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It's got be said: Donald Trump's administration's policy vis-a-vis Venezuela is a monumental failure. It epitomises the saying "empiezan con brío y terminan con escalofrío." By now it is clear that its intended original goal, of removing Nicolas Maduro, has not only failed its objective, but has rallied Russia, China, Cuba, Turkey, Canada, Lima Group and most countries in Europe into an overtly anti Trump's "all options are on the table", baseless stance on acceptable and achievable solutions for Venezuela.

Puzzling turn of events regarding Wilmer Ruperti: after years of legal battles against the Russians in different jurisdictions, freezing orders, settlements, etc., Ruperti is returning the favour, and suing Novoship. In the Commercial Court of the High Court of Justice (case no CL-2018-000824), Maroil and Sea Pioneer, two companies under Ruperti's control, are suing Novoship and a bunch of companies associated to it.

There's been a bit of a corruption scandal in the incipient Juan Guaidó "administration". Rossana Barrera and Kevin Rojas, two people tasked by Guaidó with assisting fleeing Venezuelan army upon arrival in Cúcuta, Colombia, have been playing fast and loose with donations aimed at helping those who have jumped ship. Guaidó is au courrant, has called for a full investigation. Colombian authorities are not happy.

Via a very kind collaborator and Istanbul resident, this site has learned of yet another twist on the topic of gasoline and naphta Turkish imports destined to keep PDVSA running: Grupo IVEEX, the shell controlled by Miguel Silva Perez used in the two-month contract with MCC Petroleum, was sold for 10,000 Turkish lira to tourists-guide Erhan Kap about one month ago.

Further to MCC Petroleum's deals of late with PDVSA, and Claus Ritzenhofen's denial of any business relationship with PDVSA, check out Miguel Josue Silva Perez, proud president of CAVENEX (Venezuela's Chamber of Exporters).

Sources have informed this site that PDVSA is asking its clients to settle receivables into two Dubai banks, Emirates NBD and Mashreq Bank. Accounts are allegedly controlled by MCC Petroleum, an oil service provider active in "Iraq, UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia", as per a company's profile. MCC Petroleum claims to have a regional office in Houston.

Gotham City reports today that the Department of Justice sent an information request (MLAT) to Swiss counterparts, regarding Comercializadora San Roque S.A., a Panamanian shell controlled by the Urdaneta Aqui clan related to Carmelo Urdaneta Aqui (former Legal Counsel to the Venezuelan Ministry of Oil and Mining), involved in the

Yesterday, the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations announced passage of VERDAD, an act to "confront the crisis in Venezuela." In all the years I've been reporting on Venezuela's gargantuan corruption, this is the most promising action yet.