It said it would be clearer about who funded ads and to what end, especially those pushing a political agenda.

The company, like several tech firms, is keen to show it can self-regulate after it was found that Russian-backed groups were exploiting its ad platform.

Several key senators, from both sides of the US political divide, have backed measures clamping down on online ads.

The Honest Ads Act would regulate ad sales on social networks, search engines, websites or apps that have more than 50 million US visitors each month for the majority of months in a year.

The rules would bring it closer in line with restrictions and disclosures required when placing political messages on TV or radio stations.

‘Good first step’
Twitter hopes its own measures, announced on Tuesday, will be at least partly enough to convince senators it is capable of tackling the problem itself.

Senator Mark Warner described the changes as “a good first step”, adding: “Online political ads need more transparency and disclosure.”

A blog post outlining the changes added: “People can also report inappropriate ads or give negative feedback (i.e. “I don’t like this ad”) for every ad running on Twitter, whether the ad targets you or not.

“This feedback will help us more quickly remove inappropriate ads from Twitter, and show you more relevant ads in your timeline.”

From Russia with tweets
Twitter, Facebook and Google face a Senate hearing next week in which they will be expected to describe and explain the extent in which Kremlin-backed accounts abused the sites’ advertising platforms.

At a hearing held last month, Twitter was criticised for not doing enough research into the matter. Senator Warner, who sits on the committee investigating Russian interference in last year’s presidential election, said Twitter’s appearance was “deeply disappointing”, and consistently mainly of information already divulged by Facebook.

That information included details about more than 400 Facebook profiles that the company found were likely being run by so-called “trolling farms” in Russia.

These farms would employ people to trawl the internet to post inflammatory comments – often focusing on a particular issue, like race or immigration, rather than a specific candidate.

Analysis of the activity has suggested the efforts were targeted at US swing states, i.e. areas where the election race is tight.

Google has said it discovered a small amount of ad buy – $4,700 – linked to Russian government groups. However, that does not include advertising and accounts on YouTube, something Google is still investigating, it said.

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Source: BBC

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The KNVB said in a statement it had received many questions over playing in the 2018 World Cup in Russia but felt a debate should be delayed while the country observed a national day of mourning.

All 298 people on board the Malaysian Airlines Boeing 777 died when it was brought down last Thursday over rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine, where Kiev is struggling to quell a pro-Russian separatist rebellion.

Two-thirds of the victims were Dutch and the disaster has led to calls for strong sanctions against Russia, even if it hurts the Dutch economy, opinion polls published on Wednesday showed.

“The association is well aware that a future World Cup in Russia will stir a lot of emotion among Soccer lovers and the next of kin in the Netherlands,” the KNVB said.

“Standing still to remember our enormous loss is now the priority. The KNVB believes it would be more appropriate to hold the discussion over the future World Cup in Russia at a later time once the investigation into the disaster is completed.”

The Netherlands finished third at the World Cup in Brazil this month, but a national mood of euphoria has been replaced by shock, grief and anger.

With 193 of the dead from the Netherlands, Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans said almost every family in the country of 15 million knew someone who had died or their relatives.

Russia has blamed Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko for the crash because he refused to extend a ceasefire with the separatist fighters. Moscow denies supporting the separatists.

U.S. intelligence officials said on Tuesday that Washington believed pro-Russian separatists probably shot the plane down “by mistake,” not realizing it was a civilian passenger flight.

German politicians on Wednesday called on FIFA to move the World Cup from Russia.

“As long as Russian President Vladimir Putin is not an active participant in the investigation into the horror event and does not work against the separatists to ensure an immediate end to the conflict, a major sporting event like the World Cup in Russia in 2018 is unimaginable,” said Peter Beuth, chairman of the conference of sports ministers from Germany’s regional states.

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Source: Reuters

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Defender Ron Vlaar stepped up but Sergio Romero – a player who was “taught how to stop penalties” by Van Gaal at AZ Alkmaar – saved his kick.

Argentina won the shootout 4-2 and will face Germany in Sunday’s final.

“I asked two players to take the first ball before ending up with Vlaar,” said new Manchester United boss Van Gaal.

“I thought he was the best player on the pitch so should have confidence.”

Van Gaal was also left to rue the intervention of goalkeeper Romero, who he signed for AZ from Buenos Aires-based Racing Club in 2007.

The Argentine spent two years working under Van Gaal before the 62-year-old departed for Bayern Munich.

“I taught Romero how to stop penalties, so that hurts,” Van Gaal said. “We were the club to bring him to Europe.

“He was a big talent, and someone who has the qualities to do that.”

Romero sought out his former manager at the end of the match.

“I went to the dressing room to thank him,” he said. “He is someone who helped me a lot when I arrived in the Netherlands, in a completely different country, with different customs.

“At the beginning I didn’t speak a word, and he spoke Spanish and he helped me a lot.”

The last-four tie in Sao Paulo was decided by penalties following a goalless draw where both sides barely threatened in an uninspiring 120 minutes.

The Dutch scored all four of their spot-kicks to beat Costa Rica in the quarter-final shootout when captain Robin van Persie converted their first effort.

But with the Manchester United striker substituted in extra-time, Van Gaal was forced to turn to Aston Villa centre-back Vlaar.

His low effort was stopped by Romero, who then denied Wesley Sneijder as the Dutch missed two of their four penalties.

“It just goes to show it’s not easy scoring in a shootout,” said Van Gaal. “It’s the most terrible scenario, to lose on penalties. At the very least we were equal with them, if not the better team. It’s a big disappointment.

“Winning on penalties in your previous match should give you confidence. We took those penalties in an incredible way against Costa Rica,”

Van Gaal’s side now face Brazil in Saturday’s third-place play-off in Brasilia but the Dutchman said: “In a tournament you shouldn’t have players play a match for third or fourth place.

“There’s only one award that counts, and that’s being world champion.”

Against Costa Rica, Van Gaal brought on substitute goalkeeper Tim Krul in place of Jasper Cillessen for the shootout – a tactic which worked as Krul saved two spot-kicks.

But he was unable to call on the Newcastle player again, having already made his three substitutions after withdrawing Van Persie in favour of Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

“If I had had the opportunity to substitute Jasper I would have done that but I had already used three substitutes so I couldn’t,” Van Gaal said.

“I thought it was necessary to get Van Persie out because he was on his last legs. My feeling was that Huntelaar would make the goal.”

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Source: BBC Sport

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The first half was a tense, chance-shy affair. Lionel Messi had Argentina’s best opportunity, with a centrally-positioned free-kick from the edge of the box, but he curled it straight into the arms of Jasper Cillissen.

Ezequiel Gonzalez bravely ducked his head between flying boots from a corner, but the 27-year-old centre-back was unable to keep his effort down, while the sliding Ron Vlaar did well to intercept a low Ezequiel Lavezzi cross before Gonzalo Higuain could pounce.

The Netherlands, for their part, struggled to get the ball to danger man Arjen Robben and failed to force Sergio Romero into a save before the half-time whistle sounded.

If the first half was tame, the second was even tamer. Argentina finally sprung to life on 75 minutes, however, when Messi spun his man ner the right touchline but was felled. The referee played the advantage, allowing Enzo Perez to surge forward and cross for Higuain, whose first-time stab hit the side-netting.

After the contest crawled into added time, the Netherlands conjured up what was, indubitably, its best chance. Sneijder’s crafty flick sent Robben racing into the Argentinian area. The 30-year-old nevertheless took too many touches, which enabled Javier Mascherano to make a superb sliding block from his strike from point-blank range.

Shortly into extra-time, Klaas-Jan Huntelaaar replaced Van Persie. It was Louis van Gaal’s third substitution, eliminating the possibility of quarter-final saviour Tim Krul coming on should the game go to penalties and signalling the Oranje coach’s desire to go for it.

That his charges did. Robben sped in behind the Albiceleeste defence, only for Mascherano to divert his cut-back behind, before the Bayern Munich player tested Romero’s hands with a fizzing 25-yard piledriver.

After 115 minutes, Argentina had their finest opening of the match. A long ball over the top bounced into the path of substitute Rodrigo Palacio, but he failed to generate sufficient power on his header to trouble Cillessen.

Both goalkeepers had had little to do in normal and extra time, but Romero did plenty thereafter to send the masses of Argentinians in Sao Paulo delirious.

Source: FIFA

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