A Russian rocket carrying two cosmonauts and an American astronaut to the international space station streaked into orbit today – another crew rotation in a Russian space vehicle filling in for US space shuttles.

The Russian Soyuz spacecraft that will return to Earth from the International Space Station this week is leaking helium, Russian space officials said today.

A Russian soldier under the influence of ‘magic mushrooms’ opened fire on fellow servicemen today, killing at least eight of them and wounding three others.