Russia

Russia: The 30-year-old former NSA contractor now has plenty of room to roam throughout the sprawling country and continue the bizarre journey that has already stretched across half the planet from Hawaii to Hong Kong to the Russian capital, according to 660 News. The asylum offer places a significant new strain on already-corroded relations with Washington amid differences over Syria, U.S. criticism of Russias human rights record and other disputes. But Russia appears to have reckoned that ending Snowdens airport limbo was worth intensifying the political standoff. The decision gives Russia cover to depict itself as a defender of human rights, pointing a finger to deflect criticism of its own poor record and tough crackdown on dissent and MOSCOW Defying the United States, Russia granted Edward Snowden temporary asylum on Thursday, allowing the National Security Agency leaker to slip out of the Moscow airport where he has been holed up for weeks in hopes of evading espionage charges back home. The move infuriated the U.S. administration, which said it was extremely disappointed and warned that the decision could derail an upcoming summit between President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.