The glaze is applied to a fired stoneware vessel, which is then fired again in a repeated cycle of six stages of heating and cooling where precise temperatures matter a great deal: either over- or under-firing will spoil the effect.

UNESCO: Culture

On December 3rd, Kuwait said a boat belonging to its coastguard was fired on by an Iraqi vessel.

ECONOMIST: No bombs here, honest | The

Mr Smith and Mr Neill had been touring the vessel when Donovan fired six shots from an SA80 rifle in the control room.

BBC: Ian Molyneux inquest: Ryan Donovan had been drinking

Mr Smith and Mr Neill, who announced his resignation from the council on Friday, had been touring the vessel when Donovan fired six shots from an SA80 rifle in the control room.

BBC: George Medals for men who tackled gunman Ryan Donovan

When those efforts failed to deter the approaching vessel, the security team on the Rappahannock fired rounds from a .50-caliber machine gun.

CNN: U.S. Navy ship fires at small boat in Persian Gulf

He confirmed that no vessel with armed guards had been taken over by pirates, and said in several cases guards had fired shots at pirates.

BBC: Somali piracy: Armed guards to protect UK ships