Gary Connery, a 42-year-old Briton, has made the biggest drop without a parachute in history after being ejected from a helicopter and landing 2,400 ft below. A special “airstrip” of cardboard boxes was set up for him, while the film stuntman wore a special ”wingsuit” that imitates bird flight. The jump, near Henley-on-Thames in England, was watched by a crowd of thousands. No one had attempted a similar feat before, and Connery says he had trained for several years before tackling it.
Four Russian bikers detained in Baghdad over visa problems
Four Russian bikers have been arrested in Iraq for alleged visa violations. The bikers from Moscow, St. Petersburg and Tula were traveling through the Middle East when they were detained in Baghdad on May 20th. Russian media sources say the men are now in a military prison in the Iraqi capital after Russian diplomats intervened to have their detention conditions eased. Members of the St. Petersburg motorcycle club said the bikers had done the paperwork properly before the tour.
Sanctions cost Syria $4 billion – minister
Syria's oil minister has acknowledged the heavy toll international sanctions have taken on the country's oil sector. Sufian Allaw said Wednesday that sanctions had sucked about $4 billion from the economy and were to blame for shortages of cooking gas and other products, AP reports. Allaw confirmed Syria is seeking imports from countries not party to the sanctions. A Venezuelan tanker carrying 35,000 tons of fuel docked in Syria on Tuesday, and another is supposed to follow.
22 Al Qaeda militants killed in Yemen clashes
Fresh clashes between government troops and Al Qaeda fighters in southern Yemen have killed 22 militants and seven soldiers, the country’s military officials said on Wednesday. The fighting around the town of Bajidar in Abyan province lasted until Wednesday morning, AP reports. Militants captured the town more than a year ago. Government jets and heavy artillery pounded militant positions around the provincial capital Zinjibar and Jaar, also under control of Al Qaeda-linked militants.
Three Iranian truck drivers abducted in Syria
Three Iranian truck drivers have been abducted by "armed opposition groups" in Syria, Iran's charge d’affaires in Damascus said on Wednesday. Abbas Golrou said the drivers - Morteza Adeli, Hossein Alinejad and Esmaeel Mohammad Zeinali - were taking unspecified cargo from Iran to Syria when they were abducted on Monday. In December, several Iranian pilgrims were kidnapped and then released, while others remain captive. Seven Iranian engineers were also abducted near the central city of Homs. Two of them were released in mid-May.
Turkey accuses Damascus of allowing Kurdish rebels to operate in Syria
The Turkish interior minister has said Damascus is allowing Kurdish rebels to set up positions in Syria. Idris Naim Sahin said intelligence reports indicate that Syria "is turning a blind eye" to rebels in areas close to the Turkish border, AP reports. Rebels belonging to the Kurdistan Workers' Party have taken control of the running of some towns, the minister said. Damascus was cooperating with Turkey in its fight against the rebels until ties soured recently.
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