Largest and deepest ocean, spanning from Arctic to Antarctic
The US military conducted a strike on a vessel suspected of drug trafficking in the Eastern Pacific, killing at least 163 people since September 2025. The operation, justified as targeting narco-traffickers, faces legal and ethical scrutiny due to lack of evidence and concerns over extrajudicial killings.
Experts are monitoring a high likelihood of a strong El Niño developing this summer, which could lead to record global temperatures in 2027. The phenomenon may cause extreme weather events worldwide, including droughts and heavy rainfall, with a 62% chance of a super El Niño persisting into the end of the year.
NASA's Artemis II mission has successfully returned after sending four astronauts farther into space than any humans have traveled since 1972. The Orion capsule Integrity has splashed down off Southern California on April 11, completing a 10-day journey around the moon. The mission has tested critical systems for future lunar landings planned for 2028 and marked historic firsts for crew diversity.
The Trump administration has maintained its campaign of attacking vessels in Latin American waters suspected of drug trafficking, resulting in at least 181 deaths since September. The military has not provided evidence that these vessels carry drugs, and critics question the legality of the strikes amid ongoing regional tensions.
The US has continued its campaign against vessels it identifies as drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. Officials say several vessels have been destroyed with fatalities reported, though no public evidence has been released linking the targets to drug cargo. The White House asserts the actions are lawful and part of an armed conflict with cartels; critics call the strikes illegal and indiscriminate.
Chinese military vessels have completed training in the Western Pacific and are returning through the Yonaguni-Iriomote Waterway. This follows recent Chinese carrier transits through the Taiwan Strait, with Taiwan maintaining surveillance. Tensions are escalating as China asserts sovereignty over the region, while Japan and the US monitor closely.
The World Meteorological Organization and European agencies have released their 2025 State of the Climate findings saying at least 95% of Europe has recorded above-average annual temperatures, marine heatwaves and more than 1 million hectares burned by wildfires; glaciers and snow cover have lost mass and the Greenland ice sheet has contributed to sea level rise.
The blue micromoon is visible this Sunday, visible as a calendar blue moon and a micromoon. It will appear about 6% smaller than an average full moon and is not blue in color. Peak fullness is around 6:45 pm local time.
Cristina has formed in the Eastern Pacific with 45 mph winds, guiding heavy rainfall across Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. Boris is approaching Mexico’s Pacific coast with 40 mph winds, threatening flash floods and mudslides in Guerrero and Oaxaca. Forecasters warn landfalls and life-threatening weather this week.
NOAA has confirmed El Niño, forecasting it may become one of the strongest on record, with widespread weather disruptions. The pattern is expected to heighten heat globally, trigger extreme events, and influence economies and food systems as nations brace for shifting climate impacts.