A FALSE CLAIM circulating on social media that Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris left a 13-year-old girl paralyzed after an alleged hit-and-run in San Francisco in 2011 is the work of a covert Russian disinformation operation, according to new research by Microsoft.

Researchers found that the operation created a video, paid an actor to appear as the alleged victim, and spread the claim through a fake website for a nonexistent San Francisco news outlet named “KBSF-TV.” The Russian group responsible, which Microsoft dubs Storm-1516, is described as a Kremlin-aligned troll farm.

The discovery is a sign of Russia ramping up its foreign influence efforts ahead of the Nov. 5 presidential election, Microsoft said.

A spokesperson for the Russian embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment.

“Russian influence operations initially struggled to pivot operations aimed at the Democratic campaign following President Biden’s departure from the U.S. 2024 presidential race,” a blog published on Tuesday by Microsoft said.

“In late August, however, elements of prolific Russian actor Storm-1516 began producing content implicating Vice President Harris and Governor Walz in outlandish fake conspiracy theories,” Microsoft said, referring to Ms. Harris’ running mate, Tim Walz.

Storm-1516 is known for producing misleading videos featuring on-screen or voice actors who impersonate whistleblowers or journalists that share false, scandalous information, experts say.

A website for KBSF-TV was created shortly before publishing its first related article about the alleged driving incident, according to online registration records. The claim was circulated on social media platforms, including X.com, using the hashtag #HitAndRunKamala.

The video was also shared on Sept. 3 on X.com by Aussie Cossack, who describes himself as a “Registered foreign agent for Sputnik News,” with the message “make this go viral MAGA folks.” In total, it is estimated the video has been viewed more than 2.7 million times.

“Many entities within the pro-Russian ecosystem advanced the video and its claims,” said Microsoft’s Threat Analysis Center. “Storm-1516 relies on some of these personalities, such as Aussie Cossack, to drive amplification of its videos.”

Mr. Cossack did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Earlier this month the US Justice department filed money-laundering charges against two employees of Russian state media network RT for what officials said was a scheme to hire an American company to produce online content to influence the election.

US officials say Russia’s goal is to exacerbate U.S. political divisions and weaken public support for American military aid to Ukraine. Ms. Harris says if elected she will continue supporting Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s invasion. — Reuters

TOKYO/TAIPEI — A Chinese aircraft carrier temporarily entered Japan’s contiguous waters for the first time on Wednesday, Japan’s public broadcaster NHK reported, the latest encounter that could further ratchet up tensions between the neighbors.

The carrier sailed between Japan’s southern Yonaguni and Iriomote islands, NHK reported, entering an area that extends up to 24 nautical miles from its coastline where Japan can exert some controls as defined by the United Nations.

Japan’s defense ministry did not immediately have comment.

Japan last month lodged a protest with China after one of its naval survey vessels entered Japanese waters, shortly after an airspace breach. In July, a Japanese navy destroyer made a rare entry into China’s territorial waters near Taiwan, according to the Japanese media.

An uptick in Chinese military activity near Japan and around Taiwan in recent years has stoked concerns in Tokyo. Japan has responded with a defense buildup it says aims to deter Beijing from using military force to push its territorial claims in the region.

Earlier on Wednesday, Taiwan’s defense ministry said it had spotted the same Chinese aircraft carrier group sailing through waters off its east coast in the direction of Yonaguni, Japan’s southernmost island, which is about 110 km (69 miles) east of Taiwan.

China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its territory, has been staging regular exercises around the island for five years to pressure it to accept Beijing’s claim of sovereignty, despite Taipei’s strong objections.

The ministry said the Chinese ships, led by Liaoning, the oldest of China’s three aircraft carriers, were spotted in the early hours of the morning on Wednesday sailing through waters to the northeast of Taiwan.

The group then sailed to the southeast of Yonaguni, the ministry said in a statement, which can be seen from Taiwan on a clear day.

Taiwan tracked the ships and sent its forces to monitor, it said.

China’s defense ministry did not answer calls seeking comment. — Reuters

LONDON — London’s Oxford Street, home to some of the British capital’s most famous shops from Selfridges to Marks & Spencer, could be pedestrianized to attract more shoppers under a plan announced by city mayor Sadiq Khan on Tuesday.

If approved, Oxford Street would join other major shopping hubs such as Times Square in New York and La Rambla in Barcelona that have gone fully traffic-free.

A previous version of the plan to ban vehicles from the 1.2-mile (1.9 km) thoroughfare was blocked by the local Westminster City Council, but the revived project has received backing from Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.

Ms. Rayner said the plan would drive growth, create new jobs and generate economic activity.

“The difference this time is, I’ve got the support of central government, and that means if … there was opposition from the council, we’d have the powers to proceed with good plans,” Mr. Khan told Reuters.

Oxford Street attracts around half a million visitors every day, according to the mayor’s office, but many flagship stores including House of Fraser and Topshop have shut in recent years.

The area, like many bricks-and-mortar shops, has struggled to recover footfall since the COVID-19 pandemic saw many people turn to online shopping and fewer return to the office.

The New West End company, which represents retailers on Oxford Street, said the area remained key for retail and hospitality in London.

Some retailers welcomed the move, with John Lewis, whose flagship store has been on Oxford Street since 1864, calling the nearly three-century old highway the “nation’s high street.”

Mr. Khan said the plan was to get rid off all traffic, including bicycles, in the one-mile stretch from Oxford Circus to Marble Arch. The London mayor’s office has not specified how buses that use the east-west road will be rerouted.

Stuart Love, chief executive of the local Westminster City Council, said the authority wanted more details on how concerns of local residents and shoppers over rerouted transport and access would be addressed.

Ron Harold-Hurst, a pensioner from Bromley, south east London, said he was against pedestrianizing the street.

“It’s a terrible idea,” the 83-year-old said. “You need buses don’t you? How are you going to get from one end to the other?”

The plan needs final approval from Ms. Rayner who is also Britain’s housing and communities minister.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party has said it wants to accelerate the process of approving projects to speed up Britain’s economic growth. — Reuters