Top Account with Tom Llamas – Feb. 23 | NBC Records NOW

Tonight breaking news another balloon spotted flying over the Western us raising alarms from coasta coast the unidentified balloon arriving one year after that Chinese spy balloon flew across the continental United States NORAD scrambling fighter jets to get a closer look at the object officials say this one does not pose a national.

Security threat but it's still unclear where it's from or what it does Courtney QB live at the Pentagon with the latest also tonight the major new evidence in Trump's election interference case in Georgia the former president's legal team presenting new phone records alleging da fonny Willis and special prosecutor Nathan Wade lied about when.

Their relationship started what those phone records show Angela and Adella standing by to break it all down plus the latest on that controversial IVF ruling in Alabama Republicans including former president Trump now on defense rushing to Proclaim their support for IVF treatments but parents and fertility clinics still worried about facing.

Prosecution for trying to have their child are yish Al sendor on the ground in Alabama speaking with families uncertain about the path forward punishing Russia the US announcing its biggest sanctions package against Russia since the start of the war in Ukraine the measures targeting allies of Putin's war effort as the second anniversary of.

The invasion near and new details on that American ballerina detained by Russia her boyfriend speaking to top story tonight his desperate plea for her release deadly Inferno the dramatic new images a massive fire engulfing an apartment complex in Spain First Responders pulling residents out of Windows to safy at least 10 people.

Killed will have the latest on the search for the Dozen plus still missing time squar stabbing chilling new surveillance footage showing a migrant brutally beaten and stabbed just hours later another man viciously attacked police arresting 10 suspects but still hunting for at least 16 more as violence escalates in the iconic New York City.

Tourist attraction an unlikely escape a Michigan Home Going Up in Flames after a gas explosion how the 76-year-old homeowner inside made it out to safety top story starts right now good evening I'm Ellison barber in for Tom yamus We Begin tonight with that breaking news an unidentified balloon flying over the western United States.

That balloon spotted over Utah this morning at an altitude between 43 and 45,000 feet NORAD scrambling fighter jets to check it out multiple us officials telling NBC News tonight it is carrying a payload they say it's about 2 feet square but they do not believe it's a national security threat but they also still do not know what it is exactly or.

Where it originally came from this incident comes a year after that Chinese spy balloon spent a week flying across the continental US before being shot down over the Atlantic Ocean that incident inflaming tensions between the world's two biggest superpowers NBC News Pentagon correspondent Courtney QB joins us now from the Pentagon Courtney what's.

The latest you're hearing about this balloon do we know at all what it is we don't uh in a word we do not now I will say uh the the statement that we got out of NORAD and and according to a number of officials who we've been speaking with since it's all unfolded in the last several hours uh they' seem pretty confident this this balloon this.

Unidentified balloon does not pose a national security threat that it also doesn't pose a threat to Aviation as you mentioned it's flying somewhere around 44 45,000 feet in the air um but it's and it's not maneuverable so the officials say that it's actually flying moving across the country with the jet stream and flying at the speed of wind.

So uh how this is different than that high altitude Chinese spy balloon that we we've been seeing the video and the photos here on the screen is number one it's simply not flying as high it's about 20,000 ft lower than where that balloon was but it's also dramatically smaller remember that balloon was described to by many people as about the.

Size of three school buses well this one is much smaller than that you mentioned the payload it is a very small payload and and just for our viewers who may think wonder what that that means that payload can be something as simple as cameras or recording devices but I will say the officials are not saying exactly what that payload is but again that they.

Are saying it's not a national security threat now in addition to that while the NORAD and officials here at the Pentagon are not saying where that balloon took off from or who owns it officials are telling us that the the in all indications right now is it is not um part it does not belong to a foreign government Ellison okay so Courtney the.

Last time when there was the balloon spotted over the US that one a Chinese spy balloon there was a lot of discussion about when and how to shoot it down do we know if us officials are considering taking this balloon out so they don't want to take anything off the table but I have to say I do not get any sense that there is real talk about.

Shooting this one down and in in part because it's transiting over the United States you'll remember that the um that the High Altitude Chinese spy balloon one of the reasons that they did not shoot it down until it was over the ocean is they were worried about a debris field but more than that it is this one is not assessed to be any kind.

Of a threat they still are monitoring it the US military is to try to determine to see if there's anything that changes if suddenly it appears that it begins to be maneuverable if it changes course anything like that but but the officials are not really talking about about shooting it down at all Ellison all right NBC's Courtney QB at the Pentagon.

Thank you so much we appreciate it now to our other major headline tonight the developments in the Georgia election interference case against former president Donald Trump and the embattle fton County district attorney Prosecuting that case fonnie Willis Trump's legal team presenting new phone records casting doubt on Willis's.

Testimony about a relationship she had with the man she appointed special prosecutor to investigate Trump his name Nathan Wade the Trump team had asked the judge to disqualify Willis from the case they say she appointed Wade because the two were romantically involved and that Willis benefited financially from her then boyfriend's appointment through.

Vacations they say he took her on in the contentious hearing last week both Willis and Wade took the stand vehemently denying all of those allegations they say their relationship did not start until after his appointment in November of 2021 and that they split the cost of almost all of their trips together way did say he.

Visited Willis at her home before his appointment but that it was not very often do you think prior to November 1st of 2021 you were at the condo more than than 10 times no sir so it' be less than 10 times yes sir so if phone records were to reflect that you were making phone calls from the same location as a condo before November uh 1st of.

2021 and it was on multiple occasions the phone records would be wrong if phone records reflected that yes sir they'd be wrong they'd be wrong but a new court filing showing analysis of cell phone data from Wade's phone allegedly demonstrates that he visited Willis at her home at least 35 five times in the months before his.

Appointment and in the weeks immediately after Willis also addressed when their romantic relationship began directly here's that portion of her testimony I'm asking you whether or not prior to November 1st of 2021 there was a romantic relationship with Mr Wade that's very simple it's either yes or no I don't consider my.

Relationship with him to be romantic before that but those records presented by the Trump team allegedly show that on multiple occasions in that period Wade arrived late at night and stayed into the early morning hours I want to bring in NBC News legal analyst Angela sadella to break down all of these developments so Angela let's just start with sort of.

The obvious question went through all of it it sounds like this is a pretty big deal how damning are these records do they actually prove definitively that he was there prior to the dates that he previously acknowledged so I wouldn't say they definitively prove but that's not the burden that the judge has to decide it's not definitively it's just a.

Question of their credibility and really at this point whether or not they lied on that stand so I think it seeds enormous doubt that this relationship started after he appoint she appointed him after she appointed him I think it's pretty clear from this evidence that she appointed him prior to their relationship sorry the relationship.

Started prior but the biggest issue is that they presented in an affidavit in reply and under oath they testified to the fact in front of the court at the point at which this relationship started so really their issue is if they lied to the court at all they didn't necessarily even have to say that earlier they didn't have to try to prove when the.

Relationship started they could have just focused on the financial aspect they did not they affirmatively put forth these CL these clear definitions these statements to the court and if the judge decides that they were lying that as officers of the Court they lied that's hugely problematic so what would be your legal advice if you were working.

With Andor representing both Nathan Wade uh and also Fon Willis how would you say they should move on from this so there's a lot of options first they can argue that they shouldn't even be admitted as evidence that it's an invasion of privacy and the judge hasn't even decided yet whether or not to admit this as part of the evidentiary hearing we.

Will likely see that next week also fonnie Willis when she was on the stand said that they did have some sort of a relationship they were friends in fact he was her Mentor so she could likely double down on that and say that they did have these late night conversations these late night visits but they were not explicitly romantic and so at that.

Point perhaps the defense can't really prove further whether or not it was romantic nobody was in those conversations or in the room with them so lastly I think though they would redirect back to the financial issue the reason why there's any possible conflict of interest is if she conferred a financial benefit and she on that stand.

I thought last week did a great job claiming she did not at all that she paid cash she paid her way so focusing back on that could be helpful and when she was on the stand too she also made a clear point of saying none of this is really even about me let's listen to some of what she had to say you're confused you think I'm on.

Trial these people are on trial for trying to steal an election in 2020 I'm not on trial no matter how hard you try to put me on trial I mean multiple things can be true at once right she is not on Tri trial technically speaking but does this cause significant damage to her credibility not just in this case with the former president but moving.

Forward it causes huge damage I think almost irreparable Dam irreparable damage any way the judge rules because let's say the judge does decide these records are enough to disqualify them from the case obviously that is horrible for her now on the other side if the judge does not admit this into evidence or for since for some reason decides it.

Doesn't really affect their credibility the juror pool out there is watching and at the point the jury starts to doubt your credibility doubt everything you would say on that stand or in front of them trying to convince them of an argument you've already lost your case how long do you think it will take the judge to decide whether or not these.

Records can be admitted well March 1st will be the closing argument so at that point we will likely hear both sides do a summary and then the judge can either decide before that or after and then he can give a decision within the week or within a couple weeks so we never know right well we will be watching Angela cadella thank you so much we appreciate.

It now to the Fallout from Alabama's Supreme Court IVF ruling outrage growing on the left after the court decided Frozen embryos are children while key Republicans including Donald Trump rushing to publicly voice their support for invitro fertilization and tonight the state's IVF patients still left in the Lurch as some providers pause.

Procedures NBC's jamish alsandor is in Alabama with the latest after a week of confusion and frustration tonight Alabama's attorney general saying he has no intention to prosecute IVF families or providers just last week the state Supreme Court ruled that Frozen embryos are children and that people can be held liable for.

Destroying them that set many Republicans scrambling to explain their positions including Donald Trump I strongly support the availability of IVF for couples who are trying to have a precious little beautiful baby I support her and the Senate gop's campaign arm urging candidates to quote clearly and concisely reject efforts by the.

Government to restrict IVF the White House hitting back this is the chaos that has come out of uh of getting R rid of R the same day as last week's ruling Alabama Supreme Court chief justice Tom Parker shared his view that God wants conservative Christians to reshape Society based on their beliefs God created government.

And the fact that we have let it go yeah into the possession of others is heartbreaking can you point to bun bun in Montgomery Rebecca Matthews has one frozen embryo left after enduring three rounds of IVF this feels almost like they're pushing us into a corner and and um punishing us for something that we can't control how.

Concerned are you that if you decide not to use this one embryo that you could be held criminally or civil liable very I'm very concerned the thought that this could land me in jail is just something that I can't even imagine those same concerns are what led at least three clinics in Alabama to stop IVF treatments Alabama fertility is one of.

Them Dr M mlan has had to tell patients the clinic is too concerned about legal liabilities to do IVF right now the conversations that I've had to have this week have been some of the most heart-wrenching that I've ever had to have I feel powerless she hopes GOP leaders vocally backing IVF will turn things around I think the national.

Leaders serving their support behind our cause to provide IVF care in Alabama is incredibly powerful Kelly Belmont is preparing for her second round of IVF so far her Clinic is still operating but she is terrified that could change if IVF were to be stopped across the state what would you be doing honestly I think it'd be over for.

Us we had to pull from our 401K just to pay for what we've already done the 38-year-old belmou feel like they're running out of time it would literally be a dream crushed yamish Al sendor joins us now from Birmingham Alabama yamish There's now movement on legislation to protect IVF in Alabama.

Right that's right both Democrats and Republicans in Alabama are pushing for legislation that would define an embryo outside of a person's body as not a child under state law they hope that would restore access to IVF treatments in this state Ellison Alor thank you we want to turn now to Georgia where a suspect has been taken into custody for.

The shocking death of a college student in the city of Athens the 22- year-old nursing student had gone out for a morning jog but never returned NBC News correspondent blae Alexander is on the ground with the latest after a terrifying 24 hours in the bustling college town of Athens Georgia tonight police have announced a suspect is in.

Custody and what university officials say is the murder of 22-year-old leak Riley University of Georgia police have identified A Person of Interest Who is being questioned we want to stress that this continues to be an active ongoing investigation police say a friend of Riley's called 911 Thursday afternoon saying Riley went for a morning run and.

Never came back officers searched the area and within minutes found her body in an area around Lake herck near the school's intramural fields the individual was unconscious and not breathing and had visible injuries here in Athens the homicide has rocked two different campuses Riley was a junior at.

Augusta University's College of Nursing where she was on the dean list she had recently transferred from the University of Georgia a student there until last spring she remained active with her sorority today CL classes on both campuses are cancelled how have these past 24 hours been um honestly I mean it has been really hard on all of the.

Students I everybody thinks that they're safe but in reality like you never know ug senior Mila Ramirez lives right by the fields where Riley was found I mean that's very kind of concerning and scary just because that did happen very close by and blae Alexander joins us now from Athens Blaine we know police just spoke a few moments ago about the suspect they.

Have in custody what more can you tell us well Ellison we know a lot more now we know that the suspect is 26y old his name is Jose Antonio Ibara uh he's somebody who police say lives in Athens but is not a US citizen and he is being charged with a number of things tonight he's being charged with malice murder felony murder aggravated battery.

Aggravated assault kidnapping along with several other uh charges we also learned some very disturbing things we learned uh that lakan was killed by blunt force trauma and we also learned that according to police officials the two didn't know each other they call it simply a crime of opportunity that he saw her out there and quote bad things.

Happened Ellison blae Alexander in Athens Georgia thank you now to the largest round of sanctions placed against Russia since the start of the war in Ukraine the move from the Biden Administration in response to the death of Russian opposition leader Alexi naali but will these sanctions have the desire effect.

The Russian economy grew last year backed by growing exports of oil to India Brazil and China and of course spending related to the war effort to break all of this down uh NBC News senior White House correspondent Gabe Gutierrez joins us now from the North Lawn of the white house uh so Gabe one state department official described this.

Round of sanctions as crushing what is it about these that they feel like might actually be or have a different impact than the previous rounds we've seen well Ellison the White House says these new sanctions will build on previous ones that have slashed Russia's oil revenues by 40% according to the Biden Administration the new sanctions Target.

More than 500 people and companies that contribute to the kremlin's war effort including Russia's largest Shipping Company the US is also indicting more Russian businessmen the White House says these latest sanctions are just a start and acknowledges they will only go so far so the president is urging Congress to finish passing more aid for Ukraine.

Alison as Russia does find these markets outside of the United States and Europe is there concern in the White House that without congressional action or some other sort of action that these sanctions will become less and less effective over time yeah Ellison it's not really clear how effective these sanctions will be Vladimir Putin.

Continues to get help from Iran North Korea and China and that's partly why the US and Europe are debating taking even more aggressive measures down the line including seizing some $300 billion dollar of Frozen Russian assets that's not part of this latest round of sanctions but it could be on the table in the future the US would only be able.

To seize a fraction of that most of the assets are held in Europe but Ellison yes there is a concern that Russia will keep adapting to these sanctions as this war grinds on Alison Gabe Gutierrez thank you and saying with Russia new details on the American citizen who remains in detention there russian-american kzia kolina who lives.

In Los Angeles was detained and accused of treason by Russia reportedly because of a small donation she made in support of Ukraine her boyfriend boxer Chris Van herden is now speaking out about her case and pleading for help Chris joins us now on top story Chris thank you so much for your time tonight and I'm so sorry this is how we have to meet and.

Talk with you but to start can you just just tell us a little bit about your girlfriend tell us about kesia we've seen all these amazing photos of her dancing what is she like as a person he is she's happy she's funny she's full of life and the kindest person I've come across she gives with her whole heart without question she puts others first.

And we've had a few arguments about that because that's just what she do she she she walks into the room and everyone wants to be be around there Casa was visiting her grandmother in Russia when she was detained uh can you tell us a little more about that trip I mean when she said she was going.

And got her flight and made those sorts of plans were you worried at all about her safety as she went there yeah yeah I was I was and I brought it up I said I don't think it's a good idea I said there's a war going on and the relationship with between Russian America is not very good right.

Now and you are American and she convinced me that I have nothing to worry about that no no war in Russia and where she grew up in yurg is so far away from everything she's safe and she did she's very proud to be Russian as an American and um she convinced me she said I'm Russian I'm fine and I said okay and I made silly jokes I remember.

On the trip I made few silly jokes and I said well let's enjoy these last few days course I don't think I'm ever going to see you again it was just silly jokes when you look back on that now and you think you make those jokes sometimes because you don't think that that would ever really happen when you think back.

To it now how does it feel knowing what has happened I just wish I didn't make those jokes what do you want people to know about her I mean you have been in touch with her family over there how are they dealing with this situation um and do you think right now the United States is doing enough to get her.

Home our family our family is um scared I don't I don't say much but I can tell they're scared and um she's an American citizen and she's very proud to be American citizen that's why she's here I'm sure there's something we can do I'm sure there's the power is in the.

Hands of America in the right with with the right people we can get her back and I'm going to say no I don't I don't think we are doing enough because she's not here she it's been it's been more than a month and I wonder the people the American people to just know who CA is this is a normal person she's a she's a former ballerina full-time institution.

But she's a sweetheart she's honestly she's she's a sweetheart and I I just this all feels like a dream like a nightmare and I just want to wake up from it I mean hearing Russian authorities accuse her of treason claiming that she'd given some sort of small donation to a Ukrainian charity I mean do you know anything about that had.

She given money uh do you think they're just coming up with an excuse to hold her because she has an American citizenship as well as her Russian citizenship and and they don't recognize dual citizens in Russia I know four years now we've been romantically involved seven months and in these last seven months I can.

Straight with a straight face tell you that she's never engaged in conversations about the war she she just doesn't want to upset sir I've she never been doing any donation funding while with me um but just listening to all of this as I'm following the news $51 and this is what she's going through it just it just.

Doesn't add up it just doesn't feel real I I when was the last time you were able to have a phone call or any sort of communication with her I understand you did know about her detention for about a month but you just weren't publicly able to speak about it I mean the agony of knowing something and not being able to.

Make a public plea for help how did you manage that I don't know how I've managed it January 27th is When U the last time I spoke with her and that's also when she was detained on January 27th and I was told to to keep my mouth shut um and it was one of the hardest things I had to do because I knew what she was going.

Through and I wish a part of me just wish I didn't keep my mouth shut and just voiced myself because maybe she would not have been this fall into this but I had to do what I was told Chris thank you so much for speaking to us and helping us to better understand your girlfriend and her situation we will keep covering this and.

Our thoughts are with you and all of her friends and loved ones thank you for being here tonight we appreciate it thank you so much still ahead tonight a verdict just in in the Civil corruption trial against the NRA Wayne laier are found to have violated his duties as the head of the gun rights advocacy group how much a.

Jury says he cost the nonprofit plus two beatings in New York City's Fame Time Square just hours apart The Manhunt for more than a dozen suspects still on the run and a gas explosion engulfing this Michigan Home In Flames how the 76-year-old man who lives in that house miraculously made it out alive top story is just getting.

Started turning now to New York City where police are searching for over a dozen people in connection with two violent attacks in Times Square last night one man stabbed another beaten and both sent to the hospital the violence sparking tough questions about order and Public Safety in America's largest city NBC.

News correspondent Aaron McLaughlin has this story in the shocking Time Square surveillance video a group mobbing a 17-year-old migrant beating and stabbing him in the middle of a New York City street according to the NYPD stunning bystanders and tourists I someone running and there's a cups full of him.

And there someone who a CSP and Cat him police recovering a large knife from the scene then 2 hours later and just blocks away a verbal argument turning physical a 28-year-old man repeatedly kicked and punched in the face by another group group of asants according to police officers rushing to both scenes making 10 arrests but still on the hunt for 16.

Suspects both victims survived and were rushed to the hospital and then this morning A man was murdered on the city's Subway in the Bronx it's horrific nothing does a more chilling impact on our overall narrative that climb is down and jobs are up trust me we will catch the people responsible for this this afternoon six of the suspects in last.

Night's times Square attacks charged with gang assaults and two charged with criminal possession of a weapon this week's violence just the latest in a string of attacks plaguing New York City's Time Square two weeks ago a 15-year-old Venezuelan migrant arrested in the shooting of a Brazilian tourist the teen allegedly lashing out after.

Being stopped by a security guard for suspected looting our suspect takes out a 45 caliber handgun shoots at her into a crowd the tourist said she heard a loud bang before seeing blood dripped down her leg and in January two officers injured while trying to break up a group of teenage migrants authorities say it's all part of a troubling Trend and with.

These repeated attacks there's worry that time Square's reputation is one of the top tourist destinations in the world is now being called into question as authori scramble to control the violence Ellison Aaron mlin in Times Square thank you heading overseas in Spain a deadly fire burning through an apartment complex killing at least 10.

People and injuring more than a dozen the effort underway now to find those still unaccounted for and to find the displaced residents some sort of temporary Shelter tonight a community in Spain devastated by a hellish fire that ripped through a 14-story apartment complex in Valencia killing at least 10 people.

According to the city's mayor and injuring another 15 this resident still visibly in shock saying she managed to tell her daughter and mother-in-law to leave just in time but that others stayed inside firefighters rushing to the scene after The Inferno erupted Thursday evening this dramatic video showing First.

Responders using a cherry picker to rescue two people trapped on a balcony as the Flames closed in sayas at a press conference today official saying some of the emergency workers received Burns and one broken arm from a fall Witnesses saying the blaze was fanned by strong winds and devastated.

The apartment Block in just a half hour there was no alarm or anything there was no alarm a representative for a Spanish Insurance inspection agency telling local Outlets that the building's use of a plastic material known as polyurethane helped the fire spread quickly the scene reminiscent of the tragedy at London's grenfell Tower in.

2017 that killed more than 70 people that Blaze spreading rapidly due to flamable materials used on the building's facade Spain's prime minister visiting the site of the fire today and saying the priority now is to search for the 14 people still missing Valencia's mayor says more than.

130 temporary homes are being prepared for residents who will also receive money for rent and daily expenses yes everything everything documents things um everything we we had some locals already stepping up donating clothes hygiene products and food a community now trying to rebuild one kind gesture at a.

Time coming up a snow Moon Rising the lunar event marking the beginning of the Lantern Festival and helping kick off Chinese New Year celebrations we'll tell you how you can get the best view next stay with us back now with top stories news feed and we begin with breaking news out of.

Missouri a military helicopter crashing during a training exercise in Prince County killing two national Guardsmen according to the governor the ah64 Apache going down just after 2 p.m. the identities of the service members have not been released a verdict reached late today in the Civil corruption trial against the National Rifle Association.

And its Executives a New York jury finding longtime NRA leader Wayne laier violated his duties and cost the nonprofit 5 .4 million laier and two other Executives were accused of using the money to fund family vacations and trips on private jets laier resigned from the NRA earlier this year and has already paid back $1 million a.

76-year-old man somehow surviving multiple explosions at his house in Ann Arbor Michigan take a look at this you can see on police body camera video the moment the front wall of the house collapses the man able to walk away from the blown out house with the help of the firefighter he suffered a concussion but is expected to be okay authorities.

Believe the blast was caused by a propane tank the homeowner was using for heat and you might want to look up this weekend the snow moon is set to rise and it's going to be one of a kind February's snow Moon the 2 of 2024 will be the farthest from the earth and will appear the smallest in the sky the snow moon will signal the start of the.

Lantern Festival which is a part of the Chinese New Year celebrations for the best view of of the moonrise look for a high spot Facing East with a clear Horizon now to the war in Ukraine tonight marking the two-year anniversary of Vladimir Putin's full-scale Invasion the tide in that conflict shifting as Congress holds up billions of dollars in.

Military aid some say the delay allowed Russian troops to make their biggest advance in nearly a year just last week today a group of five Democratic senators traveling to Ukraine and meeting with Ukrainian President Vladimir zalinski as analist expect Russia to carry out a series of attacks including air strikes over the next 24.

Hours to mark the anniversary for more on the anniversary of the full-scale invasion and what the future of Ukraine looks like I'm joined Now by Ukrainian activist milania poac milania it's so wonderful to have you here in person because we actually talked over two years ago and that was one of the first stories we had on this program looking.

Ahead to what might happen because Russia was building up tanks on the border when we spoke this is February of 2022 I want to play some of what you had to say when I asked you what Americans should understand about Ukraine I just wish people understood that like we're not a buffer State like we are de facto but like that's not our.

Identity when you look back on that now and the time that has passed what do you want Americans to understand about it now do you feel like what you thought back then they do understand or no first of all thank you for having me um the lot has changed but if there's something that I understood about ukrainians and Americans and what we have in common is.

That we're not that different we are a freedom loving country We Love Our Land we love our people and what is most important to us is our freedom and our safety and this has been what we've been fighting for for the past two years we're holding strong still I mean a lot of people would say that you know we didn't have enough of ammunition and.

That would mean the keave would fall didn't happen of course we didn't get as much uh uh ammunition and and uh everything as we wanted but the fact still stands we're going to do this uh whatever it takes uh the morale is still very high ukrainians are very hopeful for the you know all the upcoming support and whatnot but yeah a lot has.

Changed we have changed as people every single person has lost someone and this makes this fight even more you know worth fighting for talk to us a little bit about that because it is hard to go into Ukraine and not know someone everybody you talk to will know someone who has been impacted by this who has lost someone or who has been permanently.

Mangled because of War you lost a lot of close friends in the last two years you also lost your boyfriend can you talk to us about him and what the last two years have been like for you how you've changed oh yeah uh me and my boyfriend Andre Pik of call St juice was a fighter pilot and we've met uh in the spring uh of last year and.

Um it he was a different person and I was already a different person but then we changed each other too uh Andre was a great advocate of the F-16 program for Ukraine he actually made it here to the states to Advocate uh he did everything that he could as a you know as a leader as as a military personnel in Ukraine to make sure these things happen and this.

Is exactly why um every feels personal because you know not only is it you know that f-16s for instance of utmost importance to Ukraine but also it's a fact that we lost so many people because of the stalling and you know taking you know everybody's taking their time with supplying Ukraine what we've asked for so it's really it's personal for every.

Ukrainian you can feel that every single life that has been lost was in fact due to due to the reason that you know people were afraid to help Ukraine win it feels like I hope these things change and I hope that you know we have a different outlook on this and I hope that our partners and I mean they do realize we're doing very well in this.

Fight but we need more to to succeed you know it's not just a matter of not letting the patient die you know be die it's keeping him alive but it's a matter of getting better and so for me for instance this thing Andre never got to fly in F16 and will never unfortunately um and so it it all has to make sense this way like um his death.

Will be for nothing if Ukraine does not gain the the equipment we ask for and if we don't win this war this way and this is why you know some people call it politics you know like give Ukraine this give Ukraine that but after all under all of that there is a story of every person there and very quickly before we go do you still have absolute faith and.

Confidence that Ukraine can and will win this war oh 100% um here in Ukraine all over the world not just Ukrainian but everybody believes this will happen as evident by tomorrow's rallies all over the world I by the way invite everybody to join um Ukraine still holds strong and as long as we have our partners by our side and the resolve to help Ukraine.

This world will be over in no time and the you know the kind of ideas and values we stand for will be preserved thank you for being here and thank you for telling us about Andre Mania poak stay with us because we will be right back back now with the latest stop on Taylor Swift's wildly popular eras tour the.

Superstar kicking off the Australian leg of the tour fans pouring in from all corners of the country even as torrential rain and lightning forced a temporary evacuation NBC's Megan Fitzgerald has more Taylor Swift Mania has made its way down under and the Aussies coming out in droves the pop phenom's first of four.

Soldout concerts in Sydney kicked off today today and to say these di hard fans braving rain and Stormy Weather are excited is an understatement we' come here I don't care if I get struck by lightning I'm just happy to be here happy to take one for the team so yeah just happy to be here but the lightning and bad weather caused the concert to be.

Delayed fans even having to temporarily evacuate for their own safety but the weather wasn't enough to stop fans from coming in from across the region and we drove down 10 hours playing Taylor swich unrep just to come watch her there to and even Sydney airport getting pumped tweeting this picture of a plane with lyrics from Swift song blank spaces and.

Among the 880,000 who packed the arena for opening night celebrities like Katie Perry and Rita Aura both posting on Instagram Perry posting got to see an old friend Shine Tonight Aura saying Tay Tay always delivers and posted this photo with Swift's boyfriend NFL star Travis Kelce who flew in Thursday fresh off a Super Bowl win he and Swift seen.

Holding hands and feeding kangaroos at the Sydney Zoo but the excitement for Swift also felt by local businesses and economies where she tours business Sydney is expecting to see a massive economic boost to the tune of 133 million Australian dollars from Swifty descending on the city so it's not just fans who are stoked about Tay Tay it's a.

Win-win for every city Swift sweeps through Megan Fitzgerald NBC News London thanks so much for watching top story for Tom yamas I'm Ellison barber in New York stay right there more news now is on the way thanks for watching stay updated about breaking news and top stories on the NBC News app or follow us on social.

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