Ship fuel costs going through the roof:
Worries about running out of fuel.
Ships now crossing Hormuz via Iranian territorial waters.
Speculation that ships passing by and identified/approved by Iran are free to pass through un-harassed.
Somehow, Iran has now become the sole authority on who can cross.
In what kind of messed up world do we have the US asking Chinese military ships to come to the middle east and un-sanctioning Iranian tankers to carry Russian crude.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/17/business/iran-war-boats-russian-oil.html
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…one where the US has shown itsself to be a paper tiger.
All bluster and shoolyard bully, taking lunch money from kids and then whining because nobody is coming to the party.
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And with absolutely not planning. Being surprised that the Iranians have closed Hormuz is unforgivable. Everyone else on the planet knew the Iranians would do this, but not Trump. Initial strikes should have taken out, or damaged, this capability.
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Like I said. A solution just around the corner is available.
I’m wondering when the Houthis are going to stir up trouble again. They seem to have been suspiciously quiet.
Maybe they are enjoying the luxury of “Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake”? No need to waste energy on fighting when the US is repeatedly kicking itself in the balls.
I wonder if the Houties have popcorn?
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Swiss International Airlines started to reduce personnel. They have too many cabin crew, but not enough pilots and geopolitical situation and oil price. I guess “geopolitical situation” means no flights to Israel and UAE for now, irregular in the medium term.
The cabin crew chiefs are proposing numerous ways to eliminate the staff surplus. Perhaps the most striking is a severance bonus. Anyone who resigns between March 13 and April 30, 2026, and leaves by the end of August at the latest, will receive a lump-sum payment of 15,000 Swiss francs (approximately 16,600 euros) gross, assuming full-time employment.
It will be interesting to see the number of passengers of Zurich airport for Q1 2026. After covid’s end, number went up and up, will the trend continue?
They may have been the first to announce cuts but they won’t be the last. The airline industry is very cyclic and looking to a least a limited downturn.
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Lol … tried making popcorn using rice?
Speculation based on US sensitivities: Houthis are not getting paid now, so no work. Also, uncertain if more money will ever come again from Iran.
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Why yes I have…
But they can’t have any balls yet. the ballroom is still under construction.
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Like 10-15% above the prices before Feb 28. I was yesterday around Wohlen (AG) and at least a couple of gas stations with 1.62 or 1.63/litre of 95.
I guess PhilMCR has to define what a crunch is: 30%, 50%,100%?. 10% doesn’t feel like an energy crunch.
It’s 1.62 round here at the moment, it was 1.52 last week.
Even worse
And the video
What is really happening is that many people expected these things and warned about them, but Donnie ignored them and blithely ran forward.
All the Iranian leaders are dead. How to that help a negotiated settlement?