Bernie Sanders denounces Russia`s reported efforts to aid his campaign - as it happened
(The Guardian United States)

Frontrunner condemns interference and says: `Unlike Trump, I do not consider Vladimir Putin a good friend. He is an autocratic thug´Help us cover the critical issues of 2020. Consider making a contribution 1.14am GMT That does it for me here on the west coast as we close out the blog after a busy afternoon. Let´s take a quick look back at some of the day´s biggest news items:`He is an autocratic thug,` Sanders said of the Russian leader.Check out my colleagues Joan´s latest story to read more. 12.45am GMT Today Trump wrapped a four-day visit to the western US with a rally in Las Vegas, doubling down on his mockery of the Oscars and Joe Biden´s speech impediment as he called on his base to help defeat the `radical socialist Democrats` in November. The ridicule of Biden´s stutter isn´t new. This January the Atlantic focused on Biden´s speech, and the lengths he´s gone to in order to overcome it, in a profile. That didn´t stop Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the former White House press secretary, from taking to Twitter to mock Biden´s performance in a debate. And it provoked a response by Biden, himself. I´ve worked my whole life to overcome a stutter. And it´s my great honor to mentor kids who have experienced the same. It´s called empathy. Look it up. https://t.co/0kd0UJr9Rs`You get angry when you can`t get the words out` -- Trump mocks Joe Biden`s speech (Biden has been open about his stutter) pic.twitter.com/i05d3g46FL Continue reading...