Living in a Bygone Era - Pirates, Sunken Treasure, and Spanish Warships

Yesterday's news was filled with events which could have been reported in the late 1600's.

The International Maritime Bureau issued its annual piracy report, as reported here.  The reports notes a decrease in piracy in the infamous Straits of Malacca but also warns of a dramatic increase in attacks off the coasts of Somalia and Nigeria.  Piracy off the coast of Somalia has been rising in the past several years, prompting increased presence by the U.S. Navy.  A recent encounter between a U.S. warship and these pirates is recounted here.

And, an American vessel was boarded and detained at gunpoint by the Spanish Navy for unlawfully taking treasure from a sunken galleon, as reported here.