Balloonist circles globe in 11 days

A 65-year-old Russian balloonist came back to Earth with a thud in the Australian Outback on Saturday after claiming a new record by flying solo around the world nonstop in 11 days, officials said.

Fedor Konyukhov landed 100 miles east of Northam, where he started his journey July 12, about three hours after he flew over the same town on his return, flight coordinator John Wallington said.

American businessman Steve Fossett also started from Northam to set a record of 13 days, 8 hours for his 20,500-mile journey in 2002. Konyukhov, a Russian Orthodox priest, took a longer route, more than 21,100 miles, and roughly 11 days, 6 hours to complete the circumnavigation.

JOHANNES SIMON/GETTY IMAGES People mourn at a Munich shopping center where nine people were fatally shot and more than two dozen wounded. Police say the gunman was a depression-plagued teenager who had researched mass killings.