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Monday, December 29, 2025
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Pintard: Family Island economies hurt by ‘rushed’, ‘poorly thought out’ boating fees By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net OPPOSITION Leader Michael Pintard said the economic damage from recent boating and yachting fee increases has already been done, warning that charter can operators, and Family Island communities had all warned the government that the fee increases would drive boats away, empty marinas, and cost Bahamians jobs and income. Mr Pintard argued that despite these warnings, the government ignored industry feedback, leading to mounting charter cancellations and reduced maritime activity this season. “Local businesses including cleaning companies, car rentals, boat engineers, captains, brookers, pilots, and restaurants have all suffered from this policy. Despite this, the PLP ignored every warning,” said Mr Pintard
• Moves to revisit fee structure ‘too late to prevent economic fallout’
MICHAEL PINTARD “Today, charter cancellations are mounting, marina traffic has dropped sharply, and millions of dollars that would have been spent in Family Island communities have now gone elsewhere. This could have been avoided. It was the direct
result of bad policy and bad process.” Mr Pintard also framed the boating fee issue as part of a wider pattern of what he described as “ill-conceived policies” by the current administration. He cited previous examples, including fishermen’s
boat registration fees, NIB contribution increases, and no-bid contracts, saying that in each case the government announced changes, dismissed public concerns, and then reversed course only after public backlash. “Failed deals quietly abandoned once exposed. Each flip-flop costs the country credibility, confidence, and economic stability,” said Mr Pintard. “Leadership is not governing by trial and error. Leadership is listening before decisions are made, not after livelihoods are damaged.” Looking ahead, Pintard vowed that under an FNM government, the boat fees imposed on Bahamian owners would be revised and the 10 percent yacht charter tax would be removed to make The Bahamas more competitive in the maritime tourism sector. He also outlined plans to improve technology and service platforms for
DAMAGE - See Page B2
Central Bank targets 120,000 users for start of Fast Payment System By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net THE Central Bank of The Bahamas is planning to launch its Fast Payment System (FPS) pilot in December 2026, aiming to reach around 120,000 users — roughly 30 percent of the adult population — in its initial phase. The FPS is designed to modernise the country’s payment infrastructure, enabling faster, more convenient transactions for both individuals and businesses. According to the Bank’s vendor Q&A document,
seven commercial banks and six additional financial institutions are expected to participate in the pilot. However, not all participants may be fully ready by the target date, meaning the rollout could be phased as institutions come online. Over the longer term, the FPS is expected to expand to at least 350,000 users, with e-money transactions projected to grow steadily. Initially, each user is expected to conduct about six transactions per year, rising gradually to nearly 11 transactions per user by 2030.
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ATC training suspended amid call for director to be removed BY ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net A LACK of succession planning has led to the halt of training and a call for the director of Air Traffic Control to be removed- a request still awaiting a response by the Bahamas Air Traffic Controllers’ Union (BATCU) president. Having sent a petition to the deputy prime minister, Chester Cooper, the prime minister Philip Davis, and chairperson of the board for the Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority (BCAA) Wendy Craigg, (BATCU) president, Hinsey McKenzie said its current director Lenn King refuses to promote a person within the
department who Mr Mackenzie said has completed and passed training. “I just sent a petition out last week or week before last to remove the director,” he said. “I haven't heard anybody say anything to me. I was trying to reach the DPM. He hasn't or respond yet. I sent one to the DPM, because he's the minister in charge, one to the chairman, one to the Prime Minister, same petition. “Mr King has created some issues. Right now we're having some issues where there's somebody who's up for promotion Mr King, the director, has refused to promote the person. What he is saying is the process that the person
PETITION - See Page B3
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Govt deficit surges sixfold to $61.9m in September By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamian government’s deficit surged nearly sixfold from $10.2 m in August to $61.9 m in September, driven by higher spending early in the fiscal year. The Ministry of Finance, unveiling the monthly fiscal report for September 2025, disclosed that the month’s deficit — measuring by how much government spending exceeds its revenue income — rose to $61.9 m, a 1.5 percent increase from the prior year’s $61.0 m. The report shows that the wider deficit in September was largely driven by higher recurrent expenditure. According to the Ministry of Finance, “other payments nearly doubled by $21.4 m (93.6 percent) … primarily on account of payments related to employee insurance premiums,” while personal emoluments — the wages and salaries of public-sector
workers — also rose by 5.2 percent to $74.1 m. Subsidies grew by $11.8 m to support entities such as the Water and Sewage Corporation, the University of the Bahamas, and the Public Hospitals Authority. Tax revenue rose $31.3 m to $199.0 m in September, representing an 18.7 percent increase from the same month last year. The growth was driven largely by a $25.0 m increase in VAT collections, which totaled $110.3 m due to “enhanced compliance and enforcement measures,” while other tax categories, including income and import duties, also contributed. Non-tax revenues, such as fees and charges for government services, added $54.3 m to total collections. The Ministry of Finance’s public debt bulletin for the 2025-2026 fiscal year’s first quarter indicated that a relatively large deficit was incurred in September given the gap between the $79.3m deficit for the
SURGE - See Page B2
PAGE 2, Monday, December 29, 2025
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Sean Paul to appear at Baha Mar Without artists’ union approval BY ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net THE United Artists Bahamas Union’s (UABU) president is calling on the immigration minister to “cause his subordinates to fall in line with the law” as Grammy Award winner Sean Paul is set to hit Baha Mar’s stage for a New Year’s Eve performance without the union’s approval.
UABU president, Linc Scavella reiterated on Tuesday night that foreign artists must be granted approval by the union before performing in the country. Mr Scavella said Baha Mar did not follow protocol in bringing Sean Paul to The Bahamas. “They did not follow protocol because one of the requirements is for them to get a letter of support from one of the two unions that represent musicians and entertainers,” he said. “In this case, they have to get
Charter cancellations mount after fee increases DAMAGE - from page B1 Each flip-flop costs the country credibility, confidence, and economic stability,” said Mr Pintard. “Leadership is not governing by trial and error. Leadership is listening before decisions are made, not after livelihoods are damaged.” Looking ahead, Pintard vowed that under an
FNM government, the boat fees imposed on Bahamian owners would be revised and the 10 percent yacht charter tax would be removed to make The Bahamas more competitive in the maritime tourism sector. He also outlined plans to improve technology and service platforms for fees, permits, and licenses, and proposed initiatives to
Public spending pushes september deficit higher SURGE - from page B1 first two months and the $307.9m debt increase, coupled with the Government’s continued reliance on modified cash-based accounting which only records and tracks expenditure when it is incurred. “Outstanding debt of the public sector was estimated at $13.551bn at end-September 2025, respective gains of $307.9m (2.3 percent) and $480.7m (3.7 percent) since
end-June 2025 and end-September 2024,” the Ministry of Finance’s previously published debt report asserted. “Compared to the previous quarter, foreign currency debt decreased by $46.2m (0.8 percent) to $5.837bn and accounted for a reduced 43.1 percent of the total portfolio relative to 44.8 percent at end-September 2024. “Since end-June 2025, the Bahamian dollar component expanded by $354.1m (4.8 percent) to $7.714bn. This corresponded to 56.9 percent
that from UABU. Why? Because today, as far as we concerned, we are still the only legitimate union that has complied with the laws of immigration in accordance with the Industrial Relations Act. We are the only union that have complied and the other union has not complied. “And so everyone who bringing in performing artists in accordance with the policy stated in the Immigration policy as stated in their requirements, one of the things that has to be
presented is a letter from one of the unions, any one of the unions. But we are saying it can't be the union that is not in compliance with the law. And so our position is Baha Mar, Atlantis and everybody else's ma ain't saying nothing to us. They just bringing in these foreign artists, and some of these artists are coming in and being brought in by high profile politicians. We know that for a fact and it is not right.” He added: “More importantly, I am calling on behalf
of UABU, for the Minister of Immigration to act his role and cause his subordinates to fall in line with the law.” In a Facebook post, Mr Scavella called out Baha Mar and Atlantis for getting “preferential treatment.” “No disrespect to the artist Sean Paul because he is unaware that Baha Mar has not followed the protocols of securing a letter of approval from the appropriate and legitimate Union (United Artists Bahamas Union) for his New Year's
Eve performance here in New Providence, Bahamas. Major resorts like Baha Mar and Atlantis should not be getting preferential treatment above local promoters and or applicants. “As The United States of America, Jamaica and every other country have laws for foreign artists, acts and their associated Personnel to engage in gainful employment in those countries, so does The Bahamas Department of Immigration.
rebrand and stimulate economic activity in Family Island communities, including expanded cultural and marine festivals to drive domestic tourism and create jobs. Earlier this year, the government introduced a series of increases to boating and yachting fees, including higher cruising permit costs and a new 10 percent levy on yacht charter operations. Officials said the measures were designed to improve revenue collection, enhance regulation of the maritime sector, and support environmental protection efforts.
Industry stakeholders, however, warned that the higher fees could make The Bahamas less competitive compared with other Caribbean destinations. Charter companies and marina operators noted that visiting vessels might choose alternative locations with lower fees and fewer administrative hurdles, potentially diverting millions of dollars in spending away from Family Island communities that rely on maritime tourism. In response to the criticism and industry concerns, Deputy Prime Minister
Chester Cooper recently said the government is reviewing the boating and yachting fees and promised to make adjustments where necessary. Mr Cooper, who is also minister of tourism, investments and aviation, in a statement that was released to the international boating community as well as for local consumption, asserted that the Davis administration will assess the “impacts” and “implementation” of the new and increased fees, plus regulatory adjustments, that were introduced with other
Budget reforms on July 1, 2025. Finally responding to more than six months of advocacy and warnings, and with marinas asserting they will be “satisfied” to generate just 50 percent of the prior year’s business volumes, Mr Cooper voiced optimism that a solution that reverses this sharp drop-off - as well as generates funding for environmental preservation and sustainable management of maritime resources - can be delivered.
of overall debt - an upturn of 1.7 percentage points year-over-year. Central government’s net financing operations remained the principal driver for fluctuations in the public debt stock.” As for August’s fiscal performance, the Ministry of Finance said: “Preliminary data on the fiscal outturn for August 2025 showed a significant decline in the estimated deficit to $10.2m from $61.1m in the prior year. This outcome reflected a 12 percent ($26.2m) rise in revenue receipts to $244.2m alongside an 8.8 percent ($24.7m) decrease in spending to $254.5m.”
Total government revenues rose from $218m the year before, while tax revenues increased by $28.3m or 14.6 percent year-over-year to hit $221.8 as opposed to $183.3m during August 2024. “Tax revenue rose yearover-year by 14.6 percent ($28.3m) to $221.8m,” the Ministry of Finance added. “VAT, which totalled $126.5m, increased by $26.4m, partly reflecting enhanced compliance measures. “Taxes on use and permission to use goods were higher by $6.3m at $12.2m due to receipts of Business Licence fees. Non-tax
revenue declined by 8.6 percent ($2.1m) to $22.4m.” On the spending front, the Ministry of Finance added: “Recurrent expenditure for August totalled $214.7m for a reduction of 7.4 percent ($17.2m) from the corresponding period in the prior year. “Spending for the use of goods and services declined by 19.8 percent ($9.2m) to $37.2m due to comparatively lower payments for services and supplies and materials. Other payments decreased by 54.8 percent ($19.5m) to $16m due to timing of insurance premium payments. “Capital expenditure declined by 15.9 percent
($7.5m) to $39.7m. The bulk was expended for the acquisition of non-financial assets, 71 percent, and the remaining 29 percent represented capital transfers.” However, despite the narrowed deficit, the Ministry of Finance acknowledged that the Government’s debt increased by some $28.5m during August although no new figures were provided for its direct debt or the national debt. There were net borrowings of $25m from the Central Bank, in the form of advances, plus a net increase in outstanding Bahamian dollar bonds of $36.3m. “During the review month central government’s debt outstanding increased by an estimated $28.5m. The $94.7m in proceeds from borrowings was almost entirely derived from domestic currency sources,” the Ministry of Finance added. “Aggregate debt repayment of $68.2m was allocated between domestic (60.7 percent) and foreign (39.3 percent) currency redemptions.”
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Monday, December 29, 2025, PAGE 3
transmission, and on as near ecosystem. To augment requirements for account - to a broader extent - finanReal-time payments to to a 24-hour and seven-day its efforts toward a dura- opening and, most recently, cial inclusion.” basis as possible”. ble and effective payments the launch of a Central The bidding documents expand financial inclusion (24x7) And they must also space, the Bank launched Bank Digital Currency also reveal that the Central
LAUNCH - from page B1 The average year-on-year growth rate is projected at 25.7 percent for transactions and 32.4 percent for users, reflecting both strong adoption potential and anticipated activity levels. The system is also expected to significantly impact businesses. According to the regulator, as of October 2025, there were 1,679 e-money business users, each conducting an average of 417 transactions per year. With the FPS, both the number of corporate users and transaction volumes are expected to increase substantially, providing companies with a
faster and more efficient payment system. Designed to integrate with existing payment infrastructure, including the Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) system, Automated Clearing House (ACH), and the SandDollar digital currency, the FPS will ensure secure and seamless interoperability across financial institutions. The pilot phase will give the Central Bank and participants an opportunity to test operations and technology before a broader rollout. The Central Bank, in the tender documents, said bidders “must ensure that the implemented solution supports real-time or near real-time payment
Air traffic controllers cite succession breakdown PETITION - from page B1 took, he don’t agree with it and he want to put him right back through the same process again, which I think it was totally unfair. It has nothing to do with the person. The person went through the process, the person came out the process and passed. But Mr. King said that he don’t agree with that process…” Mr McKenzie said this action has brought about a stop to all trainings in the department - both future and ongoing.
“So we said, since he’s going to put the person back through that we’re not agreeing to train that person over again,” he said. “The person already went legal and he got a lawyer to pursue this matter. “All trainings have been suspended and that caused chaos in the department, where people who come in for service, they can’t be trained. The person who going into the tower, they can’t be trained. Nor could the person going into approach, they can’t be trained either. So
“guarantee interoperability with existing payments and settlements platforms in The Bahamas, namely the ACH, Bahamas Interbank Settlement System/Real Time Gross Settlement System (BISS/RTGS) and the Bahamian Dollar Central Bank Digital Currency (BDCBDC), the Sand Dollar”. The solution has to “facilitate both direct and indirect participation from commercial banks, credit unions and other payment services institutions operating in the domestic payments space”. Explaining the rationale for the bid’s launch, the Central Bank added: “A key component of a stable and sound financial system is to promote an efficient, accessible and modern payments
The Bahamas Payments System Modernisation Initiative (PSMI) in the early 2000s. “The PSMI aims to promote financial inclusion by enhancing the efficiency of the domestic payments landscape and target non-discriminatory access to financial services in The Bahamas. In line with this objective, the Bank has progressed a number of initiatives to drive increased payments efficiency. This includes the establishment of the Real Time Gross Settlement System (RTGS) and the local Automated Clearing House (ACH), the introduction of legislation to licence and oversee non-bank providers of electronic payment instruments, the simplification of
(CBDC) to increase access to financial services. “In addition, given the increased adoption of digital payment alternatives over the last five years, the Central Bank, through its steering committee on cheque reduction, has made steady progress towards a strategy for further reducing the usage of cheques in The Bahamas by 2026. This runs parallel to the broader objectives of the PSMI,” the Central Bank said. “Therefore, the imminent FPS is intended to further support the Bank’s efforts to increase payments efficiency in The Bahamas by allowing for real-time payments, thereby, supporting commerce, the adoption of digital financial services and
Bank is seeking a Fast Payment Solution that has bene successfully implemented already for another central bank or jurisdiction within the past 18 months. “The Bank seeks a bidder with a proven track record of delivering the services and solutions outlined herein, a demonstrated awareness of the spectrum of solutions available in the market, and the capacity to manage timelines, deliverables and implementation risks,” it said. “Other factors that shall contribute to the selection of a bidder include, but are not limited to, total cost, service and support, ease of use of the proposed solution, and interoperability with existing platforms and third-party applications.”
everybody is suspended in training. That was a problem, so I was trying to get DPM to resolve this issue. He has not answered. I called up to today [Tuesday]. I have not gotten a response. So just for clarity, when you say training has come to an halt, people who are actively in training that has been put on pause and there’s nobody else allowed to begin training. “Nobody can begin [training] or who is being trained has stopped. Everything has stopped because the bargaining unit does the training. And what is happening right now, we have a lot of people who are retired. I have somebody
retired today. Some retired last week, Friday, some went last week, Sunday. Coming in the New Year, the second person in charge, he will be retiring in January. Then come March there’s about two others or three others. It’s a ripple effect going on, and it’s creating a problem because they haven’t dealt with succession planning. That’s a major issue we’re having.” Mr McKenzie said he has been warning the chairperson about the lack of succession planning since 2016. He added: “It is a personal thing with him [Mr King]. I think it has to do with his managers. For instance, all of the persons
who is under him, he don’t think they have the authority to give the approval before it gets to him. Say, for instance, this person has to get another try at it. And the person recommended, say, Mr Wilson, who’s the deputy director, recommend that he get gets another try. Mr King thinking, ‘No, it’s not’s so. He’s not allowed to give that try unless he approve it. That’s where the problem lies. “Right now, with all of the senior managers leaving, nobody is basically trained to go into senior management, because nobody went off on training. Nobody did management courses like that. So it’s a big dilemma going on.”
Mr McKenzie also noted staff shortages in Exuma which is poses safety risks and goes against labour laws. He said no one has been hired despite this. “There were four employes, one went on pre-retirement in October and left three,” he said. “In November one of them went on vacation and left two. The same happened in December, so these two people have to work 7 days a week with no day off. This is a safety issue and it is against the labour laws. I have been talking to management about this from 2016 and they have not hired one person although they know the staff is ageing.”
and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday that the Kremlin had already been in contact with U.S. representatives since Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev recently met with U.S. envoys in Florida. "It was agreed upon to continue the dialogue," he said. Trump is engaged in a diplomatic push to end Russia's all-out war, which began on Feb. 24, 2022, but his efforts have run into sharply conflicting demands by Moscow and Kyiv. Zelenskyy said Tuesday that he would be willing to withdraw troops from Ukraine's eastern industrial heartland as part of a plan to end the war, if Russia also pulls back and the area becomes a demilitarized zone monitored by international forces. Though Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said
Thursday that there had been "slow but steady progress" in the peace talks, Russia has given no indication that it will agree to any kind of withdrawal from land it has seized. On the ground, two people were killed and six more wounded Friday when a guided aerial bomb hit a busy road and set cars aflame in Ukraine's second biggest city, Kharkiv, mayor Ihor Terekhov wrote on Telegram. One person was killed and three others were wounded when a guided aerial bomb hit a house in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region, while six people were wounded in a missile strike on the city of Uman, local officials said Friday. Russian drone attacks on the city of Mykolaiv and its suburbs overnight into Friday left part of the city without power. Energy and port infrastructure were damaged by drones in the city of Odesa on the Black
Sea. Meanwhile, Ukraine said that it struck a major Russian oil refinery on Thursday using U.K.-supplied Storm Shadow missiles. Ukraine's General Staff said that its forces hit the Novoshakhtinsk refinery in Russia's Rostov region. "Multiple explosions were recorded. The target was hit," it wrote on Telegram. Rostov regional Gov. Yuri Slyusar said that a firefighter was wounded when extinguishing the fire. Ukraine's long-range drone strikes on Russian refineries aim to deprive Moscow of the oil export revenue it needs to pursue its full-scale invasion. Russia wants to cripple the Ukraine's power grid, seeking to deny civilians access to heat, light and running water in what Ukrainian officials say is an attempt to "weaponize winter."
Trump-Zelenskyy talks will address security guarantees and reconstruction, Ukraine leader says By ILLIA NOVIKOV Associated Press UKRAINIAN President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday that he will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida over the weekend. Zelenskyy told journalists that the two leaders will discuss security guarantees for Ukraine during Sunday's talks, and that the 20-point plan under discussion "is about 90% ready." An "economic agreement" also will be discussed, Zelenskyy said, but added that he was
unable to confirm "whether anything will be finalized by the end." The Ukrainian side will also raise "territorial issues", he said. Moscow has insisted that Ukraine relinquish the remaining territory it still holds in the Donbas — an ultimatum that Ukraine has rejected. Russia has captured most of Luhansk and about 70% of Donetsk — the two areas that make up the Donbas. Zelenskyy said that Ukraine "would like the Europeans to be involved," but doubted whether it
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would be possible at short notice. "We must, without doubt, find some format in the near future in which not only Ukraine and the U.S. are present, but Europe is represented as well," he said. The announced meeting is the latest development in an extensive U.S.-led diplomatic push to end the nearly fouryear Russia-Ukraine war, but efforts have run into sharply conflicting demands by Moscow and Kyiv. Zelenskyy's comments came after he said Thursday that he had a "good conversation" with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff
PAGE 4, Monday, December 29, 2025
THE TRIBUNE
Former Malaysian leader Najib Razak sentenced to 15 years and hefty fine in 1MDB corruption trial MALAYSIAN former Prime Minister Najib Razak, center, is escorted by prison officers on his arrival at the Kuala Lumpur High Court complex in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Oct. 30, 2024. Photo:Vincent Thian/AP
By EILEEN NG Associated Press IMPRISONED former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was sentenced to 15 years and a hefty 13.5 billion ringgit ($3.3 billion) in fines and assets after being convicted Friday in his biggest corruption trial tied to the multibillion-dollar looting of the 1MDB state investment fund. The nation's High Court found Najib, 72, guilty on four counts of abuse of power and 21 charges of money laundering related to more than $700 million channeled into his personal bank accounts from the 1MDB fund. Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah sentenced Najib to 15 years in prison for each charge of abuse of power, and five years for each of the money laundering charges. The sentences are to run concurrently which means he will face another 15 years in prison. The new sentence will run after his current term for an earlier 1MDB case ends, the judge said. He imposed a total fine of 11.4 billion ringgit ($2.8 billion) for the abuse of power charges. In addition, he also ordered another 2.08 billion ringgit (514 million) in assets to be recovered from Najib under money laundering laws. If Najib fails to pay, he faces more years in prison. Najib's lawyer Mohamed Shafee Abdullah said the judge "made so many blunders" and that they would appeal the verdict. Dressed in blue suit, Najib stood
up and was calm when the sentencing was announced, slumping later back in his chair in the dock. Najib denied wrongdoing The ruling marked a major milestone in one of the world's largest financial scandals, which rippled across global markets and triggered investigations in the United States and other nations. Najib denied any wrongdoing and maintained the funds were a political donation from Saudi Arabia and that he had been misled by rogue financiers led by Low Taek Jho. Low, thought to be the scandal's mastermind, remains at large. Sequerah said Najib's claim of a Saudi donation
was "incapable of belief." Four letters purportedly from the Saudi donor were forged and evidence clearly showed the funds originated from 1MDB, he said. He rejected defense arguments that Najib was an unwitting victim, duped by former 1MDB officials and Low. Witness testimonies had pointed to an "unmistakable bond" between Najib and Low, who had played a pivotal role in the scandal and operated as "the proxy, the conduit, the intermediary and the facilitator" for Najib in 1MDB, the judge said. The judge noted that Najib failed to take steps to verify the origin of the massive funds nor took action against Low. Instead, Najib
Trump overturned decades of US trade policy in 2025. See the impact of his tariffs, in four charts By WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS and PAUL WISEMAN AP Business Writers SINCE returning to the White House in January,
President Donald Trump has overturned decades of U.S. trade policy — building a wall of tariffs around what used to be a wide open economy.
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His double-digit taxes on imports from almost every country have disrupted global commerce and strained the budgets of consumers and businesses worldwide. They have also raised tens of billions of dollars for the U.S. Treasury. Trump has argued that his steep new import taxes are necessary to bring back wealth that was "stolen" from the U.S. He says they will narrow America's decades-old trade deficit and bring manufacturing back to the country. But upending the global supply chain has proven costly for households facing rising prices. The taxes are paid by importers who typically attempt to pass along the higher costs to their customers. That includes businesses and ultimately, U.S. households.
used the money despite its suspicious origins and took steps to protect his position, including by removing the then-attorney general and anti-corruption chief investigating the case, he said. While Najib returned most of the funds to an offshore account where they came from, he said this was clearly staged to conceal the illicit origin of the funds. "The accused was no country bumpkin," said Sequerah, who took five hours to read the ruling. "Any attempt to paint the accused as an ignoramus who was hopelessly unaware of the misdeeds going around him must therefore, fail miserably." Najib, who served as prime minister from 2009 And the erratic way the president rolled out his tariffs — announcing them, then suspending or altering them before conjuring up new ones — made 2025 one of the most turbulent economic years in recent memory. Here's a look at the impact of Trump's tariffs over the last year, in four charts. A key number for the overall impact of tariffs on U.S. consumers and businesses is the "effective" tariff rate — which, unlike headline figures imposed by Trump for specific trade actions, provides an average based on the actual imports coming into the country. In 2025, per data from the Yale Budget Lab, the effective U.S. tariff rate peaked in April. But it's still far higher than the average seen at the start of the year. Before finalizing shifts in consumption, November's effective tariff rate was nearly 17% — seven times greater than January's average and the
Najib set up the 1MDB development fund shortly after taking office in 2009. He chaired 1MDB's advisory board and held veto power as finance minister while serving as prime minister. Between 2009 and 2014, top executives and associates of Najib looted over $4.5 billion from the fund, laundering it through countries including the U.S., Singapore and Switzerland, according to the U.S. Justice Department. Authorities alleged the funds were used to finance Hollywood films
and extravagant purchases including hotels, a luxury yacht, art and jewelry. Jeff Sessions, the U.S. attorney general at the time, called it "kleptocracy at its worst." The scandal also hit Wall Street, with Goldman Sachs facing billions in fines for its role in raising money for 1MDB. The scion of a prominent political family, Najib was long seen as untouchable until public anger over 1MDB led to the 2018 election defeat of his ruling party, which had governed Malaysia since the country gained independence from Britain in 1957. Earlier this week, Najib failed in his bid to serve his graft sentence under house arrest. Malaysia's High Court ruled Monday that a rare royal order for home arrest issued by the nation's former king was invalid because it was not made in accordance with constitutional requirements. Najib's lawyer has said they plan to appeal. Originally due for release in August 2028 after his sentence reduction, Najib now faces a longer stretch behind bars. Najib's wife, Rosmah Mansor, also was sentenced to 10 years in prison and a massive fine in 2022 in a separate graft case. She has been released on bail pending an appeal.
highest seen since 1935. Among selling points to justify his tariffs, Trump has repeatedly said they would reduce America's longstanding trade deficit and bring revenue into the Treasury. Trump's higher tariffs are certainly raising money. They've raked in more than $236 billion this year through November — much more than in years past. But they still account for just a fraction of the federal government's total revenue. And they haven't raised nearly enough to justify the president's claim that tariff revenue could replace federal income taxes — or allow for windfall dividend checks for Americans. The U.S. trade deficit, meanwhile, has fallen significantly since the start of the year. The trade gap peaked to a monthly record of $136.4 billion in March, as consumers and businesses hurried to import foreign products before Trump
could impose his tariffs on them. The trade gap narrowed to $52.8 billion in September, the latest month for which data is available. But the year-to-date deficit was still running 17% ahead of January-September 2024. Trump's 2025 tariffs hit nearly every country in the world — including America's biggest trading partners. But his policies have had the biggest impact on U.S. trade with China, once the biggest source of American imports and now No. 3 behind Canada and Mexico. U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports now come to 47.5%, according to calculations by Chad Bown of the Peterson Institute for International Economics. The value of goods coming into the U.S. from China fell nearly 25% during the first three-quarters of the year. Imports from Canada also dropped. But the value of products from Mexico, Vietnam and Taiwan grew year-to-date.
to 2018, currently is serving a prison sentence after being convicted in an earlier case linked to the 1MDB scandal, which led to his government's defeat in 2018. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2020 for abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving 42 million ringgit ($10.3 million) channeled into his accounts from SRC International, a former unit of 1MDB. He began his sentence in August 2022 after losing a final appeal, becoming Malaysia's first former leader to be imprisoned. The Pardons Board, a body that advises rulers on granting clemency, halved his sentence and sharply reduced his fine in 2024. Billions looted from 1MDB
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, December 29, 2025, PAGE 5
AMID A BATTERY BOOM, GRAPHITE MINING GETS A FRESH LOOK IN THE US By MICHAEL HILL Associated Press GRAPHITE mines in the United States largely closed down seven decades ago. Mining the ubiquitous mineral found in everything from nuclear reactors to pencils seemed to make little sense when it could be imported inexpensively from other nations, especially China. That view is changing now. Demand for graphite, a key material in the lithium-ion batteries that power everything from phones to electric cars, is surging as trade tensions with China persist. With federal officials concerned about the steady supply of a number of critical minerals, several companies have plans to mine graphite. In New York, Titan Mining Corp. has mined a limited amount of ore from a deposit in snowy woods about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from the Canadian border, aiming for commercial sales by 2028. Company officials believe the geopolitical winds are at their backs to sell graphite concentrate for high-tech, industrial and military uses. That could include heat-resistant coatings in factories, anodes in large lithium-ion batteries connected to electrical grids and lubricants
for military vehicles, according to the company. "We believe there is a real opportunity here," said company CEO Rita Adiani. "We have the ability to supply a significant portion of U.S. needs. And that's largely because you can't see China now as a reliable supply-chain partner." Trade tensions with China rose this year as President Donald Trump's administration imposed higher tariffs, though those tensions eased somewhat after Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in October during a regional economic summit in South Korea. The northern New York deposit is in a rural region with a rich history of graphite, iron ore and garnet mining. The iconic yellow Ticonderoga pencil was named for a town several hours east of this deposit where graphite was mined long ago. Titan's Joel Rheault recently held up a rock from the newly mined area. It was an ordinary-looking flecked fragment of schist, glinting slightly in the sun. But it was comprised of roughly 3% graphite. "You can see how gray the rock is here," said Rheault, the company's vice president of operations. "That's because of that graphite."
A critical mineral Graphite can conduct electricity and withstand high temperatures, making it useful for a host of commercial and military applications. As such, the Department of Energy has said the need for graphite is critical, and the Department of the Interior lists it as one of 60 "critical minerals," along with more than a dozen rare earth elements. Forecasters also expect global graphite demand to continue soaring in the next decade, alongside the battery boom. That includes both mined, or "natural," graphite and manufactured, or "synthetic," graphite, which tends to be purer but pricier. Lithium-ion batteries' anodes can use a mix of both. China dominance in supplying both of natural and synthetic graphite has worried U.S. policymakers for years. Concerns spiked recently when China placed new export controls on graphite and several other minerals, only to relax them for a year. Federal officials trying to shore up supply chains for critical minerals like graphite included a tax credit for critical mineral production in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. More recently, the Trump administration struck critical mineral deals
JOEL RHEAULT, vice president of operations for Titan Mining Corp., holds a rock containing graphite at a mine, Nov. 20, 2025, in Gouverneur, N.Y. Photo:Michael Hill/AP with other countries to diversify supplies. It also has emphasized critical minerals through government funding and streamlined reviews. "What's happening now needs to happen," said Gregory Keoleian, co-director of the Center for Sustainable Systems at the University of Michigan. "I think you just don't want to be completely reliant on other countries when you have resources that you could develop." Multiple active projects Most U.S. graphite mines were closed by the 1950s. Right now, no U.S. graphite mines regularly produce a commercial product, according to the U.S. Geological Survey National Minerals Information Center. But the center says the Titan mine is one of five active
CYPRIOT FISHERMEN BATTLE INVASIVE LIONFISH AND TURN THEM INTO A TAVERN DELICACY
time for native species to recover, but it's not a permanent fix.
By MENELAOS HADJICOSTIS Associated Press
What local fishermen are hoping will catch on with the fish-loving public is a new campaign to serve lionfish as a delicacy after its poisonous spines are carefully removed. Kadis, the EU Fisheries commissioner, said a social media campaign that began in 2021, #TasteTheOcean, had top European chefs and influencers plugging invasive species as a tasty
PHOTIS Gaitanos' rough fingers adroitly untangle the venomous spikes of a lionfish from a net, throwing the exotic-looking creature into an ice-filled rubber bin along with other fish from the day's catch. Unlike a few years ago when he would have mostly caught local staples as sea bream, red mullet or bass, the veteran fisherman now hunts for the invasive species that made its way from the Red Sea to the warming waters of the Mediterranean, Lionfish, with their red and orange-hued stripes and antennae-like barbs that menacingly ward off enemies, threaten to decimate indigenous fish stocks, wreaking havoc on the livelihoods of the roughly 150 professional fishermen in Cyprus. The prickly fish has even made its way as far north as the Ionian Sea, where Italian authorities have asked the public to photograph and report sightings. The East Mediterranean has also seen another invasive Red Sea fish in the last decade: the silver-cheeked toadfish. Known as an eating machine whose powerful jaws cut through fishing nets, decimating fishermen's catch, it has no natural predators off Cyprus, allowing its population to explode. That toadfish also produces a lethal toxin, making it inedible.
Warmer waters are the culprit Gaitanos, the 60-year-old fisherman, has fished for years in an area a few kilometers off the coastal town of Larnaca, once famous for its fishing bounty. Now, he says, it's been more than two years since he's caught a red mullet, a consumer favorite. "I have been practicing this profession for 40 years. Our income, especially since these two foreign species appeared, has become worse every year. It is now a major problem (affecting) the future of fishing," he said. "How can it be dealt with?" Europe's General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean says with the sea warming some 20% faster than the global average, the presence of invasive species "is progressively increasing in the western basin." Models show that warmer seas as a result of climate change could see lionfish swarm the entire Mediterranean by the century's end. Warmer waters and an expanded Suez Canal "have opened the floodgates" to Indo-Pacific species in general, according to Cyprus' Fisheries Department. The European Union's Fisheries Commissioner Costas Kadis, a Cypriot himself, told The Associated Press that more frequent and intense extreme weather, often linked to climate change, could make the Mediterranean more hospitable to invasive species.
And that's taking a heavy toll on Europe's fishing industry as fishermen's catches diminish while their costs shoot up as a result of repairs to fishing gear damaged by the powerful intruders. "The native marine biodiversity of a specific region, as in the case of Cyprus, faces heightened competition and pressure, with implications for local ecosystems and industries dependent on them," said Kadis. Fishermen cry for help Gaitanos, who inherited his father's boat in 1986, is not sure the fishermen's grievances are being handled in a way that can stave off the profession's decline. "We want to show the European Union that there's a big problem with the quantity of the catch as well as the kind of fish caught, affected by the arrival of these invasive species and by climate change," he said. Some EU-funded compensation programs have been enacted to help fishermen. The latest, enforced last year, pays fishermen about 4.73 euros ($5.5) per kilogram (2.2 pounds) to catch toadfish to control their number. The toadfish are then sent to incinerators. Another project, RELIONMED, which began in 2017, recruits some 100 scuba divers to cull lionfish around wrecks, reefs and marine protected areas. The Cyprus Fisheries Department says surveys show that frequent culls could buy
A MAN walks behind lionfish, center, and other fish at a fish market at a harbor in Larnaca, Cyprus, in the eastern Mediterranean, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. Photo:Petros Karadjias/AP
Some try eating the problem
projects, including two in Alabama and one each in Montana and Alaska. Westwater Resources this fall announced it retained an engineering firm to lead the permitting process for mine development at the Coosa Deposit in Alabama. The Graphite One Inc. project in Alaska is at the site of what state officials say is the largest known largeflake graphite deposit in the United States. "When we are sitting with one of the largest graphite deposits in the entire world … there's no reason why we need to rely on China for our graphite," said Anthony Huston, president and CEO of Graphite One. Titan has an advantage because its New York graphite deposit was discovered several years ago at the site of its existing zinc mine. The company was able to start limited graphite mining under its current
permits while seeking additional permits for full-scale mining. The federal government this fall approved the New York mine for fast-tracked permitting, saying it would "build a strategically significant domestic supply chain for graphite." The U.S. Export-Import Bank also said it would consider lending up to $120 million for construction and pledged $5.5 million for a feasibility study. Titan expects to eventually produce about 40,000 metric tonnes (44,092 tons) of graphite concentrate a year, which the company says is roughly half the current U.S. demand for natural graphite. "We have indications, effectively, that 100% of the output from this facility could be sold," Adiani said.
alternative to the more commonly consumed fish. Renowned Cypriot chef Stavris Georgiou worked up a lionfish recipe of his own. For most Cypriots, local taverns with their rich meze menus that feature numerous plates different fish is the way to go. Although eating lionfish has been slow to catch on, many tavernas and fish restaurants have started to introduce it as part of their menu. The bonus is that lionfish is now priced competitively compared to more popular fish like sea bass. At the
Larnaca harbor fish market, lionfish cost less than half as much as more popular fish like sea bass. "By incorporating invasive species such as lionfish into our diet, we can turn this challenge into an opportunity for the fisheries sector and at the same time help limit the environmental threat caused by these species," Kadis said Stephanos Mentonis, who runs a popular fish tavern in Larnaca, has included lionfish on his meze menu as a way to introduce the fish to a wider number of patrons.
PAGE 6, Monday, December 29, 2025
THE TRIBUNE
SURE, THE NEWSPAPER INFORMED. BUT AS IT FADES, THOSE WHO USED IT FOR OTHER THINGS MUST ADJUST, TOO By MICHAEL WEISSENSTEIN Associated Press
A PROTESTER leads a chant during ongoing protests against the Lebanese political class, in front of the building of the Lebanese Association of Banks in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019. Photo:Bilal Hussein/AP
LEBANESE CABINET APPROVES A DRAFT LAW TO RETURN FUNDS WIPED OUT WITH THE 2019 COLLAPSE OF BANKS By SALLY ABOU ALJOUD and KAREEM CHEHAYEB Associated Press LEBANON'S Cabinet on Friday approved a draft law to determine the extent of losses suffered by Lebanese banks during the country's financial meltdown in 2019 and provide a mechanism to return depositors' funds that were wiped out at the time. The financial collapse, which wiped out billions in savings and left many unable to access their funds, was part of a fiscal crisis that followed decades of corruption, financial mismanagement and nefarious profiteering. The draft legislation, which still has to be approved by parliament to become law, marked the first move by the government to try and return funds to individual depositors whose bank accounts were frozen. Thirteen ministers voted in favor and nine against the draft law, dubbed "financial gap law." During the Cabinet meeting, a sit-in protest outside the government headquarters demanded action and expressed skepticism over the legislation. It remained unclear when Lebanon's parliament could take up the draft. Its passage in the assembly could face delays — a pattern seen with many previous efforts to reform the financial system. There has been an ongoing blame game over who is ultimately responsible for Lebanon's economic crisis and the evaporation of people's deposits. Banks have blamed government corruption, while critics argue that the banks operated a Ponzi-like scheme, using new deposits to pay off earlier depositors rather than maintaining adequate reserves. The former central bank governor, Riad Salameh, who is wanted internationally on corruption charges, has claimed he consistently opposed such practices.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam issued a statement after the Cabinet meeting, promising that once the legislation is in place, smaller depositors — who "comprise 85% of depositors" — will receive their full deposits over four years, while larger depositors will recover their money more gradually — first up to $100,000 in cash. The remainder of the large deposits will be converted into tradable bonds backed by the Central Bank's revenues and assets, which total around $50 billion, Salam said. He rejected accusations that the bonds were "worthless," adding that large depositors can recover a part of their funds every year. "For example, a depositor with $3 million could recover about $60,000 per year," he said. Salam also said there was a clause in the law ensuring accountability, and denied claims the law was a "forgive and forget" measure. The bill will offer a legislative framework for restructuring Lebanon's battered financial sector after years of paralysis among political groups, banks and the central bank governor. It touches on measures that the International Monetary Fund has long sought, including clear rules for returning depositors' funds, restructuring bank liabilities and improving transparency. The IMF has previously expressed frustration over more than half a decade of talks with Lebanon that have yet to produce an approved recovery plan aimed at reforming the economy and restoring investor confidence. The Lebanese currency has lost over 90% of its value against the dollar, leaving over half the population in poverty Lebanon's financial woes were compounded by Israel's war with the Lebanese militant Hezbollah group that ended with a U.S-brokered ceasefire last November.
THE sun would rise over the Rockies, and Robin Gammons would run to the front porch to grab the morning paper before school. She wanted the comics and her dad wanted sports, but the Montana Standard meant more than their daily race to grab "Calvin and Hobbes" or baseball scores. When one of the three kids made honor roll, won a basketball game or dressed a freshly slain bison for the History Club, appearing in the Standard's pages made the achievement feel more real. Robin became an artist with a one-woman show at a downtown gallery and the front-page article went on the fridge, too. Five years later, the yellowing article is still there. The Montana Standard slashed print circulation to three days a week two years ago, cutting back the expense of printing like 1,200 U.S. newspapers over the past two decades. About 3,500 papers closed over the same time. An average of two a week have shut this year. That slow fade, it turns out, means more than changing news habits. It speaks directly to the newspaper's presence in our lives — not just in terms of the information printed upon it, but in its identity as a physical object with many other uses. "You can pass it on. You can keep it. And then, of course, there's all the fun things," says Diane DeBlois, one of the founders of the Ephemera Society of America, a group of scholars, researchers, dealers and collectors who focus on what they call "precious primary source information." "Newspapers wrapped fish. They washed windows. They appeared in outhouses," she says. "And — free toilet paper." The downward lurch in the media business has changed American democracy over the last two decades — some think for better, many for worse. What's indisputable: The gradual dwindling of the printed paper — the item that so many millions read to inform themselves and then repurposed into household workflows — has quietly altered the texture of daily life. American democracy and pet cages People used to catch up on the world, then save their precious memories, protect their floors and furniture, wrap gifts, line pet cages and light fires. In Butte, in San Antonio, Texas, in much of New Jersey and
THIS photo provided by Colleen Elliott shows a completed Montana Standard crossword sitting on a chair in Elliott’s home, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Butte, Mont. Photo:Colleen Elliott/AP worldwide, lives without the printed paper are just a tiny bit different. For newspaper publishers, the expense of printing is just too high in an industry that's under strain in an online society. For ordinary people, the physical paper is joining the pay phone, the cassette tape, the answering machine, the bank check, the sound of the internal combustion engine and the ivory-white pair of women's gloves as objects whose disappearance marks the passage of time. "Very hard to see it while it's happening, much easier to see things like that in even modest retrospect," says Marilyn Nissenson, co-author of "Going Going Gone: Vanishing Americana." "Young women were going to work and they wore them for a while and then one day they looked at them and thought, 'This is ludicrous.' That was a small but telling icon for a much larger social change." Nick Mathews thinks a lot about newspapers. Both of his parents worked at the Pekin (Illinois) Daily Times. He went on to become sports editor of the Houston Chronicle and, now, an assistant professor at the University of Missouri's School of Journalism. "I have fond memories of my parents using newspapers to wrap presents," he says. "In my family, you always knew that the gift was from my parents because of what it was wrapped in." In Houston, he recently recalled, the Chronicle reliably sold out when the Astros, Rockets or Texas won a championship because so many people wanted the paper as a keepsake. Four years ago, Mathews interviewed 19 people in Caroline County, Virginia,
about the 2018 shuttering of the Caroline Progress, a 99-year-old weekly paper that was shuttered months before its 100th anniversary. In "Print Imprint: The Connection Between the Physical Newspaper and the Self," published in the Journal of Communication Inquiry, wistful Virginians remember their senior high school portrait and their daughter's picture in a wedding dress appearing in the Progress. Plus, one told Mathews, "My fingers are too clean now. I feel sad without ink smudges." The many and varied uses Flush with cash from Omahans who invested years ago with local boy Warren Buffett, Nebraska Wildlife Rehab is a wellequipped center for migratory waterfowl, wading birds, reptiles, foxes, bobcats, coyotes, mink and beaver. "We get over 8,000 animals every year and we use that newspaper for almost all of those animals," Executive Director Laura Stastny says. Getting old newspapers has never been a problem in this neighborly Midwestern city. Yet Stastny frets about the electronic future. "We do pretty well now," she says. "If we lost that source and had to use something else or had to purchase something, that, with the available options that we have now, would cost us more than $10,000 a year easily." That would be nearly 1% of the budget, Stastny says, but "I've never been in a position to be without them, so I might be shocked with a higher dollar figure." Until 1974, the Omaha World-Herald printed a morning edition and two afternoon ones, including a
late-afternoon Wall Street Edition with closing prices. "Afternoon majorleague baseball was still standard then, so I got to gorge on both baseball and stock market facts," an 85-year-old Buffett told the World-Herald in 2013, By then, he had become the world's most famous investor and the paper's owner. The World-Herald ended its second afternoon edition in 2016 and Buffett left the newspaper business five years ago. Fewer than 60,000 households take the paper today, according to Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, down from nearly more than 190,000 in 2005, or about one per household. Time marches on Few places symbolize the move from print to digital more than Akalla, a district of Stockholm where the ST01 data center sits at a site once occupied by the factory that prints Sweden main newspaper, Kaun says. "They have less and less machines, and instead the building is taken over more and more by this co-location data center," she says. Data centers use huge amounts of energy, of course, and the environmental benefit of using less printing paper is also offset by the enormous popularity of online shopping. "You will see a decline in printed papers, but there is a huge increase in packaging," says Cecilia Alcoreza, manager, of forest sector transformation for the World Wildlife Fund. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution announced in August that it would stop providing a print edition at year's end and go completely digital, making Atlanta the largest U.S. metro area without a printed daily newspaper.
BRAZILIAN JUDGE PUTS COUP PLOT CONVICTS UNDER HOUSE ARREST AFTER FORMER POLICE COMMANDER FLEES By GABRIELA SÁ PESSOA and MANUEL RUEDA Associated Press A BRAZILIAN judge on Saturday issued house arrest orders for 10 people who have been convicted and sentenced for participating in a plot to keep former President Jair Bolsonaro in power after he lost the 2022 election. The decision by Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes came just hours after authorities in neighboring Paraguay arrested a former police commander, who also had been convicted in the plot and returned him to Brazil. Silvinei Vasques, the former director of Brazil's Federal Highway Police, was extradited to Brazil on Friday night, after he had secretly entered Paraguay and attempted to board a flight to El Salvador using Paraguayan documents. According to Brazilian police, Vasques tore off his ankle monitor on Thursday and drove to Paraguay in a rental car. The 10 people
subjected to house arrest orders Saturday had been facing cautionary measures, like the use of ankle monitors, or had been ordered to stay at the same location every night. They include Filipe Martins, a former adviser to Bolsonaro. Martins' lawyer, Jeffrey Chiquini, said on X that they will file an appeal. "There is no greater injustice than condemning a person for the actions of another," Chiquini said. Bolsonaro was convicted and sentenced to 27 years in prison for attempting a coup to remain in office despite his 2022 electoral defeat. The former president, who has been serving prison time since November, has been hospitalized since Wednesday. After undergoing double hernia surgery on Thursday, his wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, said Saturday that he's undergoing a procedure for persistent hiccups. "It has been nine months of anguish and daily hiccups," she said on social media. The trials against Bolsonaro and several
generals and police officers accused of participating in the plot have been closely followed in Brazil, where democracy was reinstated in 1985, after decades of military rule. U.S. President Donald Trump initially described the proceedings against ideological ally Bolsonaro as a "witch hunt" and raised tariffs on Brazilian imports over Bolsonaro's trial, which he described as an "international disgrace." The Trump administration had also placed financial sanctions against de Moraes, the lead judge in Bolsonaro's trial. But the U.S. government appears to have softened its stance following Bolsonaro's conviction. . In November, Trump signed an executive order lowering tariffs on Brazilian beef and coffee, two of the country's largest exports to the United States. Earlier this month, the U.S. Treasury lifted sanctions against de Moraes and his wife, as both nations continue to engage in trade negotiations.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, December 29, 2025, PAGE 7
‘THE PAST GIVES COMFORT’: FINDING REFUGE ON ANALOG ISLANDS AMID DEEPENING DIGITAL SEAS By MICHAEL LIEDTKE AP Technology Writer AS technology distracts, polarizes and automates, people are still finding refuge on analog islands in the digital sea. The holdouts span the generation gaps, uniting elderly and middle-aged enclaves born in the pre-internet times with the digital natives raised in the era of online ubiquity. They are setting down their devices to paint, color, knit and play board games. Others carve out time to mail birthday cards and salutations written in their own hand. Some drive cars with manual transmissions while surrounded by automobiles increasingly able to drive themselves. And a widening audience is turning to vinyl albums, resuscitating an analog format that was on its deathbed 20 years ago. The analog havens provide a nostalgic escape from tumultuous times for generations born from 1946 through 1980, says Martin Bispels, 57, a former QVC executive who recently started Retroactv, a company that sells rock music merchandise dating to the 1960s and 1970s. "The past gives comfort. The past is knowable," Bispels says. "And you can define it because you can remember it the way you want." But analog escapes also beckon to the members of the millennials and Generation Z, those born from 1981 through 2012 — younger people immersed in a digital culture that has put instant information and entertainment at their fingertips.
Despite that convenience and instant gratification, even younger people growing up on technology's cutting edge are yearning for more tactile, deliberate and personal activities that don't evaporate in the digital ephemera, says Pamela Paul, author of "100 Things We've Lost To The Internet." "Younger generations have an almost longing wistfulness because because so little of their life feels tangible," Paul says. "They are starting to recognize how the internet has changed their lives, and they are trying to revive these in-person, low-tech environments that older generations took for granted." Here are some glimpses into how the old ways are new again. Keeping those cards coming People have been exchanging cards for centuries. It's a ritual in danger of being obliterated by the tsunami of texting and social media posts. Besides being quicker and more convenient, digital communication has become more economical as the cost of a first-class U.S. postage stamp has soared from 33 to 78 cents during the past 25 years. But tradition is hanging on thanks to people like Megan Evans, who started the Facebook group called "Random Acts of Cardness" a decade ago when she was just 21 in hopes of fostering and maintaining more human connections in an increasingly impersonal world. "Anybody can send a text message that says 'Happy
Birthday!' But sending a card is a much more intentional way of telling somebody that you care," says Evans, who lives in Wickliff, Ohio. "It's something that the sender has touched with their own hand, and that you are going to hold in your own hand." More than 15,000 people are now part of Evans' Facebook group, including Billy-Jo Dieter, who sends at least 100 cards per month commemorating birthdays, holidays and other milestones. "A dying art," she calls it. "My goal has been to try to make at least one person smile each day," says Dieter, 48, who lives in Ellsworth, Maine. "When you sit down and you put the pen to the paper, it becomes something that's even more just for that person." The singularity of a stick shift Before technology futurist Ray Kurzweil came up with a concept that he dubbed the "Singularity" to describe his vision of computers melding with humanity, the roads were crammed with stick-shift cars working in concert with people. But automobiles with manual transmission appear to be on a road to oblivion as technology transforms cars into computers on wheels. Fewer than 1% of the new vehicles sold in the U.S. have manual transmission, down from 35% in 1980, according to an analysis by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. But there remain stickshift diehards like Prabh and Divjeev Sohi, brothers
Trump launched global tariff wars in 2025. Here's a recap of his trade actions this year By WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS AP Business Writer
last year, broken down by key months.
IT'S been a rollercoaster of a year for U.S. trade policy. President Donald Trump launched a barrage of new tariffs in 2025, plunging the U.S. into trade wars with nearly every country in the world. Volley after volley of threats and steeper import taxes often arrived erratically — with Trump claiming that such levies needed to be immediately imposed to close trade imbalances and take back wealth that was "stolen" from the U.S. But the president also turned to tariffs amid personal grudges, or in response to political critics. And the whiplash of on-again, off-again duties — and responding retaliation — fueled widespread uncertainty for businesses and consumers alike, all while households continue to face rising prices. Here's a summary of how Trump's biggest trade actions unfolded over the
In his first few months back in office, Trump focuses his new tariffs on America's three biggest trading partners: Canada, Mexico and China. On-again, off-again levies and responding retaliation begin to bubble up. Worldwide, the U.S. also heightens import taxes on steel and aluminum to 25% — expanding Trump's previously-imposed 2018 import taxes.
January-March
April Trump's trade wars escalate to new heights in April. The president unveils sweeping "Liberation Day" tariffs on almost every country in the world — sending the stock market tumbling. And more turbulence follows after he tells investors that it's a "great time to buy" mere hours before postponing dozens of steeper import taxes. China is the exception. Washington and Beijing trade more and more sky high, tit-for-tat levies
— reaching 145% and 125%, respectively. Separately, Trump's 25% auto tariffs begin, plunging the industry into uncertainty and bringing more retaliation from trading partners like Canada. May-July The Trump administration spends much of the summer boasting about trade "framework" deals with countries like China, the U.K. and Vietnam. But his administration sends letters to dozens of other nations promising that heightened levies are on the way — and notably escalates trade wars with Brazil and India. Otherwise, Trump continues to expand sector-specific tariffs, hiking steel and aluminum taxes to a punishing 50%. Meanwhile, a key legal challenge over Trump's tariffs gains traction. A federal court blocks Trump from imposing some of his most sweeping levies under an emergency-powers law — but an appeals court temporarily halts the order, allowing tariff collections to
CONTAINERS with Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation, a Taiwanese container shipping company, are stacked up at the Port of Los Angeles with the the Long Beach International Gateway Bridge seen in the background on Wednesday, April 9, 2025 in Los Angeles. Photo:Damian Dovarganes/AP
THIS photo provided by Mel D. Cole shows Carson Bispels, left, posing for a photo with his father, Martin Bispels, who recently started Retroactv, a company that sells rock merchandise dating back to the 1960s and 1970s, on Aug. 1, 2025, in Asbury Park, N.J. Photo:Mel D. Cole/AP who drive cars with manual transmissions to their classes at San Jose State University along Silicon Valley roads clogged with Teslas. They became enamored with stick shifts while virtually driving cars in video games as kids and riding in manual transmission vehicles operated by their father and grandfather. So when they were old enough to drive, Prabh, 22, and Divjeev, 19, were determined to learn a skill few people their age even bother to attempt: mastering the nuances of a clutch that controls a manual transmission, a process that resulted in their 1994 Jeep Wrangler coming to a complete stop while frustrated drivers got stuck behind them. "He stalled like five times his first time on the road," Prabh recalls. Even though the experience still causes Divjeev to shudder, he feels it led him to a better place. "You are more in the moment when you are driving a car with a stick. Basically you are just there to drive and you aren't doing anything else," Divjeev says. "You understand the car, and if you don't handle it correctly, that car isn't going to move." continue as the case wends through court. August Heightened U.S. tariffs on more than 60 countries and the European Union kick in. After several delays, most of these rates span from April's "Liberation Day" — but separately, Trump hikes import taxes on Canada to 35%. Punishing 50% levies on goods from Brazil and India also take effect, along with a new 50% rate on most imported copper worldwide. And low-value imports coming into the
Rediscovering vinyl's virtues Vinyl's obsolescence seemed inevitable in the 1980s when compact discs emerged. That introduction triggered an evisceration of analog recordings that hit bottom in 2006 when 900,000 vinyl albums were sold, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. That was a death rattle for a format that peaked in 1977, when 344 million vinyl albums were sold. But the slump unexpectedly reversed, and vinyl albums are now a growth niche. In each of the past two years, about 43 million vinyl albums have been sold, despite the widespread popularity of music streaming services that make it possible to play virtually any song by any artist at any time. Baby boomers expanding upon their decades-old album collections aren't the only catalyst. Younger generations are embracing the lusher sound of vinyl, too. "I really love listening to an album on vinyl from start to finish. It feels like I am sitting with the artist," says 24-year-old Carson Bispels. "Vinyl just adds this permanence that makes the music feel more genuine. It's just U.S. lose their duty-free status with the end of the "de minimis" rule. Separately, the U.S. extends its trade truce with China. And a U.S. appeals court rules that Trump went too far when he declared national emergencies to justify his tariffs — but doesn't strike them down entirely, allowing the administration to take its case to the Supreme Court. September-December The Trump administration officially takes its tariff fight to the Supreme Court. In initial oral arguments,
you and the music, the way it should be." Carson is the son of Martin Bispels, the former QVC executive. A few years ago, Martin gave a few of his vinyl records to Carson, including Bob Marley's "Taklin' Blues," an album already played so much that it sometimes cracks and pops with the scratches in it. "I still listen to it because every time I do, I think of my dad," says Carson, who lives in Nashville, Tennessee. After starting off with about 10 vinyl albums from his dad, Carson now has about 100 and plans to keep expanding. "The current digital age of music is fantastic, too, but there's nothing like the personal aspect of going into the record store and thumbing through a bunch of albums while making small talk with some of the other patrons to find out what they're listening to," Carson says. Paul, the author of the book about analog activities that have been devoured by the internet, says the vinyl music's comeback story has her mulling a potential sequel. "A return to humanity," she says, "could turn out to be another book." the justices appear skeptical about the president's authority to impose such sweeping levies. Meanwhile, Trump continues to promise more sectoral tariffs — and 25% levies on kitchen cabinets and other furniture take effect. But other threats get delayed. Amid rising price pressures, the president also lowers or scraps a few previous tariffs, notably for goods like beef and fruit. He also suggests that Americans will receive a $2,000 dividend from new tariff revenue — but details remain very scarce.
PAGE 8, Monday, December 29, 2025
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NEW YORK SUBWAY ENDS ITS METROCARD ERA AND SWITCHES FULLY TO TAP-AND-GO FARES By PHILIP MARCELO Associated Press WHEN the MetroCard replaced the New York City subway token in 1994, the swipeable plastic card infused much-needed modernity into one of the world's oldest and largest transit systems. Now, more than three decades later, the gold-hued fare card and its notoriously finicky magnetic strip are following the token into retirement. The last day to buy or refill a MetroCard is Dec. 31, 2025, as the transit system fully transitions to OMNY, a contactless payment system that allows riders to tap their credit card, phone or other smart device to pay fares, much like they do for other everyday purchases. Transit officials say more than 90% of subway and bus trips are now paid using the tap-and-go system, introduced in 2019. Major cities around the world, including London and Singapore, have long used similar contactless systems. In the U.S., San Francisco launched a pay-go system earlier this year, joining Chicago and others. MetroCards upended how New Yorkers commute
The humble MetroCard may have outlasted its useful life, but in its day it was revolutionary, says Jodi Shapiro, curator at the New York Transit Museum in Brooklyn, which opened an exhibit earlier this month reflecting on the MetroCard's legacy. Before MetroCards, bus and subway riders relied on tokens, the brass-colored coins introduced in 1953 that were purchased from station booths. When the subway opened in 1904, paper tickets cost just a nickel, or about $1.82 in today's dollars. "There was a resistance to change from tokens to
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority launched public campaigns to teach commuters how to swipe the originally bluecolored cards correctly, hoping to avoid the dreaded error message or lost fares. Officials even briefly toyed with the idea of an quirky mascot, the Cardvaark, before coming to their senses. The cards quickly became collectors items as the transit system rolled out special commemorative editions marking major events, such as the "Subway Series" between baseball's New York Mets and the New York Yankees in the 2000
“There was a resistance to change from tokens to something else because tokens work. MetroCards introduced a whole other level of thinking for New Yorkers.” Jodi Shapiro something else because tokens work," Shapiro said on a recent visit to the museum, housed underground in a decommissioned subway station. "MetroCards introduced a whole other level of thinking for New Yorkers."
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World Series. At the time, a fare cost $1.50. Artists from David Bowie and Olivia Rodrigo to seminal New York hip hop acts, such as the Wu-Tang Clan, the Notorious B.I.G. and LL Cool J, have also graced the plastic card over the years, as have iconic New
York shows like Seinfeld and Law & Order. "For me, the most special cards are cards which present New York City to the world," said Lev Radin, a collector in the Bronx. "Not only photos of landmarks, skylines, but also about people who live and make New York special." Perfecting the correct angle and velocity of the MetroCard swipe also became something of a point of pride separating real New Yorkers from those just visiting. During her failed 2016 presidential campaign, Hillary Clinton, a former U.S. Senator from New York, took an excruciating five swipes at a Bronx turnstile. In fairness, her chief Democratic opponent at the time, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, a native Brooklynite, didn't even appear to realize tokens had been discontinued. Cost savings and lingering concerns
Unlike the MetroCard rollout, OMNY has required little adjustment. Riders reluctant to use a credit card or smart device can purchase an OMNY card they can reload, similar to a MetroCard. Existing MetroCards will also continue to work into 2026, allowing riders to use remaining balances. MTA spokespersons declined to comment, pointing instead to their many public statements as the deadline approaches. The agency has said the changeover saves at least $20 million annually in MetroCard-related costs. The new system also allows unlimited free rides within a seven-day period because the fare is capped after 12 rides. It'll max out at $35 a week once the fare rises to $3 in January. Still, new changes come with tradeoffs, with some critics raising concerns about data collection and surveillance.
Near Times Square on a recent morning, Ronald Minor was among the dwindling group of "straphangers" still swiping MetroCards. The 70-year-old Manhattan resident said he's sad to see them go. He has an OMNY card but found the vending machines to reload it more cumbersome. "It's hard for the elders," Minor said as he caught a train to Brooklyn. "Don't push us aside and make it like we don't count. You push these machines away, you push us away." John Sacchetti, another MetroCard user at the Port Authority stop, said he likes being able to see his balance as he swipes through a turnstile so he knows how much he's been spending on rides. "It's just like everything else, just something to get used to," he said as he headed uptown. "Once I get used to it, I think it'll be okay."
Myanmar holds first election since military seized power but critics say the vote is a sham By TIAN MACLEOD JI and GRANT PECK Associated Press VOTERS went to the polls Sunday for the initial phase of Myanmar's first general election in five years, held under the supervision of its military government while a civil war rages throughout much of the country. Final results won't be known until after two more rounds of voting are completed later in January. It's widely expected that Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, who has governed Myanmar since an army takeover in
The COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS 2025/CLE/qui/01082 IN THE SUPREME COURT Common Law & Equity Side IN THE MATTER of the Quieting Title Act, 1959 AND IN THE MATTER of the Petition of DENISE CHRISTINE TYNES AND IN THE MATTER of ALL THAT piece parcel of land containing 6000 sq. ft. and being Lot no. 83 situate on the western side of Guadeloupe Street and approximately one hundred and twenty (120’) feet southward of Martinique Road in Golden Gates Subdivision 2 in the western district of the island of New Providence one of the islands in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas which boundaries shape marks and dimensions as are more particularly delineated on the plan filed with the Department of Lands and Surveys being plan 6483 NP and the plan filed in this action. The Petitioner in the matter claims to be the owner by virtue of possession of the tract of land hereinbefore described and the Petitioner has made an application to the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas under Section 23 of the Quieting Titles Act, 1959 to have the title to the said land investigated and the nature and extent thereof determined and declared in a Certificate of Title to be granted by the Court in accordance with the provisions of the said Act. Copies of the said plan may be inspected during normal business hours at a. The Registry of the Supreme Court Marlborough Street, and b. The chambers of the undersigned NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that any person having a dower or a right to dower or an adverse claim or a claim not recognized in the Petition shall on or before the 29th of January 2026 file Notice of such claim in the Registry aforesaid and serve on the undersigned a statement of such claim in the prescribed form verified by an Affidavit to be filed therewith. The failure of such person to file and serve a statement of such claim within the time fixed by this Notice shall operate as a bar to such claim Dated this 4th day of December, A.D., 2025 COMMON LAW CENTRE #16 Ivanhoe Road Nassau, Bahamas info@thecommonlawcenter.com Attorneys for the Petitioner
DEMOCRAT presidential candidate Hillary Clinton holds her MetroCard as she goes through the turnstile to enter the subway in the Bronx borough of New York, April 7, 2016. Photo:Richard Drew/AP
2021, will then assume the presidency. The military government has presented the vote as a return to democracy, but its bid for legitimacy is marred by the absence of formerly popular opposition parties and reports that soldiers used threats to force voters' participation. Military-backed party favored While more than 4,800 candidates from 57 parties are competing for seats in national and regional legislatures, only six are competing nationwide with the possibility to gain political clout in parliament. The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party is by far the strongest contender. Voting is taking place in three phases, with Sunday's first round being held in 102 of Myanmar's 330 townships. Subsequent phases will take place on Jan. 11 and Jan. 25, but 65 townships won't participate in the election because of ongoing armed conflicts. Final results are expected to be announced by February. It wasn't clear if or when the authorities would release aggregate figures of Sunday's voting, although counts were publicly announced at local polling stations. Critics of the current system say that the election is designed to add a facade of legitimacy to the status quo. Military rule began when soldiers ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. It blocked her National League for Democracy party from serving a second term despite winning a landslide victory in the 2020 election. They argue that the results will lack legitimacy because of the exclusion of major parties and government repression. 'Theater of the absurd' The expected victory of the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party makes the
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nominal transition to civilian rule a chimera, say opponents of military rule and independent analysts. "An election organized by a junta that continues to bomb civilians, jail political leaders, and criminalize all forms of dissent is not an election — it is a theater of the absurd performed at gunpoint," Tom Andrews, the U.N.-appointed human rights expert for Myanmar, posted on X. However, the election may provide an excuse for neighbors like China, India and Thailand to say that the vote represents progress toward stability. Western nations have maintained sanctions against Myanmar's ruling generals because of the military's anti-democratic actions and the brutal war against opponents. According to a count carried out at one polling station in Yangon after the polls closed, only 524 of 1,431 registered voters — just under 37% — cast their ballots. Of those, 311 voted for the pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party, suggesting that opposition calls for a voter boycott may have been heeded. Khin Marlar, 51, who cast her ballot in Yangon's Kyauktada township, said that she felt that she should vote, because she hoped that peace would follow afterward. She explained that she had fled her village in the town of Thaungta in the central Mandalay region because of the fighting. "I am voting with the feeling that I will go back to my village when it is peaceful," she told The Associated Press. Voter intimidation reports A resident of southern Mon state, who asked to be identified only by her first name, Khin, for fear of arrest by the military, told the AP that she felt compelled to go to a polling station because of pressure from local authorities. "I have to go and vote even though I don't want to, because soldiers showed up with guns to our village to pressure us yesterday," Khin said, echoing reports from independent media and rights groups.
Suu Kyi, Myanmar's 80-year-old former leader, and her party aren't participating in the polls. She is serving a 27-year prison term on charges widely viewed as spurious and politically motivated. Her party, the National League for Democracy, was dissolved in 2023 after refusing to register under new military rules. Other parties also refused to register or declined to run under conditions they deem unfair, and opposition groups have called for a voter boycott. Amael Vier, an analyst for the Asian Network for Free Elections, noted a lack of genuine choice, pointing out that 73% of voters in 2020 cast ballots for parties that no longer exist. Violence and repression According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, more than 22,000 people are currently detained for political offenses, and more than 7,600 civilians have been killed by security forces since 2021. Armed resistance arose after the army used lethal force to crush nonviolent protests against its 2021 takeover. The ensuing civil war has left more than 3.6 million people displaced, according to the U.N. A new Election Protection Law imposes harsh penalties and restrictions for virtually all public criticism of the polls. There were no reports of major interference with the polls, though opposition organizations and armed resistance groups had vowed to disrupt the electoral process. Both the military and its opponents believe power is likely to remain with Min Aung Hlaing, who led the 2021 seizure of power. "I am the commander in chief. I am a civil servant. I cannot say that I want to serve as a president. I am not the leader of a political party," he told journalists after casting his vote. "There is a process for electing a president from parliament only when it is convened. I think it is appropriate to speak about it only then."
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, December 29, 2025, PAGE 9
More thrifting and fewer returns, the early trends that defined shopping this holiday POST-holiday shoppers pass a seasonal candy and Christmas display at Calef’s Country Store, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, in Barrington, N.H. Photo:Charles Krupa/AP
By ANNE D'INNOCENZIO AP Retail Writer THE shopping rush leading up to Christmas is over and in its place, like every year, another has begun as millions of people hunt for post-holiday deals and get in line to return gifts that didn't fit, or didn't hit quite right. Holiday spending using cash or cards through Sunday has topped last year's haul, according to data released this week by Visa's Consulting & Analytics division and Mastercard SpendingPulse. But growing unease over the U.S. economy and higher prices in part due to President Donald Trump's tariffs have altered the behavior of some Americans. More are hitting thrift stores or other discounters in place of malls, according to data from Placer.ai. The firm tracks people's movements based on cellphone usage. And they're sticking more closely to shopping lists and doing more research before buying. That may explain why returns so far are down compared with last year, according to data from Adobe Analytics. Here are three trends that defined the holiday shopping season so far: A weaker holiday season for traditional gift giving Americans are still spending on gifts, yet increasingly that shopping is taking place at thrift and
U.S. sales at thrift chain Savers Value Village's rose 10.5% in the three months ended Sept. 27 and the momentum continued through October, store executives said in late October. "High household income cohort continues to become a larger portion of our consumer mix," CEO Mark Walsh told analysts. "It's trade down for sure, and our younger cohort also continues to grow in numbers. " Fewer returns, so far
Traffic surged 61% at traditional sellers of only clothing in the week before the holiday compared with the rest of the year. But again, compared with the runup to Christmas last year, sales slid 9%. Some of that lost traffic may have migrated to the so-called off-price stores— chains like TJ Maxx. That sector had a sharp seasonal traffic bump of 85.1% and a gain of 1.2% in the week before the holiday. But it was thrift stores that were red hot, with traffic jumping nearly 11% in the week before Christmas compared with last year. "Whether hunting for a designer deal or uncovering a one-of-a-kind
“High household income cohort continues to become a larger portion of our consumer mix. It's trade down for sure, and our younger cohort also continues to grow in numbers.” CEO Mark Walsh discount stores, according to data from Placer.ai. That's likely forcing traditional retailers such as department stores to fight harder for customers, Placer.ai said. Clothing and electronics that traditionally dominate holiday sales did have a surge but struggled to grow, according to Placer.ai. Both goods are dominated by imports and thus, vulnerable to tariffs. For example, traffic doubled in department stores during the week before Christmas, from Dec. 15 through Sunday, compared with the average shopping week this year. But traffic in the week before Christmas this year fell 13.2% compared with 2024.
vintage piece, consumers increasingly favored discovery-driven experiences over the standardized assortments of traditional retail," Shira Petrack, head of content at Placer.ai, said in a blog post Friday. Thrift stores broaden their appeal In the past it may have seemed gauche to gift your mother a gently used sweater or a pair of pants from a local thrift store, but seemingly not so amid all of the economic uncertainty and rising prices, according to Placer.ai. Through the second half of 2025, thrift stores have seen at least a 10% increases in traffic compared with last year. That
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NOTICE is hereby given that MAXENE DUPELOR of Carmichael Road, #4 Unison Road, 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 19th day of December 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
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NOTICE is hereby given that NICOLE YOUTE of Jerome 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 19th day of December 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
suggests that environmental concerns as well as economic issues are luring more Americans to second-hand stores, Placer.ai said. Visits to thrift stores generally do not take off during the holidays, yet in the most recent Black Friday weekend, sales jumped 5.5%, Placer.ai. reported. In November, as customer traffic in traditional apparel stores fell more than 3%, traffic in thrift
stores soared 12.7%, according to Placer.ai. The thrift migration has altered the demographics of second-hand stores. The average household income of thrift customers hit $75,000 during October and November of this year, a slight uptick from $74,900 last year, $74,600 in 2023 well above the average income of 74,100 in 2022, based on demographic data from STI:PopStats combined with Placer.ai data.
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NOTICE is hereby given that ARNOLD PHILIPPE of #5 Sampson Street off Farrington Road, 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 18th day of December 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
For the first six weeks of the holiday season, return rates have dipped from the same period a year ago, according to Adobe Analytics. That suggests that shoppers are doing more research before adding something to their shopping list, and they're being more disciplined in sticking to the lists they create, according to Vivek Pandya, lead analyst at Adobe Digital Insights. "I think it's very indicative of consumers and how conscientiously they've purchased," Pandya said. "Many of them are being
very specific with how they spend their budget." From Nov. 1 to Dec. 12, returns fell 2.5% compared with last year, Adobe reported. In the seven days following Cyber Week — the five shopping days between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday, returns fell 0.1%. From the Nov. 1 through Dec. 12, online sales rose 6% to $187.3 billion, on track to surpass its outlook for the season, Adobe reported. Between Dec. 26 to Dec. 31, returns are expected to rise by 25% to 35% compared with returns between Nov. 1 through Dec. 12, Adobe said, and it expects returns to remain elevated through the first two weeks of January, up 8% to 15%. This is the first year that Adobe has tracked returns. Still, the last week of December sees the greatest concentration of returns: one out of every eight returns in the 2024 holiday season took place between Dec. 26 and Dec 31, a trend expected to persist this year, Adobe said.
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NOTICE is hereby given that DJIMMY LAMOUR of #4 Malcolm Road, Nassau, The Bahamasis 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 22nd day of December 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
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DENNIS THE MENACE Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so the each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday Best described as a number crossword, the task in Kakuro is to fill all of the empty squares, using numbers 1 to 9, so the sum of each horizontal block equals the number to its left, and the sum of each vertical block equals the number on its top. No number may be used in the same block more than once. The difficulty level of the Conceptis Kakuro increases from Monday to Sunday.
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Monday, December 29, 2025, PAGE 11
More countries reject Israel's recognition of Somaliland NAIROBI, Kenya Associated Press A GROWING number of countries on Saturday rejected Israel's recognition of Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland as an independent nation a day earlier, the first by any country in more than 30 years. It wasn't known why Israel made the declaration Friday or whether the country was expecting something in return. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 during a descent into conflict that continues to leave the east African country fragile. Despite having its own government and currency, Somaliland had never been recognized by any nation until Friday. A joint statement by more than 20 mostly Middle Eastern or African countries and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on Saturday rejected Israel's recognition "given the serious repercussions of such unprecedented measure on
peace and security in the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea and its serious effects on international peace and security as a whole." Somaliland, which is arid, lies on the Gulf of Aden across from Yemen and next to small Djibouti, which hosts military bases for the U.S., China, France and several other countries. The joint statement also noted "the full rejection of any potential link between such measure and any attempts to forcibly expel the Palestinian people out of their land." Syria in a separate statement also rejected Israel's recognition. Earlier this year, U.S. and Israeli officials told The Associated Press that Israel had approached Somaliland about taking in Palestinians from Gaza as part of U.S. President Donald Trump's plan at the time to resettle the territory's population. The United States has since abandoned that plan. The U.S. State Department on Saturday said
that it continued to recognize the territorial integrity of Somalia, "which includes the territory of Somaliland." Netanyahu's office said Friday that he, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and Somaliland's president, Abdirahman Mohamed
Abdullahi, signed a joint declaration "in the spirit of the Abraham Accords." That initiative, which started in 2020, established commercial and diplomatic ties between Israel and several Arab and Muslim-majority countries. Trump sees it as key to his
plan for bringing long-term stability to the Middle East. Somalia's federal government on Friday strongly rejected what it described as an unlawful move by Israel, and reaffirmed that Somaliland remains an integral part of Somalia's sovereign territory.
African regional bodies also rejected Israel's recognition. African Union Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf said that any attempt to undermine Somalia's sovereignty risks peace and stability on the continent. East African governing body IGAD said in a statement that Somalia's sovereignty was recognized under international law and any unilateral recognition "runs contrary to the charter of the United Nations" and agreements establishing the bloc and the African Union.
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