<p><strong>US President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s demands for sanctions relief,</strong> compensation, and control over the Strait of Hormuz in response to a US peace plan, calling them “unacceptable” and warning the ceasefire is close to collapse.</p>

<p><strong>Japan’s household spending fell 2.9% year-on-year in March 2026,</strong> marking the fourth straight monthly decline and coming in worse than the expected 1.3% drop, despite wages continuing to rise. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into the Philippines fell nearly 31% year-on-year to USD 590 million in February 2026,</strong> though they rebounded 33% from January, reflecting cautious investor sentiment amid global risks and high interest rates.</p>

<p><strong>BMI revised its forecast for Philippine household spending growth in 2026 down to 4.4% from 4.5%,</strong> citing inflation at a three‑year high and surging oil prices as key drags on consumer demand.</p>

<p><strong>The Department of Agriculture is bracing for a strong El Niño that is expected to cut farm output by 20–30%.</strong> The measures include climate-resilient seeds, solar-powered irrigation, crop diversification, and rice imports from Vietnam.</p>