Catastrophe Losses and Investment Valuation Declines Partially Offset by On-going Risk Mitigation Actions NORTHBROOK, Ill. -- The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL): * Catastrophe losses of $1.8 billion, including losses from Hurricanes Ike and Gustav, were partially mitigated by exposure reduction actions and reinsurance. * Pre-tax net realized...
The Democratic Party adopted on the first day of its August convention a platform that calls for the creation of a national catastrophe fund. An advocate for the program, ProtectingAmeriea.org, claims the move was a first for a major political party. The group also supports the Homeowners' Defense Act of...
Strong Underwriting Results Generate Profit Despite Record Second Quarter Catastrophes and Investment Valuation Declines NORTHBROOK, Ill. -- The Allstate Corporation (NYSE:ALL) today reported results for the second quarter of 2008:[TABLE OMITTED] a Measures used in this release that are not based on accounting principles generally accepted in...
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- State Auto Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: STFC) today announced its preliminary estimates of losses due to second quarter 2008 catastrophe storm activity. The company expects second quarter 2008 results will include between $76 and $84 million in pre-tax catastrophe losses. The above range includes $3.4 million related to...
CAIRO AFP — The Arab League on Saturday warned of an "unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe" in the Gaza Strip after the United Nations was forced to suspend aid deliveries because of Israeli restrictions. The 22-member body expressed its "grave concern at the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip after...
RAMALLAH, West Bank AFP — Palestinian officials said on Sunday they are preparing events to mark the 60th anniversary next month of the expulsion of hundreds of thousands of Arabs during the 1948 Middle East war. The National Committee for the Anniversary of the Nakba -- the Arabic word...
One big question in many people's mind is whether, despite repeated assurances from public officials, the U.S. government is really prepared to cope with these threats. In October, the White House issued an updated "National Strategy for Homeland Security," which is intended to guide,...
TAMALE, Ghana AFP — Cameroon coach Otto Pfister is fuming at African Nations Cup organisers after his side's luggage failed to arrive with the team for Wednesday's crunch game with Sudan. "It's a total catastrophe," was how the veteran German-born manager labelled Confederation of African Football's organisation. "We...
BEIJING AFP — China will act to limit ecological damage from the Three Gorges Dam project amid growing alarm over the negative impact of the world's biggest hydroelectric facility, state media said Wednesday. The announcement comes after Chinese experts warned recently of an environmental "catastrophe" from the massive project...
WARSAW AFP — Ministers from eight countries on Thursday adopted an action plan to clean up the Baltic Sea, currently heading for an environmental catastrophe, and to restore it to ecological health by 2021. "After 18 months of drafting and negotiating, the coastal countries have reached broad consensus on...
MOSCOW AFP — Five-metre (16-feet) high waves smashed apart a Russian tanker on Sunday, spilling 1,300 tonnes of fuel oil into the Black Sea in what environmentalists called an "ecological catastrophe." Four other cargo ships including three carrying sulphur also sank as winds of up to 108 kilometres (67...
We're witnessing a terrible natural catastrophe in California but not seeing one thing we did during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. California's governor knows his job and has taken the steps necessary to invoke FEMA aid, fight the wildfires and encourage people to move to safety. It's the...
GAZA CITY AFP — Hamas warned on Thursday of a humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip which it has run for more than three months due to a dire shortage of basic medical supplies. "We are warning of a real humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip if medicine doesn't...
LJUBLJANA AFP — Slovenia's government took emergency measures Thursday to help in the clean-up and reconstruction of areas devastated by floods and landslides in which six people have died. Prime Minister Janez Jansa on Wednesday announced an initial 500,000 euro (700,000 dollar) emergency fund for areas hit by torrential...
Is Hot Desking a Cool Idea -- or a Catastrophe?remember the college library before the internet?Any of us who went to college before the internet lived this nightmare -- remember trying to study/work effectively in the library? We had to bring everything we'd need in our backpacks and arrive early...
JERUSALEM AFP — History textbooks for Israeli Arab students this year will for the first time present the Palestinian version of Israel's creation as a "catastrophe," the education ministry said on Sunday. "For these types of events, both the Israeli and Palestinian versions have to be presented," Education Minister...
RIYADH AFP — Saudi Arabia has foiled 180 "terrorist" operations by Al-Qaeda since 2003 and averted a catastrophe in the oil powerhouse, the interior minister said in comments published Monday. "The security forces have caused the failure of 180 terrorist operations," local media quoted Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin...
To: NATIONAL EDITORSContact: Pete McDonough of ProtectingAmerica.org, +1-609-731-6116 WASHINGTON, June 27 /PRNewswire/ -- The US Conference of Mayors, an organization that includes more than 1,000 mayors from across the nation, this week voted unanimously in support of a resolution calling on Congress to create a comprehensive, integrated national catastrophe plan...
ROME AFP — The Italian government on Tuesday adopted a draft bill under which the perpetrators of "environmental catastrophes" would be punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The bill, which must be passed by parliament, "anticipates" a planned European Union directive on environmental crimes and puts Italy...
MOGADISHU AFP — Fighting between Ethiopian forces and Islamist insurgents in the Somali capital killed at least 113 civilians and left 229 wounded in three days, a local human rights group said Friday. The United Nations warned of a humanitarian catastrophe with corpses left rotting in the streets, where...
