'U.S. Counts on Global Crises to Press Again for Power Shift in Venezuela' diff viewer (2/3)

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U.S. Counts on Global Crises to Press Again for Power Shift in Venezuela	U.S. Counts on Global Crises to Press Again for Power Shift in Venezuela
2020-03-31 21:22:24 UTC	2020-06-13 15:32:30 UTC (2 months later)
WASHINGTON — The United States is seizing on Venezuela’s economic pain and the coronavirus threat to push a new plan for a power-sharing government in Caracas until presidential elections can be held this year.	WASHINGTON — The United States is seizing on Venezuela’s economic pain and the coronavirus threat to push a new plan for a power-sharing government in Caracas until presidential elections can be held this year.
The proposal, released Tuesday in Washington, offers to ease American sanctions intended to pressure President Nicolás Maduro and his loyalists over the past year.	The proposal, released Tuesday in Washington, offers to ease American sanctions intended to pressure President Nicolás Maduro and his loyalists over the past year.
But it also demands that Mr. Maduro relinquish power as officials from his administration and the main opposition party, led by Juan Guaidó, create a short-term government that the United States hopes can ensure fair elections.	But it also demands that Mr. Maduro relinquish power as officials from his administration and the main opposition party, led by Juan Guaidó, create a short-term government that the United States hopes can ensure fair elections.
There is no indication that Mr. Maduro is prepared to step down. He has resisted Trump administration threats and entreaties to do so since a January 2019 revolt against his self-declared victory in widely disputed presidential elections in 2018.	There is no indication that Mr. Maduro is prepared to step down. He has resisted Trump administration threats and entreaties to do so since a January 2019 revolt against his self-declared victory in widely disputed presidential elections in 2018.
On Monday night, Mr. Maduro attempted to head off any wavering in his ranks by threatening more repression.	On Monday night, Mr. Maduro attempted to head off any wavering in his ranks by threatening more repression.
“Justice will reach everyone,” he said in a national address, dressed in an unusual white suit reminiscent of mid-20th century Latin American strongmen and flanked by his closest lieutenants in face masks.	“Justice will reach everyone,” he said in a national address, dressed in an unusual white suit reminiscent of mid-20th century Latin American strongmen and flanked by his closest lieutenants in face masks.
But the United States is counting on an energy dispute between Russia and Saudi Arabia that has resulted in plummeting prices of oil — a lifeline export for Venezuela’s cratering economy — and the International Monetary Fund’s rejection of a $5 billion coronavirus response loan to convince Mr. Maduro that his time is up.	But the United States is counting on an energy dispute between Russia and Saudi Arabia that has resulted in plummeting prices of oil — a lifeline export for Venezuela’s cratering economy — and the International Monetary Fund’s rejection of a $5 billion coronavirus response loan to convince Mr. Maduro that his time is up.
“If any good can come out of those, maybe it is the combination of pressures on the regime that leads them to negotiate seriously,” Elliott Abrams, the State Department’s envoy for Venezuela policy, said in an interview on Monday.	“If any good can come out of those, maybe it is the combination of pressures on the regime that leads them to negotiate seriously,” Elliott Abrams, the State Department’s envoy for Venezuela policy, said in an interview on Monday.
He said the Trump administration had for several months been discussing with allies how to break the stalemate in Venezuela, and “we would have gone forward with this anyway.”	He said the Trump administration had for several months been discussing with allies how to break the stalemate in Venezuela, and “we would have gone forward with this anyway.”
In Venezuela over the weekend, Mr. Guaidó also called for a power-sharing government to address the coronavirus threat after the monetary fund refused a loan two weeks ago when its member states split over the legitimacy of Mr. Maduro’s presidency. The United States and most of the West recognize Mr. Guaidó, the head of the Venezuelan Parliament, as the country’s interim president, while Russia, Iran, China and Cuba are steadfast allies of Mr. Maduro’s.	In Venezuela over the weekend, Mr. Guaidó also called for a power-sharing government to address the coronavirus threat after the monetary fund refused a loan two weeks ago when its member states split over the legitimacy of Mr. Maduro’s presidency. The United States and most of the West recognize Mr. Guaidó, the head of the Venezuelan Parliament, as the country’s interim president, while Russia, Iran, China and Cuba are steadfast allies of Mr. Maduro’s.
Mr. Guaidó said the temporary government “must be broad and include all the political and social sectors necessary to confront this grave emergency that is coming to us.” However, he maintained that it could not include Mr. Maduro or those of his supporters who, like the embattled president, were charged with drug trafficking last week by the United States.	Mr. Guaidó said the temporary government “must be broad and include all the political and social sectors necessary to confront this grave emergency that is coming to us.” However, he maintained that it could not include Mr. Maduro or those of his supporters who, like the embattled president, were charged with drug trafficking last week by the United States.
With a power-sharing government, Mr. Guaidó said in a statement, international organizations may consider loaning Venezuela at least $1.2 billion to counter the pandemic, which he said could force people to “choose between dying from the virus or from hunger.”	With a power-sharing government, Mr. Guaidó said in a statement, international organizations may consider loaning Venezuela at least $1.2 billion to counter the pandemic, which he said could force people to “choose between dying from the virus or from hunger.”
In his speech on Monday night, Mr. Maduro appeared to threaten “all the plotters” to his rule with a brief reference to “Operation Knock-Knock” — raids by government security forces, beginning in 2017, that yanked political opponents from their houses at night. Several of Mr. Guaidó’s top officials, opposition lawmakers and a journalist have been detained in the past two weeks in the latest wave of the roundups.	In his speech on Monday night, Mr. Maduro appeared to threaten “all the plotters” to his rule with a brief reference to “Operation Knock-Knock” — raids by government security forces, beginning in 2017, that yanked political opponents from their houses at night. Several of Mr. Guaidó’s top officials, opposition lawmakers and a journalist have been detained in the past two weeks in the latest wave of the roundups.
The United States’ plan is based on proposals that were discussed last year between the sitting government and the opposition before negotiations broke down over whether Mr. Maduro would leave power. At the time, Mr. Maduro’s negotiators had also insisted that the United States lift sanctions against the government that have sought to cut off its oil exports and estrange it from the rest of the world.	The United States’ plan is based on proposals that were discussed last year between the sitting government and the opposition before negotiations broke down over whether Mr. Maduro would leave power. At the time, Mr. Maduro’s negotiators had also insisted that the United States lift sanctions against the government that have sought to cut off its oil exports and estrange it from the rest of the world.
Mr. Abrams said some sanctions against specific people in Mr. Maduro’s administration could be lifted as their roles in a power-sharing government shifted. But he said the most bruising financial penalties — including those that freeze the sitting administration’s assets and properties — would remain until Mr. Maduro steps down and the temporary government is empowered.	Mr. Abrams said some sanctions against specific people in Mr. Maduro’s administration could be lifted as their roles in a power-sharing government shifted. But he said the most bruising financial penalties — including those that freeze the sitting administration’s assets and properties — would remain until Mr. Maduro steps down and the temporary government is empowered.
“Until that objective is achieved, our pressure will continue, and it will build steadily,” concluded a 12-point summary of the plan that the State Department shared with The New York Times on Monday.	“Until that objective is achieved, our pressure will continue, and it will build steadily,” concluded a 12-point summary of the plan that the State Department shared with The New York Times on Monday.
In February, the Trump administration imposed sanctions on Russia’s Rosneft oil company, which is Mr. Maduro’s biggest economic backer.	In February, the Trump administration imposed sanctions on Russia’s Rosneft oil company, which is Mr. Maduro’s biggest economic backer.
On Saturday, Rosneft announced that it was pulling out of Venezuela. While the company appears to maintain its presence in the country through other entities, it has drastically reduced its oil trading business with Venezuela over the last month, which has contributed to severe gasoline shortages in the country.	On Saturday, Rosneft announced that it was pulling out of Venezuela. While the company appears to maintain its presence in the country through other entities, it has drastically reduced its oil trading business with Venezuela over the last month, which has contributed to severe gasoline shortages in the country.
	Updated June 12, 2020
	Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
	So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement.
	A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.
	The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April.
	Mass protests against police brutality that have brought thousands of people onto the streets in cities across America are raising the specter of new coronavirus outbreaks, prompting political leaders, physicians and public health experts to warn that the crowds could cause a surge in cases. While many political leaders affirmed the right of protesters to express themselves, they urged the demonstrators to wear face masks and maintain social distancing, both to protect themselves and to prevent further community spread of the virus. Some infectious disease experts were reassured by the fact that the protests were held outdoors, saying the open air settings could mitigate the risk of transmission.
	Exercise researchers and physicians have some blunt advice for those of us aiming to return to regular exercise now: Start slowly and then rev up your workouts, also slowly. American adults tended to be about 12 percent less active after the stay-at-home mandates began in March than they were in January. But there are steps you can take to ease your way back into regular exercise safely. First, “start at no more than 50 percent of the exercise you were doing before Covid,” says Dr. Monica Rho, the chief of musculoskeletal medicine at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago. Thread in some preparatory squats, too, she advises. “When you haven’t been exercising, you lose muscle mass.” Expect some muscle twinges after these preliminary, post-lockdown sessions, especially a day or two later. But sudden or increasing pain during exercise is a clarion call to stop and return home.
	States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people.
	Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
	If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
	Taking one’s temperature to look for signs of fever is not as easy as it sounds, as “normal” temperature numbers can vary, but generally, keep an eye out for a temperature of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If you don’t have a thermometer (they can be pricey these days), there are other ways to figure out if you have a fever, or are at risk of Covid-19 complications.
	The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people don’t need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks don’t replace hand washing and social distancing.
	If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
	If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested.
On Monday, President Trump described circumstances in Venezuela as “dire” during a conversation with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, according to a White House statement. It said Mr. Trump told Mr. Putin that “we all have an interest in seeing a democratic transition to end the ongoing crisis.”	On Monday, President Trump described circumstances in Venezuela as “dire” during a conversation with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, according to a White House statement. It said Mr. Trump told Mr. Putin that “we all have an interest in seeing a democratic transition to end the ongoing crisis.”
The State Department is also demanding a resolution to legal protections for opposition officials whose immunity was stripped by Mr. Maduro’s administration, and that foreign security forces leave Venezuela so that a power-sharing government is not influenced by any threat they may pose. Mr. Abrams said there were an estimated 2,500 Cuban intelligence officials in Venezuela to support Mr. Maduro and called it “simply impossible” for democratic efforts to succeed while they remain.	The State Department is also demanding a resolution to legal protections for opposition officials whose immunity was stripped by Mr. Maduro’s administration, and that foreign security forces leave Venezuela so that a power-sharing government is not influenced by any threat they may pose. Mr. Abrams said there were an estimated 2,500 Cuban intelligence officials in Venezuela to support Mr. Maduro and called it “simply impossible” for democratic efforts to succeed while they remain.
But Mr. Abrams was careful to say that the plan was an opening offer for talks between the two sides, “not a take-it-or-leave-it proposition,” and that no single issue was a deal breaker — except the demand for Mr. Maduro’s departure.	But Mr. Abrams was careful to say that the plan was an opening offer for talks between the two sides, “not a take-it-or-leave-it proposition,” and that no single issue was a deal breaker — except the demand for Mr. Maduro’s departure.
He said he presented the plan on Monday to allies among the about 60 countries that recognized Mr. Guaidó’s presidency, in Europe and Latin America.	He said he presented the plan on Monday to allies among the about 60 countries that recognized Mr. Guaidó’s presidency, in Europe and Latin America.
But perhaps the only opinion of the plan that matters is that of Mr. Maduro, who has already weathered mass domestic protests, obliterated revenues that have rebounded in some places and broad condemnation for creating one of the world’s largest refugee populations.	But perhaps the only opinion of the plan that matters is that of Mr. Maduro, who has already weathered mass domestic protests, obliterated revenues that have rebounded in some places and broad condemnation for creating one of the world’s largest refugee populations.
Mr. Abrams insisted that the proposal was not a desperate attempt to dislodge Mr. Maduro, after more than a year without any progress.	Mr. Abrams insisted that the proposal was not a desperate attempt to dislodge Mr. Maduro, after more than a year without any progress.