World Bank & diplomacy: São Tomé and Príncipe marked 20 years of Venezuela–São Tomé diplomatic relations, with both sides reviewing cooperation in education, agriculture, gender, culture and other South–South projects. World Bank staffing: The World Bank named Juan Carlos Alvarez as country manager for Trinidad and Tobago, unifying leadership across IBRD, IFC and MIGA; Alvarez previously served as World Bank country manager for Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe. Citizenship-for-investment: São Tomé and Príncipe’s “golden passport” citizenship by investment program is offering citizenship via a $90,000 investment (plus fees), with processing typically around two months and eligibility tied to due diligence. Civic space & governance: A new analysis highlights that only Cabo Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe are considered “open” on civic space in Sub-Saharan Africa, underscoring how freedoms for expression and association can shape transparency and investor confidence. Security & ports: The US Coast Guard kept São Tomé and Príncipe on its port security advisory list, saying ports are not maintaining effective antiterrorism measures, which can trigger extra security requirements for ships calling there before US entry. Health policy: A World Bank-funded regional training in Dar es Salaam is strengthening São Tomé and Príncipe’s frontline capacity to detect non-communicable diseases alongside outbreak response.