Piracy-related developments

Current hostage crisis: A British man taken hostage with his wife by Somali pirates almost three months ago has said he fears the couple could be executed within days.

Paul Chandler, who was kidnapped with his wife Rachel Chandler on October 23 when pirates boarded their yacht in the Indian Ocean, also said the pair were being treated like "captive animals."

"They've lost patience. They set a deadline of three or four days. If they don't hear then they say they will let us die," the 59-year-old told Britain's ITV News.