Some 53 people have been killed and 51 others are missing in Mexico's western Sinaloa state since rival factions of the Sinaloa Cartel began clashing on Sept 9, local authorities said on Friday, with gruesome violence showing no signs of abating.

Sinaloa Cartel violence in Mexico: Mexican President blames United States for stoking rivalry

Sinaloa Cartel violence rages on in Mexico

According to a recent report, social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, has retracted from its previous move of slowing down access to a few of the top news outlets. However, the delays in accessing links to other&nbsp;social media competing platforms like Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram continue to remain. This alleged deliberate delay, which lasted approximately five seconds upon clicking a link on X, was observed during tests conducted by The Washington Post and Reuters. However, as of late Tuesday, X seemed to have eliminated this delay. Despite confirmation of the removal, there was no comment&nbsp;by X.&nbsp;

<h2>Previous conflicts</h2>

Billionaire Elon Musk, who acquired Twitter in October, has previously engaged in public disputes with news organisations and journalists who have critiqued his companies, including Tesla and SpaceX. Moreover, X has previously prevented users from sharing links to rival social media platforms.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/georgia-governor-brian-kemp-takes-to-twitter-to-refute-donald-trumps-allegations-of-election-theft-625869">Georgia Governor Brian Kemp takes to Twitter to refute Donald Trump's allegations of election theft</a>

At the time he cited that there will be no free advertising for these competing platforms and that it is a violation of X policies. As per reports, Musk said that cross-posting is accepted but what is not acceptable is X platform being used in order to promote one's content.&nbsp;

<h2>Delay in accessing links&nbsp;</h2>

While the exact events which led to the delay in accessing links remain unclear, a user on Hacker News, a technology-focused forum, reportedly said that X began imposing delays on links to the New York Times on August 4.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hunter-bidens-lawyer-steps-down-to-testify-as-witness-in-doj-investigation-625865">Hunter Biden's lawyer steps down, to testify as witness in DOJ investigation</a>

On that same day, Musk publicly criticised the New York Times for its coverage of South Africa and accused it of promoting genocide. However, it is worth noting that there is no proven connection between these two events and no certain conclusion can be drawn.&nbsp;

<h2>Concerns and reactions&nbsp;</h2>

Before the delay in accessing the links was reversed, representatives from The New York Times expressed concerns over the incident. "While we don't know the rationale behind the application of this time delay, we would be concerned by targeted pressure applied to any news organisation for unclear reasons," the spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Watch | Poland beefs defence amid Russia-Ukraine war

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A Reuters spokesperson said: "We are aware of the report in the Washington Post of a delay in opening links to Reuters stories on X. We are looking into the matter."&nbsp;Bluesky, a competitor of X, and Meta reportedly did not respond to requests for comments on the issue.

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According to a recent report, social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, has retracted from its previous move of slowing down access to a few of the top news outlets.

According to a recent report, social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, has retracted from its previous move of slowing down access to a few of the top news outlets. However, the delays in accessing links to other social media competing platforms like Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram continue to remain. This alleged deliberate delay, which lasted approximately five seconds upon clicking a link on X, was observed during tests conducted by The Washington Post and Reuters. However, as of late Tuesday, X seemed to have eliminated this delay. Despite confirmation of the removal, there was no comment by X. Previous conflicts Billionaire Elon Musk, who acquired Twitter in October, has previously engaged in public disputes with news organisations and journalists who have critiqued his companies, including Tesla and SpaceX. Moreover, X has previously prevented users from sharing links to rival social media platforms. Also Read | Georgia Governor Brian Kemp takes to Twitter to refute Donald Trump's allegations of election theft At the time he cited that there will be no free advertising for these competing platforms and that it is a violation of X policies. As per reports, Musk said that cross-posting is accepted but what is not acceptable is X platform being used in order to promote one's content. Delay in accessing links While the exact events which led to the delay in accessing links remain unclear, a user on Hacker News, a technology-focused forum, reportedly said that X began imposing delays on links to the New York Times on August 4. Also Read | Hunter Biden's lawyer steps down, to testify as witness in DOJ investigation On that same day, Musk publicly criticised the New York Times for its coverage of South Africa and accused it of promoting genocide. However, it is worth noting that there is no proven connection between these two events and no certain conclusion can be drawn. Concerns and reactions Before the delay in accessing the links was reversed, representatives from The New York Times expressed concerns over the incident. "While we don't know the rationale behind the application of this time delay, we would be concerned by targeted pressure applied to any news organisation for unclear reasons," the spokesperson said on Tuesday. Watch | Poland beefs defence amid Russia-Ukraine war × A Reuters spokesperson said: "We are aware of the report in the Washington Post of a delay in opening links to Reuters stories on X. We are looking into the matter." Bluesky, a competitor of X, and Meta reportedly did not respond to requests for comments on the issue. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Musk retracts slowed access to news outlets, but delay not removed for social media rivals

Meta's new Threads app, aimed at competing with Twitter, will not be launched in the European Union (EU) for now, media reports said. AFP news agency, while citing a source close to the company, said that the app will not be launched in the EU due to regulatory concerns. However, the source added Meta has decided to hold back the release in the EU's 27 countries as it seeks clarity on the bloc's Digital Markets Act (DMA), which will be fully implemented next year.

<h2>What is Digital Markets Act?&nbsp;</h2>

The Digital Markets Act (DMA) is a significant regulatory framework introduced in Europe to address the dominance of large digital platforms and ensure fair competition in the digital market. It aims to regulate the behaviour of "gatekeeper" platforms, which have substantial market power, by imposing specific obligations and restrictions on them.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/philadelphia-gunman-identified-as-gun-loving-blm-supporter-kimbrady-carriker-reports-612409">Philadelphia gunman identified as gun-loving BLM supporter Kimbrady Carriker: Reports</a>

The DMA establishes stringent regulations for major internet companies operating in Europe. One of these regulations prohibits platforms from sharing data across different services and restricts companies from directing platform users solely to their own products.

Meta's decision to postpone the Threads app release in the EU is likely influenced by the need to ensure compliance with these new regulations, media reports said.&nbsp;

<h2>Data privacy concerns and EU rules</h2>

The description of Threads on app stores in the United States reveals that personal data, including contact and geolocation information, will be collected and used for advertising purposes. Meta has previously faced scrutiny from European regulators for attempting to leverage data from WhatsApp to strengthen Instagram and Facebook, which was prohibited by EU rules.

As a result, it appears that Meta's decision to delay the Threads app launch in Europe aligns with its commitment to avoid further conflicts with EU regulations.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/one-killed-two-injured-after-explosions-rock-ukrainian-court-612402">One killed, two injured after multiple explosions rock Ukrainian court</a>

The Data Protection Commission in Ireland, where Meta's EU headquarters are located and which oversees the company's activities in Europe, stated that Meta has confirmed it will not be releasing the app in Europe "at this point."&nbsp;

According to the app's description on the app store, Threads provides a space for communities to come together and engage in discussions covering various topics.

Watch | British children are shorter than their European peers , says experts

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Users have the option to follow and connect with their favourite creators and like-minded individuals who share similar interests. Additionally, users can establish their own following and express their thought with a broader audience.

<h2>Meta's compliance with new EU rules</h2>

Meta, along with other major companies, such as Amazon and Apple, informed the EU that they meet the threshold to be subject to the new rules when they are enforced next year. This indicates that Meta recognises the significance of complying with the DMA and is actively engaging with the regulatory framework to ensure its future operations align with EU requirements.

When contacted by AFP, Meta did not provide an immediate comment on the matter. However, it remains to be seen how Meta will navigate the regulatory landscape and address the concerns raised by the EU.&nbsp;

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Meta's new Threads app, aimed at competing with Twitter, will not be launched in the European Union (EU) for now, media reports said. AFP news agency, while citing a source close to the company, said that the app will not be launched in the EU due to regulatory concerns.

Meta's new Threads app, aimed at competing with Twitter, will not be launched in the European Union (EU) for now, media reports said. AFP news agency, while citing a source close to the company, said that the app will not be launched in the EU due to regulatory concerns. However, the source added Meta has decided to hold back the release in the EU's 27 countries as it seeks clarity on the bloc's Digital Markets Act (DMA), which will be fully implemented next year. What is Digital Markets Act? The Digital Markets Act (DMA) is a significant regulatory framework introduced in Europe to address the dominance of large digital platforms and ensure fair competition in the digital market. It aims to regulate the behaviour of "gatekeeper" platforms, which have substantial market power, by imposing specific obligations and restrictions on them. Also Read | Philadelphia gunman identified as gun-loving BLM supporter Kimbrady Carriker: Reports The DMA establishes stringent regulations for major internet companies operating in Europe. One of these regulations prohibits platforms from sharing data across different services and restricts companies from directing platform users solely to their own products. Meta's decision to postpone the Threads app release in the EU is likely influenced by the need to ensure compliance with these new regulations, media reports said. Data privacy concerns and EU rules The description of Threads on app stores in the United States reveals that personal data, including contact and geolocation information, will be collected and used for advertising purposes. Meta has previously faced scrutiny from European regulators for attempting to leverage data from WhatsApp to strengthen Instagram and Facebook, which was prohibited by EU rules. As a result, it appears that Meta's decision to delay the Threads app launch in Europe aligns with its commitment to avoid further conflicts with EU regulations. Also Read | One killed, two injured after multiple explosions rock Ukrainian court The Data Protection Commission in Ireland, where Meta's EU headquarters are located and which oversees the company's activities in Europe, stated that Meta has confirmed it will not be releasing the app in Europe "at this point." According to the app's description on the app store, Threads provides a space for communities to come together and engage in discussions covering various topics. Watch | British children are shorter than their European peers , says experts × Users have the option to follow and connect with their favourite creators and like-minded individuals who share similar interests. Additionally, users can establish their own following and express their thought with a broader audience. Meta's compliance with new EU rules Meta, along with other major companies, such as Amazon and Apple, informed the EU that they meet the threshold to be subject to the new rules when they are enforced next year. This indicates that Meta recognises the significance of complying with the DMA and is actively engaging with the regulatory framework to ensure its future operations align with EU requirements. When contacted by AFP, Meta did not provide an immediate comment on the matter. However, it remains to be seen how Meta will navigate the regulatory landscape and address the concerns raised by the EU. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Twitter rival, Meta's Threads app, will not launch in EU. Here's why

Ivory&nbsp;Coast&nbsp;President Alassane&nbsp;Ouattara&nbsp;offered a hearty welcome to his predecessor Laurent Gbagbo on Tuesday as the rivals met for the first time since the West African country's deadly 2010-11&nbsp;conflict, saying the turmoil was "behind&nbsp;us".

"How are you, Laurent? Happy to see you,"&nbsp;Ouattara&nbsp;said as Gbagbo arrived at the presidential palace in the Ivorian economic capital Abidjan.

At a joint news conference&nbsp;after&nbsp;their meeting,&nbsp;Ouattara&nbsp;said: "This crisis created differences, but that is&nbsp;behind&nbsp;us. What is important for&nbsp;Ivory&nbsp;Coast&nbsp;is peace in our country."

Gbagbo, for his part, called for the release of prisoners held since the crisis, which was sparked by his refusal to accept defeat at the ballot box to&nbsp;Ouattara.

Gbagbo, 76, has leapt into the spotlight since returning last month from Europe,&nbsp;after&nbsp;having been acquitted for crimes against humanity in a landmark case heard at the International Criminal Court.

The post-electoral&nbsp;conflict&nbsp;claimed more than 3,000 lives.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/25-dead-in-ivory-coast-coach-and-minibus-crash-398348">Also read |&nbsp;25 dead in Ivory Coast coach and minibus crash</a>

After&nbsp;he was ousted, Gbagbo was flown to The Hague to face charges of crimes against humanity, of which he was eventually acquitted.

'Sign of healing'&nbsp;

Tuesday's meeting was closely watched for signs of whether the two former rivals have buried the hatchet, boosting hopes for national rapprochement&nbsp;after&nbsp;deadly clashes last year.

"The mere fact of seeing&nbsp;Ouattara&nbsp;and Gbagbo together is being seen as a sign of healing and a strong image for Ivorians in their quest for peace and national reconciliation," the opposition newspaper Notre Voie (Our Way) said.

But Gbagbo's spokesman Justin Katinan Kone urged the public "not to make too much" of the meeting.

"This is a courtesy visit to his elder... If it helps to ease the political atmosphere, so much the better," he said.

A onetime international banker,&nbsp;Ouattara, 79, won a landslide victory in the last elections on October 31. But the credibility of the win was undermined by an opposition boycott.

In the run-up to the vote, scores of people died in clashes with police&nbsp;after&nbsp;Ouattara&nbsp;unveiled his controversial bid for a third term.

In this context,&nbsp;Ouattara&nbsp;has officially welcomed Gbagbo's return, hoping it will ease tensions.

But the question is whether Gbagbo will stick to the script of statesman or prefer an active political role that may challenge&nbsp;Ouattara.

'Sustainable peace'

Gbagbo&nbsp;rose in the 1970s as a left-wing campaigner who helped end&nbsp;Ivory&nbsp;Coast's one-party system following independence from France in 1960.

His years in power were marked by rebellion, civil war, national divisions and repeatedly postponed elections, but he retains considerable grassroots support.

His defenders portray him as a champion of the poor and oppressed.

Commentators are also watching the interplay among&nbsp;Ouattara,&nbsp;Gbagbo&nbsp;and former president Henri Konan Bedie, 87, three men who have dominated the political stage for decades.

Bedie teamed up with&nbsp;Ouattara&nbsp;in the 2010 elections, but in 2018 his Democratic Party of the&nbsp;Ivory&nbsp;Coast&nbsp;(PDCI) joined the opposition.

In March, it forged an electoral alliance with Gbagbo's Ivorian Popular Front party, and on July 11,&nbsp;Gbagbo&nbsp;and Bedie announced they were united in the goal of forging "final and sustainable peace".

"The PDCI welcomes the new disposition of the president towards dialogue," one of the party's directors, N'Goran Djedri, told AFP&nbsp;after&nbsp;the press conference, adding that&nbsp;Ouattara&nbsp;was following in Bedie and Gbagbo's footsteps by embracing "this spirit of inclusive dialogue".

"We believe that Ivorians can feel the ground shifting in favour of peace and reconciliation, and that benefits everyone."&nbsp;

One lingering matter is a 20-year jail sentence for Gbagbo, who was convicted in absentia of "looting" the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) during the 2010-11&nbsp;conflict.

Authorities have hinted that this sentence will be lifted.

Issiaka Diaby, who heads an association called the Collective of&nbsp;Ivory&nbsp;Coast&nbsp;Victims, lashed out at "selective" decisions by the judicial system.

"We believe that reconciliation cannot be boiled down to a meeting between two citizens," he said on Tuesday at ceremonies in an Abidjan graveyard to honour fatalities in the 2010-11 crisis.

"We need truth, justice."

Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara offered a hearty welcome to his predecessor Laurent Gbagbo on Tuesday as the rivals met for the first time since the West African country's deadly 2010-11 conflict, saying the turmoil was "behind us".

Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara offered a hearty welcome to his predecessor Laurent Gbagbo on Tuesday as the rivals met for the first time since the West African country's deadly 2010-11 conflict, saying the turmoil was "behind us". "How are you, Laurent? Happy to see you," Ouattara said as Gbagbo arrived at the presidential palace in the Ivorian economic capital Abidjan. At a joint news conference after their meeting, Ouattara said: "This crisis created differences, but that is behind us. What is important for Ivory Coast is peace in our country." Gbagbo, for his part, called for the release of prisoners held since the crisis, which was sparked by his refusal to accept defeat at the ballot box to Ouattara. Gbagbo, 76, has leapt into the spotlight since returning last month from Europe, after having been acquitted for crimes against humanity in a landmark case heard at the International Criminal Court. The post-electoral conflict claimed more than 3,000 lives. Also read | 25 dead in Ivory Coast coach and minibus crash After he was ousted, Gbagbo was flown to The Hague to face charges of crimes against humanity, of which he was eventually acquitted. 'Sign of healing' Tuesday's meeting was closely watched for signs of whether the two former rivals have buried the hatchet, boosting hopes for national rapprochement after deadly clashes last year. "The mere fact of seeing Ouattara and Gbagbo together is being seen as a sign of healing and a strong image for Ivorians in their quest for peace and national reconciliation," the opposition newspaper Notre Voie (Our Way) said. But Gbagbo's spokesman Justin Katinan Kone urged the public "not to make too much" of the meeting. "This is a courtesy visit to his elder... If it helps to ease the political atmosphere, so much the better," he said. A onetime international banker, Ouattara, 79, won a landslide victory in the last elections on October 31. But the credibility of the win was undermined by an opposition boycott. In the run-up to the vote, scores of people died in clashes with police after Ouattara unveiled his controversial bid for a third term. In this context, Ouattara has officially welcomed Gbagbo's return, hoping it will ease tensions. But the question is whether Gbagbo will stick to the script of statesman or prefer an active political role that may challenge Ouattara. 'Sustainable peace' Gbagbo rose in the 1970s as a left-wing campaigner who helped end Ivory Coast's one-party system following independence from France in 1960. His years in power were marked by rebellion, civil war, national divisions and repeatedly postponed elections, but he retains considerable grassroots support. His defenders portray him as a champion of the poor and oppressed. Commentators are also watching the interplay among Ouattara, Gbagbo and former president Henri Konan Bedie, 87, three men who have dominated the political stage for decades. Bedie teamed up with Ouattara in the 2010 elections, but in 2018 his Democratic Party of the Ivory Coast (PDCI) joined the opposition. In March, it forged an electoral alliance with Gbagbo's Ivorian Popular Front party, and on July 11, Gbagbo and Bedie announced they were united in the goal of forging "final and sustainable peace". "The PDCI welcomes the new disposition of the president towards dialogue," one of the party's directors, N'Goran Djedri, told AFP after the press conference, adding that Ouattara was following in Bedie and Gbagbo's footsteps by embracing "this spirit of inclusive dialogue". "We believe that Ivorians can feel the ground shifting in favour of peace and reconciliation, and that benefits everyone." One lingering matter is a 20-year jail sentence for Gbagbo, who was convicted in absentia of "looting" the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) during the 2010-11 conflict. Authorities have hinted that this sentence will be lifted. Issiaka Diaby, who heads an association called the Collective of Ivory Coast Victims, lashed out at "selective" decisions by the judicial system. "We believe that reconciliation cannot be boiled down to a meeting between two citizens," he said on Tuesday at ceremonies in an Abidjan graveyard to honour fatalities in the 2010-11 crisis. "We need truth, justice."

Conflict 'behind us', Ivory Coast's Ouattara says after greeting rival

Peruvian right-wing presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori admitted she was headed for defeat on Monday, but pledged to mobilise her supporters and lashed out against socialist rival Pedro Castillo as having won in an 'illegitimate' manner. 
 
Castillo came out of the June 6 run-off vote ahead by a scant 44,000 vote margin. The official result has been delayed by appeals from Fujimori aimed at annulling some ballots over fraud accusations, despite little evidence. 
 
Fujimori said she was bound by law to recognise the official election result, expected to be announced in the days ahead. 
 
"I am going to recognise the results because it is what the law and the constitution that I have sworn to defend, mandates. The truth is going to come out anyway," she told reporters. 
 
Peru's electoral authority said earlier on Monday,&nbsp;it would announce a winner of the election this week after it tossed out the last appeals by Fujimori, a conservative, who is the daughter of jailed former President Alberto Fujimori. 
 
"They have stolen thousands of votes from us," Fujimori said at a news conference. Faced with the "imminent" naming of Castillo as president-elect, Fujimori called on her followers to protest peacefully. 
 
"We have the right to mobilise... but in a peaceful manner and within the framework of the law," she said. 
 
The National Jury of Elections said on Twitter, it had ruled inadmissible the final appeals presented last week by Fujimori. 
 
The Organization of American States, European Union and Britain have all said the election was clean. 
 
Castillo, if confirmed in time, would take office on July 28 for a five-year term as leader of the world's second largest copper-producing nation. 
 
A 51-year-old former school teacher and the son of peasant farmers, Castillo has pledged to redraft the constitution and hike taxes on mining firms, but has in recent weeks softened his rhetoric and hinted at a more moderate, market-friendly approach.

Peruvian right-wing presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori admitted she was headed for defeat on Monday, but pledged to mobilise her supporters and lashed out against socialist rival Pedro Castillo as having won in an 'illegitimate' manner.

Peruvian right-wing presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori admitted she was headed for defeat on Monday, but pledged to mobilise her supporters and lashed out against socialist rival Pedro Castillo as having won in an 'illegitimate' manner. Castillo came out of the June 6 run-off vote ahead by a scant 44,000 vote margin. The official result has been delayed by appeals from Fujimori aimed at annulling some ballots over fraud accusations, despite little evidence. Fujimori said she was bound by law to recognise the official election result, expected to be announced in the days ahead. "I am going to recognise the results because it is what the law and the constitution that I have sworn to defend, mandates. The truth is going to come out anyway," she told reporters. Peru's electoral authority said earlier on Monday, it would announce a winner of the election this week after it tossed out the last appeals by Fujimori, a conservative, who is the daughter of jailed former President Alberto Fujimori. "They have stolen thousands of votes from us," Fujimori said at a news conference. Faced with the "imminent" naming of Castillo as president-elect, Fujimori called on her followers to protest peacefully. "We have the right to mobilise... but in a peaceful manner and within the framework of the law," she said. The National Jury of Elections said on Twitter, it had ruled inadmissible the final appeals presented last week by Fujimori. The Organization of American States, European Union and Britain have all said the election was clean. Castillo, if confirmed in time, would take office on July 28 for a five-year term as leader of the world's second largest copper-producing nation. A 51-year-old former school teacher and the son of peasant farmers, Castillo has pledged to redraft the constitution and hike taxes on mining firms, but has in recent weeks softened his rhetoric and hinted at a more moderate, market-friendly approach.

Peru set to name Castillo as president as rival says she will recognise result

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ex-trump-advisor-stone-indicted-in-mueller-probe-192975">Roger Stone, an ally of President Donald Trump </a>and a longtime Republican operative, did not rule out on Sunday cooperating with Special Counsel Robert Mueller in his investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential election.

Arrested at his waterfront home in Florida on Friday in a dawn raid by FBI agents, Stone told reporters he would not "bear false witness against the president."

Stone was charged with lying to Congress about the Trump campaign's efforts to use stolen emails to undercut Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton.

Asked on ABC's "This Week" if he would cooperate with Mueller, he said, "You know, that's a question I would have to – I have to determine after my attorneys have some discussion."

"I'd also testify honestly about any other matter, including any communications with the president," he said. "It's true that we spoke on the phone, but those communications are political in nature, they're benign, and there is certainly no conspiracy with Russia."

Stone, 66, will be arraigned in federal court in Washington on Tuesday.

Stone's indictment cut deeply into Trump's inner circle and revealed a link between his campaign and WikiLeaks, the online publisher of secret documents, to damage Clinton with material that US intelligence agencies have said was stolen by Russians.

Stone shared with Trump campaign staffers advance knowledge that he had of WikiLeaks' plan to release senior Democrats' emails, Mueller said in court papers.

The special counsel's indictment also said a top Trump campaign official was directed to contact Stone about additional damaging information that WikiLeaks had on Clinton.

Jerome Corsi, a right-wing commentator and conspiracy theorist, said on Friday that he is the "Person 1" cited in the indictment as having communicated with Stone about the stolen emails and WikiLeaks' plan to release them.

He also said the information in the indictment was accurate and that he would testify against Stone. "I will be happy to testify," he told CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday. "And I will let the testimony fall wherever it falls."

'FIGHT FOR MY LIFE' &nbsp;

Stone said the evidence in Mueller's indictment was thin, "so I'm prepared to fight for my life."

US Representative Adam Schiff, the Democratic chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said, however, that the indictment presented specific allegations of lies and witness intimidation that were unambiguous and provable.

"They are very detailed and I think he's going to need a much better defence than the one you just heard," he told ABC.

Republican Senator Marco Rubio said working with WikiLeaks should be considered a crime because it was tantamount to cooperating with a foreign intelligence agency.

"It should have been clear to people a long time ago that WikiLeaks and others like that could have been tools of foreign intelligence used to divide America," Rubio said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

The Kremlin denies US intelligence agencies’ findings that Russia interfered to sway the 2016 election away from Clinton and toward Trump, who denies any collusion.

Schiff said his panel would give Mueller access to all transcripts of testimony before the committee, including Trump's son Donald Trump Jr, for prosecution purposes. He also pledged to continue congressional probes of any Trump-Russia ties.

"We are determined the public is going to know exactly what Donald Trump did, what his family did, what his campaign did, what the Russians did and what we need to do to protect the country,” Schiff said.

Roger Stone, an ally of President Donald Trump and a longtime Republican operative, did not rule out on Sunday cooperating with Special Counsel Robert Mueller in his investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential election.

Roger Stone, an ally of President Donald Trump and a longtime Republican operative, did not rule out on Sunday cooperating with Special Counsel Robert Mueller in his investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential election. Arrested at his waterfront home in Florida on Friday in a dawn raid by FBI agents, Stone told reporters he would not "bear false witness against the president." Stone was charged with lying to Congress about the Trump campaign's efforts to use stolen emails to undercut Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton. Asked on ABC's "This Week" if he would cooperate with Mueller, he said, "You know, that's a question I would have to – I have to determine after my attorneys have some discussion." "I'd also testify honestly about any other matter, including any communications with the president," he said. "It's true that we spoke on the phone, but those communications are political in nature, they're benign, and there is certainly no conspiracy with Russia." Stone, 66, will be arraigned in federal court in Washington on Tuesday. Stone's indictment cut deeply into Trump's inner circle and revealed a link between his campaign and WikiLeaks, the online publisher of secret documents, to damage Clinton with material that US intelligence agencies have said was stolen by Russians. Stone shared with Trump campaign staffers advance knowledge that he had of WikiLeaks' plan to release senior Democrats' emails, Mueller said in court papers. The special counsel's indictment also said a top Trump campaign official was directed to contact Stone about additional damaging information that WikiLeaks had on Clinton. Jerome Corsi, a right-wing commentator and conspiracy theorist, said on Friday that he is the "Person 1" cited in the indictment as having communicated with Stone about the stolen emails and WikiLeaks' plan to release them. He also said the information in the indictment was accurate and that he would testify against Stone. "I will be happy to testify," he told CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday. "And I will let the testimony fall wherever it falls." 'FIGHT FOR MY LIFE' Stone said the evidence in Mueller's indictment was thin, "so I'm prepared to fight for my life." US Representative Adam Schiff, the Democratic chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said, however, that the indictment presented specific allegations of lies and witness intimidation that were unambiguous and provable. "They are very detailed and I think he's going to need a much better defence than the one you just heard," he told ABC. Republican Senator Marco Rubio said working with WikiLeaks should be considered a crime because it was tantamount to cooperating with a foreign intelligence agency. "It should have been clear to people a long time ago that WikiLeaks and others like that could have been tools of foreign intelligence used to divide America," Rubio said on NBC's "Meet the Press." The Kremlin denies US intelligence agencies’ findings that Russia interfered to sway the 2016 election away from Clinton and toward Trump, who denies any collusion. Schiff said his panel would give Mueller access to all transcripts of testimony before the committee, including Trump's son Donald Trump Jr, for prosecution purposes. He also pledged to continue congressional probes of any Trump-Russia ties. "We are determined the public is going to know exactly what Donald Trump did, what his family did, what his campaign did, what the Russians did and what we need to do to protect the country,” Schiff said.

Roger Stone open to talk with Mueller in Russia probe

<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.wionews.com/world/microsofts-bing-search-engine-goes-offline-in-china-192347&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjrs6eikojgAhXCWisKHcniAuoQFggIMAE&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw1vFypeaQbmWzk6-jvY9KTK">Microsoft </a>is still trying to figure out why its<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.wionews.com/world/microsoft-says-bing-search-engine-blocked-in-china-192473&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjrs6eikojgAhXCWisKHcniAuoQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw1uJZXw8Yo3gjz0Zf8eztXI"> Bing search engine</a> temporarily went offline in China, the company's president said following speculation that it could have been blocked by censors.

The US firm's Chinese website, cn.Bing.Com, was accessible again late Thursday, one day after it suddenly went offline, temporarily taking away the most prominent foreign search engine in China.

The disruption raised fears among social media users that it was the latest foreign website to be blocked by China. Sites such as Facebook and Twitter have long been blocked by authorities using a censorship apparatus known as the "Great Firewall".

"This is not the first time it's happened. It happens periodically," Microsoft president Brad Smith told Fox Business News at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

"There are times when there are disagreements, there are times when there are difficult negotiations with the Chinese government, and we're still waiting to find out what this situation is about," he said.

Bing's temporary disruption came as a surprise because the search engine has followed China's censorship rules.

On Thursday, for example, a Bing search for Liu Xiaobo, the dissident and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who died of cancer while still in custody last year, returned one message: "Results are removed in response to a notice of local law requirement."Smith said it was understood that Bing did not have the same legal freedoms in China that it enjoyed in other countries.

"But at the same time, we stick to our guns. There are certain principles that we think it's important to stand up for, and we'll go at times into the negotiating room and the negotiations are sometimes pretty darn direct," he said.

While its rival Google shut down its search engine in China in 2010 after rows over censorship and hacking, Bing has continued to operate in the country, along with Microsoft-owned Skype.

Bing, however, has struggled to catch up to China's own Baidu search engine, which dominates the market even though many people in the country complain about the quality of its search results.

Smith said Microsoft took seriously its obligations to customers regarding censorship.

"I think what is interesting today is technology and sort of human rights, free expression, these issues are really intersecting and on certain days colliding more than in the past," he said.

"There are deals that we've turned down for things like facial recognition technology because we felt that people's rights will be put at risk.

"And I think more than ever, tech companies really need to think about these things, they need to be principled and you have to have a little moral courage, in my view, if you're going to be in this business and really take care of your customers."&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Microsoft is still trying to figure out why its Bing search engine temporarily went offline in China, the company's president said following speculation that it could have been blocked by censors.

Microsoft is still trying to figure out why its Bing search engine temporarily went offline in China, the company's president said following speculation that it could have been blocked by censors. The US firm's Chinese website, cn.Bing.Com, was accessible again late Thursday, one day after it suddenly went offline, temporarily taking away the most prominent foreign search engine in China. The disruption raised fears among social media users that it was the latest foreign website to be blocked by China. Sites such as Facebook and Twitter have long been blocked by authorities using a censorship apparatus known as the "Great Firewall". "This is not the first time it's happened. It happens periodically," Microsoft president Brad Smith told Fox Business News at the World Economic Forum in Davos. "There are times when there are disagreements, there are times when there are difficult negotiations with the Chinese government, and we're still waiting to find out what this situation is about," he said. Bing's temporary disruption came as a surprise because the search engine has followed China's censorship rules. On Thursday, for example, a Bing search for Liu Xiaobo, the dissident and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who died of cancer while still in custody last year, returned one message: "Results are removed in response to a notice of local law requirement."Smith said it was understood that Bing did not have the same legal freedoms in China that it enjoyed in other countries. "But at the same time, we stick to our guns. There are certain principles that we think it's important to stand up for, and we'll go at times into the negotiating room and the negotiations are sometimes pretty darn direct," he said. While its rival Google shut down its search engine in China in 2010 after rows over censorship and hacking, Bing has continued to operate in the country, along with Microsoft-owned Skype. Bing, however, has struggled to catch up to China's own Baidu search engine, which dominates the market even though many people in the country complain about the quality of its search results. Smith said Microsoft took seriously its obligations to customers regarding censorship. "I think what is interesting today is technology and sort of human rights, free expression, these issues are really intersecting and on certain days colliding more than in the past," he said. "There are deals that we've turned down for things like facial recognition technology because we felt that people's rights will be put at risk. "And I think more than ever, tech companies really need to think about these things, they need to be principled and you have to have a little moral courage, in my view, if you're going to be in this business and really take care of your customers."

Microsoft 'waiting to find out' why Bing went offline in China

London, United Kingdom: &nbsp;Andrea Leadsom, one of two candidates to be the next British prime minister, has caused an uproar by suggesting that being a mother means she has a greater stake in the country&#39;s future than her childless rival Theresa May. 
 
A little-known junior energy minister until she emerged as one of the most ardent voices in the campaign to leave the European Union, Leadsom is the outsider in the contest to succeed David Cameron as Conservative leader and prime minister. 
 
Cameron, who had campaigned for Britain to stay in the bloc, announced he would quit after the June 23 referendum delivered a vote for Brexit. May, the interior minister who also advocated remaining in the EU, is the favourite to replace him. 
 
&quot;I am sure she will be really sad she doesn&#39;t have children so I don&#39;t want this to be &#39;Andrea has children, Theresa hasn&#39;t&#39; because I think that would be really horrible,&quot; Leadsom told the Times newspaper, which has declared its support for May. 
 
&quot;But genuinely I feel being a mum means you have a very real stake in the future of our country, a tangible stake. She possibly has nieces, nephews, lots of people. But I have children who are going to have children who will directly be a part of what happens next.&quot; 
 
Leadsom denounced the Times article on Twitter as &quot;gutter journalism&quot; and on Saturday made a televised statement outside her home to say she had made clear that the issue of her motherhood should not be a feature of the campaign. 
 
&quot;I want to be crystal clear that everyone has an equal stake in our society and in the future of our country,&quot; she said. 
 
The Times stood by its story and released an audio recording of Leadsom making the comments, which was played on Saturday morning news bulletins on all the main radio and TV stations. 
 
May made no comment on Leadsom&#39;s interview, merely tweeting: &quot;Yesterday, I launched my clean campaign pledge and invite @AndreaLeadsom to join me in signing it.&quot; 
 
That was a reference to five commitments May made on Friday, including to ensure that campaigning &quot;stays within the acceptable limits of political debate&quot;. 
 
&quot;VILE&quot; 
 
May and Leadsom were selected by Conservative lawmakers from an original field of five candidates. May was backed by 199 lawmakers, while Leadsom received support from 84. The contest now moves to the party&#39;s 150,000 grassroots members, who will elect the winner by Sept. 9. 
 
The comments made in the Times by Leadsom, a devout Christian who wants to swiftly launch the legal process of exiting the EU and end freedom of movement rights if elected, drew sharp criticism from several Conservative lawmakers. 
 
&quot;I am childless. I have nieces and nephews. I believe I - like everyone else - have a very real stake in our country,&quot; tweeted Ruth Davidson, leader of the party&#39;s Scottish arm, who had previously declared her support for May in the contest. 
 
Lawmaker Alan Duncan, also a May supporter, called Leadsom&#39;s comments &quot;vile&quot;, while colleague Antoinette Sandbach said Leadsom had shown &quot;a lack of judgment&quot;. 
 
Leadsom&#39;s bid, which has enthused some of the more staunchly eurosceptic people on the right of the party, had already been marred by questions over whether she had overstated her professional experience in finance. 
 
One of Leadsom&#39;s most vocal supporters, junior defence minister Penny Mordaunt, defended her comments on motherhood. 
 
&quot;She was talking about what motivates her personally,&quot; Mordaunt told BBC radio. &quot;This is an attempt I think by a paper that has declared for the other candidate to smear Andrea.&quot; 
 
In an interview with the Mail on Sunday newspaper last week, May had spoken of the sadness she and her husband Philip had experienced after being unable to have children. 
 
&quot;Of course we were both affected by it. You see friends who now have grown-up children, but you accept the hand that life deals you,&quot; she said.&nbsp; 
 
(Reuters)

London, United Kingdom: Andrea Leadsom, one of two candidates to be the next British prime minister, has caused an uproar by suggesting that being a mother means she has a greater stake in the country's future than her childless rival Theresa May. A little-known junior energy minister until she emerged as one of the most ardent voices in the campaign to leave the European Union, Leadsom is the outsider in the contest to succeed David Cameron as Conservative leader and prime minister. Cameron, who had campaigned for Britain to stay in the bloc, announced he would quit after the June 23 referendum delivered a vote for Brexit. May, the interior minister who also advocated remaining in the EU, is the favourite to replace him. "I am sure she will be really sad she doesn't have children so I don't want this to be 'Andrea has children, Theresa hasn't' because I think that would be really horrible," Leadsom told the Times newspaper, which has declared its support for May. "But genuinely I feel being a mum means you have a very real stake in the future of our country, a tangible stake. She possibly has nieces, nephews, lots of people. But I have children who are going to have children who will directly be a part of what happens next." Leadsom denounced the Times article on Twitter as "gutter journalism" and on Saturday made a televised statement outside her home to say she had made clear that the issue of her motherhood should not be a feature of the campaign. "I want to be crystal clear that everyone has an equal stake in our society and in the future of our country," she said. The Times stood by its story and released an audio recording of Leadsom making the comments, which was played on Saturday morning news bulletins on all the main radio and TV stations. May made no comment on Leadsom's interview, merely tweeting: "Yesterday, I launched my clean campaign pledge and invite @AndreaLeadsom to join me in signing it." That was a reference to five commitments May made on Friday, including to ensure that campaigning "stays within the acceptable limits of political debate". "VILE" May and Leadsom were selected by Conservative lawmakers from an original field of five candidates. May was backed by 199 lawmakers, while Leadsom received support from 84. The contest now moves to the party's 150,000 grassroots members, who will elect the winner by Sept. 9. The comments made in the Times by Leadsom, a devout Christian who wants to swiftly launch the legal process of exiting the EU and end freedom of movement rights if elected, drew sharp criticism from several Conservative lawmakers. "I am childless. I have nieces and nephews. I believe I - like everyone else - have a very real stake in our country," tweeted Ruth Davidson, leader of the party's Scottish arm, who had previously declared her support for May in the contest. Lawmaker Alan Duncan, also a May supporter, called Leadsom's comments "vile", while colleague Antoinette Sandbach said Leadsom had shown "a lack of judgment". Leadsom's bid, which has enthused some of the more staunchly eurosceptic people on the right of the party, had already been marred by questions over whether she had overstated her professional experience in finance. One of Leadsom's most vocal supporters, junior defence minister Penny Mordaunt, defended her comments on motherhood. "She was talking about what motivates her personally," Mordaunt told BBC radio. "This is an attempt I think by a paper that has declared for the other candidate to smear Andrea." In an interview with the Mail on Sunday newspaper last week, May had spoken of the sadness she and her husband Philip had experienced after being unable to have children. "Of course we were both affected by it. You see friends who now have grown-up children, but you accept the hand that life deals you," she said. (Reuters)

Britain PM contender Leadsom says she has greater stake in country because she is a mother, causes uproar

Wales are happy to cast themselves as underdogs in their Euro 2016 quarter-final against Belgium on Friday, but such modesty belies their proven ability to bite hard. 
 
The Belgians, who finally came together as a team to demolish Hungary 4-0 in their last-16 match, will start as favourites. 
 
Both sides, though, are fully aware that Wales have proved their mettle against Belgium, beating them 1-0 in Cardiff and drawing in Brussels in the tournament&#39;s qualifying stage. Belgium, playing before what will be virtually a home crowd in the northern French town of Lille, is under huge pressure for their much-vaunted golden generation to fulfil their promise and finally challenge for a major trophy. Wales could also claim to have developed a golden generation, spearheaded by Gareth Bale, even if they have fewer illustrious players than the side ranked number two in the world. 
 
&quot;We&#39;re good normally in that situation when we&#39;re right up against it,&quot; Wales defender Chris Gunter said.&nbsp;&quot;Belgium will be the fancied team and they are right on their own doorstep but it&#39;s something we can use as an advantage.&quot; 
 
All eyes will be on the form of Bale and Eden Hazard. 
 
Bale, the world&rsquo;s most expensive player, has scored three goals and fired in the cross that led to Northern Ireland&#39;s own goal in Wales&#39;s 1-0 last-16 victory. 
 
His ability to seize the moment, not least at free kicks, could be pivotal. 
 
Hazard came to life against Hungary -- as did the whole team after a stuttering start to the campaign. He set up the second goal for Michy Batshuayi and scored with a dashing solo effort two minutes later to crush Hungary&rsquo;s hopes in what he said was his best-ever game for his country. 
 
The Belgium captain has missed two days of training with a thigh injury, but should he be declared fit to play, he will be returning to the city where he made a name for himself. 
 
GREATER DEPTH 
 
The Welsh are playing in their first major tournament since the 1958 World Cup, when they lost in the quarter-finals to eventual champions Brazil. 
 
&quot;Wales are a very strong side, and not just with Gareth Bale; they have other good players,&quot; cautioned Belgian coach Marc Wilmots. 
 
Belgium, however, have greater depth. Wilmots has pointed to playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, who has been a tireless and influential figure. Romelu Lukaku scored 27 goals in 52 appearances for Everton this season and always looks threatening. 
 
&quot;They have players on the pitch and the bench that would grace any international team,&quot; Wales manager Chris Coleman said. 
 
&quot;But in the last four years we&#39;ve had four meetings and won one and drawn two, so there&#39;s nothing to be afraid of.&quot; 
 
Hazard said the Belgians would need to be wary of the Welsh. 
 
&quot;They are a tricky side to play against. They have a very compact unit and they have a great player up front (Bale).&quot; 
 
The winners will reckon to have a fair chance of reaching the final as the semi-finals would pit them against Poland or Portugal, avoiding the powers of France, Italy and Germany. 
 
Neither side will go gentle into that good night on Friday.&nbsp; 
 
(Reuters)

Wales have proved their mettle against Belgium, beating them 1-0 in Cardiff, but Belgium is almost playing on a home field in nearby France

Wales are happy to cast themselves as underdogs in their Euro 2016 quarter-final against Belgium on Friday, but such modesty belies their proven ability to bite hard. The Belgians, who finally came together as a team to demolish Hungary 4-0 in their last-16 match, will start as favourites. Both sides, though, are fully aware that Wales have proved their mettle against Belgium, beating them 1-0 in Cardiff and drawing in Brussels in the tournament's qualifying stage. Belgium, playing before what will be virtually a home crowd in the northern French town of Lille, is under huge pressure for their much-vaunted golden generation to fulfil their promise and finally challenge for a major trophy. Wales could also claim to have developed a golden generation, spearheaded by Gareth Bale, even if they have fewer illustrious players than the side ranked number two in the world. "We're good normally in that situation when we're right up against it," Wales defender Chris Gunter said. "Belgium will be the fancied team and they are right on their own doorstep but it's something we can use as an advantage." All eyes will be on the form of Bale and Eden Hazard. Bale, the world’s most expensive player, has scored three goals and fired in the cross that led to Northern Ireland's own goal in Wales's 1-0 last-16 victory. His ability to seize the moment, not least at free kicks, could be pivotal. Hazard came to life against Hungary -- as did the whole team after a stuttering start to the campaign. He set up the second goal for Michy Batshuayi and scored with a dashing solo effort two minutes later to crush Hungary’s hopes in what he said was his best-ever game for his country. The Belgium captain has missed two days of training with a thigh injury, but should he be declared fit to play, he will be returning to the city where he made a name for himself. GREATER DEPTH The Welsh are playing in their first major tournament since the 1958 World Cup, when they lost in the quarter-finals to eventual champions Brazil. "Wales are a very strong side, and not just with Gareth Bale; they have other good players," cautioned Belgian coach Marc Wilmots. Belgium, however, have greater depth. Wilmots has pointed to playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, who has been a tireless and influential figure. Romelu Lukaku scored 27 goals in 52 appearances for Everton this season and always looks threatening. "They have players on the pitch and the bench that would grace any international team," Wales manager Chris Coleman said. "But in the last four years we've had four meetings and won one and drawn two, so there's nothing to be afraid of." Hazard said the Belgians would need to be wary of the Welsh. "They are a tricky side to play against. They have a very compact unit and they have a great player up front (Bale)." The winners will reckon to have a fair chance of reaching the final as the semi-finals would pit them against Poland or Portugal, avoiding the powers of France, Italy and Germany. Neither side will go gentle into that good night on Friday. (Reuters)

Rivals Belgium and Wales face off in Euro 2016 quarter finals Friday

Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton&#39;s campaign on Wednesday signaled plans for a big assault on Republican Donald Trump, even as she battles to hold off rival Bernie Sanders in California.

Clinton, a former Secretary of State, is to deliver what her campaign described as a major speech today&nbsp;in San Diego to underscore what she feels would be the threat posed by Trump to U.S. national security if he is elected president on Nov. 8.

Her language to describe Trump has grown more aggressive by the day. On Wednesday, she seized on testimony released in a lawsuit against Trump University, in which some former workers said they believed Trump&#39;s for-profit school was fraudulent.

&quot;Trump and his employees took advantage of vulnerable Americans encouraging them to max out their credit cards, empty their retirement savings, destroy their financial futures, all while making promises they knew were false from the beginning,&quot; Clinton told a campaign event in Newark, New Jersey.

&quot;This is just more evidence that Donald Trump himself is a fraud.&quot;

Lawyers for Trump have said most students were satisfied with Trump University, dismissing the former workers&#39; testimony as discredited.

Trump, anticipating Clinton&#39;s foreign policy attacks on him, tried to raise doubts about her leadership skills at a rally in Sacramento, Calif.

&quot;She is a person with absolutely no natural talent,&quot; he said. &quot;All you have to do is watch her speak.&quot;

Repeatedly referring to Clinton as &quot;crooked Hillary,&quot; Trump sharply criticized her handling of foreign policy, including the Sept. 11, 2012, attack by Islamic militants on a U.S. diplomatic facility in Benghazi, Libya, that killed the U.S. ambassador.

&quot;She went to sleep,&quot; Trump added.

Clinton&#39;s effort to define Trump as unfit to be commander-in-chief comes as she faces fierce opposition from Sanders, a U.S. senator from Vermont who has insisted on staying in the fight for the Democratic presidential nomination despite Clinton&#39;s nearly insurmountable lead.

California&#39;s primary next Tuesday is shaping up to be pivotal in the Democratic contest, with Clinton holding a 13-point advantage over Sanders, 51 percent to 38 percent, according to the Hoover Institution&#39;s Golden State Poll in the state. An NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist poll gave Clinton a much narrower lead of 49 percent, to 47 percent for Sanders.

Clinton, with 2,312 delegates, needs 71 more delegates to reach the required 2,383 for the Democratic nomination. Sanders has 1,545. At stake in the California primary are 548 delegates who are awarded proportional to the vote. Five other states also vote next Tuesday, including New Jersey, which could also turn the tide for Clinton.

Despite Clinton&#39;s perceived advantage, there are lingering concerns among some Democrats about possible weakness, given the protracted battle with Sanders, a democratic socialist whose calls for free college tuition have energized young voters.

Doug Schoen, a Democratic pollster, wrote in the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday that California voters appeared to be leaning toward Sanders in recent days.

Sanders has been holding events every day this week in the state. Clinton canceled a New Jersey event planned for today&nbsp;to go to California a day earlier than anticipated and is to stay there until Monday.

&quot;The inevitability behind Mrs. Clinton&rsquo;s nomination will be in large measure eviscerated if she loses the June 7 California primary to Bernie Sanders,&quot; Schoen wrote. &quot;That could well happen.&quot;

&nbsp;

&#39;CAN&#39;T IGNORE TRUMP&#39;

Other Democrats expressed confidence in Clinton&#39;s position and her move to assail Trump on foreign policy.

&quot;I think she has to,&quot; said Democratic strategist Jim Manley. &quot;Leaving aside California, I think they can&rsquo;t just ignore Donald Trump in that they should be spending a majority of time focusing on him instead of Sanders at this point, because based on the math Sanders can&rsquo;t win.&quot;

Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, has faced criticism for a variety of positions on foreign policy, such as his willingness to talk to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his idea that Japan and South Korea might need to develop nuclear arsenals.

On the other hand, past Republican presidents and current Democratic President Barack Obama have, like Trump, said NATO nations should pay more for their defense to ease the U.S. burden. Trump, however, has declared NATO obsolete and in need of reconfiguring.

A Clinton aide said &nbsp;Hillary Clinton,&nbsp;would say Trump had not outlined a coherent foreign policy doctrine and had proven himself to be temperamentally unfit to serve as president.

Democratic Presidential front runner Hillary Clinton plans for a big assault on Republican Donald Trump, even as she battles another Democratic rival Bernie Sanders

Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton's campaign on Wednesday signaled plans for a big assault on Republican Donald Trump, even as she battles to hold off rival Bernie Sanders in California. Clinton, a former Secretary of State, is to deliver what her campaign described as a major speech today in San Diego to underscore what she feels would be the threat posed by Trump to U.S. national security if he is elected president on Nov. 8. Her language to describe Trump has grown more aggressive by the day. On Wednesday, she seized on testimony released in a lawsuit against Trump University, in which some former workers said they believed Trump's for-profit school was fraudulent. "Trump and his employees took advantage of vulnerable Americans encouraging them to max out their credit cards, empty their retirement savings, destroy their financial futures, all while making promises they knew were false from the beginning," Clinton told a campaign event in Newark, New Jersey. "This is just more evidence that Donald Trump himself is a fraud." Lawyers for Trump have said most students were satisfied with Trump University, dismissing the former workers' testimony as discredited. Trump, anticipating Clinton's foreign policy attacks on him, tried to raise doubts about her leadership skills at a rally in Sacramento, Calif. "She is a person with absolutely no natural talent," he said. "All you have to do is watch her speak." Repeatedly referring to Clinton as "crooked Hillary," Trump sharply criticized her handling of foreign policy, including the Sept. 11, 2012, attack by Islamic militants on a U.S. diplomatic facility in Benghazi, Libya, that killed the U.S. ambassador. "She went to sleep," Trump added. Clinton's effort to define Trump as unfit to be commander-in-chief comes as she faces fierce opposition from Sanders, a U.S. senator from Vermont who has insisted on staying in the fight for the Democratic presidential nomination despite Clinton's nearly insurmountable lead. California's primary next Tuesday is shaping up to be pivotal in the Democratic contest, with Clinton holding a 13-point advantage over Sanders, 51 percent to 38 percent, according to the Hoover Institution's Golden State Poll in the state. An NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist poll gave Clinton a much narrower lead of 49 percent, to 47 percent for Sanders. Clinton, with 2,312 delegates, needs 71 more delegates to reach the required 2,383 for the Democratic nomination. Sanders has 1,545. At stake in the California primary are 548 delegates who are awarded proportional to the vote. Five other states also vote next Tuesday, including New Jersey, which could also turn the tide for Clinton. Despite Clinton's perceived advantage, there are lingering concerns among some Democrats about possible weakness, given the protracted battle with Sanders, a democratic socialist whose calls for free college tuition have energized young voters. Doug Schoen, a Democratic pollster, wrote in the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday that California voters appeared to be leaning toward Sanders in recent days. Sanders has been holding events every day this week in the state. Clinton canceled a New Jersey event planned for today to go to California a day earlier than anticipated and is to stay there until Monday. "The inevitability behind Mrs. Clinton’s nomination will be in large measure eviscerated if she loses the June 7 California primary to Bernie Sanders," Schoen wrote. "That could well happen." 'CAN'T IGNORE TRUMP' Other Democrats expressed confidence in Clinton's position and her move to assail Trump on foreign policy. "I think she has to," said Democratic strategist Jim Manley. "Leaving aside California, I think they can’t just ignore Donald Trump in that they should be spending a majority of time focusing on him instead of Sanders at this point, because based on the math Sanders can’t win." Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, has faced criticism for a variety of positions on foreign policy, such as his willingness to talk to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his idea that Japan and South Korea might need to develop nuclear arsenals. On the other hand, past Republican presidents and current Democratic President Barack Obama have, like Trump, said NATO nations should pay more for their defense to ease the U.S. burden. Trump, however, has declared NATO obsolete and in need of reconfiguring. A Clinton aide said Hillary Clinton, would say Trump had not outlined a coherent foreign policy doctrine and had proven himself to be temperamentally unfit to serve as president.

Battling to hold off Sanders,Clinton to assail Trump on foreign policy

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