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Facebook’s Claimed Reach in the U.S. Is Larger Than Census Figures, Analyst Finds

Facebook ’s FB -5.72% measurement metrics face scrutiny again after a research analyst found the social network’s advertising platform claims to reach millions more users among specific age groups in the U.S. than the official census data show reside in the country.

Pivotal Research analyst Brian Wieser found Facebook’s Ad Manager claims to reach a potential audience of 41 million 18- to 24-year-olds in the U.S., whereas census data, most recently updated with a population estimate in 2016, indicates there are only 31 million people of that age group.

Similarly, among the 25- to-34-year-old age group, another key demographic for advertisers, Facebook’s potential reach estimate is also out of whack with census data. Facebook claims its platform can reach 60 million people in the U.S. in that category, while the census figure is 45 million.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebooks-claimed-reach-in-the-u-s-is-larger-than-census-figures-analyst-finds-1504711935

Former Top Shanghai Prosecutor’s Corruption Case May Implicate 100 Other Officials, Hong Kong Newspaper Says

Shanghai’s most powerful prosecutor, Chen Xu was practically untouchable, as political and elite circles had to have known about his misdeeds.

But his web of well-heeled connections and his knowledge of the ins-and-outs of China’s legal system allowed him to cover his tracks.

After years of eluding anti-corruption authorities, Chen was finally ensnared, found guilty of corruption in May 2017, and expelled from the Chinese Communist Party. In late October, he was sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of abuse of power and taking bribes worth more than 74 million yuan ($10.6 million).

https://www.theepochtimes.com/former-top-shanghai-prosecutors-corruption-case-may-implicate-100-other-officials-hong-kong-newspaper-says_2719388.html

Kremlin says U.S. is meddling in selection of Interpol head

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Tuesday that public opposition by a group of U.S. senators to a Russian candidate to head the international police organization Interpol amounted to election meddling.

Interpol’s general assembly is due to elect a new head at a meeting on Wednesday. On Monday, four U.S. senators issued a statement urging U.S. President Donald Trump to oppose the candidacy of Russia’s Alexander Prokopchuk.

The senators accuse Russia of abusing Interpol to settle scores and harass dissidents by issuing warrants, known as red notices, for their arrest. The senators said the election of Prokopchuk would allow Moscow to step up such abuse.

“This is probably a certain kind of interference in the electoral process of an international organization,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-interpol-usa-kremlin/kremlin-says-u-s-is-meddling-in-selection-of-interpol-head-idUSKCN1NP0ZR

Italy orders seizure of refugee rescue ship Aquarius, charity says

Vessel chartered by Medecins Sans Frontieres and another charity passed off 24 tonnes of potentially toxic waste as normal waste, Italian media reported

Italy has ordered the seizure of the migrant rescue ship Aquarius for alleged illegal waste treatment, Medecins Sans Frontieres said on Tuesday.

Investigators suspect the vessel, chartered by the organisation and SOS Mediterranee charity and currently stuck in the French port of Marseille, passed off 24 tonnes of potentially toxic waste as ordinary waste, Italian media reported.

MSF bank accounts in Italy have been blocked by authorities, the international charity said.

Prosecutors in the Sicilian city of Catania are running the inquiry into refugee clothing, food leftovers and sanitary waste handled at Italian ports from the Aquarius and the Vos Prudence, another vessel chartered by MSF last year.

https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/2174193/italy-orders-seizure-refugee-rescue-ship-aquarius-charity-says

Anybody remember this

Abraham * Martin and John *** Dion

Schumer-Linked Super PAC Invests $500,000 to Boost Espy in Mississippi

A super PAC linked to Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) is making a last-minute investment in Mississippi to bolster Mike Espy, the Democratic Party's nominee for U.S. Senate, ahead of the Nov. 27 special election runoff.

Senate Majority PAC, which is run by a noted Schumer confidant and committed to boosting Democrats in the upper chamber, made its first and to-date only ad buy in Mississippi on Thursday—totaling more than $507,000, according to documents filed with the Federal Elections Commission.

A staff member for the Schumer-aligned super PAC told the Washington Free Beacon the total expenditure would be spent on launching an ad attacking incumbent Republican senator Cindy Hyde-Smith for accepting campaign donations from the insurance industry.

https://freebeacon.com/politics/schumer-linked-super-pac-invests-500000-to-boost-espy-in-mississippi/

Syrian Army achieves 'total victory' against ISIS in Southern Syria

The Syrian Armed Forces have reported a total victory over Daesh terrorists in as-Suwayda province. This was one of the three remaining Daesh strongholds in Syria.

The Syrian Armed Forces on Monday announced the liberation of the entirety of Southern Syria from Daesh holdouts. According to a Syrian Army General Command statement published by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), all terrorists entrenched in the al-Safa volcanic plateau deep within As-Suwayda (Sweida) province have been eliminated.

"Following a string of accurate and focused military operations, our valiant armed forces have established complete control over Tuloul al-Safa area, which is of a complex volcanic nature, eliminating [Daesh] terrorists positioned there, and confiscated large amounts of light and medium weapons," the Command said.

"Liberating Tuloul al-Safa area confirms the high combat efficiency of the Syrian army personnel and their insistence to chase and eliminate terrorists anywhere and everywhere across Syria," the statement added, according to SANA.

The Daesh military commander in the region, Abu Hajar al-Shishani, along with several other commanders, was reportedly killed as government forces chased the retreating enemy.

The liberation of as-Suwayda is particularly important, considering it was the last stronghold of Daesh forces in Southern Syria and one of three Daesh remaining strongholds in the country. This means that, after 104 days of fighting, all Syria south of Palmyra is effectively free of Daesh forces.

https://www.sott.net/article/401034-Syrian-Army-achieves-total-victory-against-ISIS-in-Southern-Syria

New Jersey archbishop to publicly name pervert priests

The names of New Jersey priests and deacons credibly accused of sexually abusing minors will be made public early next year, the archbishop of Newark said Monday.

Archbishop Cardinal Joseph Tobin said the naming of the predator priests and deacons is in coordination with the New Jersey attorney general's ongoing task force into clergy sex abuse.

The church will also establish a fund to compensate victims of clergy abuse in the Garden State, including cases where the statute of limitations has expired, Tobin said.

"It is hoped that these steps will aid in the process of healing for victims, who are deserving of our support and prayers," Tobin said in a statement.

The Archdiocese of New York established an independent compensation program in 2016 and has paid out about $60 million to 278 sexual abuse victims so far.

https://www.sott.net/article/401036-New-Jersey-archbishop-to-publicly-name-pervert-priests