In the Nation

BOSTON - A Massachusetts chemist accused of deliberately faking test results on drug samples in criminal cases was indicted Monday on 27 charges, state Attorney General Martha Coakley said.

Annie Dookhan, 35, of Franklin, was indicted by a grand jury on 17 counts of obstruction of justice, eight counts of tampering with evidence, perjury, and pretending to hold a college degree.

"We allege that Annie Dookhan tampered with drug evidence and fabricated test results on multiple occasions," state Attorney General Martha Coakley said. "Her alleged actions have sent ripple effects throughout the criminal justice system."

Dookhan's lawyer, Nicolas Gordon, did not immediately return a call seeking comment on the indictment. Dookhan is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in Suffolk Superior Court. - AP

DES MOINES, Iowa - A 115-year-old Iowa woman's granddaughter says the woman has died less than two weeks after inheriting the title of world's oldest person.

Dina Manfredini's granddaughter Lori Logli says Manfredini died Monday morning. Logli wouldn't elaborate on her grandmother's cause of death.

Manfredini lived at the Bishop Drumm Retirement Center in Johnston. Guinness World Records confirmed she inherited the title of world's oldest living person less than two weeks ago. Bessie Cooper of Georgia previously held the title at age 116.

Guinness spokesman Robert Young says a Japanese man is believed to now hold the title. Jiroemon Kimura was born on April 19, 1897, which makes him just 15 days younger than Manfredini. Young says Kimura, of Kyotango in Kyoto, also is believed to be the second-oldest man in documented history. - AP

MIAMI - Five Jamaicans who have been drifting on a small boat in the Caribbean for three weeks were rescued Monday by a cruise ship, authorities said.

The Island Princess ship brought the group on board, Princess Cruises spokeswoman Susanne Ferrull said. Ferrull did not immediately know their condition or ages.

The Island Princess left Fort Lauderdale a week ago and was scheduled to arrive Tuesday in Ocho Rios, Jamaica.

The passengers on the boat told cruise workers they were on their way to a barbeque and ran out of gas, Ferrull said. The boaters asked the cruise workers to give them fuel so they could continue on their way, but the cruise workers said they don't do that. The cruise workers took the boaters aboard and notified officials in Jamaica. - AP