Minimum Wage Showdown: Aruba’s merchants are pushing back hard on a proposed jump to the subsistence minimum, with United Merchants of Aruba (CUA) calling an extraordinary meeting for Oct. 7 over fears of inflation and harm to small businesses amid no published economic impact study. Public Transport Finance: Government says it’s working to ease Arubus financial pressure, including fixing Aruparking revenue flow and bringing back the $1 tourist fee from Oct. 1. Tourism Policy: Aruba’s Strategic Tourism Master Plan 2026–2031 is moving toward implementation after a third round of national dialogue with tourism stakeholders. Nature Rules for UTV/ATV: Tour Operators Uni submitted a nature protocol proposing marked routes, GPS monitoring, speed limits, penalties, and native tree planting to curb damage along the northern coast. Energy Transition: WEB Aruba launched its 35 MW / 70 MWh BESS II battery storage project, aiming to boost renewable use and grid reliability. Cost of Living Snapshot: CBS reports Aruba’s subsistence level rose to Afl. 5,663 for a two-adult, two-child household in Aug. 2026. Downtown Business Disruption: The Aruba Tourism Authority outlines preparations for the Autentico Aruba Culinary Festival (Oct. 10–11) with setup and sound checks affecting Wilhelminastraat and nearby streets. Regional Business Link: Massy Holdings in Trinidad and Tobago expects a US$9.8m accounting loss tied to selling its Caterpillar-related business, with proceeds of about US$16m.