US–Venezuela Oil Deal: President Donald Trump says the US has secured majority control of Venezuela’s 65+ billion barrels of proven reserves, via a new venture tied to 17 Venezuelan oil fields and a reported ~55% effective output share for the US; details remain scarce, with analysts warning Venezuela’s aging infrastructure means any production boost could take years. Humanitarian Response in Venezuela: Korea delivered 17 tons of earthquake aid (260 family tents) to Caracas for temporary camps, as Venezuela’s government also kicked off phase two of the “Venezuela Renace” sports games for camp residents and met with World Bank specialists on reconstruction planning. Colombia Peace Policy Shift: President Abelardo De La Espriella formally ended the main negotiation tables of the “Total Peace” initiative, closing dialogue spaces with multiple armed groups through executive resolutions. Ecuador Anti-Corruption Push: Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa released images of former Interior Minister José Serrano entering maximum-security prison as the Villavicencio assassination case proceeds. Public Health/Animal Safety After Quakes (Colombia): After the earthquake, citizens and animal groups launched a large search for missing pets, using a crowdsourced map as most lost animals are cats. Regional Security: US forces sank an Ecuadorian fishing vessel after boarding, with fishermen alleging abuse while authorities describe a drug interdiction. Mexico Green Transition: Mexico’s energy reform is accelerating renewables deployment, with targets for major new generation capacity by 2030.