IS gets hands on Syrian anti-aircraft missiles

Washington: The Islamic State has reportedly captured Syria’s Russian-made anti-aircraft missiles, raising concerns that the deadly weapons could be used against US-led coalition jets. Several SA-6 mobile anti-aircraft missiles were captured near the Syrian city of Dayr Az Zawr, where in recent weeks US and allied aircraft have conducted airstrikes against oil and gas facilities controlled by IS. PTI

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145-yr-old letter, delivered by balloon, turns up in Oz

Sydney: A letter from a man to his mother flown out of Paris by hot air balloon during the Prussian siege has turned up in Australia’s National Archives. The Franco-Prussian War saw the Germans completely surround Paris for more than four months in 1870. Balloon mail was the only way communications from Paris could reach the rest of France, with dozens of flights made, and hundreds of thousands of letters delivered. AFP

US authorises up to 110 daily flights to Cuba

Washington: The US and Cuba will sign a bilateral agreement authorising up to 110 scheduled daily commercial flights to Havana and nine other destinations on the communist island. The deal restores regular flights between the two countries for the first time in more than half a century. Once the accord is signed, US authorities will immediately invite American airlines to submit applications to operate the flights. AFP

Australian mining company finds 404-carat diamond 

Perth:  West Australian mining firm has found a record breaking 404-carat diamond believed worth over $14 million. T Lucapa Diamond Company, based in Perth but operating in the African nation of Angola, found the 404-carat diamond at its Lulo Diamond Project site, with estimates putting it as the 27th largest diamond ever found The largest ever 3,167-carat diamond ‘Sergio’ was found in Brazil in 1893. ians