Russian coastguard sinks trawler

Russian coastguards say they have shot and sunk a Russian trawler suspected of fishing illegally north of Japan.

The authorities say a coastguard aircraft shot it, after a twenty-three hour chase, after it refused orders to stop.

Its captain is reported killed, but twenty-eight crew were picked up.

Yesterday, another Russian trawler fled into Japanese waters after a similar chase, during which it variously flew Russian and Japanese flags.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service