Russian claims and activity begin a race for control of the Arctic North.

This timeline tracks the major incidents and sightings of the Chinese cargo ship An Yue Jiang from the time it arrived off South Africa on April 14, 2008. The An Yue Jiang owned by Cosco is carrying a cargo that includes a controversial shipment of weaponry and munitions bound for Zimbabwe and the regime of President Robert Mugabe.

Many African nations, humanitarian groups and the international community do not want these arms reaching Zimbabwe for fear Mugabe will use them to suppress his opposition in the contested and unresolved presidential election, in which both sides claim victory.

Technically China is doing nothing illegal by selling arms to Zimbabwe. There is no United Nations imposed arms embargo. However, with the Zimbabwean political crisis turning more violent, and China already under intense international scrutiny over its human rights track record, Beijing's decision to recall the An Yue Jiang would help it avoid additional controversy and threats of protests leading up to the Olympic Games this summer. It is likely that if the An Yue Jiang's cargo reaches Zimbabwe, China will hear intensified calls for world leaders to boycott the opening ceremony of the Olympics, if not the Games in their entirety.

This timeline represents maritime piracy incidents off the coast of Somalia beginning toward the end of 2006 as the Islamic Courts Union's lost its control over the country.