Tools to track ads on Twitter and Facebook

SAN FRANCISCO • Twitter has made it easier for users to identify political campaign ads and know who paid for them, as social media platforms face the threat of US regulation over the lack of disclosure on such spending.

The microblogging site on Thursday launched "Ads Transparency Centre" to allow anyone to view ads that have been put on Twitter, with greater transparency about US federal election campaign ads.

The tool follows a similar move by Facebook, which started a searchable archive of US political ads last month. Facebook said on Thursday it would also enable users to see listings of all active ad campaigns, whether political in nature or not.

REUTERS

Australia wins tobacco packaging fight

GENEVA • Australia has triumphed in a major trade dispute over its pioneering "plain" tobacco packaging law, with World Trade Organisation (WTO) judges rejecting a complaint brought by Cuba, Indonesia, Honduras and the Dominican Republic.

The WTO panel on Thursday said Australia's law improved public health by reducing the use of tobacco products, rebuffing claims that alternative measures would be equally effective.

REUTERS

Seized: Chinese-owned wineries in France

BORDEAUX • French financial police have seized 10 wineries in the Bordeaux area which are owned by Chinese conglomerate Haichang over suspicions of tax fraud, a police source said yesterday.

Haichang Group, based in the north-eastern Chinese city of Dalian, is the biggest of numerous Chinese investors which have bought into one of France's most famous wine-growing regions.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE