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philucky app download latest version Richland Parish, an idyllic rural area in northeast Louisiana, USA, is set to host a gigantic new Meta datacenter. But instead of being powered by one of the on-site nuclear power plants Zuckercorp has previously advocated for, the facility is opting to drive its AI computing workload by burning more fossil fuels. The 4 million square foot, $10 billion facility, hailed by Louisiana governor Jeff Landry as "a game changer," is one of the largest private capital investments in the history of the bayou state and will be Meta's largest-ever datacenter, the Facebook parent said . As the governor's announcement noted, construction on the facility will "continue through 2030" despite groundbreaking planned for this month - in other words, right in line with Meta's plans to ramp up nuclear power for its next generation of AI datacenters as shared in a request for proposals (RFP) yesterday. Meta has decided to jump the atomic gun with this project by partnering with Entergy instead. The power generation company plans to construct three combined-cycle combustion turbine (CCCT) plants with a total energy generation capacity of 2,262 megawatts. CCCT plants burn natural gas, but are configured (and marketed) as less pollutive than traditional natural gas power plants. Along with burning natural gas to spin a gas turbine, combined cycle plants use waste heat to spin a secondary steam turbine, thus creating more watts for their carbon buck. They're still burning natural gas to do so, of course, thus releasing more of the greenhouse gases - an issue Meta has pledged to address (with the purchase of offsets, naturally) by the end of the decade. According to Entergy, the three CCCT plants being constructed for the project, two of which will be housed on-site at the Franklin Farm mega site with one located elsewhere, are being built with the ability to be 30 percent hydrogen co-fired to reduce emissions. Entergy said that the plants will also be able to someday transition to 100 percent hydrogen fired "through future upgrades," though the company didn't answer questions from The Register about the timeline or feasibility of improvements to make that transition. SREA is concerned about the large amount of greenhouse gas emissions these three new gas plants will produce, and the unproven nature of the technology Entergy is proposing to install 'in the future' to mitigate the greenhouse gas emissions that will be produced by these gas power plants Per a US Energy Information Administration report on hydrogen co-firing from September, only a handful of natural gas plants in the US have "taken early steps to integrate hydrogen into their fuel streams," with a few of those just reaching the point of testing co-firing. "Natural gas is the single-largest source of energy used to generate electricity in the United States, making up 43% of electricity generation in 2023, but hydrogen use is not currently widespread or used regularly in the plants where it has been tested," The EIA said. Additionally, as Southern Renewable Energy Association (SREA) regulatory director Whit Cox said in a statement [PDF] his association put out about the project before it was clear that Meta was behind the matter, 2,262 MW of energy from natural gas is a lot. The power that'll be generated at the Richland Parish datacenter is more than three times the power of a plant Entergy is building for a new Amazon datacenter in Mississippi, and more than 20 times the size of Entergy's Bayou Power Station, which was recently canceled due to cost concerns. "SREA is concerned about the large amount of greenhouse gas emissions these three new gas plants will produce, and the unproven nature of the technology Entergy is proposing to install 'in the future' to mitigate the greenhouse gas emissions that will be produced by these gas power plants," Cox said. Andy Kowalczyk, SREA's transmission director, further explained that hydrogen power isn't necessarily emissions free: Sure, burning it doesn't emit greenhouse gases, but there's the matter of its creation that isn't addressed in Entergy's or Meta's statements on the project. "Another question on hydrogen is where it comes from, and if it's grey hydrogen , or even blue hydrogen from gas, what is the point," Kowalczyk told us. Both grey and blue hydrogen production involve the use of natural gas processed using steam methane reformation, which releases greenhouse gasses as a byproduct. Blue hydrogen is only different in that it utilizes carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology to mitigate CO2 emissions. Both, otherwise, are a source of pollution. "I just don't think it's meaningful to tack on 'hydrogen co-fired' without a performance or fuel standard attached to it," Kowalczyk added. Beyond the uncertainty of fuel sources and the capability of Entergy to fulfill its co-firing promises, Union of Concerned Scientists energy analyst Paul Arbaje told us in an email that the co-firing percentage at the Richland Parish datacenter won't actually translate into that much greenhouse gas reduction. "The proposed turbines are designed to be able to co-fire up to 30 percent hydrogen before requiring upgrades, which even with low-carbon hydrogen would only yield about an 11 percent reduction in combustion-related carbon dioxide emissions," Arbaje said. "Burning hydrogen can also increase the level of NOx emissions from the plant smokestack, resulting in greater public health harms." Meta and Entergy's statements about its evaluation of deploying greener power at the site didn't pass the sniff test for SREA either, with Cox telling us the pair didn't seem to comprehensively evaluate options beyond the gas power they decided on. Per Entergy's own testimony [PDF] to the Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC) on the proposal to build the gas-fired plants, "they only evaluated solar and (very expensive) 18 hour batteries as a 'hypothetical' alternative," Cox said, "rather than considering any wind plus storage option to serve the customer's load at night." Cox said that the discussion of storage-only battery solutions is likely just an attempt at deflection "given no utility is currently modeling 18 hour batteries in [integrated resource plans]" for new energy projects. We've asked both Meta and Entergy for additional details about its co-firing plans, hydrogen sourcing for energy at the datacenter, and renewable energy considerations, and Entergy didn't respond to those questions. Meta, on the other hand, only told us it's "working with Entergy now to identify potential clean and renewable energy projects." It's worth pointing out that the CCCT plants have yet to be approved, per the LPSC's docket for the project. Entergy said the facilities are expected to come online between 2028 and 2029 - just before when Meta said it wanted to start deploying all those new nuclear reactors. Great investment, guys. "Building with sustainability in mind is important to us," Meta said in its statement about the project. "Together with our energy partner, Entergy, we are adding enough clean and renewable energy to the grid to cover 100% of the electricity use of our Richland Parish Data Center." That renewable energy will come in the form of at least 1,500 megawatts of new solar generation and storage, but specifics weren't provided, either in statement form or in response to our questions. Along with the unspecified solar project, Entergy noted that Meta has also committed to helping it install CCS technology at one of its power plants in Lake Charles, Louisiana, near the state's southern coast, and the pair have "committed to exploring nuclear energy as a future power supply option alongside renewable sources like solar and wind." "We are committed to matching our global operations with 100 percent clean and renewable energy," Meta told us when asked about why it's rushing to install natural gas at the site instead of waiting for more nuclear power. "Our nuclear RFP announcement earlier this week and our partnership with Entergy to explore nuclear options is part of that." Aside from that, no specific plans were provided. Datacenters in rural communities tend to attract lots of detractors. Out east in Virginia, where datacenter construction is reaching a fever pitch , projects have spilled into rural areas where residents were none too happy about the noise, mess and environmental damage such projects inevitably cause, leading to some messy local politics . We reached out to a number of local sources to get more information about what Richland Parish residents think about the project, but weren't able to get a response. That said, you don't need to go any further than Meta's own press release on the matter to get a taste for what Richland County residents think: There was some optimism in comments on Meta's announcement, but worry was expressed, too. A Facebook user identified as Josh Smith on Meta's press release commented to express concerns about the project, citing loss of cropland, stress on local resources as thousands of temporary construction workers pour in to build the facility, and plain-old worry about whether the community would end up being taken advantage of. "Seems to be a lot of interest from outside cities and parishes that have never cared about anything in Richland parish before this," Smith said, noting that while the project could do a lot of good for the community, as Meta and Entergy have promised, that's far from certain. "There has been a lot of loss for some individuals for the opportunity of growth ... at the end of the day it will all be for nothing if Richland Parish and the residents here are not put first," Smith added. We sent those concerns to Meta, which told us it is "deeply committed to our datacenter communities, and that includes Richland Parish." "We're excited to partner with schools and local organizations in Richland Parish on programs and resources that help build skills and increase the use of technology," Meta spokesperson Stacey Yip told us. "On the environmental side ... we plan to restore over 1,000 acres of prairie, forest, wetlands, and streams at the Richland Parish Data Center. "And on the resources side, we are working together with the community to help support the area's growth," Yip added. She also noted that Meta was working on projects in the area to improve water quality and support restoration of cattle grazing fields near a bayou on the other side of the state, which doesn't exactly support the Richland Parish community. Beyond the environmental issues, there's yet another concern that locals had raised before Meta's involvement in the project was even known: That they could end up being stuck with the bill for new gas-fired power plants and the cost to run them. "The region is already very overly reliant on gas plants, which has not only hit consumers' wallets due to gas price spikes, but has also weakened power grid reliability due to severe plant performance issues during extreme weather events," the UCS' Arbaje said. In addition, Arbaje explained that, according [PDF] to yet more Entergy testimony to the LPSC, Meta would only be paying for a substantial portion of the plants' costs if it signed a second 15-year electricity supply deal. Given Meta's professed plans to go all-in on nuclear energy, that might not happen. "We're wary about the very real risk of Meta not re-signing, or even possibly terminating the initial 15-year contract early," Arbaje said. "That would leave Louisianans on the hook for three large and costly power plants, which could quickly become burdensome stranded assets in a future market environment where they will face significant competition from more affordable renewable power." You might not realize those concerns exist given the fanfare and positive messaging from the Louisiana government, naturally. "Meta's investment establishes the region as an anchor in Louisiana's rapidly expanding tech sector, revitalizes one of our state's beautiful rural areas, and creates opportunities for Louisiana workers to fill high-paying jobs of the future," Governor Landry said. It'll take a few years to see if those hopes come to fruition, but this is looking suspiciously like a rush job to take advantage of new tax incentives signed into law by Landry in June that provide state and local sales and use tax rebates on the purchase or leasing of datacenter equipment. After all, building your largest-ever datacenter in the humid, hot Louisiana countryside isn't exactly a natural choice - especially with Canada beckoning . ®BY MIKE PETRO Dec. 4, 2024 Blasdell-headquartered startup building new plants in Texas and Washington With $20 million in grants secured from the U.S. Department of Energy, CleanFiber is opening new plants in Washington and Texas. These grants are part of more than $75 million in financing vehicles, grants, and tax credits the Buffalo-headquartered startup has secured in 2024. The company, which makes building insulation from recycled corrugated cardboard supporting energy efficiency, moved to Buffalo after winning $500,000 in the 43North business competition in 2016. The company was founded in Massachusetts in 2013 and was originally named UltraCell. Production facilities will be built in Lewis County, Washington and Ellis County, Texas. CleanFiber employs more than 100 people in Western New York, and company officials say over 40% of them represent marginalized groups. Company officials plan to continue creating employment opportunities for all as CleanFiber continues its growth. “We are honored to have the DOE’s support in accelerating our growth,” said Jonathan Strimling, CEO of CleanFiber. “We are committed to delivering benefits not only to our customers, but also to disadvantaged and coal communities, where we’ll be creating employment opportunities, and, of course, reducing carbon emissions at the same time.” The company now known as CleanFiber celebrates at the 43North competition in 2016. Earlier this year, CleanFiber closed a $33 million Series B funding round led by Spring Lane Capital, which also established a $31.5 million project financing facility to support the buildout of the company’s new plants. In addition, CleanFiber received a $10 million Section 48C tax credit allocation, and is also being offered significant incentives via state economic development agencies. Last year, the company wrapped up a $5 million investment round that supported the completion of an expansion to its factory in Blasdell. CleanFiber’s $16 million expansion and machinery upgrade in Blasdell will bring the facility to 67,000 square feet. CleanFiber took ownership of that facility in 2022. The firm plans to establish additional facilities in Arizona and Michigan, with longer-term plans to also develop sites in the Southeast and across the border in Canada. Albion startup wins $500K in Grow-NY competition Agricultural startup Udderways of Albion won a $500,000 prize in the 2024 Grow-NY global food, agriculture & technology competition. Twenty finalists competed in the sixth annual pitch on Nov. 6 and 7, and Udderways was among the seven winners chosen by a panel of judges. UdderWays uses a brushless technology to gently stimulate cows and ensure clean and dry teats. With the startup’s patented vortex-style application, farmers can effortlessly promote milk letdown. The competition awarded $3 million – including the $1 million grand prize, as well as two $500,000 prizes and four $250,000 prizes. Each winning team will commit to operating in the region for at least one year, while also providing a modest equity stake to Cornell University, to fund future food and agricultural entrepreneurship programming. WNY companies earn ESD grants Four Western New York companies were among 35 chosen to receive funding from the Innovation Matching Grants program from Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation. Graphenix Development, Inc., IBEX Materials, Atrevida Science, Inc., and Immunotolerx Therapeutics, LLC are now eligible for matching state grants of up to $200,000 to provide additional support for commercialization services not covered by their federal awards, such as marketing and legal assistance. Empire State Development awarded the 35 businesses more than $4.6 million in rounds 1 and 2 of its new matching grants program, which started in May. NYSTAR received more than 35 applications within a week of opening its first round of funding. The awarded projects span 18 strategic technology areas, and the program’s aim is to support early-stage technology development and accelerate the path from research to market, which ESD says has contributed to business growth, job creation and stronger regional economies in the state. Kredit Academy partners with local credit union Greater Niagara Federal Credit Union is partnering with 43North winner Kredit Academy to help expand its accessible financial education services. Financial literacy platform Kredit Academy says the credit union will now be offering Kredit Quest, which delivers personalized learning content to customers that covers everything from finance basics to credit mastery. With Kredit Quest, Greater Niagara members gain access to interactive lessons and practical tools designed to build financial confidence. "We chose Kredit Academy as a partner for their proactive approach to financial education and look forward to our work together,” said Maggie Wilmore, who works in marketing for Greater Niagara Federal Credit Union. Founder Evan Leaphart has also been building a relationship with M&T, including working with the bank as part of the city’s exploration and financial education summer program, and the company has deals with other local credit unions are in the pipeline. 43North is hiring 43North is in search of a social media coordinator with an interest and background in venture capital and knowledge of the Buffalo startup ecosystem. The startup accelerator and incubator is seeking a candidate to help manage, optimize, and analyze 43North’s social media presence. It will soon welcome its 10th cohort to Buffalo in early January. Welcome to Buffalo Next. This newsletter from The Buffalo News brings you the latest coverage on the changing Buffalo Niagara economy – from real estate to health care to startups. Read more at BuffaloNext.com . THE LATEST Ingram Micro is cutting 850 jobs across its operations , but isn't specifying the impact on its Western New York workforce. Federal regulators have lifted the consent order that Lake Shore Savings Bank operated under for nearly two years. Work is beginning this week on People Inc.'s latest housing project in Western New York. Hundreds of former Sumitomo Rubber workers flocked to the Lincoln Park Athletic Center in the Town of Tonawanda on Tuesday for a job fair. The City of Niagara Falls is seeking to buy a cluster of Main Street properties to keep them out of the hands of out-of-state investors. Developer Doug Jemal is tweaking the design of his project at Elmwood and Bidwell avenues. The snow put a damper on holiday shopping in the Southtowns. It's not like the old days, but some hardy souls were out in the darkness to start their Black Friday shopping . Two of Buffalo's top development officials have been ousted . New solar project starts construction in Great Valley. Scanlon, Poloncarz criticize land bank for delays and cost of homes on projects in Buffalo and Cheektowaga. How do the Bills believe they will ever get to the more than 5,000 potential season ticket holder accounts on their waitlist for the new stadium and why advertise for more of them? Developers battle over Tonawanda Island site but sewer capacity may hinder projects. What went wrong at Tonawanda's Sumitomo tire plant ? And why did Sumitomo's Japan-based parent decide to pull the plug now? Work has begun on venture studio built to fill void in Buffalo's entrepreneurial space . Artisans report as much as 50% of their annual revenue comes from the holiday shopping season. ICYMI Five reads from Buffalo Next: 1. Locally owned stores are pulling out all the stops to attract customers who may otherwise be lured in by the convenience of major retailers and online shopping. 2. The Buffalo Center for Arts & Technology has expanded in his mission to help local adults and teens pursue successful careers. 3. Get the story behind Evans Bank's hunt for a merger , which ended with the Amherst-based bank's acquisition by NBT Bank. 4. Buffalo officials are considering whether to impose more restrictions on short-term rentals. 5. How retailers try to entice shoppers to do their holiday buying early . The Buffalo Next team gives you the big picture on the region’s economic revitalization. Email tips to buffalonext@buffnews.com or reach Buffalo Next Editor David Robinson at 716-849-4435. Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up to get the latest in your inbox five days a week . Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!Playoff volleyball: Solano College falls to Shasta in second round of playoffs

ETSU to celebrate Commencement Dec. 14

Syrian insurgents capture central city of Hama

Gary O’Neil accepts criticism from Wolves fans after heavy defeat at Everton

When Russian President Vladimir Putin gave the order to invade Ukraine in February 2022, he surely did not expect that one of Russia’s neighbours would be the main beneficiary of his war. Yet as Russian hydrocarbon exports to Europe cratered in the wake of the invasion, Norway emerged as the continent’s largest supplier. Owing to the steep increase in gas and oil prices that followed the outbreak of the war, Norway ultimately enjoyed a massive financial windfall. In 2022 and 2023, it reaped nearly kr1.3tn ($111bn) in additional revenue from gas exports, according to recent estimates from the finance ministry. Why, then, has Norway allocated only a little more than $3.1bn for support to Ukraine in its 2025 budget? Combined with what it contributed in 2024, Norway’s support for Ukraine amounts to less than 5% of its two-year war windfall. For comparison, Germany – Europe’s largest single contributor – provided $16.3bn in military, financial, and humanitarian support for Ukraine from January 2022 until the end of October 2024, and the US has contributed $92bn. But while Norway’s two-year windfall is larger than the US and German contributions combined, Norway’s support for Ukraine as a share of GDP, at 0.7%, ranks only ninth in Europe, far behind Denmark (2%) and Estonia (2.2%). Not only does Norway have the capacity to be making far more of a difference to the outcome of the war and the subsequent civilian reconstruction; it has an obvious moral obligation to do so. Given that its excess revenues are a direct consequence of Russia’s war, surely a greater share of them should go to those fighting and dying on the front lines to keep their country free. Instead, Norway’s government has effectively decided to be a war profiteer, clinging greedily to its lucky gains. To their credit, opposition parties have proposed higher levels of support for Ukraine, ultimately pushing up the sum that the government initially proposed. No party, however, has come anywhere close to suggesting a transfer of the total war windfall to Ukraine. The Norwegian government’s position is puzzling, given that Norway shares a border with Russia and has long relied on its allies’ support for its defence. Its own national security would be jeopardised if Russia wins the war or is militarily emboldened by a peace agreement skewed in its favour. Moreover, it is not as though Norway would be immiserated by transferring its war windfall to Ukraine. This windfall represents about 6% of its sovereign wealth fund, the world’s largest, with assets valued at $1.7tn – or $308,000 for every Norwegian. True, Norway channels all government revenue from oil and gas production to its sovereign wealth fund, and no more than 3% of the value of the fund can be drawn down and transferred to the government budget each year. This rule helps limit the effects on inflation and the exchange rate, and ensures that the fund exists in perpetuity. But as a macroeconomic and national savings instrument, the drawdown rule was not designed with wartime demands in mind. It therefore should not be seen as an obstacle for a larger transfer to Ukraine. Since such a transfer would not enter the Norwegian economy, it would have no domestic inflationary or other macroeconomic implications. (With the 2025 budget largely set, it would need to be an extrabudgetary measure justified by the wartime circumstances.) This is not the first time that Norway’s hoarding of its war windfall has been an issue. But it is the first time that we have been given an official estimate of the windfall’s value. The finance ministry has assigned a number to natural-gas export revenues in excess of what they would have been had gas prices remained around their five-year pre-invasion average. Although such counterfactuals will always be subject to uncertainty and debate, the official estimate is the closest we will get to a value for Norway’s war windfall. In fact, the actual number is probably much higher, as the estimate does not include excess revenues resulting from higher oil prices following the invasion. With Europeans wringing their hands about the implications of Donald Trump’s return to power, Norway’s government and parliament should transfer the windfall to Ukraine in the form of military and financial support. Norway has a powerful national-security interest in doing the right thing. – Project Syndicate Havard Halland, a former senior economist at the World Bank and OECD, is Professor of Sustainable Finance at Heriot-Watt University. Knut Anton Mork is Professor Emeritus of Economics at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Related Story Gaza medics struggle to rescue patients after Israel orders hospital evacuated Israel media report accuses troops of indiscriminate killing of Gaza civiliansWinston's performance in snowy win over Steelers adds new layer to Browns' quarterback conundrumWolves head coach Gary O’Neil insists he is happy to look fans in the face and take the criticism which comes his way after his team were jeered off after losing 4-0 to Everton at Goodison Park. It was the fourth time this season they had conceded four or more and the performance showed why they have the Premier League’s worst defence. When O’Neil and the players went over to acknowledge the visiting supporters there were boos for a run of two wins in 14 league matches. “Whatever the fans think of me, there is definitely no-none working harder than me and I will continue to do so until someone tells me not to,” said O’Neil, who is under increasing pressure with his side second bottom of the table. “I go over there to see them because I appreciate every one of the Wolves fans. They have given me unbelievable support since I arrived at the football club,” he said. “We managed to produce some unbelievable stuff last season with a team that was heavily tipped by most of the nation for relegation. We managed to enjoy it together. “Now it is tough. I was happy to go over there and look them right in the face and take any criticism they want to throw at me. “I accept responsibility for my part in that. Whatever criticism they want to throw at me will not change how I feel about them. “Everyone at this football club needs to do more. We will get back to be ready to fight again on Monday (another crucial game against West Ham, whose manager Julen Lopetegui’s tenure is hanging by a thread). “I will work with everything I have. I will back myself to get the most out of the group. I understand the drive for change (but) you never know how much of a percentage of supporters it is.” Veteran Ashley Young ended Everton’s 370-minute wait for a goal with a 10th-minute free-kick, his first league goal for more than two years, and on-loan Lyon midfielder Orel Mangala blasted home his first for the club to establish a 2-0 half-time lead. Two Craig Dawson own goals secured Everton’s biggest home league win since April 2019, but manager Sean Dyche insisted their issues up front were far from sorted. He said: “It’s our fifth clean sheet in the last eight so the consistency has been there in one degree, we just haven’t been scoring goals. That’s been the hardest thing to find consistently and we haven’t solved it yet. “Goals change everything, they change opinions. That’s what football is like.” The victory was hugely important in a month in which, having been hammered 4-0 at Manchester United, they face top-six sides Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest and undoubtedly eased some of the pressure on Dyche and his players. “I’ve told them how proud I am of them,” he added. “The challenges come thick and fast on and off the pitch and they just keep going. “It’s only a step and there are many more to go but it’s a good step and a positive step. “It’s a temporary moment in time because the next one is a big one (Saturday’s Merseyside derby).”Dividend Kings are among the best income stocks on the market. Any corporation capable of raising its payouts for 50 consecutive years -- the requirement to become a Dividend King -- has an incredibly strong business capable of navigating company-specific challenges and economic peaks and troughs. So, looking at the list of Dividend Kings is an excellent start for investors trying to find stocks that can continuously raise their payouts for a lifetime. Let's consider two companies in this elite group with the exact qualities long-term income investors want: Coca-Cola ( KO 0.23% ) and Abbott Laboratories ( ABT 0.55% ) . 1. Coca-Cola Few businesses are better known worldwide than Coca-Cola. The company owns a portfolio of beverage brands across multiple categories: soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, tea, coffee, sports drinks, juices, and more. The company also has an extensive geographical footprint. It's hard to find a single country where it doesn't operate and where children won't get excited at the sight of its famous logo. Having a recognizable brand is a powerful competitive advantage that has helped generate steady financial results and continuous dividend raises. The company's streak as a Dividend King stands at 62 years, and there doesn't seem to be any end in sight. True, it isn't a particularly attractive growth company (it hasn't been for a while). In the third quarter, revenue decreased by 1% year over year to $11.9 billion. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) were up 5% year over year to $0.77. Investors weren't impressed with the performance for the period, which caused the stock price to dip . However, Coca-Cola continues to prove its resilience. Even in the past few years, when consumers have had to deal with inflation, the company's unit volume has remained respectable. It fell slightly by 1% year over year in the third quarter. In other words, people continue to buy the company's products at nearly the same volume -- despite widely available alternatives -- even when its prices rise. Coca-Cola has also evolved with the times, adapting to worries over potential health concerns by offering low-sugar options for some of its drinks. It should remain a well-established leader in its niche for a long time while still rewarding shareholders with dividend hikes. It currently offers a forward yield of 3.10%, compared to the S&P 500 's average of 1.32%. This is one dividend stock investors can safely keep in their portfolios for good. 2. Abbott Laboratories Abbott Laboratories is a medical device leader with a long history of innovations. The company's business spans three other segments: nutrition, established pharmaceuticals, and diagnostics. Abbott has continued to deliver strong financial results despite several headwinds. The healthcare giant's business struggled in the early days of the pandemic since the demand for its medical devices dropped. Then, it had to navigate challenging conditions like everyone else. The company also dealt with issues within its nutrition business that resulted in lawsuits. Lastly, its diagnostics segment, which was its saving grace during the early pandemic days, has been inconsistent as the outbreak has receded in the past couple of years. Despite all that, results remain robust. In the third quarter, sales increased by 4.9% year over year to $10.6 billion. Excluding the impact on its coronavirus diagnostic business, sales increased 8.2% organically compared to the year-ago period. Adjusted EPS of $1.21 climbed by about 6% year over year. Abbott's business has been a picture of stability for a long time. The company has deep experience navigating the healthcare industry , which is one of the most regulated. It also has a reputation in its niche. Physicians are like the rest of us: They tend to stick to those companies whose products they know are effective, especially when people's lives are at stake. And the company benefits from many patents that protect its inventions. Abbott has multiple growth opportunities, especially in diabetes care , spearheaded by its continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) franchise, the FreeStyle Libre. Thanks to all this, it is unlikely to cut its payouts and interrupt its streak of 52 consecutive annual dividend increases. The forward yield of 1.88% isn't too impressive but is still above the S&P 500's average. The company's business is what matters most, and in that department, investors have little to worry about. Abbott Laboratories remains a top dividend growth stock to hold on to for good.

Araghchi made the remarks while meeting with Alireza Bikdeli, the newly appointed head of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Embassy in Afghanistan on Tuesday night. Bikdeli presented a report on his mission and outlined forthcoming plans to advance the development of relations and cooperation between the two neighboring countries. In this meeting, the top Iranian diplomat underscored the serious commitment of the administration of President Masoud Pezeshkian to pursue a policy of good neighborliness and emphasized Iran's special concern for the situation in Afghanistan. Bikdeli previously held several prominent positions, including as Iran’s chargé d'affaires in Kazakhstan, Head of the Economic Reconstruction Taskforce for Afghanistan at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy for Research at the Institute for Political and International Studies. He also served the country as Ambassador to the Republic of Azerbaijan, Cyprus, and Turkey as well as the Deputy for Consular, Parliamentary, and Expatriate Affairs at the Foreign Ministry. 4399

CAF Women’s Awards 2024: Fans question Ajibade omission, back Nnadozie for honours