Venezuela deplores US plan to sell Citgo oil firm

Venezuelan people are infuriated at the U.S. announcement to sell the country's national asset Citgo Petroleum Corporation via court auction.

Citgo, a subsidiary of the state-owned Petroleum of Venezuela (PDVSA) based in the United States, specializes in crude oil refining and fuel distribution in U.S. territory.

The U.S. authorities have announced to initiate judicial procedures for the forced sale of the Citgo firm to settle Venezuelan debts.

The deadline for receiving bids for the acquisition of the company in the United States ended earlier in the month and the sale is expected to be concluded by July 15.

This move triggered strong disapproval in Venezuela.

The Venezuelan government on June 17 expressed its strong condemnation of the U.S. authorities' process of "seizure of Citgo Petroleum Corporation." The government described this move as an expression of U.S. hegemony and declared its commitment to taking all necessary measures to prevent the acquisition.

"Venezuela could demand the U.S. government to cease the sale of Citgo Petroleum Corporation following U.S. laws. And Venezuela could condemn this act of plunder to the World Trade Organization and ask for the abolition of this imperious, illegal, and harmful act against all Venezuelans," said William Rodriguez, a member of the Energy and Petroleum Commission of Venezuela's National Assembly.

Many Venezuelans have voiced their anger at the U.S. move, regarding it as part of its prolonged blockade on Venezuela.

"The U.S. is attempting to swallow our national wealth. This must not be allowed," said a Venezuelan resident.

"The U.S. wants to dominate the whole world. This is a fact. Some European countries and America have habitually entered some countries and control their natural resources and fortune," said another Venezuelan resident.

Venezuela deplores US plan to sell Citgo oil firm

China's Shenzhou-18 crew members on the Tiangong Space Station are preparing for their second extravehicular activities (EVAs) by conducting training that includes science experiments and orbital maneuvers.

Astronauts Ye Guangfu, Li Cong, and Li Guangsu have completed one-third of their six-month mission with stable physical and operational conditions in orbit, since they aboarded the Tiangong two month ago.

During their training, the astronauts used advanced remotely control systems for rendezvous and docking operations on in-orbit training systems and metacognitive training systems, practicing skills such as recognizing images, manual docking, remote docking, and safely undocking of the spacecraft under different initial conditions.

Throughout the training, the astronauts monitored the orientation and relative distance and speed of target spacecraft on screens, practicing precise control of the speed and orientation using specialized handles.

Last week, the crew also underwent exercise-based cardiopulmonary function tests. These tests assess the cardiovascular and respiratory capabilities needed for upcoming spacewalks, using methods to simulate exercise-induced metabolic demands.

The Shenzhou-18 crew was launched into space on April 25, as the third manned mission during the application and development stage of China's space station and the 32nd flight mission of the country's manned space program overall.

The crew members completed their first spacewalk on May 28, according to the China Manned Space Agency.

China's Shenzhou-18 crew trains for 2nd spacewalk