Crude oil prices for front-month settlements declined on Friday as demand concerns seemingly rattled the markets after China, the world’s largest oil importer, unexpectedly implemented an interest rate cut in an effort to stimulate its economy. Furthermore, data revealed that oil imports to China declined by 10.7% in June on a yearly basis, while imports of refined products fell by 32% during the same period, seemingly fueling uncertainty regarding the demand for oil in the Asian powerhouse. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for September settlements dropped 2.18% to go for $76.41 per barrel at 10:53 am ET. Brent for September deliveries fell 2.15% to $80.55 a barrel..

Hamas on Friday rejected Israel’s latest proposal for a hostage release deal before they had a chance to see its contents, according to a report citing Israeli, Palestinian and Egyptian sources. The latest Israeli proposal fell short of meeting the Palestinian jihadists’ key demand of unrestricted return of Palestinians to northern Gaza, according to the officials cited by Reuters. Israeli authorities are reluctant to greenlight this in the knowledge that Hamas terrorists would infiltrate those areas of the enclave civilians would return to. “The messages from Hamas are bizarre because we haven’t sent it yet, nobody has read it yet. Even the negotiators haven’t got it yet. They will read it before transferring it to Hamas for their reaction,” said an unnamed Israeli official. In a speech to the U.S. Congress on Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel was engaged “in intense efforts” to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza. NN: Of course Hamas won’t cave…. Why should they. When they have a friend in Kamala.

Former United States President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party’s candidate in the upcoming election, it was confirmed on Friday. On her social media, Harris released a video of herself having a telephone call with the Obamas during which the two affirmed their support. “We called to say, Michelle and I couldn’t be prouder to endorse you and do everything we can to get you through this election and into the Oval Office,” the former president said, and his wife added that “the country needs a happy warrior.” Their endorsement came amid some public comments calling on the ex-First Lady to join the race herself.

United States President Joe Biden (pictured right) met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) and expressed the need to “close the remaining gaps” between Israel and Hamas and reach a ceasefire deal in Gaza “as soon as possible.” Biden also “raised the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the need to remove any obstacles to the flow of aid and restoring basic services for those in need, and the critical importance of protecting civilian lives during military operations,” according to the White House. He reiterated Washington’s “ironclad commitment” to Israel’s security, including against Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen. NN: Ironclad….. What joke. America has betrayed every country that trusted them since Viet Nam. Israel will be no different  especially if the faghad comes to power. There should  be no negotiations with terrorists…. except to negotiate where their bullet-riddled bodies are buried

An unnamed senior Israeli official said United States Vice President Kamala Harris’ comments about the situation in Gaza could jeopardize hostage release and hurt the efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement, the Times of Israel reported on Friday. “Hopefully the remarks Harris made in her press conference won’t be interpreted by Hamas as daylight between the US and Israel,” the official said. Disagreements between Israel and the US would ultimately lead to an increasing risk of an escalation in the region, the official stressed. Commenting on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s meeting with US President Joe Biden at the White House on Thursday, the senior official described it as productive and said it helped efforts to reach a hostage deal. Harris, who also met with Israel’s prime minister, expressed her support for a ceasefire in Gaza but also raised concerns over the humanitarian situation in the war-torn enclave. NN: Mssss Harris the ultra Sanfagsico lefty commie liberal idiot  is threat to mankind

White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said on Thursday that the Biden administration recognizes that Iran is providing financial support for certain demonstrations against Israel taking place in the United States. “We do know that Iran has been funding and encouraging some of the protest activity here in the US, some of it,” Kirby told the press. “We do not believe all the protest activity out there on a daily basis is being fully funded by Iran.” Kirby’s comments come after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the US Congress during yesterday’s address that Iran was funding pro-Palestinian protests in the country.

The leader of Yemen’s Houthi movement, Abdul-Malik Badruldeen al-Houthi  claimed on Thursday that the group will increase joint operations with the Iraqi militia to confront Israel. “The Zionist enemy continues its savage, brutal aggression and genocide war in Gaza for the forty-second week. The Israeli massacre of Palestinians in Khan Younis is horrific,” the leader said during a televised speech. He further emphasized that Yemen’s assault on Tel Avivdefense exposed Israel’s “vulnerability to drone attacks.” Al-Houthi also pledged that the militia would persist in targeting Israel and vowed to respond to the latest Israeli strikes near Hodeidah.

United States Vice President Kamala Harris is massively more favored among young voters over Republican presidential nominee, former US President Donald Trump, an Axios/Generation Lab poll released on Thursday showed. When asked to choose between President Joe Biden, who withdrew from the race, and Trump, 53% of the respondents aged 18-34 picked the Democrat and 47% the Republican. However, when choosing between Harris and Trump, she got 60% of the support compared to the GOP nominee’s 40%. Furthermore, 45% of the young participants have a favorable view of Harris, while only Trump and Biden are seen favorably by 34% and 33%, respectively. The poll was conducted after Biden dropped his bid. NN: Trump has a BIG problem here. 

Poll: Trump leads Harris in four swing states

Former United States President and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is leading Vice President and presumptive Democratic nominee Kamala Harris in four swing states, while the two are tied in Wisconsin, a new Emerson College Polling/The Hill poll showed on Thursday. In Arizona, 49% of the respondents would vote for Trump over Harris, while 44% would support her. The GOP also candidate had a 2 point lead in Georgia and Pennsylvania and a one-point lead in Michigan. Meanwhile, Trump and Harris have 47% support each in Wisconsin, with the remaining respondents undecided. However, despite trailing Trump in most swing states, Harris performed better than US President Joe Biden had done in an Emerson College poll from earlier this month before he decided to pull out of the race.

The United States believes the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas is in the “closing stages,” AFP reported on Wednesday citing a senior US official. The official added the Biden administration thinks a deal can be reached following months of hostilities and negotiations. The report comes amid Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the US. According to the official, the ceasefire proposal includes the gradual release of some of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas over 45 days. US President Joe Biden is expected to meet with Netanyahu on Thursday to work on resolving the remaining issues.

Israel hits 60 targets across Gaza in one day

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Thursday that its forces destroyed over 60 military objectives allegedly used by resistance groups across different areas of the Gaza Strip. The IDF claimed these targets were hit in just one day using fighter jets, attack helicopters, and drones, adding these strikes to 50 more reported on Tuesday. The army increased offensive operations in Khan Younis, Rafah, and Netzarim Corridor area after ordering evacuations in Khan Younis but still was not enough to avoid civilians casualties. Additionally, it stated that one soldier was “moderately injured” and two were “lightly injured” after gunmen shot from a vehicle close to the Nabi Ilyas area in the West Bank. The perpetrators of the shooting have not yet been found.

Hamas: Netanyahu showed he doesn’t want ceasefire

Member of Hamas Political Bureau Izzat al-Risheq said on Wednesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech before the United States Congress showed that he does not want a ceasefire deal to be reached. Al-Risheq underlined that Netanyahu’s address is “a party of lies and disdain for the world’s minds.” Addressing the Congress, the Israeli prime minister said that Hamas “wants Palestinian civilians to die,” claiming that there were “practically none” civilian casualties in Israel’s strikes on Rafah. He also stressed that the war in Gaza could end “tomorrow” if Hamas “surrenders,” but emphasized that Israel will fight until “total victory” if the militant organization declines to do so.