Recag/C4_2 · Datasets at Hugging Face

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The average volume for Great Northern Iron Ore has been 22,600 shares per day over the past 30 days. Great Northern Iron Ore has a market cap of $121.9 million and is part of the metals & mining industry. Shares are up 19.8% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday.
Great Northern Iron Ore Properties, a conventional nonvoting trust, owns and leases mineral and non-mineral properties on the Mesabi Iron Range in northeastern Minnesota. The company has a P/E ratio of 6.07.
TheStreet Ratings rates Great Northern Iron Ore as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, expanding profit margins and notable return on equity. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had somewhat weak growth in earnings per share. You can view the full Great Northern Iron Ore Ratings Report now.
Owners of RLJ Lodging (NYSE: RLJ) shares as of market close today will be eligible for a dividend of 21 cents per share. At a price of $21.95 as of 9:36 a.m. ET, the dividend yield is 3.8%.
The average volume for RLJ Lodging has been 691,400 shares per day over the past 30 days. RLJ Lodging has a market cap of $2.3 billion and is part of the real estate industry. Shares are up 13% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday.
RLJ Lodging Trust is an independent equity real estate investment trust. The firm also manages real estate funds. It invests in the real estate markets of the United States. The firm primarily invests in premium-branded, focused service, and compact full-service hotels. The company has a P/E ratio of 57.32. Currently there are 4 analysts that rate RLJ Lodging a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 1 rates it a hold.
TheStreet Ratings rates RLJ Lodging as a hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, solid stock price performance and impressive record of earnings per share growth. However, as a counter to these strengths, we find that the company's profit margins have been poor overall. You can view the full RLJ Lodging Ratings Report now.
Owners of National Fuel Gas Company (NYSE: NFG) shares as of market close today will be eligible for a dividend of 37 cents per share. At a price of $60.62 as of 9:35 a.m. ET, the dividend yield is 2.4%.
The average volume for National Fuel Gas Company has been 437,600 shares per day over the past 30 days. National Fuel Gas Company has a market cap of $5.1 billion and is part of the energy industry. Shares are up 19.2% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday.
National Fuel Gas Company operates as a diversified energy company in the United States. The company has a P/E ratio of 22.43. Currently there are 3 analysts that rate National Fuel Gas Company a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 5 rate it a hold.
TheStreet Ratings rates National Fuel Gas Company as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, solid stock price performance, expanding profit margins, good cash flow from operations and growth in earnings per share. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had somewhat disappointing return on equity. You can view the full National Fuel Gas Company Ratings Report now.
Owners of Flowserve Corporation (NYSE: FLS) shares as of market close today will be eligible for a dividend of 42 cents per share. At a price of $166.26 as of 9:35 a.m. ET, the dividend yield is 1%.
The average volume for Flowserve Corporation has been 412,700 shares per day over the past 30 days. Flowserve Corporation has a market cap of $8.1 billion and is part of the industrial industry. Shares are up 12.9% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday.
Flowserve Corporation engages in the design, manufacture, distribution, and service of industrial flow management equipment. The company has a P/E ratio of 19.87. Currently there are 9 analysts that rate Flowserve Corporation a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 4 rate it a hold.
TheStreet Ratings rates Flowserve Corporation as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, solid stock price performance, growth in earnings per share, increase in net income and notable return on equity. Although the company may harbor some minor weaknesses, we feel they are unlikely to have a significant impact on results. You can view the full Flowserve Corporation Ratings Report now.
Owners of Humana (NYSE: HUM) shares as of market close today will be eligible for a dividend of 26 cents per share. At a price of $67.11 as of 9:35 a.m. ET, the dividend yield is 1.5%.
The average volume for Humana has been 2.3 million shares per day over the past 30 days. Humana has a market cap of $11.0 billion and is part of the health services industry. Shares are down 0.4% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday.
Humana Inc. operates as a health care company that offers a range of insurance products and health and wellness services that incorporate an integrated approach to lifelong well-being. The company operates in three segments: Retail, Employer Group, and Health and Well-Being Services. The company has a P/E ratio of 9.30. Currently there are 15 analysts that rate Humana a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 6 rate it a hold.
TheStreet Ratings rates Humana as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, attractive valuation levels and good cash flow from operations. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company shows low profit margins. You can view the full Humana Ratings Report now.
The near-Earth asteroid 4179 Toutatis, which is about 3 miles (5 kilometers) wide, will zoom within 4.3 million miles (7 million kilometers) of Earth during its closest approach early Wednesday morning (Dec. 12).
That's too far away to pose any impact threat on this pass, but close enough to put on a pretty good show through top-notch telescopes, researchers say.
Slooh will webcast Toutatis views from a scope in the Canary Islands off the west coast of Africa beginning at 3 p.m. EST (2000 GMT) today (Dec. 11). Another show will follow at 10 p.m. EST tonight (0300 GMT Wednesday), with footage from an instrument in Arizona. You can watch them at Slooh's website: http://www.slooh.com.
Miss North Dakota Cara Mund is the new Miss America.
Mund, a graduate of Brown University, is a native of Bismarck, ND. She plans to attend law school in the future.
Her pageant platform is "A Make-A-Wish Passion with Fashion."
At age 14, Mund founded North Dakota's annual "Make-A-Wish" fashion show, raising more than $78,500 for Make-A-Wish recipients. In 2011, Mund's efforts were recognized by former President Barack Obama.
Mund is a national dance champion who has trained with the Rockettes. At Saturday's pageant, Mund performed a self-choreographed jazz dance to "The Way You Make Me Feel."
She is the first Miss North Dakota to win the Miss America title.
Miss North Dakota wins the Miss America crown.
First runner up was Miss Missouri.
Third runner up Miss District of Columbia.
Fourth runner up was Miss Texas.
Five of the seven finalists will be asked a question by the judges. The five finalists are: Miss Missouri, Miss Texas, Miss North Dakota, Miss New Jersey and Miss District of Columbia.
Contestants are being asked a special question this year. Up first for the second question round was Miss Louisiana, followed by Miss New Jersey, Miss District of Columbia, Miss North Dakota, Miss Missouri, Miss Alabama and Miss Texas.
The talent competition is next, with only the top 10 performing. Announced first for the top 10 was Miss Missouri followed by Miss Texas, Miss Pennsylvania, Miss North Dakota, Miss Alabama, Miss New Jersey, Miss District of Columbia, Miss Louisiana, Miss South Carolina and Miss Virginia.
After swimsuit, the field was trimmed to 12 contestants who are taking the stage in their evening gowns.
Going ahead in evening gown are the top 12 finalists: Miss Alabama, Miss Texas, Miss Georgia, Miss Tennessee, Miss Pennsylvania, Miss District of Columbia, Miss North Dakota, Miss Louisiana, Miss Virginia, Miss New Jersey, Miss Missouri and Miss South Carolina.
Making the top 14 were: Miss Tennessee, Miss Virginia, Miss Pennsylvania, Miss Louisiana, Miss District of Columbia, Miss Texas, Miss Alabama, Miss New Mexico, Miss Missouri, Miss Alaska, Miss Georgia, Miss South Carolina, Miss North Dakota and Miss New Jersey.
Filling out the top 15 was People's Choice winner Miss Illinois.
Miss District of Columbia, Briana Kinsey, is a native of Hoover.
The contestants will now compete in swimsuit and health and fitness, which counts for 10 percent of contestant's scores.
This year's judges include Tara Lipinski, Jordin Sparks, Maria Menounos, former Miss America Nina Davuluri, Chris Harrison and Thomas Rhett.
The winner will take over for the current titleholder, Miss America 2017 Savvy Shields of Arkansas.
This year's show is dedicated to the those affected by Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma.
A disillusioned Mahmoud Abbas resigned as Palestinian prime minister today after a stifling four-month power struggle with Yasser Arafat, leaving Israel and the United States without a negotiating partner and prompting calls by some top Israeli officials to expel Arafat.
Just hours later, an Israeli warplane dropped a 250kg bomb on a Gaza City apartment in a botched attempt to kill several top Hamas leaders, including the Islamic militant group's founder, Sheik Ahmed Yassin, who escaped with a minor injury. Hamas threatened bloody revenge, saying Israel had "opened the gates of hell" with its attack on the widely revered Yassin.
A senior Israeli military official said Abbas' resignation created a power vacuum in which Israel felt compelled to act immediately against Hamas. Yassin was the highest-ranking Palestinian leader ever targeted by Israel, and top fugitives, including Mohammed Deif, No. 1 on Israel's wanted list, were also in the room, security officials said.
"No Hamas official is immune," said Israeli Foreign Ministry official Gideon Meir, adding that "there will be other chances" to go after Hamas leaders.
Today's dramatic events dealt the most severe blow in months to US-led peace efforts. Wrangling over an Abbas successor could freeze the troubled "road map" peace plan for weeks or months, and the attack on Yassin could provoke more Hamas suicide bombings and Israeli reprisals.
Israel declared a state of high alert this evening, bracing for more attacks.
In Ramallah, it still remained unclear whether Arafat's acceptance of Abbas' resignation was final. The veteran Palestinian leader had told a large gathering of legislators and Cabinet ministers that Abbas was now heading a caretaker government, implying Arafat agreed with his prime minister's decision, but he stopped short of confirming this in writing, as required by law.
Abbas told a closed-door session of parliament that he would not change his mind. Reading from a prepared statement, he explained why he quit. Israel, he said, had not carried out its obligations under the road map, the United States had not enforced Israeli compliance, and his detractors at home had constantly undermined him with "harsh and dangerous" incitement.
Abbas, who has a reputation for shying away from confrontations, was buffeted by stronger forces, including an entrenched and embittered Arafat, Israeli leaders who gave him little to show his people, and Palestinian militants who paid little heed to his calls for ending violence.
Abbas' resignation - if it stands - is not necessarily a victory for Arafat whose international standing is likely to slip even further, particularly if he is perceived as having engineered Abbas' ouster. Israel might be more likely now to make good on threats to expel Arafat.
Justice Minister Yosef Lapid, a member of the Israeli security Cabinet, said Israel had refrained from kicking out Arafat at the request of the United States. "Maybe the White House will have second thoughts now, and then we'll have to consider Arafat's presence again," he said.
In Washington, Bush administration officials withheld comment today. A senior US State Department official said the administration was not certain that Abbas' tenure was over.
The US Secretary for Homeland Security Tom Ridge, speaking in Italy, said he feared Abbas' resignation would delay US-led peace efforts. "We just have to wait and see who the successor might be. It's clear to us that Arafat has not been a partner in this effort, has not provided a path to peace," Ridge said.
Arafat was to meet with leaders of his Fatah movement and legislators tomorrow to consider the next move. One option is to try to reappoint Abbas. This would allow Arafat to strip the Abbas Cabinet of those he doesn't support, particularly security chief Mohammed Dahlan.
A possible Abbas successor is Parliament Speaker Ahmed Qureia, a pragmatic politician who played a key role in earlier peace talks and might be acceptable to Israel and the United States. Another contender is Finance Minister Salam Fayad, widely respected for curtailing Arafat's previously unlimited access to public funds. Israeli officials said today they'd favor Fayad's nomination.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon warned in a statement that Israel would not do business with a government controlled by Arafat or his loyalists. "The government of Israel will not negotiate with Arafat," said Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom. "The man is part of the problem and not part of the solution. He is a factor that shakes the stability in the region."
The senior Israeli military official said that despite the turmoil, peace efforts could resume, perhaps even at an accelerated pace, if Abbas were to be reinstated with full powers over security forces, and if Hamas agreed to disarm.
Neither appeared likely, though. Arafat has persistently rejected Abbas' US-backed demands that he relinquish control over four of eight security branches he still runs. Hamas, meanwhile, only stepped up its threats against Israel.
In Gaza City, thousands of Hamas supporters poured into the streets, handing out sweets to celebrate the survival of their leaders. One Hamas member riding in a car led a chant over a loudspeaker: "Sharon listen very well: you bought a free ticket to hell."
In the Israeli strike, an Israeli warplane dropped its bomb through the window of a third-storey apartment where top Hamas leaders had assembled - to plan more attacks, Israeli officials said.
Yassin was lightly wounded in his right hand, and 15 other people were also hurt. Deif, the top fugitive, survived Israel's third attempt on his life, and his assistant, Adnan Al-Ghoul, also got away, Israeli security officials said.
The Israeli officials said Israel used a smaller bomb to avoid harming civilians. In a July 2002 attack on Hamas military leader Salah Shehadeh, a warplane had dropped a one-tonne bomb that killed Shehadeh, but also 14 bystanders, among them several children, prompting an international outcry.
Bodyguards carried Yassin out of the building and he was driven away in his brown four-wheel-drive Land Rover. Yassin later surfaced at a Gaza City mosque, where he renewed threats of revenge.
Yassin denied he was meeting with Hamas commanders in the targeted apartment. "Their (the Israelis') intelligence is giving them wrong information, and this is only an excuse to bombard and kill innocent people," Yassin said. "I was visiting my friend."
Israel's military often has up-to-the-minute intelligence on the movement of Palestinian militants, allowing them to launch quick strikes on leaders, often with helicopter gunships and F-16 fighter jets.
That perennial feeling of optimism is back.
It’s there like an unreliable old friend we’ve grown tired of but have known far too long to turn our back on.
You accept it’s presence with a knowing nod, but you’re prepared to be let down once again.
Because, of course, it’s the hope that kills you. But, at the same time it’s the hope which keeps you coming back.
And amazingly Pompey fans are set to do it in greater numbers this weekend than they have at any time in recent years.
The latest count is around 16,000 ahead of the curtain-raiser against Carlisle this weekend.
Incredibly, season tickets account for 12,250 of them – the best return Pompey fans have delivered since falling into English football’s basement tier three years ago.
Confidence is the fuel for that, but on what basis? Blind optimism? Or realistic expectation?
Well, we’re well versed in opening-day disappointment, of course.
Before last season’s straightforward success over a poor Dagenham & Redbridge side, the run stretched back a whopping nine years to the 3-0 win over Blackburn at the start of the 2006-07 season.
The biggest dagger blow of recent times was undoubtedly the 4-1 tanning from Oxford United at the start of the community era in 2013.
But, every time, we return with the same buoyancy, the same anticipation, the same brightness at what lies on the road ahead.
And quite right, too, because isn’t that the football fans’ lot?
For the majority that cheerful enthusiasm will be kicked out of us by the time the leaves start falling off the tress.
What’s to stop that being the case for this time around?
The pain of Home Park is a good starting point.
Let the hurt of last-ditch play-off defeat to Plymouth remain raw.
Let no one forget what having the expectation of promotion crushed felt like.
Paul Cook ducked his press duties that night for fear of breaking down.
Chief exec Mark Catlin will never forget having to exchange pleasantries in a jubilant boardroom while feeling sick.
Cook was back at his desk 12 hours later, driven to put things right.
So what of the business he’s conducted in the 12 weeks or so since?
Nine new faces have arrived to supplement a powerful-looking squad.
Three arrive at the back with Adam Webster departing, although Matt Clarke was around last term.
They are expected to at least maintain a record which saw just Oxford United concede fewer league goals last season.
In front of them, Danny Rose, at this early stage, appears a very astute piece of business – his energy eye-catching in pre-season.
Milan Lalkovic evidently has the ability to get fans off their seats, but will be challenged with doing so consistently.
Up top, Curtis Main has a point to prove as he aims to show he can provide a regular supply of goals.
At Bristol City last weekend, Michael Smith had the look of a man with a swagger returning to his game as he more than punched his weight with two man-mountain defenders.
We wait to see whether there’s the first 20-goal striker there since Svetoslav Todorov in 2003.
The suspicion is they may have to be shared around again – which is where Carl Baker and, indeed, Gary Roberts become central characters.

The average volume for Great Northern Iron Ore has been 22,600 shares per day over the past 30 days. Great Northern Iron Ore has a market cap of $121.9 million and is part of the metals & mining industry. Shares are up 19.8% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday.

Great Northern Iron Ore Properties, a conventional nonvoting trust, owns and leases mineral and non-mineral properties on the Mesabi Iron Range in northeastern Minnesota. The company has a P/E ratio of 6.07.

TheStreet Ratings rates Great Northern Iron Ore as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, expanding profit margins and notable return on equity. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had somewhat weak growth in earnings per share. You can view the full Great Northern Iron Ore Ratings Report now.

Owners of RLJ Lodging (NYSE: RLJ) shares as of market close today will be eligible for a dividend of 21 cents per share. At a price of $21.95 as of 9:36 a.m. ET, the dividend yield is 3.8%.

The average volume for RLJ Lodging has been 691,400 shares per day over the past 30 days. RLJ Lodging has a market cap of $2.3 billion and is part of the real estate industry. Shares are up 13% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday.

RLJ Lodging Trust is an independent equity real estate investment trust. The firm also manages real estate funds. It invests in the real estate markets of the United States. The firm primarily invests in premium-branded, focused service, and compact full-service hotels. The company has a P/E ratio of 57.32. Currently there are 4 analysts that rate RLJ Lodging a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 1 rates it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates RLJ Lodging as a hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, solid stock price performance and impressive record of earnings per share growth. However, as a counter to these strengths, we find that the company's profit margins have been poor overall. You can view the full RLJ Lodging Ratings Report now.

Owners of National Fuel Gas Company (NYSE: NFG) shares as of market close today will be eligible for a dividend of 37 cents per share. At a price of $60.62 as of 9:35 a.m. ET, the dividend yield is 2.4%.

The average volume for National Fuel Gas Company has been 437,600 shares per day over the past 30 days. National Fuel Gas Company has a market cap of $5.1 billion and is part of the energy industry. Shares are up 19.2% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday.

National Fuel Gas Company operates as a diversified energy company in the United States. The company has a P/E ratio of 22.43. Currently there are 3 analysts that rate National Fuel Gas Company a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 5 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates National Fuel Gas Company as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, solid stock price performance, expanding profit margins, good cash flow from operations and growth in earnings per share. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had somewhat disappointing return on equity. You can view the full National Fuel Gas Company Ratings Report now.

Owners of Flowserve Corporation (NYSE: FLS) shares as of market close today will be eligible for a dividend of 42 cents per share. At a price of $166.26 as of 9:35 a.m. ET, the dividend yield is 1%.

The average volume for Flowserve Corporation has been 412,700 shares per day over the past 30 days. Flowserve Corporation has a market cap of $8.1 billion and is part of the industrial industry. Shares are up 12.9% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday.

Flowserve Corporation engages in the design, manufacture, distribution, and service of industrial flow management equipment. The company has a P/E ratio of 19.87. Currently there are 9 analysts that rate Flowserve Corporation a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 4 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Flowserve Corporation as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, solid stock price performance, growth in earnings per share, increase in net income and notable return on equity. Although the company may harbor some minor weaknesses, we feel they are unlikely to have a significant impact on results. You can view the full Flowserve Corporation Ratings Report now.

Owners of Humana (NYSE: HUM) shares as of market close today will be eligible for a dividend of 26 cents per share. At a price of $67.11 as of 9:35 a.m. ET, the dividend yield is 1.5%.

The average volume for Humana has been 2.3 million shares per day over the past 30 days. Humana has a market cap of $11.0 billion and is part of the health services industry. Shares are down 0.4% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday.

Humana Inc. operates as a health care company that offers a range of insurance products and health and wellness services that incorporate an integrated approach to lifelong well-being. The company operates in three segments: Retail, Employer Group, and Health and Well-Being Services. The company has a P/E ratio of 9.30. Currently there are 15 analysts that rate Humana a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 6 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Humana as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, attractive valuation levels and good cash flow from operations. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company shows low profit margins. You can view the full Humana Ratings Report now.

The near-Earth asteroid 4179 Toutatis, which is about 3 miles (5 kilometers) wide, will zoom within 4.3 million miles (7 million kilometers) of Earth during its closest approach early Wednesday morning (Dec. 12).

That's too far away to pose any impact threat on this pass, but close enough to put on a pretty good show through top-notch telescopes, researchers say.

Slooh will webcast Toutatis views from a scope in the Canary Islands off the west coast of Africa beginning at 3 p.m. EST (2000 GMT) today (Dec. 11). Another show will follow at 10 p.m. EST tonight (0300 GMT Wednesday), with footage from an instrument in Arizona. You can watch them at Slooh's website: http://www.slooh.com.

Miss North Dakota Cara Mund is the new Miss America.

Mund, a graduate of Brown University, is a native of Bismarck, ND. She plans to attend law school in the future.

Her pageant platform is "A Make-A-Wish Passion with Fashion."

At age 14, Mund founded North Dakota's annual "Make-A-Wish" fashion show, raising more than $78,500 for Make-A-Wish recipients. In 2011, Mund's efforts were recognized by former President Barack Obama.

Mund is a national dance champion who has trained with the Rockettes. At Saturday's pageant, Mund performed a self-choreographed jazz dance to "The Way You Make Me Feel."

She is the first Miss North Dakota to win the Miss America title.

Miss North Dakota wins the Miss America crown.

First runner up was Miss Missouri.

Third runner up Miss District of Columbia.

Fourth runner up was Miss Texas.

Five of the seven finalists will be asked a question by the judges. The five finalists are: Miss Missouri, Miss Texas, Miss North Dakota, Miss New Jersey and Miss District of Columbia.

Contestants are being asked a special question this year. Up first for the second question round was Miss Louisiana, followed by Miss New Jersey, Miss District of Columbia, Miss North Dakota, Miss Missouri, Miss Alabama and Miss Texas.

The talent competition is next, with only the top 10 performing. Announced first for the top 10 was Miss Missouri followed by Miss Texas, Miss Pennsylvania, Miss North Dakota, Miss Alabama, Miss New Jersey, Miss District of Columbia, Miss Louisiana, Miss South Carolina and Miss Virginia.

After swimsuit, the field was trimmed to 12 contestants who are taking the stage in their evening gowns.

Going ahead in evening gown are the top 12 finalists: Miss Alabama, Miss Texas, Miss Georgia, Miss Tennessee, Miss Pennsylvania, Miss District of Columbia, Miss North Dakota, Miss Louisiana, Miss Virginia, Miss New Jersey, Miss Missouri and Miss South Carolina.

Making the top 14 were: Miss Tennessee, Miss Virginia, Miss Pennsylvania, Miss Louisiana, Miss District of Columbia, Miss Texas, Miss Alabama, Miss New Mexico, Miss Missouri, Miss Alaska, Miss Georgia, Miss South Carolina, Miss North Dakota and Miss New Jersey.

Filling out the top 15 was People's Choice winner Miss Illinois.

Miss District of Columbia, Briana Kinsey, is a native of Hoover.

The contestants will now compete in swimsuit and health and fitness, which counts for 10 percent of contestant's scores.

This year's judges include Tara Lipinski, Jordin Sparks, Maria Menounos, former Miss America Nina Davuluri, Chris Harrison and Thomas Rhett.

The winner will take over for the current titleholder, Miss America 2017 Savvy Shields of Arkansas.

This year's show is dedicated to the those affected by Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma.

A disillusioned Mahmoud Abbas resigned as Palestinian prime minister today after a stifling four-month power struggle with Yasser Arafat, leaving Israel and the United States without a negotiating partner and prompting calls by some top Israeli officials to expel Arafat.

Just hours later, an Israeli warplane dropped a 250kg bomb on a Gaza City apartment in a botched attempt to kill several top Hamas leaders, including the Islamic militant group's founder, Sheik Ahmed Yassin, who escaped with a minor injury. Hamas threatened bloody revenge, saying Israel had "opened the gates of hell" with its attack on the widely revered Yassin.

A senior Israeli military official said Abbas' resignation created a power vacuum in which Israel felt compelled to act immediately against Hamas. Yassin was the highest-ranking Palestinian leader ever targeted by Israel, and top fugitives, including Mohammed Deif, No. 1 on Israel's wanted list, were also in the room, security officials said.

"No Hamas official is immune," said Israeli Foreign Ministry official Gideon Meir, adding that "there will be other chances" to go after Hamas leaders.

Today's dramatic events dealt the most severe blow in months to US-led peace efforts. Wrangling over an Abbas successor could freeze the troubled "road map" peace plan for weeks or months, and the attack on Yassin could provoke more Hamas suicide bombings and Israeli reprisals.

Israel declared a state of high alert this evening, bracing for more attacks.

In Ramallah, it still remained unclear whether Arafat's acceptance of Abbas' resignation was final. The veteran Palestinian leader had told a large gathering of legislators and Cabinet ministers that Abbas was now heading a caretaker government, implying Arafat agreed with his prime minister's decision, but he stopped short of confirming this in writing, as required by law.

Abbas told a closed-door session of parliament that he would not change his mind. Reading from a prepared statement, he explained why he quit. Israel, he said, had not carried out its obligations under the road map, the United States had not enforced Israeli compliance, and his detractors at home had constantly undermined him with "harsh and dangerous" incitement.

Abbas, who has a reputation for shying away from confrontations, was buffeted by stronger forces, including an entrenched and embittered Arafat, Israeli leaders who gave him little to show his people, and Palestinian militants who paid little heed to his calls for ending violence.

Abbas' resignation - if it stands - is not necessarily a victory for Arafat whose international standing is likely to slip even further, particularly if he is perceived as having engineered Abbas' ouster. Israel might be more likely now to make good on threats to expel Arafat.

Justice Minister Yosef Lapid, a member of the Israeli security Cabinet, said Israel had refrained from kicking out Arafat at the request of the United States. "Maybe the White House will have second thoughts now, and then we'll have to consider Arafat's presence again," he said.

In Washington, Bush administration officials withheld comment today. A senior US State Department official said the administration was not certain that Abbas' tenure was over.

The US Secretary for Homeland Security Tom Ridge, speaking in Italy, said he feared Abbas' resignation would delay US-led peace efforts. "We just have to wait and see who the successor might be. It's clear to us that Arafat has not been a partner in this effort, has not provided a path to peace," Ridge said.

Arafat was to meet with leaders of his Fatah movement and legislators tomorrow to consider the next move. One option is to try to reappoint Abbas. This would allow Arafat to strip the Abbas Cabinet of those he doesn't support, particularly security chief Mohammed Dahlan.

A possible Abbas successor is Parliament Speaker Ahmed Qureia, a pragmatic politician who played a key role in earlier peace talks and might be acceptable to Israel and the United States. Another contender is Finance Minister Salam Fayad, widely respected for curtailing Arafat's previously unlimited access to public funds. Israeli officials said today they'd favor Fayad's nomination.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon warned in a statement that Israel would not do business with a government controlled by Arafat or his loyalists. "The government of Israel will not negotiate with Arafat," said Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom. "The man is part of the problem and not part of the solution. He is a factor that shakes the stability in the region."

The senior Israeli military official said that despite the turmoil, peace efforts could resume, perhaps even at an accelerated pace, if Abbas were to be reinstated with full powers over security forces, and if Hamas agreed to disarm.

Neither appeared likely, though. Arafat has persistently rejected Abbas' US-backed demands that he relinquish control over four of eight security branches he still runs. Hamas, meanwhile, only stepped up its threats against Israel.

In Gaza City, thousands of Hamas supporters poured into the streets, handing out sweets to celebrate the survival of their leaders. One Hamas member riding in a car led a chant over a loudspeaker: "Sharon listen very well: you bought a free ticket to hell."

In the Israeli strike, an Israeli warplane dropped its bomb through the window of a third-storey apartment where top Hamas leaders had assembled - to plan more attacks, Israeli officials said.

Yassin was lightly wounded in his right hand, and 15 other people were also hurt. Deif, the top fugitive, survived Israel's third attempt on his life, and his assistant, Adnan Al-Ghoul, also got away, Israeli security officials said.

The Israeli officials said Israel used a smaller bomb to avoid harming civilians. In a July 2002 attack on Hamas military leader Salah Shehadeh, a warplane had dropped a one-tonne bomb that killed Shehadeh, but also 14 bystanders, among them several children, prompting an international outcry.

Bodyguards carried Yassin out of the building and he was driven away in his brown four-wheel-drive Land Rover. Yassin later surfaced at a Gaza City mosque, where he renewed threats of revenge.

Yassin denied he was meeting with Hamas commanders in the targeted apartment. "Their (the Israelis') intelligence is giving them wrong information, and this is only an excuse to bombard and kill innocent people," Yassin said. "I was visiting my friend."

Israel's military often has up-to-the-minute intelligence on the movement of Palestinian militants, allowing them to launch quick strikes on leaders, often with helicopter gunships and F-16 fighter jets.

That perennial feeling of optimism is back.

It’s there like an unreliable old friend we’ve grown tired of but have known far too long to turn our back on.

You accept it’s presence with a knowing nod, but you’re prepared to be let down once again.

Because, of course, it’s the hope that kills you. But, at the same time it’s the hope which keeps you coming back.

And amazingly Pompey fans are set to do it in greater numbers this weekend than they have at any time in recent years.

The latest count is around 16,000 ahead of the curtain-raiser against Carlisle this weekend.

Incredibly, season tickets account for 12,250 of them – the best return Pompey fans have delivered since falling into English football’s basement tier three years ago.

Confidence is the fuel for that, but on what basis? Blind optimism? Or realistic expectation?

Well, we’re well versed in opening-day disappointment, of course.

Before last season’s straightforward success over a poor Dagenham & Redbridge side, the run stretched back a whopping nine years to the 3-0 win over Blackburn at the start of the 2006-07 season.

The biggest dagger blow of recent times was undoubtedly the 4-1 tanning from Oxford United at the start of the community era in 2013.

But, every time, we return with the same buoyancy, the same anticipation, the same brightness at what lies on the road ahead.

And quite right, too, because isn’t that the football fans’ lot?

For the majority that cheerful enthusiasm will be kicked out of us by the time the leaves start falling off the tress.

What’s to stop that being the case for this time around?

The pain of Home Park is a good starting point.

Let the hurt of last-ditch play-off defeat to Plymouth remain raw.

Let no one forget what having the expectation of promotion crushed felt like.

Paul Cook ducked his press duties that night for fear of breaking down.

Chief exec Mark Catlin will never forget having to exchange pleasantries in a jubilant boardroom while feeling sick.

Cook was back at his desk 12 hours later, driven to put things right.

So what of the business he’s conducted in the 12 weeks or so since?

Nine new faces have arrived to supplement a powerful-looking squad.

Three arrive at the back with Adam Webster departing, although Matt Clarke was around last term.

They are expected to at least maintain a record which saw just Oxford United concede fewer league goals last season.

In front of them, Danny Rose, at this early stage, appears a very astute piece of business – his energy eye-catching in pre-season.

Milan Lalkovic evidently has the ability to get fans off their seats, but will be challenged with doing so consistently.

Up top, Curtis Main has a point to prove as he aims to show he can provide a regular supply of goals.

At Bristol City last weekend, Michael Smith had the look of a man with a swagger returning to his game as he more than punched his weight with two man-mountain defenders.

We wait to see whether there’s the first 20-goal striker there since Svetoslav Todorov in 2003.

The suspicion is they may have to be shared around again – which is where Carl Baker and, indeed, Gary Roberts become central characters.