Ryanair CEO apologizes for calling rivals 'rapists

The Central Bank of Curaçao and St. Maarten (CBCS) has been selected to receive international technical assistance to strengthen its work on climate risk scenarios. The support comes through the Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS), a global coalition of central banks and financial supervisors committed to managing climate-related financial risks. CBCS was chosen as part of the first round of NGFS's capacity-building initiative, which aims to help central banks develop and apply climate scenario analysis to financial oversight. Climate risk scenarios are tools that help financial regulators assess how climate change — through physical damages or policy transitions — could affect financial stability. Being selected signals that CBCS is being recognized internationally as an institution actively working to integrate climate considerations into its regulatory framework. This development is significant for Curaçao and St. Maarten, two small island economies particularly vulnerable to climate-related risks such as hurricanes, sea-level rise, and extreme weather events.

A legal dispute over the ownership of the Lovers trademark in Curaçao remains unresolved despite a recent court ruling, according to a statement from Kortijn. The party involved, Kortijn, has responded publicly to the court's decision, making clear that the outcome does not settle the matter as far as they are concerned. The case centers on who holds rightful ownership of the Lovers brand, which has business significance on the island. Kortijn indicated the dispute will continue through further legal channels, suggesting additional proceedings are likely. The case highlights ongoing tensions around trademark rights and brand ownership in Curaçao's business environment. No timeline for the next legal steps has been publicly confirmed, but Kortijn's position signals the conflict is far from concluded.

A new analysis examines the long and complicated transition of Curaçao's oil refinery ambitions toward the alternative economic use of Bullenbaai, a deep-water port and terminal facility on the island's western coast. The refinery at Isla, once a cornerstone of Curaçao's economy for nearly a century, has remained idle since state-owned oil company PDVSA's lease ended in 2019, leaving the island searching for a viable path forward. Bullenbaai, operated by Curaçao Terminal Operators (CTO), has increasingly been positioned as a key piece of that alternative future, focusing on oil storage and transshipment rather than refining. The shift represents a significant economic and identity reckoning for Curaçao, a nation whose infrastructure and workforce were historically built around petroleum processing. Policymakers and stakeholders continue to debate how best to leverage existing energy assets without the environmental and financial risks associated with restarting full-scale refinery operations. The outcome of this transition carries major implications for employment, government revenue, and the island's long-term economic diversification strategy.