Infiniti has big goals for electrifying its entire roster of vehicles, and the Prototype 10 is the perfect example of just how far the company is pushing the boundaries of its newer electric cars.

Infiniti revealed its electric speedster concept car Thursday at the 2018 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California as part of its plans to feature long-range electric or hybrid electric in every new Infiniti starting in 2021.

The Prototype 10 is an update on the Prototype 9, a more retro electric roadster revealed at the 2017 event. Based on the iconic design of racing convertibles, the 10 has a low, single-seat cockpit, which designers called “the bathtub,” since only the driver’s head is visible above the car body.

The car was hand-crafted in San Diego and is intended to have a “California vibe.” It’s a far cry from Tesla’s electric $200,000 Roadster, but again, this dream car is just an idea. 

The concept car is the first project from Infiniti’s new executive design director Karim Habib. It gives a hint as to what the Japanese carmaker’s production vehicles could look like in the coming years, especially as everything centers on low-emission electric power.

Amid pressure from survivors of clergy sexual abuse, Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley said Thursday his office will investigate statewide cases of alleged sexual abuse by Catholic clergy.

The Archdiocese of St. Louis has pledged to cooperate fully, Hawley said in a statement.

The move follows a highly publicized grand jury investigation last week of six Catholic dioceses in Pennsylvania that found church officials had concealed the activity of more than 300 “predator priests” credibly accused of sexually abusing more than 1,000 child victims over several decades.

In a protest outside Hawley’s office on Wednesday, a victim, a woman whose son killed himself after being abused as a teenager, and an attorney for other abuse victims urged a statewide investigation similar to the one in Pennsylvania.

David Clohessy, 61, of St. Louis, a longtime victims’ rights advocate who was abused as a child, said more than 170 priests in Missouri have been accused in recent decades. But he said few have been convicted. He blamed prosecutors who aren’t “assertive or creative enough in exposing and pursuing these wrongdoers.”

Hawley said that while local law enforcement has the authority to prosecute and pursue such cases in Missoujri, his office would still investigate alleged crimes, publish a public report and refer credible cases to local prosecutors.

“While my office does not have jurisdiction at the present time to prosecute any criminal acts of this nature, or again to issue subpoenas to investigate it, it would be possible to conduct a thorough and robust investigation of potential clergy abuse if the various diocese were willing to cooperate,” Hawley told reporters.

While Hawley’s probe will be statewide, he said Archbishop Robert Carlson had offered full cooperation to review past allegations of sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of St. Louis.

Carlson in turn released a letter to Hawley saying that he was “aware of the public’s request” for the state intervention and promised the church’s full cooperation to investigate its handling of what he has called the “scourge of clergy sexual abuse” in the past few decades. 

Carlson said that under his leadership the archdiocese “has always taken the protection of children and youth as one of our highest priorities.”

The archbishop’s appeal to Hawley comes a week after the church officials issued a public statement noting that a former member of the FBI last fall had reviewed the archdiocese’s child protection and Review Board policies and found the protocols to be “thorough and comprehensive.”

Hawley, in a letter welcoming the archbishop’s invitation, said he expected that his office would review documents and interview potential victims and witnesses to acts of alleged abuse.

He said the archdiocese’s cooperation “will be essential to permitting a full, fair, and comprehensive investigation.”

In Springfield, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau said it plans to launch an independent inquiry going back more than five decades in the wake of reported abuse by priests elsewhere in the U.S.

Leslie Eidson, director of communication for the Springfield-Cape Girardeau diocese, said the inquiry was being launched at the direction of Bishop Edward Rice, whom Pope Francis picked to lead local Catholics in April 2016.

A formal canonical decree asking for the independent examination of all personnel files as well as an open letter from Rice to congregants to be read at all Masses this weekend were in the works, Eidson said.

From 1973 to 1983, the leader of the Springfield diocese was Cardinal Bernard Law, who is remembered for his time as archbishop of Boston, where he and other officials shuffled priests from church to church even as reports of clergy sex abuse mounted.
Doug Stanglin reports from McLean, Va,; Will Schmitt reports for the Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader.

Contributing: The Associated Press

 

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Facebook has removed its Onavo Protect security app from Apple’s App Store because the program violated the smartphone maker’s privacy rules against the collection of user data.

The app, created by an Israeli startup Facebook acquired five years ago, lets users connect to a virtual private network, which keeps your browsing identity anonymous – a smart practice on free, public W-Fi – by routing you through a third-party server.

But Onavo Protect also collects data on websites and apps, a touchy issue for consumers and online players as Facebook continues to recover from the Cambridge Analytica scandal, where 87 million Facebook users had personal data unknowingly sold to a political targeting firm.

Facebook removed the Onavo app from the App Store on Wednesday, but it remains available in the Google Play store.

“We’ve always been clear when people download Onavo about the information that is collected and how it is used,” Facebook said in a statement. “As a developer on Apple’s platform we follow the rules they’ve put in place.”

Some changes to Apple’s store guidelines, which it updated two months ago, toughened apps’ usage of user data beyond what is needed for the app itself.

“We work hard to protect user privacy and data security throughout the Apple ecosystem,” Apple said in a statement about the Onavo situation. “With the latest update to our guidelines, we made it explicitly clear that apps should not collect information about which other apps are installed on a user’s device for the purposes of analytics or advertising/marketing and must make it clear what user data will be collected and how it will be used.”

Data from Onavo’s app has helped Facebook identify potential new product areas. It was able to track user interest in Snapchat’s Stories feature before Facebook introduced its own Stories function on Instagram, which it also owns, The Wall Street Journal reported last year. Onavo data also supported Facebook’s 2014 acquisition of WhatsApp for $22 billion, the Journal said.

The removal of the app is the latest repercussion in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica crisis and a Russian disinformation operation on the social network, both of which occurred during the 2016 presidential campaign.

More: Facebook foils political influence campaigns originating in Iran, Russia ahead of U.S. midterms

More: New Russian hacking attempts targeted conservative groups, Microsoft says

Five months ago, Facebook disclosed it knew the U.K. political consulting firm had obtained personal information from hundreds of thousands of users who downloaded a personality profile app. The app’s developer then passed that information, and details on their Facebook friends, to Cambridge Analytica without the users’ knowledge, the company said.

Eventually, the number of users potentially affected grew to 87 million and details came to light that Cambridge Analytica claimed the British firm helped Donald Trump win the presidential election. The Trump campaign has said it did not use data from Cambridge Analytica.

Facebook is now attempting to steel its platform for the U.S. midterm elections after a Russian disinformation campaign that heightened near the close of the 2016 election cycle and involved millions of fake posts on the social network. 

Special counsel Robert Mueller in February issued indictments of 13 Russian nationals and three entities including the Kremlin-linked Internet Research Agency for using Facebook and other social media networks to attempt to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Those incidents led to CEO Mark Zuckerberg making appearances before the House and Senate, as well as the European Parliament.

Lawmakers brought up Onavo during a Senate hearing in April, and it’s a topic among those in more than 400 pages of answers submitted by Facebook.

When users engage the Onavo VPN function, “Onavo receives their mobile data traffic. This helps us improve and operate the Onavo service. Because we’re part of Facebook, we also use this information to improve Facebook products and services,” the answer states.

“We let people know about this activity, and other ways that Onavo uses, analyzes, and shares data (for example, the apps installed on users’ devices) in the App Store descriptions, and when they first open the app after downloading it,” the answer continues. “Facebook does not use Onavo data for Facebook product uses, nor does it append any Onavo data or data about individuals’ app usage to Facebook accounts.”

Facebook also said this week that it banned an app called myPersonality from the social network. Facebook will notify the 4 million or so people who shared their information with the app, which was active primarily before 2012, the company said in a blog post.

Overall, Facebook has suspended more than 400 apps as part of its review of how user information may have been used.

Follow USA TODAY reporter Mike Snider on Twitter: @MikeSnider.

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Rangers have one foot in the Europa League group stage after a solitary goal gave them victory over Ufa at Ibrox in their play-off first leg.

Connor Goldson’s close-range strike on 41 minutes put Steven Gerrard’s men in front after a dominant first half.

Dmitri Zhivoglyadov almost levelled immediately but the Russians’ best chance was blocked by Allan McGregor.

Rangers could have extended their lead but had to settle for a single-goal advantage to take to Ufa next Thursday.

Kyle Lafferty was brought on just a day after signing from Hearts for an undisclosed fee but the Northern Ireland international could not find the second goal the Ibrox side’s pressure merited.

If Rangers hold their nerve in the Neftyanik Stadium, it will be the first time the Scottish Premiership side have reached the group stage of a European competition since the 2010-11 Champions League.

Gerrard’s perfect 10

This win brought up Gerrard’s 10th competitive match in charge of the Scottish Premiership side and his 10th without defeat.

His first victory came six weeks ago as Rangers beat Macedonia’s Shkupi 2-0 at Ibrox to start their Europa League journey.

But despite that success, not many of Rangers fans present that night would have expected the former Liverpool captain to be just 90 minutes away from a potential Europa League group-stage spot.

The key to his success can be seen all over the park. Goalkeeper McGregor has helped bring a stability and six clean sheets, with the veteran Scotland international reacting superbly to block Zhivoglyadov from point-blank range on Thursday.

Goldson’s influence at both ends of the park is also clear to see. The former Brighton and Hove Albion centre-half, 25, has been a rock at the back.

However, it was his predatory instincts against the Russians that proved pivotal as he pounced on a fumbled Aleksandr Belenov save from an Alfredo Morelos header to scramble the ball into the net.

With Morelos having scored five goals in his last four games, and Lafferty burnishing his attacking options, Gerrard will feel confident that Rangers can cause further problems in Ufa next week.

‘Five clean sheets is an amazing feat’ – analysis

Former Rangers striker Steven Thompson on Sportsound

It’s a decent result. Obviously they would have liked another goal to make it more comfortable, especially with Ufa being a bit of a unknown and the long journey to Russia.

But generally Rangers’ performances under Steven Gerrard, especially away in Europe, have been defensively sound. That result was their fifth clean sheet in Europe, which is an amazing feat.

I don’t expect them to struggle in Ufa given the quality of the opposition. The one thing they have right now is real momentum. They are building belief and confidence.

It has been a bad week for US President Donald Trump, starting with the conviction of his former campaign chairman Paul Mannafort for financial crimes and fraud.

Later came the guilty plea by his former lawyer Michael Cohen, who said he broke campaign finance laws on Trump’s orders.

But Cohen’s statement that he is willing to help the Special Counsel Robert Mueller investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election could mean even bigger problems ahead for the president.

Trump has denied any wrongdoing and says Cohen is making up stories. All of this ahead of crucial mid-term elections in November.

So, is this a turning point for the Trump presidency?

Presenter: Sami Zeidan

Guests:

James Boys – US politics analyst

Oliver McGee – adviser at the National Diversity Coalition For Trump

Steven Erlanger – chief diplomatic correspondent for Europe at the The New York Times

Source: Al Jazeera News

The Gemini IV mission was a big deal. It was going to include America’s first attempt at walking in space. The mission debuted the Gemini space suit, which not only kept us cozy in the harshness of space, but also opened the door to future exploration.

Former Buffalo Bill lineman Richie Incognito made headlines on Monday after he was arrested and held on suspicion of misdemeanor charges of threats and disorderly conduct at a funeral home in Scottsdale, Arizona.

But what didn’t come out right away were details of the erratic behavior Incognito allegedly displayed while trying to arrange the funeral of his father, who died on Sunday. 

According to a copy of the arrest report, Employees of Messingers Pinnacle Peak Mortuary told Scottsdale police that the former Pro Bowler said he wanted his father’s head cut off for research purposes and that he walked through the funeral home punching caskets and throwing things.

Witnesses told police that Incognito was supposed to sign cremation papers, but was unwilling to cooperate initially. He then proceeded to walk through the funeral home punching caskets and throwing things. After “making himself comfortable” in the office of one of the victims, Incognito wanted to buy flowers for the funeral and everything they had before offering them his credit card.

Witnesses said Incognito then signed cremation papers, but quickly changed his mind as he wanted his father buried and wished to view more casket options. After being shown a military casket, Incognito indicated he wanted it, but then he picked up an urn and slammed it on top of the casket.

After allegedly throwing pamphlets and patches from inside the casket, Incognito broke down while asking for his father and began crying. When Incognito was alone with Michael Wells, an employee at the funeral home, Wells stated Incognito formed a gun with his fingers, pointed it at him and said he had guns in the truck if he wanted to see.

The police report indicated Wells was visibly shaken and thought Incognito was going to kill him. After obtaining a search warrant police recovered a tan Glock 17 9mm handgun, a black Glock 35 .40-caliber handgun, three rifles and four magazines from Incognito’s Ford Raptor.

The 35-year-old Incognito has had a series of troubles, and this incident marks the second time he has been arrested since he was released by the Bills this spring.

In May, Incognito was taken into custody for psychiatric examination after an incident at a Florida gym. Police officers were called after a disturbance involving Incognito, during which a patron at the gym said Incognito threw a tennis ball and a dumbbell at him, then screamed for him to get out of the gym.

Incognito was a four-time Pro Bowl selection and suddenly announced earlier this year that he was retiring after 11 seasons in the NFL, the last three with the Bills. Last month, he said he had returned home to Arizona for training and had received interest from several teams. He is currently a free agent.

SJOHNSON1@Gannett.com

 

WASHINGTON – On the eve of closing arguments in the financial fraud trial of Paul Manafort, a federal judge reviewed a complaint that one juror and possibly others had disparaged the defense team’s case, raising questions about whether there should be a declaration of a mistrial.

The drama was revealed in transcripts of previously sealed conferences involving U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III, prosecutors and Manafort’s defense team who had grown increasingly worried that jury room commentary during breaks in the trial had compromised the panel.

As is standard courtroom practice, jurors in the Manafort trial were instructed not to discuss the case with one or another until after both the defense and prosecution had offered all of their evidence and presented final arguments.

Behind closed doors and during lengthy conferences at the bench, Ellis and attorneys huddled for hours.

The judge questioned each of the jurors in private, including one panelist who had raised a complaint and a second juror who had allegedly made comments critical of the defense. The second juror, a woman, suggested that her comments had been mis-characterized.

Ultimately, Ellis said he felt satisfied that the case could move ahead.

“What I know thus far doesn’t warrant declaring a mistrial,” Ellis told the attorneys Aug. 14.

In the end, the jury returned guilty verdicts on eight counts and remained deadlocked on 10 others.

The initial concerns had been raised when Ellis told the lawyers that a juror had contacted the court security officer to relay unease with another juror’s comments, suggesting that she was “unimpressed” with the defense.

While prosecutors proposed that the judge admonish the panel that they refrain from discussing the case until all the evidence was in, defense attorneys pushed for Ellis to intervene.

“This clearly is crossing the line if it, in fact, happened,” Manafort attorney Richard Westling told Ellis, indicating that the juror had abandoned Manafort’s presumption of innocence.

Preventing ‘pandemonium’ 

Seeking to avoid any immediate public disclosure that might “create pandemonium in the media today,” Ellis questioned the jurors in private – but with a court reporter present – so that the transcript could be made public eventually.  

According to the transcripts, the complaining juror, a woman, heard another juror say: “I don’t believe the defense has … much of a case… they don’t have much to present or to refute what’s already occurred.”

“Basically, my understanding was that she had essentially made up her mind regarding the case based on the information presented to her thus far,” the complaining juror told the judge.  She said she told the other juror they had a responsibility to hear everything before deciding.

The juror also added that she had heard other panelists discussing the case, “not necessarily for one side or the other but just talking too much about the case.”

Ellis later called the woman back for additional questioning to elaborate on her earlier remarks.

At that point, according to the transcripts, the woman said about three jurors in all were “talking” but she didn’t believe that “anybody is taking sides per se.”

But she believe that the specific comments about Manafort’s defense had “crossed the line.”

When Ellis questioned the panelist who had allegedly made the specific comments, the juror denied it.

“I was just saying it would be tough to be a defense lawyer, that’s all,” the juror told Ellis. 

Ellis then reminded her that he’d instructed jurors to keep an open mind until the end of the trial.

“I am trying to do that, sir,” she responded.

“Are you succeeding?”

“Yes, I think so,” she said.

Presumption of innocence

She said she understood that Manafort is presumed innocent. At the urging of Manafort’s lawyers, Ellis asked her directly about what the other juror had said, and she said that she didn’t think that’s what she had said.

He reminded her not to make up her mind until all the evidence is in. “Are you prepared to do that?”

“Yes sir,” she said.

Release of the transcripts come as juror Paula Duncan said in an interview with Fox News that a lone panelist blocked the former Trump campaign chairman’s conviction on all 18 counts.

In an interview, Duncan described an emotional ordeal over four days in which panel members attempted to persuade an unidentified colleague of the overwhelming evidence against Manafort.

“It was one person who kept the verdict from being guilty on all 18 counts,” Duncan said.

Duncan, who described herself in the interview as a supporter of President Donald Trump, said the hundreds of exhibits amassed by prosecutors to support the bank and tax fraud case convinced her of Manafort’s guilt. Still, she questioned prosecutors’ motives in bringing the case.

“Certainly, Mr. Manafort got caught breaking the law, but he wouldn’t have gotten caught if they weren’t after President Trump,” the juror said, referring to special counsel Robert Mueller’s team, whose case against Manafort marked the first contested prosecution to emerge from a 15-month investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election and obstruction of that probe.

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