Russian trawler sinks; at least 43 dead

Russian trawler sinks; at least 43 dead

MOSCOW

A freezer trawler with an international crew of 132 sank this morning in the Sea of Okhotsk off of the Kamchatka Peninsula, and at least 43 crew members died, rescue workers said.

The emergency services in Kamchatka, citing the head of the rescue operation, said 63 crew members were rescued and the fate of the remaining 26 is unknown.

The emergency services said more than 25 fishing boats were helping to rescue the crew members of the Dalny Vostok trawler. No cause for the sinking was given.

Educators convicted in cheating scandal

atlanta

In one of the biggest cheating scandals of its kind in the U.S., 11 former Atlanta public-school educators were convicted Wednesday of racketeering for their role in a scheme to inflate students’ scores on standardized exams.

The defendants, including teachers, a principal and other administrators, were accused of falsifying test results to collect bonuses or keep their jobs in the 50,000-student Atlanta school system. A 12th defendant, a teacher, was acquitted of all charges by the jury.

The racketeering charges carry up to 20 years in prison. Most of the defendants will be sentenced Wednesday.

Obama signs order on cyber sanctions

WASHINGTON

President Barack Obama on Wednesday authorized a new U.S. government approach to deterring cyberattacks: financial sanctions against malicious overseas hackers and companies that knowingly benefit from the fruits of cyberespionage.

The latter category could include state-owned corporations in Russia, China and elsewhere, setting the stage for major diplomatic friction if the sanctions are employed in that way.

The order was the latest attempt by his administration to come up with options short of direct retaliation to deal with a growing cyberthreat coming from both nations and criminal groups.

Oil platform engulfed, killing 4 workers

MEXICO CITY

A huge ball of flames engulfed an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday, killing four people and sending terrified workers leaping into the sea.

State-run oil company Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex, said there was no evidence of a major oil spill following the blast, which also injured 16 workers, two seriously, and forced the evacuation of 300.

Firefighters were still working to put out the fire, which was consuming the oil that was on the platform, Pemex Director General Emilio Lozoya said late Wednesday afternoon. He said the cause of the fire was still being investigated, but it appeared to be something mechanical.

35 dead in Yemen

SANAA, YEMEN

Saudi-led coalition warplanes bombed Shiite rebel positions Wednesday across Yemen as a missile strike on a dairy factory killed 35 workers, authorities said, as both sides disputed who fired on it.

Wednesday’s strikes marked a week of airstrikes by the Saudi-led campaign, which aims to weaken the Shiite rebels known as Houthis and forces allied with them, largely fighters loyal to Yemen’s deposed leader Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Since their advance began last year, the Houthis have overrun Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and several provinces, forcing President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi to flee the country.

Associated Press