Ocean

U.S. military says two killed in strike on alleged drug-smuggling boat in eastern Pacific The U.S. military said it killed two people and left a third survivor in its latest strike on an alleged drug-smuggling vessel in the eastern Pacific, expanding a campaign Washington has framed as a fight against “narco-terrorists” operating out of Venezuela. “Two narco-terrorists were killed and one survived the strike,” U.S. Southern Command said in a statement posted on X. It added that the U.S. Coast Guard was notified to “activate…

Somalia approves regional maritime safety pact, gains authority to inspect foreign ships MOGADISHU — Somalia’s Council of Ministers on Thursday approved a regional maritime safety agreement that will allow the country to inspect foreign vessels, enforce international shipping standards and better protect its 3,300-kilometer coastline, marking a significant step in rebuilding oversight of a long-neglected maritime sector. The Cabinet endorsed a Memorandum of Understanding among Port State Control authorities in the Indian…

SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule returned a four-member crew to Earth early after a medical emergency aboard the International Space Station, splashing down safely before dawn off San Diego in the Pacific Ocean. The unscheduled homecoming marked the first time NASA has cut short an ISS mission because of a health issue. The spacecraft, named Endeavour, parachuted into calm seas at about 12:45 a.m. local time, capping a descent of more than 10 hours from orbit and a fiery re-entry through Earth’s atmosphere. Live infrared video…

KAMPALA, Uganda — Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has moved to clarify comments that appeared to assert Uganda’s entitlement to access the Indian Ocean, saying his remarks were about the need for a deeper political federation within the East African Community to ensure shared security and trade. Speaking to Uganda’s national broadcaster on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, Museveni said his earlier comments were anchored in the long-discussed push to elevate the EAC beyond a customs union and common market toward a political…

Mogadishu (AX) — The resurgence of pirate activity in the Indian Ocean alongside a surge of armed robberies in the Singapore Strait has reignited international apprehension regarding maritime safety. These notorious acts now pose a renewed threat to crucial global shipping avenues. Alerts from the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) and the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP ISC) have startled ship operators. They advised boosting ship defenses in these…

The Houthi faction from Yemen claimed on Thursday they went after two ships in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.One of these vessels was American, while the other belonged to a company accused of disregarding the group’s prohibition against entering Israeli harbors.“Our Yemeni Armed Forces conducted two operations,” announced group representative Yahya Saree in a taped declaration. “The first aimed at the American oil ship, OLYMPIC SPIRIT,” he continued, noting it faced an assault in the Red Sea involving 11 ballistic…

Yesterday afternoon, the Pacific Ocean became the stage for a stunning celestial spectacle: an annular eclipse that transformed daylight into a remarkable "ring of fire." This rare phenomenon captivated onlookers, but only those on Easter Island, as well as a small area at the southern extremities of Chile and Argentina, had the privilege of witnessing it directly. The whole event transpired in mere minutes, but its beauty lingered much longer in the minds of observers. What exactly is an annular eclipse? It occurs when the…

Britain has recently declared it will relinquish its claim over the Chagos Islands, transferring sovereignty to Mauritius. However, as described by US President Joe Biden as a "historic agreement," the UK will maintain its military foothold in the Indian Ocean through a significant partnership with the United States. The British administration has faced enduring calls to return the islands to Mauritius for decades. Yet, it has clung to control primarily due to the strategic importance of the Diego Garcia base for American…

China has confirmed the test-launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), marking its first such exercise in decades as it fell into the expanse of the Pacific Ocean. In recent years, China has ramped up its nuclear capabilities and increased its defense expenditure. Back in October 2022, the Pentagon cautioned that China's development of its nuclear arsenal was outpacing United States expectations more swiftly than anticipated. As of May 2023, China reportedly possessed over 500 operational nuclear warheads.…

Every summer, migration flows to Europe increase. Sailing conditions are better than in winter and there are more attempts to cross the Mediterranean. But the journey is still very dangerous: the central Mediterranean, between Libya and Europe, is still the deadliest migration route in the world. In the last seven days, Ocean Viking, the SOS Mediterranean ship, has rescued 572 people at sea.…