Oil & Gas (Ghana): Ghana’s Ministry of Energy has approved Petrobras’ request to negotiate exploration contracts for four offshore blocks in the underexplored Keta Basin, moving the Brazilian state-controlled firm into direct talks on contract terms as Ghana pushes to reverse a near-50% production decline since its 2019 peak. Energy Services (Brazil): Petrobras also awarded Halliburton a contract for drilling and completion of four wells for its Sao Tome carbon capture and storage (CCS) pilot in Rio de Janeiro state, targeting capture of up to 100,000 tonnes of CO2 annually over a three-year test period. Diplomacy (São Tomé & Príncipe): Venezuela and São Tomé and Príncipe marked 20 years of diplomatic relations, with both sides reviewing cooperation in education, agriculture, gender, and culture under South-South principles. World Bank (Regional): The World Bank appointed Juan Carlos Alvarez as country manager for Trinidad and Tobago, noting he previously led the Bank’s engagements in Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe. Civic Space (Governance): A new analysis highlights that only Cabo Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe are considered “open” on civic space, while most of Sub-Saharan Africa remains blocked, repressed, or closed—an issue investors increasingly watch. Security (Maritime): The US Coast Guard says 22 countries remain on its port security advisory list, including São Tomé and Príncipe, requiring extra antiterrorism measures for ships before entering the US. Business & Economy (Citizenship): São Tomé and Príncipe’s “golden passport” citizenship-by-investment program is marketed as a $90,000 route to citizenship via the National Transformation Fund, with applications typically processed in about two months.