An oil drilling platform has capsized in the Sea of Okhotsk off Russia’s east coast, leaving four people dead and 49 missing.

PRE-TAX profits at Cork-based international engineering group, Kentech, more than doubled last year to $16.8 million (€12.4m).

Authorities on Russia’s far-eastern Sakhalin Island and nearby territories have evacuated some 11,000 residents from coastal areas in anticipation of tsunami waves unleashed by a magnitude 8.9 earthquake off Japan’s north-eastern coast.

Helicopters and rescue boats rescued 755 fishermen today who were trapped on an ice floe that had broken away from the coast of Sakhalin Island, emergency officials said.

The crew of a tug boat that was seized by pirates off Somalia are unharmed and have access to both food and water, the Danish owner said today.

A strong earthquake hit near Sakhalin island in Russia’s Far East today, reportedly killing one person and sending small tsunami waves to northern Japan.

A 79-YEAR-OLD Japanese man who went missing at the end of World War II and resurfaced nearly six decades later in Russia went back to his homeland to be reunited with relatives.

Further evidence of the UK’s reliance on oil imports emerged today after rig contractor Abbot Group warned of an uncertain outlook for North Sea production.

Investors in Shell were today due to get their first chance to quiz the company since it revealed its reserves crisis.

Hopes were today fading for a Japanese adventurer missing in the Arctic since last week after the Canadian air force called off its search.