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Ukraine, U.S. To Hold Talks On Russia-Ukraine War In Saudi Arabia; Mark Carney To Be The Next Prime Minister of Canada; Hamas Doesn't Oppose Releasing American Israel Hostage; Syria's al-Sharaa Launches Probe Into Deadly Clashes, Vows Accountability; Trump Uncertain Over Chance of Recession; Trade War Heats Up Between U.S. and China; Greenland to Hold Vote on Tuesday Amid U.S. Interest; Dominican Police: Student Seen on Video before Disappearing; Surging Concert Ticket Prices Causing Fans to Reconsider; Human Trafficking Survivor Shares Her Story. Aired 1-2a ET
Aired March 10, 2025 - 01:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[01:00:25]
BEN HUNTE, CNN ANCHOR: Foreign hello wherever you are in the world. You are now in the CNN Newsroom. I'm Ben Hunte in Atlanta, and it is so good to have you with me. Coming up on the show, President Trump's feeling positive about critical negotiations as top Ukrainian and U.S. officials prepare to discuss a path to peace.
Plus, Canada's next prime minister is vowing to play hardball with the U.S. until they receive respect. And soaring ticket prices have concertgoers breaking the bank to see their favorite artists, some deciding to sit shows out. We'll speak to a music journalist about what's going on.
We're beginning with Russia's war in Ukraine and President Donald Trump predicting but very big things will come from this week's talks between the U.S. and Kyiv. Mr. Trump spoke with reporters on Sunday on Air Force One, repeating his claims that Ukraine doesn't want peace but the war must stop.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: We want to do anything we can to get Ukraine to be serious about getting something done. You know, I say they don't have the cards. Nobody really has the cards. Russia doesn't have the cards. They don't have. What you have to do is you have to make a deal and you have to stop the killing. It's a senseless war and we're going to get it stopped.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNTE: Right now, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is on the way to Saudi Arabia where he'll meet with Ukrainian officials. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy says he hopes to see results from this week's meetings. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Diplomacy will only be strong with strong frontline positions. And we are doing everything to ensure that Ukraine's frontline needs are met. We will continue working to bring peace closer. Meeting of our teams, Ukraine and the United States in Saudi Arabia has been further prepared. We hope for results both in bringing peace closer and in continuing support.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNTE: Meanwhile, Russia appears to be regaining territory in Kursk. This video shows a soldier raising a Russian flag on top of a building there. CNN's Betsy Klein has more on what to expect from the U.S.- Ukraine talks.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BETSY KLEIN, SENIOR WHITE HOUSE PRODUCER: A critical week ahead for President Donald Trump and his team as they seek to strike a deal between Russia and Ukraine. After that diplomatic breakdown with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine in the Oval Office, things appear in part to be back on track.
A source familiar with the plans tells me that there will be critical high stakes talks in Saudi Arabia this week between top U.S. officials separately with their Russian and Ukrainian counterparts. The president previewing that meeting, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One.
TRUMP: Looking at a lot of things with big meetings coming up, as you know, in Saudi Arabia that's going to include Russia. It'll be Ukraine. We'll see if we can get something done, like to get something done. A lot of people died this week, as you know, in Ukraine, not only Ukrainians, but Russians.
So, I think everybody wants to see it get done. We're going to make a lot of progress, I believe this week. I think we're going to have a good result in Saudi Arabia, meaning they're hosting the various talks and we have a lot of good people going out there. And I think Ukraine's going to do well and I think Russia is going to do. I think some very big things could happen this week.
KLEIN: President Trump said that he hoped pretty good results will come out of these high stakes meetings. And he also expressed optimism toward that critical minerals deal with Ukraine. He also said that the U.S. has, quote, just about, end quote, lifted its pause on intelligence sharing with Ukraine, which would mark a major step in the right direction.
All of this comes as the president has continued to be publicly critical of President Zelenskyy, but his top officials have been back channeling with their Ukrainian counterparts and Zelenskyy to get things in place. Betsy Klein, CNN, traveling with the president in West Palm Beach, Florida. (END VIDEOTAPE)
HUNTE: U.S. officials plan to hold separate talks with Ukraine and with Russia. We are CNN military analyst Colonel Cedric Leighton about that strategy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COL. CEDRIC LEIGHTON (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: I think what you're looking at is kind of a realization of President Trump's idea that he wants to take not only what is happening in Ukraine, but have a grander bargain with Russia.
[01:05:07]
And what I mean by that is that he wants to basically smooth over and improve relations with the Russians starting right now. And so he's using the opportunity, he and his team are using the opportunity to do that in Saudi Arabia. And so from a logistical standpoint, and, you know, within the White House parameters, that makes a lot of sense to do that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNTE: In the last hour, I spoke with Lana Prudyvus, a Ukrainian living in the United States, to get her perspective on the war and this week's talks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LANA PRUDYVUS, UKRAINIAN LIVING IN LOS ANGELES: It is definitely concerning. It's seeing these big battles happening on TV. You forget that there's real people that we're talking about, real lives that have been lost over the last three years. I'm hoping that Ukraine and U.S. can reach an agreement that can beneficial for both parties and us will continue to be our ally as they've been for the last three years.
HUNTE: Maybe you could just break down for me, tell me about your journey and how you've got to where you are now in LA.
PRUDYVUS: Yes. I moved to the States back in 2013 when I was just 16 years old and I played tennis for a American school in Tennessee where I had a full scholarship. And then I met my husband, now husband at school as well, and he's from Torrance, California. So after we both graduated, we ended up moving here and now I work as a tennis coach and he's an architect and we've been living in California since 2019 now.
HUNTE: OK. And you've got family and friends living in Ukraine. Right. I just wonder if you can tell me what their life is like right now. What are they going through on the ground?
PRUDYVUS: I spoke to my parents today, actually, and it's very hard for me to talk to them and hear what they saying and their side of the story that we don't really see here much. It's almost like this big cloud hanging over the whole country and there's just no telling when it's going to start storming.
Of course I'm concerned over my family. My parents are there, my grandparents, all of my family are still back in Ukraine, and I don't see them that often as well. And now with all these talks and us changing their minds, it's hard to tell what's going to happen in the future.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNTE: Canada's Liberal Party has chosen former central banker Mark Carney as its new leader and the country's next prime minister. At a time of growing tensions between Canada and the US. That will be among the biggest issues he'll face when he takes over from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Carney will also lead the party into federal elections. On Sunday, Carney vowed to keep retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. until, quote, the Americans show us respect. He also had this pledge.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK CARNEY, LIBERAL PARTY LEADER: I pledge to you and to all Canadians that I will follow their example. I will work day and night with one purpose, which is to build a stronger Canada for everyone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNTE: Trudeau will remain Canada's prime minister for now during a transition period. On Sunday, he had this warning about relations with the US.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JUSTIN TRUDEAU, CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER: As Canadians face from our neighbor an existential challenge, an economic crisis. Canadians are showing exactly what we are made of.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNTE: That comment said in reference to U.S. President Donald Trump's ramped up tariff threats and calls to make Canada a 51st state. CNN's Paula Newton is following developments from Ottawa.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Mark Carney's win was overwhelming.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In first place, the next prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney.
NEWTON (voice-over): But all eyes are now on the contest to come. As Canada's prime minister designate, Carney will be sworn in within days and will likely call for a national election within weeks.
Carney is calling for national unity to better face the challenge of the Trump administration and its threat to the Canadian economy.
CARNEY: Right now, all Canadians are being asked to serve in their own ways. We're all being called to stand up for each other and for the Canadian way of life. So let me ask you, who's ready?
NEWTON (voice-over): Carney is a political novice, a former central bank governor in both Canada and England, a former investment banker with Goldman Sachs, an economist with a hockey goalie pedigree from his days at Harvard.
But in the election, he will face Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, a career politician backed by a trending social media presence and the praise of Meta allies after cutting attacks. like this.
[01:10:10]
PIERRE POILIEVRE, CONSERVATIVE PARTY OF CANADA: Working for Trudeau, Carney made Canada weaker and poorer. Working for himself, Carney made the United States richer and stronger.
NEWTON (voice-over): President Donald Trump's tariff and annexation threats have reframed the Canadian election in just a matter of weeks, with a rising nationalism and rising popularity for the Liberal Party.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was forced to announce his resignation in January as he grew ever more unpopular. But his Liberal Party has since been reborn with new purpose.
TRUDEAU: This is a nation defining moment. Democracy is not a given. Freedom is not a given. Even Canada is not a given.
NEWTON (voice-over): Those are some of Trudeau's final words as prime minister, his successor promises to take on that fight.
CARNEY: Donald Trump thinks he can weaken us with his plan to divide and conquer. Pierre Poilievre's plan will leave us divided and ready to be conquered because a person who worships at the altar of Donald Trump will kneel before him, not stand up to him.
NEWTON (voice-over): But for weeks already, the Conservatives have been portraying Carney as weak in the face of the American threat.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Trump wants our jobs.
TRUMP: We're going to take other countries jobs.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And Mark Carney is just the man to help him.
NEWTON: Canadians will now take the measure of Carney's vast economic experience, both in Canada and abroad, and will weigh which leader and party is best able to stand up to the American threat. Paul Newton, CNN, Ottawa.
(END VIDEOTAPE) HUNTE: And last hour I spoke with Stewart Prest, a political science lecturer at the University of British Columbia, about Carney's rise in the Liberal Party.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEWART PREST, POLITICAL SCIENCE LECTURER, UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA: It is in some ways an unusual path to the top job given that he has never held an elected position. But he has ample experience in the arenas of governance as a leader of the Bank of Canada and leader of the Bank of England as well, and substantial business experience and executive roles. And so it's an unusual portfolio, but it is a substantial one.
HUNTE: Carney really came out swinging against President Trump, even trolling him by saying, in trade, as in hockey, Canada will win. That may play well with the home crowd, but does it complicate those efforts to reset relations with the US.
PREST: It's a good question. And we do see politicians, and this is true around the world, constantly speaking to two audiences, one at home and another in Washington, and particularly to the president. And it seems like in a moment the need to bring together the home team and to put together that stern and uncompromising opposition is going to take precedence over any kind of strategy of trying to placate the President.
I think there is an overwhelming sense among Canadians that strong opposition is going to do more than trying to flatter and cajole and placate.
HUNTE: Support for Trudeau and Carney's Liberal Party has absolutely skyrocketed recently, even though it seemed like they were in decline. Can you tell me through why you think that is?
PREST: It's, again, it's a good question and it seems like it has a couple of different features. One is that we're not talking about Justin Trudeau anymore. He was a politician like any politician, had accumulated more, a fair share of baggage, you could call it, during his time in office. And it was clear that Canadians were ready to turn the page on him. And Mr. Carney not being in government at the moment offer a chance to reset things for the Liberals.
But I think even more than that, there is a sense that in 2024, when the conservatives were riding high, Canadians were anxious about things like affordability and looking to blame Liberals for that. But in 2025, the ballot box question is different. It is Canadians looking ahead, feeling anxious about the tariff wars and the other threats coming out of Washington.
And so it's a different question who is best suited to confront those threats. And it's seems like Mr. Carney is standing himself in good stead so far.
(EMD VIDEO CLIP) HUNTE: When we return, the Trump administration is signaling that a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas could happen soon. We'll have the latest details just ahead.
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[01:19:19]
HUNTE: Welcome back. There is a new report that Hamas does not oppose releasing Eden Alexander. The only living American hostage believed remaining in Gaza. According to Hamas affiliated TV report is part of the negotiations to end the war with Israel. U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy, four hostages says a ceasefire deal could come together within weeks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ADAM BOEHLER, U.S. ENVOY FOR HOSTAGES: With respect to the Hamas situation, I do think there's hope. I think that Israel has done a wonderful masterful job eliminating Hamas, Hezbollah, a number of other enemies in the state that makes things possible that weren't possible before.
[01:20:02]
And I think you could see something like a long term truce where we forgive prisoners, where Hamas lays down their arms, where they agree they're not part of the political party going forward. I think that's a reality. It's real close.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNTE: Putting pressure on Hamas to accept a deal. Israel says it has cut off all electricity to Gaza. The move will mainly affect a wastewater treatment facility, the last place in the enclave that was still receiving power from Israel. Here's what the Israeli energy minister said on Sunday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELI COHEN, ISRAELI ENERGY MINISTER (through translator): We will operate all the tools that are at our disposal to ensure the return of all the hostages. We will ensure that Hamas will not be in Gaza the day after.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNTE: A U.K. based human rights group says more than 600 people have now been killed in Syria amid days of fighting between pro-government forces and supporters of ousted former president Bashar al Assad. The country's interim president is allowing to hold those involved in the violent clashes accountable.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AHMED Al SHARAA, SYRIA'S INTERIM PRESIDENT (through translator): We find ourselves facing a new danger represented by the attempts of the remnants of the former regime and the external parties behind them to create a new sedition and drag our country into a civil war, aiming to divide it and destroy its unity and stability.
We confirm that we will hold accountable with all firmness and without leniency anyone who was involved in the bloodshed of civilians or harmed our people, or who exceeded the powers of the state or exploited power to achieve his own goals.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNTE: Syria is facing the worst outbreak of violence since Assad was forced out in December. Eyewitnesses are accusing government supporters of carrying out execution style killings. Syrian authorities say they're trying to stop a rebel uprising of those still loyal to Assad. The country's interim government plans to form an independent committee to investigate that issue.
The recent violence in Syria has also garnered a concern of Pope Francis. The 88-year-old expressed his hope that the infighting would cease definitively in the text of his weekly Angelus prayer. CNN Vatican correspondent Christopher Lamb is in Rome with the latest on the Pope's health.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's more than three weeks now that Pope Francis has been at the Gemelli Hospital behind me. It's been a roller coaster of ups and downs, but recently we have heard of slight, gradual improvement in the Pope's condition.
For the first time, the Vatican saying that the Pope is responding well to therapy. That's a crucial indicator of the Pope's condition. Same time The Pope is 88 years old. The prognosis for him is reserved. It's too soon to tell. And he's in a complex clinical condition.
So it is still very much wait and see in the Vatican. There's a lot of anxiety and uncertainty. I spoke to one cardinal who said that they would normally expect the pope to be calling them up and asking for their opinion on things.
It's gone very quiet for them in the Vatican, but they remain hopeful and they're praying for the pope to pull through. Of course, a lot of uncertainty, though, for everyone covering and following the pope's condition. He did not on Sunday deliver the Sunday Angelus prayer that he is supposed to do for the fourth Sunday in a row. Francis has not been in person to pray the Angelus.
He did deliver or send a text of his remarks where he thanked health care workers. He thanked people for their prayers. And he also called for an end to the violence in Syria where there's been an escalation recently. We are expecting further updates in the coming hours from the Vatican on the pope's orders. The medical team have provided detailed updates through the Vatican about the pope's condition.
The pope does not want things to be covered up, will have a perception of COVID up, of course, in the Vatican in the past has been quite opaque about papal illnesses, but that's different now with Francis in hospital. We are obviously expecting further updates from the Vatican in the coming hours. Christopher Lamb, CNN, Rome.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HUNTE: Still to come, President Trump is ready to take on the world with tariffs, but now China is retaliating with some of its own. We have the latest on the trade war that's heating up.
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[01:29:50]
HUNTE: Welcome back.
As his tariff war escalates, U.S. President Donald Trump is now expressing uncertainty over the chance of a recession. He simply admits "who knows"?
Global trade tensions are stoking fears of that possibility. But President Trump boasted earlier the U.S. will make so much money off his tariffs.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, I think the tariffs are going to be the greatest thing we've ever done as a country. It's going to make our country rich again.
We have many companies, as you know, auto companies. They're opening up plants now. We've had 4 or 5 announced already, but many more are coming.
And we're basically going to take back the money. A lot of the money that we've given away over many decades.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNTE: President Trump says tariffs on certain Canadian and Mexican goods planned for April 2nd could go up.
As for his tariffs on China, Beijing remains defiant, promising steady economic growth for the year ahead and imposing its own tariffs on many U.S. agricultural products, which are now in effect.
Let's dig deeper on this. We're going to go to Beijing, where CNN's Marc Stewart is standing by for us. Marc, what else is China doing to fight back?
MARC STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Hi again, Ben.
Look, it's interesting because we have seen China institute these monetary policies, these retaliatory tariffs against the United States. But also in recent days, the government has become more and more
vocal. The statements that we're hearing from government officials are becoming more and more stronger -- a little bit more stronger than what we've seen in the past.
In fact, it was just on Friday that foreign minister Wang Yi, speaking at a news conference in front of reporters from around the world, really took the United States to task, questioning the effectiveness of its tariffs, saying, is it really helping with inflation? Is it making lives better?
Those are some of the themes we're hearing from the Chinese foreign minister when it concerns this current battle.
He also said a number of things that caught our attention, including this statement. "If you choose to cooperate, you achieve mutual benefit and win-win results." Going on to say, "If you blindly exert pressure, China will resolutely counter attack."
So some strong -- some strong words from the foreign minister.
So starting today, we are seeing these new Chinese tariffs imposed against toward the United States, anywhere from 10 percent -- 15 percent, really targeting agricultural products, which are a big part of the American economy. Soybeans is one of those items on the list, which are a big high dollar import from the U.S. to China.
We're also curious, though, beyond the halls of government, what are Chinese citizens having to say about this? And there is concern about pricing, whether it's for consumers here in China or in the United States.
Let's listen to what some people had to say.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- do not have much impact on my life because I am at the grassroots level, ordinary people. So the impact on us may not be particularly large, but it will definitely have a great impact on the country.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Anyway, this is a trade war. And in the end, the U.S. may not gain. In the short term, China's exports might be somewhat affected, but ultimately it's the consumers of both countries who will be hurt.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STEWART: So another question that is shared from both the United States and the U.S. is when will this end? What is next? And will there be a breaking point?
One thing we have been looking for now for weeks is a phone call between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and President Trump. Earlier in the year, the president had made it sound a call was imminent. Now, not so much. So Ben, as you watch from your post in the United States, we're
watching from here in China.
HUNTE: Oh yes, we're all watching. And thank you again for speaking to me, Marc. Appreciate it. Speak to you again soon.
In last week's address to Congress, President Trump doubled down on his goal of acquiring Greenland from Denmark. The strategically- significant island is set to hold parliamentary elections on Tuesday, which could decide its future direction.
CNN's Frederik Pleitgen has more on what Greenlanders are saying.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's an unlikely place for a geopolitical tug of war. Greenland, with a population of about 57,000 known for its fishing, natural resources and glaciers, goes to the polls on Tuesday, something that in the past probably wouldn't have attracted a lot of global attention.
But that was before Greenland caught the eye of U.S. President Donald Trump.
TRUMP: We will keep you safe. We will make you rich. And together, we will take Greenland to heights like you have never thought possible before.
[01:34:54]
PLEITGEN: It's a bold offer, especially since Greenland is a territory of Denmark, though its semi-autonomous with its own parliament. But it does rely on Denmark for about half its annual budget.
The U.S. already has a military base in Greenland, which plays a key role in missile defense and satellite communication.
And Greenland is also the gateway to the arctic, lying on the shortest route from North America to Europe so its location is strategic.
But if forced to choose between the U.S. and Denmark, many Greenlanders say they prefer another option.
MUTE EGEDE, GREENLANDIC PRIME MINISTER: We don't want to be Danes. We don't want to be Americans. We want to be Greenlandic.
PLEITGEN: It's a question of identity that many Greenlanders feel is at the heart of this election.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We need to be independent. We need that identity for our people in the Arctic.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I hope Greenland to get more out of it in the world picture. Right now it's just dependent on Denmark and the money we're getting from there. PLEITGEN: Most of Greenland's main political parties support
independence for Greenland, which can be declared if a referendum passes and the Danish parliament approves.
But they differ on how soon that should happen, with one party saying Greenland should cut ties immediately.
PELE BROBERG, NALERAQ POLICY: Let's hope for a quick process. But as soon as we start that process, we have several other things that will start. One of them will be defense negotiations with the United States about the defense of Greenland when we are independent.
PLEITGEN: Trump's comments are also reverberating in Denmark itself, which recently said it will spend more than $2 billion to boost arctic security and admitted it had neglected Greenland's defense for years.
It's a relationship that could soon change if Greenland steps up its pursuit of independence, or uses its leverage to negotiate a better deal with Denmark.
NOA REDINGTON, POLITICAL ANALYST: There will be a new government, and it will put a tremendous pressure on the Danish government to have a position, a real position in terms of if Greenland wants independence, what will the cost be?
PLEITGEN: Independence isn't on Tuesday's ballot, but the results could reconfigure Greenland's future, something the U.S. and many others will be closely watching.
Fred Pleitgen, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HUNTE: Authorities in the Dominican Republic are sharing new details from surveillance footage of a University of Pittsburgh student who is now missing.
They say Indian national Sudiksha Konanki went to the beach around 4:00 a.m. Local Time on Thursday at the Riu Republica Hotel in Punta Cana. Video showed her with seven other people. Most of them left almost two hours later, but Konanki stayed behind with a young man.
Police say they've interviewed him and are trying to determine what happened when they were left alone. They say he was seen on surveillance video leaving the beach around 10:00 a.m. that morning.
CNN's Rafael Romo has more on the search.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RAFAEL ROMO, CORRESPONDENT: As you can imagine, the entire family is deeply worried especially because it's already been several days since she went missing.
I had a chance to speak on the phone with her father who has traveled to the Dominican Republic. Subbarayudu Konanki described her as a very nice girl and very ambitious young woman who wanted to pursue a career in medicine.
Sudiksha Konanki is 20-years-old. She's a pre-med student at the University of Pittsburgh, where she is a junior.
Previously her father said she attended Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, a magnet school in Alexandria, Virginia.
According to her father, Sudiksha Konanki traveled to the beach resort to Punta Cana on March 3rd for spring break with several friends.
On Wednesday, Konanki told me, she told her friends she was going to a party in the Riu Republica Hotel in Punta Cana, the resort where she was staying.
He also said she went to the beach at about 4:00 in the morning on March 6th with her friends and some other people they met at the resort. When her friends realized she was not in her room, they alerted authorities.
Riu Republica Hotel in Punta Cana has issued a statement about the case. It says in part the following. "Since the moment she was reported missing at approximately 4:00 p.m. that same day, we have been working closely with local authorities, including the police and Navy, to conduct a thorough search.
We would like to express our sincere empathy towards the family and friends at this difficult time."
We've also heard from Dominican officials who say they have deployed drone teams to widen the search for the young woman.
The Dominican National Emergency Service issued a statement that says, in part the following. "In coordination with the Tourism Police, the Civil Defense, the Dominican Navy, the National Police, and other rescue organizations, four teams of drones equipped with advanced technology have been deployed to conduct a thorough search in the coastal area of Bavaro," the statement says.
[01:39:42]
ROMO: As for the search, Konanki also expressed concern that Dominican officials have not yet expanded their investigation and are seemingly not considering possibilities other than having had an accident in the immediate vicinity of where she was seen last.
He told me that they're only looking in the water but he wants them to also investigate other possibilities, including whether this is a case of kidnapping or human trafficking.
Rafael Romo, CNN -- Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HUNTE: Still to come, ticket prices for popular concerts at an all- time high, forcing fans to either save up, go into debt or skip the event entirely. We'll break down what's changed about live events just after the break.
[01:40:24]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HUNTE: Welcome back.
Fans experienced pure shock when they saw the price for tickets to Beyonce's latest world tour. The prices were wild enough for some people to say, we've got Beyonce at home, and abandoned the hunt for cheaper prices.
Beyonce is just one of many artists whose concert prices have skyrocketed in recent years. Pollstar data shows the average concert ticket cost about $25 in 1996, and now it's more than five times that figure.
"The New York Times" recently interviewed multiple concert goers, some who now consider attending concerts a luxury. Some are even going into debt to see their favorite artist.
To break all of this down for us, I'm joined by music journalist Emilie Hanskamp. Emilie, how are you doing? Thanks for joining me.
EMILIE HANSKAMP, MUSIC JOURNALIST: I'm doing great. So great to be here.
HUNTE: Amazing. So let's talk about these popular concert tickets, because I'm trying to understand why they're so expensive. When did they become so high?
HANSKAMP: So let's talk about how expensive they are. I think we all have the feeling of it, but let's take the last two years into consideration since 2019, which was sort of the last year we had that was a full calendar, pre-pandemic year of data to collect.
We've seen the revenue and the prices go up 71 percent.
HUNTE: What?
HANSKAMP: So in 2020 -- the revenue, yes. In 2020, for the average concert ticket price, you're looking at around $135. If you go back to 2019, it's a 40 percent jump because -- and then if you go back even to 2015, we're looking at a 75 percent jump just in the ticket price.
So what you're feeling is very real.
HUNTE: And over the past few months, we've seen some artists push back about the fact that they're not even aware that their own concert tickets were so expensive, which that makes me laugh because obviously they're getting paid by somebody.
So clearly they're seeing more money come through the door than they were a few years ago. Do you think there's actually truth in the fact that some artists aren't aware? HANSKAMP: I think one, I'm happy you're asking about this because a
myth that has been manufactured around this is that artists have no say in ticket pricing.
Now Ticketmaster and those sort of monopolies, they do deserve flak here. But artists do have say. And we know this because if you think of things like dynamic pricing, platinum pricing, you've probably seen a lot of VIP pricing, more and more of that. Those are decisions that are opted in and made by artists and their management teams.
And so when you see, you know, someone like Robert Smith from The Cure, he came forward to kind of pull the curtains back and say, like he had conversations with Ticketmaster and forced them to not only reduce the prices, but even refund some of those service fees, those pesky service fees you see.
So if you think of what Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino said, Ticketmaster sort of takes punches and Live Nation takes punches and protects artists. They do have a say though, and they do know at a certain point, especially at that high level, maybe less so the indie level, what is going on.
HUNTE: Emilie, with the exclusive there. I love that.
A few weeks ago, people were waiting for hours in online queues to get tickets to see Beyonce at these high demand prices. Some people in my team were in those queues themselves. We were talking about this earlier.
But I can go online right now and all of Beyonce shows still have tickets available. So in that example, do you think it's wrong for concert promoters to add these extra dates and these extra dynamic pricing bits and VIP tickets, because it's just creating a false hype, surely.
HANSKAMP: I'm happy that you're asking that question because it speaks to the real issue of the resell, right? Like maybe we all get online, we're in those queues for hours, but one, we don't know how many tickets are really being released to us because it's not all the tickets in the stadium, the seats that are.
We don't know if there's dynamic pricing being used. What are the prices that are left? Maybe you and your colleagues waited for hours, you got in and there was only $2,000 tickets left.
So it's that lack of transparency. And also it shows it's the resellers that we really have to be targeting here. Even if we dismantle the monopoly of Live Nation, Ticketmaster, resellers, you know, getting all of these tickets and selling them for thousands of dollars, that won't go away without regulation.
HUNTE: And do you think that these ticket prices are putting people off, or are artists making enough money from their biggest fans to justify taking risks by putting in these different measures?
HANSKAMP: It's a great question, and I think both can be true in a way. I do fear that, you know, if you look at Gen Z specifically, there are a lot of polls that are showing Gen Z more than any generation, are willing to go into debt, even get second jobs to afford tickets to their favorite artists, where maybe people like you and I, people who are used to not paying $2,000 for tickets, maybe will put up more of a fuss, or we will have a breaking point here, which is what I think we're seeing.
Yes, Beyonce will always sell out her tours, but the trickle-down effect of fans having to be much more selective with which shows they go to, has, you know, impacts and ramifications all the way down to the indie music level where there's just less money to go around.
[01:49:55]
HANSKAMP: And yes, I think fans are starting to reach that point of we cannot afford this anymore.
HUNTE: And when people can't afford those prices that they're seeing online, sometimes they go to like the backdoor routes and try and see what they can find online maybe on some social media sites.
And we're seeing reports that online ticket scams are increasing. Do you think that artists and promoters are doing enough to stop that?
HANSKAMP: I think that I will scale that up and one up that and say it's actually the government at this point that has to step in because we can see artists like Robert Smith there.
So you can do a lot of work. You can put in that legwork. But we need regulation. We need policy. We need to dismantle that monopoly, which is, you know, we're seeing efforts with the DOJ in the U.S. Right now.
But really the priority is to have regulations on resale ticket price, capping those prices. There are some initiatives happening in the U.K. right now. They're discussing that actually.
But that is what really needs to happen. If we all just sit around and wait for the monopolies to make the right decisions, I can guarantee that nothing is going to happen. Government needs to step in.
HUNTE: Emilie, thank you so much for joining me. Appreciate it.
HANSKAMP: Thank you so much.
HUNTE: Romania, considered an E.U. hotbed of sex and labor exploitation, is attempting to crack down on human trafficking operations.
Ahead, we'll hear one Romanian woman's harrowing account of survival and what you can do to help prevent trafficking.
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HUNTE: Romania's government has been working to counter human trafficking operations in the country, which sees the highest share of victims in the E.U. Last year, it passed a set of new laws that eased the way for
successful prosecutions. But the fight is far from over.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Someday a stranger will come and tell you hey, I like you. Let's go out for coffee. Anything can happen from there.
SAMARA, VICTIM OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING (through translator): My name is Samara and I'm a former victim of human trafficking.
My story starts in 2016. I was 19. I was pregnant.
Spending time on Facebook, I started talking to what is now my former trafficker. He called me over to his house. He wanted me to meet his family, to see where he lived. I didn't realize then what was happening.
GRAPHICS: Samara's trafficker brought her to the United Kingdom, where she spent the next few years being sexually exploited.
SAMARA: I lived in the car. I sat outside in the rain. Beaten or not, you had to stay there. There was no one to come save you, to take pity on you. And yet he'd come and tell me he loved me even after he beat me.
STEFAN: If we want to see human trafficking decrease in our lifetime, we need to go after the traffickers because there are vulnerable people that get trafficked, and there's vulnerable people that don't get trafficked. And the element that is present in one and absent in the other is the trafficker.
[01:54:50]
GRAPHICS: In 2024, the Romanian Parliament passed three new bills targeting human trafficking. Implementing harsher prosecutions for traffickers and better compensation for victims.
Together the new laws create a stronger anti-human trafficking framework. Victim identification has increased as a result.
CHRISTIAN BACANU, FORMER ROMANIAN MP: You can't really. Understand the phenomenon if you don't talk to people, if you cannot drop any, any form of prejudice.
For me, it's personal because I could do something to have the justice system work better. We worked with the institutions to create the capacity to prevent human trafficking, if possible, to get convictions for human trafficking offenses, where is the case, and to protect the victims or potential victims.
SAMARA: If someone had taken care to tell me, look, be careful. There are bad people out there. Maybe this wouldn't have happened.
Now, the things that I should have been told then I get to tell others. I'm not the old me anymore. I'm so much stronger than eight years ago.
I'm a different person. In my case, justice was made and I'm really glad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HUNTE: Be sure to tune in tomorrow, March 11th for "MY FREEDOM DAY", a student-driven, world-wide event to raise awareness of modern-day slavery.
Follow the #MyFreedomDay on social media and check out CNN.com/MyFreedomDay.
Flooding swept across eastern Australia this weekend after tropical cyclone Alfred smashed into the coast.
And this little guy got caught up in the raging waters.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's a kangaroo.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a kangaroo. What is a kangaroo doing in here?
Oh, hey.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It made it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNTE: Turns out that kangaroo was actually a wallaby. A local man and his daughter spotted the creature and followed him downstream, where he made it safely to the creek bank.
Heavy rain and strong winds in the region affected hundreds of thousands of residents, including that lucky wallaby who has lived to tell the tale.
But what is the difference between a kangaroo and a wallaby? Let me know.
Thank you for joining me and the team. I'm Ben Hunte in Atlanta. It's been so real.
Let's do it all again next weekend.
CNN NEWSROOM continues with Rosemary Church next.
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