Latest news with #Delaware-based
San Francisco Chronicle
2 days ago
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Global Indemnity: Q2 Earnings Snapshot
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Global Indemnity PLC (GBLI) on Wednesday reported profit of $10.3 million in its second quarter. The Wilmington, Delaware-based company said it had profit of 71 cents per share. The insurance and reinsurance holding company posted revenue of $110.5 million in the period. _____
2 days ago
- Business
New Jersey reaches historic $2 billion environmental settlement with DuPont over 'forever chemicals'
Three chemical producers have reached a historic settlement with the state of New Jersey over "forever chemicals" and other pollutants released into the environment. Global chemical manufacturer DuPont and its affiliates, Chemours and Corteva, have agreed to a $2 billion settlement with New Jersey to resolve environmental claims tied to decades of pollution involving Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), commonly known as 'forever chemicals,' as well as other pollutants originating from four industrial sites across the state. NJDEP Commissioner LaTourette and NJ Attorney General Platkin made the announcement on Monday, calling the deal the 'largest environmental settlement ever achieved by a single state'. The proposed settlement, which still requires court approval, obligates the companies to pay $875 million in natural resource and other damages to the state over a 25-year period. It also mandates that DuPont and its affiliates create a $1.2 billion remediation fund for cleanup efforts at the four industrial sites and establish a separate $475 million reserve fund to ensure that, if any of the companies go bankrupt or otherwise fail to meet their obligations, New Jersey taxpayers are not left footing the bill. "Polluters who place profit above public well-being by releasing poisonous PFAS and other contamination in our State can expect to be held responsible to clean up their mess and fully compensate the State and its citizens for the precious natural resources they've damaged or destroyed," Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Shawn LaTourette said. The proposed settlement will resolve the Chambers Works case, a 2019 lawsuit against Delaware-based E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Co. (now known as EIDP, Inc.) and other DuPont-related entities, officials said. The settlement follows a month of trial proceedings in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. In a press release, DuPont, Chemours and Corteva said the settlement will not only resolve the 2019 lawsuit, but 'all legacy contamination claims related to the companies' current and former operating sites (Chambers Works, Parlin, Pompton Lakes and Repauno) and claims of statewide PFAS contamination unrelated to those sites." ABC News reached out to the companies for comment, and they declined to comment further. Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are a group of manufactured chemicals that have been used for decades in a wide range of products, including non-stick cookware. Commonly referred to as 'forever chemicals,' PFAS do not break down easily in the human body or the environment, and are associated with certain cancers, hormonal dysfunction, and other health problems, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). New Jersey's extensive industrial and manufacturing history has put it on the front lines of pollution monitoring and remediation. New Jersey was the first state in the nation to set a maximum contaminant level for certain PFAS. The affected sites include Pompton Lakes Works in Pompton Lakes and Wanaque in Passaic County; the Parlin Site in Sayreville, Middlesex County; the Repauno Site in Greenwich Township in Gloucester County; Chambers Works, in Pennsville and Carney's Point in Salem County. The Sierra Club, one of the largest and most influential grassroots environmental organizations in the country, called the settlement 'an incredible and historical achievement' for the state. 'DuPont has finally been held responsible for what they have done to New Jersey, to our public health, and to our environment', NJ Sierra Club Chapter Director, Anjuli Ramos-Busot, said in a statement. 'DuPont has been knowingly poisoning our lands and waters for decades. As an entity of chemical innovation, DuPont brought prosperity to New Jersey. But, like with all polluters with a ROI bottom line, the true impact brought to New Jersey was hidden from us'. 'This outcome proves that New Jersey will fight to ensure that polluters pay their fair share for the devastating damages they have caused. I remain committed to working alongside the Attorney General and the DEP to ascertain how to swiftly and effectively allocate these funds to best clean up our communities and protect public health in the future,' State Senator Linda Greenstein (D-Middlesex/Mercer) said. The DuPont settlement will be published in the New Jersey Register and is subject to a public comment period before it can be finalized. Following that, the proposed agreement must be approved by the U.S. District Court.
UPI
2 days ago
- Sport
- UPI
A little bit basketball, a little bit wrestling: 'Wrestball' cup planned for 2026
In Wrestball, points get awarded for successful shots and wrestling techniques. Each play starts with a one-on-one clash for ball control, shifting into a team phase with throws, passes and scoring at the hoop. Photo courtesy of Wrestball Aug. 5 (UPI) -- The world's first USA Wrestball Cup for 2026 was announced Tuesday after the new sport's recent ESPN debut showcase. Officials in its Delaware-based headquarters say USA Wrestball Cup 2026 will be a "major" national event showcasing 16 teams from various U.S. regions in the high-energy, full-contact sport that merges basketball and wrestling elements. "Wrestball is physical, entertaining, and made to be watched," Honore Magon, president of the International Wrestball League and a sport co-founder, said in a statement. The game can be played in two different formats: a 5-on-5 full court game or a 3-on-3 half court version. Points get awarded for successful shots and wrestling techniques. Each play starts with a one-on-one clash for ball control, shifting into a team phase with throws, passes and scoring at the hoop. Wrestball Is Different! International Wrestball League (@wrestball) August 9, 2024 "There's no dribbling -- just movement, power and strategy," Wrestball sport officials explained in a release. "Like basketball, the objective is to score by throwing the ball through a hoop," they added. "However, unlike basketball, wrestling moves are permitted when battling for possession." The newly-minted Wrestball saw its global debut Friday on ESPN OCHO. On Tuesday, it's co-founder and startup chief Magon said that, with over 300 million Internet views, Wrestball's perceived "popularity" was "still expanding globally." "This is next-level competition," its new TV commercial spot said in advertising the competition's $500,000 prize pool and the first Wrestball USA championship title. ESPN's televised event showcased never-before-seen competitions of 30 new sports that network execs say was its "most ever." According to event organizers, the tournament's team application process is open but it also "presents opportunities" for businesses and sponsorships. "With the USA Cup, we're inviting teams, investors and partners to join us in shaping the future of sport," said Wrestball founder Mairbek Khostikoev. Wrestball officials said further specifics on location, tickets, matches and a full game schedule will be publicly unveiled by the end of the year.
NBC News
6 days ago
- General
- NBC News
Chaos amid starvation: Videos from Gaza show Palestinians struggling to get food at distribution sites
Click or tap to continue reading ⇨ by Marin Scott, Bryan Gallion and Tavleen Tarrant A new food distribution system debuted in the Gaza Strip on May 27 after an 11-week aid blockade Israel said was aimed to further pressure Hamas into releasing hostages — the longest blockade of humanitarian resources since the war started in October 2023. Distribution began while doctors warned that hunger was approaching starvation for many Palestinians. The operation is run by Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a Delaware-based nonprofit backed by the United States and Israel. Both countries said this arrangement would prevent Hamas from stealing aid after they made unsubstantiated claims of systematic theft by the militant group. For people in Gaza, the process of obtaining food at GHF sites has been chaotic, dangerous and sometimes deadly. Between May 27 and July 31, 'at least 1,373 Palestinians have been killed while seeking food,' according to a report from the United Nations Human Rights Office. Of the total, 859 people were killed "in the vicinity" of GHF sites and 514 others along the routes of food convoys, it said, adding that most of these killings were committed by the Israeli military. The Israeli government and GHF blame Hamas for the chaos and deaths. Videos shared on social media in the last two months, collected and verified by NBC News, depict the dangers that hungry Palestinians face when seeking desperately needed aid. This browser does not support the video element. This video, filmed on the opening day of distribution at the GHF site in Rafah, captures the chaos after Israeli soldiers fired live rounds into the air to disperse the massive crowds. Credit: Social Media GHF created four food distribution sites to control the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, replacing an old system run by the United Nations that was organized across hundreds of sites. Of the four GHF sites, three are still operating. Israel continues to control almost every part of the aid distribution process, with its military inspecting all aid arriving at border employs contractors who provide security at each site. The organization says any fatal attacks on Palestinians have happened outside its distribution sites. 'To date, none of our aid workers have engaged in any lethal engagement,' a GHF spokesperson said. This browser does not support the video element. A June 20 video from the Khan Younis distribution site shows GHF-contracted security personnel in tactical gear pointing guns at Palestinians looking for aid.A GHF spokesperson said the video shows that a flash-bang grenade was used to 'get people to move.' Credit: Basem Mallouh, Instagram This browser does not support the video element. A second video at the same site shows security contractors in tactical gear deploying pepper spray at a crowd, as GHF employees wearing blue vests stand nearby.A GHF spokesperson said pepper spray, described as 'nonlethal,' has been used by the organization to 'disperse crowds, break up a fight or prevent a trampling incident.' Credit: TikTok This browser does not support the video element. Another video from June shows a man in tactical gear firing a canister into a crowd of asked about the video, a GHF spokesperson said the organization uses 'white smoke to disperse, not gas/tear gas,' and described it as 'totally harmless.' Credit: Social Media In interviews with NBC News' crew in Gaza, several Palestinians said they were scared for their lives as they attempted to obtain food for their families. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) 'opened fire on us randomly,' Mohammed Abu Deqqa said of his experience trying to collect food from GHF's site in Al-Shakoush, Rafah. 'There are so many dead and wounded, we were only trying to get food ... It was hell.' This browser does not support the video element. In a video from July 12, shots from Israeli forces are seen hitting the ground near a large group of Palestinians as they pack together about half a mile away from the GHF aid site in said the incident was "not at our site." The IDF said this incident is "under review." Credit: Social Media In a video from July 12, shots from Israeli forces are seen hitting the ground near a large group of Palestinians as they pack together about half a mile away from the GHF aid site in said the incident was "not at our site." The IDF said this incident is "under review." Credit: Social Media The Israeli military has acknowledged that its soldiers have fired warning shots or have fired at individuals who they claim appear to pose a threat or are in unauthorized areas. In a statement to NBC News, an IDF spokesperson said that as part of its operations along main routes to GHF distribution centers, the military conducts reviews aimed at 'improving the operational response in the area and minimizing possible friction' between Palestinians and IDF forces. This browser does not support the video element. On July 24, GHF advertised a 'women-only' distribution day on its social media channels. Credit: NBC News Crew On July 24, GHF advertised a 'women-only' distribution day on its social media channels. Credit: NBC News Crew This browser does not support the video element. In a video captured by NBC News, Najah Shaheen, a mother of six, said she walked more than 2 miles to a distribution point. The 58-year-old said that she has diabetes and that she hadn't eaten in days. Credit: NBC News Crew In a video captured by NBC News, Najah Shaheen, a mother of six, said she walked more than 2 miles to a distribution point. The 58-year-old said that she has diabetes and that she hadn't eaten in days. Credit: NBC News Crew Three women who had been seeking aid told NBC News that the crowd faced live bullets, tear gas and pepper spray as people tried to get food at the Khan Younis GHF site that Saqr, director of nursing at Nasser Hospital, said two women were killed while on their way to the distribution site. A GHF spokesperson said that the women-only day was 'very successful' and that there were 'no incidents' at the site itself. Israel announced Sunday it was implementing limited pauses in fighting to allow supplies to enter Gaza after international outrage over its aid restrictions. Experts and advocates told NBC News the hunger crisis in Gaza has reached a 'tipping point.' President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, and the U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, assessed a GHF distribution site during a rare visit to Gaza on Friday. Many Palestinians continue to risk their lives to avoid starvation while mourning loved ones they have lost in their desperate search for food.'I told him not to go. I said we would endure the hunger,' a grieving father, Khamis Abu Mustafa, said of his 23-year-old son, Ali, who died in June while trying to collect food from the Khan Younis GHF site for his family. 'But he couldn't bear to see his siblings starving. He went — and came back a martyr.' More from NBC News
USA Today
31-07-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Proposed 72-hour train route between LA, NY aims to debut in 2026
A rail company is proposing a new privately funded train route that can begin transporting people between Los Angeles and New York City in less than 72 hours as soon as next year. Delaware-based group AmeriStarRail unveiled its coast-to-coast route called the Transcontinental Chief with hopes of it being operational by May 10, 2026, ahead of the United States' 250th birthday and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The goal date, which lands on National Train Day, is subject to operating agreements with various host railroads, the company clarified. The project has been presented to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, also known as Amtrak. AmeriStarRail argues that a partnership between the two companies would be mutually beneficial, emphasizing that the route would be more profitable than Amtrak's existing long-distance trains. AmeriStarRail CEO Scott Spencer said Amtrak is seeking more information on the planning and coordination of the proposed system. "This is a way to confront the challenges Amtrak faces and create opportunities for them to succeed," Spencer told USA TODAY. "We're hopeful that all the parties that are involved including the host railroads recognize what a great opportunity this is for our nation." Amtrak did not respond to multiple USA TODAY requests for comment. Transcontinental Chief to replace existing bicoastal routes AmeriStarRail said the Transcontinental Chief train would replace the Southwest Chief and the Pennsylvanian Amtrak routes that currently help transport people between Southern California and New York via stops in Chicago or Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. New Yorkers will board the train from the Hoboken Terminal in New Jersey, a three-mile ride to Lower Manhattan across the Hudson River through the Holland Tunnel. AmeriStarRail clarified that it's unable to directly stop in the Big Apple due to New York Penn Station tunnel restrictions for the passenger cars Amtrak uses, known as Superliners. However, there are no boarding restrictions in Los Angeles. The route would also include a single-level train section from Harrisburg to serve people in Washington, D.C., via Philadelphia, according to AmeriStarRail. "In discussion with various interests along the route, whether that be Victorville, California; Newton, Kanas; Lebanon, Pennsylvania, they recognize the economic engine that the Transcontinental Chief will be for their communities," Spencer said. Spencer added that the Transcontinental Chief would also offer travelers on Route 66 an alternative way back from their nearly 2,500-mile drive. Bicoastal route to be 'rolling rest stop for truckers' In addition to transporting passengers, the Transcontinental Chief would also transport truck drivers and their tractor trailers between the West and East coasts within the three-day span, according to AmeriStarRail. Through a roll-on, roll-off loading system, the route would serve as a "rolling rest stop for truckers" while offering a safe alternative to parking shortages, the company states. "At RailPorts along the route, truckers will be able to drive their entire tractor trailer trucks onto railroad flatcars and then rest and relax onboard Amtrak Coach, Sleeper and Dining cars as they travel 200 - 500 miles during their federally mandated 10 hour rest period," an AmeriStarRail news release states. Intending to debut next May, Spencer said the route would start with intermediate ports available in LA and New York City, with plans to incorporate more in the future. The company aims to transport cars, vans, motorcycles, RVs and charter motorcoaches, eventually also serving the Grand Canyon and Chicago.
