News: The price of oil, the activation of the industrial shield in the Basque Country and the indefinite strike in Tubos Reunidos
A summary, in two words, of what will be news in the Present today.
Today, 12 March 2026, the main media headlines are as follows:
- Oil price: In the last few hours there have been attacks on several ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Rising tensions have had an immediate effect on the energy market. Brent barrel, a reference in Europe, has again exceeded $100. At the same time, the US has announced that it will release 172 million barrels of its strategic oil reserve.
- Activation of the industrial shield in the Basque Country: Euskal Government has announced at the meeting of the Industrial Defence Group that its Government is preparing "a first package of measures" to deal with the effects of the crisis caused by the attacks on Iran initiated by the US and Israel. The President has stressed that the conflict over Iran is "the greatest energy and logistics threat to the Basque industry since 2022."
- Indefinite strike at the Tubos Reunidos plantin Amurrio: Tubos Reunidos have called an indefinite strike since 16 March to demand the rejection of the employment regulation dossier (ERE) imposed by the management and the other measures proposed.
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The maximum income for access to protected rental housing will be increased to €46,463
The Basque Government will approve tomorrow, with the Decree on Urgent Measures , the "social shield" in the area of housing . Among other things, the fee to be received by the owners will be 700 euros and higher in tense areas.
LAB will call for measures to ensure a "decent life" in housing, public services, pensions and wages
He has called 26 demonstrations for the First of May and has denounced that Pradales "has become a more antisocial and authoritarian copy of Urkullu."
Talgo has signed a $756 million contract to produce a new railway fleet in Sweden
With this contract, Talgo's order book has reached EUR 6.5 billion, the highest in its history.
The doctors at Donostia Hospital and Txagorritxu will not be overtime in the afternoon shift from today
On the other hand, the Zumarraga Hospital will join the protest from 27 April and the hospitals in Bizkaia from 27 May. They have decided to take this new step in view of the fact that the strike in force "has not caused any anger".
Oil has risen more than 5%, to $95, and European stock exchanges are expected to fall
The conflict between the United States and Iran has escalated again in the early hours of this Monday, affecting the price of oil. Tension has increased in the Strait of Hormuz when the US struck an Iranian cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman that was trying to overcome the blockade imposed by Washington on Iranian ports.
Doctors at Zumarraga Hospital won't do overtime in the evenings from April 27
This is a new "pressure measure" promoted by the United Medical Organization for its Rights (MUD), which is in addition to the monthly strike by doctors with the aim of achieving a framework statute and, at the same time, making improvements that can already be implemented by the Autonomous Communities.
They call for investments in Bilbao and Vitoria to prevent the dismantling of public health
Public healthorganizations 68 have held demonstrations in Bilbao and Vitoria-Gasteiz with the support of EH Bildu, Podemos and Sumar and various trade unions, in which they have also called forthe resignation of Health Counsellor Alberto Martínez .
ELA, LAB and ESK Trade unions will challenge the ERE of Tubos Reunidos
Another Friday, the workers of Tubos Reunidos have demonstrated in Amurrio and the members of the works council have expressed their disappointment at the decision of the Labour Inspectorate. Three unions, ELA, LAB and ESK, have already announced that they will challenge the ERE next week.
The GDP of the Basque Country recorded an annual growth of 2.2 per cent in the first quarter, an increase of 0.5 per cent over the previous quarter
The Basque economy has maintained its growth rate in 2026, driven by construction and services.
The Basque Government sees "some comfort" in the health negotiations and fears the consequences for assistance
The Health Adviser, Alberto Martínez, has warned of the difficulties that the situation creates for patients and citizens and has called for greater responsibility on the part of the parties involved. He has acknowledged that he has no information or participation in theongoing negotiations. He has warned that this situation is creating uncertainty and difficulties for patients and the care system.