Diplomatic Anniversary: Venezuela and São Tomé and Príncipe marked 20 years of diplomatic relations with meetings between senior ambassadors in Luanda, highlighting renewed cooperation in education, agriculture, gender, and culture under South-South principles. World Bank Leadership: The World Bank appointed Juan Carlos Alvarez as country manager for Trinidad and Tobago, unifying oversight across IBRD, IFC, and MIGA; Alvarez previously led World Bank engagements in Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe. Civic Space Watch: A new regional analysis notes São Tomé and Príncipe is among the few Sub-Saharan states rated “open” for civic freedoms, contrasting with widespread repression elsewhere—an issue that can shape transparency and investor confidence. Maritime Security: The US Coast Guard kept São Tomé and Príncipe on its port security advisory list, saying ports are not maintaining effective anti-terrorism measures, which can trigger extra security requirements for ships before entering the US. Health System Capacity: A World Bank-funded training programme in Dar es Salaam is expanding non-communicable disease surveillance skills for frontline health workers, including participants from São Tomé and Príncipe. Citizenship-by-Investment: Coverage of São Tomé and Príncipe’s “golden passport” scheme says citizenship can be obtained via a $90,000 investment plus fees, with processing typically around two months and eligibility tied to due diligence checks.