Russian Influence & Security: Ukraine’s military intelligence says Russia is expanding its “Russian Houses” network across Africa—including plans for São Tomé and Príncipe—to push pro-Russian messaging and recruit students and workers, coordinated via Rossotrudnichestvo and a 2024-linked public diplomacy group. Currency & Trade Pressure: A new roundup flags São Tomé and Príncipe’s dobra among Africa’s weakest currencies versus the US dollar, pointing to import dependence and external shocks that can raise costs for local businesses. Ocean & Maritime Protection: West African states are urging the Eastern Atlantic—covering the Canary-Guinea Current zone that includes São Tomé and Príncipe—to be included in the first wave of marine protected areas under a high-seas treaty, aiming to safeguard fisheries and migration routes. Higher Education Links: The 35th AULP annual meeting opened at the University of Macau, bringing together Portuguese-speaking universities including São Tomé and Príncipe to deepen academic cooperation. Health IP & Access: PATAM and TWN filed a Third-Party Observation at ARIPO challenging a Gilead patent application on broad HIV compounds, arguing prior disclosures and questioning novelty—potentially affecting patent rights across ARIPO’s contracting states. Financial Governance: A piece on the Neves Licensing Authority Sao Tomé and Príncipe explains why licensing and supervision are separate functions in modern financial systems, a key compliance issue for cross-border operators.