NEWS SUMMARY-INTELLIGENCE REPORT THURSDAY 5/14/2020

Developments unfolding today in the Justice Department probe of insider trading involving members of the US Senate......

US Senator Kelly Loeffler, Republican from Georgia, has turned over documents to the FBI in connection with the investigation of stock sales by Loeffler and her husband who is chairman of the New York Stock Exchange.....BUSINESS INSIDER STORY

Now under FBI investigation Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr is stepping down temporarily.   That word from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell today......BUSINESS INSIDER STORY

Senator Burr of North Carolina has turned his phone over to the FBI who came to his home with a search warrant.   An investigation is underway into US senators selling off stocks based on their knowledge of the coronavirus situation.......THE INDEPENDENT UK NEWS STORY

The FBI has also talked to Senator Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California, about her husband's stock sales in recent months.    She is reported to have provided written answers.....NEW YORK POST STORY

A US warship transiting the Taiwan Strait Wednesday.

The guided missile destroyer USS McCampbell making the journey through the waterway between Taiwan and China.   US Pacific Fleet calling it "part of ongoing operations in the Indo-Pacific".....VOICE OF AMERICA NEWS STORY

ANNEXATION OF JUDEA AND SAMARIA, COMMONLY CALLED THE 'WEST BANK', WAS NOT THE TOP ISSUE DISCUSSED IN US SECRETARY OF STATE MIKE POMPEO'S EXTRADORDINARY TRIP TO ISRAEL THIS WEEK.    A US OFFICIAL SAYING PRIORITIES WERE CHINA AND IRAN AND THE CORONAVIRUS.......TIMES OF ISRAEL NEWS STORY   (COMMENT)  THE ANNEXATION NOTION LEAKED TO MEDIA TO PACIFY CONSERVATIVE ISRAELI OPINION WHICH WAS PROMISED ACTION ON ANNEXATION BY BENJAMIN NETANYAHU IN THE LAST ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

A new government in Israel with less conservative and religious power.   The "moderate" Blue and White Party getting a majority of some 30 cabinet ministries with the Labor Party even getting one.      The Conservative Yamina Party being pushed to the side and split up.     One of its leaders Rabbi  Rafi Peretz lured into the government with a shift from being Education Minister to being Jerusalem Affairs Minister......ISRAEL NATIONAL NEWS....There's a delay in swearing-in the new government until Sunday reportedly because of problems Mr. Netanyahu is having in distributing the cabinet posts among discontented members of parliament.

In Southern Syria the Syrian Army getting ready to launch operations in Daraa where there have been attacks on the military and police in recent months from jihadist forces.  The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a pro-opposition group, reporting on Syrian military plans and publicizing street demonstrations by jihadist sympathizers....SOUTHFRONT STORY

Russia sending humanitarian aid to North Korea.    25,000 tons of wheat arriving there on a cargo ship today......TASS NEWS REPORT

The coronavirus story in the USA and a big night in Wisconsin last night as the lockdown in that state was shut down by a 4-3 Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling.    Restaurants and bars quickly reopening in response to the ruling.    Some localities like Milwaukee and Dane County, where the state capital of Madison is located, with local restrictions in force......CBS CHICAGO NEWS STORY

Illinois reporting 3,239 new cases of Covid-19 today.    This has been a week when Illinois has seen record numbers for daily increases in cases and deaths.....NBC CHICAGO REPORT

The coronavirus story around the world as reported by BBC News today......BBC NEWS CORONAVIRUS BLOG 5/14/2020

And that's the way it really is Thursday May 14th, 2020......