World Cup, politics of sport: As the 2026 World Cup kicks off, coverage highlights how football is being shaped by money, conflict, and high-cost access—raising questions about whether the game has been “stolen by the rich.” Diplomacy: Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo arrived in Harare for a two-day state visit with Emmerson Mnangagwa, with agreements expected on trade, energy, education, agriculture, mining and skills under ACFTA and a fresh JPCC follow-up. Foreign policy coordination: Belarus’s Chargé d’Affaires Vladislav Zhur met Equatorial Guinea’s Vice-President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue to push cooperation in agriculture, machinery, construction and education. Migration and legal pressure: The Trump administration is preparing deportations to the Central African Republic, including Iranian women with court protections, while reporting points to agreements that include Equatorial Guinea. Energy and sovereignty: TGS signed with Equatorial Guinea’s hydrocarbon ministry to build an offshore MegaSurvey, starting with reprocessing 2D/3D seismic data across Rio del Rey and Rio Muni, aiming to cut exploration risk. Parliamentary outreach: Equatorial Guinea’s National Assembly appointed directors of new Parliamentary Friendship Groups, including an Equatorial Guinea-designated friendship group president. Labour policy spillover: Kuwait tightened domestic worker recruitment, approving only 10 source countries and banning many others, including Equatorial Guinea.