KFC Sta. Maria and Brievengat locations go cashless in Curaçao

The licensing procedure for Starlink satellite internet service on Curaçao is now in its final phase, according to Minister of Traffic, Transport and Spatial Planning Charles Cooper of the MFK party. Cooper has been working alongside the island's telecommunications regulator, the Regulatory Authority Curaçao (RAC), to advance the approval process. Starlink, the satellite broadband service operated by SpaceX, would provide high-speed internet access to Curaçao residents and businesses, particularly those in areas underserved by existing infrastructure. The move signals growing momentum toward expanding connectivity options on the island, which could benefit both consumers and the broader economy. Once fully approved, Curaçao would join a growing list of Caribbean territories where Starlink has received regulatory clearance to operate. The timeline for a final decision has not yet been publicly confirmed.

Three nuclear reactors at the Gravelines power plant in northern France were taken offline Monday evening after a large swarm of jellyfish was detected approaching in the North Sea, according to Électricité de France (EDF). Gravelines is the largest nuclear power station in Western Europe, making the shutdown a significant event for regional energy supply. EDF initiated the precautionary shutdown to prevent the jellyfish from clogging the plant's seawater cooling intake systems, which draw directly from the North Sea. Jellyfish swarms have caused similar disruptions at coastal power plants in the past, as the creatures can overwhelm filtration systems in large numbers. The company has not yet confirmed when the reactors are expected to return to full operation. The incident highlights the vulnerability of coastal energy infrastructure to natural marine phenomena.

Curaçao's tax and premium revenue for the second quarter of the year exceeded its budgeted targets by XCG 57.4 million, signaling stronger-than-expected fiscal performance for the island. The surplus indicates that both tax collections and premium contributions came in well above government projections for the period. This outperformance provides the government with additional financial flexibility and could ease pressure on public finances. Such a result is significant for Curaçao, which has faced ongoing fiscal challenges and is subject to oversight conditions tied to financial assistance from the Netherlands. A revenue surplus of this scale may support increased public spending, debt reduction, or reserves, depending on government priorities. The data underscores improving economic activity on the island, likely driven by stronger consumer spending, business activity, or improved tax compliance. Authorities have yet to announce how the additional revenue will be allocated.