Context Dispatch

Kanloan Volcano in Negros Oriental erupted early Tuesday, emitting a thick gray plume that rose 4,000 meters above the vent before drifting west and southwest. Pyroclastic density currents descended the southern slopes toward La Castellana, as seen through visual and thermal camera monitoring. The eruption also ejected large ballistic fragments that ignited vegetation near the summit. Thin ashfall was reported in La Carlota City, Bago City, and La Castellana. Communities within the 6-kilometer danger zone have been evacuated since the eruption in December. Alert Level 3 remains hoisted, which means another explosive eruption that may even generate lava flow could happen in the coming weeks or months.

Cope Thunder PH 25-1, a joint exercise between the Philippine Air Force and the US Pacific Air Force, began on Monday, April 7, in Clark, once the largest Air Force base outside the US mainland. Scheduled to run through April 18, the exercises will take place at key training locations in Northern Luzon. The US will deploy 729 personnel and various aircraft, including FA-50PH, A-29B Super Tucano, and S70i Blackhawk helicopters, while the Philippines will send 250 personnel and 12 F-16 fighter jets. Observers from Australia, Japan, Indonesia, and Malaysia will also participate. The exercises aim to enhance joint operational readiness and underscore the strengthening defense ties between the two allies amidst China’s growing military presence in the region.

The Bureau of Customs’ Enforcement and SecurityService (ESS) celebrated its 37th anniversary with a report highlighting significant accomplishments in border protection and anti-smuggling operations.

American drug companies, led by Moderna and Novavax, suffered significant stock market losses on Monday after the top vaccine official of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced his resignation.

Myanmar reported that the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck its second-largest city, Mandalay, on Friday killed at least 144 people and injured 732 more. A 6.4 magnitude aftershock also caused further damage to buildings and infrastructure. Myanmar's ruling junta welcomed international assistance to help hasten recovery from the disaster. In neighboring Thailand, a state of emergency was declared, and Bangkok was designated as a disaster area. Thai authorities confirmed that eight people were killed by the earthquake, with one of the most horrifying images being the collapse of a high-rise building still under construction.