April 17, 2026
United States:
US Plans 4,000-Acre Hub in Philippines to Boost Supply Chains
The US said it plans to help build a first-of-its-kind industrial hub in the Philippines to boost production of inputs crucial to American supply chains.
The 4,000-acre hub is intended to be “a purpose-built platform for allied manufacturing” and “an investment acceleration hub where the specific industrial activities are shaped by market demand,” according to a State Department statement on Thursday.
Europe:
ECB to Hike Rates in June as 2026 Inflation Jumps, Survey Shows
The European Central Bank will raise interest rates in June as the Iran war drives inflation higher this year, a Bloomberg survey showed.
The quarter-point increase is likely to be the only such move, however, as the conflict won’t cause a long-lasting price shock, according to the April 9-15 poll.
Asia:
Iran Says Hormuz to Open During Lebanon Truce in Boost for Peace
Iran said it would open the Strait of Hormuz for the duration of a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, increasing the prospect of a wider peace deal.
The critical waterway for global energy supplies, which has been shut since the US and Israel starting bombing Iran at the end of February, is now “completely open” for commercial shipping, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X.
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