BEIJING, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- The following were the top 10 events around the world in 2009 as selected by Xinhua:
1. International naval forces jointly battle Somali pirates
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The Nivose, a French Navy frigate, carrying 11 Somali pirates, is seen arriving at the port of Mombasa April 22, 2009. The pirates will be handed over to the Kenyan government this afternoon. The U.S. pledge to hunt down the fortunes Somali pirates amassed from capturing ships on the high seas may score political points but is unlikely to yield much bounty, experts say.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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Piracy continued to be rampant off the Somali coast in 2009. Nearly 40 vessels were hijacked and 500 crew members onboard have been held hostage so far this year.
China sent its first escort mission to the Gulf of Aden off Somalia on Jan. 7. Its fourth mission is now part of a multinational coalition of warships patrolling the pirate-infested area.
On Nov. 6-7, naval officers from Russia, India, the European Union, Japan and the multinational Combined Maritime Forces met in Beijing to coordinate their efforts to protect ships from Somali pirates.
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The pirates armed with rocket launchers and heavy machine guns aboard the ship "Zhenhua 4".(Xinhua Photo)
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China's escort fleet completes 150 missions in Somali waters
GULF OF ADEN, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- China's naval fleet has completed 150 missions after escorting 14 vessels to protect them from possible pirate attacks in Somali waters on Sunday.
The 11 Chinese and three foreign ships, including Yongsheng, Zhen Hua 14, Anning and Apollo, arrived peacefully in the waters of the eastern Gulf of Aden under the escort of China's missile frigate Ma'anshan and supply ship Qiandaohu. Full story
U.S. Navy hands over 17 suspected Somali pirates to Kenya
MOMBASA, Kenya, June 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Navy handed over 17 suspected Somali pirates to Kenyan authorities on Wednesday against the backdrop of foreign warships stepping up naval patrols off the coast of Somalia.
With the handover of the suspects, who were aboard a U.S. Navy ship Gettysburg, the total number of Somali pirates transferred to the Kenyan authorities increased to 24 since Monday. Full story
Special report: Yearender 2009
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