South Korea Factory Activity Returns to Growth in December on Export Rebound 
U.S. Dollar Starts 2026 Weak as Yen, Euro and Sterling Hold Firm Amid Rate Cut Expectations 
Japanese Business Leaders Urge Government Action as Weak Yen Strains Economy 
Federal Reserve Begins Treasury Bill Purchases to Stabilize Reserves and Money Markets 
South Korea Exports Hit Record High as Global Trade Momentum Builds 
Venezuela Reports 100 Deaths After U.S. Raid That Ousted Maduro 
Trump Administration Pressures Venezuela Power Brokers After Maduro’s Ouster 
U.S. Seizes Venezuela-Linked Oil Tankers as Trump Escalates Control Over Regional Energy Flows 
Trump Proposes $1.5 Trillion U.S. Military Budget for 2027, Fueling Defense Stock Rally and Fiscal Concerns 
Asia Manufacturing PMI Rebounds as Exports and Tech Demand Drive Growth into 2026 
Trump Administration Freezes Federal Child Care Funds Over Fraud Concerns 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Year-End Trading Turns Cautious 
Asian Markets Slip as Precious Metals Cool, Geopolitical Tensions Weigh on Sentiment 
U.S. DOT Withholds $160 Million From California Over Commercial Driver’s License Dispute 
U.S. Senators Push to Limit Trump’s Authority Over Greenland Amid Global Concerns 
Oil Prices Slip Slightly as Markets Weigh Geopolitical Risks and Supply Glut Concerns 
Venezuela Declares National Mourning After Deadly U.S. Raid Linked to Maduro Operation 
The Trump administration is reportedly developing a far-reaching plan to exert long-term influence over Venezuela’s oil industry, with the strategic goal of lowering global crude prices to around $50 per barrel, according to a Wall Street Journal report published Thursday. The initiative is said to focus on gaining leverage over Petróleos de Venezuela SA (PdVSA), the country’s state-run oil company, which has long been central to Venezuela’s economy and global energy markets.
Sources cited in the report indicate that former President Donald Trump told aides that controlling Venezuelan oil output could significantly impact global oil prices, aligning with his broader objective of reducing energy costs to fight inflation and bolster political support among voters. By influencing production and exports from Venezuela, the United States could potentially gain control over a substantial portion of oil supplies in the Western Hemisphere while also limiting crude flows to China, one of Venezuela’s key buyers.
Trump recently claimed that Venezuela agreed to hand over between 30 million and 50 million barrels of oil to the United States, with Washington overseeing the revenue generated from those sales. This statement followed reports of a U.S. military incursion into Venezuela that allegedly led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, a development that, if realized, would mark a dramatic shift in U.S.–Venezuela relations and global geopolitics.
In the aftermath, Trump reportedly suggested that Washington would take control of Venezuela’s oil sector and invited major U.S. energy companies to invest in the country. Chevron has emerged as a key player in these discussions, as it remains the only U.S. oil major with existing operations in Venezuela despite long-standing sanctions.
Oil prices fell sharply following news of the U.S. action, as markets reacted to the possibility that Venezuela’s vast oil reserves could re-enter global supply chains. Analysts warned that an influx of Venezuelan crude could exacerbate fears of a supply glut in 2026, further pressuring prices. The unfolding situation highlights how U.S. policy toward Venezuela could reshape energy markets, oil prices, and geopolitical dynamics for years to come.
