[Mhiz Rebecca]

President-elect Donald Trump has dismissed the US threat to
increase sanctions against Russia, saying “we ought to get on with
our lives”.
The White House said it will retaliate for the alleged hacking by
Russia of the Democratic Party during the recent presidential election
campaign.
A raft of new sanctions and other measures will be revealed on
Thursday, US media reports.
Russia has denied any involvement in the hacking.
On Wednesday, senior US senators called for increased sanctions.
But Trump, who has been criticised for being too cosy with Russia,
told reporters outside his Florida resort the issue of retaliation was a
distraction and there was no conclusive evidence who was behind the
hacks.
“I think we ought to get on with our lives,” he said.
“I think that computers have complicated lives very greatly. The
whole age of the computer has made it where nobody knows exactly
what’s going on.
“We have speed, we have a lot of other things, but I’m not sure we
have the kind of security we need.”
The US intelligence agencies are in agreement that hackers linked to
the Kremlin accessed emails belonging to the Democratic National
Committee and the emails of a top Hillary Clinton aide.
Contents from the emails were made public, in an embarrassing
series of stories for Mrs Clinton throughout the final stages of her
campaign.
US President Barack Obama has vowed to hit back at Russia before
he leaves office in three weeks.
There is speculation this could mean sanctions and covert action in
the form of cyber warfare. Sanctions against Russia are already in
place over its annexation of Crimea.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has called for new measures
aimed at Russian leader Vladimir Putin “as an individual”.
Asked about that, Trump referred to Graham’s failed presidential bid,
reports the BBC.
“I don’t know what he’s doing,” said the president-elect. “I haven’t
spoken to him. As you know, he ran against me.”