2020-05-21: News Headlines

Lucas Koerner (2020-05-21). Trump Claims to Have Venezuela 'Surrounded' as Iranian Tankers Approach. venezuelanalysis.com Venezuela's armed forces will escort the vessels upon reaching territorial waters.

Peoples Dispatch (2020-05-20). Venezuela invasion bid: US denial on its role is not credible. peoplesdispatch.org Can we believe the claims of the US administration that it had no involvement in the most recent Venezuelan invasion attempt? Anya Parampil of The Grayzone tells more.

Eva Bartlett (2020-05-20). US just piled more misery on Venezuelans already hit by sanctions & pandemic. Now they are deprived of most popular TV service. thealtworld.com America's meddling in Venezuela has no boundaries. After a failed coup attempt, trying to install a bogus …

Lucas Koerner (2020-05-20). AT&T Shuts down DirecTV in Venezuela over Sanctions. venezuelanalysis.com The National Assembly will investigate the "rash decision" that affects 600 workers and two million households.

Ricardo Vaz (2020-05-20). Venezuela Sues UK over Frozen Gold Reserves, Loses CITGO Appeal. venezuelanalysis.com The US $1 billion worth of gold would be used in the fight against COVID-19.

news.un (2020-05-20). Only Venezuelans can resolve Venezuela's deepening crisis, DiCarlo tells Security Council. news.un.org Negotiations remain the only way to overcome the ongoing political deadlock in Venezuela, especially given the potentially far-reaching impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, a senior UN official told the Security Council on Wednesday.

Misión Verdad (2020-05-19). Genocide and military occupation: The five most important keys of the agreement executed between Guaidó and Silvercorp. peoplesdispatch.org Analysis by Misión Verdad of the contract between Silvercorp and the Venezuelan opposition which lays out their plan to overthrow Maduro and install a military occupation…

Jon Queally, staff writer (2020-05-21). "We're Ready for Whatever, Whenever,' Says Maduro as Venezuela Vows Navy Escort to Protect Iranian Oil Tankers from US Threats. commondreams.org Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif warns that the U.S. government "must give up bullying on the world stage and respect the rule of international law, especially free shipping in the high seas." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/iran_venezuela1.jpg

Zero Hedge (2020-05-21). Regime Change Back In Focus: Pompeo Targets Iran, Cuba & Venezuela In Epic Tweet Thread. iranian.com Given the very noticeable rise in threatening rhetoric focused on Iran over the past week, it seems thoughts of regime change in Tehran are once again top of the agenda. Or perhaps simultaneously the administration needs a significant distraction of sorts amid the coronavirus pandemic, and the persistent national reopening question and agenda. On Wednesday, Secretary …

Sputnik News (2020-05-21). Venezuelan Military to Escort Iranian Tankers Delivering Fuel — Defense Minister. iranian.com Venezuela's military will escort Iranian tankers delivering fuel to the country when they enter Venezuela's exclusive economic zone, the country's Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino revealed Wednesday. In a state television interview, Padrino said the escort would "welcome them in and thank the Iranian people for their solidarity and cooperation," Reuters reported. Padrino also said that …

John McEvoy (2020-05-19). "I was outraged": Venezuelan foreign minister responds to secretive British 'reconstruction' plans. thecanary.co On 13 May, The Canary

RT (2020-05-21). US 'KILLS' Russian draft seeking UNSC support for Venezuela amid sanctions & suspected coup attempt. rt.com The US has rejected a draft statement condemning terrorism and voicing support for Venezuela's sovereignty at the UN Security Council. The Russian-sponsored draft did not assign blame for the botched incursion. | The short statement was watered down to sound "politically neutral" in hopes it would not face any opposition from the UNSC members, the Russian mission to the United Nations said. | However, despite the text not even mentioning the recent boat incursion that led to the capture of two former US Green Berets, Washington did not give the document any chance, "killing" it "within 9 minutes" from the star…

en.mehrnews (2020-05-21). Venezuelan military to escort Iranian tankers delivering fuel. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 21 (MNA) — Venezuela's military will escort Iranian tankers delivering fuel to the country when they enter Venezuela's exclusive economic zone, the country's Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said on Wednesday.

sputniknews (2020-05-21). Maduro Accuses Colombian President of Ordering to 'Infect' Venezuela With Coronavirus – Report. sputniknews.com In the mid-March, Venezuela declared a state of emergency in the country due to the spread of coronavirus; so far, the country has registered only 824 cases of the infection and 10 deaths. However, 44% of these cases were diagnosed in the last five days, as many of the new patients were reportedly returning from Colombia.

sputniknews (2020-05-21). Refusal to Return Venezuelan Gold Undermines UK's Stance on COVID-19 Response – Ex-Lawmaker. sputniknews.com LONDON (Sputnik) – The repeated refusal by the UK to return Venezuelan gold assets to their legitimate owner is compromising the UK's efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, especially after the Latin American nation made it clear that the money would be used exclusively for the virus response efforts, ex-lawmaker Chris Williamson said.

Tanya Wadhwa (2020-05-20). Due to US coercive measures, DirecTV's operations suspended in Venezuela. peoplesdispatch.org On May 19, the US telecommunications company AT&T announced, without prior notice, the suspension of DirecTV's operations in Venezuela. DirecTV is a broadcast satellite service provider, transmitting digital television and radio signals to households in the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean. | In an official statement, AT&T said that due to the sanctions imposed by the US government on Venezuela, it was impossible for the company "to comply with the legal requirements of both countries" and it "was forced to close its pay TV service in Venezuela." | The abrupt suspension of services was denounced by…