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Bridge: May 5, 2023

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:26:35 GMT

Unlucky Louie has raised nine children. He says 80 percent of parenting involves moving your kid’s glass away from the edge of the table.You would think Louie knew about playing safe as declarer. When he was today’s South, West led a heart against 6NT, and in the blink of an eye, Louie captured East’s queen and took the A-K of diamonds. Unlucky! East discarded, and Louie had to lose two diamonds.Careful play succeeds. A safety play is available in diamonds, but Louie needs entries to his hand. On the first heart, he should play dummy’s jack: queen, king.PLAYS LOWLouie then leads a diamond to dummy’s ace, returns a heart to his ten and leads the eight of diamonds. If West plays low — playing the ten won’t help him — Louie lets the eight ride.If East won, Louie would be sure of four diamonds and 12 tricks in all. When the eight wins, Louie takes the king, returns a club to his king and concedes a diamond. He has four diamonds, four clubs...

The Government Created a New Disinformation Office to Oversee All the Other Ones

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:26:35 GMT

Within the federal government, offices dedicated to fighting foreign disinformation are springing up like daisies, from the Pentagon’s new Influence and Perception Management Office to at least four organizations inside the Department of Homeland Security alone, as well as ones inside the FBI and State Department.To oversee the growing efforts — which arose in response to concerns about the impact of Russian meddling in the 2016 election but have now expanded — the director of national intelligence has created a new office.In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee today, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines for the first time mentioned the creation of the Foreign Malign Influence Center, or FMIC. “Congress put into law that we should establish a Foreign Malign Influence Center in the intelligence community; we have stood that up,” Haines said, referring to legislation passed last year. “It encompasses our election threat work, essentially looking at foreign i...

International Seaways: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:26:35 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — NEW YORK (AP) — International Seaways, Inc. (INSW) on Friday reported first-quarter earnings of $172.6 million.On a per-share basis, the New York-based company said it had profit of $3.47. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring gains, were $3.30 per share.The results exceeded Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $2.96 per share.The company posted revenue of $287.1 million in the period, also surpassing Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $277.3 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on INSW at https://www.zacks.com/ap/INSWSource

AdvanSix: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:26:35 GMT

PARSIPPANY, N.J. (AP) — PARSIPPANY, N.J. (AP) — AdvanSix Inc. (ASIX) on Friday reported first-quarter profit of $35 million.On a per-share basis, the Parsippany, New Jersey-based company said it had net income of $1.22. Earnings, adjusted for stock option expense and amortization costs, came to $1.30 per share.The results exceeded Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $1.02 per share.The polymer resins producer posted revenue of $400.5 million in the period, which missed Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $411.2 million.AdvanSix shares have dropped nearly 8% since the beginning of the year. The stock has decreased 27% in the last 12 months._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on ASIX at https://www.zacks.com/ap/ASIXSource

AG Mortgage Investment Trust: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:26:35 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — NEW YORK (AP) — AG Mortgage Investment Trust Inc. (MITT) on Friday reported earnings of $12.5 million in its first quarter.On a per-share basis, the New York-based company said it had net income of 38 cents. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring gains, came to 3 cents per share.The real estate investment trust posted revenue of $57.8 million in the period. Its adjusted revenue was $11.6 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on MITT at https://www.zacks.com/ap/MITTSource

Essent Group: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:26:35 GMT

HAMILTON, Bermuda (AP) — HAMILTON, Bermuda (AP) — Essent Group Ltd. (ESNT) on Friday reported first-quarter earnings of $170.8 million.On a per-share basis, the Hamilton, Bermuda-based company said it had net income of $1.59.The results topped Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $1.43 per share.The mortgage insurance and reinsurance holding company posted revenue of $256.2 million in the period._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on ESNT at https://www.zacks.com/ap/ESNTSource

Owens & Minor: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:26:35 GMT

MECHANICSVILLE, Va. (AP) — MECHANICSVILLE, Va. (AP) — Owens & Minor Inc. (OMI) on Friday reported a loss of $24.4 million in its first quarter.On a per-share basis, the Mechanicsville, Virginia-based company said it had a loss of 32 cents. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, were 5 cents per share.The medical supply distributor posted revenue of $2.52 billion in the period.Owens & Minor expects full-year earnings in the range of $1.30 to $1.65 per share, with revenue in the range of $10.2 billion to $10.6 billion._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on OMI at https://www.zacks.com/ap/OMISource

National HealthCare: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:26:35 GMT

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) — MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) — National HealthCare Corp. (NHC) on Friday reported profit of $11.7 million in its first quarter.The Murfreesboro, Tennessee-based company said it had net income of 76 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, were 79 cents per share.The nursing home and assisted living company posted revenue of $269.6 million in the period._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on NHC at https://www.zacks.com/ap/NHCSource

Time to vote, already? Fairfax Co. opens early voting for Democratic primary

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:26:35 GMT

toggle audio on and off change volume download audio WTOP's Nick Iannelli explains who's on the ballot for Fairfax's Democratic primary for local and statehouse races as early voting gets underway Friday. $(function () { $('.wtop-audio-container .fa-play').on('click', function(){ var audio_filename = $('div.wtop-audio-file').data("mp3-url"); ga('send', 'event', 'Audio', 'play', audio_filename); }); }); Voters in Fairfax County, Virginia, can cast their ballots early for the upcoming Democratic primary for local and statehouse races starting on Friday.The election is scheduled for June 20 but three polling centers will open...

PBF Energy: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:26:35 GMT

PARSIPPANY, N.J. (AP) — PARSIPPANY, N.J. (AP) — PBF Energy Inc. (PBF) on Friday reported first-quarter earnings of $382.1 million.On a per-share basis, the Parsippany, New Jersey-based company said it had profit of $2.86. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring gains, were $2.76 per share.The results beat Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of seven analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $2.53 per share.The refiner posted revenue of $9.3 billion in the period, which also topped Street forecasts. Four analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $8.87 billion._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on PBF at https://www.zacks.com/ap/PBFSource