Captain Phillips strikes back: off Horn of Africa, pirates go bye-bye?

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We’re not sure why this headline was written in baby-speak, because it’s actually a very grown-up article by the Christian Science Monitor (don’t be put off by the name, it’s a reputable publication in scientific circles) on the declining attractiveness of piracy to many Somalis. Record numbers are in jail, and more than one senior pirate has announced his retirement; but experts warn of a growing complacency in the shipping industry, and with work more difficult than ever to come by in Somali, “we are still eyeing the waters, chances will come”.

Oh, and if you’ve got a spare moment, there’s a rather fun online quiz about pirates – past and present – to have a go at. The Loadstar got 53% right, without Google or Wikipedia.