The escapades of US whistleblower and fugitive Edward Snowden continue. Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed on Tuesday that the former CIA worker was in the transit area of an airport in Moscow. Mr Putin had earlier said Mr Snowden had not crossed any Russian borders, which proved to be true with Snowden being in transit. Snowden seems to have given the international media the slip while in Moscow. After discovering his name on a flight list to Havana, Cuba, around 30 journalists purchased last-minute tickets for the 16-hour flight to Cuba, only to be dismayed to find out after takeoff that he had not boarded the aircraft. Reports are that Snowden is heading for Ecuador, which has granted him asylum.

The Snowden affair is stoking up diplomatic tensions between the USA, and China and Russia. Washington is furious that China allowed Snowden to leave Hong Kong for Russia earlier this week. US Secretary of State John Kerry is now pressing hard for Russia to extradite Snowden back to the US. Mr Putin told reporters: "Mr Snowden has not crossed the state's border, and therefore does not need a visa. Furthermore, any accusations against Russia of aiding him are ravings and rubbish." He explained that the US and Russia had not signed any extradition treaty and that he would not hand Snowden over to the US. Mr Kerry acknowledged this but said, "there are standards of behaviour between sovereign nations".