Some descendants of those who served with the US Navy based in Cork during the First World War gathered in Cobh yesterday, along with a number of American military personnel, to commemorate the centenary of their arrival there on May 4, 1917.

US naval forces said they have captured five pirates after exchanging fire with them, sinking their boat and confiscating a larger ship.

US Navy officers met today with local Japanese Government officials to explain possible disciplinary action facing the skipper of a submarine that sank a Japanese high school fishing training vessel.