Solvay reaches nearly $393 million PFAS settlement with New Jersey

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The U.S. branch of Belgian chemicals company Solvay has struck a nearly $393-million deal with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to settle some claims linked to drinking water pollution caused by one of its plants, Solvay announced on Wednesday. The funds will be used to test for, filter and clean…

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US hunger rates rise as pandemic aid ends, data shows

By Leah Douglas (Reuters) – Food insecurity is rising in the U.S. as the end of pandemic-era aid and higher food costs strain low-income Americans, according to data released on Wednesday by the U.S. Census Bureau and two surveys from anti-hunger groups. About 26.5 million Americans reported sometimes or often not having enough to eat…

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Exclusive-NielsenIQ’s GfK deal set for conditional EU antitrust approval

By Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Advent-owned NielsenIQ is set to secure EU antitrust clearance for its proposed acquisition of German market research firm GfK on the condition GfK sells its consumer panel business, people familiar with the matter said. U.S. consumer market research company NielsenIQ, which is present in more than 90 markets…

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US approves $15 billion in Patriot and missile defense upgrades for Poland

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. State Department has approved a possible $15 billion sale of an Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Battle Command System (IBCS) and related equipment to Poland as it upgrades its air defenses, the Pentagon said on Wednesday. Despite State Department approval, the notification did not indicate that a contract had…

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From caterers to cowboy outfitters: Writers’ strike hits Hollywood economy

By Lisa Richwine and Dawn Chmielewski LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Before Hollywood writers walked off the job in early May, Pam Elyea’s prop house History for Hire filled an average of 53 requests per week for everything from period-appropriate cameras and luggage to camping gear and snow globes. Weekly orders this year now average 26…

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Air strikes and clashes puncture Eid truce pledges in Sudan’s capital

(Reuters) – Air strikes and anti-aircraft fire rattled parts of Sudan’s capital Khartoum on Wednesday, residents said, despite both the military factions that have been battling each other since mid-April declaring truces for the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. War between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has caused a major humanitarian…

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Sierra Leone election observers flag ‘statistical inconsistencies’

DAKAR (Reuters) – European election observers in Sierra Leone said there were “statistical inconsistencies” in the presidential results published by the electoral commission, which declared President Julius Maada Bio the winner of Saturday’s vote. The European Union Election Observation Mission called on the commission on Wednesday to promptly publish disaggregated results data per polling station…

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Germany’s Scholz: Russian mutiny has weakened Putin but implications unclear

BERLIN (Reuters) -German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday the failed mutiny in Russia last weekend had weakened President Vladimir Putin but the implications for his invasion of Ukraine remained unclear. Speaking in a wide-ranging, hour-long interview with ARD broadcaster, Scholz echoed U.S. President Joe Biden in saying the insurrection by Wagner mercenaries was part…

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OPEC withholds media access to Reuters, Bloomberg, WSJ for July event

(Reuters) – OPEC has withheld media access to reporters from Reuters, Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal to cover a meeting of oil industry CEOs with energy ministers from OPEC and its allies, reporters and several people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. The three media organizations are among the world’s leading suppliers of…

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