In November, posts connecting The Heritage Foundation, the conservative think tank behind Project 2025 , and Hobby Lobby were shared across social media platforms. Project 2025 is an initiative launched in April 2022 to provide a roadmap for the next conservative president to transform the government in favor of conservative social policies and ideals. The social media posts claim The Heritage Foundation’s Director of Finance David Green also owns Hobby Lobby, a retail chain that specializes in crafts and home décor. Hobby Lobby has a history of advocating for various conservative causes. “The Heritage Foundation is behind Project25. Their Director of Finance is David Green. Owner of Hobby Lobby. You know what to do,” one of the posts says . THE QUESTION Does The Heritage Foundation’s director of finance own Hobby Lobby? THE SOURCES Bio for David Green, founder and CEO of Hobby Lobby, on the company’s website Photo of David Green, the director of finance at The Heritage Foundation, on the think tank’s website Ellen Keenan, a spokesperson for The Heritage Foundation THE ANSWER No, The Heritage Foundation’s director of finance does not own Hobby Lobby. WHAT WE FOUND Claims that The Heritage Foundation’s finance director owns Hobby Lobby are false. The founder and current CEO of Hobby Lobby and The Heritage Foundation’s director of finance both have the name David Green, but they are two different people. However, both of them do have ties to conservative causes. “No, they are not the same person,” Ellen Keenan, a spokesperson for The Heritage Foundation, wrote in an email to VERIFY addressing the false online claims. Photos of both David Greens on the Hobby Lobby and The Heritage Foundation websites also show they bear no resemblance to one another. The men are not the same age, either. Hobby Lobby’s David Green was 83 years old as of April 2024, according to Forbes . VERIFY couldn’t confirm an exact age for The Heritage Foundation’s David Green, but he appears to be much younger. The Heritage Foundation’s David Green The Heritage Foundation’s website only includes David Green’s job title and his photo. Alongside his role as the director of finance, Green serves as the think tank’s controller for finance and accounting. According to his LinkedIn profile , he graduated from Virginia Tech in 1994 and worked in the finance industry for more than two decades before joining The Heritage Foundation. He has worked at The Heritage Foundation for just over three years. Hobby Lobby’s David Green In 1970, David Green, the founder and current CEO of Hobby Lobby and his wife began selling miniature picture frames out of their home. Two years later, the first official Hobby Lobby store opened in Oklahoma City, according to the company. All of Green’s children also work for Hobby Lobby. His son, Mart, serves as the ministry investment officer; his son, Steve, is the company’s president; and his daughter, Darsee Lett, is the vice president of art/creative, according to the company. His son-in-law, Steve Lett, is the executive vice president of Hobby Lobby. Green said in October 2022 that he was giving away ownership of Hobby Lobby. At the time, he said 100% of the company’s voting stock was moved to a trust. The confusion online may stem from the fact that Hobby Lobby’s Green and his family have aligned themselves with conservative Christian causes over the years. In 2014, Hobby Lobby was the lead plaintiff in a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that centered around the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) mandate that employers provide health insurance coverage for birth control. Green and his family argued that the mandate violated their religious beliefs since it required them to cover certain forms of contraception they considered morally objectionable. In a 5-4 decision , the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Hobby Lobby on June 30, 2014, affirming that certain types of companies with religious objections can avoid the contraceptives requirement in the ACA. Hobby Lobby has also donated tens of millions of dollars to religious groups over the years and the company, which is known for closing stores on Sundays, funded the creation of a museum dedicated to the Bible that opened in Washington, D.C., in 2017. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

TULSA, Okla. , Dec. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ONE Gas, Inc. OGS today issued financial guidance for 2025 and updated its five-year growth rates. "We enter 2025 focused on creating long-term value for our stakeholders, supporting growing customer demand, and enhancing the safety and reliability of our system," said Robert S. McAnnally , president and chief executive officer. "Our strategic plan supports a long runway of growth opportunities and investments in system reinforcements." 2025 FINANCIAL GUIDANCE ONE Gas (the "Company") expects 2025 net income to be in the range of $254 million to $261 million, with earnings per diluted share of $4.20 to $4.32 . The midpoints of 2025 guidance are net income of $257 million and earnings per diluted share of $4.26 . The Company's 2025 earnings guidance includes the benefit of new rates and customer growth, partially offset by higher operating expenses, including employee-related and contractor costs, depreciation expense from capital investments, and interest expense. Capital investments, including asset removal costs, are expected to be approximately $750 million in 2025, primarily targeted for system integrity and replacement projects. Capital investments for extensions to new customers are expected to be approximately $180 million, largely due to continued growth opportunities in Texas and Oklahoma . The anticipated average rate base for 2025 is $5 .8 billion. The Company has outstanding forward sale agreements covering approximately 3.6 million shares of its common stock at an average price of approximately $77 per share. Had all forward shares been settled at the end of the third quarter, net proceeds would have been approximately $275 million . The Company expects to settle approximately $245 million of its outstanding equity under forward sale agreements at year-end 2024 and roll forward approximately $30 million to settlement in 2025. FIVE-YEAR FINANCIAL GROWTH RATES For the five years ending 2029, capital investments, including asset removal costs, are expected to be in the range of $750 million to $850 million per year, or approximately $4.0 billion for the five-year period, including growth capital of approximately $1.0 billion . Capital expenditures support estimated average rate base growth of 7% to 9% per year through 2029. Annual net income and diluted earnings per share are expected to increase by an average of 7% to 9% and 4% to 6%, respectively, over the long term and the Company expects to be at the high end of these respective ranges through 2029. Operating costs over the five-year period are expected to increase an average of approximately 4% per year, down from the 5% average annual increase indicated in the 2024 guidance. The Company estimates total net long-term financing needs for the period 2025 through 2029 of approximately $1.5 billion , of which approximately 40% is expected to be equity. Consistent with last year's guidance, the Company expects to achieve an average annual dividend growth rate of 1% to 2% through 2029, subject to the board of directors' approval, with a target dividend payout ratio of 55% to 65% of net income. CONFERENCE CALL, WEBCAST AND INVESTOR PRESENTATION The ONE Gas executive management team will conduct a conference call on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024 , at 8 a.m. Eastern Standard Time ( 7 a.m. Central Standard Time ). The call also will be carried live on the ONE Gas website. To participate in the telephone conference call, dial 833-470-1428, passcode 934495, or log on to www.onegas.com/investors and select Events and Presentations. If you are unable to participate in the conference call or the webcast, a replay will be available on the ONE Gas website, www.onegas.com , for 30 days. A recording will be available by phone for seven days. The playback call may be accessed at 866-813-9403, passcode 503269. Additional information can be found in the 2025 Financial Guidance investor presentation on the ONE Gas website at https://www.onegas.com/investors/financials-and-filings/guidance . Guidance estimates may be impacted by the variables in the forward-looking statements listed below. ONE Gas, Inc. OGS is a 100% regulated natural gas utility, and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "OGS." ONE Gas is included in the S&P MidCap 400 Index and is one of the largest natural gas utilities in the United States . Headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma , ONE Gas provides a reliable and affordable energy choice to more than 2.3 million customers in Kansas , Oklahoma and Texas . Its divisions include Kansas Gas Service, the largest natural gas distributor in Kansas ; Oklahoma Natural Gas, the largest in Oklahoma ; and Texas Gas Service, the third largest in Texas , in terms of customers. For more information and the latest news about ONE Gas, visit onegas.com and follow its social channels: @ONEGas , Facebook , LinkedIn and YouTube . Some of the statements contained and incorporated in this news release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. The forward-looking statements relate to our anticipated financial performance, liquidity, management's plans and objectives for our future operations, our business prospects, the outcome of regulatory and legal proceedings, market conditions and other matters. We make these forward-looking statements in reliance on the safe harbor protections provided under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The following discussion is intended to identify important factors that could cause future outcomes to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include the items identified in the preceding paragraph, the information concerning possible or assumed future results of our operations and other statements contained or incorporated in this news release identified by words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "should," "goal," "forecast," "guidance," "could," "may," "continue," "might," "potential," "scheduled," "likely," and other words and terms of similar meaning. One should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which are applicable only as of the date of this news release. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Those factors may affect our operations, costs, liquidity, markets, products, services and prices. In addition to any assumptions and other factors referred to specifically in connection with the forward-looking statements, factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statement include, among others, the following: our ability to recover costs, income taxes and amounts equivalent to the cost of property, plant and equipment, regulatory assets and our allowed rate of return in our regulated rates or other recovery mechanisms; cyber-attacks, which, according to experts, continue to increase in volume and sophistication, or breaches of technology systems that could disrupt our operations or result in the loss or exposure of confidential or sensitive customer, employee, vendor, counterparty, or Company information; further, increased remote working arrangements have required enhancements and modifications to our information technology infrastructure (e.g. Internet, Virtual Private Network, remote collaboration systems, etc.), and any failures of the technologies, including third-party service providers, that facilitate working remotely could limit our ability to conduct ordinary operations or expose us to increased risk or effect of an attack; our ability to manage our operations and maintenance costs; changes in regulation of natural gas distribution services, particularly those in Oklahoma , Kansas and Texas ; the economic climate and, particularly, its effect on the natural gas requirements of our residential and commercial customers; the length and severity of a pandemic or other health crisis which could significantly disrupt or prevent us from operating our business in the ordinary course for an extended period; competition from alternative forms of energy, including, but not limited to, electricity, solar power, wind power, geothermal energy and biofuels; adverse weather conditions and variations in weather, including seasonal effects on demand and/or supply, the occurrence of severe storms in the territories in which we operate, and climate change, and the related effects on supply, demand, and costs; indebtedness could make us more vulnerable to general adverse economic and industry conditions, limit our ability to borrow additional funds and/or place us at competitive disadvantage compared with competitors; our ability to secure reliable, competitively priced and flexible natural gas transportation and supply, including decisions by natural gas producers to reduce production or shut-in producing natural gas wells and expiration of existing supply and transportation and storage arrangements that are not replaced with contracts with similar terms and pricing; our ability to complete necessary or desirable expansion or infrastructure development projects, which may delay or prevent us from serving our customers or expanding our business; operational and mechanical hazards or interruptions; adverse labor relations; the effectiveness of our strategies to reduce earnings lag, revenue protection strategies and risk mitigation strategies, which may be affected by risks beyond our control such as commodity price volatility, counterparty performance or creditworthiness and interest rate risk; the capital-intensive nature of our business, and the availability of and access to, in general, funds to meet our debt obligations prior to or when they become due and to fund our operations and capital expenditures, either through (i) cash on hand, (ii) operating cash flow, or (iii) access to the capital markets and other sources of liquidity; our ability to obtain capital on commercially reasonable terms, or on terms acceptable to us, or at all; limitations on our operating flexibility, earnings and cash flows due to restrictions in our financing arrangements; cross-default provisions in our borrowing arrangements, which may lead to our inability to satisfy all of our outstanding obligations in the event of a default on our part; changes in the financial markets during the periods covered by the forward-looking statements, particularly those affecting the availability of capital and our ability to refinance existing debt and fund investments and acquisitions to execute our business strategy; actions of rating agencies, including the ratings of debt, general corporate ratings and changes in the rating agencies' ratings criteria; changes in inflation and interest rates; our ability to recover the costs of natural gas purchased for our customers and any related financing required to support our purchase of natural gas supply; impact of potential impairment charges; volatility and changes in markets for natural gas and our ability to secure additional and sufficient liquidity on reasonable commercial terms to cover costs associated with such volatility; possible loss of local distribution company franchises or other adverse effects caused by the actions of municipalities; payment and performance by counterparties and customers as contracted and when due, including our counterparties maintaining ordinary course terms of supply and payments; changes in existing or the addition of new environmental, safety, tax and other laws to which we and our subsidiaries are subject, including those that may require significant expenditures, significant increases in operating costs or, in the case of noncompliance, substantial fines or penalties; the effectiveness of our risk-management policies and procedures, and employees violating our risk-management policies; the uncertainty of estimates, including accruals and costs of environmental remediation; advances in technology, including technologies that increase efficiency or that improve electricity's competitive position relative to natural gas; population growth rates and changes in the demographic patterns of the markets we serve, and economic conditions in these areas' housing markets; acts of nature and the potential effects of threatened or actual terrorism and war, including recent events in Europe and the Middle East ; the sufficiency of insurance coverage to cover losses; the effects of our strategies to reduce tax payments; changes in accounting standards; changes in corporate governance standards; existence of material weaknesses in our internal controls; our ability to comply with all covenants in our indentures and the ONE Gas Credit Agreement, a violation of which, if not cured in a timely manner, could trigger a default of our obligations; our ability to attract and retain talented employees, management and directors, and shortage of skilled-labor; unexpected increases in the costs of providing health care benefits, along with pension and postemployment health care benefits, as well as declines in the discount rates on, declines in the market value of the debt and equity securities of, and increases in funding requirements for, our defined benefit plans; and our ability to successfully complete merger, acquisition or divestiture plans, regulatory or other limitations imposed as a result of a merger, acquisition or divestiture, and the success of the business following a merger, acquisition or divestiture. These factors are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any of our forward-looking statements. Other factors could also have material adverse effects on our future results. These and other risks are described in greater detail in Part 1, Item 1A, Risk Factors, in our Annual Report. All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Other than as required under securities laws, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or change in circumstances, expectations or otherwise. Analyst Contact: Erin Dailey 918-947-7411 Media Contact: Leah Harper 918-947-7123 View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/one-gas-issues-2025-financial-guidance-302322972.html SOURCE ONE Gas, Inc. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.An2 therapeutics director Joseph Zakrzewski buys $2,800 in stock

NEW YORK (AP) — He's making threats, traveling abroad and negotiating with world leaders. Donald Trump has more than a month and a half to go before he's sworn in for a second term. But the Republican president-elect is already moving aggressively not just to fill his Cabinet and outline policy goals, but to achieve those priorities . Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico, prompting emergency calls and a visit from Canada's prime minister that resulted in what Trump claimed were commitments from both U.S. allies on new border security measures. The incoming president has warned there will be “ALL HELL TO PAY" if, before his inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025, Hamas does not release the hostages being held in Gaza . He has threatened to block the purchase of U.S. Steel by a Japanese company, warning "Buyer Beware!!!” And this weekend, Trump was returning to the global stage, joining a host of other foreign leaders for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral five years after it was ravaged by a fire. On Saturday, he met with French President Emmanuel Macron — joined at the last minute by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — and had plans to see Britain's Prince William also in Paris. Absent in Paris: lame duck President Joe Biden, who has largely disappeared from headlines, except when he issued a pardon of his son , Hunter, who was facing sentencing for gun crimes and tax evasion. First lady Jill Biden is attending in his place. “I think you have seen more happen in the last two weeks than you’ve seen in the last four years. And we’re not even there yet,” Trump said in an over-the-top boast at an awards ceremony Thursday night . For all of Trump's bold talk, though, it is unclear how many of his efforts will bear fruit. The pre-inauguration threats and deal-making are highly unusual, like so much of what Trump does, said Julian Zelizer, a political historian at Princeton University. “Transitions are always a little complicated in this way. Even though we talk about one president at a time," he said, “the reality is one president plus. And that plus can act assertively sometimes." Zelizer said that is particularly true of Trump, who was president previously and already has relationships with many foreign leaders such as Macron, who invited both Trump and Biden to Paris this weekend as part of the Notre Dame celebration. “Right now he’s sort of governing even though he’s not the president yet. He’s having these public meetings with foreign leaders, which aren't simply introductions. He's staking out policy and negotiating things from drug trafficking to tariffs," Zelizer said. Trump already has met with several foreign leaders, in addition to a long list of calls. He hosted Argentinian President Javier Milei in Florida at his Mar-a-Lago club in November. After the tariff threat, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a pilgrimage to Mar-a-Lago for a three-hour dinner meeting. Canadian officials later said the country is ready to make new investments in border security, with plans for more helicopters, drones and law enforcement officers. Last Sunday, Trump dined with Sara Netanyahu, wife of the Israeli prime minister. Incoming Trump aides have also been meeting with their future foreign counterparts. On Wednesday, several members of Trump's team, including incoming national security adviser Mike Waltz, met with Andriy Yermak, a top aide to Zelenskyy, in Washington, as Ukraine tries to win support for its ongoing efforts to defend itself from Russian invasion, according to a person familiar with the meeting. Yermak also met with Trump officials in Florida, he wrote on X . That comes after Trump's incoming Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, traveled to Qatar and Israel for high-level talks about a cease-fire and hostage deal in Gaza, according to a U.S familiar with the efforts, meeting with the prime ministers of both countries. There is no prohibition on incoming officials or nominees meeting with foreign officials, and it is common and fine for them to do so — unless those meetings are designed to subvert or otherwise impact current U.S. policy. Trump aides were said to be especially cognizant of potential conflicts given their experience in 2016, when interactions between Trump allies and Russian officials came under scrutiny. That included a phone call in which Trump's incoming national security adviser, Michael Flynn, discussed new sanctions with Russia’s ambassador to the United States, suggesting things would improve after Trump became president. Flynn was later charged with lying to the FBI about the conversation. Trump’s incoming press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that, “All transition officials have followed applicable laws in their interactions with foreign nationals.” She added: “World leaders recognize that President Trump is returning to power and will lead with strength to put the best interests of the United States of America first again. That is why many foreign leaders and officials have reached out to correspond with President Trump and his incoming team.” Such efforts can nonetheless cause complications. If, say, Biden is having productive conversations on a thorny foreign policy issue and Trump weighs in, that could make it harder for Biden “because people are hearing two different voices” that may be in conflict, Zelizer said. Leaders like Russia's Vladimir Putin and Netanyahu may also anticipate a more favorable incoming administration and wait Biden out, hoping for more a better deal. It also remains unclear how extensively the Biden administration has been kept apprised of Trump transition efforts. Although there is no requirement that an incoming administration coordinate calls and meetings with foreign officials with the State Department or National Security Council, that has long been considered standard practice. That is, in part, because transition teams, particularly in their early days and weeks, do not always have the latest information about the state of relations with foreign nations and may not have the resources, including interpretation and logistical ability, to handle such meetings efficiently. Still, the Biden and Trump teams have been talking, particularly on the Middle East, with the incoming and outgoing administrations having agreed to work together on efforts to free hostages who remain in held in Gaza, according to a U.S. official, who, like others, was not authorized to comment publicly about the sensitive talks and spoke on condition of anonymity. That includes conversations between Witkoff and Biden’s foreign policy team as well as Waltz and Biden national security adviser Jake Sullivan. Last month, Biden administration officials said they had kept Trump’s team closely apprised of efforts to broker a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah on the Israel-Lebanon border. “I just want to be clear to all of our adversaries, they can’t play the incoming Trump administration off of the Biden administration. I’m regularly talking to the Biden people. And so, this is not a moment of opportunity or wedges for them," Waltz said Friday in a Fox Business interview. But when it comes to immigration, Biden administration officials haven’t been entirely in the loop on discussions around how to execute on Trump’s pledge to deport millions of migrants, according to four administration officials with knowledge of the transition who spoke on condition of anonymity. That’s not terribly surprising given how differently the teams view migration. Trump’s team, meanwhile, is already claiming credit for everything from gains in the stock and cryptocurrency markets to a decision by Walmart to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion policies Trump opposes. “Promises Kept — And President Trump Hasn’t Even Been Inaugurated Yet,” read one press release that claimed, in part, that both Canada and Mexico have already pledged "immediate action” to help “stem the flow of illegal immigration, human trafficking, and deadly drugs entering the United States." Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has stopped short of saying Trump mischaracterized their call in late November. But she said Friday that Trump “has his own way of communicating, like when we had the phone call and he wrote that we were going to close the border. That was never talked about in the phone call.” Earlier this week, Mexico carried out what it claimed was its largest seizure of fentanyl pills ever. Seizures over the summer had been as little as 50 grams per week, and after the Trump call, they seized more than a ton. Security analyst David Saucedo said that "under the pressure by Donald Trump, it appears President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration is willing to increase the capture of drug traffickers and drug seizures that Washington is demanding.” Biden, too, tried to take credit for the seizure in a statement Friday night. ___ Associated Press writers Matthew Lee, Aamer Madhani, Colleen Long and Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington and Mark Stevenson in Mexico City contributed to this report.Johnson scores 20, Tennessee Tech beats Presbyterian 90-75Windtree Therapeutics Reports Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results and Provides Key Business Updates

VIEW France's government collapses after losing confidence voteBAKU, Aserbaidschan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dez 11, 2024-- Xsolla, ein globales Handelsunternehmen für Videospiele, hat eine strategische Partnerschaft mit StarNest und der aserbaidschanischen Agentur für Innovation und digitale Entwicklung (IDDA) angekündigt, um die Xsolla StarNest Academy und das Inkubatorprogramm einzurichten. Diese transformative Zusammenarbeit wurde auf dem größten Gaming-Festival der Region, der Gamesummit Winter Edition 2024, in Baku (Aserbaidschan) vorgestellt. Diese Pressemitteilung enthält multimediale Inhalte. Die vollständige Mitteilung hier ansehen: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241209737055/de/ (Graphic: Xsolla) Die Winter Edition 2024 des Gamesummit rückte das Wachstum der Gaming-Branche in Aserbaidschan ins Rampenlicht und bot Diskussionen über Trends, globale Best Practices und Präsentationen von lokal entwickelten Spielen. Während des Festivals stellten IDDA und Xsolla ihre Pläne vor, regionale Entwickler, Gamedesigner und Studios mit innovativen Schulungen, Inkubations- und Beschleunigungsprogrammen und Zugang zu finanziellen und technologischen Ressourcen zu unterstützen. Diese Partnerschaft wird die Rolle Aserbaidschans in der globalen Gaming-Branche neu definieren und zugleich regionale Talente und Innovationen fördern. „Aus dieser Zusammenarbeit entstehen vielfältige Möglichkeiten für die Umsetzung gemeinsamer Projekte, die die Entwicklung des Spielesektors in Aserbaidschan vorantreiben werden“, erklärt Yevgeniya Bikmurzina, Leiterin der Abteilung für Innovationsökosysteme bei der IDDA. „Aserbaidschanische Gamestudios erhalten Zugang zu den Tools und Ressourcen, die sie benötigen, um sich auf dem globalen Markt zu etablieren.“ „Bei dieser Partnerschaft handelt es sich um einen bedeutenden Meilenstein für Xsolla, da wir uns gemeinsam mit aserbaidschanischen Entscheidungsträgern dafür einsetzen werden, das Potenzial der Region zu erschließen“, kommentiert Rytis Joseph Jan, SVP of Global Strategic Partnerships bei Xsolla. „Indem wir unser globales Know-how mit der visionären Führung unserer Partner kombinieren, wollen wir die nächste Generation von Talenten in Aserbaidschan fördern und sinnvolle Innovationen mit globaler Wirkung auf den Weg bringen.“ Xsollas Incubator und Accelerator in Aserbaidschan Der Incubator und der Accelerator von Xsolla werden die Spieleentwickler-Community in Aserbaidschan unterstützen, indem sie Tools, Mentoring und Ressourcen bereitstellen, um Ideen in erfolgreiche Projekte zu überführen. In der Anfangsphase wird der Incubator Entwicklern dabei helfen, Konzepte zu verfeinern, technisches Know-how zu erwerben und mit internationalen Fachleuten zusammenzuarbeiten. Etablierte Studios werden vom Accelerator bei der Skalierung ihrer Projekte unterstützt und erhalten Zugang zu finanziellen Mitteln, Mentoren und Verbindungen zur weltweiten Branche. Diese Programme zielen darauf ab, Aserbaidschan als wichtigen Akteur in der Gaming-Branche zu positionieren und einheimischen Talenten neue Möglichkeiten zu eröffnen, um weltweit erfolgreich zu sein. Xsolla StarNest Academy Die Xsolla StarNest Academy wird 90 jungen Menschen eine Fachausbildung in der Spieleentwicklung ermöglichen. Zudem wird 2025 ein Inkubationsprogramm zur Unterstützung regionaler Gamestudios eingeführt, das Mentoring durch internationale Fachleute, Zugang zu finanziellen Ressourcen und Möglichkeiten zur weltweiten Demonstration von Spielen umfasst. StarNest, ein aserbaidschanisches Telekommunikationsunternehmen, wird sich federführend dafür einsetzen, eine geeignete Einrichtung für die Akademie zu beschaffen, die Wachstum und Lernen fördert. Die IDDA wird die strategische Aufsicht über die Initiative übernehmen, um sie mit den nationalen Zielen der aserbaidschanischen Regierung für die digitale Transformation in Einklang zu bringen. Regionaler Unternehmenssitz Außerdem prüft Xsolla verschiedenen Möglichkeiten, um seinen regionalen Hauptsitz für Zentralasien in Baku einzurichten und seine Anstrengungen für die Community und die Spieleentwickler in der Region weiter zu verstärken. Dieser wird nicht nur als regionaler Hub dienen, sondern auch als Technologiezentrum für Entwicklung und Support seiner branchenführenden Lösungen. Mit der Xsolla StarNest-Partnerschaft beginnt ein neues Kapitel für den aserbaidschanischen Gamingsektor, das von der gemeinsamen Vision geprägt wird, das Land als regionalen Marktführer in der Spieleentwicklung und digitaler Innovation zu etablieren. Diese wegweisende Zusammenarbeit schafft die Voraussetzungen dafür, dass Aserbaidschan zu einem Hub für Gaming-Innovation und Talententwicklung wird. Weitere Informationen sind verfügbar unter: xsolla.blog/azerbaijan . Über Xsolla Xsolla ist ein weltweit tätiges Unternehmen für den Handel mit Videospielen und verfügt über ein solides, leistungsstarkes Angebot an Tools und Dienstleistungen, die speziell für die Anforderungen der Branche entwickelt wurden. Seit der Gründung im Jahr 2005 hat Xsolla Tausenden von Spieleentwicklern und -publishern aller Größenordnungen geholfen, ihre Spiele weltweit und plattformübergreifend zu finanzieren, zu vermarkten, zu lancieren und zu monetarisieren. Als Innovationsführer im Handel mit Spielen verfolgen wir bei Xsolla das Ziel, die inhärenten Komplexitäten von globalem Vertrieb, Marketing und Monetarisierung zu bewältigen, und unterstützen so unsere Partner dabei, mehr geografische Gebiete zu erreichen, mehr Umsätze zu generieren und Beziehungen mit Gamern weltweit aufzubauen. Der Hauptsitz des Unternehmens befindet sich in Los Angeles, US-Bundesstaat Kalifornien, mit Niederlassungen in London, Berlin, Seoul, Peking, Kuala Lumpur, Raleigh, Tokio, Montreal und anderen Städten weltweit. Weitere Informationen finden Sie unter xsolla.com . Über die Agentur für Innovation und digitale Entwicklung (IDDA) IDDA ist eine Behörde der aserbaidschanischen Regierung, die für digitale Diplomatie und Analytik zuständig ist und Forschung, Schulungen und Beratung zur Stärkung der digitalen Präsenz von Institutionen anbietet. Sie übernimmt eine zentrale Rolle bei der Gestaltung moderner diplomatischer Strategien durch digitale Werkzeuge und Datenanalyse. Weitere Informationen unter idda.az . Über StarNest StarNest ist ein führendes aserbaidschanisches Telekommunikationsunternehmen, das Internet- und Netzwerklösungen bereitstellt, darunter Breitbanddienste, Unternehmensanschlüsse und IT-Infrastrukturunterstützung. StarNest widmet sich der Aufgabe, technologisches Wachstum und digitale Transformation in ganz Aserbaidschan zu ermöglichen. Weitere Informationen finden Sie unter starnest.io . Über GameSummit GameSummit ist eine bedeutende Organisation in Aserbaidschan mit Fokus auf die Entwicklung der Gaming-Branche. Durch Events wie die Gamesummit Winter und Summer Editions eröffnet sie Möglichkeiten für lokale Gamestudios, fördert Innovationen und sensibilisiert für Karriereperspektiven im Bereich Gaming und Esports. Weitere Informationen finden Sie unter gamesummit.ai . Die Ausgangssprache, in der der Originaltext veröffentlicht wird, ist die offizielle und autorisierte Version. Übersetzungen werden zur besseren Verständigung mitgeliefert. Nur die Sprachversion, die im Original veröffentlicht wurde, ist rechtsgültig. Gleichen Sie deshalb Übersetzungen mit der originalen Sprachversion der Veröffentlichung ab. Originalversion auf businesswire.com ansehen: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241209737055/de/ CONTACT: Medienkontakt Derrick Stembridge Global Director of Public Relations, Xsolla d.stembridge@xsolla.com KEYWORD: AZERBAIJAN ASIA PACIFIC INDUSTRY KEYWORD: TECHNOLOGY ELECTRONIC GAMES PAYMENTS FINANCE ENTERTAINMENT FINTECH PROFESSIONAL SERVICES SOFTWARE TRAINING EDUCATION SOURCE: Xsolla Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/11/2024 02:47 PM/DISC: 12/11/2024 02:47 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241209737055/de

Old friends Conners and Henderson reunite at Grant Thornton Invitational

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Stocks drifted higher on Wall Street in midday trading Thursday, as gains in tech companies and retailers helped boost the market. The S&P 500 rose less than 0.1%. The benchmark index is coming off a three-day winning streak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 19 points, or 0.1%, as of 12:32 p.m. Eastern time. The Nasdaq composite was up less than 0.1%. Trading volume was lighter than usual as U.S. markets reopened after the Christmas holiday. Chip company Broadcom rose 2.9%, Intel was up 0.7% and Apple gained 0.4%. While tech stocks overall were in the green, some heavyweights were a drag on the market. Semiconductor giant Nvidia, whose enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes, slipped 0.2%. Meta Platforms fell 0.9%, Amazon was down 0.5%, and Netflix gave up 1.4%. Health care stocks also helped lift the market. CVS Health rose 1.9% and Walgreens Boots Alliance rose 3.3% for the biggest gain among S&P 500 stocks. Several retailers also gained ground. Target rose 2.9%, Best Buy was up 2.1% and Dollar Tree gained 2.2%. U.S.-listed shares in Honda and Nissan rose 4.1% and 15.8%, respectively. The Japanese automakers announced earlier this week that the two companies are in talks to combine. Traders got a labor market update. U.S. applications for unemployment benefits held steady last week , though continuing claims rose to the highest level in three years, the Labor Department reported. Treasury yields rose in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.61% from 4.59% late Tuesday. Major European markets were closed, as well as Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. Trading was expected to be subdued this week with a thin slate of economic data on the calendar. Still, U.S. markets have historically gotten a boost at year’s end despite lower trading volumes. The last five trading days of each year, plus the first two in the new year, have brought an average gain of 1.3% since 1950. So far this month, the U.S. stock market has lost some of its gains since President-elect Donald Trump’s win on Election Day, which raised hopes for faster economic growth and more lax regulations that would boost corporate profits. Worries have risen that Trump’s preference for tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation , a bigger U.S. government debt and difficulties for global trade. Even so, the U.S. market remains on pace to deliver strong returns for 2024. The benchmark S&P 500 is up roughly 26% so far this year and remains near its most recent all-time high it set earlier this month — its latest of 57 record highs this year. Wall Street has several economic reports to look forward to next week, including updates on pending home sales and home prices, a report on U.S. construction spending and snapshots of manufacturing activity. ___ AP Business Writers Elaine Kurtenbach and Matt Ott contributed. Alex Veiga, The Associated Press

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Liverpool's Premier League lead was cut to seven points by Arsenal and Chelsea after the Reds conceded a 90th-minute equaliser in a thrilling 3-3 draw at Newcastle on Wednesday. Chelsea thrashed 10-man Southampton 5-1 to go second on goal difference ahead of Arsenal, who beat Manchester United 2-0. Mohamed Salah's second-half double was not enough to extend Liverpool's seven-game winning run in all competitions as they failed to win for just the third time in 21 games under Arne Slot. The league leaders were forced to come from behind at St James' Park twice, as Alexander Isak blasted Newcastle into a 1-0 half-time lead. Curtis Jones levelled before Anthony Gordon restored Newcastle's lead. Salah twice converted Trent Alexander-Arnold assists to turn the game around, taking his tally for the season to 15 goals. However, there was a late sting in the tale as a rare error from Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher allowed Fabian Schar to squeeze in a late equaliser for the Magpies. "He has done remarkably well for us and even today he was good. Unfortunately, he misjudged the situation," Liverpool boss Slot said of Kelleher's blunder. Meanwhile, Arsenal took full advantage by inflicting Ruben Amorim's first defeat as Manchester United boss. Once again, the Gunners were able to rely on their prowess from set-pieces to get the job done. Jurrien Timber broke the deadlock, heading in Declan Rice's corner nine minutes into the second half. William Saliba did not know much about the second, as he diverted in Thomas Partey's header from Bukayo Saka's corner, but the Frenchman did not care as Arsenal had the breathing space they craved. A fourth consecutive win in all competitions confirmed Arsenal's return to form and applied a little pressure on Liverpool. "A special day – it's a joy to play in this stadium with that energy, it's something incredible," Arteta said. "We scored two set-pieces, but we could've scored from open play many more." Amorim, meanwhile, said those set-pieces are what ultimately killed the game for United. "They can put a lot of players near the goalkeeper, and it's almost impossible to fight for the ball," he said. "We already know we have to be better." (AFP)'Dozens of people' being investigated over Horizon Post Office scandal, police chief revealsUkraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wore a black t-shirt and trousers to the Notre Dame Cathedral re-opening in Paris on Saturday. He met his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron and US President-elect Donald Trump at the sidelines of the event, which was also attended by other world leaders including Prince William and Italian PM Giorgia Meloni. Notre Dame reopened its doors for the first time since a fire in 2019 nearly destroyed Paris’ 12th-century cathedral. More than 2500 guests celebrated the restoration of the landmark. Read More: Donald Trump Sits Next To Jill And Ashley Biden At Notre Dame Cathedral Reopening | Watch One of the talking points of the event was Zelenskyy's outfit. Social media users slammed the Ukrainian president for just wearing a t-shirt. "Should “pockets open Zelenskyy” have the decency to wear a suit when he meets with the former/future President of the United States of America?" one person asked on X, platform formerly known as Twitter. "Zelensky, wear a suit. Being a country at war doesn't obligate you to a wardrobe of t-shirts for the rest of your life. Come one, man," another one tweeted. "Zelenskyy should be required to wear a suit next time he meets Trump. We have given Ukraine 200 billion dollars. Is that too much to ask?" a third person added on the Elon Musk-led site. Read More: Elon Musk Joins Donald Trump And Macron At Notre Dame Re-Opening | WATCH Speaking about Trump, Zelenskyy and Macron holding a pre-event meeting, Sciences Po University professor Patrick Martin Genier told BFMTV: "It's a great opportunity to anticipate what the positions of the president-elect will be. We know very well that he will be the centre of the negotiations, though we cannot talk about bilateral negotiations now because he cannot replace the Biden administration." Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from World and around the world.

WikiEXPO Dubai 2024: Celebrating FinTech Innovation with "Seeing Diversity · Trading Safely" – A Resounding SuccessPete Davidson's fame reached new heights after joining the cast of Saturday Night Live , but he claims that his pockets didn't get much bigger. The 31-year-old appeared in a New York Magazine Instagram Reel posted on Wednesday, December 4, in which he was asked, "What was your biggest splurge after your first 'SNL' paycheck?" The comedian repeated the question and then replied, "It's like three grand an episode." He later answered the original question about how he spent his first SNL paycheck, saying, "I think I got dinner." Fans of the NBC sketch comedy show took to Reddit to share their thoughts on the pay Davidson received. "$3,000 per episode seems way too low. Even 10 years ago you couldn't afford to independently live in Manhattan on 60K a year. Even 10 years ago you're paying like $40K a year in rent for a one-bed," wrote one fan. A second added, "Outside of Lorne and the senior staff, nobody's getting rich off of SNL. But if you play your cards right, you're getting rich AFTER SNL." Meanwhile, a third noted, "Pretty sure I've read somewhere it's just over 100k per year for newer cast. Which in NYC isn't a ton. Like you're not poor, but you're certainly not rich." Saturday Night Live has an average of 18 to 22 episodes per season, with one season per fiscal year. This means that if Davidson's numbers are correct, cast members appearing in every episode earn an average of $54,000 to $66,000, depending on the episode count. Davidson joined the cast of SNL in 2014 and stayed on for eight seasons before retiring in 2022. The comedian most recently made headlines after reports emerged in late November that he had checked into a rehabilitation center in Florida. All claims were dispelled when he was spotted at a Brooklyn Nets game with his mom after the rumors had spread.