Regional Finance: Cameroonian billionaire Paul Fokam’s Afriland First Holding has launched Africa Diamond Invest, a new Togo-based securities and investment management firm capitalised at 1 billion FCFA, aiming to build a regional investment platform across the UEMOA zone. Maritime & Crew Rights: ITLOS’ Special Chamber backed the Marshall Islands in the M/T Heroic Idun (No. 2) case against Equatorial Guinea, awarding a record fine and damages and highlighting limits on anti-piracy detentions that lack legitimate grounds—an issue that matters for shipowners and crews. Ocean Protection: West African states are pushing to include the Eastern Atlantic—covering the Canary-Guinea currents and the São Tomé and Príncipe corridor—in the first wave of marine protected areas under the high seas treaty. Currency Watch: A new ranking flags São Tomé and Príncipe’s dobra among Africa’s weakest currencies against the US dollar, pointing to import dependence and external shocks. IP & Health: PATAM and Third World Network filed a Third-Party Observation at ARIPO challenging a broad Gilead patent application on HIV compounds, arguing novelty and inventive step concerns across ARIPO’s contracting states. 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. Geopolitics & Influence: Ukraine’s intelligence alleges Russia is expanding “Russian Houses” across Africa, including São Tomé and Príncipe, as part of a broader influence campaign.