Minister: new Labour reforms a ‘de ning moment for workers’
By FAY SIMMONS
Tribune Business Reporter
jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
WORKING women are set to receive enhanced maternity protections while employers will face stronger workplace safety obligations after The Bahamas ratifed three key International Labour Organization conventions Minister of Labour and the Public Service Pia Glover-Rolle said the agreements will strengthen workplace protections for employees across multiple sectors while advancing labour reforms already underway in The Bahamas.
Speaking after formally depositing the country's instruments of ratifcation at the International Labour Organization's headquarters in Geneva , Mrs Glover-Rolle said the ratifcations would provide stronger protections for employees throughout the country.
"This is a defning moment for Bahamian workers. Ratifying these three conventions means that every worker in this country, whether they are on a construction site or in an ofce, will have the full force of international occupational safety and health standards protecting them, and every working woman will have
Enhanced protection for women - stronger safety obligations for employers
ree ILO conventions expand safeguards for Bahamian workers
modern maternity protections in place."
She added: "This administration made a commitment to decent work for all, and we are taking the necessary steps to deliver that promise."
The Bahamas ratifed Convention 155 on Occupational Safety
ORG concern at pace of seabed leasing legislation
By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
THE Organization for Responsible Governance is raising concerns about the pace at which the Government is advancing seabed leasing legislation, arguing that afected stakeholders have not been given sufcient opportunity to weigh the potential risks and implications.
The concern is among several governance issues highlighted in ORG's review of the 2026-2027 Budget, which examined policy priorities alongside government spending plans.
"ORG remains concerned about the pace at
Medication
which seabed leasing legislation is advancing," the report said.
According to the organisation, the proposed framework could have signifcant implications for marine resources, fsheries, tourism, environmental protection, coastal resilience, public access and local economic opportunities.
The issue has attracted heightened scrutiny since the Government's proposed reforms to the Port Authorities Act, which would require persons seeking to construct or operate marinas, piers, wharves, jetties, moorings and other seabed-related developments
shortage prompts search for alternative
By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
PATIENTS enrolled in the National Prescription Drug Plan (NPDP) are facing temporary shortages of certain medications used to treat chronic illnesses, prompting the programme to activate emergency procurement measures and seek alternative supply sources while awaiting replenishment shipments.
In a statement, the NPDP acknowledged that some prescription
drugs
medications are currently unavailable because of supply challenges afecting certain products within the programme.
Ofcials stressed that the disruptions are temporary and limited to a relatively small number of medications.
The programme said it has been working directly with pharmaceutical wholesalers and suppliers to restore inventory levels and expects replenishment shipments to arrive over the coming days.
Cat Island, Exuma, and Andros next on BTC’s expansion plans
Bahamas moves to align labour laws with international standards
and Health, Convention 187 on the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health, and Convention 183 on Maternity Protection.
Convention 183 establishes international standards covering maternity leave, income support during maternity leave, health protections for pregnant and nursing workers, and safeguards against dismissal linked to maternity.
Mrs Glover-Rolle said the conventions align with broader eforts to modernise labour legislation and strengthen workplace standards across the Bahamian economy.
The ratifcation follows several years of consultation involving the National Tripartite Council, the
LABOUR - See Page B4
Fixed wireless broadband rollout targets three more Family Islands BTC targets connectivity gaps with wireless broadband expansion
BY ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) plans to expand its BTC Air fxed wireless broadband service to Cat Island, parts of Exuma, and Andros as the telecommunications provider pushes ahead with eforts to improve internet connectivity across the Family Islands.
Speaking on the company’s broadband strategy, BTC chief executive Sameer Bhatti said the three islands have been identifed as the next markets for deployment following ongoing rollouts in Bimini and Eleuthera.
“We have a number of other islands that we have earmarked including Cat
Island, including parts of Exuma and Andros. Those are the next three that we have earmarked that we’re going to roll into,” Mr Bhatti said.
The expansion forms part of BTC’s strategy to bridge connectivity gaps between New Providence and the Family Islands by using fxed wireless technology rather than relying
BTC - See Page B4
PIA GLOVER-ROLLE
Removal of debris and derelict cars only ‘scratching the surface’
By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
AFTER removing more than 4,500 truckloads of debris and 3,500 derelict vehicles from New Providence last year, the government is preparing a more aggressive environmental enforcement campaign that will include spot fnes, tougher penalties and the relocation of roadside garages. Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Zane Lightbourne said the government is “only scratching the surface” with the 4,536 20-yard bins of debris and 3,543 derelict vehicles removed from communities throughout New Providence during 2025.
Speaking during the 2026/2026 Budget debate, Mr Lightbourne said the Davis administration now intends to complement its cleanup eforts with stronger enforcement powers through the introduction of spot fnes and fxed penalty notices, arguing that environmental ofences can often take too long to be addressed through the courts “We are also going to couple it this year by issuing stifer penalties, and we expect to see immediate compliance because in this budget we are debating, and will pass through this process, the spot fnes initiative that has been put in DEPP, so that we don't have to wait for the courts to deal with some of these people. We can fne them on the spot."
Mr Lightbourne said the proposed enforcement mechanism would improve compliance while reducing pressure on the judicial system. "These spot fnes and fxed penalty notices provide a practical and efcient way for law enforcement to handle nonsense without immediately involving the courts," he said. "Their primary benefts include streamlined justice, significant time and resource savings, increased rule compliance, and the avoidance of a formal criminal record."
Among the areas being targeted by the government are roadside garages, which have long been a source of complaints from residents concerned about abandoned vehicles, scrap materials and
John Watling ‘no concerns’ about 12.5% US tari s
BY ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter
A LOCAL distillery is not concerned about the potential implementation of a 12.5 percent tarif on exports to the United States, arguing that its recent string of international accolades has further strengthened the brand’s position in the premium spirits market while raising The Bahamas’ profle on the global stage.
The comments come as John Watling’s Distillery’s Paradise Rum secured three major international honours this year, including a Gold Medal and 94-point rating from the Beverage Testing Institute (BTI) in Chicago, recognition by Forbes among the world’s best rums and a Two-Star Superior Taste Award from the International Taste Institute in Brussels.
Despite concerns among Bahamian exporters over the impact of increased US trade barriers, John Watling’s Managing Partner Pepin Argamasilla said the company has to absorb the tarif costs to avoid passing higher prices on to consumers.
“It is what it is,” Mr Argamasilla said when asked whether the tarif poses a threat to the company’s exports. “I believe we assumed the tax with the export, so our prices wouldn’t go up in the US.
“It’s part of the price of doing business anywhere in the world. As long as they don’t hit me with another pandemic, we’re good. That was not fun. But all these taxes, at the end of the day, everybody’s being taxed the same.”
The distillery recently gained international recognition for its Paradise Rum, a product developed in partnership with Atlantis Paradise Island and now featured as the resort’s signature rum. Mr Argamasilla said the awards have signifcantly boosted brand visibility, particularly following Forbes’ inclusion of the rum among the world’s top-rated oferings.
“Something like Forbes, where we came out, that’s distributed to, I think the number was like 500 million or something like that,” he said. “So, it defnitely gets the name out there, and it also puts out that here in The Bahamas, we’re creating a super-premium rum that people can enjoy.”
While acknowledging that translating recognition into sales is difcult to predict, he said the company expects the honours to strengthen demand in the United States, where Paradise Rum is currently distributed through Total Wine & More stores.
“We’re in Total Wines & More in the US,” he said. “So hopefully there’ll be some more pull created over there. But again, these awards and the accolades are really us judging ourselves to make sure that we’re putting out a certain quality of rum that we can be proud of, and that The Bahamas can be proud of.”
The company is currently distributed in 16 US states and plans to expand further across the American market before pursuing opportunities elsewhere.
“Defnitely would like the next market to be the UK, just because of the synergies and history of The Bahamas with the UK,” Mr Argamasilla said. “Again, it’s just a very, very slow build. We want to build a good foundation, so this company lasts, and the brand grows.”
TARIFFS - See Page B5
environmental impacts in residential communities.
Mr Lightbourne said the government has identifed a property on Gladstone Road that will be prepared to accommodate the relocation of roadside garages as part of a broader efort to address the issue.
"I now announce that at the end of the last term, we identifed an area on Gladstone Road that has been granted by the Honourable Prime Minister [Philip Davis KC]to relocate roadside garages," he said.
"The Honourable Minister for Carmichael [Keith Bell] has been the leader of that Cabinet subcommittee, and he has since tagged me in and handed it over to myself. We are looking to remediate this problem of roadside garages, and we have identifed a property
that needs to be prepped in order for this to happen."
The government revealed earlier this year that several major roadside garage operators had agreed in principle to relocate, and last week ofcials indicated that a site in the Carmichael area had been identifed as part of those eforts.
Mr Lightbourne also said ofcials are working with other government agencies to address the growing number of derelict vehicles abandoned throughout New Providence.
He said the government intends to intensify its cleanup campaign throughout the country, with a particular focus on the capital.
"We will seek to get very innovative and very aggressive with the cleanup of our islands, especially Nassau. Bahamians will be asked to do their part — if you see something, say something."
"We are working with the various law enforcement agencies and ministries, including the Ministry of Works [Clay Sweeting] and Urban Renewal [Lisa Rahming], to identify a site where we can dispose of these derelict vehicles, so that persons can stop leaving them, sometimes in the middle of the road and in parks. It's going to be coupled with fnes and law enforcement assistance."
ree new mobile plans rolled out by BTC
BY ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) has rolled out three new mobile plans that it says are designed to address long-standing customer concerns over bill predictability, data usage and fexibility, as the telecommunications provider seeks to strengthen its competitive position in the local market.
BTC argued that the launch of its new Flex, Plus and Ultra plans refects extensive customer research and a broader shift in how Bahamians consume mobile services. BTC’s chief executive Sameer Bhatti said the new oferings were developed after months of customer feedback and
testing, with a focus on eliminating unexpected charges and giving users greater control over their monthly spending.
“We’re introducing a new way for you to stay connected with more freedom, more fexibility and more confdence than ever before,” Mr Bhatti said during the launch event.
“Over the past months, you’ve been very clear about what you want from your mobile service,” he said. “You want plans that are easy to understand. You want bills you can predict. You want to use the apps you love without constantly worrying about running out of data.”
Consumer expectations are being shaped by oferings in larger international markets, particularly the United States. Mr Bhatti acknowledged
that Bahamian consumers increasingly compare local telecommunications products with those ofered by major North American carriers.
“Our customers, given our proximity to the US, have the same expectations,” he said. “We know exactly what T-Mobile ofers, exactly what AT&T ofers, exactly what Verizon - we even know what Xfnity Mobile and Spectrum Mobile ofer. We know. And so we compare those plans to what we have…
“And what I like to say is, with this step, I hope our customers see that we are up to the time, and we have rolled out plans that meet their needs and that can go toe to toe with anyone.
The plans feature unlimited local calling and texting, calls to the United States, Canada and Flow markets, along with varying levels of data allowances and social media access. BTC has also introduced rollover data,
DATA - See Page B6
ZANE LIGHTBOURNE
New ILO accords bolster employee rights
LABOUR - from page B1
Ministry of Labour, the ILO Caribbean Ofce and other stakeholders.
A gap analysis examining Bahamian laws against the conventions was reviewed through a series of national workshops in 2025 before Cabinet approved ratifcation earlier this year.
While the conventions are now ratifed, further work remains before Bahamian legislation is fully
aligned with the new international commitments. According to the ministry, an additional round of tripartite consultations will be undertaken to develop legislative reforms needed to bring Bahamian law into full conformity with the conventions over the next two years.
Mrs Glover-Rolle said the government’s objective extends beyond job creation to building a more productive and protected workforce.
Broadband push expands to Family Islands
BTC - from page B1
solely on traditional fbre infrastructure.
Mr Bhatti said the company has already completed the rollout of BTC Air in Bimini and has begun retiring its legacy corporate network there. Meanwhile, deployment in Eleuthera is well advanced.
“We’ve completely rolled out Bimini BTC Air, and we shut down our corporate network,” he said. “We are well along the way in Eleuthera in rolling out BTC Air.”
He argued that consumers increasingly prioritise data services, making broadband access the foundation of modern telecommunications.
“You think about your mobile phone in your pocket, you rely on the data. Whether gigabyte allotment or your socials, you rely on data frst. And particularly when you’re home, you rely on data frst,” he said. “Data is the source of all of your use cases.”
According to Mr Bhatti, BTC Air is designed to
deliver what he described as “tech equity” by providing Family Island residents with internet capabilities comparable to those available in New Providence and Grand Bahama.
“The same kind of capabilities you can expect here in New Providence, with our gold standard, our fbre product, you can get the same capabilities if it’s broadband only, or if it’s triple play,” he said.
BTC Air utilises next-generation fxed wireless access technology that connects homes to telecommunications towers using dedicated spectrum separate from the company’s mobile network.
Mr Bhatti explained that the service employs tower-based base nodes and receivers installed at customer homes to create a wireless connection for the fnal segment of the network.
“This is a next generation fxed wireless access, and it uses a diferent spectrum from your mobile spectrum,” he said. “So it does not consume the bandwidth that you have for mobile calls,” he said.
Drug plan activates emergency supply response
NPDP - from page B1
“Patient safety and continuity of care remain our highest priorities,” the NPDP said.
“The NPDP has been in direct communication with its pharmaceutical wholesalers and suppliers, and replenishment shipments are expected to arrive over the coming days, with normal availability anticipated by the end of next week.”
The acknowledgement comes as many healthcare systems worldwide continue to grapple with periodic disruptions in pharmaceutical supply chains, particularly for medications used to manage chronic conditions.
To limit the impact on benefciaries, the NPDP said it is working closely with suppliers to secure
inventory, activating emergency procurement measures where necessary and identifying clinically appropriate alternatives in consultation with healthcare providers.
Ofcials said additional supply sources are also being explored to strengthen the resilience of the programme’s medication supply chain and reduce the risk of future disruptions.
The programme sought to reassure benefciaries that it remains committed to providing medications covered under its existing formulary while preparations continue for the introduction of a revised drug list scheduled to take efect on August 1.
According to the NPDP, the updated formulary will feature revised medication options for the management of chronic medical conditions.
“Our goal is not simply to create more jobs, but to build a workforce that is empowered, protected, fairly compensated, and equipped to compete and succeed,” she said.
“As we invest in workers, we must also promote productivity, accountability, and a culture of lifelong learning. When opportunity and responsibility align, labour becomes one of the most powerful engines of national development and economic growth.”
The wireless connection covers what he referred to as the “last mile” between the tower and the home.
“So, this is a next generation fxed wireless access, and it uses a diferent spectrum from your mobile spectrum,” he said. “So it does not consume the bandwidth that you have for mobile calls. This is a totally diferent spectrum. Actually, it’s shared with the Wi-Fi spectrum. It includes a base node on our towers and remote nodes that we install on the side of your home.
“And so it’s a wireless last mile connection from the tower to the home. And then from that point in the home inside to your gateway, your router, your TV setup boxes, it’s all the same as your fbre connection, all the same gear. So that’s where we bring tech equity. The diference is that last mile between the tower and the home. That’s what’s wireless.
Mr Bhatti added: “We think the combination that we have of fbre, particularly in New Providence and Grand Bahama, and BTC Air, as we roll into the Family Islands, is the right complement of technologies, given the archipelagic nature of our country.”
Until those changes are implemented, the programme said it will continue providing all medications available under the current plan while working to maintain access for benefciaries afected by the shortages.
The NPDP urged patients not to discontinue prescribed treatment without consulting their physician or pharmacist and encouraged benefciaries experiencing difculties obtaining medications to seek professional advice regarding treatment options.
“We recognize the concern that temporary supply disruptions can cause for patients and their families and appreciate the public’s patience and understanding,” the statement said.
The programme added that it will continue monitoring inventory levels, coordinating with suppliers and updating healthcare providers as medication stocks are replenished.
Questions remain over seabed framework
SEABED - from page B1
to obtain seabed leases from the Government.
While ofcials have argued the changes are intended to strengthen regulation and ensure the public receives greater value from the use of seabed resources, industry stakeholders have questioned how the new framework will operate and what fees may ultimately be imposed Representatives of the marina industry have since expressed uncertainty over whether existing operators will be required to pay
new seabed lease fees in addition to current dock licence fees, while others have argued that successive governments have historically undervalued commercial use of the seabed and should receive greater compensation for access to public resources.
Against that backdrop, ORG argued that any new seabed leasing regime should be accompanied by extensive stakeholder consultation before implementation.
“To date, there has not been sufcient opportunity for meaningful engagement with afected stakeholders
Bahamas rum brand gains global recognition
TARIFFS - from page B3
Although the recent awards have generated international attention, Mr Argamasilla stressed that the distillery is not pursuing rapid expansion.
“We got a lot of requests all the time to send our products here and send our products there,” he said.
“But we’re in this for the long haul, so we’re building the company slowly, so it lasts. The worst thing you want to do is build it
too quickly, and then it implodes on itself.”
Beyond exports, Mr Argamasilla argued that premium rum production can play a larger role in diversifying The Bahamas’ tourism ofering and strengthening the country’s reputation as a luxury destination.
“The Bahamas, outside of us, really doesn’t have premium rum production,” he said. “We’re the only ones that are making premium rum here.
regarding the rationale, alternatives, risks, benefts and long-term implications of the proposed framework,” ORG said.
The organisation noted that the Government has repeatedly emphasized consultation and community engagement as part of its broader policy agenda and suggested that the seabed leasing proposal presents an opportunity to demonstrate those commitments in practice.
The report also linked the issue to broader concerns regarding public participation in national decision-making.
He added that the country’s tourism industry should increasingly align itself with premium Bahamian-made products.
“You have these people that pay a ton of money to come here to stay at some of the greatest hotels, Baha Mar, Atlantis, Island House, et cetera, and then they end up serving them cheap booze,” Mr Argamasilla said. “These people want premium alcohol. They want to experience The Bahamas.”
According to Mr Argamasilla, approximately 400,000 visitors annually visit the historic Buena Vista Estate in downtown Nassau, where the distillery
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ORG argued that meaningful consultation should become a central feature of major policy initiatives, particularly those afecting Family Island communities and industries dependent on marine resources.
The report similarly called for extensive public engagement as the Government develops Family Island development plans, warning that consultation should not become merely a validation exercise after key decisions have already been made.
“The process must involve locals, local government representatives,
operates, underscoring the growing appeal of experiential tourism oferings beyond traditional sun, sand and sea attractions.
“When people go to a hotel, the frst thing they’re going to ask a bartender is, ‘What’s the local rum here?’” he said. “We want the answer from the bartender to be John Watlings.”
However, he acknowledged that Bahamian rum producers face signifcant cost disadvantages compared with larger Caribbean competitors due to the country’s reliance on imported raw materials and production inputs.
“The Bahamas doesn’t
businesses, youth, environmental stakeholders, faith-based organizations and civil society groups from the earliest stages,” the report said.
While the Budget analysis primarily focused on fscal policy and governance, ORG said issues such as seabed leasing demonstrate why transparency, public participation and trust remain essential components of long-term national development planning.
The organization encouraged policymakers and members of the public to review its full budget
Mr Argamasilla said. “The Bahamas doesn’t have its own glass manufacturing. The Bahamas doesn’t have its own label manufacturing. The Bahamas doesn’t make its own corks.
“So again, you need to import everything, which raises your costs.”
Still, he argued that premium positioning and internationally recognised quality allow the company to justify those higher costs.
“These awards are so special to us because they prove that we’re making a quality product,” he said.
“Once you have a quality product, you can command what it’s worth.”
analysis and engage in discussions surrounding major policy reforms and their potential impacts on communities throughout The Bahamas. Public concerns surrounding seabed leasing intensifed last year following controversy over a proposed 21-year lease agreement with Bahamas Moorings that would have allowed the company to install and operate moorings throughout parts of the Exuma Cays. The agreement was cancelled after public backlash and criticism over the lack of consultation and transparency surrounding the arrangement.
Mr Argamasilla also called for greater government support in promoting Bahamian-made spirits internationally, suggesting that John Watling’s products should be featured at tourism promotion events.
“I would love John Watlings to be served in all the embassies and all the high commissions around the world,” he said. “I think that’s the way that you begin to advertise The Bahamas and its products because it makes no sense for The Bahamas to throw a party and use a Jamaican rum.”
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Plans shaped by customer feedback
roaming add-ons and data boosters intended to give customers greater control over spending. According to Mr Bhatti, a key objective was addressing what customers described as “bill shock” caused by unexpected overage charges and rapid data consumption.
“What a lot of the feedback we got from customers is that their data just runs away, and it disappears so fast on the current plans that they have,” he said.
“So we listened to that, and when we really got underneath it, we could see that hotspot usage was moving up faster than they could expect. These plans are designed for more fexibility, more control, more confdence for our customers, no bill shock, no surprises.”
BTC executives repeatedly emphasized that the
product design was formed by focus groups and customer consultations.
Jewel Sturrup, the company’s product project lead, said consumer feedback highlighted concerns about afordability and the need for more predictable monthly costs amid economic pressures.
“Our customers said that they wanted more fexibility, better value for money, because life is very hard right now,” Ms Sturrup said. “So we wanted predictable monthly spending, easy access to data and voice services and a simple convenient experience.”
She added that BTC had sought to create plans capable of serving a broad customer base, including students, families, professionals, travellers and everyday mobile users.
Leonora Coakley, BTC’s mobile product development manager, said the company conducted numerous focus groups over
several months to better understand changing customer expectations.
“Our customers talked about being able to have the power of spend, being able to control their spend, fexibility,” Ms Coakley said.
“You don’t always travel, or you don’t use much data, but you’re paying for these things in the plan. So we created a plan that fts every customer lifestyle.”
BTC’s senior marketing manager, LaToya Moxey, framed the launch as part of a broader strategy to strengthen the company’s presence across The Bahamas while responding to evolving customer demands.
“Launching Flex, Plus and Ultra is more than introducing new mobile plans for us. It’s about delivering connectivity across the islands with promise,” Ms Moxey said.
“Most importantly, we’ve listened. We’ve had focus groups, we’ve had
What to know about the growing opposition to Trump family-linked resort in Albania
By ZANA CIMILI Associated Press
A MASSIVE coastal development project linked to Jared Kushner, the son-inlaw of U.S. President Donald Trump, is facing growing opposition in Albania where Saturday marked the 14th consecutive day of protests in the capital, Tirana.
Thousands of protesters are taking to the streets in nightly protests, blowing whistles and holding up cardboard cut-outs of famingos — one of the protected migratory bird species that could see their habitats threatened by the proposed luxury resort.
The government says the development on the Adriatic coast would be
transformational for the former communist nation as it seeks to enter the highend tourism market and pushes for European Union membership.
But the venture, spanning an abandoned island and a nearby stretch of seafront on Albania’s southern coast, has drawn opposition from environmental campaigners and critics of longtime Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama.
Outside forces blamed for anger In an interview with The Associated Press, Rama vowed not to “step back” from the development and defended his administration’s environmental record. He insisted the protests
were being encouraged by malicious cyber activists overseas.
“There is a lot of manipulation. There are a lot of half-truths that become bigger and bigger lies by the hour,” Rama said, accusing Iran of targeting his government.
The allegations, which Rama has made for several years, followed a dispute with Albania after it sheltered members of an Iranian opposition group in 2022. Iran has denied the claims.
Despite Rama’s defense of the development, the protests have gathered pace, with supporters in Albanian communities in neighboring Greece and other European countries also holding rallies.
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conversations, and you’ve expressed to us how you felt.”
Mr Bhatti said the rollout represents a substantial investment and development efort that stretched over several years.
“This kind of rollout is a signifcant rollout,” he said. “It’s not done in months, it’s done in years.”
“There’s some aspects of this that have been more than two years in the works.”
The launch also signals BTC’s efort to attract both existing prepaid subscribers and customers from rival networks by ofering hybrid features that combine elements of prepaid and post-paid services.
BTC argued that the plans remove some of the traditional barriers associated with post-paid contracts by giving customers greater control over data purchases and roaming costs.
The protests are also becoming increasingly political. Calls to halt the development project have been gradually replaced by overtly political demands, centered on calls for Rama’s resignation and early elections.
Kushner and Ivanka Trump found the site on a barefoot hike
The luxury project has two components: a coastal development in the Narta Lagoon area, which is a wildlife reserve, and a smaller resort on the nearby uninhabited island of Sazan, a communist-era military base.
The planned development of hotels, apartments, villas and a marina is linked to Kushner and Trump’s daughter, Ivanka Trump. An investment frm linked to Kushner has been granted special investor status by Albanian authorities.
In an interview this week with U.S. podcaster David Senra, Ivanka Trump said they discovered the site by accident.
“We were on a friend’s boat, and we stopped for a swim. Efectively, that’s how we found it,” she said. “We swam to the island. We went on a hike, barefoot all the way up to the top, and we were just captivated.”
Harsh communist rule and pristine beaches
Albania has 450 kilometers (280 miles) of coast that remained largely underdeveloped during decades of harsh communist rule.
Protest groups fear sections of that pristine coastline could be snapped up by powerful investors.
And public anger grew after video showed an activist being dragged by a private security guard while demonstrating at the site.
From rockets to brain implants, here’s a look at Elon Musk’s vast empire
NEW YORK Associated Press
ELON Musk, the world’s richest man and now frstever trillionaire, controls a lot of diferent businesses.
Electric vehicles. Brain implants. Underground tunnels. A social media platform once called Twitter. And a rocket maker that blasted of its trading from Wall Street this week.
Over time, more and more of these ventures have found themselves under the same roof. Musk merged SpaceX — which went public on Friday — with his artifcial intelligence company xAI just earlier this year. But he still holds the CEO role at several corporations today, in addition to other various executive titles or ownership stakes.
Here’s a look at Musk’s vast business empire.
SpaceX
Musk is CEO of SpaceX, which he founded in 2002.
The company has grown far beyond rockets. It owns satellite communications service Starlink, a big source of cash for the company that generated $4.4 billion in operating income last year. SpaceX also houses social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, which Musk bought for $44 billion in 2022 and parked it under xAI, the maker of the Grok chatbot.
Both xAI and X are money losers (the AI business lost $6.4 billion in operations last year). Nonetheless, SpaceX — which lost $2.6 billion overall from operations last year — was able to whip up enough market hype to debut with the biggest initial public ofering in history on Friday, closing at just below $161 per share, or a total market value of $2.1 trillion.
Some think that price tag signifcantly overvalues the company. SpaceX has promised it will become a leader in AI and one day help make human life multiplanetary — with lofty, and at times sci-f sounding, goals that range from putting data centers in space to colonizing Mars. But the bulk of that hinges on unproven technology and massive capital needs.
Tesla
Musk is also CEO of Tesla, a role he has held at the electric car maker since 2008.
Tesla has struggled with rising competition in the EV space. Last year, the company lost its crown as the world’s largest EV maker to China’s BYD. Sales were also bruised during boycotts over Musk’s politics. Those numbers have since
rebounded some, but Musk has repeatedly shrugged of troubles — emphasizing that Tesla’s future lies less in car sales than getting people to take rides in them as self-driving taxis. Beyond the road, Tesla has been upping production of robots for homes and businesses. And it’s also been in the solar energy business for about a decade with it purchase of SolarCity, which was founded by Musk and two of his cousins. Tesla went public in 2010, and went on to join the trillion dollar club on the S&P 500. Its market cap currently stands around $1.5 trillion.
Neuralink
Musk has also the CEO title at Neuralink, a brain-computer interface company he co-founded in 2016.
Neuralink is one of many groups working to connect the human nervous system to machines. It’s launched clinical trials for people who have spinal cord injuries, ALS and other conditions. The company (and sometimes Musk himself ) has announced a handful of brain implants over recent years. In January, Neuralink said it had 21 trial participants worldwide.
The Boring Company
Musk also founded The Boring Company, a decade-old tunnel digging and underground transportation business.
The Boring Company is behind projects like the “Vegas Loop” — a network of underground, Tesla-hailing tunnels that frst opened around around the Las Vegas Convention Center in 2021. It’s promised to deliver a network of high speed transit — with plans to also make tunnels in Dubai and Nashville. Still, pushback has piled up along the way. The company has been accused of breaking multiple safety and environmental requirements in Las Vegas, where its full route is still unfnished, and other criticism from some local ofcials in Nashville.
Paypal and other previous endeavors
Musk made his initial fortune by creating two companies, Zip2 and PayPal ( once X.com ). Those then-startups were sold to new owners decades ago — but netted him about $200 million at sale, which Musk used to later start SpaceX and invest in Tesla.
a x this week
Georgia’s vote-counting method will soon be banned. Lawmakers will try to nd
By KATE BRUMBACK Associated Press
WHEN Georgia lawmakers return to the Capitol this week for a special session, they are expected to try to clean up an election mess of their own making.
The election system used throughout the political battleground state relies on a QR code printed on ballots to tally the votes. Legislators passed a law two years ago barring the use of that barcode for the ofcial vote count beyond July 1 of this year, but no replacement method of tabulating votes was ever implemented.
One of the instructions
Republican Gov. Brian Kemp laid out for lawmakers when he called the special session is to “address issues created” by that law. Meanwhile, the secretary of state’s ofce and the State Election Board have further muddied the waters by issuing conficting guidance for county election ofcials about how votes should be cast and counted.
If the issues are not resolved soon, there is likely to be confusion and possibly litigation over the state’s elections after July 1. A special election to fll a U.S. House seat is scheduled for that month.
How did we get here?
Georgia’s current election system was frst used statewide during the 2020 primary. After the general election that year, when Republican President Donald Trump narrowly lost the state to Democrat Joe Biden, Trump and his supporters claimed without evidence that the machines had deleted or switched votes.
Trump’s backers continued to complain about the touchscreen voting machines, with some loyalists espousing wild conspiracy theories. Election integrity advocates also criticized the machines, saying they are vulnerable to hacking and that voters cannot be sure their selections are accurately refected because people can’t read QR codes.
Republican lawmakers in 2024 tried to address those concerns by passing a law banning barcodes for the “ofcial tabulation count” after July 1, 2026. But in the
two years since, neither the secretary of state’s ofce nor the General Assembly has taken action to comply.
Now, the deadline is fast approaching and a major midterm election looms.
Trump singled out those machines, which are used in at least some counties in more than a dozen states, in his frst executive order on elections shortly after he took ofce for his second term in January 2025. That order has been blocked by multiple courts and is not being enforced.
The governor steps in Last month, Kemp announced a special legislative session, scheduled to start Wednesday, to draw new congressional maps for the 2028 elections and to address the QR code issue. It’s possible that lawmakers could extend the deadline in the law to allow the QR codes to be used for now and give themselves some breathing room to come up with a new system before elections in 2028. But in the waning hours of the regular legislative session earlier this year, they rejected a proposal that would have done that. Even if lawmakers agree on a solution, it might be tough to implement before a special election to fll the remainder of the term of U.S. Rep. David Scott, who died in April. The special election is set for July 28,
with early voting beginning July 6.
Secretary of state ofers guidance to election ofces
The secretary of state’s ofce last week issued guidance to election ofcials in the six counties included in that congressional district. The ofce says it’s preliminary and subject to change based on any developments from the special session.
The ballots will be run through the scanners, which will read the QR code to generate the election night vote count. Then, before county certifcation, electronic images created by the scanners for each ballot will be uploaded to a server, where optical character recognition software will be used to tally the votes using the human-readable text. The results of that second process will be the ofcial tabulation count.
The secretary of state’s guidance expressly says counties must continue to use the current election system, including the touchscreen voting machines, and that there is nothing in the law that authorizes the use of hand-marked paper ballots for in-person voting.
Confict with the election board
The State Election Board weighed in two days later with conficting guidance. Board members argued the plan proposed by the secretary of state is not authorized by law.
China opposes US move to list top rms as military companies
BEIJING Associated Press
The board passed a resolution instructing counties on what to do if the special legislative session does not result in an extension of the deadline for using QR codes. The resolution directs counties to use their emergency backup, which calls for hand-marked paper ballots with scanners used to count voters’ selections.
When asked about the conficting guidance during the election board meeting, Elizabeth Young, a lawyer with the state attorney general’s ofce, said that while the guidance is not binding, “obviously it would cause confusion for elections superintendents if they are getting difering instructions from two agencies, both of which have some authority over what they’re doing.”
The election board has been controlled by a Trump-aligned majority and is often at odds with Secretary of State Brad Rafensperger, a Republican who is a frequent Trump target.
Local election ofcials are in the middle Henry County in Atlanta’s suburbs is one of the counties where voters will go to the polls for next month’s special election. Axiver Harris, interim elections director, said the county is aware of the conficting guidance and is awaiting further clarifcation from the state.
CHINA said Saturday it frmly opposed the U.S. adding several prominent Chinese businesses to its list of military companies, and that the move ignored the consensus reached during U.S. President Donald Trump’s summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping last month.
The Pentagon on Monday added several non-stateowned Chinese companies, including electric vehicle maker BYD, tech giants Alibaba and Baidu to its list that seeks to identify Chinese companies it deems to have ties to the Chinese military, preventing them from landing U.S. defense contracts.
By adding these frms to the list, “the U.S. side has ignored the consensus reached during the meeting
between the heads of state of the two countries in Beijing,” a Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokesperson said Saturday in a statement.
The U.S. has “disregarded the overall interests of bilateral economic and trade relations, continuously generalized the concept of national security, and abused state power to unjustifably suppress Chinese enterprises,” the spokesperson added.
BYD, Alibaba and Baidu said earlier there’s no basis to include them in the list.
Trump in mid-May visited Beijing in a much-anticipated summit with Xi. The two leaders agreed to boost economic ties between the countries, including China’s purchase of more U.S. agricultural products and Boeing jets, and the setting up separate boards of trade and investment.
MODELS stand next to a latest EV car from Chinese automaker BYD showcased at the Auto China 2026, in Beijing, April 25, 2026.
Photo:Andy Wong/AP
COURTNEY Parker votes on a new voting machine, in Dallas, Ga., Nov. 5, 2019.
Photo:Mike Stewart/AP
e world wants more high-protein products, but there’s not enough whey to go around
By DEE-ANN DURBIN AP Business Writer
GLOBAL consumers want more protein in every bite, but the dairy industry is struggling to give it to them.
Athletes and older adults have long used smoothies and shakes blended with whey protein concentrate – a powdered byproduct of cheese-making – to build or maintain muscle. More recently, food companies have sprinkled it into everything from breakfast cereals, Pop-Tarts and potato chips to bagels, tortillas and Starbucks drinks to meet growing consumer demand.
The average U.S. supermarket now has 38,708 products advertising their protein content, according to NielsenIQ, a market research company. But the eagerness to appeal to ingredient-focused shoppers is causing shortages of food-grade whey protein and pushing prices to new records.
“Demand is very frm and seemingly outpacing supply for right now,” said Kathleen Wolfey, vice president of Ever.Ag Insights, a data provider and consulting company for the agriculture industry.
Wholesale prices for whey protein began rising in 2024, and the pace accelerated last year and so far this year, Wolfey said.
Whey protein concentrate with 80% protein – the type often used by food makers and supplement
companies as a booster – is trading on the dairy commodities market at more than $13 per pound in the U.S., up 250% from a year ago, according to Ever. Ag. Whey protein isolate, a more refned vesion that contains at least 90% protein, is 150% more expensive than last year, the company said. That’s raising prices for consumers. U.S. prices for whey protein concentrate powder have increased by around 15% over the past year, while more premium whey isolate powder has seen steeper gains, according to Datasembly, a price-tracking company.
LEGAL NOTICE
JORGAL SUPPLIERS LIMITED
(In Voluntary Liquidation)
Creditors having debts or claims against the above-named Company are required to send particulars thereof to the undersigned c/o Ronald Atkinson & Co., Marron House, Virginia and Augusta Streets, P.O. Box N-8326, Nassau, Bahamas on or before the 26th day of June 2026. In default thereof, they will be excluded from the beneft of any distribution made by the Liquidator.
Dated the 12th day of June 2026.
Tanya P. Simmons Liquidator
NOTICE
JOL LTD.
Incorporated under the International Business Companies Act, 2000 of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas registered in the Register of Companies under the registration number 1502808 (IBC).
(In Voluntary Liquidation)
Notice is hereby given that the liquidation and the winding up of the Company is complete and the Company has been struck off the Register of Companies maintained by the Registrar General.
Dated this 11th day of June A.D. 2026.
PAULO AFONSO BORGES LIQUIDATOR
NOTICE
FBO LTD.
Incorporated under the International Business Companies Act, 2000 of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas registered in the Register of Companies under the registration number 211911 B.
(In Voluntary Liquidation)
Notice is hereby given that the liquidation and the winding up of the Company is complete and the Company has been struck off the Register of Companies maintained by the Registrar General.
Dated this 11th day of June A.D. 2026.
It’s a similar story in Europe. In late May, 80% whey protein concentrate hit a new record average of 26,450 euros ($30,518) per metric ton, a price more than double from less than a year earlier, according to DCA Market Intelligence, a Netherlands-based commodity pricing frm.
Here’s what’s happening with whey protein and when strained supplies might be alleviated.
Curds and whey
Milk contains two proteins: casein and whey. During the cheese-making process, the casein – which forms solid curds – is separated from the liquid whey, which is dried to form a powder. Every pound of cheese yields nine pounds of whey, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
U.S. milk consumption has fallen for decades as
Americans shifted to beverages like sodas. But the appetite for cheese remained strong, Wolfley said. A nation of cheese-eaters generated a lot of whey protein, and some of the excess used to be exported to China and other countries.
The domestic hunger for high-protein snacks and meals is now keeping more whey protein in the U.S. for use as a food additive or a nutritional supplement. U.S. exports of 80% whey protein concentrate and whey protein isolate to China fell 47% from January through April compared to the same four-month period a year ago, according to Vesper, an Amsterdam-based company that tracks commodity prices.
“There simply isn’t enough product for the U.S. customer, and exports have therefore been paused as much as possible,” said
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that I JODY-ANN AKILAH BOYD of Golden Isles Road, New Providence, Bahamas, applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 8th day of June, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE
JARO Capital Group Ltd.
Incorporated under the International Business Companies Act, 2000 of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas registered in the Register of Companies under the registration number 1500917 (IBC).
(In Voluntary Liquidation)
Notice is hereby given that the liquidation and the winding up of the Company is complete and the Company has been struck off the Register of Companies maintained by the Registrar General.
Dated this 11th day of June A.D. 2026.
JORGE ANDRÉ RITZMANN DE OLIVEIRA LIQUIDATOR
NOTICE
Arruda Fraga Investments Ltd.
Incorporated under the International Business Companies Act, 2000 of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas registered in the Register of Companies under the registration number 210733 B.
(In Voluntary Liquidation)
Notice is hereby given that the liquidation and the winding up of the Company is complete and the Company has been struck off the Register of Companies maintained by the Registrar General.
Dated this 11th day of June A.D. 2026.
WALLACE
Jasper Endlich, a Vesper dairy analyst.
China is seeking more whey protein from Europe, which also is seeing shortages thanks to reduced U.S. exports, Endlich said.
Whey and weight loss
Use of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs is one of the factors that has supercharged demand for whey protein concentrate, Wolfey said.
Obesity drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound are designed to suppress the appetites of people taking them. The foods they do eat need to be nutritionally dense, experts say. GLP-1 users often are advised to consume enough protein to help them feel full for longer and to retain muscle mass as they lose weight.
Around 6% of obese and diabetic patients in the U.S. and 2% of obese and diabetic patients worldwide were using GLP-1 drugs last year, according to an estimate by the investment bank Morgan Stanley. Some estimates have put GLP-1 use as high as 12% of the U.S. adult population, since not everyone on GLP-1 drugs is obese or diabetic.
Food and nutrition companies are creating added-protein products to attract those consumers as well as people who think drinking protein shakes to replace meals will help them lose weight.
Pricey protein
Tight supplies and higher costs have caused some manufacturers to increase the prices consumers pay for protein powder or protein-enriched products.
Now Foods, an Illinois-based maker of health foods and nutritional supplements, said tubs of whey protein powder are consistently the biggest seller in its sports nutrition category. But after two years of paying more for raw ingredients, the company raised the price of its own whey protein products earlier this year.
Bryan Morin, the sports brand manager at Now, said the company doesn’t anticipate further price increases on whey protein powder this year. It’s trying to absorb some of its increased costs by cutting back on discounts. It’s also considering expanding its portfolio to include products made with milk protein concentrate, a powder that contains less whey and is cheaper.
“From our perspective, broader market dynamics continue to indicate a tight and evolving protein landscape,” Morin said.
More on the whey Wolfey, at Ever.Ag, said manufacturers are investing in whey protein production, which should eventually improve supplies. But the relief won’t be immediate. Glanbia, an Irish nutrition company, said in November that it planned to increase its whey protein isolate production in New Mexico, but the additional capacity won’t be in place until 2027. In February, Canadian dairy company Agropur said it intended to increase whey protein manufacturing at plants in Quebec, Nova Scotia, South Dakota and Wisconsin by 2029.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that I GARRIKK MICHAEL TOMLINSON of Charles W. Saunders High Way House 4 Appartment #2, New Providence, Bahamas, applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twentyeight days from the 8th day of June, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE
M4 COVERT LTD
Incorporated under the International Business Companies Act, 2000 of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas registered in the Register of Companies under the registration number 1501110 (IBC).
(In Voluntary Liquidation)
Notice is hereby given that the liquidation and the winding up of the Company is complete and the Company has been struck off the Register of Companies maintained by the Registrar General.
Dated this 11th day of June A.D. 2026.
WAVELL SANTOS JUNIOR LIQUIDATOR
NOTICE
Aeschenvorstadt 48 Ltd.
Incorporated under the International Business Companies Act, 2000 of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas registered in the Register of Companies under the registration number 211580 B.
(In Voluntary Liquidation)
Notice is hereby given that the liquidation and the winding up of the Company is complete and the Company has been struck off the Register of Companies maintained by the Registrar General.
Dated this 11th day of June A.D. 2026.
DANILO RICCI OSTI LIQUIDATOR
PROTEIN products sit for sale at a grocery store, Wednesday, June 10, 2026, in Dallas. Photo:LM Otero/AP
Why Trump and other G7 leaders meeting without China might be a mistake
By JOHN LEICESTER Associated Press
FROM the outset, China wasn’t included when major powers gathered in 1975 at a chateau outside Paris to fx the slumping global economy, the frst of what have become annual summits by the G7 club of wealthy nations to forward their interests.
No surprise there.
Imagining Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong brainstorming with U.S. President Gerald Ford and other leaders would have been unthinkable.
China was in turmoil, nowhere close to becoming the economic giant it is now. Mao had also helped defeat France and U.S. forces in Vietnam, by militarily supporting Ho Chi Minh’s communists that took power. So Mao would have been the odd man out had he been at the inaugural Rambouillet summit of six nations, growing into the G7 when Canada joined the following year.
But as U.S. President Donald Trump and his G7 counterparts gather again in France from Monday, China’s exclusion from the informal club’s summits also looks odd, given its now immense sway over the
Nara
world’s economic well-being and afairs. Put simply: Without China, does the G7 make sense?
Here’s a closer look: By the numbers, China would be a shoo-in
If determined only by economic success, China would already be in the club. Its economy, swollen by decades of growth since Mao’s death in 1976, now
Organics
recalls
dwarfs those of G7 nations Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Canada — leaving only the United States to catch. By this measure, a G7 summit without China is arguably like a soccer World Cup without 5-time winner Brazil.
From being “only a tiny, benign, panda bear” in 1975, “China has become a great global dragon,” says John Kirton, a University
baby formula
of Toronto specialist on the G7.
“So many understandably ask: Would the G7 and the global community be better of if China became a member of the G7 club? A plausible answer is ‘Yes.’”
But it’s only for democracies
A year ago, Trump mused about possibly expanding the club to include China, saying “ it’s not a bad idea
sold at
after multistate infant botulism outbreak
SAN FRANCISCO
NARA Organics recalled its organic baby formula sold nationwide in Target stores and online Saturday after a multistate outbreak of infant botulism, federal authorities said. Three babies between 2 and 5 months became ill in April and May in California, Pennsylvania and Washington after consuming Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Powdered infant formula, which is also sold on Nara.com, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said.
They were hospitalized and treated with the FDA-approved treatment for infant botulism, the agency said. Infant botulism is a rare but serious illness that occurs in babies under age 1, whose gut microbiomes are immature. It is caused when infants consume bacteria with spores that produce a toxin in the gut. Symptoms include constipation, poor feeding, drooping eyelids, weak muscle tone, difculty swallowing and breathing problems, among others.
Babies who develop those symptoms need
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that I LEDAIN GERZINIO of Mackey Street, New Providence, Bahamas, applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 8th day of June, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that I CARLOS BROWN of Chub Cay, Berry islands, Bahamas, applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 8th day of June, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
immediate medical attention. The sole treatment is BabyBIG, an IV medication made from blood plasma of people immunized against botulism.
Target
Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula makes up less than 1% of all infant formula sold in the United States, and the outbreak does not create shortage concerns
“ when a journalist asked him. But an unwritten G7 rule has always been that it’s only for democracies.
“We are each responsible for the government of an open, democratic society, dedicated to individual liberty and social advancement,” the founding leaders declared in Rambouillet in 1975.
China wouldn’t have cleared that bar then, during Mao’s rule that claimed many millions of lives through famine and revolutionary upheaval.
Nor, under President Xi Jinping, would China do so now. By multiple measures, including the annual Freedom in the World study the World Press Freedom Index or the Canadian Fraser Institute’s ranking of economic freedom, China lags far behind G7 nations for civil liberties.
China a priority subject for the G7
China’s clout impacts all G7 countries, in myriad ways. It sells far more goods than it buys, announcing a record trade surplus of
for parents and caregivers, the FDA said.
People who have the formula are urged to stop using it immediately, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control said in a statement. The formula is manufactured in Europe but sold only in the U.S., it added.
The CDC recommended that anyone with an opened can take a picture, record
almost $1.2 trillion in 2025, which is a source of friction with other industrial powers. It controls supplies of crucial rare minerals. Its technological advances and growing military strength are giving rivals cold sweats. And it is the world’s biggest emitter of climate-warming pollution.
All this means that China will be an elephant in the room at the Monday-to-Wednesday summit in the Alpine spa town of Evian-les-Bains.
As host, French President Emmanuel Macron has carved out time for the leaders to talk about how to rebalance trade with China, amid fears that soaring Chinese exports of cars and other products could wreck G7 industries. The chemistry between Trump and other G7 leaders has been bad of late — over the Iran war and other bones of contention — but China could be an issue that unites them, said Cédric Dupont, who specializes in international politics at the Geneva Graduate Institute.
the lot number and use-by date and watch their infants for symptoms.
“Label it ‘DO NOT USE’ and keep it stored in a safe place away from other items you feed your baby for at least a month,” the CDC said. “If no symptoms appear after a month, throw the leftover formula away.”
U.S. PRESIDENT Donald Trump, right, shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping while leaving after a visit to the Zhongnanhai Garden in Beijing, Friday, May 15, 2026.
Photo:Evan Vucci/AP
THE FOOD and Drug Administration seal is seen at the Hubert Humphrey Building Auditorium in Washington, April 22, 2025. Photo:Jose Luis Magana/AP
Trump tried to block state AI regulations, but some states are forging ahead
By MARC LEVY Associated Press
SIX months after President Donald Trump warned states not to regulate artifcial intelligence, they are increasingly doing just that.
Congress has stalled on producing federal regulation of artifcial intelligence as states forge ahead and scrutinize how chatbots interact with children, how AI systems are used by employers and what developers must do to try to prevent an AI-caused catastrophe.
State lawmakers have stepped back from earlier, wider-ranging attempts to regulate AI that were vetoed or otherwise derailed by governors who viewed the measures as too onerous toward the industry’s development, including eforts to hold developers accountable for bias in AI systems.
But they are returning with legislation that is more targeted and, often, probes the corners of life where Americans interact with AI but may not know it.
Presidential power versus state power
Trump’s move to restrain states’ actions on AI drew criticism from members of both political parties and civil liberties and consumer rights groups who worried that banning state regulation would amount to a gift
to AI giants, who enjoy little to no oversight.
Trump has made AI a top national and economic security priority, and he said that letting states clutter the regulatory playing feld for an industry that’s spending trillions of dollars and driving the economy is too risky in the race with China for AI superiority.
Trump issued an executive order that directed the attorney general to create a task force to challenge state laws that are more than “minimally burdensome,” and directed the Commerce Department to draw up a list of problematic regulations. It also threatened to restrict funding from a
broadband deployment program and other grant programs to states with AI laws.
The White House said it wouldn’t target state laws that seek to prevent fraud and protect consumers and children.
In the meantime, the Trump administration released a “national policy framework” in which it urged Congress to preempt state AI laws that are out of step with its regulatory worldview and to pass legislation to protect children, intellectual property rights and free speech. In recent days, a new bipartisan draft proposal in the House met withering criticism
Altman arrives at the U.S. District Court in Oakland, Calif., April 30, 2026.
OpenAI hit with multistate probe into possible user harm as its IPO looms
By BERNARD CONDON AP Business Writer
OPENAI received a subpoena from several states as part of a probe into the safety of users of its chatbot as it prepares to ofer stock to the public for the frst time.
The company behind the popular chatbot, ChatGPT, said it will respond to the inquiry “constructively” and that it already has in place measures to protect its customers.
“AI is a new and powerful technology, and we work every day to safely bring its benefts to people in a responsible way,” an emailed statement from a spokesperson said. “We take the concerns raised by state attorneys general seriously.”
OpenAI has drawn criticism for ChatGPT allegedly ofering encouraging words to users thinking of killing themselves or engaging criminal acts. It also has come under scrutiny for how its uses health data and other personal information of its customers.
On Thursday, the company was sued by a Canadian blaming the chatbot for her daughter’s decision to hang herself. Earlier in June, the Florida attorney general sued the company after two separate shootings where alleged gunmen were reported to have asked ChatGPT questions while planning their crimes. OpenAI said in a statement that its models repeatedly encouraged the individuals to seek realworld support, including from mental health professionals. The company also said it has cooperated with law enforcement in both shooting cases.
The new probe comes just a few day after it fled documents with U.S. security regulators for a highly anticipated initial public ofering of stock. Artifcial intelligence rival SpaceX celebrated its own IPO on Friday. The rocket maker founded by Elon Musk also runs an AI business responsible for a rival chatbot called Grok.
How governments should respond to the potential for good and possible dangerous of AI is becoming a big political issue. Regulators Europe opened investigations into Musk’s Grok over antisemitic content and sexualized material, include deepfake nudes. And another chatbot company preparing an IPO, Anthropic, was directed by the Trump administration Friday to shut down two of its online models to users abroad for national security reasons. The OpenAI subpoena was earlier reported by The Wall Street Journal. The Associated Press sent emails to a dozen state attorneys general Saturday asking for details of the probe but has not received any responses.
In its statement, OpenAI highlighted measures it has taken to keep children using its chatbot safe.
“Today’s ChatGPT includes a more protective experience for minors and people experiencing difcult situations, with safeguards that direct them to real-world resources and trusted human contacts,” the statement read in part.
“We believe kids should be treated like kids, which is why we built age prediction, released parental tools to guide their children’s use of AI, and disallowed advertising that targets kids.”
from key Democrats and Republicans.
The White House has given no indication that it has made good on its threat to enforce the president’s executive order by going to court against a state’s AI law or withholding money. In a statement, it said the Trump administration is “eager to work with
partners” to enact its policy framework.
States seem largely unrestrained by Trump Trump’s executive order didn’t seem to discourage states from trying to regulate how AI is used. More bills have been introduced this year than last, including by Republicans, said Justine Gluck, policy director of the Future of Privacy Forum, a nonproft that advocates for data privacy in technology and whose members are from industry, academia and civic groups.
In Illinois, legislation on the desk of Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker piggybacked on elements of laws passed last year in California and New York that require developers of large advanced AI models to create protocols to prevent their systems from causing a catastrophe, such as a biological weapons attack,
power outage or large-scale hack.
Illinois added a requirement that AI developers must get an independent auditor to review whether they are complying with their own policies. Analysts see it as a step toward requiring AI developers to take greater accountability for their products.
The bill’s sponsor, Democratic state Sen. Mary Edly-Allen, brushed aside Trump’s threat.
“I don’t know if you’ve met Illinois, but we’re pretty independent,” Edly-Allen told The Associated Press.
The bill drew nearly unanimous support, signaling a willingness by members of Trump’s party to cooperate with Democrats in flling the AI regulatory vacuum left by the federal government.
This kind of legislation is expected to expand to other states.
FLANKED by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, left, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, second right, and White House AI and Crypto Czar David Sacks, President Donald Trump displays his signed AI initiative in the Oval Office of the White House, Dec. 11, 2025, in Washington.
