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APRIL 3 - APRIL 9, 2026 Volume 20 - No.14 • 16 Pages 611 North Brand Blvd., Suite 1300, Glendale, CA 91203 • Tel: (818) 9379981 • (818) 937-9982 • (213) 250-9797 • info@asianjournalinc.com
Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
Philippines opens Iran energy talks, DATELINE USA but Hormuz passage remains unclear Los Angeles County FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
leads California’s domestic outmigration as structural pressures mount
by Cristina Chi Philstar.com
MANILA, Philippines — Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro said Wednesday, April 1, she has discussed "energy cooperation" with Iran, but it remains unclear
whether the talks addressed the current top concern for Manila: securing fuel shipments through the volatile Strait of Hormuz. Lazaro shared her meeting with Iranian Ambassador Yousef Esmaeilzadeh in a social media post, saying both sides were “committed to deepening cooperation… particularly
Leadership change follows mounting controversy around department direction, with reporting pointing to the handling of Epstein-related records as a central pressure point.
by AJPress
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump removed Pam Bondi as U.S. attorney general on April 2, 2026, reshaping leadership at the Department of Justice and endForeign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro (L), Iranian Ambassador Yousef Esmaeilzadeh (C) and Energy Secretary Sharon Garin (R) hold talks April 1, 2026 DFA/Released
Peso rebounds from record low on hopes for Mideastwar deescalation by Ian Nicolas P. Cigaral Inquirer.net
MANILA, Philippines — The peso rebounded from all-time lows on Wednesday, gaining at the close of a shortened trading week, as the US dollar weakened on hopes of deescalation of the Middle East war. The currency strengthened by 58.8 centavos to settle at 60.16 per dollar, recovering from Tues-
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Trump removes Pam Bondi as U.S. attorney general, elevates Todd Blanche in interim shift at Justice Department
Residents leaving Los Angeles County are increasingly relocating to Texas, Arizona, Nevada, and Florida as housing costs, affordability pressures, and shifting economic conditions reshape migration patterns. LOS ANGELES — New estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Finance show that Los Angeles County continues to post the largest numeric population decline of any U.S. county, underscoring its central role in California’s ongoing domestic outmigration. As of early 2026, the county’s population is estimated at about 9.7 million, down from
energy cooperation." The talks were also joined by Energy Secretary Sharon Garin. "Building on the momentum of our Political Consultations last November 2025, we are committed to deepening our cooperation across all fronts, particularly energy cooper-
day’s record-low close of 60.748. Trading was brisk, with volume rising to $2.7 billion from $1.6 billion in the previous session, ahead of market closures for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. The US dollar slipped as expectations of a ceasefire grew after President Donald Trump signaled that the United States could end its military campaign against Iran within two to three weeks. n
‘Governent may need to pass P400 billion extra budget’ by Neil Jayson Servallos Philstar.com
MANILA, Philippines — The government may need to pass a P400-billion “Bayanihan 3” supplemental budget to keep the economy afloat, as the escalating Middle East conflict threatens to completely choke off the country’s oil supply, Sen. Win Gatchalian warned yesterday. Speaking to reporters, Gatchalian revealed that based on projections by the Senate PROTECT committee, a massive
legislative intervention would be the only way to fund the state’s survival if vital maritime chokepoints – aside from the Strait of Hormuz – shut down completely. The House of Representatives is also moving to craft a “Bayanihan 3” measure in response to the ongoing oil crisis, but unlike its pandemic-era predecessors, the new package will go beyond direct cash aid toward long-term structural reforms, chairman
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USTR flags ‘widespread’ Philippine customs corruption by Logan Kal-El M. Zapanta Inquirer.net
MANILA, Philippines — Corruption remains a sticking point in trade between Manila and Washington, with the United States Trade Representative (USTR) again flagging irregularities across Philippine institutions as a major trade barrier. In its 2026 National Trade Estimate report, the USTR described corruption in the Philippines as “pervasive and longstanding.” The agency warned that graft and bribery could disrupt markets and “frustrate broader reforms and economic stabilization programs.”
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