The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre reported that a 4.9-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Northern California, USA, at a depth of 10.0 kilometers.

According to HFI Research, we have written extensively since the beginning of 2026 about the “golden opportunities” we see in Colombia and Venezuela. At the beginning of the year, the arrest of former Venezuelan President Maduro surprised the market. Now, President Trump has announced that the US has reached an agreement with Venezuela on certain oil production blocks. Details have not yet been released, but recent press releases suggest that some major players are about to reclaim substantial production blocks (Chevron is clearly the first candidate). In Colombia, the president, who took office on August 7, has wasted no time and quickly set about restructuring the national oil company (Ecopetrol). The Colombian Ministry of Finance has convened an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders on September 15, after which the Colombian president will be able to nominate six new board members, thus gaining full control of the board, following expected amendments to the company's articles of association. As the Colombian Ministry of Finance stated in a post: “The national government will submit a shortlist of nine candidates for the Ecopetrol board, with a clear mission: to increase production, regain trust, and advance the energy transition.” To achieve this mission, Ecopetrol will need external capital to increase production in older oil fields, unlock new reserves, and improve efficiency. This cannot be achieved on its own, so it is effectively an invitation for independent producers to join. From a geopolitical perspective, Colombia and Venezuela remain two of the most undervalued regions in the energy sector (and still are).

The Japanese government said on Friday that allowing free imports of fresh potatoes from the United States would pose a risk of introducing 21 types of pests and diseases. Since the U.S. demanded in 2020 that Japan fully lift its ban on U.S. potato imports, officials from Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries have been compiling a list of pests and diseases that need to be included in risk management discussions. Japan currently bans the import of fresh potatoes to prevent the invasion of harmful insects and microorganisms, with the sole exception of potatoes used for processing into potato chips. The draft list released by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries includes the difficult-to-eradicate Pale Potato Cyst Nematode. This nematode was first confirmed to have broken out in Hokkaido in 2015, and control efforts are still ongoing. The list includes 14 pests, with the remainder being fungi and microorganisms. The central government will hold briefings for producers and local government officials starting in September. After gathering feedback, a formal list will be released that same month. Based on the formal list, Japanese officials will begin discussing import quarantine measures. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries will consult with U.S. quarantine authorities to jointly develop specific measures to prevent the introduction of pests and diseases. The time required to develop such measures varies depending on the crop type and production location, and usually takes several years.

According to the Wall Street Journal: U.S. officials say that U.S. Patriot and ATACMS missile stocks in Europe have fallen below critical levels.

Venezuelan interim president Rodriguez: This (oil agreement with the United States) will bring $209 billion to the national treasury.

Venezuela's interim president: We have reached a historic agreement with the United States that will have a significant impact on the revival of our country.