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Rising Tensions Leave Ships Stranded in Key Oil Passage

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz ⁠was closed for a fourth day on Tuesday, choking off a key artery accounting for about 20% of global oil and gas supply. Greece’s Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Vassilis Kikilias, has raised urgent concerns over an increasingly alarming situation in the Strait of Hormuz, where dozens of vessels remain stranded amid escalating conflict involving Iran. He emphasized the need to safeguard global shipping and protect seafarers as the strategic waterway—responsible for roughly 20% of global oil and gas flows—remains closed for a fourth consecutive day.  The closure has disrupted international trade routes and heightened anxiety across the maritime sector. Greek authorities have urged shipowners to exercise maximum caution and avoid high‑risk zones in the wider Persian Gulf region as tensions continue to rise. The prolonged shutdown underscores the vulnerability of global supply chains to geopolitical instability and highlights th...

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Greek Workers Unite in Nationwide Strike for Wage Reform

On April 9, 2025, Greece witnessed a nationwide strike that brought the country to a standstill. Public and private sector workers staged a 24-hour walkout, demanding higher wages and the reinstatement of collective bargaining rights. The strike disrupted essential services, grounding flights, halting trains, and tying up ferries at ports. Public transport in Athens operated only part-time, while thousands of protesters gathered in the capital and other cities to voice their demands.

The strike comes amid rising living costs, with food, housing, and utilities becoming increasingly unaffordable for many households. Despite a cumulative 35% increase in the minimum wage to €880, workers argue that their purchasing power remains insufficient. Labour unions are calling for immediate pay raises and the restoration of annual bonuses that were scrapped during Greece's financial crisis.

This collective action highlights the growing frustration among workers as they struggle to make ends meet in the face of economic challenges. The government has promised further wage increases but cites fiscal constraints as a barrier to meeting all demands.


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