "deep remorse" and said he was "totally confused" by what was happening to him.

The story as reported by "NBC News"......LINK

The controversial federal law to spy on Americans known as FISA (Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act) which was used to launch the "Russia collusion" probe against President Trump will remain largely intact thanks to the joint efforts of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Minority leader Kevin McCarthy.

Agreement being reached on a deal that would save the spying law before current powers expire this Sunday March 15th.

The two leaders deal is described in this "National Review" report as the work of "moderates" and "centrists" as in Pelosi and McCarthy.....NATIONAL REVIEW REPORT

THE TURKISH PRESIDENT RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN VOWING TO KEEP HIS COUNTRY'S BORDERS TO EUROPE WIDE OPEN TO ALLOW MIGRANTS TO ENTER UNTIL HIS DEMANDS ARE MET.     HE SAID THAT THE GREEK RESPONSE OF USING TEAR GAS TO REPEL THE MIGRANTS IS COMPARABLE TO THE ACTIONS OF 'NAZIS'

ERODGAN ALSO SAID THAT THE SYRIAN GOVERNMENT IS VIOLATING THE CEASE-FIRE IN NORTHWESTERN SYRIA AND THAT TURKEY WILL TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT ITS MILITARY FORCES THERE.....AFP NEWS AGENCY-EURACTIV TV REPORT....AL MASDAR NEWS REPORT.....HURRIYET DAILY NEWS TURKEY REPORT

The World Health Organization officially labeling the coronavirus situation as a "pandemic" today.

The head of the WHO warning against "panic" and "giving up" on fighting against Covid-19.

The number of coronavirus cases in the United States reported Tuesday night at 1,004 with at least 31 deaths.   Johns Hopkins University compiling the statistics on cases with the New York Times reporting on the death toll.

"The Hill" publishing this story late Tuesday......LINK

THE NEW STATISTICS OUT TONIGHT REVEAL 1,311 CASES IN THE UNITED STATES WITH 38 DEATHS......

These latest stats from Johns Hopkins give Washington state a total of 273 on Tuesday night and 373 cases tonight which would be the equivalent of some 69-thousand cases in a nation with the population of China.   Coronavirus now in China at some 80,700 cases with 24 new cases in the last 24 hours.

In the Persian Gulf oil kingdom of Bahrain there are 195 cases of Covid-19 reported.   That nation with a population of just 1.5 million.

Norway is now reporting 629 cases and with its population of about five and a half million those 629 cases equal 163,000 cases in a nation with the population of China.

Spain at over 2,277 cases today with 55 deaths......

German Chancellor Angela Merkel saying that up to 70 percent of the German population may contract Covid-19....

French President Emmanuel Macron speaking to France Wednesday evening saying current measures are enough for the moment.     There are now 48 dead in France with 2,281 cases.

The Johns Hopkins worldwide coronavirus map is at the link......CORONAVIRUS MAP

The BBC News coronavirus blog......BBC NEWS BLOG CORONAVIRUS

THE BANK OF ENGLAND ANNOUNCING A PRIME LENDING RATE CUT FROM .75 PERCENT TO .25 PERCENT ALONG WITH A LOOSENING OF CAPITAL RULES TO PROVIDE LENDING SUPPORT TO THE BRITISH ECONOMY AMIDST TURMOIL ON FINANCIAL MARKETS MUCH OF IT RELATED TO THE CORONAVIRUS.

Venezuelan riot police attacked a protest in the capital city of Caracas Tuesday.   The march led by the country's Interim President Juan Guaido.     Thousands trying to reach the national legislative building.   The legislature taken over by members supporting the regime of Nicolas Maduro.

Three members of the legislature supporting Guaido arrested by police in a raid yesterday with two released and one still detained.......REUTERS NEWS STORY

"Between a two and a three.  More like a three though"

That's how Russia's President Putin sees relations between the US and Russia on a scale of one to five when asked by Russia's news agency Tass.........TASS NEWS REPORT

That's the way it really is Wednesday March 11th, 2020.