Economy · September 2026

In early September 2026, US oil giant Chevron announced a $7 billion investment to double its oil production in Venezuela over five years, following a US-Venezuela oil deal that gives American companies control over about a fifth of the country's output. The expansion, backed by the Trump administration and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, aims to increase US influence in Venezuela's energy sector. (ongoing coverage) Apple joined Google in renaming Lake Ontario to 'Lake America' on its maps, following a Trump order. US diesel prices hit their highest since April as wars strain global supply. Treasury Secretary Bessent said the US plan to 'asphyxiate' Iran's economy has allies' support. OpenAI's secret technique behind its 'Astra' model sparked security concerns.