In brief: Russians, American land after ISS trip

Moscow – A Soyuz capsule carrying two Russians and an American landed in Kazakhstan today, ending the astronauts’ nearly six months aboard the International Space Station.

The capsule carried Russians Alexander Samokutayev and Elena Serova and NASA’s Barry Wilmore. They blasted off for the space station Sept. 26.

The capsule landed upright in heavy fog southeast of the town of Dzhezkazgan on the Kazakh steppes. Despite the poor visibility, recovery workers arrived within several minutes and all three astronauts were extracted within a half-hour. All three appeared to be in good condition.

Three other astronauts remain aboard the space station. They will be joined by three others March 27; two of those – Scott Kelly and Mikhail Kornienko – are to spend a full year on the ISS.

Woman dies after gray whale crash

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico – A Canadian woman has died from injuries suffered when a surfacing gray whale crashed onto a tourist boat, according to the port director of the Mexico resort of Cabo San Lucas.

Port director Vicente Martinez confirmed the 45-year-old woman’s death Wednesday.

Firefighter commander Juan Carvajal Figueroa said the woman was in a boat with other tourists returning to port around noon when the whale jumped from the water and landed on the boat.

Mexican navy personnel responded to the scene and moved the woman to shore. She was taken to a clinic, where she died during treatment.

Authorities did not release her full identity.