British travel group Thomas Cook on Monday declared bankruptcy after failing to reach a last-ditch rescue deal, triggering the UK's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/britons-opt-for-non-eu-holidays-in-face-of-brexit-impasse-thomas-cook-214301">biggest repatriation</a> since World War II to bring back stranded passengers.&nbsp;

The 178-year-old operator had been desperately seeking £200 million&nbsp;from private investors to save it from collapsing.&nbsp;

Watch: World's oldest travel firm Thomas Cook collapses

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"Despite considerable efforts, those discussions have not resulted in an agreement between the company's stakeholders and proposed new money providers," Thomas Cook said in a statement.

"The company's board has therefore concluded that it had no choice but to take steps to enter into compulsory liquidation with immediate effect."

The government said it had hired planes to fly home an estimated 150,000 holidaymakers to the UK, in an operation starting on Monday.&nbsp;

"Following the collapse of Thomas Cook and the cancellation of all its flights, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced that the government and UK Civil Aviation Authority has hired dozens of charter planes to fly customers home free of charge," a separate statement said, describing it as the largest repatriation in peacetime history.&nbsp;

Additionally, "All customers currently abroad with Thomas Cook who are booked to return to the UK over the next two weeks will be brought home as close as possible to their booked return date."

Thomas Cook chief executive Peter Fankhauser called it a "deeply sad day".

"It is a matter of profound regret to me and the rest of the board that we were not successful," he said.

"This marks a deeply sad day for the company which pioneered package holidays and made travel possible for millions of people around the world," he added in the group's statement.

22,000 jobs&nbsp; 
 
The firm's creditors held a marathon meeting on Sunday to try and work out a deal, followed by a meeting of the board of directors.

Reports said a collapse of the group would mean the repatriation of 600,000 tourists, including around 150,000 seeking government help returning to the UK.

Two years ago, the collapse of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-wallet-uks-monarch-airlines-suspends-all-flights-5600">Monarch Airlines</a> prompted the British government to take emergency action to return 110,000 stranded passengers, costing taxpayers some £60 million on hiring planes.

As well as the grounding of its planes, Thomas Cook has been forced to shut travel agencies, leaving the group's 22,000 global employees - 9,000 of whom are in Britain - out of a job.&nbsp;

Holidaymakers had already reported problems, with guests at a hotel in Tunisia owed money by Thomas Cook being asked for extra money before being allowed to leave, according to a tourist interviewed by AFP.

Chinese peer Fosun, which was already the biggest shareholder in Thomas Cook, agreed last month to inject £450 million into the business as part of an initial £900 million rescue package.

In return, the Hong Kong-listed conglomerate acquired a 75 per cent stake in Thomas Cook's tour operating division and 25 per cent of its airline unit.

Thomas Cook in May revealed that first-half losses widened on a major write-down, caused in part by Brexit uncertainty that delayed summer holiday bookings. The group, which has around 600 stores across the UK, has also come under pressure from fierce online competition.

Cabinet maker Thomas Cook created the travel firm in 1841 to carry temperance supporters by train between British cities.

It soon began arranging foreign trips, being the first operator to take British travellers on escorted visits to Europe in 1855, to the United States in 1866 and on around-the-world trips in 1872.

The company was also a pioneer in introducing "circular note" - products that would later become traveller's cheques.

British travel group Thomas Cook on Monday declared bankruptcy after failing to reach a last-ditch rescue deal, triggering the UK's biggest repatriation since World War II to bring back stranded passengers.

British travel group Thomas Cook on Monday declared bankruptcy after failing to reach a last-ditch rescue deal, triggering the UK's biggest repatriation since World War II to bring back stranded passengers. The 178-year-old operator had been desperately seeking £200 million from private investors to save it from collapsing. Watch: World's oldest travel firm Thomas Cook collapses "Despite considerable efforts, those discussions have not resulted in an agreement between the company's stakeholders and proposed new money providers," Thomas Cook said in a statement. "The company's board has therefore concluded that it had no choice but to take steps to enter into compulsory liquidation with immediate effect." The government said it had hired planes to fly home an estimated 150,000 holidaymakers to the UK, in an operation starting on Monday. "Following the collapse of Thomas Cook and the cancellation of all its flights, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced that the government and UK Civil Aviation Authority has hired dozens of charter planes to fly customers home free of charge," a separate statement said, describing it as the largest repatriation in peacetime history. Additionally, "All customers currently abroad with Thomas Cook who are booked to return to the UK over the next two weeks will be brought home as close as possible to their booked return date." Thomas Cook chief executive Peter Fankhauser called it a "deeply sad day". "It is a matter of profound regret to me and the rest of the board that we were not successful," he said. "This marks a deeply sad day for the company which pioneered package holidays and made travel possible for millions of people around the world," he added in the group's statement. 22,000 jobs The firm's creditors held a marathon meeting on Sunday to try and work out a deal, followed by a meeting of the board of directors. Reports said a collapse of the group would mean the repatriation of 600,000 tourists, including around 150,000 seeking government help returning to the UK. Two years ago, the collapse of Monarch Airlines prompted the British government to take emergency action to return 110,000 stranded passengers, costing taxpayers some £60 million on hiring planes. As well as the grounding of its planes, Thomas Cook has been forced to shut travel agencies, leaving the group's 22,000 global employees - 9,000 of whom are in Britain - out of a job. Holidaymakers had already reported problems, with guests at a hotel in Tunisia owed money by Thomas Cook being asked for extra money before being allowed to leave, according to a tourist interviewed by AFP. Chinese peer Fosun, which was already the biggest shareholder in Thomas Cook, agreed last month to inject £450 million into the business as part of an initial £900 million rescue package. In return, the Hong Kong-listed conglomerate acquired a 75 per cent stake in Thomas Cook's tour operating division and 25 per cent of its airline unit. Thomas Cook in May revealed that first-half losses widened on a major write-down, caused in part by Brexit uncertainty that delayed summer holiday bookings. The group, which has around 600 stores across the UK, has also come under pressure from fierce online competition. Cabinet maker Thomas Cook created the travel firm in 1841 to carry temperance supporters by train between British cities. It soon began arranging foreign trips, being the first operator to take British travellers on escorted visits to Europe in 1855, to the United States in 1866 and on around-the-world trips in 1872. The company was also a pioneer in introducing "circular note" - products that would later become traveller's cheques.

178-year-old British travel firm Thomas Cook collapses

At least 35 civilians were killed and 13 people were injured during an attack conducted by the Afghan government forces in southern Helmand province, two provincial officials said on Monday.

The incident occurred on Sunday night when Afghan forces raided a house that the officials said was being used by the Taliban to train suicide bombers, but during the attack a wedding venue situated adjacent the target came under fire.

"35 civilians were killed and 13 are injured. These people were attending a wedding party near to the attack site in Khaksar area of Musa Qala district," said Attaullah Afghan, a member of the Helmand provincial council member.

A second provincial council member, Abdul Majid Akhundzadah said 40 people, all civilians, were killed in the attack.

At least 35 civilians were killed and 13 people were injured during an attack conducted by the Afghan government forces in southern Helmand province, two provincial officials said on Monday.

At least 35 civilians were killed and 13 people were injured during an attack conducted by the Afghan government forces in southern Helmand province, two provincial officials said on Monday. The incident occurred on Sunday night when Afghan forces raided a house that the officials said was being used by the Taliban to train suicide bombers, but during the attack a wedding venue situated adjacent the target came under fire. "35 civilians were killed and 13 are injured. These people were attending a wedding party near to the attack site in Khaksar area of Musa Qala district," said Attaullah Afghan, a member of the Helmand provincial council member. A second provincial council member, Abdul Majid Akhundzadah said 40 people, all civilians, were killed in the attack.

At least 35 civilians killed by Afghan forces in southern Helmand province

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson accused Tehran of being behind attacks on Saudi oil installations, in remarks to reporters en route to New York where he will meet&nbsp;Iran's president.

"I can tell you that the UK is attributing responsibility with a very high degree of probability to Iran for the Aramco attacks," he said, cited by Britain's Press Association news agency on Monday.

He is due to meet with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani at the UN General Assembly in New York.

He will also discuss the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mike-pompeo-says-abundantly-clear-iran-was-behind-saudi-oil-attacks-250674">attacks </a>at a joint meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

"We think it very likely indeed that Iran was indeed responsible for using both UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), both drones and cruise missiles," Johnson told reporters.

"Clearly the difficulty is, how do we organise a global response? What is the way forward? And we will be working with our American friends and our European friends to construct a response that tries to de-escalate tensions in the Gulf region", he added.

The United States has accused <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-may-release-british-flagged-tanker-within-hours-swedish-owner-251217">Tehran</a> of carrying out air attacks on Saudi Arabia's Abqaiq plant and the Khurais oil field on September 14, knocking out half the kingdom's oil production.

Iran denies responsibility for the attacks which were claimed by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-to-present-plan-for-gulf-security-at-un-this-week-251202">Iranian-backed </a>Huthi rebels in Yemen.

Johnson said,&nbsp;"clearly if we are asked either by the Saudis or the Americans to have a role then we would consider in what way we could be useful."

The British premier also said he would raise the case of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian mother held in Tehran since 2016, when he meets with Rouhani.

Johnson has been accused of making her plight worse when, in a previous job as foreign minister, he said she had been training journalists in Iran before she was arrested for sedition.

Her family strongly denies this and he swiftly backtracked. Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a project manager with the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the media group's philanthropic arm, denies all charges.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson accused Tehran of being behind attacks on Saudi oil installations, in remarks to reporters en route to New York where he will meet Iran's president.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson accused Tehran of being behind attacks on Saudi oil installations, in remarks to reporters en route to New York where he will meet Iran's president. "I can tell you that the UK is attributing responsibility with a very high degree of probability to Iran for the Aramco attacks," he said, cited by Britain's Press Association news agency on Monday. He is due to meet with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani at the UN General Assembly in New York. He will also discuss the attacks at a joint meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. "We think it very likely indeed that Iran was indeed responsible for using both UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), both drones and cruise missiles," Johnson told reporters. "Clearly the difficulty is, how do we organise a global response? What is the way forward? And we will be working with our American friends and our European friends to construct a response that tries to de-escalate tensions in the Gulf region", he added. The United States has accused Tehran of carrying out air attacks on Saudi Arabia's Abqaiq plant and the Khurais oil field on September 14, knocking out half the kingdom's oil production. Iran denies responsibility for the attacks which were claimed by Iranian-backed Huthi rebels in Yemen. Johnson said, "clearly if we are asked either by the Saudis or the Americans to have a role then we would consider in what way we could be useful." The British premier also said he would raise the case of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian mother held in Tehran since 2016, when he meets with Rouhani. Johnson has been accused of making her plight worse when, in a previous job as foreign minister, he said she had been training journalists in Iran before she was arrested for sedition. Her family strongly denies this and he swiftly backtracked. Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a project manager with the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the media group's philanthropic arm, denies all charges.

Iran behind attacks on Saudi oil sites: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson

Pakistan Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-prime-minister-imran-khan-arrives-in-us-ahead-of-74th-session-of-unga-251133">Imran Khan</a> on Sunday (local time) met United States' special envoy for Afghan peace talks Zalmay Khalilzad.

Khan is in New York to take part in the 74th UN General Assembly session.

Dawn quoted Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi as saying that Khalilzad "shared with the premier how far his negotiations with the Taliban had gone, the nature of the talks and what expectations he holds in the future".

In a statement here, the Pakistan Embassy said Khan and Khalilzad discussed Afghanistan and Pakistan-US joint efforts for peace in Afghanistan.

The Prime Minister "appreciated Khalilzad's efforts for promoting a peaceful, political settlement in Afghanistan" read the statement.

"He (Imran Khan) recalled that Pakistan had always held that there was no military solution to the Afghan conflict. Pakistan would, therefore, continue to support all initiatives towards achieving sustainable peace in Afghanistan and hoped for an early resumption of the peace process," it further read.

Pakistan has been long accused of harbouring terrorist groups which wreak havoc in Afghanistan and seek to undermine the democratic process in the country.

However, the Pakistan Embassy said that Khan condemned the recent surge of violence in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-slams-pakistan-over-imran-khans-remarks-summons-pak-diplomat-recalls-its-envoy-205858">Afghanistan</a>.

The meeting comes weeks after US President Donald Trump called off negotiations with the Taliban and cancelled a 'secret meeting' with the group's representatives at Camp David in the wake of Kabul terror attack. The calling off of negotiations was seen as a blow to Pakistan.

On September 15, Trump said it was not a "good idea" for Taliban to launch a deadly blast in Kabul, which has claimed 12 lives including an American soldier, and stated that the militant group is aware that they have committed a "big mistake".

The US has been negotiating with the Taliban in the last few months at Doha despite the group's reluctance to hold direct talks with the Afghan government, which it views as a US puppet.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday (local time) met United States' special envoy for Afghan peace talks Zalmay Khalilzad. Khan is in New York to take part in the 74th UN General Assembly session.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday (local time) met United States' special envoy for Afghan peace talks Zalmay Khalilzad. Khan is in New York to take part in the 74th UN General Assembly session. Dawn quoted Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi as saying that Khalilzad "shared with the premier how far his negotiations with the Taliban had gone, the nature of the talks and what expectations he holds in the future". In a statement here, the Pakistan Embassy said Khan and Khalilzad discussed Afghanistan and Pakistan-US joint efforts for peace in Afghanistan. The Prime Minister "appreciated Khalilzad's efforts for promoting a peaceful, political settlement in Afghanistan" read the statement. "He (Imran Khan) recalled that Pakistan had always held that there was no military solution to the Afghan conflict. Pakistan would, therefore, continue to support all initiatives towards achieving sustainable peace in Afghanistan and hoped for an early resumption of the peace process," it further read. Pakistan has been long accused of harbouring terrorist groups which wreak havoc in Afghanistan and seek to undermine the democratic process in the country. However, the Pakistan Embassy said that Khan condemned the recent surge of violence in Afghanistan. The meeting comes weeks after US President Donald Trump called off negotiations with the Taliban and cancelled a 'secret meeting' with the group's representatives at Camp David in the wake of Kabul terror attack. The calling off of negotiations was seen as a blow to Pakistan. On September 15, Trump said it was not a "good idea" for Taliban to launch a deadly blast in Kabul, which has claimed 12 lives including an American soldier, and stated that the militant group is aware that they have committed a "big mistake". The US has been negotiating with the Taliban in the last few months at Doha despite the group's reluctance to hold direct talks with the Afghan government, which it views as a US puppet.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan meets US special envoy for Afghanistan in New York

The Democratic Republic of the Congo will introduce a second vaccine next month to combat the Ebola virus, which has killed more than 2,100 people in the country, the World Health Organization said on Monday.

The announcement came as the aid group Doctors Without Borders (MSF) accused the WHO of rationing the first Ebola vaccine in the DRC.

"The health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have announced plans to introduce a second experimental Ebola vaccine, manufactured by Johnson &amp; Johnson, from mid-October," the global health body said in a statement.

"This vaccine, which is given as a 2-dose course, 56 days apart, will be provided under approved protocols to targeted at-risk populations in areas that do not have active Ebola transmission as an additional tool to extend protection against the virus", they added.

Matshidiso Moeti, WHO's Regional Director for Africa, said the second vaccine "will help ensure that we have potentially an additional tool to prevent the expansion of the outbreak and also a potential tool to protect populations before outbreaks hit areas at risk."

The ongoing Ebola outbreak is the second-worst one in history after more than 11,000 people were killed in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia between 2014 and 2016.

The WHO said last week that as of September 17, DRC had registered a total of 3,145 cases of Ebola since the outbreak began over a year ago, including 2,103 deaths.

It has declared the Ebola epidemic a "public health emergency of international concern".

Around 225,000 people have received the Ebola vaccine manufactured by the German pharma giant Merck since August 8, 2018.

'Insufficient' 
 
But the MSF said earlier Monday that "this number remains largely insufficient".

"One of the main problems currently is the fact that in practice the vaccine is rationed by the WHO and that too few people at risk are protected today," MSF said in a statement.

The WHO denied limiting the availability of the drug, saying it was doing "everything possible" to end the epidemic.

The UN's health agency has been pushing for the introduction of the second vaccine, but the DRC health ministry under former minister Oly Ilunga had resisted such a move, citing the risks of introducing a new product in communities where mistrust of Ebola responders is already high.

Ilunga stepped down on July 22 after being replaced as the head of the country's Ebola response effort.

He has since been charged with embezzling funds allotted for the Ebola fight, according to his lawyers who reject the allegations saying accounts prove that public funds were used "exclusively" for the anti-Ebola effort.

WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, praised the latest decision by DRC authorities, who he said, "Have once again shown leadership and their determination to end this outbreak as soon as possible".

The Democratic Republic of the Congo will introduce a second vaccine next month to combat the Ebola virus, which has killed more than 2,100 people in the country, the World Health Organization said on Monday.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo will introduce a second vaccine next month to combat the Ebola virus, which has killed more than 2,100 people in the country, the World Health Organization said on Monday. The announcement came as the aid group Doctors Without Borders (MSF) accused the WHO of rationing the first Ebola vaccine in the DRC. "The health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have announced plans to introduce a second experimental Ebola vaccine, manufactured by Johnson & Johnson, from mid-October," the global health body said in a statement. "This vaccine, which is given as a 2-dose course, 56 days apart, will be provided under approved protocols to targeted at-risk populations in areas that do not have active Ebola transmission as an additional tool to extend protection against the virus", they added. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO's Regional Director for Africa, said the second vaccine "will help ensure that we have potentially an additional tool to prevent the expansion of the outbreak and also a potential tool to protect populations before outbreaks hit areas at risk." The ongoing Ebola outbreak is the second-worst one in history after more than 11,000 people were killed in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia between 2014 and 2016. The WHO said last week that as of September 17, DRC had registered a total of 3,145 cases of Ebola since the outbreak began over a year ago, including 2,103 deaths. It has declared the Ebola epidemic a "public health emergency of international concern". Around 225,000 people have received the Ebola vaccine manufactured by the German pharma giant Merck since August 8, 2018. 'Insufficient' But the MSF said earlier Monday that "this number remains largely insufficient". "One of the main problems currently is the fact that in practice the vaccine is rationed by the WHO and that too few people at risk are protected today," MSF said in a statement. The WHO denied limiting the availability of the drug, saying it was doing "everything possible" to end the epidemic. The UN's health agency has been pushing for the introduction of the second vaccine, but the DRC health ministry under former minister Oly Ilunga had resisted such a move, citing the risks of introducing a new product in communities where mistrust of Ebola responders is already high. Ilunga stepped down on July 22 after being replaced as the head of the country's Ebola response effort. He has since been charged with embezzling funds allotted for the Ebola fight, according to his lawyers who reject the allegations saying accounts prove that public funds were used "exclusively" for the anti-Ebola effort. WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, praised the latest decision by DRC authorities, who he said, "Have once again shown leadership and their determination to end this outbreak as soon as possible".

Democratic Republic of Congo to receive second Ebola vaccine in mid-october: World Health Organisation

Four new judges on Monday took oath as the Supreme Court Judges, increasing the total strength from 31 to 34 as sanctioned under the amended law.

The four new judges who sworn in are Chief Justice Krishna Murari of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court S Ravindra Bhat, Chief Justice V Ramasubramanian of Himachal Pradesh, and Kerala High Court Chief Justice Hrishikesh Roy.

Recently, the Parliament had increased the number of judges in the top court from 31, including the Chief Justice of India to 34, highest ever.

The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill was passed by the Parliament and President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent soon, thereafter, the Supreme Court Collegium had recommended judges names to the government on August 28.

The Centre on September 18 cleared the appointments on Collegium`s recommendation.&nbsp;

Four new judges on Monday took oath as the Supreme Court Judges, increasing the total strength from 31 to 34 as sanctioned under the amended law. The four new judges who sworn in are Chief Justice Krishna Murari of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court S Ravindra Bhat, Chief Justice V Ramasubramanian of Himachal Pradesh, and Kerala High Court Chief Justice Hrishikesh Roy.

Four new judges on Monday took oath as the Supreme Court Judges, increasing the total strength from 31 to 34 as sanctioned under the amended law. The four new judges who sworn in are Chief Justice Krishna Murari of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court S Ravindra Bhat, Chief Justice V Ramasubramanian of Himachal Pradesh, and Kerala High Court Chief Justice Hrishikesh Roy. Recently, the Parliament had increased the number of judges in the top court from 31, including the Chief Justice of India to 34, highest ever. The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill was passed by the Parliament and President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent soon, thereafter, the Supreme Court Collegium had recommended judges names to the government on August 28. The Centre on September 18 cleared the appointments on Collegium`s recommendation.

Four new judges take oath in Supreme Court

Pop superstar Taylor Swift has pulled out of a performance at the Melbourne Cup, with animal rights activists taking credit after a campaign to highlight cruelty to racehorses.

The Grammy Award-winner was announced as the headline act for the 'race that stops a nation'&nbsp;earlier this month and was due to sing two songs from her latest hit album 'Lover'.

But it sparked a backlash on social media and a push by the Campaign for the Protection of Racehorses, which claimed she had "put money before compassion" and was "endorsing animal abuse".

More than 6,500 people signed an online petition urging her to cancel.

In a statement late Saturday, promotor Mushroom Events cited scheduling issues as the reason for Swift's no-show.

"Changes to her Asian promo schedule have made it logistically impossible for her to be here," it said.

The Campaign for the Protection of Racehorses applauded the decision.

"The pressure on Taylor Swift to cancel her performance was significant," it said on Facebook.

"Her fans did not want to see her supporting animal abuse. Whilst the reason being used by the racing industry is a scheduling mix-up, it appears to us that she has responded to those calls."

Six horses have died at the Melbourne Cup since 2013, including one last year when Irish five-year-old The Cliffs of Moher was euthanised after suffering a fractured right shoulder during a race that has been run on the first Tuesday of November since 1876.

"Obviously, this (Swift pulling out) is disappointing for everyone," said Victoria Racing Club chief executive Neil Wilson

"We understand how important the pre-Cup entertainment is and we look forward to providing an update (on other acts) shortly."

Pop superstar Taylor Swift has pulled out of a performance at the Melbourne Cup, with animal rights activists taking credit after a campaign to highlight cruelty to racehorses.

Pop superstar Taylor Swift has pulled out of a performance at the Melbourne Cup, with animal rights activists taking credit after a campaign to highlight cruelty to racehorses. The Grammy Award-winner was announced as the headline act for the 'race that stops a nation' earlier this month and was due to sing two songs from her latest hit album 'Lover'. But it sparked a backlash on social media and a push by the Campaign for the Protection of Racehorses, which claimed she had "put money before compassion" and was "endorsing animal abuse". More than 6,500 people signed an online petition urging her to cancel. In a statement late Saturday, promotor Mushroom Events cited scheduling issues as the reason for Swift's no-show. "Changes to her Asian promo schedule have made it logistically impossible for her to be here," it said. The Campaign for the Protection of Racehorses applauded the decision. "The pressure on Taylor Swift to cancel her performance was significant," it said on Facebook. "Her fans did not want to see her supporting animal abuse. Whilst the reason being used by the racing industry is a scheduling mix-up, it appears to us that she has responded to those calls." Six horses have died at the Melbourne Cup since 2013, including one last year when Irish five-year-old The Cliffs of Moher was euthanised after suffering a fractured right shoulder during a race that has been run on the first Tuesday of November since 1876. "Obviously, this (Swift pulling out) is disappointing for everyone," said Victoria Racing Club chief executive Neil Wilson "We understand how important the pre-Cup entertainment is and we look forward to providing an update (on other acts) shortly."

Taylor Swift cancels Melbourn Cup performance after facing criticism

Is there a bigger fan of the beloved sitcom 'Friends'&nbsp;than actor Jennifer Garner? Not according to the star. 
 
The actor just introduced some of her friends and they are none other than Ross, Rachel, Monica, Chandler, Joey, Phoebe, and Gunther! On the eve of the 25th anniversary of 'Friends', Garner posted a video on Instagram proving that she really is the biggest fan of the NBC sitcom. 
 
It doesn't seem like a big deal at first, because in the video, she's just playing with Legos. But if you look closely, it becomes clear that she's actually playing with the Friends 25th-anniversary special edition Legos set of Central Perk and all the characters. 
 
"Have you met my FRIENDS? I'm pretty sure we've been thick as thieves for 25 years. Not an ad, I bought this because it sparked joy," she captioned the post. 
 
The hilarious video features Garner throwing out all the 'Friends'&nbsp;Easter eggs, quotes, and references as she plays with all the characters.

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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B2p4kGUjDpq/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Have you met my F•R•I•E•N•D•S? 🤣 I’m pretty sure we’ve been thick as thieves for 25 years. ♥️ #happyanniversary #iloveyou #theonewherejenplayswithlegos . @friends @courteneycoxofficial @mleblanc @_schwim_ @lisakudrow #jenniferaniston #matthewperry @slate_michael 👭👫👬🙋🏻‍♀️ . @lego (not an ad, I bought this because it sparked joy 😬👵🏼♥️)</a>

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She even blessed her follower's timeline&nbsp;by giving a mini-concert, singing 'Smelly Cat'. 
 
In the video, Garner shows off the characters offering hilarious descriptions along the way. "Hi, I want to introduce you to my friends," she said, before announcing each of the main characters. 
 
She held up a mini Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc) with a small pizza before placing him in his designated seat, a 'cranky'&nbsp;Gunther, and a little Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston), who she called her best friend. 
 
"Is she still Rachel without this?" Garner asked as she pulled off the character's iconic hairdo for a brief moment "No". 
 
The next figurine in the line-up was Monica Geller (Courteney Cox), who Garner noted was dressed in miniature suspenders. 
 
Garner smiled widely and then placed her next to Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry), in a "nice little bit of foreshadowing". 
 
Garner then put Ross (David Schwimmer) in his place before coming to the final character, Phoebe Buffay (Lisa Kudrow). 
 
The best part of the video? Garner singing her own rendition of Buffay's memorable 'Smelly Cat'&nbsp;and voicing various characters'&nbsp;famous dialogues, including Joey's familiar 'How you doin'?'&nbsp;line. 
 
Many celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Kat Dennings chimed in. "Oh my god you make my life," Paltrow commented. "Oh my god. I love you," Dennings added. 
 
Starring Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer, the beloved sitcom ran for 10 seasons on NBC between 1994-2004. 
 
It followed the story of six friends in their 20s and 30s who live in Manhattan, New York City. Read here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/friends-turns-25-a-trip-down-the-memory-lane-with-25-iconic-quotes-from-the-hit-show-251006">'Friends': 25 Iconic Quotes&nbsp;</a> 
 
Cox, Schwimmer, LeBlanc, and Kudrow, all shared the same throwback picture featuring the cast of the show on their Instagram accounts in honour of the sitcom's anniversary recently. 
 
Their posts were accompanied by the same statement, "Celebrating a Thursday night 25 years ago. We might be in different places, but we are connected."&nbsp;

Is there a bigger fan of the beloved sitcom 'Friends' than actor Jennifer Garner? Not according to the star. The actor just introduced some of her friends and they are none other than Ross, Rachel, Monica, Chandler, Joey, Phoebe, and Gunther!

Is there a bigger fan of the beloved sitcom 'Friends' than actor Jennifer Garner? Not according to the star. The actor just introduced some of her friends and they are none other than Ross, Rachel, Monica, Chandler, Joey, Phoebe, and Gunther! On the eve of the 25th anniversary of 'Friends', Garner posted a video on Instagram proving that she really is the biggest fan of the NBC sitcom. It doesn't seem like a big deal at first, because in the video, she's just playing with Legos. But if you look closely, it becomes clear that she's actually playing with the Friends 25th-anniversary special edition Legos set of Central Perk and all the characters. "Have you met my FRIENDS? I'm pretty sure we've been thick as thieves for 25 years. Not an ad, I bought this because it sparked joy," she captioned the post. The hilarious video features Garner throwing out all the 'Friends' Easter eggs, quotes, and references as she plays with all the characters. View this post on Instagram Have you met my F•R•I•E•N•D•S? 🤣 I’m pretty sure we’ve been thick as thieves for 25 years. ♥️ #happyanniversary #iloveyou #theonewherejenplayswithlegos . @friends @courteneycoxofficial @mleblanc @_schwim_ @lisakudrow #jenniferaniston #matthewperry @slate_michael 👭👫👬🙋🏻‍♀️ . @lego (not an ad, I bought this because it sparked joy 😬👵🏼♥️) A post shared by Jennifer Garner (@jennifer.garner) on Sep 20, 2019 at 6:17pm PDT × She even blessed her follower's timeline by giving a mini-concert, singing 'Smelly Cat'. In the video, Garner shows off the characters offering hilarious descriptions along the way. "Hi, I want to introduce you to my friends," she said, before announcing each of the main characters. She held up a mini Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc) with a small pizza before placing him in his designated seat, a 'cranky' Gunther, and a little Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston), who she called her best friend. "Is she still Rachel without this?" Garner asked as she pulled off the character's iconic hairdo for a brief moment "No". The next figurine in the line-up was Monica Geller (Courteney Cox), who Garner noted was dressed in miniature suspenders. Garner smiled widely and then placed her next to Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry), in a "nice little bit of foreshadowing". Garner then put Ross (David Schwimmer) in his place before coming to the final character, Phoebe Buffay (Lisa Kudrow). The best part of the video? Garner singing her own rendition of Buffay's memorable 'Smelly Cat' and voicing various characters' famous dialogues, including Joey's familiar 'How you doin'?' line. Many celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Kat Dennings chimed in. "Oh my god you make my life," Paltrow commented. "Oh my god. I love you," Dennings added. Starring Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer, the beloved sitcom ran for 10 seasons on NBC between 1994-2004. It followed the story of six friends in their 20s and 30s who live in Manhattan, New York City. Read here: 'Friends': 25 Iconic Quotes Cox, Schwimmer, LeBlanc, and Kudrow, all shared the same throwback picture featuring the cast of the show on their Instagram accounts in honour of the sitcom's anniversary recently. Their posts were accompanied by the same statement, "Celebrating a Thursday night 25 years ago. We might be in different places, but we are connected."

Jennifer Garner proves she's the biggest 'Friends' fan with adorable video

As the construction of roads and highways gathers pace across India, industry leaders have started deploying technology-based solutions to enhance service levels for passenger and freight transport, according to a recent report by global consulting firm KPMG.

The country is targeting completion of 60,000 km of national highways over the next five years at an average road construction rate of 40 km per day.

Assuming an average construction cost of Rs 30 crore per km (including land acquisition cost) and factoring in inflation for road construction cost at a conservative three per cent, the total funding requirement over five years is estimated at Rs 19 lakh crore. This amounts to an average annual fund requirement of Rs 3.8 lakh crore.

Hence the approach levers are to better costs across various phases of road development, improving existing sources of funding and exploring new avenues besides policy reforms including new PPP models, said the report.

The government's focus continues to be on Bharatmala Pariyojana with added stress on multimodal integration, road safety, increasing use of information technology applications, augmentation of existing funding sources and emphasis on green initiatives. Besides, enhanced passenger facilities and logistics efficiency are major considerations.

Global trends in infrastructure indicate increased focus on innovations, use of technology tools based on data and analytics to unlock operational efficiencies, the shift of focus to developing economies and mainstreaming of sustainability. Roads and highways sector is not an exception. The role of roads and highways sector in the overall transport sector continues to be recognized globally.

In India, according to the report, highways development for bridging the required infrastructure gap is likely to be over in the next five to six years and construction activities could reduce progressively.

So a shift is expected from highways construction and development to provision of quality service to users, enhanced use of technology applications, adoption of safety solutions, promoting sustainability and augmenting existing sources of finance.

Already, technology-based initiatives in the road sector are increasingly being adopted -- right from the initial stage of project preparation to construction and O&amp;M (operations and maintenance) phases besides in enhancing service levels for passenger and freight transport.

Road safety is another important area of application. Many such technologies have been adopted, such as the Project Management Information System which has been developed by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and is currently used to monitor more than 3,000 projects.

An intelligent transport system solution enables interaction between passengers, buses, bus stops and command centres to communicate much-needed information and check for possible violations. A video surveillance system, traffic management system and alert system can reduce traffic congestion and provide various options to drivers to reach their destinations.

An electronic toll collection system aims at eliminating the delay on toll roads by collecting tolls electronically through radio frequency identification tags.

Several other significant technology interventions are being adopted for the road transport sector, said the report.

As the construction of roads and highways gathers pace across India, industry leaders have started deploying technology-based solutions to enhance service levels for passenger and freight transport, according to a recent report by global consulting firm KPMG.

As the construction of roads and highways gathers pace across India, industry leaders have started deploying technology-based solutions to enhance service levels for passenger and freight transport, according to a recent report by global consulting firm KPMG. The country is targeting completion of 60,000 km of national highways over the next five years at an average road construction rate of 40 km per day. Assuming an average construction cost of Rs 30 crore per km (including land acquisition cost) and factoring in inflation for road construction cost at a conservative three per cent, the total funding requirement over five years is estimated at Rs 19 lakh crore. This amounts to an average annual fund requirement of Rs 3.8 lakh crore. Hence the approach levers are to better costs across various phases of road development, improving existing sources of funding and exploring new avenues besides policy reforms including new PPP models, said the report. The government's focus continues to be on Bharatmala Pariyojana with added stress on multimodal integration, road safety, increasing use of information technology applications, augmentation of existing funding sources and emphasis on green initiatives. Besides, enhanced passenger facilities and logistics efficiency are major considerations. Global trends in infrastructure indicate increased focus on innovations, use of technology tools based on data and analytics to unlock operational efficiencies, the shift of focus to developing economies and mainstreaming of sustainability. Roads and highways sector is not an exception. The role of roads and highways sector in the overall transport sector continues to be recognized globally. In India, according to the report, highways development for bridging the required infrastructure gap is likely to be over in the next five to six years and construction activities could reduce progressively. So a shift is expected from highways construction and development to provision of quality service to users, enhanced use of technology applications, adoption of safety solutions, promoting sustainability and augmenting existing sources of finance. Already, technology-based initiatives in the road sector are increasingly being adopted -- right from the initial stage of project preparation to construction and O&M (operations and maintenance) phases besides in enhancing service levels for passenger and freight transport. Road safety is another important area of application. Many such technologies have been adopted, such as the Project Management Information System which has been developed by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and is currently used to monitor more than 3,000 projects. An intelligent transport system solution enables interaction between passengers, buses, bus stops and command centres to communicate much-needed information and check for possible violations. A video surveillance system, traffic management system and alert system can reduce traffic congestion and provide various options to drivers to reach their destinations. An electronic toll collection system aims at eliminating the delay on toll roads by collecting tolls electronically through radio frequency identification tags. Several other significant technology interventions are being adopted for the road transport sector, said the report.

Tech-enabled solutions to dominate road and highway development: KPMG

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/no-chance-of-talks-with-india-on-kashmir-until-curfew-is-lifted-imran-khan-250451">Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan</a> reached the US on Saturday on a "special aircraft" of Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammad bin Salman.

Dunya News quoting sources said Khan was barred from using a commercial flight by the Saudi Crown Prince, who said: "You are our special guest and you would be going to the US on my special aircraft."

Addressing media, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said, "Prime Minister Imran Khan has reached the US. The seven-day visit is aimed at drawing the attention of the world towards what is happening in Kashmir.''

Before arriving in the US, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pakistan-pm-imran-khan-performed-umrah-with-his-wife-250837">Khan was on a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia</a> to muster support from the Islamic nation on the Kashmir issue. In Saudi Arabia, Khan met King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and discussed Kashmir apart from trade, investment and economic relations.

Khan on Saturday left for New York from Saudi Arabia to participate in the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly.&nbsp;

The cricketer-turned-politician is scheduled to address the UNGA on Septemeber 27.&nbsp;

While Khan's address is expected to centre around India's move on Kashmir, New Delhi has cleared that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will focus on his country's contribution on development, peace, and security fronts as a responsible member of the global body.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan reached the US on Saturday on a "special aircraft" of Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammad bin Salman. Dunya News quoting sources said Khan was barred from using a commercial flight by the Saudi Crown Prince, who said: "You are our special guest and you would be going to the US on my special aircraft.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan reached the US on Saturday on a "special aircraft" of Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammad bin Salman. Dunya News quoting sources said Khan was barred from using a commercial flight by the Saudi Crown Prince, who said: "You are our special guest and you would be going to the US on my special aircraft." Addressing media, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said, "Prime Minister Imran Khan has reached the US. The seven-day visit is aimed at drawing the attention of the world towards what is happening in Kashmir.'' Before arriving in the US, Khan was on a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia to muster support from the Islamic nation on the Kashmir issue. In Saudi Arabia, Khan met King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and discussed Kashmir apart from trade, investment and economic relations. Khan on Saturday left for New York from Saudi Arabia to participate in the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly. The cricketer-turned-politician is scheduled to address the UNGA on Septemeber 27. While Khan's address is expected to centre around India's move on Kashmir, New Delhi has cleared that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will focus on his country's contribution on development, peace, and security fronts as a responsible member of the global body.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan arrives in US ahead of 74th session of UNGA

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday that the presence of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-issues-battlefield-warning-as-us-deploys-troops-251022">foreign forces creates "insecurity" in the Gulf</a>, after the US ordered the deployment of more troops to the region.

"Foreign forces can cause problems and insecurity for our people and for our region," Rouhani said in a televised speech at an annual military parade, adding that Iran would present to the UN a regional cooperation plan for peace.

Tensions escalated between arch-foes Iran and the United States after the devastating September 14 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-denies-successful-cyber-attacks-on-oil-sector-251063">attacks on Saudi oil installations</a> that Washington and Riyadh have blamed on Tehran.

Following the attacks, the United States announced on Friday that it was sending reinforcements to Saudi Arabia at "the kingdom's request".

In his speech on Sunday, Rouhani called on the foreign powers in the Gulf region to "stay away".

"If they're sincere, then they should not make our region the site of an arms race," he said.

"Your presence has always brought pain and misery for the region. The farther you keep yourselves from our region and our nations, the more security there will be for our region."

Rouhani said Iran would present a plan for peace to the United Nations in the coming days.

"In this sensitive and important historical moment, we announce to our neighbours, that we extend the hand of friendship and brotherhood to them," he said.

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday that the presence of foreign forces creates "insecurity" in the Gulf, after the US ordered the deployment of more troops to the region.

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday that the presence of foreign forces creates "insecurity" in the Gulf, after the US ordered the deployment of more troops to the region. "Foreign forces can cause problems and insecurity for our people and for our region," Rouhani said in a televised speech at an annual military parade, adding that Iran would present to the UN a regional cooperation plan for peace. Tensions escalated between arch-foes Iran and the United States after the devastating September 14 attacks on Saudi oil installations that Washington and Riyadh have blamed on Tehran. Following the attacks, the United States announced on Friday that it was sending reinforcements to Saudi Arabia at "the kingdom's request". In his speech on Sunday, Rouhani called on the foreign powers in the Gulf region to "stay away". "If they're sincere, then they should not make our region the site of an arms race," he said. "Your presence has always brought pain and misery for the region. The farther you keep yourselves from our region and our nations, the more security there will be for our region." Rouhani said Iran would present a plan for peace to the United Nations in the coming days. "In this sensitive and important historical moment, we announce to our neighbours, that we extend the hand of friendship and brotherhood to them," he said.

After US deployed more troops, Rouhani says foreign forces create 'insecurity' in Gulf

It could be a manipulated video embarrassing a candidate. Or a computer voting system locked by ransomware. Or doubts about electronic voting machines with no paper backups.

As Americans prepare for 2020 elections, digital threats to election security are multiplying, stoking fears of a tainted outcome.

Worries are running high following revelations of a wide-ranging misinformation campaign on Facebook and other social platforms, largely directed by Russian operatives, in 2016.

This was described in detail by special counsel Robert Mueller, whose office obtained several indictments for election interference.

Cyber interference and disinformation operations surrounding elections "are part of a much larger, ongoing challenge to democracies everywhere," said a report from Stanford University's Cyber Policy Center.

Maurice Turner, an election security specialist with the Washington-based Center for Democracy &amp; Technology, said these threats could lead to "a negative impact on voter confidence" in 2020.

Deepfakes, nudes

The newest threat may be "deepfake" video and audio manipulated with artificial intelligence which can put words in the mouths of candidates.

It might even show "unflattering or abusive images of women and minority aspirants in an effort to discredit them," said Darrell West with the Brookings Institution's Center for Technology Innovation, in an online report.

"It is easy to manipulate still images or video footage to put someone in a compromising situation," West wrote.

Danielle Citron, a Boston University online safety expert, told a recent TedSummit talk that deepfakes "can exploit and magnify the deep distrust that we already have in politicians, business leaders and other influential leaders."

Deepfakes "can reinforce an idea for those who want to believe it and be a distraction in the news cycle" even if they are debunked, Turner said.

Hardening defences

Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter will be closely scrutinized on how well they counter misinformation.

Experts say it will be increasingly difficult to counter automated accounts or "bots" that can amplify false news.

The failure to take a hard stand against manipulation in 2016 has likely "emboldened Russia to try again in 2020," wrote Stanford professor and ex-Facebook security chief Alex Stamos. Other efforts might come China, Iran or North Korea, he said.

Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Twitter security teams met this month with FBI, homeland security and intelligence officials to discuss collaboration on election threats.

It will be important to anticipate new threats, and not simply use methods from the past.

Facebook's visual platform Instagram could become the most important "disinformation magnet" in 2020, a report by New York University's Center for Business and Human Rights suggests.

The report also said Russian organizations may try to recruit "unwitting" Americans to help spread propaganda.

The researchers called on social platforms to remove "provably false" information -- a delicate task for platforms seeking to avoid becoming truth "arbiters."

It is "tremendously difficult" to moderate content "at scale that allows users to speak freely and have that vigorous public discourse," Turner said.

Rights group Freedom House warned that it's hard to prove content is "unequivocally false," and that banning all foreign content "could harm press freedom."

Digital suppression

Some interference is aimed at "voter suppression," or dissuading people from voting through intimidation or lies, a technique likely to rise in 2020.

The Kremlin-linked Internet Research Agency ran Facebook ads to suppress non-white voter turnout in 2016 by urging people to "boycott the election," arguing that neither presidential candidate would serve black voters, according to research led by University of Wisconsin professor Young Mie Kim.

Some messages gave the wrong election date, encouraged people to bring guns to the polls, or suggested improbably that people could vote by text message.

It's a daunting task to weed out fake and foreign accounts, Kim said.

"There are still a lot of groups that don't have a verifiable online identity" and may be controlled by foreign actors, Kim said.

"If we identify the foreign sources, and deal with those, it would be much easier than discussing what is false and how we correct it," she said.

Vulnerable voting machines

Electronic voting machine vulnerabilities have been known for years, but at least eight US states will have paperless machines which might not be auditable if results are questioned, according to NYU's Brennan Center.

"We will have a patchwork of strengths and weaknesses, and attackers who want to discredit the election will pick the weakest places," said University of Michigan election security specialist Alex Halderman.

Many local governments use aging computer systems, so threats of hacking voter databases and ransomware which locks up election rolls are also worrisome.

Without paper backups and forensic audits it might be impossible to tell if some electronic voting machines were tampered with.

"A well conducted attack that changed the result wouldn't necessarily raise alarm bells."

It could be a manipulated video embarrassing a candidate. Or a computer voting system locked by ransomware. Or doubts about electronic voting machines with no paper backups.

It could be a manipulated video embarrassing a candidate. Or a computer voting system locked by ransomware. Or doubts about electronic voting machines with no paper backups. As Americans prepare for 2020 elections, digital threats to election security are multiplying, stoking fears of a tainted outcome. Worries are running high following revelations of a wide-ranging misinformation campaign on Facebook and other social platforms, largely directed by Russian operatives, in 2016. This was described in detail by special counsel Robert Mueller, whose office obtained several indictments for election interference. Cyber interference and disinformation operations surrounding elections "are part of a much larger, ongoing challenge to democracies everywhere," said a report from Stanford University's Cyber Policy Center. Maurice Turner, an election security specialist with the Washington-based Center for Democracy & Technology, said these threats could lead to "a negative impact on voter confidence" in 2020. Deepfakes, nudes The newest threat may be "deepfake" video and audio manipulated with artificial intelligence which can put words in the mouths of candidates. It might even show "unflattering or abusive images of women and minority aspirants in an effort to discredit them," said Darrell West with the Brookings Institution's Center for Technology Innovation, in an online report. "It is easy to manipulate still images or video footage to put someone in a compromising situation," West wrote. Danielle Citron, a Boston University online safety expert, told a recent TedSummit talk that deepfakes "can exploit and magnify the deep distrust that we already have in politicians, business leaders and other influential leaders." Deepfakes "can reinforce an idea for those who want to believe it and be a distraction in the news cycle" even if they are debunked, Turner said. Hardening defences Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter will be closely scrutinized on how well they counter misinformation. Experts say it will be increasingly difficult to counter automated accounts or "bots" that can amplify false news. The failure to take a hard stand against manipulation in 2016 has likely "emboldened Russia to try again in 2020," wrote Stanford professor and ex-Facebook security chief Alex Stamos. Other efforts might come China, Iran or North Korea, he said. Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Twitter security teams met this month with FBI, homeland security and intelligence officials to discuss collaboration on election threats. It will be important to anticipate new threats, and not simply use methods from the past. Facebook's visual platform Instagram could become the most important "disinformation magnet" in 2020, a report by New York University's Center for Business and Human Rights suggests. The report also said Russian organizations may try to recruit "unwitting" Americans to help spread propaganda. The researchers called on social platforms to remove "provably false" information -- a delicate task for platforms seeking to avoid becoming truth "arbiters." It is "tremendously difficult" to moderate content "at scale that allows users to speak freely and have that vigorous public discourse," Turner said. Rights group Freedom House warned that it's hard to prove content is "unequivocally false," and that banning all foreign content "could harm press freedom." Digital suppression Some interference is aimed at "voter suppression," or dissuading people from voting through intimidation or lies, a technique likely to rise in 2020. The Kremlin-linked Internet Research Agency ran Facebook ads to suppress non-white voter turnout in 2016 by urging people to "boycott the election," arguing that neither presidential candidate would serve black voters, according to research led by University of Wisconsin professor Young Mie Kim. Some messages gave the wrong election date, encouraged people to bring guns to the polls, or suggested improbably that people could vote by text message. It's a daunting task to weed out fake and foreign accounts, Kim said. "There are still a lot of groups that don't have a verifiable online identity" and may be controlled by foreign actors, Kim said. "If we identify the foreign sources, and deal with those, it would be much easier than discussing what is false and how we correct it," she said. Vulnerable voting machines Electronic voting machine vulnerabilities have been known for years, but at least eight US states will have paperless machines which might not be auditable if results are questioned, according to NYU's Brennan Center. "We will have a patchwork of strengths and weaknesses, and attackers who want to discredit the election will pick the weakest places," said University of Michigan election security specialist Alex Halderman. Many local governments use aging computer systems, so threats of hacking voter databases and ransomware which locks up election rolls are also worrisome. Without paper backups and forensic audits it might be impossible to tell if some electronic voting machines were tampered with. "A well conducted attack that changed the result wouldn't necessarily raise alarm bells."

Digital threats multiply ahead of 2020 US elections

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Zee News Rajasthan

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Riya Gupta

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