Slovenia Becomes First EU Country to Introduce Fuel Rationing
March 24th, 2026Ok, it turns out that the answer was ten days…
On a related topic, I was expecting that some diabolical tracking app or other Covid-style pass would be required to manage fuel purchases, but the article states:
Under his government’s new measures, the nationwide restrictions are to be policed by the petrol stations themselves, with employees required to make sure that customers do not stock up on more than the allowed amount of fuel.
This amounts to no meaningful restrictions. People who want more will simply find easy ways to get more.
Obviously, the Slovenian government must realize this.
I wonder if this exercise will be used as a pretext to bring in more abhorrent electronic/biometric rationing systems?
You can hear it now: We tried the honor system, but that obviously didn’t work. For those who would like to purchase fuel, simply download the convenient Palantir/Oracle/Microsoft homunculus onto your phone. Provide your biometric information. With a sufficient social credit score, up to date vaccine status and low enough emissions totals, you’ll be authorized to get the fuel you need to own nothing and be happy.
Via: BBC:
Slovenia has become the first EU member state to implement fuel rationing to tackle disruptions caused by the US-Israeli strikes on Iran and its retaliation on their allies in the Gulf – most major players in world energy markets.
Many countries have been experiencing steep hikes in fuel prices.
In Slovenia, this has resulted in so-called “fuel tourism”, as drivers from neighbouring countries, particularly Austria, take advantage of the lower, regulated prices here.
Under the new measures, private motorists in Slovenia will be restricted to a maximum purchase of 50 litres of fuel per day. Businesses and farmers have a more generous allowance of 200 litres.
Some fuel retailers had already imposed measures of their own. Hungary’s MOL, which operates petrol stations across the region, had already imposed a 30-litre limit.
Volume in Stock and Oil Futures Surged Minutes Before Trump’s Market-Turning Post
March 23rd, 2026Update: Half a billion dollars bet on oil minutes before Trump climbdown
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While the news might be fake, the profits are real.
10% for the big guy?
Those are rookie numbers.
Via: CNBC:
S&P 500 futures and oil futures flashed an unusual burst of activity early Monday minutes before a market-moving social media post from President Donald Trump.
At around 6:50 a.m. in New York, S&P 500 e-Mini futures trading on the CME recorded a sharp and isolated jump in volume, breaking from an otherwise subdued premarket backdrop. With thin liquidity typical of early trading hours, the sudden burst stood out as one of the largest volume moments of the session up to that point.
A similar pattern was observed in oil markets. West Texas Intermediate May futures also saw a noticeable pickup in trading activity at roughly the same time, with a distinct volume spike interrupting otherwise quiet conditions.
Roughly 15 minutes later, at 7:05 a.m., Trump said on Truth Social that the U.S. and Iran had held talks and that he was halting planned strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure. That announcement prompted an instant rally in risk assets, with S&P 500 futures soaring more than 2.5% before the opening bell. West Texas Intermediate futures dropped nearly 6% following the announcement.
Related: They Made a Killing: The Use of Knowledge of Covert Operations in the Stock Market
Trump Postpones Attack on Iran’s Electricity Infrastructure
March 23rd, 2026Update: Trump Says He and the Ayatollah, “Whoever the Ayatollah Is” Might Control the Strait of Hormuz
[???]
President Trump says the Strait of Hormuz could come under joint control with Iran following regime change:
TRUMP: It would be jointly controlled.
REPORTER: By whom?
TRUMP: Maybe me. Me and the Ayatollah, whoever the Ayatollah is! There’ll also be a form of a very serious form… pic.twitter.com/10PyTGZkVq
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) March 23, 2026
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Update: Iranian Media Say No Talks Have Taken Place
Via: Daily Mail:
Iranian state television has boasted Donald Trump has ‘backed down’ in the Iran war after the US President declared a five-day halt in military strikes against energy infrastructure in the country.
Trump announced a pause on attacking Tehran’s energy assets this morning after holding what he described as ‘very good conversations’ about ending hostilities in the Middle East.
But Iranian media say no talks have taken place and Trump has retreated after he issued a 48-hour ultimatum to reopen the partially closed Strait of Hormuz or face power plants being bombed
‘Trump, fearing Iran’s response, backed down from his 48-hour ultimatum,’ read a graphic on IRIB state television.
The financial markets immediately reacted to Trump’s post with the price of oil and gas dropping as stocks rebounded across Europe.
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My guess is that Trump was hoping to get the Iranians to blink by threatening attacks on their electricity infrastructure. That didn’t happen and Iran instead threatened increased attacks on energy, information technology and water desalination facilities in the region.
It’s hard to know what to make of Trump’s statements, since he routinely whipsaws from one position to another. Maybe the intensity of the conflict will remain stable for a few days, or maybe not.
Two U.S. Marine Amphibious Ready Groups remain en route. The USS Tripoli group will be in the region within the next couple of days. The USS Boxer group is still three weeks away.
Via: AP:
President Donald Trump on Monday extended his deadline for Iran to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz to international shipping, saying the U.S. would hold off on strikes against Iranian power plants for five days.
Shortly after Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social site, Iranian state television put up a graphic that read: “U.S. president backs down following Iran’s firm warning.” The reprieve came hours ahead of Trump’s self-imposed deadline later in the day.
Project NOMAD: Knowledge That Never Goes Offline*
March 22nd, 2026* Assuming that you have electricity and an EMP hasn’t destroyed your Project NOMAD server. 🙂
Via: Project NOMAD:
Beware The Energy Shock
March 21st, 2026Via: Peak Prosperity:
President of Mexico: Digital Payments Mandatory for Fuel and Road Tolls This Year
March 21st, 2026Via: The Last American Vagabond:
In an interview with Bloomberg, Romano stated, “The central bank is preparing to publish protocols to drive the adoption of payments sent by mobile phones.”
He noted, “Authorities are studying separate measures that could include eliminating cash payments for some services and products, such as gas stations and toll roads.” [emphasis added]
Romano also emphasized that these changes are being made because in Mexico, “roughly 85% of small transactions are done in cash,” largely due to Mexicans not trusting their government and seeking to avoid taxation. “Easing concerns about how the government assesses income will help,” he said.
President Sheinbaum reiterated the plan to end cash payments for gas stations and toll roads in her speech on Thursday night, stating, “Our goal is that this year we make it mandatory to pay for gasoline and toll booths digitally. This will allow us to promote accessible digital payments that allow us to advance the digitization of the country through many other schemes.”
Energy Lockdowns? It’s Like Covid, But Different
March 21st, 2026Via: Off Guardian:
Sri Lanka and Thailand have already brought in rationing measures. In Vietnam they will be grounding flights, beginning in April, due to jet fuel shortages.
On Friday it was reported that a “global fuel shortage may be just days away”.
Pakistan, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Thailand have also instituted remote work for government employees.
In Denmark, it’s not policy yet, only a suggestion. With government ministers begging – “please, please, please” – not to drive and to reduce their energy usage at home. Australia is going the panic-buying-causes-shortages route.
Bloomberg is warning that the fuel crisis may threaten the global food supply.
It’s all kinda familiar isn’t it…
In case you’re not picking up what we’re putting down here, the Financial Post is warning that…
Oil prices could get high enough to force a COVID-level lockdown
TRUMP TO IRAN: OPEN STRAIT OF HORMUZ WITHIN 48 HOURS OR U.S. WILL ATTACK POWER PLANTS
March 21st, 2026Via: Donald Trump – Truth Social:
If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP
Iran Might Have Intermediate-Range Missiles
March 21st, 2026Via: Daily Mail:
Iran’s ballistic missile strike on a British military base in the Chagos Islands has escalated fears that major European capitals are now within reach of another attack by the extremist regime – with London moving ‘closer to the edge of vulnerability’.
Two ballistic missiles were fired towards Diego Garcia, a base in the Indian Ocean jointly operated by the US and the UK, on Friday night.
The significant escalation in hostilities came as Keir Starmer gave the green light for Donald Trump to use UK-based bombers threatening the Straits of Hormuz.
Sources reported that one of the missiles failed in flight, while the other was intercepted by a US warship in what is believed to be the first ever strike on the military base.
The precise timing of the incident is as yet unknown, though the Government confirmed on Saturday that it took place before Starmer provided the go-ahead to the US – with Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch now accusing the Prime Minister of a ‘cover up’ on the details and questioning why the public were not told ‘sooner’.
Defence experts have suggested the incident is significant in that it marks the first time intermediate-range missiles have been deployed in the conflict – ones that can cover far greater distances than Iranian weapons were previously known to be capable of.
Diego Garcia lies around 3,800km (2,360 miles) from Iran – undermining the regime’s previous assertion that its ballistic missiles could only reach 2,000 km (1,240 miles).
Experts have warned that if Iran has proven its capabilities are far greater, the missile threat could now extend to most capital cities in Western Europe.
This includes Paris, which is 4,198km (2,609 miles) from Tehran, while London lies on the ‘edge of vulnerability’ at around 4,435km (2,750 miles).
“Drones Hovering Above Rubio and Hegseth’s Homes Leave Military Officials Baffled”
March 20th, 2026Via: Independent:
A series of “unidentified” drones have been spotted hovering over the Washington D.C. military base where Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth live, prompting the U.S. government to consider relocating them.
The military is closely monitoring potential threats to senior government figures amid the Trump administration’s war on Iran, but according to a Washington Post report, the origin of the drones that have breached the airspace above Fort Lesley J. McNair remains a mystery.
The newspaper spoke to three people briefed on the matter, who, on condition of anonymity, said multiple sightings occurred on a single night within the past 10 days, prompting an immediate security review and a White House meeting on how to respond.
Related: ‘Multiple Waves’ of Unauthorized Drones Recently Spotted Over Strategic U.S. Air Force Base
