Curaçao Steps Up to Coordinate Humanitarian Aid for Earthquake-Hit Venezuela

Elsa van Uytrecht, a devoted daily reader of Curaçao's local newspaper EXTRA, celebrated her 100th birthday in Willemstad yesterday. The milestone was marked by the newspaper itself, highlighting her longstanding loyalty to the publication. Van Uytrecht is described as a happy and content woman whose daily routine includes reading her copy of EXTRA without fail. Her centennial birthday serves as a heartwarming community moment, reflecting the deep connection between local residents and their hometown media. The story underscores the role that local newspapers continue to play in the daily lives of Curaçao's residents, even among the island's oldest generations.

The Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten (CBCS) has announced the winners of the sixth edition of its Best Economic Research Award 2026, an annual competition that honors outstanding economic research produced by students. The award program is designed to encourage academic engagement with economic topics relevant to Curaçao and Sint Maarten. Now in its sixth year, the competition has become a recognized platform for identifying emerging economic talent in the region. The CBCS uses the initiative to foster a new generation of economists and researchers who can contribute to the monetary and economic development of both islands. The announcement highlights the bank's ongoing commitment to education and research beyond its core regulatory functions.

The Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam, Netherlands, has fully reopened to all traffic following a tram collision that temporarily shut it down on Wednesday morning. Two trams collided on the bridge earlier in the day, blocking vehicle lanes, tram lines, cycling paths, and pedestrian walkways. Recovery crews worked to remove both damaged trams before the bridge could be cleared and reopened. The Erasmus Bridge is one of Rotterdam's most iconic and heavily trafficked crossings, making any closure a significant disruption to daily commuters and city transport. No details on injuries or the cause of the collision were provided in the initial report. Normal operations, including tram service, resumed once the wreckage was cleared. The incident highlights the vulnerability of shared-use bridge infrastructure to cascading transport disruptions.