08282025 BUSINESS

THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2025

Opposition: Davis hiding nearly $500m debt

By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

OPPOSITION blasts Davis administration over ‘secret

loans’ and nearly $500 m in new debt

Opposition Financial

Spokesman Kwasi Thompson is calling for greater transparency from the government after the Ministry of Finance’s public sector debt bulletin for the fourth quarter of the 2024-2025 fiscal year revealed an annual increase of $440.9m in debt.

Mr. Thompson described it as “shocking” that the Davis administration accumulated almost half a billion dollars in new debt between July 2024 and June 2025, demanding an explanation for the sharp rise in borrowing.

“This same PLP government kept saying they only needed about $70 m to cover the budget deficit. So why borrow over six times more

than what should have been needed? What are they hiding?” he questioned.

The Ministry of Finance report revealed that at the end of June 2025, total public sector debt stood at $13.15bn, reflecting a $440.9m increase over the past year. Most of the rise was driven by central government borrowing, while government agencies and state-owned enterprises reduced their debt during the same period.

Foreign currency debt grew by $230.7m in the April–June

Gov’t accused of ‘selling passports’ to Dominican fisherman

By ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net

THE opposition is calling for an investigation into poacher’s collaboration with Bahamians as one fisherman accuses the government of selling passports and “our sovereignty”, further encouraging poaching.

Chuck Pinder, a commercial fisherman of 43 years, stands

firm on his belief that poaching is on the rise again and accused the government of selling and issuing passports, especially to Dominicans who have been known to participate in the illegal activity in Bahamian waters.

Mr Pinder said he and other fishermen during the reign of the Free National Movement (FNM), “fought tooth and nail” to end “corruption.”

Anger at $100 registration fee for liquor store owners

By ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter

anixon@tribunemedia.net

LIQUOR store owners are angry at having to pay a $100 registration fee as a crackdown on their oversaturation in the country - effective September 1- is enforced.

quarter, making up 44.7percent of the total debt. Meanwhile, Bahamian dollar debt fell by $213.3m during the quarter but recorded a year-over-year increase of $283.2m. Bahamian dollar obligations now account for a slightly larger share— 55.3percent—of the country’s overall debt portfolio.

The report also revealed that the government’s claims on the public sector increased by $71.6m, a 26 percent jump, making up 4.6 percent of total domestic debt. This rise came

He claims they were successful in almost completely curing The Bahamas of its poaching problem by pushing for the current legislation that states only Bahamian citizens and residents can fish commercially within the country.

Mr Pinder added: “There could be no foreigners on any fishing boat in this country.”

“The now Prime Minister got up when he was campaigning in Long Island stated that commercial fishing would remain for Bahamians only,” Mr Pinder said.

“So that means the only way that anyone could fish on a companion commercial fishing boat would be if they were Bahamian or held a Bahamian passport.

“So this is the next step now in crookedness and cronyism

as other parts of the domestic debt shifted, including higher borrowing from commercial banks and the private sector, and reduced holdings by the Central Bank and public corporations.

Mr. Thompson criticized the government for what he described as attempts to conceal overspending through undisclosed loans to public corporations.

He pointed to a $10.9 m loan granted to the already over-budget Public Beaches & Parks Authority, as well as a $10 m loan to the

and whatever you want to call it in our country to where we bringing in foreigners, issuing them a Bahamian passport that’s within the system. So when they’re boarded and the Defence Force checks them out, they have a Bahamian passport, and everything seems to be legit, but yet they show no proof of being married to nobody. They show no proof of how long they’ve been in this country, for however long the passport states.

“The fact of the matter is, it’s all a ring of corruption that’s taking place to get the foreigners back aboard the Bahamian commercial vessels that we have to compete with within our own country because of a bunch of

Judicial review called for over Exuma resort development

By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

AN EXUMA developer has filed for a judicial review in the Supreme Court against the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP), challenging its decision to approve a controversial neighbouring resort development.

Bob Coughlin, principal of the $75m Turtlegrass Resort and Island Club on Sampson Cay, Exuma, is seeking judicial review of DEPP’s decision to issue a Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) to Yntegra Group for the proposed $200m Rosewood Exuma resort.

He told reporters yesterday that he previously filed a formal protest with DEPP last month and has since initiated court proceedings to challenge the department’s review and approval process.

While declining to discuss the legal action in further detail, Mr Coughlin maintained that the Rosewood Exuma project is too dense for the area and could cause lasting damage to the environment and surrounding businesses.

“Everybody thinks that because we’re doing this stuff, that we’re against them doing a development,” said Mr Coughlin.

“I’m not against them doing their development. What we honestly believe, and what SEA believes, without a lot of study, is 96 structures, which is what they plan to put on this barrier cay is too dense. It brings too much traffic, too much land destruction, not just sea destruction, but they’re basically going to

Having to pay for a business license already, many bar owners are unhappy with having to pay an additional $100 for registration upon business license renewals or while trying to obtain a business license for the first time.

By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business

Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN businesses

consumer market of 1.4 bn people as the

Commission moves to connect

vendors with China’s booming e-commerce platforms. Trade Commission Chairman Senator Barry Griffin said the goal is to help Bahamian entrepreneurs tap into the Chinese digital marketplace—home to platforms like Alibaba and JD.com—by establishing export pathways for locally made products such as seafood, rum, crafts, and cultural goods.

Daryle Isaacs owner of Lumpy’s Bar & Grill noted the many other bills entrepreneurs are faced with. “It’s kind of crazy, he said. “I think it’s almost like you’re trying to tax the small man, straight out of business. They’re always

He explained that the Commission is working to introduce Bahamian vendors to China’s dominant online sales platforms, which would allow them to create profiles, list products, and receive payments

KWASI THOMPSON

Poaching again on rise, claims commercial fisherman

PASSPORTS - from page B1

crooked Bahamian people that have invested in fishing boats because of the the noise in the marketplace, so to speak, that the Bahamian fishing grounds are so successful now that they want a piece of the pie. So they don’t want to play fair, they want to hire all these Dominicans to work on these boats. But the only way they could do it is with the Bahamian passport.

“So that is, that’s what’s going on now in our country. We actually selling our sovereignty to people to hire them for hire, to go out and take the living from hard working Bahamian fishermen that deserve to be living in this country, that deserve to earn and earn a living, to put food on the table for their families, and this is what we facing right now.”

Mr Pinder is seeking confirmation that over 63 Dominicans are fishing commercially with over 21 of them having arrived in June and obtaining passports. Tribune Business was unable to confirm with the Depart of Immigration or the Passport Office. However, Coalition of Independents (COI) Chairman, Charlotte Green, responded to a Facebook post made by Mr Pinder regarding the alleged sighting of Dominican poachers

in the Old Bahama Channel between Cuba and The Bahamas witnessed by a Bahamian fisherman while on a cruise. Ms Green commented: “Truth is, both PLP and FNM playing the same game.”

“One side handing out fake work permits, and passports like candy, the other side is silent on the frontline, and we are the ones losing everything,” Ms Green added. “No accountability, no protection, just pure sellout.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shot back at Ms Green’s allegations adding:

“The Permanent Secretary has written to the Commissioner of Police to make the police aware of the allegations and cause an investigation to begin.

“Perhaps Ms Green will exercise her patriotic duty and share any evidence she has in her possession to support her claim. If she cannot, the country will know that the allegations are bogus.”

The FNM in a press statement put out by opposition leader Michael Pintard yesterday, detailed measures put in place when it was in power to safeguard the fishing industry.

“We outlawed the use of scuba hoses by Dominican divers, barred them from working on Bahamian fishing boats, and resisted every attempt to roll back the

longline ban,” it read. “We made clear that while fish processing could involve non-Bahamian investment, commercial fishing must remain the birthright of Bohemian citizens. Those measures were tough but necessary and they helped rebuild our stocks and protect crawfish for Bohemian fishermen.

“We also invested in enforcement. Between 2019 and 2021, the FNM acquired four additional patrol vessels and imposed tougher penalties on poachers, including heavier fines and prison sentences. The investment was made to protect Bahamian fishermen and secure the future of our marine economy.”

Mr Pintard said the PLP has “reversed course” and has “failed” to close loopholes. He called for an investigation as it was revealed “arrests of Dominican fishers during this period revealed that multiple fishers had Bahamian numbers stored in their phones.”

“In Parliament, we warned that some Dominicans were pursuing citizenship through marriages of convenience and using spousal permits as a back door into our commercial industry. Instead of closing loopholes, the PLP allowed the very safeguards we put in place to be dismantled. Arrests of

Help to gain access to market of 1.4 billion people

EXPORTS - from page B1

in a digital ecosystem built for high-volume commerce.

“All of the major manufacturers and companies sell on certain e commerce websites. Alibaba, for example. Local vendors can create pages and profiles on these Chinese apps and take advantage of being within the Chinese e commerce ecosystem,” said Mr Griffin.

“We think that is huge, obviously, China is a huge market. Imagine local Bahamian companies having a presence on Chinese websites in China.

“Everything from Bahamian rum, Junkanoo costumes, seafood, we’re big exporters of lobster, for example, and fish. Local fishermen and agriculturalists will be able to access those Chinese platforms. That’s a huge one for export in the Bahamas.”

To illustrate the potential, Mr Griffin compared the opportunity to global

giants already familiar to Bahamian vendors.

“Bahamian businesses already know how to access and sell on Amazon. Now think of being able to sell to 1.4 bn people on the Chinese versions of Amazon,” he said.

Mr Griffin recently participated in a two-week SME management seminar in China, where he toured tech firms, industrial parks, and met with representatives from trade and e-commerce agencies.

He said the trip resulted in key connections with manufacturers and suppliers across industries such as electronics, textiles, solar products, and fast-moving consumer goods

“We met a great number of manufacturers, major players in China, in particular, in fast moving consumer goods ,electronics, textiles and solar products. We want to introduce those companies and those industries to the Bahamian private sector, so that

they can begin trading with these companies,” said Mr Griffin.

For logistics, the Commission is planning to route goods through the Dominican Republic—an emerging regional hub for Chinese imports—until trade volume supports direct shipping to The Bahamas.

“The Dominican Republic has become a bit of a hub for Chinese goods. We want to tap into that as we currently receive goods from China through the US, so we want to tap into using the DR to route goods to the Bahamas,” said Mr Griffin

Dominican fishers during this period revealed that multiple fishers had Bahamian numbers stored in their phones. A thorough investigation into who these poachers are collaborating with inside the country to devastate our fishing stocks is urgently needed. We must also work through diplomatic channels to ensure the business persons in the Dominican Republic, The Bahamas, or the United States are not in any way cooperating in the sale of marine resources stolen from Bohemian waters.”

Mr Pinder noted that the COI has pledged that the sale and issuance of passports to Dominicans would not be an issue under their governance but fishermen will fight with whichever political parties support and engage in such activity.

Before they “cleaned everything up” Mr Pinder said conch has a great chance of becoming extinct due to poachers diving with compressors and “cracking out conch on the bottom.”

He said they were killing big, small and spawning crawfish. Keeping up with the number of foreigners that obtain compressor permits, he said six were granted last year to those who had become Bahamian citizens. He noted that there are currently 17 which “means the people that are

not Bahamian, that have become Bahamian citizens have grown from six to 17.”

“The Dominicans have poached the southern banks to death this whole summer long,” Mr Pinder added. “The fishermen anywhere along the southern edge of the Southern banks, everything was wiped out. It made no difference if it was condos, the banks, as far as the bars, the shoals and the reefs, everything the Dominicans had wiped out along the southern edge of the Southern banks, of the Bahama banks. So, we need to get back to where we were with our patrols and the southern banks, we need to secure our borders, and we need to clean up the mess that’s going on within our commercial fishing industry.”

Mr Pinder said he has shared this information with the Commodore, the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, the director of fisheries and other government officials “ao, it has not gone on deaf ears, but they have done nothing to address this problem.” Mr Pintard and Mr Pinder both warn, if the poaching persists, The Bahamas risks losing its Master Stewardship Certificate.

“Our country is now certified under the Master Stewardship Council to where our seafood is

certified that we have a sustainable industry in our country that we ship and give to the whole entire world, our seafood and our seafood products, whatever they may be,” Mr Pinder said. “If this keeps up, and the poaching is allowed to continue, these Dominicans are allowed to kill out all our conch and all our seafood in this country, we are going to lose our Master Stewardship Certificate.

“That means that every country in the world will look at The Bahamas as if we don’t have a sustainable industry, which is very possible that may happen if it keeps up, because we fought the same fight seven and eight years ago to get this done. And from then until now, we have seen everything come to light. Places on the banks where the Dominicans had killed out, now they look like an aquarium. It looked like a lively area once again, and now we’re having to fight the same fight all over again that we fought seven and eight years ago. It’s a shame. We’re selling our sovereignty. We’re selling out our country. And it’s time that all those that are doing it are brought to justice, taken care of, and we don’t need to worry about this anymore. We need to get this done.”

DEPP clearance certificate to be challenged over $200 million Rosewood Exuma resort

scrape the cay to do it. And some of the logistics really get in the way of the recreational areas, not just here, but down in the sand bar as well.”

The Rosewood Exuma project has drawn strong backlash from local businesses and environmental groups, who fear that dredging and large-scale construction will destroy seagrass beds, marine habitats, and wetlands — fundamentally altering the ecological landscape of East Sampson Cay.

The Save Exuma Alliance (SEA) — a coalition of six local businesses including the Staniel Cay Yacht Club, Turtlegrass Resort & Island Club, and Staniel Cay Adventures — has been outspoken about its concerns regarding the project’s environmental footprint.

Keiran Miller, owner of Staniel Cay Adventures, said the area of North Bay, scheduled to be dredged to accommodate a service dock for the resort, is a popular area for eco-tourism experiences including snorkeling, fishing, and scuba diving.

“I’d like to think that the big draw for a lot of our visitors is the natural beauty of the place. They want to come here. They want to see these pristine blue waters, the white sandy, beautiful beaches, the lovely sand bars,” said Mr Miller

“All these things intrinsically invite people to come here, to spend money with, not just myself, but with the straw vendors, local pilots and different [businesses]. We have to keep protecting these things and do business in a way that encourages the growth of these things and the preservation of these things so that they’re

there for future generations to continue to benefit from and enjoy.”

He added that while his business could benefit financially from visitors staying at the new resort, the long-term sustainability of Exuma’s natural environment must remain the top priority.

“We’re not against development. We just want to make sure everybody who’s coming here is coming here has the intention and want to follow through with the action of protecting the space, preserving this place, making it better, if possible, for everybody else to be able to come and enjoy,” said Mr Miller.

“Over the last decade or more, Exuma has become one of the hottest spots in the Bahamas. It’s a big tourist draw. I can’t tell you the amount of boats coming in and out of here every day because of it. Just based on the fact that it seems to

’They’re trying to tax the small man out of business’ - claim

looking for a way to suppress the small man, so to speak. How many taxes can we continue to pay and stay in business? We’re providing a number of jobs, paying National Insurance. How many other taxes can we handle? The cost of BPL is already high. You have Inland Revenue to deal with already. Additional funding on that is just crazy. It’s tough enough as it is trying to make it.”

Marla Fleurigene owner of Lil Moe’s, said while she doesn’t care for the added expense, she’ll have to bite the bullet and pay the fee to allow business to continue to run as normal.

“Man, if they implement it and it has to be put forth,

then we have no problem with doing that as long as the business continue to run,” she said. “At the end of the day, it is what it is and you only can do what they say, At the end of the day, because if you don’t do it, it’s a problem.”

As the proximity of liquor stores to schools and churches and the suitability of the premises will be taken into consideration when approving new applications and renewals, new applicants are to register through the portal 90 days prior to applying for a business licence. Those looking to renew their license must also register through the portal which will become available on the Department of Inland Revenue’s website September 1.

Shunda Strachan, DIR’s acting comptroller, noted that noise pollution that sometimes accompanies bars and liquor stores within neighborhoods is another rising concern. She noted that the “suitability” of a bar or liquor store’s premises will be considered when a company registers and applies for their business license.

While this may cause issues or a shut-down of established liquor businesses, co-owners of Moxo’s Wholesale Bar and Grill, Jerome Moxey and Shanika Hepburn say their business which has been in operation for over 20 years would be in the clear. However, they do not agree that those who have already

have become more or less the bread and butter for quite a few people, it just makes sense for us to try to make it last as long and as best as we can”

Mr Miller also criticized DEPP’s decision to allow dredging in the North Bay, warning it sets a precedent for future developments to follow suit — even at the expense of delicate marine ecosystems.

“You’ve already approved it once. You’ve already set a precedent. It’s already happened once. You can’t single me out and say, I can’t do it, because now that’s prejudice against me,” he said.

“Now that we’ve already set the precedent, if whoever else comes along in the future to decide to develop — because a lot of these developers aren’t here to stay — then you know eventually what’s going to happen to these areas. And things like coral reef are

been issued licenses should lose it

“I have no problem with them implementing these things, and at the end of the day, I think our establishment will be cleared,” Mr Moxey said. “We haven’t done anything wrong. We’ve been in the law from the inception.

“I don’t have a problem with it. However, I don’t think licenses should be pulled from people after they are issued. It shouldn’t be taken away from them, because at the end of the day, whoever issued the license, the department that issued a license to those persons, they’re responsible for them being there to operate. Now, if they operate illegally or something like that, so be it. But moving forward, don’t issue no more licenses.”

already at risk of dying out from natural causes.” He said many in the community would be more supportive of the project if the developers pursued a less intrusive alternative to dredging the bay, took visible steps to reduce its environmental impact, and backed up their promises with action.

“I’m not naïve enough to accept that the only way this project can go in is by dredging. If there is a way to get this project off the ground without being so directly damaging to that part of the reef, as well as preferably, to downscale a little bit more from the number of villas that you want to put there, then let’s do it,” said Mr Miller.

“Nobody’s saying you can’t come here and do well. Nobody’s saying you can’t come here and present a luxury type feel to your clientele. There’s no lack of luxury around here to begin with, but come on, man, let’s be conscious about it. If you say you care for the environment, show me — put rubber to the road and let’s see.”

Ms Hepburn added: “I feel firstly, how they want to bring that on stream that [should be the case] moving forward, like, if anybody wants a new liquor license. The ones that have already been established, I don’t think that should come before them.”

Mr Isaacs called for a leveled playing field for businesses, particularly, bars and liquor stores and residents. He said while he’s allowed to operate until 2am, music played at typically louder levels must be reduced by a certain time. He argued that the same rules do not apply to residents.

“I don’t have a problem with them enforcing the rules,” he said. “The only problem I have is, I’m paying a lot more property taxes than the person

Yntegra Group yesterday announced a series of entrepreneurial opportunities tied to the resort’s “heart of house,” where staff will live and work. The company is inviting local entrepreneurs to express interest in operating key amenities that will serve the 150 resort employees, including a staff restaurant, a bakery and coffee shop, a hair salon, and a Captain’s Lounge.

The developer also noted it is currently working with about a dozen local vendors and that nearly 20 Bahamian businesses have already signed on to support various aspects of the project, including food service, logistics, and construction. Close to 200 individuals have reportedly expressed interest in job opportunities related to both the construction and operational phases.

The announcement follows a recent update from Bahamas Industries & Construction Company Ltd. (BICCo), which said it had identified 146 prospective employees from the Exuma Cays and surrounding areas.

next door, and they can play their music up until 12 o’clock, but I’m not even allowed to play music at a reasonable length to attract customers, so I can maintain paying the people that I employ. They can have a party up until 12 o’clock, right next door, and you can’t say anything about it, but yet they want to come and enforce a rule. I think the rules should be equal on both boundaries. The playing field should be even. If they can play music for a party next door, I should be able to play a little music to attract a crowd, because I’m paying people, trying to make sure other people eat, not just myself. So it’s not like it’s just a one man place.”

Calls for greater transparency from the government over public sector debt

HIDDEN - from page B1

Carmichael Village Project Development Company Ltd., which he claimed is a “ghost company” with no public explanation for its purpose or repayment plan. “Public Corporations got $71.6 m in loans from the Treasury but none of these were ever announced publicly or allocated in the Budget documents. Where did that money really come from? The Public Beaches & Parks Authority, which was already $7 m over budget, somehow got another $10.9 m loan between April and June. But Beaches & Parks doesn’t earn significant money so how will they pay it back? Looks like the government just tried to disguise overspending as a “loan”,” said Mr Thompson. “And don’t forget the mysterious $10 m “loan” to the Carmichael Village Project Development Company Ltd. This seems to be a ghost company, and the government still refuses to explain what the loan is for or how it will be repaid.

“When the government grants secret loans, attempts to hide overspending, and fails to explain phantom companies, it’s really hiding the truth from the people who will have to pay it back. Does the government’s silence mean it has something to hide? The Opposition is demanding answers on behalf of the Bahamian people.”

Ukrainian drone attacks on oil refineries have some Russian regions running on empty

By KATIE MARIE DAVIES Associated Press

GAS stations have run dry in some regions of Russia after Ukrainian drones struck refineries and other oil infrastructure in recent weeks, with motorists waiting in long lines and officials resorting to rationing or cutting off sales altogether.

Wholesale prices on the St. Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange for A-95 gas — the highest octane — spiked to record highs last week, soaring to about 50% higher than in January, as demand soared from farmers seeking to bring in the harvest and Russians hitting the roads for their last big vacation of the summer.

Russian media outlets reported fuel shortages are hitting consumers in several regions in the Far East and on the Crimean Peninsula, which was illegally annexed from Ukraine by Moscow in 2014.

Media outlets in the Primorye region, which borders North Korea, reported long lines and prices of about 78 rubles per liter (approximately $3.58 per gallon) at gas stations in the area, where the average monthly wage is about $1,200. Journalists at local news outlet Primpress found other drivers trying to sell gas online for as much as 220 rubles per liter (about $10.12 per gallon).

In the Kurilsky district of the Kuril Islands north of Japan, shortages of lower octane A-92 gas forced officials to halt public sales outright Monday. In Crimea, a popular resort area, some companies sold fuel only to holders of coupons or special cards.

Normal price increases are aggravated this year Russia is no stranger to gasoline price increases at the end of summer. But this year's shortages have been aggravated by Ukraine's attacks on oil refineries in the 3 1/2-year-old war. Larger, more concentrated

attacks are causing more damage and hampering production, all timed to coincide with peak demand. Ukraine has targeted energy infrastructure before, but the recent strikes have been more successful, with more drones targeting a more concentrated group of facilities. "The Ukrainians are attacking an arc of refineries, starting from Ryazan, which is south of Moscow, all the way to Volgograd. That region is where people are driving through on their way to (resorts on) the Black Sea. That's the region where most of the harvest operations are going on. And that's also a rather densely populated region," Sergey Vakulenko, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, told The Associated Press.

Between Aug. 2 and Aug. 24, Ukraine attacked oil infrastructure at least 12 times, according to media reports. Of those attacks, at least 10 were targeting sites in the Ryazan-Volgograd arc in southwestern Russia. These attacks have damaged many oil refineries but have not destroyed them outright, Vakulenko

said, adding that most of the facilities are extremely resilient against fires.

But they can slow refinery activity, as shown by a fall in the intake of crude oil to be turned into diesel, gasoline or other products by roughly 200,000 to 250,000 barrels per day, said Gary Peach, oil markets analyst at Energy Intelligence.

"That's just enough to make their gasoline industry feel some pain, especially during the high consumption months in the summer," he told AP. Gasoline production fell 8.6% in the first 19 days of August, compared with a year earlier, and diesel production was down 10.3%.

Other war-related issues have caused even more consumer pain. Ukrainian drone strikes repeatedly have disrupted Russian transportation networks, particularly air traffic, causing more people to travel by car and increasing demand for gas, Vakulenko said.

Inflation also has made it less profitable for suppliers who normally buy gasoline early in the year for sale in the higher-priced summer months, and many entrepreneurs simply decided

not to bother this year, he said.

Individually, none of these problems caused lasting or widespread disruption in Russia. But together, they have transformed an expected annual price fluctuation into a problem for the government.

To try to ease the shortage, Russia has paused gasoline exports, with officials Wednesday declaring a full ban until Sept. 30 and a partial ban affecting traders and intermediaries until Oct. 31. Oil company managers have also been summoned to government meetings twice this month to discuss the shortages, Russian media reported.

Moscow is largely spared from shortages

While officials appear to be concerned, the gasoline shortfall "isn't system critical," Peach said.

So far, the shortage remains confined to certain areas — the Far East and Crimea — because these regions usually are supplied by fewer refineries and present greater transportation demands.

Moscow has been spared the latest gasoline price spike because it is well-supplied from major refineries in Yaroslavl and Nizhny Novgorod, cities a few hours' drive away. The capital also has a refinery in the city itself.

Russia is not at immediate risk of grinding to a

halt — even in more vulnerable regions, experts say. Although private drivers may feel some pain at the gas pump, most buses and trucks run on diesel, for which Russia has a surplus. The military, which largely uses diesel fuel, also is insulated from any shocks. Vakulenko wrote in a recent commentary that annual diesel production is "more than double than what is needed." That doesn't mean the situation still couldn't deteriorate. Refineries that make gasoline for Russia's domestic market also make diesel and other products for export — a vital source of income amid heavy Western sanctions.

A GAS station worker refuels a car in Moscow, Russia, on Aug. 25, 2025. Photo:Pavel Bednyakov/AP

POSTAL SERVICES THAT SUSPENDED US SHIPMENTS

NEED TIME TO PREPARE FOR NEW TARIFFS, UN AGENCY SAYS

By The Associated Press

THE United Nations agency that coordinates international mail deliveries says it is working to get small parcels dispatched to the United States again by resolving confusion over the pending elimination of a U.S. tariff exemption for low-cost imports.

The Universal Postal Union said it sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday to express concerns the agency's member countries have about the end of the "de minimis exemption," including requirements for collecting and transmitting new customs duties.

The postal service operators of more than 30 countries, including almost all of the ones in Europe, have limited or stopped shipping all or most U.S.bound parcels valued at $800 or less, which has been the cutoff for imported goods to escape customs charges.

That is set to change Friday, when the Trump administration is ending the de minimis exemption that has existed in some form since 1938. The administration says the exemption has become a loophole that foreign businesses exploit to evade tariffs and criminals use to get drugs into the U.S. Purchases that previously

entered the U.S. without needing to clear customs will require vetting and be subject to their origin country's applicable tariff rate, which can range from 10% to 50%.

For the next six months, carriers handling orders sent through the global mail network also can choose a flat duty of $80 to $200 per package instead of the value-based rate.

in the executive order President Donald Trump signed on July 30 to eliminate dutyfree eligibility of low-value goods.

"Recognizing that the short implementation timeline poses a significant challenge for the international postal network, particularly for the delivery of e-commerce items, the UPU is work-

“Recognizing that the short implementation timeline poses a significant challenge for the international postal network, particularly for the delivery of e-commerce items, the UPU is working with the relevant U.S. authorities to ensure that information on the operational requirements of the measures is communicated effectively.”

Universal Postal Union

While the change applies to the products of every country, U.S. residents will not have to pay duties on gifts sent from outside the country valued at up to $100, or on up to $200 worth of personal souvenirs from trips abroad, according to the White House.

The Universal Postal Union said its 192 members had not been given enough time or guidance to comply with the procedures outlined

THE COLORADO RIVER IS IN TROUBLE. SOME GROUPS WANT THE GOVERNMENT TO STEP UP

By DORANY PINEDA Associated Press

ing with the relevant U.S. authorities to ensure that information on the operational requirements of the measures is communicated effectively," the agency said in a statement.

It said it also was working to accelerate development of a system that would make it easier for post offices to charge applicable duties if a person or business shipping goods to the U.S. is responsible for paying them.

EARLIER this year, several environmental groups sent a petition to the federal government with a seemingly simple message: Ensure that water from the imperiled Colorado River is not wasted and only being delivered for "reasonable" and "beneficial" uses.

The organizations urged the Bureau of Reclamation to use its authority to curb water waste in the Lower Basin states: California, Arizona and Nevada. They argued it was necessary to help address the river's water shortages.

The concept of reasonable and beneficial use is not new, but it's being discussed at a crucial moment. Chronic overuse, drought and rising temperatures linked to climate change have shrunk water flows. States reliant on the river are approaching a 2026 deadline to decide on new rules for sharing its supplies, and they have until mid-November to reach a preliminary agreement or risk federal intervention.

The petitioning groups argue that reducing water waste could help ensure the river has a sustainable future. But others worry cuts could bring hardship to farmers and consumers.

The river supports 40 million people across seven U.S. states, two states in Mexico and Native American tribes.

"We don't have a management future for the Colorado River right now and it's getting pretty scary," said Mark Gold, adjunct professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, and former director of water scarcity solutions with the Natural Resources Defense Council, one of the environmental groups that filed the petition. "We should be dealing with this as a water scarcity emergency, and one of the things that you really want to do in an emergency is, let's deal with water waste first."

The bureau has not responded to the petition.

In a statement to The Associated Press, the agency said it continues to operate with the agreements and rules in place and has other strategies to "reduce the risk of reaching critical elevations" at the river's reservoirs, Lakes Powell and Mead.

Defining 'beneficial' and 'reasonable' is not easy

A bureau code says "deliveries of Colorado River water to each Contractor will not exceed those reasonably required for beneficial use."

But Cara Horowitz, director of UCLA's Frank G. Wells Environmental Law Clinic, wasn't sure what that meant or how it's applied. So she and her students sought to find out with government records.

"As best as we could tell, it's never defined the phrase and it does not use the phrase in any meaningful way as it's making water delivery decisions," said Horowitz, who is representing the groups. They believe the bureau needs a reformed process to determine whether states are avoiding wasteful and unreasonable use. In the petition, the groups urged the bureau to address those issues and perform periodic reviews of water use.

Experts say that defining reasonable and beneficial use could be challenging, but some argue it's worth a try. Others worry that allowing an authority to determine what's wasteful could have negative impacts.

"It's potentially a whole can of worms that we need to approach very carefully," said Sarah Porter, the Kyl Center for Water Policy director at Arizona State University. "Who gets to be the entity that decides what's an appropriate amount of use for any particular water user or community?"

The groups see it differently. For example, they think farmers should be incentivized to change "wasteful" irrigation practices and consider growing crops better

suited for certain climates. An example they gave of "unreasonable" use is yearround flood irrigation of thirsty crops in deserts. In cities and industries, wasteful use includes watering ornamental turf or using water-intensive cooling systems.

In a 2003 case, the bureau invoked the provision when it ordered water reductions to California's Imperial Irrigation District, the largest river water user, after determining it couldn't beneficially use it all. The district sued and the dispute eventually settled.

Concerns from farmers and cities California's Imperial Valley relies 100% on Colorado River water. The desert's temperate, mild winters are ideal for growing two-thirds of winter vegetables consumed nationally.

Andrew Leimgruber, a fourth-generation farmer here, has tried to reduce his use with water-savings programs. He grows crops like carrots, onions and mostly alfalfa, which he often flood-irrigates because it fills the plant's deep root system. For up to 60 days in the summer, he doesn't water it at all.

Water cuts because of "unreasonable" use could mean people won't be able to eat a Caesar salad in New York City in January, Leimgruber said. He worries about short-term food shortages and putting farmers out of business. Bill Hasencamp, manager of Colorado River Resources for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, said the agency supports an annual process to ensure water is being beneficially used, even as that definition changes, but he doesn't think it's meant to solve the river's existential crisis. He worries invoking this tool could result in litigation. "Once things go to court, there's always a wild card that's sort of out of anyone's control."

IN this Dec. 14, 2017, file photo, boxes for sorted mail are stacked at the main post office in Omaha, Neb.

Photo:Nati Harnik/AP

CRACKER BARREL HAD GOOD REASONS TO REBRAND. BUT AFTER ITS NEW LOGO MISFIRED, HERE’S

WHAT’S NEXT

By DEE-ANN DURBIN AP Business Writer

LIKE its namesake barrels that transported soda crackers until boxes replaced them, Cracker Barrel needed to change.

The restaurant chain's new CEO, Julie Felss Masino, laid out the argument to investors last year: Cracker Barrel's customer traffic was down 16% compared to 2019. Research showed consumers thought the brand fell short of competitors in essential ways, from the quality of the food to value and convenience.

"We are not leading in any area. We will change that," Masino said.

But over the past week, Cracker Barrel's attempted revamp hit a wall. The company saw severe backlash over its plans to modernize and simplify its nostalgic logo – including from President Donald Trump.

"I don't like the changes. I mean it's always been Cracker Barrel like it is, so I'd like for it to stay like it is," customer Sid Leist said during a visit to a Cracker Barrel in Vicksburg, Mississippi, on Tuesday.

By that evening, Cracker Barrel had reversed course and said its old logo would remain. It features an overall-clad man – said to represent Uncle Herschel, a relative of Cracker Barrel's founder – leaning on a barrel, with the words "Old Country Store" underneath.

Investors cheered the move. Cracker Barrel's stock price rose 8% Wednesday to close at $62.33 per share. That was even higher than its closing price on Aug. 15, before it announced the new logo.

Here's how Lebanon, Tennessee-based Cracker Barrel got to this point and where it might go from here: Transformation plan

Cracker Barrel hired Masino, a longtime Taco Bell and Starbucks executive, in July 2023. She was chosen for her record as an innovator, with the hope that she would attract new customers to Cracker Barrel, which operates 660 restaurants in 43 states.

Masino introduced updated menu items, like Hashbrown Casserole Shepherd's Pie, to increase Cracker Barrel's dinnertime traffic. She also started remodeling the company's dark, antique-filled restaurants, lightening the walls and installing more comfortable seating.

The changes appeared to be helping. Cracker Barrel's fiscal third quarter, which ended May 2, was the fourth consecutive quarter of same-store sales growth for the company. Samestore sales, a key metric for restaurants, measures sales at locations open at least one year.

Logo misstep

Richard Wilke, a former executive at the brand consultancy Lippincott who helped lead rebrands for companies like Delta Air Lines and Walmart, said Cracker Barrel's existing logo is too detailed and fussy for the digital age, when companies have to think about how their brand appears in a smartphone app.

But Wilke said Cracker Barrel's new logo, featuring just the company's name in brown letters on a gold background, lacked character. The logo's rollout also seemed like an afterthought. In a press release about new fall menu items released Aug. 18, the company mentioned the new logo in the fourth paragraph.

The approach Walmart took in 2008 provides a better model for a successful rebrand, according to Wilke. Walmart wanted to broaden its appeal, especially to shoppers in urban areas. It redesigned stores, slowly adding a new blueand-yellow color scheme and yellow asterisk symbol. It trained employees on the meaning behind its new slogan, "Save money. Live better."

After a year or more, the company finally introduced its new logo, which added the yellow asterisk and dropped the hyphen from Wal-Mart in order to

de-emphasize the discount term "Mart."

"The logo change was almost a natural conclusion to this multi-year transformation," Wilke said. "I suspect that if we did it in the same sequence as Cracker Barrel, we would have gotten the same noise."

Nostalgia factor

Cracker Barrel acknowledged Monday that it should have done a better job with the new logo's rollout.

The company said it should have emphasized all the things that would remain the same about Cracker Barrel restaurants: the rocking chairs on the front porches, fireplaces in the dining rooms and vintage Americana and antiques scattered throughout.

The company said it would also continue to honor Uncle Herschel on its menu and on items sold in the country-style stores attached to its restaurants. But it was too late, and Cracker Barrel pulled its new logo the next day.

Trump extends control over Washington by taking management of Union Station away from Amtrak

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE Associated Press

PRESIDENT Donald Trump's administration is taking management of Union Station away from Amtrak in the latest example of the federal government exerting its power over the nation's capital. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the takeover Wednesday alongside Amtrak President Roger Harris at Washington's main transportation hub during the launch of an updated version of the rail service's Acela train. The federal government owns Union Station, which is near the Capitol.

Duffy said the station has "fallen into disrepair" when it should be a "point of pride" for the District of Columbia. He said the Republican administration's move would help beautify the landmark in an economical way and was in line with Trump's vision.

"He wants Union Station to be beautiful again. He wants transit to be safe again. And he wants our nation's capital to be great

again. And today is part of that," Duffy said. It's Trump's latest attempt to put the city under his control. In recent weeks, Trump has increased the number of federal law enforcement and immigration agents on city streets while also taking over the Metropolitan Police Department and activating thousands of National Guard members. Last week, Trump said he wants $2 billion from Congress to beautify Washington.

Duffy said the federal government can do a better job managing the train station and attract more shops and restaurants and generate more revenue that will be used to pay for upgrades to the station, which opened in 1907. Since then, the cavernous Roman-columned building has been through multiple management changes and numerous ups and downs regarding its cleanliness, safety and state of repair.

Mayor Muriel Bowser said upgrading the transit hub that serves various rail lines and buses would be an "amazing initiative" for the federal government to take

on because the city cannot afford the cost.

"It has suffered from not being able to get the money that it needs for the renovation," the Democrat said at a separate news conference.

National Guard troops have patrolled in and

around Union Station ever since Trump announced the anti-crime effort this month.

Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth were shouted down by opponents of the federal intervention when they visited with troops there last

Next steps

Thomas Murphy, a professor of practice at Clark University School of Business, said returning to the original logo was a "positive course correction" given the intensity of fans' response. Now, Murphy said, Cracker Barrel should reinforce the message that it's not moving away from its values or heritage.

Murphy said Cracker Barrel can continue to "refresh" its stores, making them brighter and more welcoming to younger customers. But it doesn't really need to "rebrand," he said, which would indicate a bigger change in direction or purpose.

Wilke agrees that Cracker Barrel should stick with the old logo but continue to revamp its restaurants in the short term. Eventually, the company will have to adopt a simpler logo, he said, but it should design one that retains more of the brand's heritage.

Political fallout

One difference with past corporate transformations — including a 2014 rebrand by Southwest Airlines to

week. Duffy had pressed Amtrak about crime at the station in a March letter to its chief operating officer and requested an updated plan on how it intended to improve public safety there.

The deputy transportation secretary, Steve Bradbury, cited a new roof and new public restrooms among $170 million in upgrades that he said are needed at the station.

attract more business customers or Dunkin' Donuts 2019 renaming to Dunkin' — is the more divisive political climate.

Cracker Barrel caught heat not only from Donald Trump Jr. but from the president himself. On Tuesday morning, Trump said via Truth Social that Cracker Barrel "should go back to the old logo, admit a mistake based on customer response (the ultimate Poll), and manage the company better than ever before."

Later, Trump celebrated Cracker Barrel's decision to drop its new logo.

Wilke said he wishes both Republicans and Democrats would stay out of brand decisions like Cracker Barrel's. Rebrands are almost always about trying to attract new customers without alienating old ones, he said.

"This isn't a political story," he said. "If politicians now turn every company logo design update into a debate about being 'woke' or 'anti-woke,' we are headed into a damaging new era for corporate branding."

Amtrak's new high-speed train, the NextGen Acela, will start serving the Northeast Corridor on Thursday, said Harris, Amtrak's president. The trains can travel at speeds of up to 160 mph, about 10 mph faster than the Acela train it is replacing. Duffy and the officials from the Union Station event boarded one of the new trains afterward for an inaugural ride to New York's Penn Station.

THE NEW Cracker Barrel logo is displayed on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, in New York. Photo:Wyatte Grantham-Philips/AP

‘YOU’RE PLANTING YOUR BRAND FLAG’: THE POWER OF BRAND BUILDING IN THE WOMEN’S SPORTS BOOM

By ALYCE BROWN AP Sports Writer

ON a cold day in the beginning of 2024, Alastair Merry and Mary Lou Bunn had a few questions for a public librarian in Ottawa, Ontario.

"If you could describe Ottawa and what it means to you in a couple words, how would you do it?" they asked. "What do you think of the spirit of the city?"

Merry and Bunn, along with the design firm Flower Shop that they co-founded, were hired by the then newly minted Professional Women's Hockey League to create the nicknames and logos for the league's inaugural six teams. They were traveling around North America to figure out what made those six cities tick.

As the ever-growing crop of new women's leagues — at least eight have launched in the past three years — all aim for longevity, one of the cornerstones of any sustainable foundation is team branding. It encompasses everything from the nicknames to the color schemes and logos, and the PWHL has set a high bar there that other up-and-comers would love to emulate.

"It's not like branding a dishwasher or a tablet," Merry said. "This is somebody's community. This is somebody's life, going to watch these games."

Successful leagues need legions of fans who will buy the merchandise, learn the chants and pass along their fandom. Strong team branding is central to all of that. The PWHL has only been around a few years, but its early success with fans has made it an interesting case study.

The league's first season, which opened Jan. 1, 2024, was played without nicknames or logos. The names and designs, created by a partnership between the PWHL and Flower Shop, were released ahead of the second season.

That release had an impact, according to Kanan Bhatt-Shah, vice president of brand and marketing for the PWHL. When fans finally had their teams' identities at their fingertips, their involvement could grow deeper.

"These identities really help create this world that allows fans to access it in all the different ways in which they want to fan," BhattShah said. "The same level of passion and fervor that existed (in the first season) still exists, there's just more opportunities for it to come to life cohesively."

By creating those opportunities, whether it be through merchandise or chants that become tradition, good branding has the potential to turn the initial enthusiasm for a new league into long-term fandom — and, thus, a long-term league.

And in the PWHL, it seems like fans are buying in. The league's second season was bigger than the first in every measurable way — sales of PWHL merchandise doubled, engagement with league and team social platforms increased by 68% and average attendance jumped by 27% per outing due in part to Toronto and Montreal playing in larger venues, and a nine-game neutral site tour drawing 123,601 at NHL arenas. The league's media rights arrangement, which lacks a major consolidated television deal, did not face major changes from the first season to the second.

"When you set a foundation for a sports team, it creates the subsets that continue to feed into the brand," Bunn said about branding ripple effects. "Then you have fan groups, you have chants, you eventually have mascots. … Over time, there are things that come out of having a strong brand foundation."

The power of strong branding has been a cornerstone of league launches for as long as professional sports have been around. Thomas O'Grady, the WNBA's first creative director, created the branding for the W's original eight teams in 1996. He knows that power well.

"You're planting your brand flag when you come up with your new identity, and so you're doing that for the players, for the team, for the community and for the league. It's a pretty heavy lift when you think

about the responsibility of the branding," he said.

The PWHL branding "is spot on with almost everything there," O'Grady added.

The PWHL notably differs from its WNBA predecessor in the nature of its relationship with the sport's male league. While the PWHL and NHL occasionally share rinks or lend each other marketing opportunities, the two leagues have no financial ties to each other — a large difference from the WNBA, which is partially owned and funded by the NBA.

The PWHL's funding comes from The Walter Group, named for the league's billionaire owner Mark Walter.

And it's expanding.

The heavy lift of branding is starting all over again with the PWHL's two new expansion teams, Seattle and Vancouver. They are eagerly awaiting their own nicknames and logos, which are expected to bring another surge of enthusiasm.

"You're waiting to get that new jersey, the new hat, the new scarf, all those things that go with it that have the logo," PWHL Seattle coach Steve O'Rourke said. "That'll drive another wave for us."

The two expansion teams will take the ice for the first time this fall when the puck drops on the PWHL's third season.

As the league eyes further expansion and continues to grow its fan base, it's yet to be seen how its future will pan out. But those bright logos will be front and center every step of the way.

"To be able to create brands that are going to stand the test of time and continue to amass energy behind them was part of the strategy," Bunn said. "And it's paying off."

FLOWER Shop’s co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Mary Lou Bunn speaks as sketches of team logos for Professional Women’s Hockey League are shown on a computer screen, Thursday, July 30, 2025, in New York. Photo:Yuki Iwamura/AP

NONALCOHOLIC BEER AND MOCKTAILS CAN HELP PEOPLE STAY SOBER OR DRINK LESS, BUT ARE NOT FOR EVERYONE

By LAURA UNGAR AP Science Writer

SEVERAL years into her sobriety, Logan Denzer decided to try nonalcoholic beer and mocktails while others around her drank real booze.

"A lot of people feel out of place" when everyone else is imbibing, said the 27-year-old from Los Angeles, who considers these beverages "an excellent solution."

Millions of Americans agree — including others recovering from addiction, people trying to cut down on their drinking and the rising number of young adults forgoing alcohol altogether.

They've fueled a booming industry. Recent research shows that drinking less, or nothing at all, is a much healthier way to go. Alcohol has been linked to cancers, injuries and a host of other problems.

Still, health experts say nonalcoholic beverages aren't for everyone, especially if they might trigger cravings for alcohol. These so-called NA drinks are meant to mimic alcohol in many ways, such as appearance, smell and taste.

"It's important to recognize that these are probably not one-size-fits-all products," said researcher Molly Bowdring of Stanford University. "You might see peers or friends or family members use them and have no problem with them,

but it really comes back to your own individual experience."

'Zebra striping' helps cut back on booze Retail sales of nonalcoholic wine, beer and spirits surged to $823 million last year. That's according to market research firm NielsenIQ, which says more than nine in 10 NA customers also buy alcohol. "They're wanting to not necessarily drink during the week, or they're wanting to switch out at a particular occasion," said Marcos Salazar of the Adult Non-Alcoholic Beverage Association. "So they may have an alcoholic beverage and then an adult

nonalcoholic beverage. That's called zebra striping ... and it kind of extends the night."

Retiree Ann Kopp Mitchell, who recently tasted various NA beverages at Monday Morning Bottle Shop in San Diego, does a version of this.

"If I want a glass of wine with my dinner, I don't feel guilty. I can enjoy that glass of wine. And if I wanna have a spirit because we're celebrating someone's birthday, or champagne, I will do that. But I'll only have one, and then let it go, and then maybe go to a nonalcoholic," she said. "It's a way of continuing with that social pattern of drinking that I enjoy."

YouTube TV reaches ‘short-term extension’ in dispute with Fox, warding

off immediate disruptions

By WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS AP Business Writer

YOUTUBE TV says it's reached a "short-term extension" in its contract dispute with Fox, meaning subscribers of the Googleowned streamer won't see immediate disruptions of Fox channels on the platform.

The current carriage agreement between YouTube TV and Fox originally faced a Wednesday afternoon deadline — with YouTube previously warning that networks like Fox Sports, Business and News would become unavailable on its streaming platform if the two sides didn't reach a new deal by 5 p.m. ET.

That would have left YouTube TV customers without Week 1 of some college football games and other broadcast programming from Fox. But shortly after the clock hit 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday, YouTube said it was able to "prevent disruption" as it continues

to work towards a new agreement.

"We are committed to advocating on behalf of our subscribers as we work toward a fair deal and will keep you updated on our progress," YouTube said in a brief update announcing the extension.

A spokesperson for Fox had no addition comment, but confirmed that the broadcast giant had agreed to the short-term extension. It was not immediately clear how long the extension would be.

In a statement earlier Wednesday, Fox said that it was "disappointed that Google continually exploits its outsized influence by proposing terms that are out of step with the marketplace." Fox also directed subscribers to a site called keepfox.com for more information and to call on YouTube to come to an agreement.

In addition to Fox Sports, Business and News, keepfox.com notes that YouTube TV may no longer

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that FLORENCE BAZARD, of P.O. Box N555 Colete Road, New Providence, The Bahamas  is 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 28th day of August 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that BERNARD PERE PERSAUD, of Lot #38 Hing Street, Hugh Ghanre, Park Cummings Lodge, George Town, Guyand,  is 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 28th day of August 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

carry FS1 and the Big Ten Network (which is majority-owned by Fox) if a deal isn't reached. Meanwhile, in blog post earlier this week, YouTube said Fox was "asking for payments that are far higher than what partners with comparable content offerings receive." The company added that it hoped to reach a deal that's "fair for both sides" without "passing on additional costs to our subscribers."

If Fox content becomes unavailable on YouTube TV "for an extended period of time," YouTube also noted it would provide members with a $10 credit.

YouTube TV's base plan — which currently boasts access to over 100 live channels — costs $82.99 a month.

Brendan Carr, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, also chimed in on the dispute leading up to Wednesday's deadline — while appearing to target Google particularly. He called on the tech

While a typical beer has about 5% alcohol by volume, NA drinks are only allowed to have up to 0.5%, about the same as a ripe banana. People sometimes pick them when they don't want to be intoxicated, like before exercise or driving.

More mocktails on the menu is a positive health trend — but watch the sugar

An online survey Bowdring conducted with colleagues found that the vast majority of people who drink both beverages say NA drinks help them reduce their alcohol use. That makes their growing popularity a positive trend overall, said Dr. Joseph

Lee, CEO of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, an addiction treatment and advocacy organization.

"More and more when I go to restaurants, mocktails are just offered, like they're on the menu and it's just part of the norm now," said Lee, an expert in psychiatry and addiction medicine.

"Those are really healthy things to see on a broader public health level."

But there is a catch: Some drinks, like mocktails made with soda and sweet syrups, have high levels of sugar. The American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugars to no more than about six teaspoons a day for women and nine teaspoons a day for men. A 12-ounce can of soda on its own contains 10 teaspoons. Who should be wary of NA beverages?

The picture gets murkier for people with drinking problems.

Those entering treatment for alcohol use disorder say they've had mixed success using NA beverages to reduce or stop their drinking, Bowdring said.

"They do contain a lot of the alcohol-related cues," she said. "Because they are so similar to alcohol, it could be that they actually trigger craving for full strength alcohol and may

company to "get a deal done" in a post on social media.

"Google removing Fox channels from YouTube TV would be a terrible outcome," Carr wrote in a Tuesday post on X. "Millions of Americans are relying on YouTube to resolve this dispute so they can keep watching the news and sports they want—including this week's Big Game: Texas @ Ohio State."

From sports events to awards shows, live programming that was once reserved for broadcast has increasingly made its way into the streaming world over the years — as more and more consumers ditch traditional cable or satellite TV subscriptions for content they can get online.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that ZOILA ROSA LAY RECIO P.O.Box SP-61333, #6 Turnquest Avenue, Nassau, The Bahamas  is 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 21st day of August 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE is hereby given that FELICIA OGHENEMINE IDEGBESOR, of #32 Oxford Street, off Mount Royal Avenue, New Providence, The Bahamas  is 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 28th day of August 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

lead people to revert to alcohol use."

When Denzer first got sober seven years ago, she and her friends avoided drinking NA beverages.

"We were pretty opposed to it because we were like, 'Well, this tastes like beer and we're a year sober, and so we're going to associate that taste with actual alcohol,'" said Denzer, who was treated at Hazelden Betty Ford. "As time went on, we became more open to it."

But it's not for everyone, she said, "particularly for people who are either newer in recovery or who are on shaky ground."

Experts agreed that NA drinks are more appropriate for those further along in recovery.

"Everyone's journey is going to be a little bit different," Bowdring said. "I encourage folks to just sort of be aware of how these drinks are impacting them."

That's the bottom line, even for those who aren't dealing with alcoholism. You should have "an honest appraisal, without judgment, about your own health risk in much the same way that most people can look at their family history and gauge their risk for everything from diabetes to breast cancer," Lee said. "What it comes down to is: You really need to know yourself."

But renewing carriage agreements can also mean tense contract negotiations — at times resulting in service disruptions.

YouTube TV has been down this road before. In 2021 YouTube TV subscribers briefly lost access to all Disney content on the platform, including networks like ESPN and local ABC stations, after a contract breakdown between the two companies. That outage lasted less than two days, with the companies eventually reaching an agreement.

NOTICE is hereby given that NERLINE FLEURIMOND, of Grace Avenue, Marathon, New Providence, The Bahamas  is 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 28th day of August 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that JEAN PROSPER BAZARD, of P.O. Box N555 Colete Road, New Providence, The Bahamas  is 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 28th day of August 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

BARTENDER Shelby Campos mixes a non-alcoholic beverageor mocktail - at the non-alcoholic Good News Bar, Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, in San Diego.

Photo:Gregory Bull/AP

YOUTUBE TV logo is seen at the YouTube Space LA in Los Angeles, Feb. 28, 2017.

Photo:Reed Saxon/AP

Trump's push to oust Fed's Lisa Cook unites antiDEI effort, bid to control independent institutions

By MATT BROWN Associated Press

PRESIDENT Donald Trump's

vow to fire Lisa Cook, an economist who is the first Black woman to serve on the Federal Reserve's board of governors, kicked off another tense debate and likely legal battle over a major institution's independence.

It also marks another potential high-profile ouster of a Black leader from the federal government amid Trump's broader crusade against diversity and inclusion policies.

Trump's order to fire Cook aligns with the White House's effort to expand its power across once ostensibly independent parts of the federal government and broader American economy and society, which critics warn may do long-term damage to trust in the data, policies and processes that undergird American strength. The move would also remove a longtime researcher and advocate for diverse and equitable policymaking from leadership.

On Monday, Trump said he fired Cook after the director of a housing regulatory agency, who the president appointed, alleged Cook committed mortgage fraud. Cook dismisses the firing as legally unfounded.

"President Trump purported to fire me 'for cause' when no cause exists under the law, and he has no authority to do so," Cook said in a statement to The Associated Press. "I will not resign. I will continue to carry out my duties to help the American economy as I have been doing since 2022."

Kush Desai, a White House spokesman, said Cook "was credibly accused of lying in financial documents from a highly sensitive position overseeing financial institutions" and that her removal "improves the Federal Reserve Board's accountability and credibility for both the markets and American people."

Backlash from Black leaders Trump's move drew immediate backlash from Black lawmakers.

"Dr. Lisa Cook is the first Black woman ever to serve on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.

Donald Trump is trying to remove her without a shred of credible evidence that she has done

NOTICE

anything wrong," House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said in a statement.

The National Urban League, a civil rights group, called Trump's move a "witch hunt" and condemned the president's comments about her as "character assassination."

And the Congressional Black Caucus defended Cook as "a highly respected economist who has dedicated her career to dismantling barriers to innovation and economic participation."

The caucus denounced Trump's rhetoric and effort to fire Cook as "a racist, misogynistic, and unlawful attack on the integrity and independence of the Federal Reserve. It is a dangerous attempt to politicize and exert control over the central bank — one that will only continue to damage the economy, harm hardworking Americans, and undermine our credibility on the world stage."

Cook has taught economics and international relations at Michigan State University, and was previously also on the faculty of Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. She was

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMPANIES ACT, 2000

LTD. (IN VOLUNTARY LIQUIDATION)

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that in accordance with section 138(6) of the International Business Companies Act, 2000, as amended, the winding up and dissolution of BOILER RIFFLE INVESTMENTS LTD. is complete.

Kim D Thompson Sole Liquidator

Address: Equity Trust House Caves Village West Bay Street

P. O. Box N-10697 Nassau, Bahamas

NOTICE

IN THE ESTATE OF JOAN LOUISE GOMEZ late of #13 Pod Road, Southern District of the Island of New Providence, one of the Islands of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, deceased.

NOTICE is hereby given that all persons having any claims or demands against the above-named Estate are required to send their names, addresses and particulars of their debts or claims duly certified in writing to the undersigned on or before the 30th day of September, 2025, after which date the Attorney appointed by Deed of Power of Attorney will proceed to distribute the assets having regard only to the proved debts or claims of which notice have been given.

AND NOTICE is hereby also given that all persons indebted to the said Estate are required to make full settlement on or before the date mentioned above.

Monique V. A. Gomez & Co. #73 The Oschloe Building East Street & Cordeaux Avenue P. O. Box- N-7363 Nassau, The Bahamas

Attorneys for the Attorney appointed by Deed of Power of Attorney of the Estate of Joan Louise Gomez

a Marshall Scholar who received degrees from Oxford University and Spelman College, a historically Black women's college in Atlanta.

Cook has dedicated much of her scholarship to examining how racial discrimination and targeted violence created barriers to economic advancement for Black Americans. Cook has also advised the Nigerian and Rwandan governments on banking reforms and economic development, respectively. She has a reputation in the field for mentoring younger economists through the American Economic Association's summer program.

In 2022, she was confirmed to her board seat by the Senate in a party-line vote. Republicans lambasted her as unqualified and found her research overly focused on race, while conservative activists cast doubts on the quality of her scholarship. Democrats brushed off such critiques as unfounded.

Former President Joe Biden nominated Cook to a full 14-year term in May 2023. Republicans again raised concerns over her

Notice

academic research at the intersection of economics and race.

During her 2023 confirmation hearing in front of the Senate Banking Committee, then-Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, grilled Cook on her past comments related to diversity.

"My worry is that especially at the Federal Reserve which is doing important supervisory work," Vance said, "to the extent we're focused on diversity, that may distract from our ability to focus on far, far more important things … I hope that none of us are distracted by some of these other concerns."

Cook responded that "as a Federal Reserve Governor I think about the dual mandate first and I think about the two legs of that mandate." And "as a governor I have been engaged with my colleagues on the FOMC and fighting inflation aggressively."

Since joining the board, Cook has advocated for artificial intelligence adoption across the economy to be done in an inclusive manner that would ensure all communities reap the full potential of the technology. She

Prosperous Family Holdings Ltd In Voluntary Liquidation

Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138(4) of the International Business Companies Act. 2000, Prosperous Family Holdings Ltd is in dissolution as of August 19, 2025

SILVER FIELD GLOBAL LIMITED situated at Morgan & Morgan Building, Pasea Estate, P.O. Box 958, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands is the Liquidator.

LIQUIDATOR

NOTICE

IN THE ESTATE OF RAYMOND ROLLE late of the Settlement Old Bight on the Island of Cat Island, one of the Islands of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, deceased.

NOTICE is hereby given that all persons having claims or demands against the abovenamed Estate are required to send the same duly certified in writing to the undersigned on or before 5:00pm on the 30th day of September, 2025.

NOTICE is hereby given that after the expiration of the time mentioned above, the assets of the late RAYMOND ROLLE, will be distributed among the persons entitled thereto having regard only to the claims of which the Executor of the Estate shall then have had Notice.

AND NOTICE is hereby also given that all persons indebted to the above-named Estate are required to make full settlement or arrangements with the Executor for the full settlement of the same on or before the date mentioned above

Monique V. A. Gomez & Co.

Attorneys for the Executor #73 The Oschloe Building East Street & Cordeaux Avenue

has also been an advocate for the Federal Reserve's independence and adherence to stringent data collection and policymaking standards.

"One thing that I've always said since I became a governor is that we as policymakers have to be humble, nimble and data dependent," Cook said during a November talk at the University of Virginia. "We have to actually look at the data and interpret the data as best we can."

Undermining the Fed's independence

Whether Trump's attempted ouster of Cook shakes broader confidence in the Federal Reserve's independent ability to conduct monetary policy is unclear. Trump has bluntly stated he wants the Federal Reserve to follow his preferred policies on interest rates. The president has repeatedly publicly scolded Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell for maintaining the board's independence. The attacks escalated to threats of legal action when Trump wrote on social media he was considering whether to allow a "major lawsuit against Powell to proceed" over the cost of a renovation at the Federal Reserve building.

Trump has since said he intends to appoint more allies to the Federal Reserve's board, which the country entrusts with maintaining economic stability.

"We'll have a majority very shortly, so that'll be great," Trump told reporters Tuesday.

Some conservative economists had long alleged that the backgrounds of Cook and other board members meant they would use the central bank's sweeping powers to enact policies beyond its dual mandate. Such claims against Cook found little purchase in her first few years on the board, though inquiries by the Trump administration raised other critiques. Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, last week called for Cook to resign after alleging that Cook had "falsified bank documents and property records to acquire more favorable loan terms, potentially committing mortgage fraud" in a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi.

NOTICE

IN THE ESTATE OF CLEMENTRIO ADINGTENT ALBURY late of Yellow Elder Gardens, Western District of the Island of New Providence, one of the Islands of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, deceased.

NOTICE is hereby given that all persons having claims or demands against the abovenamed Estate are required to send the same duly certified in writing to the undersigned on or before 5:00pm on the 30th day of September, 2025.

NOTICE is hereby given that after the expiration of the time mentioned above, the assets of the late CLEMENTRIO ADINGTENT ALBURY, will be distributed among the persons entitled thereto having regard only to the claims of which the Executor of the Estate shall then have had Notice. AND NOTICE is hereby also given that all persons indebted to the above-named Estate are required to make full settlement or arrangements with the Executor for the full settlement of the same on or before the date mentioned above.

Monique V. A. Gomez & Co.

Attorneys for the Executor #73 The Oschloe Building East Street & Cordeaux Avenue

P. O. Box- N-7363 Nassau, The Bahamas

BOARD of Governors of the Federal Reserve member Lisa Cook, speaks during a conversations with leaders from organizations that include nonprofits, small businesses, manufacturing, supply chain management, the hospitality industry, and the housing and education sectors at the Federal Reserve building, Sept. 23, 2022, in Washington.

Photo:Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

NVIDIA’S AI CHIP SALES

SURGED AGAIN IN LATEST QUARTER, BUT WORRIES ABOUT A TECH BUBBLE PERSIST

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE AP Technology Writer

NVIDIA'S sales of its artificial intelligence chipsets remained a hot commodity during the company's latest quarter, but the demand wasn't quite feverish enough to ease recent worries that the AI craze may be fading.

The results announced Wednesday were hotly anticipated because Nvidia has emerged as key barometer of a two-year-old AI boom that has been propelling the stock market to new heights. The Silicon Valley chipmaker also became the first publicly traded company to achieve a $4 trillion market value.

In recent weeks, though, research reports and comments by prominent tech executives have raised investor fears that the AI mania has been overblown.

And now Nvidia's latest numbers covering the MayJuly period may feed those

perceptions because the sales of the company's processors — indispensable components in the AI data centers being built around the world — aren't growing as robustly as they once were. The late 2022 release of OpenAI's ChatGPT unleashed a technological phenomenon that is starting to reshape society.

The AI chips are part of Nvidia's data center division, which posted revenue of $41.1 billion, a 56% increase from the same time last year, but below the analyst forecast of $41.3 billion, according to FactSet Research.

Even so, Nvidia's profit of $26.4 billion, or $1.08 per share, was higher than analysts predicted, as was its total revenue of $46.7 billion — also a 56% increase from the last year.

Nvidia signaled it believes more good things are still to come by forecasting revenue of $54 billion for the August-October period,

slightly above what analysts had been envisioning for the quarter. "We are in the beginning of the buildout," Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang told analysts during a Wednesday conference call in which the company predicted another $3 trillion to $4 trillion will be spent on AI initiatives by the end of this decade.

But Nvidia's stock still slipped 3% in extended trading after the fiscal second quarter report came out, indicating the performance wasn't enough to allay investors' fears. A letdown was almost inevitable, given the stock price has increased by more than 10-fold during the past two and a half years.

"Saying the stock was priced for perfection would be an enormous understatement," said Investing.com analyst Thomas Monteiro.

Delivering the kind of growth to push Nvidia toward a $5 trillion market value has become more

daunting as Nvidia's annual sales have ballooned from $44 billion in its fiscal 2024 to a projected $204 billion in the company's current fiscal year that ends in January. That has translated into progressively slower rates of year-over-year revenue growth. After Nvidia's revenue at least doubled or tripled from the previous year in five consecutive quarters during 2023 and 2024, the growth has been tapering off the past four quarter.

Nvidia would have fared better in the most recent quarter if President Donald Trump hadn't imposed a ban that prevented Nvidia from selling its AI chips in

China during the quarter. But investors had already been forewarned the restrictions would cost the company about $8 billion in sales from May through July, so that challenge was already in reflected in Nvidia's stock price.

Trump took the China handcuffs off of Nvidia earlier this month in return for a 15% cut of the company's sales in that country — a compromise that is expected to help boost revenue during the upcoming months although it's unclear how quickly that will happen. In the best case scenario, Nvidia may be able to bring in $2 billion to $5 billion in AI chip sales to

China, according to Colette Kress, the company's chief financial officer. While the technology industry has been the biggest beneficiary of the AI frenzy, it's also been a boon for the overall stock market. The benchmark S&P 500 has gained 69% since the end of 2022, with AI fervor fueling much of the investor optimism. But even amid the general euphoria, there recently have been murmurs about whether AI mania will prove to be an echo of the late 1990s dotcom boom and meltdown that plunged Silicon Valley into a funk that lasted several years.

WALL STREET EDGES HIGHER AND PUSHES S&P 500 TO ANOTHER RECORD

By ALEX VEIGA AP Business Writer

MODEST gains on Wall Street lifted the stock market to an all-time high Wednesday ahead of a highly anticipated earnings update from computer chip giant Nvidia.

The S&P 500 rose 0.2%, good enough to nudge the benchmark index past the record high it set two weeks ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.3%

and the Nasdaq composite closed 0.2% higher. Technology companies led the way higher, outweighing declines in communication services and other sectors.

After the market closed, Nvidia reported quarterly earnings and revenue that topped Wall Street analysts' forecasts, though the company noted that sales of its artificial intelligence chipsets rose at a slower pace than analysts anticipated. The stock fell 3.2% in after-hours trading after having slipped 0.1% during the regular session.

Investors consider Nvidia a barometer for the strength of the boom in artificial intelligence because the company makes most of the chips that power the technology. Its heavy weighting also gives Nvidia outsized influence as a bellwether for the broader market.

"Saying this is the most important stock in the world is an understatement," said Jay Woods, chief global strategist at Freedom Capital Markets. "The stock's average move after an earnings release is plus or minus 7.4%, so just an average move will make an impact on the entire market."

Several big software companies -- CrowdStrike Holdings, ServiceNow, Palo Alto Networks, Intuit and Salesforce -- rose ahead of the Nvidia results. The stocks have been mostly in the red so far this quarter amid worries that AI is going to make software creation much easier at the expense of big software companies' competitive edge.

Cracker Barrel shares climbed 8% after the restaurant company scrapped plans to change its logo following an uproar on social media that even drew a comment from President Donald Trump.

Shares in several companies rose after they reported quarterly results that topped analysts' forecasts. Department store chain Kohl's vaulted 24% and database platform company MongoDB surged 38%. Both companies also raised their full-year guidance.

J.M. Smucker slid 4.4% after the jelly and jam maker's latest quarterly snapshot fell short of analysts' estimates.

Among other stocks that lost ground: doughnut shop chain Krispy Kreme, which fell 3.5%, and Paramount Skydance, which dropped 6.5% for the biggest decline among S&P 500 companies.

Treasury yields mostly fell in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year

Treasury slipped to 4.24% from 4.26% late Tuesday.

Crude oil prices rose. European markets finished mostly lower and Asian markets closed mixed overnight.

Trading on Wall Street is off to an uneven start this week following big gains last week on hopes for interest rate cuts from the Fed. Markets have been subdued after Trump escalated his fight with the central bank by trying to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Cook's lawyer said she'll sue Trump's administration to try to stop him.

Trump has been feuding with the central bank over its cautious interest rate policy. The Fed has held rates steady since late 2024 over worries that Trump's unpredictable tariff policies will reignite inflation. Trump has also threatened to fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell, often taunting him with name-calling. Still, he is only one of 12 votes that decides interest rate policy. For now, the situation isn't expected to have a major impact on the Fed's near-term policy.

The two-year Treasury yield, which closely tracks expectations for Federal Reserve action, dropped to 3.62% from 3.68%.

Traders are still betting the Fed will trim its benchmark interest rate at its next meeting in September. Traders see an 90.3% chance that the central bank will cut the rate by a quarter of a percentage point, according to data from CME Group.

"It's kind of a foregone conclusion from the market that we're going to get the September interest rate cut," said Jed Ellerbroek, portfolio manager at Argent Capital Management. "The bigger question is probably 'What's after that?' "

The Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate in late 2024 after spending the last several years fighting rising inflation by raising rates. It managed to mostly tame inflation and avoided having those higher rates stall economic growth, thanks largely to strong consumer spending and a resilient job market.

The Fed hit the pause button heading into 2025 over concerns that higher tariffs imposed by Trump could reignite inflation. Lower interest rates make borrowing easier, helping to spur more investment and spending, but that could also potentially fuel inflation. However, concerns are deepening over the jobs market.

VISITORS give commands to a robot at Nvidia’s booth during the 3rd China International Supply Chain Expo at the China International Exhibition Center, in Beijing, July 18, 2025.

Photo:Mahesh Kumar A./AP

TRADER Patrick Casey works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Monday, Aug. 18, 2025.

Photo:Richard Drew/AP