UNESCO World Heritage: UNESCO’s 48th committee session in Busan added 25 new World Heritage sites, bringing the total to 1,273 across 173 countries, with São Tomé and Príncipe getting its first-ever inscription for the Roças of São Tomé and Príncipe—an international spotlight on the country’s heritage and conservation priorities. Visa Access & Mobility: Panama published a visa-free entry list showing only nine African countries qualify, including São Tomé and Príncipe, while most other African states remain excluded—highlighting how travel access is still tightly controlled. US Visa Bond Policy: The US made its visa bond programme permanent for selected B1/B2 business and tourist applicants, with consular officers able to require refundable deposits up to $20,000; São Tomé and Príncipe is on the affected list, raising the stakes for outbound travel and tourism planning. Diplomacy: Serbia’s foreign minister met São Tomé and Príncipe’s PM Américo Ramos in Belgrade, thanking the country for its stance on Kosovo and discussing expanded cooperation in education, health, agriculture, digitalization and culture, plus participation in Expo 2027. Citizenship-by-Investment: São Tomé and Príncipe’s “golden passport” programme is now positioned as a permanent route to citizenship via a $90,000 investment into a National Transformation Fund, with additional fees for family members.