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CNN 10
Political Upheaval in Venezuela; Shutdown Related Votes in U.S. Senate; Process of Restoring Ancient Artifacts in The Grand Museum in Egypt; Skaters Take Risks Choosing Thin Ice For the Music It Produces
Aired January 24, 2019 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CARL AZUZ, CNN 10 ANCHOR: Hi, I`m Carl Azuz. Welcome to CNN 10. This isn`t the first time we`ve started the show reporting on a crisis in
Venezuela. But it is the first time we`ve told you that someone besides the president has declared himself the acting leader of the country. The
South American nation`s been struggling for years. Though Venezuela`s officially a Federal Presidential Republic, which is considered a type of
democracy. It`s executive branch has become increasingly authoritarian since Hugo Chavez served as president from 1999 to 2013. He steered
Venezuela towards socialism and his policies were continued by his handpicked successor President Nicolas Maduro.
One of the government`s biggest problems is it`s economy. It`s heavily dependent on oil sales and it has crumbled. Oil prices have fallen. The
nation`s oil wealth was wasted and people have suffered. Millions have moved to other countries in search of basic necessities like food and
medicine. President Maduro was sworn in for a second term earlier this month but political groups that oppose him boycotted the election and said
it wasn`t free and fair. Maduro said there is a permanent campaign of lies about him and the late President Chavez and that Venezuela is a real
democracy with a truly democratic president.
But most other countries in the Americas recently voted not to recognize his government and on Wednesday the leader of Venezuela`s National
Assembly, it`s legislative branch declared himself to be Venezuela`s new interim or temporary president. Shortly afterward, U.S. President Donald
Trump said he`d officially recognize Juan Guaido as Venezuela`s new leader. So did the leaders of several other countries in the Americas. President
Maduro said his nation`s opposition is attempting a coup and announced he would end diplomatic ties with the United States.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO: (NOT TRANSLATED)
AMARA WALKER, CNN JOURNALIST: Venezuela`s Nicolas Maduro started his controversial second term in an elaborate ceremony this month promising to
build socialism in the 21st century. For the country`s opposition, this moment marked an unprecedented power grab.
JUAN GUAIDO (TRANSLATED): Venezuela has a defacto government for the first time since 1958. We have a dictatorship in Venezuela. It`s a government
which was not elected with sovereignty. Maduro kidnapped the state for his own benefit.
WALKER: The head of the National Assembly Juan Guaido said he would be ready to take over as president. A statement that lead Venezuela`s pro-
government supreme court to nullify the body`s power. Still the opposition appears emboldened in a fight to unseat Venezuela`s president.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (NOT TRANSLATED)
WALKER: A man claiming to be a military sergeant called on Venezuelans to support an uprising. People of Venezuela, we need your support he said in
a video posted to social media this week. He and a group of soldiers were detained but the message of resistance spread. Protests in the capitol
turned violent. Officials using tear gas to break up the crowd. Those demonstrations perhaps a preview of mass marches called by the opposition,
which received a ringing endorsement from the U.S.
VICE-PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE: We say to all the good people of Venezuela. Estamos con esteras. We are with you. We stand with you and we will stay
with you until democracy is restored.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (NOT TRANSLATED)
WALKER: The U.S. vice-president`s message receiving an angry rebuke from the Venezuelan president who said Pence was openly calling for a coup and
from others in Maduro`s camp incensed by America`s show of support to the opposition.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yankee, go home.
WALKER: Maduro`s government has longed blamed the U.S. for stoking anger inside Venezuela and for sanctions which they claim have damaged the
economy. But critics point to corruption and failed policies for the difficulties Venezuela`s faced an astronomical inflation rate, chronic
shortages of food and medicine and a mass exodus since 2015 of millions looking for more stable conditions. The once oil rich country now in
crisis. It`s citizens desperate for change. Amara Walker, CNN.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CARL AZUZ: The U.S. Senate votes Thursday on two bills concerning the partial shutdown of the U.S. government. The bill that supported by
Republicans would provide the funding for a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico and allows some people who are in the U.S. illegally to stay for
three years without the threat of being deported. The bill that`s supported by Democrats would fund the government through February 8th but
not include the money for the wall. Both bills would end the partial government shutdown but neither is expected to get the 60 votes needed to
pass. Still, analysts say the Senate debates could be a step toward ending the deadlock in the government.
It`s directly effected 800,000 Federal workers who could miss a second paycheck on Friday though they will be paid when the shutdown ends. It`s
also led to doubt about the timing and location of President Trump`s State of the Union Message which is scheduled for next Tuesday.
10 Second Trivia. Which of these leaders held power in the 14th century B.C.? King David, Alexander the Great, Emperor Augustus, or King
Tutankhamun. Of these leaders King Tut is the oldest having reigned from around 1333 to 1323 B.C.
About 5,000 artifacts have been recovered from King Tut`s tomb since it was discovered in Egypt`s Valley of the Kings in 1922. But that tomb and
everything in it barely scratches the surface of the nation`s ancient history. So a museum appropriately titled The Grand Museum gives a new
home to some of Egypt`s most precious relics. The location overlooks the Pyramids of Giza not far from the capitol of Cairo. The preparation is
meticulous.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
IAN LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Restoring antiquities is painstaking work. Especially when it`s King Tut`s 3,500 year old chariot. Conservationists
spent months on minute details repairing and preparing the artifacts for display. So here`s the latest challenge and look closely. Restore the boy
king`s sandals. Impossible. Mohamed Yousri was told it`s a lost cause.
MOHAMED YOUSRI, GRAND MUSEUM OF EGYPT ARTIFACT RESTORER: So, we can get a new technique by using some special (inaudible) as you sew the - - the - -
its condition was very bad and here I think it`s come to light again.
LEE: It`s more than new life. It`s resurrecting the past. An army of conservationists and archeologists at the new Grand Egyptian Museum saves
them from oblivion. Long overdue for a country awash with thousands of years of civilization to preserve. 17 state of the art labs specialize in
the neglected antiquities. Grand monoliths receive face lifts. Tut`s bed being remade and his jewelry strung back to its former glory.
Outside, 5,000 construction workers labor around the clock. A race for everyone to open the museum by the end of the year. Dr. Tareq Tofeek
oversees the more than $1 billion project.
DR. TAREQ TOFEEK, EGYPTIAN GRAND MUSEUM HEAD: This will be the museum of the 21st century which means that all means of modern technology have been
taken into consideration.
LEE: Once completed, it will be the largest museum in the world devoted to a single civilization.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It`s a gift from (inaudible) kingdom.
LEE: 50,000 artifacts will guide visitors through the rise and fall of ancient Egypt. But the main attraction of course will be the complete
collection of King Tut`s tomb with all his treasures on display.
TOFEEK: Tutankhamun will be actually the one who will take the visitor back in history 3,500 years to show how a royal court in ancient Egypt in
the 18th dynasty, 3 and a half thousand years ago would look like.
LEE: As the artifacts move to their new home, Egypt invests in it`s future by preserving it`s heritage and showcasing the magnificence of it`s past.
Ian Lee, CNN, Cairo.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CARL AZUZ: Who would have thought that being on thin ice could be so mesmerizing? Yes. That`s a pun. This is a lake in Norway and what you
hear is the sound it makes when someone skates on thin black ice. The man who took this video says the ice is two to three inches thick. According
to National Geographic, black ice can be that thin and still support a skater but there`s also still the risk that someone could fall in.
So like don`t do it. Some say it`s like the ice is singing. Let`s hope it`s voice doesn`t "crack". That would change the "tenor" of an "alto
wise" "hicing" evening when haunting baritones strike a chord with "harmany" skaters bringing fanfare to "chorall" who lend an ear. I`m Carl
"Azice" for CNN.
END
