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US-Iran Peace Proposal Received, Oil Prices Soar
US and Iran Receive Peace Proposal, Iran's Stance
The United States and Iran have received a framework for a temporary ceasefire plan to end hostilities. However, Iran has stated it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz as part of a temporary ceasefire. A senior Iranian official added that Tehran won't accept deadlines as it reviews the proposal. The peace plan involves a two-tier approach with an immediate ceasefire followed by a comprehensive agreement. The Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary, Maria Theresa Lazaro, confirmed on Thursday, April 2, after a phone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Aragchi, that Iran will allow "safe, unhindered, and expeditious passage" of all Philippine vessels, energy sources, and Filipino seafarers through the Strait of Hormuz. Secretary Lazaro noted that this positive development is vital for the Philippines, as it would not only ensure the safety of Filipino seafarers but also help secure the country's energy needs.
Oil Prices Climb Amid Middle East Supply Disruption Fears
Oil prices have climbed as fears of supply disruptions in the Middle East grow. Crude oil surged, with Brent reaching $110 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) over $112 per barrel. Prices had already surged in the previous session, with Brent gaining 8% and WTI 11% respectively. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump and other officials cast the rescue of an American airman in Iran as an 'Easter miracle'. Trump also framed the operation in religious terms, portraying the war as a just cause and divinely blessed.
Filipino Women Having Fewer Children, Rappler Wins SEC Case
A Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) survey shows women in the country are having fewer children. The PSA's 2025 National Demographic and Health Survey shows the country's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) fell to a record low of 1.7 in 2025, down from 1.9 in 2022 and 2.7 in 2017. The PSA defines TFR as "the average number of children a woman would have by the end of her childbearing years if she were to bear children at the current age-specific fertility rates." Elma Laguna, Director of the University of the Philippines Population Institute, says this reflects decades-long efforts to address overpopulation. The survey also shows 57.3% of married women said they want no more children, while only 13.4% want to have another child within two years and 16.2% want another child beyond two years.
Rappler Wins Against SEC Shutdown Order
It's final: The Supreme Court ends the case stemming from the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) shutdown order against Rappler. The case was closed because the SC division granted the Office of the Solicitor General's (OSG) request to withdraw its motion for extension. The motion for extension asked the high court to give the OSG additional time to file a legal challenge against a Court of Appeals (CA) decision. That CA ruling voided the SEC's shutdown order against Rappler. International human rights lawyer Amal Clooney says, "This is an important victory for Maria Ressa and journalists across the Philippines. I welcome the position taken by the Solicitor General in this case and the court rulings recognizing the paramount importance of the press in a free society." Clooney is representing Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa. Of the many cases filed against Rappler and its officials in recent years, only one remains pending. Ressa and ex-Rappler researcher Reynaldo Santos' appeal of their June 2020 cyber libel conviction is still pending before the SC.
*Source: YouTube: Rappler (2026-04-06)*
