UNESCO World Heritage: São Tomé and Príncipe’s historic roças have made headlines at UNESCO’s 48th World Heritage Committee in Busan, with the plantation system recognized as World Heritage—an important first for the country and a spotlight on the islands’ coffee and cocoa legacy, including the painful colonial history behind the estates. Heritage Watch: UNESCO also added 25 new sites worldwide (19 cultural, 5 natural, 1 mixed), including Mount Olympus and the D-Day Landing Beaches, while placing several threatened properties under emergency protection. US Travel Rules: The United States has made its visa bond programme permanent, meaning selected travellers from 50 countries—including São Tomé and Príncipe—may be asked to post a refundable deposit of up to $20,000 for B1 business and B2 tourism visas, with refunds tied to compliance and on-time departure. Lusophone Tourism Cooperation: The CPLP set up a Business and Investment Forum on tourism, aiming to boost connectivity and support youth entrepreneurship, women-led initiatives, and local producers across Portuguese-speaking countries.