Pacific

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…

The US military said a strike on an alleged drug‑trafficking boat in the eastern Pacific killed four people, a development that has reignited scrutiny of an increasingly aggressive counter‑narcotics campaign that has left more than 87 dead and exposed deep fractures in Washington over rules of engagement and accountability. The episode comes amid sustained controversy over an incident in early September in which US forces struck the wreckage of a vessel that had already been disabled, killing two survivors. That earlier…

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…

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.…