The Towering Inferno: Moscow Skyscraper Ablaze

An unfinished skyscraper in Moscow is aflame tonight and is being fueled by very high winds. A firefighting helicopter has been dispatched to help fight the blaze, which is believed to have started on the 67th floor of the Federation Tower, which is set to be Russia's tallest building upon completion, which was to have been in 2013.

The fire broke out at 8:00 PM local time, shortly before sunset. A water dumping KA-32 helicopter was brought in to battle the blaze and is believed to have helped slow the progress of the spreading flames. The fire could be seen across a wide area from where the €255 million  tower is being built in Moscow City, a cluster of modern high-rises located close to the Russian governmental sector.

As of  now, no casualties have been reported.

Hands Across Russia: Protestors Form 10 Mile Chain Around Moscow

Tens of thousands of Russians joined forces (and hands) around Moscow to show solidarity and to protest the presidential candidacy of Vladimir Putin.

People joined hands and formed an enormous chain of humanity, which circled the Russian capital's historic district. The chain of protestors formed a ten-mile long barrier around the metropolis, home to some twelve million people.

The aim of the protest was to keep up the pressure on Putin who was Russia's president from 2000 to 2008, and is running for a third, now six-year term in a March 4 election. 

Supporters of Putin also staged their own rally, carrying placards that read "Putin Loves Everyone" and "One More Week Before Putin's Victory". The supporters also passed out pro-Putin ribbons with the colors of the national flag, but many people refused to accept the tokens. 

Putin is anticipated to easily win against four Kremlin-approved challengers, but an unprecedented wave of protests has undermined his image throughout Russia as a strong, super-human leader who rules with broad public support. Supporters of Russia's opposition protest also took to the streets of St. Petersburg today. 

Protests against Putin began in December, following a parliamentary election that saw widespread vote rigging to boost the results for Putin's party. Many Russian citizens were angered when the decision that Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev intended to switch jobs.