Oil Falls Further As US Prepares Return Of Diplomats To Mideast Embassies

Rubio In Gulf Says 'Zero Support' For Hormuz Tolls, As IRGC Warns Ships Not Complying 'Will Be Dealt With' Secretary of State Marco Rubio has made some fresh Thursday remarks in Manama, Bahrain after his meeting with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) foreign ministers. "We had a very productive meeting," he acknowledged. The US top diplomat emphasized that "zero support" from Gulf countries for tolls or fees on the Strait of Hormuz, in contradiction to Iran's official stance (and possibly in coordination with Oman, which has provoked US wrath). Pool/file image Oman has remained...

Senators Unanimously Pass Resolution To Withhold Their Own Pay During Shutdowns Authored by Jackson Richman via The Epoch Times, The Senate unanimously approved a resolution on May 14 that would suspend senators’ pay during government shutdowns. The measure, introduced by Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), passed by voice vote and is scheduled to take effect after the November midterm elections. Under the resolution, the Senate secretary would withhold lawmakers’ salaries whenever a government shutdown affects one or more federal agencies. Pay would be released once government funding is restored. Supporters say the proposal is intended...

China Reopens Fuel Export Spigot, Offering Relief To Asian Buyers Beijing is reversing its curbs on refined fuel exports after halting shipments in the opening days of the U.S.-Iran conflict. This move suggests that Chinese domestic inventories are now at comfortable levels, allowing state refiners to reopen the export spigot, even as much of Asia remains gripped by a fuel shock caused by disrupted Gulf energy flows through the Hormuz chokepoint. There was chatter earlier this week that China's state-owned refiners were applying for government permits to resume fuel exports...