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CNN 10
Russian Forces in Venezuela; New Emperor of Japan; Positive Athlete Series; Domes Charlevoix in Quebec, Canada Offering Dome Hotel
Aired March 29, 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: Fridays are awesome. I`m Carl Azuz welcoming you to a brand new edition of CNN 10. A coverage of news events from
around the world begins in Venezuela where ongoing political and economic turmoil is growing internationally. Here`s what we mean. The United
States and more than 50 other countries support Juan Guaido. He`s Venezuela`s opposition leader who declared himself its new temporary
president in January. That followed last years disputed reelection of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and a series of economic and
humanitarian problems that are getting worse.
China, Iran, Cuba, and Russia are among a handful of countries that support President Maduro who says he was fairly elected and that international
assistance isn`t needed in Venezuela. Still, he appears to be getting some of that from Russia. Two of its military planes arrived in the South
American nation recently. Russia says the deployment is legal and that it doesn`t change the balance of power in the region. The U.S. President
Donald Trump says quote, "Russia has to get out of Venezuela." Things are heating up on the ground there.
Yesterday Venezuela`s government banned Juan Guaido from running for public office for 15 years. That announcement came as Guaido`s been pushing for a
major protest to try to get President Maduro out of office. So how does Russia factor in? Well one way is the fact that for years, Russia`s been
loaning billions of dollars to Venezuela but the deployment of Russian troops there is troubling countries like the U.S.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The Trump Administration calls this a reckless escalation. Two Russian planes arrived in Venezuela this week. Their
presence confirmed by both countries downplayed by Russia. The mission though, a mystery.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We do send military planes to this country the same way Americans do all over the world and it`s not a big sensation.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Uniformed personnel seem to huddle on the tarmac although President Nicolas Maduro`s communication ministry would not
confirm a true presence to CNN. The fallout though has already started. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement, that the U.S. will
not stand idly by as Russia exacerbates tensions in Venezuela. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov fired back in a phone call Monday with
Pompeo accusing the U.S. of organizing a coup in Venezuela and one Russian lawmaker seemed to offer an ultimatum.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am definitely against of seeing any country in the world as a place where the United States of America and Russia compete with
each other. We have to - - to do just one single and people think to stay out and by that we will have a chance to avoid direct conflict with the
United States of America and Russia.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The U.S. and Russia remain dangerously at odds over who`s in charge in the oil rich country. Russia saying Maduro is the
legitimate president and the U.S. backing opposition leader Juan Guaido.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That stand off continues but the stakes are getting ever higher and now Russia`s economic influence here has always help
sustain the Maduro government. But now its increasing military support could become a dangerous flashpoint in America`s back yard.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Newly released satellite images posted and analyzed by the Israeli satellite and intelligence company ISI show what it claims
are Russian S300 air defense systems being deployed for the first time in Venezuela. Presumably on alert for a U.S. military attack.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All offensive weapons being shipped from Russia to that island fortress.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The defense hardware and troops bring back memories of some of the Soviet presence in communist Cuba during the missile crisis.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you believe Russia is becoming more and more influential in Venezuela?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Former Venezuelan Major General Cliver Alcala who defected from the Maduro government worked closely with Former Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez as he cultivated a closer military relationship with Russia. One nurtured and encouraged he says by Cuba`s Castro led
government.
MAJOR GENERAL CLIVER ALCALA (TRANSLATED): Russia is a great broker, same as Cuba. They have their economic interest in the country. They don`t
care for the welfare or the protests of the Venezuelan people.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (inaudible), CNN, Caracas.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
AZUZ: 10 Second Trivia. What is the only country in the world that currently has an emperor? Sweden, Thailand, Morracco, or Japan. Though
the role is mostly symbolic, Japan`s emperor is the only person with that title on the planet.
The country is officially a parliamentary, constitutional monarchy. Japans decision making powers in the hands of its elected officials and the
emperor functions mostly as a symbol of the nation. But his birthday is a national holiday and until 2017, he was required to serve in his role until
he died. The nation changed the law that year and now after 30 years on the throne, Emperor Akihito is preparing to step down on May 1st. He`ll
become the first Japanese monarch in 200 years to do that. His son crowned Prince Naruhito will succeed him as Japan`s 126th emperor and on Monday a
month ahead of the new monarch`s appointment, a new era will officially begin in Japan. Eras are what Japans calendar system are based on and they
carry personal and political importance to many Japanese.
Cass Mostropallo (ph) is a football player who`s story is both harrowing and amazing. Long before he became a star defensive lineman and running
back, years before he earned the prestigious title of Mr. Football for the state of Ohio, Cass (ph) struggled simply to survive in the nation of
Haiti. His story is the subject of today`s Positive Athlete Report. Nomination for this series can be made at CNN.com/positive athlete.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CASS MOSTROPALLO (PH): My name is Cass (ph) and I`m a student athlete.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He is a survivor.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You don`t really hear about many young people that are from another country and they were a child slave.
MOSSTROPALLO (PH): Everyday was a dark moment there. A bunch of us had a hard time finding food and whatever we could find mostly came from the
trash.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A lot of the orphans in Haiti aren`t actually orphans. They`re either turned over to the orphanage or they come in off
the street or they come through the slave market. Cass (ph) came in through the slave market. When he was between three and four he was being
sold and a missionary from the United States was walking by, she saw him being auctioned and then took him to the orphanage and he was there for,
you know, "threeish" years.
MOSSTROPALLO (PH): I thought I was going to be in Haiti forever. I had no idea that I was going to be in America.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`m very proud of what he`s accomplished, you know, he - - he found a passion and he`s very dedicated to it.
MOSSTROPALLO (PH): After college my dream has always been to play in the NFL because of those things I had to go through in Haiti. I have really,
like, stopped assumed my goals. I`m headed to Gallaudet University. That`s the right fit for my (inaudible) and my athletic ability.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What Gallaudet is famous for is - - it is a school for deaf, hard of hearing as well as hearing. Cass (ph) wears two bilateral
hearing aides.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just the thought of him next year going to college, that`s amazing. From that little boy that came off the plane, who was
malnourished. You know he had every excuse to be curled up in the corner in the fetal position, feeling sorry for himself, but he never did.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
AZUZ: For 10 out of 10 today the comfort of a hotel in a different shape. That`s the idea behind "Domes Charlevoix", a place where you can stay in
Quebec, Canada that gives you a unique view of the snowy landscape. OK. But why not just camp outdoors? Well the snow here can top 10 feet and the
temperature can drop to negative 22 degrees Fahrenheit. So this hotel could surround you in nature while also surrounding you with warmth.
Of course you`re more likely to find "chalet" than "valet" parking. And for those prone to cabin fever, a dome can make their head spin so they may
want to "Charlevoid" it. But for travelers who like to stay ahead of the "curve" and "hang around" their "domestination" this could fill a
"Charlevoid" making for a "dome right" awesome stay that makes them want to "circle" back. I`m Carl Azuz and CNN 10 hopes you`ll circle back here next
Monday.
END
