Italian cruise ship Costa Allegra, adrift in the Indian Ocean after a fire in the engine room left it powerless overnight, was being towed Tuesday by a French vessel to the Seychelles islands. The liner is sister ship to the wrecked Costa Concordia.
Four American citizens and two Somali pirates were killed Tuesday after US military forces attempted to rescue the hostages who were seized by pirates three days earlier on their yacht, the S/V Quest, in the Indian Ocean.
A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 struck off the coast near India's Nicobar Islands on Sunday, sparking a tsunami warning that was later lifted, the US Geological Survey and local officials said.
A Kenyan-flagged fishing boat, was hijacked by suspected Somali pirates Tuesday, along with its 16-member crew. The European Union's Atalanta anti-piracy naval mission voiced fears that the vessel could be used as a "mother ship" for future attacks.
A Russian naval destroyer seized 29 suspected pirates off the coast of Somalia, Russian news agencies have reported, quoting defence ministry officials. Guns and satellite navigation equipment were found during a search on their boat.
A United Nations donors conference in Brussels to help Somalia boost internal security met its target, with $250 million pledged in aid. Restoring stability in the war-torn state is key to helping end pirate attacks off its coast.
Maritime piracy makes a comeback as the number of attacks on foreign vessels in the Gulf of Aden increases: a French skipper is killed in one rescue mission. Addressing another subject, French lawmakers reject an Internet anti-piracy bill.
The pirates who infest the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean come from a variety of backgrounds but all have elements in common: the same equipment, the same modes of attack, and a common set of rules.
One hostage was killed during a French Army operation to rescue five civilians held by Somali pirates aboard their yacht, according to a statement from the French president's office. The other four crew aboard the Tanit have been freed.
