South Korea to Raise Sunken Sewol Ferry

South Korea said Wednesday it plans to raise the ferry that sank last year and left more than 300 people dead. The government approved a request by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to salvage the ship from the seafloor, which President Park Geun-hye had already promised last week during a memorial service marking the first anniversary of the tragedy. Authorities and families of victims are hoping that lifting the ferry will help determine the cause of the sinking and possibly recover some of the nine bodies still missing. The effort is expected to cost between $91 and $137 million and may take up to 18 months, the oceans ministry said.