(SERVICE WHEN ABLE WITH FINAL POSTING LATE FRIDAY AFTER 9 PM EASTERN US TIME)
LATE NEWS TONIGHT:
POLITICAL POLLING AHEAD OF NEXT TUESDAY'S OFF-YEAR ELECTIONS.
FIRST THE POPULARITY OF PRESIDENT TRUMP THE LATEST RASMUSSEN SURVEY SHOWING 53 PERCENT DISAPPROVING OF HIS PERFORMANCE WHILE 45 PERCENT APPROVE.
ANOTHER POLL SHOWED 49 PERCENT DISAPPROVAL AND 48 PERCENT APPROVAL FOR MR. TRUMP.
IN NEW JERSEY WHERE DEMOCRATS CURRENTLY CONTROL THE GOVERNORSHIP DEMOCRAT MIKIE SHERRILL LEADING REPUBLICAN JACK CIATTARELLI BY MARGINS OF ONE TO SEVEN PERCENT IN RECENT POLLS.
IN VIRGINIA WHERE REPUBLICANS CURRENTLY CONTROL THE GOVERNORSHIP DEMOCRAT CANDIDATE ABIGAIL SPANBERGER LEADING REPUBLICAN WINSOME EARLE-SEARS BY MARGINS OF FOUR, NINE AND TEN PERCENT IN RECENT POLLS.
AND IN THE RACE FOR NEW YORK CITY MAYOR RECENT POLLING SHOWING DEMOCRAT ZORAN MAMDANI WITH LEADS OF 7 TO 25 PERCENT OVER INDEPENDENT ANDREW CUOMO IN A THREE-WAY RACE THAT INCLUDES REPUBLICAN CURTIS SLIWA...REAL CLEAR POLLING LATEST POLLS
President Trump raising the notion of Christianity facing an 'existential threat' in the African nation of Nigeria.
Mr. Trump designating Nigeria as 'a country of particular concern' relating to religious freedom.
This moves the US closer to imposing sanctions.
Historically there have been conflicts between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria but attention has been drawn to them in recent months by activists who support Israel...Associated Press-CBS News USA
CHINA LAUNCHING THREE ASTRONAUTS INTO SPACE FOR THE 16TH CREWED SPACEFLIGHT OF ITS SHENZHOU PROGRAM.
FOUR MICE ALSO ON A SIX-MONTH MISSION AT CHINA'S ORBITAL SPACE STATION...NASA SPACE FLIGHT
The messaging of President Trump tonight is that he wants to provide 'SNAP' benefits providing food for tens of millions of Americans.
But he says he needs legal direction from courts as to how to use emergency funds. Two federal district courts have ruled in favor of continued funding.
Funding for the SNAP program ending at Midnight with the "government shutdown" now underway.
President Trump pointing a finger at Democrats urging the public to contact Democrat US Senators to get them to support legislation for the federal government to spend more money.
Meanwhile some individual states taking their own actions to keep the 'SNAP' benefits going.
New York and California among states shifting emergency funds to the food benefit program...The Hill USA...The Hill USA State Funding Story
TONIGHT, THE NATION OF BELARUS ISSUING A BAN ON LITHUANIAN VEHICLES USING ITS BORDER CROSSINGS WITH LITHUANIA.
THIS IN RESPONSE TO LITHUANIAN BORDER MEASURES INTRODUCED OVER BALLOON TRAFFIC CROSSING ITS AIRSPACE LINKED TO CIGARETTE SMUGGLING.
LITHUANIAN VEHICLES INCLUDING FREIGHT TRUCKS FORCED TO USE BORDER CROSSINGS WITH LATVIA AND POLAND...TASS RUSSIA
A FEDERAL DISTRICT JUDGE IN RHODE ISLAND RULING THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERMENT MUST CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FOOD ASSISTANCE (SNAP) BENEFITS.
THIS IN SPITE OF THE PROGRAM RUNNING OUT OF FUNDS DUE TO THECONGRESSIONAL IMPASSE OVER MORE FEDERAL SPENDING IN WASHINGTON.
THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT EXPECTED TO APPEAL THE RULING...CNBC USA
FBI DIRECTOR KASH PATEL SAYS THE FBI THWARTED A 'POTENTIAL TERRORIST ATTACK' THIS WEEKEND.
FIVE SUSPECTS WERE ARRESTED IN DEARBORN AND INKSTER, MICHIGAN...NBC NEWS USA
Republican leadership will not use the 'nuclear option' in the US Senate to end the filibuster over more federal spending in spite of a call by President Trump to do so...(News Agencies)
THE PENTAGON SAYS THAT THE US IS ABLE TO PROVIDE LONG RANGE TOMAHAWK CRUISE MISSILES TO UKRAINE WITHOUT DEPLETING ITS OWN STOCKPILES.
THREE SOURCES TOLD THIS TO CNN.
US PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WOULD HAVE TO MAKE THE FINAL CALL ON SENDING THOSE CRUISE MISSILES TO UKRAINE...CNN USA
Lithuania says it will block goods from sanctioned Russian energy companies crossing its territory to the landlocked Russian territory of Kaliningrad.
Freight trains regularly carry goods through Lithuanian territory that are inspected by Lithuanian authorities...Tass Russia...
Those trains come through Belarus on their way to Lithuania.
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko says that Western countries are seeking to provoke conflict with this action and potential action against Russian-related shipping in the Baltic Sea...Tass Russia
IN OHIO A REDISTRICTING COMMISSION APPROVING A PLAN THAT GIVES REPUBLICANS THE ABILITY TO GAIN TWO MORE US HOUSE SEATS IN THE 2026 ELECTIONS.
CURRENTLY THE GOP CONTROLS 10 OF OHIO'S 15 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS...THE HILL USA
"The only funds I ever received from Jeffrey Epstein were payments for my legal services based on my hourly rates"
That is attorney Alan Dershowitz reacting to a "New York Times" report about movement of more than one billion dollars related to Jeffrey Epstein following his death in 2019.
Mr. Dershowitz and other high-profile names as well as Russian banks involved in those transfers...The Independent UK
"We're going to have to intervene and use some non-market forces"
That's US Energy Secretary Chris Wright discussing plans to counter China's dominance in rare earths minerals vital for high-tech products.
Wright speaking at a meeting of energy ministers of the G7 nations in Toronto...AFP FRANCE-FRANCE 24
THE 'MIAMI HERALD' AND 'WALL STREET JOURNAL' REPORTING THAT THE US IS POISED TO ATTACK 'MILITARY TARGETS' IN VENEZUELA.
US ATTACKS SAID TO BE POSSIBLE AT ANY MOMENT.
THE TARGETS TO BE ATTACKED LINKED TO DRUG TRAFFICKING ACTIVITY.
THE US HAS CLASSIFIED VENEZUELA'S PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO AS A 'NARCOTERRORIST'. THERE IS A 50 MILLION DOLLAR BOUNTY ON MADURO...MIAMI HERALD STORY (PAYWALL)...OSINTdefender "X"
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS DENIED THOSE MEDIA REPORTS.
The markets today.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average up 40.57 points.
The NASDAQ rose 143.81 points or .61 percent.
Tonight in New York the price of oil closing at 60 dollars 88 cents a barrel up 31 cents...Marketwatch
(THE FOLLOWING STORY MAY BE OFFENSIVE OR DISTURBING)
IN ISRAEL CHIEF MILITARY LAWYER MAJOR GENERAL YIFAT TOMER-YEUSHALMI RESIGNING.
IN HER RESIGNATION LETTER SHE CONFIRMS ORDERING THE RELEASE OF A VIDEO IN A CASE WHERE ISRAELI SOLDIERS ARE ACCUSED OF ABUSING A PALESTINIAN PRISONER WITH MANY BELIEVING IT TO BE ANAL RAPE.
SHE SAID RELEASE OF THE VIDEO WAS NEEDED TO COUNTER 'FALSE PROPAGANDA' DIRECTED AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES IN ISRAEL'S MILITARY.
DEFENDERS OF THE ACCUSED SOLDIERS IN ISRAEL HAVE REPEATEDLY DENIED ANY NOTION THAT THE PRISONER WAS RAPED...TIMES OF ISRAEL
"The Atlantic" magazine reports that top US officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth have moved onto military bases.
This is for security reasons in the aftermath of the assassination of Conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Also moving to a military base White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller...The Atlantic
THE US STATE DEPARTMENT'S OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL WITH A REPORT LINKING THE ISRAELI MILITARY TO 'MANY HUNDREDS' OF POTENTIAL HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS.
THE CLASSIFIED REPORT COVERING ACTIVITIES OF ISRAEL'S MILITARY IN GAZA SINCE AFTER THE WAR BEGAN ON OCTOBER 7, 2023....TIMES OF ISRAEL
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright cancelling a six-day visit to Israel over Israel's refusal to approve a 35 billion dollar natural gas deal with Egypt.
Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen says 'fair prices' must be established for the Israeli customers of Israel's Leviathan natural gas field in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
The Leviathan gas field operated by US energy giant Chevron...Times of Israel
THE UKRAINE WAR AGAINST RUSSIA
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