US Port Security: The US Coast Guard kept 22 countries on its port security advisory list, including São Tomé and Príncipe, after finding ports there were not maintaining effective antiterrorism measures; ships calling at affected ports in the prior five calls may face extra security steps before entering the US. Energy & Investment: Halliburton won a contract for four onshore wells supporting Petrobras’ CCS pilot in Rio de Janeiro, with the project capturing CO2 for transport and storage—an energy-transition signal for the region after earlier bids tied to the São Tomé CCS effort. Diplomacy & Trade Links: Venezuela and São Tomé and Príncipe marked 20 years of diplomatic relations, reviewing cooperation in education, agriculture, gender, and technical projects under South-South principles. World Bank Leadership: The World Bank named Juan Carlos Alvarez as country manager for Trinidad and Tobago, after previously leading the Bank’s engagements in Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe. Currency Watch: A new August 2026 ranking puts São Tomé and Príncipe’s dobra among Africa’s weakest, with the exchange rate pressuring import costs and household purchasing power. Health & Capacity Building: A World Bank-backed regional programme trained health professionals across Eastern and Southern Africa, including São Tomé and Príncipe, to strengthen surveillance for chronic diseases alongside frontline epidemiology.