NYT’s Russia report is treason: Trump

WASHINGTON/LONDON: President Donald Trump accused The New York Times of “a virtual act of treason” after it reported that the US is stepping up digital incursions into Russia’s electric power grid.

Officials have described the classified deployment of American computer code inside Russia’s power grid and other targets, the Times had reported.

The action is intended partly as a warning but also to leave the US poised to conduct cyberstrikes in the event of a major conflict between the US and Russia, the newspaper said.

Trump tweeted that the accusations were “NOT TRUE”, calling the media “corrupt” and repeating accusations that journalists are “the enemy of the people”. He added: “Do you believe that the Failing New York Times just did a story stating that the United States is substantially increasing Cyber Attacks on Russia.This is a virtual act of Treason by a once great paper so desperate for a story, any story, even if bad for our Country.”

In its Saturday report, the Times described “broad hesitation to go into detail with Mr Trump about operations against Russia for concern over his reaction - and the possibility that he might countermand it or discuss it with foreign officials”.

The paper also cited National Security Council officials as saying they had no security concerns about its report on the incursions, perhaps indicating that some of the intrusions were meant to be noticed by Russia.

TRUMP CALLS LONDON MAYOR A ‘DISASTER’

US President Donald Trump once again criticised London Mayor Sadiq Khan on Saturday, saying he is a “disaster” and will “only get worse” after three people were slain in the city in less than 20 hours.

Trump retweeted a tweet by the right-wing commentator Katie Hopkins who called London “stab city” and said “this is Khan’s Londonistan”, a phrase used to describe the city’s failure to tackle Muslim extremists.

“LONDON needs a new mayor ASAP. Khan is a disaster - will only get worse!” Trump added.