NEWS SUMMARY-INTELLIGENCE REPORT THURSDAY 4/23/2020

(SERVICE WHEN ABLE THROUGH LATE THURSDAY)

AN OVERWHELMING VOTE IN THE HOUSE TODAY TO APPROVE THE SPENDING OF 484 BILLION DOLLARS RELATED TO THE CORONAVIRUS WITH MOST OF IT GOING INTO WHAT'S CALLED A 'PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM' FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.

THAT PROGRAM BEING REPLENISHED AFTER QUICKLY RUNNING OUT OF MONEY, SOME OF IT GOING TO LARGE RESTAURANT CHAINS.    ITS THE FOURTH CORONAVIRUS SPENDING BILL TO MOVE IN CONGRESS IN THE LAST MONTH OR SO.......

FIVE NO VOTES ON THE LEGISLATION FOUR OF THEM REPUBLICANS ANDY BIGGS OF ARIZONA, KEN BUCK OF COLORADO, JODY HICE OF GEORGIA AND THOMAS MASSIE OF KENTUCKY.

DEMOCRAT ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ OF NEW YORK ALSO VOTING NO.   REPUBLICAN JUSTIN AMASH OF MICHIGAN VOTING PRESENT......THE HILL STORY

The French Interior Minister prefers to call the violence in Paris suburbs in recent days "sporadic tensions" not "riots".     Police have made 12 arrests in the Paris region.

Appearing on BFM-TV today Christophe Castaner said the violence that followed the accident involving a biker and police has increased in intensity but does not rise to the level or a major incident.

Castaner also said it does not justify any deployment of the army in the area.

MORE DEVELOPMENTS FROM IDAHO WHERE MOTHER SARA BRADY WAS ARRESTED TUESDAY.

HER CHILDREN AND OTHERS CAME TO A PARK CLOSED UNDER THE MARTIAL LAW CORONAVIRUS RESTRICTIONS IN THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNED STATE.

A PROTEST YESTERDAY OUTSIDE THE HOME OF THE POLICE OFFICER WHO MADE THE ARREST WITH ACTIVIST AMMON BUNDY AMONG THOSE THERE.

BRADY EXPLAINED AFTER HER RELEASE FOLLOWING HER ARREST THAT SHE THINKS SHE WAS SINGLED OUT FOR ASKING THE COPS TOO MANY QUESTIONS....VIDEO LINK

VICE-PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE EMPHASIZING THE NEED FOR "SAFELY AND RESPONSIBLY" ACTING TO REOPEN ANY BUSINESSES IN THE UNITED STATES.

PENCE WAS ON THE 'RUSH LIMBAUGH SHOW' TODAY POINTING LISTENERS TO FIND THE PRESIDENT'S 'GUIDELINES' FOR ANY KIND OF REOPENING OF BUSINESS IN THE COUNTRY.

PRESIDENT TRUMP EXPRESSING DISAPPROVAL OF GEORGIA GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP'S DECISION TO ALLOW BUSINESSES TO REOPEN IN HIS STATE IN THE COMING DAYS.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AT THE WHITE HOUSE WEDNESDAY EVENING THE PRESIDENT SAID IN PART:

"I TOLD THE GOVERNOR OF GEORGIA, BRIAN KEMP, THAT I DISAGREE STRONGLY WITH HIS DECISION TO OPEN CERTAIN FACILITIES WHICH ARE IN VIOLATION OF THE PHASE 1 GUIDELINES FOR THE INCREDIBLE PEOPLE OF GEORGIA"

TRUMP ALSO SAID FINAL DECISIONS ARE ULTIMATELY UP TO THE GOVERNORS.   GEORGIA WILL ALLOW GYMS AND BOWLING ALLEYS, BARBERSHOPS AND HAIR SALONS,  MASSAGE THERAPISTS AND TATOO PARLORS TO OPERATE AS EARLY AS FRIDAY WITH RESTAURANTS AND MOVIE THEATERS OPENING UP MONDAY.....BUSINESS INSIDER STORY

The unemployment situation reflected in statistics showing 4.4 million more claims for unemployment last week in the United States.   "Politico" offers its view of the unemployment situation in the USA in the midst of the economic shutdown.....LINK

THE OIL PRICE OF WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE STOOD AT 17.70 A BARREL MID-DAY TODAY.....

PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TWEET ABOUT 'SHOOTING DOWN' IRANIAN NAVY SHIPS THAT HARASS US NAVY AND COAST GUARD VESSELS IN THE PERSIAN GULF APPEARS TO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO KEEPING THE OIL PRICE OUT OF NEGATIVE TERRITORY IN RECENT DAYS......

The commander of Iran's  Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, General Hossein Salami, downplaying Trump's tweet.   He says Iran is not going to target US vessels unless they threaten the safety of Iranian military or commercial ships....PRESS TV IRAN NEWS STORY

THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESWOMAN SAYS THAT THE US MILITARY IS KEEPING MUM ABOUT WIDESPREAD INFECTION OF US SOLDIERS IN SYRIA WITH COVID-19.....TASS NEWS REPORT

In Syria the Turkish military shelling Syrian army positions in the Greater Idlib region.    Its apparent retaliation for Syrian artillery attacks on jihadist forces that have been supported by the Turkish military in northwestern Syria.....SOUTHFRONT STORY

The military situation in Libya has shifted in favor of the Government of National Accord in its fight with the Libyan National Army in recent months. 

The French newspaper "Le Monde" reporting that one deciding factor comes from the drones provided by Turkey.    The Turks have ramped up military support for the GNA and through drones and air defense systems they have impeded the ability of the United Arab Emirates to fly in support for the LNA.....MIDDLE EAST MONITOR STORY

Israel's politics with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrapping up details of a new unity government that will bring in the Labor Party, parts of Benny Gantz's Blue and White along with Netanyahu's Likud and Israel's religious parties.    One party dissatisfied and not committed to joining up is the more conservative Yamina Party.   Yamina said to be insisting on looser coronavirus restrictions in the country as its conditions for joining.....ISRAEL NATIONAL NEWS STORY

AN INVESTIGATION IN ISRAEL BECAUSE OF AN APRIL 4TH INCIDENT WHERE POLICE SHOVED AN INNOCENT BYSTANDER IN JERUSALEM'S MEAH SHEARIM NEIGHBORHOOD.    MEAH SHEARIM IS ONE OF THE ORTHODOX JEWISH NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE RESIDENTS FOUGHT BACK AGAINST COVID-19 MARTIAL LAW THAT CLOSED OFF THEIR COMMUNITIES FROM THE REST OF ISRAEL AND CONFINED RESIDENTS INSIDE THEIR HOMES.....ISRAEL NATIONAL NEWS STORY

"not the end phase but still just the beginning"

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's assessment of the coronavirus situation saying that people will have to live with the virus "for a long time"......BBC NEWS STORY

France will begin nationwide distribution of masks May 4th ahead of the planned relaxation of house arrest in the country on May 11th. (BFM-TV Google Translation)

The coronavirus story world-wide today as reported by BBC News on its blog.....BBC NEWS CORONAVIRUS BLOG 4/23/2020

In other news.....

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Four police officers at a traffic stop in Australia killed by a oncoming truck.      The car driver they had detained took pictures of the scene and posted them online.     The incident happened on Melbourne's Eastern Freeway.......ITV NEWS UK STORY

And continuing into the night more on a special "Nextrush Unplugged" DC 19 special post....NEXTRUSH UNPLUGGED: DC 19 SPECIAL POLITICAL DISTRACTION FROM THE BIG SPENDERS, IDAHO LEADS THE WAY IN RESISTANCE

And that's the way it really is Thursday April 23rd, 2020.