ace is wild

ace is wild Michael Van Gerwen progressed to the next round, but he didn't have it all his own way. The former three-time world champion stepped up to the oche for the second time at Ally Pally in his third round encounter with Irish star Brendan Dolan. And 'The Green Machine' managed to push through to the next round, picking up a 4-2 win with Dolan putting up a resilient display. Incredibly the high-scoring Dutchman averaged a whopping 118.7 in the fourth set, a sign towards the latter stages that he is capable of replicating his brilliant best. He looked to be cruising to a 4-1 victory but Dolan stole the fifth set and kept things interesting. Overall, Van Gerwen played well and was happy with his performance, but was left ruing missed opportunities in two of the sets. He said in his post-match interview: "It was tough, it was really hard and a really difficult game. "Everybody can see he never gives up and you have to try and punish him at the right moments and I wasn't capable of doing it. "I can only blame myself for that, but I was so glad that double eight went in at the end. "I thought after 1-1 I produced two really good sets but then I let it slip away. The fifth set was absolute c**p and you're not allowed to do that. "You have to keep performing and believing in your own ability and you want to do the right thing for yourself. "There is a lot of work still to do and I know I'm capable of doing it. I'm looking forward to the next round and let it roll on." Van Gerwen added in an interview with talkSPORT: "After the fourth set, it wasn't the best. "But luckily I had the right throws in the right moments, although I made it difficult. "Luckily in darts that happens, but I was pleased with that double 8 at the end. "But I was impressed with my will to win and my fighting mentality. "We all know I'm going through a bad patch in my career, but I'm trying to keep going. "I know I can do it if I keep fighting and believing in my own ability and everything is possible." Van Gerwen still remains one of the leading pack to claim the crown, alongside Luke Littler and Luke Humphries. He has the favourable side of the draw right now after his victory, and is currently highest ranked in it en route to the final. The former champion will face the winner of Jeffrey De Graaf's third round clash with Paolo Nebreida. Should De Graaf progress, he could be a real threat given his previous giant killing of Gary Anderson earlier in the tournament. Tune into talkSPORT 2 for coverage of the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship, as we bring you exclusive live commentary from Alexandra Palace. Listen via our web player , app, on DAB, or through your smart speaker.

The decision of FBI Director Christopher Wray to resign from his position two years before his 10-year term ended didn’t exactly get him hosannas on social media. “I’ve decided the right thing for the bureau is for me to serve until the end of the current administration in January and then step down,” Wray told FBI staffers. “In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work.” The resignation opens the door for President-elect Donald Trump ’s preferred nominee, Kash Patel , without having to fire Wray. Trump appointed Wray to the FBI Director position in 2017 after he fired James Comey, but hasn’t been too happy with him since the FBI raided Mar-a-Lago in August 2022 and uncovered troves of classified documents that led to federal criminal charges against Trump. Although Wray probably wants his departure to be seen as a statesman-like decision, it wasn’t seen that way on social media. Instead, he was criticized for engaging in “anticipatory obedience” by f ormer Obama administration ethics czar Norm Eisen, who thought Wray had a duty to the country to “constantly push back” and make Trump fire him. I admire how Chris Wray has hung in there—but he should’ve made Trump fire him Anticipatory obedience is not how we will save democracy Instead you must constantly push back 1/2 pic.twitter.com/3Y8FkGXkjN Other people also called out Wray for succumbing to the pressure. FBI director Christopher Wray just bent the knee and resigned. Most likely, Kash Patel will take his place. I talk to @glennkirschner about how Trump will weaponize the DOJ to attack Americans & dismantle democracy. Scary, sobering shit, but there is hope.... pic.twitter.com/OPJPNiORdC A profile in courage, Chris Wray is not. Wray bowed to political pressure; his early resignation is the easy way out. It avoids a very public conversation when Trump inevitably would have fired him for putting the law and the Constitution ahead of his loyalty to Trump. Wray’s resignation has resulted from raw political pressure that is repugnant to our justice system. It vastly heightens the hazards of weaponizing the FBI for political or personal ends—which should be an anathema to all my colleagues, regardless of party, https://t.co/iPJtwi8Wtg This is an unbelievable abdication by Wray and makes it so much easier for Trump to install a corrupt leadership under Kash Patel and weaponize the FBI. Wray is doing a huge disservice to the FBI past, present, and future. Wray is making a mistake. Wray hasn't done anything worthy of getting fired by Trump and should've made him do it Trump on the resignation of FBI Director Christopher Wray: “I just don’t know what happened to him.” Translation: “I appointed him thinking he’d do whatever I told him. To my surprise, he chose to follow the law instead.” pic.twitter.com/uF4iJALV4f Christopher Wray just announced his dutiful 'Obey in Advance' resignation. Nothing but cowards and quislings all the way down. Don't let this be the end of the free press. The free press is under attack — and America's future hangs in the balance. As other newsrooms bow to political pressure, HuffPost is not backing down. Would you help us keep our news free for all? We can't do it without you. Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all. Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) spoke out against Wray’s resignation Wednesday on MSNBC . You can see the segment below. Related From Our Partner

HOUSTON -- A federal judge in Texas rejected the auction sale of Alex Jones' Infowars to The Onion satirical news outlet, criticizing the bidding for the conspiracy theory platform as flawed as well as how much money families of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary shooting stood to receive. The decision late Tuesday night is a victory for Jones, whose Infowars site was put up for sale as part of his bankruptcy case in the wake of the nearly $1.5 billion that courts have ordered him to pay over falsely calling one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history a hoax. Families of the Sandy Hook victims had backed The Onion's bid. Following a two-day hearing in Houston, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez said he would not approve the sale, while citing concerns about transparency in the auction. That clears the way for Jones to keep - at least for now - Infowars, which is headquartered in Austin, Texas. The Onion had planned to kick Jones out and relaunch Infowars in January as a parody. "We are deeply disappointed in today's decision, but The Onion will continue to seek a resolution that helps the Sandy Hook families receive a positive outcome for the horror they endured," Ben Collins, CEO of The Onion's parent company, Global Tetrahedron, posted on social media late Tuesday. Lopez cited problems - but no wrongdoing - with the auction process. He said he said he did not think that those involved in the auction acted in bad faith and that everyone "put their best foot forward and tried to play within the rules." Still, Lopez said he said he did not want another auction and left it up to the trustee who oversaw the auction to determine the next steps. The Onion offered $1.75 million in cash and other incentives for Infowars' assets in the auction. First United American Companies, which runs a website in Jones' name that sells nutritional supplements, bid $3.5 million. The bids were a fraction of the money that Jones has been ordered to pay in defamation lawsuits in Connecticut and Texas filed by relatives of victims of the Sandy Hook shooting. Lopez said the auction outcome "left a lot of money on the table" for families. "You got to scratch and claw and get everything you can for them," Lopez said. Christopher Mattei, a lawyer for the Sandy Hook families who sued Jones in Connecticut, said they were disappointed in the judge's ruling. "These families, who have already persevered through countless delays and roadblocks, remain resilient and determined as ever to hold Alex Jones and his corrupt businesses accountable for the harm he has caused," Mattei said in a statement. "This decision doesn't change the fact that, soon, Alex Jones will begin to pay his debt to these families and he will continue doing so for as long as it takes." Jones, who did not attend the proceedings, went back on his program late Tuesday to celebrate the judge's ruling, calling the auction "ridiculous" and "fraudulent." Although The Onion's cash offer was lower than that of First United American, it also included a pledge by many of the Sandy Hook families to forgo $750,000 of the auction proceeds due to them and give it to other creditors, providing the other creditors more money than they would receive under First United American's bid. Alex Jones' bankruptcy case The sale of Infowars is part of Jones' personal bankruptcy case, which he filed in late 2022 after he was ordered to pay nearly $1.5 billion in defamation lawsuits in Connecticut and Texas filed by relatives of victims of the Sandy Hook shooting. Jones repeatedly called the shooting that killed 20 children and six educators a hoax staged by actors and aimed at increasing gun control. Parents and children of many of the victims testified in court that they were traumatized by Jones' conspiracies and threats from his followers. Jones has since acknowledged that the Connecticut school shooting happened. Most of the proceeds from the sale of Infowars, as well as many of Jones' personal assets, will go to the Sandy Hook families. Some proceeds will go to Jones' other creditors. The auction overseer defends his decision Trustee Christopher Murray had defended The Onion's bid in court this week, testifying that he did not favor either bidder over the other and was not biased. He also revealed that First United American submitted a revised bid in recent days, but he said he could not accept it because the Sandy Hook families in the Connecticut lawsuit objected. The Onion valued its bid, with the Sandy Hook families' offer, at $7 million because that amount was equal to a purchase price that would provide the same amount of money to the other creditors. In a court filing last month, Murray's lawyers called First United American's request to disqualify The Onion's bid a "disappointed bidder's improper attempt to influence an otherwise fair and open election process." Jones' attorney, Ben Broocks, noted that the Sandy Hook lawsuit judgments could be overturned in pending appeals and got Murray to acknowledge that the Sandy Hook families' offer in The Onion bid could fall apart if that happens. That's because the percentage of the auction proceeds they would be entitled to could drop sharply and they wouldn't get the $750,000 from the sale to give to other creditors. Putting Infowars up for auction Up for sale were all the equipment and other assets in the Infowars studio in Austin, as well as the rights to its social media accounts, websites, video archive and product trademarks. Jones uses the studio to broadcast his far-right, conspiracy theory-filled shows on the Infowars website, his account on the social platform X and radio stations. Many of Jones' personal assets also are being sold. Jones has set up another studio, websites and social media accounts in case The Onion wins approval to buy Infowars and kicks him out. Jones has said he could continue using the Infowars platforms if the auction winner is friendly to him. Jones is appealing the money has been ordered to pay in judgments citing free speech rights.

Earnings Season On Tap: Taking A Measured Financials Sector Stance On VFHTokio Marine North America Services Named One of Computerworld's 2025 Best Places to Work in IT

ONU alerta por cientos de amenazas que persisten contra niño defensor ambiental colombiano

The company made the Best Places to Work in IT list for the third consecutive year and is ranked #2 in the Small Companies category. BALA CYNWYD, Pa. , Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Tokio Marine North America Services (TMNAS) is one of the 2025 Best Places to Work in IT according to Foundry's Computerworld . TMNAS achieved the #2 ranking in the Small Companies category, its highest ranking to date and third straight year making the list. Beyond the #2 overall ranking, TMNAS was ranked #1 for Career Development and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. This award recognizes the top organizations that challenge their IT staff while providing great benefits and compensation. "We are extremely honored to have been recognized by Computerworld for the third year in a row," shared Bob Pick , Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer at TMNAS. "Our IT team plays a crucial role in driving success for Tokio Marine and we strive to ensure our employees feel supported and valued as well. We want them to learn and grow with us as technology capabilities and digital demand evolve." TMNAS provides professional services across the U.S. and Mexico to several of the North American businesses of the Tokio Marine Group . The company's IT department develops, maintains, and innovates digital technology solutions to deliver market-leading solutions, insights, and customer service 24/7. Their work helps support over 3,200 people, contributing to the generation of innovative solutions and leading to $5.5 billion in annual premium revenue. In addition to making the Best Places to Work in IT list, TMNAS has received several other top workplace honors. These include being named one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work for In the Nation, Best Places to Work in Insurance, and Best Places to Work in PA. To learn more, visit TMNAS.com . About Tokio Marine North America Services Tokio Marine North America Services (TMNAS) was established in 2012 as the shared services company for Tokio Marine North America, Inc. (TMNA), the U.S. holding company for the Japan -based Tokio Marine Group. With headquarters located in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania , TMNAS provides value-added services to Tokio Marine Group companies including Philadelphia Insurance Companies (PHLY), First Insurance Company of Hawaii (FICOH), and Tokio Marine America (TMA) and its insurance companies. TMNAS' range of services includes Actuarial, Corporate Communications, Facilities, Finance & Accounting, Information Technology, Internal Audit, Human Resources, and Legal. These services deliver efficiency and innovation through the streamlining of processes, while building synergies across business units. For more information, please visit www.TMNAS.com . About the Best Places to Work in IT The Best Places to Work in IT list is an annual ranking of the top work environments for technology professionals by Foundry's Computerworld. The list is compiled based on a comprehensive questionnaire regarding company offerings in categories such as benefits, career development, DEI, future of work, training and retention. In addition, the rankings are reviewed and vetted by a panel of industry experts. About Computerworld Computerworld is the leading technology media brand empowering enterprise users and their managers, helping them create business advantage by skillfully exploiting today's abundantly powerful web, mobile, and desktop applications. Computerworld also offers guidance to IT managers tasked with optimizing client systems—and helps businesses revolutionize the customer and employee experience with new collaboration platforms. Computerworld's award-winning website ( www.computerworld.com ), strategic marketing solutions and research forms the hub of the world's largest global IT media network and provides opportunities for IT vendors to engage this audience. Computerworld is published by IDG. Communications, Inc. Company information is available at www.idg.com . Follow Computerworld on X: @Computerworld #BestPlacesIT Follow Computerworld on LinkedIn View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tokio-marine-north-america-services-named-one-of-computerworlds-2025-best-places-to-work-in-it-302328235.html SOURCE Tokio Marine North America Services © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — . The Canadian Union of Postal Workers strike, starting one week ago today, means disruptions to mail, including the mailing of the Foundation’s most significant fundraising drive of the year, their ‘More Firsts’ holiday appeal. The appeal, which features the emotional story about the impact Foundation donors have had on one grateful Calgarian, is waiting at Canada Post processing centres to be mailed out to over 40,000 households this season. Sandy, a grateful patient and Calgary Health Foundation supporter whose story is featured in the appeal, had a medical emergency in 2023 that resulted in her being rushed to Rockyview General Hospital. Sandy spent 15 critical days in Rockyview’s Intensive Care Unit due to kidney failure and medication toxicity. “I almost didn’t make it,” Sandy remembers. “Thankfully, I had an incredible healthcare team looking after me. Caring and concerned community members were a huge part of the reason the team was able to save my life.” Last year, Calgary Health Foundation’s holiday appeal brought in over $250,000, an amount that accounts for a significant portion of its year-end fundraising. Without knowing how long the strike will last or what impact it will have on its operations, the Foundation is preparing for a substantial drop in donations. “As a registered charity committed to championing healthcare in Southern Alberta, we rely on the support of donors to bring to life the projects we commit to. The recent mail interruption limits our donors’ ability to give back to medical innovation and ensure we can continue to offer more healthcare firsts to patients. While this disruption affects traditional ways of giving, we still have many ways for donors to give. We encourage everyone to please call us, visit our website, or reach out for alternative ways to contribute.” Murray Sigler, President & CEO, Calgary Health Foundation. Calgary Health Foundation is currently committed to projects and programs advancing healthcare in the areas of, but not limited to, women’s health initiatives, endoscopic spine and breast cancer surgery, interventional radiology, minimally invasive heart surgery, Parkinson’s disease, Indigenous healthcare, mental health impatient treatment, and eating disorder programming. Donor gifts to Calgary Health Foundation help ensure Calgary remains a world-class hub of medical care and continues to attract the best healthcare professionals, purchase the latest cutting-edge equipment and technology, and offer superior programs so patients can heal faster and enjoy more firsts with their families. Donors can still give the gift of health this holiday season through on-line, phone and in-person donations. -30- . Alternatively, donors can call Calgary Health Foundation at 403-943-0615 to make alternative arrangements.

Samsung will be introducing the Galaxy S25 Ultra across the globe in early 2025 and it will be offering a better Corning Gorilla Glass display. The anti-reflective coating that is offered on the S25 Ultra will be even better as compared to S24 Ultra. This will be a great thing when compared to the older model. According to the latest rumour that comes from Ice Universe (on X), the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is likely to be unveiled on January 22. The Corning Gorilla Glass Armor will be of second generation and will be quite powerful. It will also have anti-reflective properties. Even though the leaker did not mention, the screen is expected to offer anti-reflective properties. Overall, the display is expected to offer a durable glass. This feature is quite good and this is exclusive for Samsung’s top smartphone. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is likely to get the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC. A rumour from China had earlier mentioned that the device will be costlier than its predecessor i.e. Galaxy S24 Ultra. The report mentioned the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra’s bill of materials (BoM) has revealed that the device will be at least $110 more than the S24 Ultra. According to source from Korea, the Galaxy S25 series will have more than 3 devices. The new smartphone in the Galaxy S25 series will include Galaxy S25 Slim smartphone. The other devices that will be offered in the Galaxy S25 series are Galaxy S25, S25+ and S25 Ultra. Well, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim will not be launched along with the original Galaxy S25 series. The device will be rather launched in the later part of 2025.

Shares of D-Wave Quantum Inc. ( NYSE:QBTS – Get Free Report ) saw strong trading volume on Thursday . 15,842,585 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 34% from the previous session’s volume of 11,811,614 shares.The stock last traded at $8.54 and had previously closed at $7.95. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Craig Hallum increased their price objective on D-Wave Quantum from $2.50 to $9.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, December 20th. B. Riley raised their price target on D-Wave Quantum from $3.75 to $4.50 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, November 25th. Needham & Company LLC restated a “buy” rating and issued a $2.25 price objective on shares of D-Wave Quantum in a report on Friday, November 15th. Roth Mkm lifted their target price on shares of D-Wave Quantum from $3.00 to $7.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. Finally, Benchmark boosted their price target on shares of D-Wave Quantum from $3.00 to $8.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, December 20th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $5.63. Get Our Latest Stock Report on QBTS D-Wave Quantum Trading Up 0.1 % Insider Buying and Selling at D-Wave Quantum In other news, major shareholder Sector Pension Investme Public sold 8,437,593 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $4.21, for a total transaction of $35,522,266.53. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 1,000,000 shares in the company, valued at $4,210,000. This trade represents a 89.40 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website . Over the last quarter, insiders sold 10,081,459 shares of company stock valued at $45,337,894. Corporate insiders own 7.22% of the company’s stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On D-Wave Quantum Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. SG Americas Securities LLC purchased a new position in D-Wave Quantum in the third quarter worth about $42,000. Thoroughbred Financial Services LLC purchased a new position in D-Wave Quantum in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $45,000. Bogart Wealth LLC bought a new position in D-Wave Quantum in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $49,000. Rhumbline Advisers purchased a new stake in D-Wave Quantum during the 2nd quarter valued at $93,000. Finally, Barclays PLC increased its holdings in shares of D-Wave Quantum by 298.3% in the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 120,029 shares of the company’s stock worth $117,000 after purchasing an additional 89,894 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 42.47% of the company’s stock. D-Wave Quantum Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) D-Wave Quantum Inc develops and delivers quantum computing systems, software, and services worldwide. The company offers Advantage, a fifth-generation quantum computer; Ocean, a suite of open-source python tools; and Leap, a cloud-based service that provides real-time access to a live quantum computer, as well as access to Advantage, hybrid solvers, the Ocean software development kit, live code, demos, learning resources, and a vibrant developer community. Read More Receive News & Ratings for D-Wave Quantum Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for D-Wave Quantum and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Poulin has game winner as Montreal Victoire tops Minnesota Frost 3-2 for 3rd straight winIn Pictures: Politics frames the debate as Ireland holds five ballots in 2024CHICAGO — If the life and times of Chicago Alderman Daniel Solis a decade ago were pitched as the plot of a daytime soap opera, it might be rejected as too fantastical. Sexual trysts at massage parlors, procuring erectile dysfunction pills from friends, an affair with his Chinese translator, a bag of cash handed over at a hotel in Beijing, a breakup with his wife, and near financial ruin — all playing out over a period of several years when Solis was chair of the City Council’s powerful Zoning Committee. Solis’ complicated back story began to emerge Monday in the corruption trial of former House Speaker Michael Madigan, where Solis, who agreed to become an FBI mole in 2016 after being confronted with some of the salacious details, is the prosecution’s key witness. So far, Solis has walked the jury through many of the allegations contained in a bombshell FBI search warrant affidavit that was inadvertently made public in 2019, including Solis’ involvement with a number of Chicago political power players. Among them: Solis’ sister, Democratic political consultant Patti Solis Doyle, who he said offered to split a $100,000 payment with him from the developer of the Nobu Hotel, who needed Solis’ help with zoning, according to Solis’ testimony. “She said she could split it with me,” Solis said. “I told her I couldn’t do it. It would be illegal.” Solis testified he also received $200,000 for referring his sister to another friend, Brian Hynes, who wanted her on board with his company Vendor Assistance Program, which made tens of millions of dollars buying up unpaid bills from the state and then collecting the late fees. Solis also testified about other friends, such as Juan Gaytan, the influential head of Monterrey Security, showering him with perks like flights and hotels in Las Vegas and tickets to Bulls and Bears games that Solis never declared on any ethics reports. “I made a mistake,” Solis said when asked why he accepted the favors. “I thought they were my friends and I was wrong.” Solis, 71, the former 25th Ward alderman, took the witness stand late last week to begin what will be a fascinating dive into one of the biggest public corruption cases in Chicago’s sordid history. His testimony — which could stretch well into December — will include clandestine video recordings Solis made in face-to-face meetings with Madigan, where the longtime House leader and head of the state Democratic Party allegedly used his official influence to shake down developers for business for his private tax appeal law firm. When a prosecution witness has a checkered past like Solis, prosecutors frequently ask about the alleged wrongdoing early in their testimony. “Fronting” the information strategically aims to take the sting out of it, rather than let defense attorneys seize on it during cross-examination. But rarely does a witness come with quite so much baggage. Solis testified that Roberto Caldero, a college buddy of his who became a lobbyist and consultant, would call Solis for help when his clients had problems with the city’s red tape. At the same time, Caldero connected Solis with free tabs of Viagra and – to the obvious amusement of at least one juror – erotic massages. “Why didn’t you just get a prescription?” Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane MacArthur asked. “It was more convenient and quicker than contacting my doctor,” Solis said. “Why was it, do you think, Mr. Caldero was willing to do those things for you?” MacArthur asked. “He wanted to influence me in his requests,” Solis said. The back-scratching continued, he said: Solis got a loan from a bank that needed help with expressway signage; his son’s graduation party was hosted and paid for by developer Fred Latsko; he got a six-figure off-the-books loan from a businessman who wanted Solis’s help connecting him with Emanuel. But the most dramatic revelations came from Solis’s testimony about his time in China. Solis visited China and Taiwan multiple times from 2005 to 2013, mostly in his capacity as a public official, to understand the 2008 Olympic Games’ effect on Beijing when Chicago was considering its Olympic bid, for example, or to learn about Chinese culture in order to better support Chinatown, Solis said. Shortly after a trip in 2009, Solis – who was married – began an affair with his translator, Bing Tie. He said Tie introduced him to developer Lumeng Li, who was interested in projects in Chinatown. Tie and Solis accompanied Li on a tour of his properties in different Chinese cities. At one point, he was in a Shanghai hotel room with Tie and Li. On the bed, Solis saw a briefcase full of Chinese cash, he said. It was $10,000, Solis said based on what Tie told him. “I think (Li) was giving it to me to influence me in the work he was trying to do in the States,” Solis testified. Tie took the suitcase off the bed and used the money to buy furniture for the condo Solis was renting from her, he testified. “She gave me her receipts for everything,” he said. Solis’s marriage began to fall apart in 2010 after his wife learned of his affair, Solis testified. They were separated for a few years, during which time Solis paid his wife’s rent and his son’s private school tuition as well as his own expenses, Solis testified. The house he and his wife shared had been foreclosed on, putting his credit in the gutter, he said. By 2013 he was getting calls from bill collectors, one of whom he lied to and said he was out of a job, he testified. “I was exasperated,” he said. “I think I was about to go into a meeting.” Madigan, 82, of Chicago, who served for decades as speaker of the Illinois House before stepping down in 2021, faces racketeering charges alleging he ran his state and political operations like a criminal enterprise. He is charged alongside Michael McClain, 77, a former ComEd contract lobbyist from downstate Quincy, who for years was one of Madigan’s closest confidants. Both men have pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing. Solis’ testimony is the culmination of a saga that began nearly eight and a half years ago, when FBI agents confronted him at his home in June 2016 and showed him evidence they’d gathered of his own misdeeds. The feds had been prepared that day to raid Solis’ City Hall offices. Instead, he flipped, offering what prosecutors have described as “singular” cooperation that helped bring down not only Madigan, but another Chicago political giant in former Alderman Edward M. Burke. Lawyers for Madigan and McClain, meanwhile, will have plenty of ammunition to bring to what is expected to be a lengthy and grueling cross-examination. Unlike in last year’s trial of Burke, in which Solis was called as a defense witness, he’ll be subjected to a much broader line of questioning this time around, with the defense probing not only Solis’ unprecedented deferred-prosecution deal, but also episodes from the FBI’s investigation into his own misdeeds that could prove personally embarrassing. In his opening statement to the jury last month, Madigan attorney Tom Breen painted Solis as a “BS-er” with “a decrepit personal and professional life,” someone who lied to cut a sweetheart deal with the feds that not only will keep him out of prison, but also help him maintain a fat city pension. Earlier Monday, jurors got their first look at a secretly recorded video of the then-powerful House speaker soliciting business for his law firm from the developer of a Chinatown hotel project. “We’re not looking for a quick killing here,” Madigan said near the end of the August 2014 meeting, which was recorded on a hidden camera by developer See Wong, who was cooperating with the FBI. “We’re interested in a long term relationship.” Before the video was played, Solis testified he’d arranged the meeting at Madigan’s request. At the time, Solis was not cooperating. In fact, the meeting took place nearly two years before the FBI confronted him with evidence of his own wrongdoing, leading to Solis’ decision to go undercover himself. The charges against Madigan do not allege anything illegal occurred during the 2014 meeting. But a state-owned parcel of land discussed by Madigan and the developers would later become a key focus of prosecutors, who allege Madigan used it as a way to squeeze the developer for business. In the video, which was taken more than a decade ago, a much younger looking Madigan came into the office carrying a bottle of water and shook Wong’s hand. Also in the room was Vincent “Bud” Getzendanner, Madigan’s law partner. The developer, Kin Chong, who spoke only Chinese, was mainly off screen. Madigan’s face appeared intermittently as he made small talk about Chicago’s Chinatown and how it compared to others on the West Coast. After a few minutes, Solis came in with two assistants and some coffees. They then got down to brass tacks, with Madigan explaining his firm and what they do. “We do quite a few hotels and, uh, we have a little different approach to representation on hotels than the other law firms that do the work,” Madigan said. “And, and Bud can explain background, but it does make a difference in terms of the results that you get from the assessor.” After Madigan’s partner gave a lengthy spiel about the firm’s approach to reducing property taxes, talk turned to a the Chinatown parking lot along the Red Line on Wentworth Avenue. Solis told the jury he was not expecting the parking lot to come up. In the recording, Solis jumped in and explained that the parking lot was part of a corridor of land once owned by Tony Rezko — the longtime influence peddler who was convicted of corruption as part of Operation Board Games, the federal investigation that took down Gov. Rod Blagojevich. “Oh yeah,” Madigan said when Solis brought up Rezko. After Wong spreads a map on the table, Madigan appeared to study it. “Is this owned by the state?” the speaker asked at one point. “The parking lot? Yes,” Solis said. “What, what about that vacant land?” Madigan asked. “This is east of the CTA. This is Clark Street.” The conversation then turned back to the hotel project, which was a proposed Best Western with about 60 rooms. After a lot of talk about how much Madigan’s firm might save them in taxes, Solis jumped in again. “There is no better firm than this firm in terms of doing real estate taxes in the state,” Solis said. “I think that’s not only my opinion, it’s across (the board).” After making his comment about a “quick killing,” Madigan also extolled the virtues of his firm. “And in terms of the quality of representation in terms of this law firm we don’t take a second seat to anybody,” he said. As the meeting broke up, Wong said the developer wanted to take a picture with the speaker. The video showed Madigan standing together with the others on the screen of Wong’s cell phone as he took the photo. After Madigan left, Wong and Solis walked to the elevators of the Madigan & Getzendanner offices on North LaSalle Street. Wong told the alderman that Chong would “love to give the business to Mr. Speaker” but the zoning change was critical. “If he works with the speaker, he will get anything he needs for that hotel,” Solis said. “And he’s gonna benefit from being with the Speaker.” Before they parted, Solis told Wong, “I like your shoes.” After the video concluded, Solis testified that the zoning change requested by the developers passed his committee. But the Best Western ever never built, he said. ©2024 Chicago Tribune. Visit at chicagotribune.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The Yomiuri Shimbun 5:00 JST, November 28, 2024 The Yomiuri Shimbun will establish a new stock price index, The Yomiuri Stock Index, in March 2025. The index, also dubbed the Yomiuri 333, will indicate the movement of stock prices and is aimed at expanding the range of options for investors by developing a new benchmark for the Japanese economy. With the new project designed to encourage domestic and foreign investment in Japanese companies, The Yomiuri Shimbun will make a contribution to a virtuous economic cycle that widely returns the fruits of corporate growth to the people in addition to investors. The Yomiuri 333 will be provided in collaboration with a major financial group, and will be composed of 333 companies that represent Japan and are among the names listed on stock exchanges in the country. Along with the Tokyo Stock Price Index (TOPIX) and the Nikkei Stock Average (Nikkei 225), the Yomiuri 333 will become a stock index demonstrating Japan’s economic strength. The unit of measurement for the new index will be the Japanese yen. The key feature of the Yomiuri 333 is that it will adopt the equal weighting method in calculating the index, in which all 333 companies’ stocks are incorporated in the same proportion. The new index will exhibit average price movements of the constituent stocks, making it less susceptible to the movements of large corporations or specific companies by equally incorporating the movements of all the 333 companies’ stocks. Equal-weighted indices have been used overseas but have not been widely adopted in Japan. TOPIX is a capitalization-weighted index, which tends to reflect the size of a company’s market capitalization, and the price movements of large companies have a significant impact on it. The Nikkei 225 is a price-weighted index, which can be influenced by the price movements of certain stocks with high share prices because it is calculated using the share price of each constituent stock. Unlike these indices, the Yomiuri 333 aims at equally reflecting the price movements of a wider range of stocks. Investors will be able to grasp the degree of economic growth in Japan through the Yomiuri 333 if the economy continues to grow over the long term. For investors, the available options for asset building will be broadened by using the Yomiuri 333 as it will become a new benchmark for understanding economic trends in the country. A major asset management company is preparing to develop financial products linked to the Yomiuri 333, including investment trusts, from the spring of 2025 or later. The Yomiuri Shimbun also aims for the Yomiuri 333 to be an index that will be used for the new NISA, or Nippon Individual Savings Account, a tax-exempt program for small investments by individuals. Investment trusts linked to the index are also expected to be created. The Yomiuri Shimbun supports long-term, stable asset creation for the people by offering an index corresponding to long-term, cumulative and diversified investments.The company made the Best Places to Work in IT list for the third consecutive year and is ranked #2 in the Small Companies category. BALA CYNWYD, Pa. , Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Tokio Marine North America Services (TMNAS) is one of the 2025 Best Places to Work in IT according to Foundry's Computerworld . TMNAS achieved the #2 ranking in the Small Companies category, its highest ranking to date and third straight year making the list. Beyond the #2 overall ranking, TMNAS was ranked #1 for Career Development and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. This award recognizes the top organizations that challenge their IT staff while providing great benefits and compensation. "We are extremely honored to have been recognized by Computerworld for the third year in a row," shared Bob Pick , Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer at TMNAS. "Our IT team plays a crucial role in driving success for Tokio Marine and we strive to ensure our employees feel supported and valued as well. We want them to learn and grow with us as technology capabilities and digital demand evolve." TMNAS provides professional services across the U.S. and Mexico to several of the North American businesses of the Tokio Marine Group . The company's IT department develops, maintains, and innovates digital technology solutions to deliver market-leading solutions, insights, and customer service 24/7. Their work helps support over 3,200 people, contributing to the generation of innovative solutions and leading to $5.5 billion in annual premium revenue. In addition to making the Best Places to Work in IT list, TMNAS has received several other top workplace honors. These include being named one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work for In the Nation, Best Places to Work in Insurance, and Best Places to Work in PA. To learn more, visit TMNAS.com . About Tokio Marine North America Services Tokio Marine North America Services (TMNAS) was established in 2012 as the shared services company for Tokio Marine North America, Inc. (TMNA), the U.S. holding company for the Japan -based Tokio Marine Group. With headquarters located in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania , TMNAS provides value-added services to Tokio Marine Group companies including Philadelphia Insurance Companies (PHLY), First Insurance Company of Hawaii (FICOH), and Tokio Marine America (TMA) and its insurance companies. TMNAS' range of services includes Actuarial, Corporate Communications, Facilities, Finance & Accounting, Information Technology, Internal Audit, Human Resources, and Legal. These services deliver efficiency and innovation through the streamlining of processes, while building synergies across business units. For more information, please visit www.TMNAS.com . About the Best Places to Work in IT The Best Places to Work in IT list is an annual ranking of the top work environments for technology professionals by Foundry's Computerworld. The list is compiled based on a comprehensive questionnaire regarding company offerings in categories such as benefits, career development, DEI, future of work, training and retention. In addition, the rankings are reviewed and vetted by a panel of industry experts. About Computerworld Computerworld is the leading technology media brand empowering enterprise users and their managers, helping them create business advantage by skillfully exploiting today's abundantly powerful web, mobile, and desktop applications. Computerworld also offers guidance to IT managers tasked with optimizing client systems—and helps businesses revolutionize the customer and employee experience with new collaboration platforms. Computerworld's award-winning website ( www.computerworld.com ), strategic marketing solutions and research forms the hub of the world's largest global IT media network and provides opportunities for IT vendors to engage this audience. Computerworld is published by IDG. Communications, Inc. Company information is available at www.idg.com . Follow Computerworld on X: @Computerworld #BestPlacesIT Follow Computerworld on LinkedIn View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tokio-marine-north-america-services-named-one-of-computerworlds-2025-best-places-to-work-in-it-302328235.html SOURCE Tokio Marine North America Services

Top 10 Best Indian Startups in Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing) 2025

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 - Story TrailerNew Mexico man awarded $412 million medical malpractice payout for botched injections

The decision of FBI Director Christopher Wray to resign from his position two years before his 10-year term ended didn’t exactly get him hosannas on social media. “I’ve decided the right thing for the bureau is for me to serve until the end of the current administration in January and then step down,” Wray told FBI staffers. “In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work.” The resignation opens the door for President-elect Donald Trump ’s preferred nominee, Kash Patel , without having to fire Wray. Trump appointed Wray to the FBI Director position in 2017 after he fired James Comey, but hasn’t been too happy with him since the FBI raided Mar-a-Lago in August 2022 and uncovered troves of classified documents that led to federal criminal charges against Trump. Although Wray probably wants his departure to be seen as a statesman-like decision, it wasn’t seen that way on social media. Instead, he was criticized for engaging in “anticipatory obedience” by f ormer Obama administration ethics czar Norm Eisen, who thought Wray had a duty to the country to “constantly push back” and make Trump fire him. I admire how Chris Wray has hung in there—but he should’ve made Trump fire him Anticipatory obedience is not how we will save democracy Instead you must constantly push back 1/2 pic.twitter.com/3Y8FkGXkjN Other people also called out Wray for succumbing to the pressure. FBI director Christopher Wray just bent the knee and resigned. Most likely, Kash Patel will take his place. I talk to @glennkirschner about how Trump will weaponize the DOJ to attack Americans & dismantle democracy. Scary, sobering shit, but there is hope.... pic.twitter.com/OPJPNiORdC A profile in courage, Chris Wray is not. Wray bowed to political pressure; his early resignation is the easy way out. It avoids a very public conversation when Trump inevitably would have fired him for putting the law and the Constitution ahead of his loyalty to Trump. Wray’s resignation has resulted from raw political pressure that is repugnant to our justice system. It vastly heightens the hazards of weaponizing the FBI for political or personal ends—which should be an anathema to all my colleagues, regardless of party, https://t.co/iPJtwi8Wtg This is an unbelievable abdication by Wray and makes it so much easier for Trump to install a corrupt leadership under Kash Patel and weaponize the FBI. Wray is doing a huge disservice to the FBI past, present, and future. Wray is making a mistake. Wray hasn't done anything worthy of getting fired by Trump and should've made him do it Trump on the resignation of FBI Director Christopher Wray: “I just don’t know what happened to him.” Translation: “I appointed him thinking he’d do whatever I told him. To my surprise, he chose to follow the law instead.” pic.twitter.com/uF4iJALV4f Christopher Wray just announced his dutiful 'Obey in Advance' resignation. Nothing but cowards and quislings all the way down. Don't let this be the end of the free press. The free press is under attack — and America's future hangs in the balance. As other newsrooms bow to political pressure, HuffPost is not backing down. Would you help us keep our news free for all? We can't do it without you. Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all. Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) spoke out against Wray’s resignation Wednesday on MSNBC . You can see the segment below. Related From Our PartnerNEW YORK (AP) — No ex-president had a more prolific and diverse publishing career than . His more than two dozen books included nonfiction, poetry, fiction, religious meditations and a children’s story. His memoir “An Hour Before Daylight” was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2002, while his 2006 best-seller “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” stirred a fierce debate by likening Israel’s policies in the West Bank to the brutal South African system of racial segregation. And just before his 100th birthday, the honored him with a for how he wielded “the power of the written word to foster peace, social justice, and global understanding.” In one recent work, “A Full Life,” Carter observed that he “enjoyed writing” and that his books “provided a much-needed source of income.” But some projects were easier than others. “Everything to Gain,” a 1987 collaboration with his wife, Rosalynn, turned into the “worst threat we ever experienced in our marriage,” an intractable standoff for the facilitator of the Camp David accords and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. According to Carter, Rosalynn was a meticulous author who considered “the resulting sentences as though they have come down from Mount Sinai, carved into stone.” Their memories differed on various events and they fell into “constant arguments.” They were ready to abandon the book and return the advance, until their editor persuaded them to simply divide any disputed passages between them. “In the book, each of these paragraphs is identified by a ‘J’ or an ‘R,’ and our marriage survived,” he wrote. Here is a partial list of books by Carter: “Keeping Faith: Memoirs of a President” “The Blood of Abraham: Insights into the Middle East” (With Rosalynn Carter) “Everything to Gain: Making the Most of the Rest of Your Life” “An Outdoor Journal: Adventures and Reflections” “Turning Point: A Candidate, a State, and a Nation Come of Age” “Always a Reckoning, and Other Poems” (With daughter Amy Carter) “The Little Baby Snoogle-Fleejer” “Living Faith” “The Virtues of Aging” “An Hour Before Daylight: Memories of a Rural Boyhood” “Christmas in Plains: Memories” “The Hornet’s Nest: A Novel of the Revolutionary War” “Our Endangered Values: America’s Moral Crisis” “Faith & Freedom: The Christian Challenge for the World” “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” “A Remarkable Mother” “Beyond the White House” “We Can Have Peace in the Holy Land: A Plan That Will Work” “White House Diary” “NIV Lessons from Life Bible: Personal Reflections with Jimmy Carter” “A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power” “A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety”