Breaking News English

The [escapades / escapism] of US whistleblower and fugitive Edward Snowden continue. Russian President Vladimir Putin [confirmed / conformed] on Tuesday that the [firmer / 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 / proof] to be true with Snowden being in transit. Snowden seems to have given the international media the [slid / slip] while in Moscow. After [discovering / discovered] his name on a flight list to Havana, Cuba, around 30 journalists [purchase / purchased] last-minute tickets for the 16-hour flight to Cuba, only to be [disrespected / dismayed] to find out after takeoff that he had not [boarded / boarding] the aircraft. Reports are that Snowden is heading for Ecuador, which has [grafted / granted] him asylum.

The Snowden affair is [staking / stoking] up diplomatic tensions between the USA, and China and Russia. Washington is [fury / furious] that China allowed Snowden to leave Hong Kong for Russia earlier this week. US Secretary of State John Kerry is now [pressing / pressed] hard for Russia to [extradite / expedite] 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 [accuses / accusations] against Russia of [aiding / raiding] him are [rakings / ravings] and rubbish." He explained that the US and Russia had not signed [any / all] extradition treaty and that he would not hand Snowden [over / under] to the US. Mr Kerry acknowledged this but said, "there are standards of behaviour between [sovereign / sovereignty] nations".