Russian Passengers Reject Drunk Pilot

(NEWSER) - The hijacker of a Canadian jet demanding to fly from Jamaica to Cuba has freed the six crewmembers he was holding and surrendered, reports the BBC. The man, whom authorities described as "mentally challenged," appeared to check in normally last night, then forced his way aboard the CanJet charter flight brandishing a weapon. No one was injured. More»

Participants brave sub-zero temps

(NEWSER) - It looks as if 2011 will be the year of the protester until its very last moment: Tens of thousands of people poured into central Moscow today, weathering sub-zero temps to gather in a show of anger against what they say were rigged elections and clamor for a new vote. The AP reports that it's the largest protest in the Russian capital to date, with rally participants packing Sakharov Avenue about a mile and a half from the Kremlin, many shouting "Russia without Putin!" The Russian interior ministry reported 28,000 people in attendance; protest organizers claim the true figure is closer to 120,000. More»

He was trying to board a plane to Tehran

(NEWSER) - Russian custom agents have seized 18 pieces of radioactive metal from an Iranian man who was trying to board a flight to Tehran, the customs agency announced today. The incident occurred sometime in the past—the agency didn't specify when—at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport. The man's luggage triggered the airport radiation alarm, registering at 20 times above normal levels. The luggage was seized, but the Iranian was not detained. More»

Police give rare permission for mass rally in Moscow

(AP) - Tens of thousands of Muscovites thronged to a square across the river from the Kremlin today to protest alleged electoral fraud and urge an end to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's rule. The demands were repeated at other rallies across the country in the largest public show of discontent in post-Soviet Russia. The demonstrations come three months before Putin, who was president in 2000-2008 and effectively remained the country's leader while prime minister, is to seek a third presidential term. More»

But more demonstrations planned for tonight

(NEWSER) - Two notable opposition figures have been charged with crimes relating to yesterday’s massive election protest in Moscow—even as angry Russians plan for more protests tonight. Ilya Yashin, the leader of the Solidarity movement, was convicted by a judge today of organizing an unauthorized rally and disobeying police orders, and sentenced to 15 days in prison, and anticorruption blogger Alexei Navalny is expected to suffer a similar fate, the New York Times reports. More»