Top Story with Tom Llamas - Friday, December 15, 2023

Episode Date: December 16, 2023

Tonight's Top Story has the latest breaking news, political headlines, news from overseas and the best NBC News reporting from across the country and around the world.

Tonight, breaking news, Rudy Giuliani ordered to pay nearly $150 million for defaming two Georgia election workers. The verdict coming after a four-day trial, the plaintiffs testifying Giuliani's repeated bogus claims that the 2020 election was stolen from former President Trump caused them to face racist and violent threats that ruined their lives. Giuliani once called America's mayor outside the court late today, blasting the dollar amount as quote, absurd. Could this have any effect on Trump's election interference case in the same state? Also breaking tonight a medical examiner saying Friends star Matthew Perry died from acute effects of ketamine. The beloved actor who was also known for his addiction recovery found dead at his California home in October. The details just coming in about why Perry had been taking

that anesthetic. Flood warning, millions of Americans on alert tonight as a storm packing heavy rain, high winds, and even possible tornadoes, barrels up the East Coast. Parts of Florida bracing for flooding, Bill Karin standing by with the timing and the track. The IDF's deadly mistake Israeli forces admitting they accidentally killed three Israeli hostages being held by Hamas during an operation in Gaza. The error sparking outrage within Israel, as the U.S. urges the IDF to be more precise about its targets in an effort to limit civilian casualties. But tonight, the Biden administration insists that's not an order or an ultimatum.

Killed on vacation, a Minnesota man found dead in Colombia after going on a date. The chilling phone call his brother received hours before his death. And nightmare ride, terrifying new video, shows a roller coaster in Japan stuck upside down, more than 100 feet in the air with passengers on board, how they were eventually brought down after 45 harrowing minutes. Top story starts right now. Good evening. I'm Ellison Barber in for Tom Yamis. Let's get right to that breaking news. Rudy Giuliani ordered to pay $148 million to two Georgia election workers. In August, Giuliani was found liable for defaming the two workers, a mother and a daughter, while he

was the lawyer for former President Donald Trump. Giuliani repeatedly accused the women of unfounded election fraud, and even circulated a heavily edited and misleading video of them. Here's how that massive verdict breaks down. The mother, Ruby Freeman, awarded about $16 million in damages, her daughter, Shea, about $17 million in damages, $20 million each for emotional distress, and $75 million in punitive damages. Giuliani outside court, not mincing words about the bill and vowing to appeal. The absurdity of the number merely underscores the absurdity of the entire proceeding

where I've not been allowed to offer one single piece of evidence in defense, of which I have a lot. So I am quite confident when this case gets before a fair tribunal, it'll be reversed so quickly that it'll make your head spin. The two women say the repeated lies led to dangerous threats and all. ultimately turned their lives upside down. They both spoke following today's decision. Take a listen. A jury stood witness to what Rudy Giuliana did to me and my daughter

and held him accountable. And for that, I'm thankful. Today is not the end of the road. We still have work to do. Rudy Giuliani was not the only one who spread lies about us. And others must be held accountable. accountable to. But that is tomorrow's work. For now, I want people to understand this. Money will never solve all of my problems. I can never move back into the house that I called home.

I will always have to be careful about where I go and who I choose to share my name with. I miss my home, I miss my neighbors, and I miss my name. Our greatest wish is that no one, no election worker or voter or school board member or anyone else ever experiences anything like what we went through. You all matter and you are all important. We hope no one ever has to fight so hard just to get your name back. So for more on this outcome and the case, let's bring in NBC News legal analysts, Angela Senadella. Angela, I mean, this is a massive amount of money, $148 million, but it is actually more than what the lawyers for the mother-daughter were asking for. So how does a jury come up with a total like this in a case?

Well, the punitive damages are almost just a question. Nobody really knows how they come up with that number. But in terms of the other damages, they were looked at for defamation, the $16 million per victim. They estimated what it would cost to run a marketing campaign to restore their reputation. So if you look at the overall number, it's almost split exactly in half in two big buckets. The first is compensatory, so that's to make up for all the harms the victims experienced. Then the other half, the $75 million, is for punitive. And that's literally just to punish Mr. Giuliani and to prevent him from doing similar actions in the future.

I want to play a little bit of the mother and daughter, Moss and Freeman's testimony that they gave to the January 6th committee, just describing what they'd experience. And then we'll talk right after. I've lost my name and I've lost my reputation. I've lost my sense of security. all because a group of people starting with number 45 and his ally, Rudy Giuliani, decided to scapegoat me and my daughter Shay to push their own lives about how the presidential election was stolen. A lot of threats wishing death upon me, telling me that, you know, I'll be able to be.

be in jail with my mother and saying things like, be glad it's 2020 and not 1920. They have given such emotional testimony. We saw it on the Hill during January 6th related hearings, but also during the course of this trial. How impactful do you think it was for jurors to actually hear directly from him with that kind of emotion? I think it was extremely impactful. And also look on the other side that Giuliani himself put up almost no defense. And first, he said, he was going to go on the stand. He was going to debunk everything they said. But he provided no mitigating analogies, experience, or any words that would turn those damages down. So usually in a trial, you have plaintiffs go up, they give their side. You've defendants go up. They give their

side. And then the jury has to weigh both of these. In this case, there was no defense. So the jury fully just listened to this very emotional testimony. It was interesting to hear Giuliani say, I didn't get to present evidence, but he chose after they testified to not testify, right? He absolutely had the opportunity. Absolutely. And it was definitely his choice. And I imagine it's also because his trial here intersects with his criminal trial. And so he cannot talk about a lot of things. But in a civil case like this, if he chooses not to testify, that can be used against him. And clearly that was here by the jury. So explain what happens next for Rudy Giuliani, particularly, and you touched on this in terms of his other legal

cases. I mean, will this have any sort of impact? Well, he said that he will appeal. so that's probably what's next. There's also a possible bankruptcy down the line, like we saw with Alex Jones. When you have a huge verdict that you cannot pay, often bankruptcy is the answer, although not always do courts end up shielding your liability in that bankruptcy.

Now, in terms of his other trial, though, when you have no money, launching a defense is a big problem. I do think it's possible that would lead him closer to a cooperation because legal fees during the course of a trial are extensive. And I don't see him going with a public defender here.

So before we let you go, let's talk quickly about the former president, Donald Trump, because he has an ongoing legal battle in the same state. Is there any world where this ruling and what's happened with Rudy Giuliani could impact his case or are his attorneys looking at this and thinking, oh, no, we might have an issue? I think his attorneys are looking to see what Giuliani will say. And so that's why I think it really helped all of their criminal cases that he did not talk on the stand. So while it obviously hurt the damages here in his civil case, in the criminal trial, not saying anything gives him far more leverage, especially because that is a RICO case. There are so many defendants.

What he said could impact in ways far beyond just himself. Angela and Adela, brilliant. As always, we appreciate your time and insights. Thank you. Now to that other breaking news we're following tonight, Matthew Perry's cause of death finally revealed nearly two months since he was found unresponsive in his hot tub. The L.A. County coroner saying the friend star died from the effects of the drug ketamine. Here's NBC's Chloe Malas with the late details. Tonight, authorities revealing beloved actor Matthew Perry's manner of death.

According to the autopsy report, the 54-year-old died from the acute effects of ketamine, ruling his death an accident. In a statement release Friday, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office said contributing factors in Perry's death include drowning. coronary artery disease and the effects of buprenorphine, a drug often used to treat opioid addiction. In October, Perry was found by his assistant unresponsive in his hot tub at his Pacific Palisades home. Tonight, officials confirming they did not find any drugs or drug paraphernalia nearby, and Perry's body had no signs of recent needle punctures. Welcome home, man. Perry was best known for his comedic genius playing Chandler Bing on Friends.

most successful shows on television during its 10-year run on NBC. Throughout his career, the actor had been open about his decades-long battle with drug and alcohol addiction, having multiple stints in rehab. Oh, oh, it's so hard. Following his death, Perry's family started the Matthew Perry Foundation, hoping to honor his legacy and help others struggling with addiction. I'm going to hug you. You hug me. All right. A tragic ending for one of Americas and the world's adored actors. And Chloe Malas joins us now in studio. So Chloe, based on your reporting and what was in this autopsy report, we know that Matthew Perry was taking ketamine under the guidance of a doctor. He'd had it a few days before, maybe about a week, but that wouldn't stay in

his system that long if he'd been administered it days before with a doctor, right? Exactly. So in this autopsy report that I'm looking at right now in front of me, it says that the level, are not consistent with having been administered ketamine for depression in a doctor's care, you know, at an office, perhaps a week before. So that raises the question, which is, was he microdosing ketamine, which is legal in the state of California? But these levels are they consistent with that, right? And was, there are very strict rules in the state of California when it comes to ketamine. Ketamine cannot be given to patients in an outpatient setting unless the patient has been hospitalized for at least 24 hours. So it begs the question

that if a doctor was prescribing him ketamine for at-home treatments, were the levels consistent with what is legal in the state of California? So obviously, this raises a lot of questions as to how did he get the ketamine and how was he administering it in what form? And so, obviously, a lot of questions unanswered right now. And I was just speaking to a woman named Dr. Springer who runs a ketamine clinic in the Midwest. And she was saying that this is the exact reason why they don't prescribe ketamine and they're not okay with microdosing ketamine at home. And I'm not saying that that's what Matthew Perry was doing, but this is why they do it in a clinical setting. So, again, a lot of states right now, there's a lot of legislation when it comes to ketamine, especially when it comes to treating.

post-traumatic stress disorder with veterans. So obviously, this reignites a hot topic of conversation in this country. Yeah, wow. Chloe Malas, thank you very much for being here. We appreciate it. We're tracking a powerful new storm system developing in the Gulf of Mexico at this hour, closing in on Florida and taking aim at the East Coast. Five million people now under flood alerts with a threat of damaging winds and even some tornadoes tomorrow night. Residents there are already preparing for the heavy rains. In Hollywood, Florida, officials installing these barriers. They're called tiger dams. It's to prevent flooding along the beaches there. So let's get right to NBC News meteorologist Bill Karens. Bill, what are you seeing?

The storm is forming. So we're okay right now. We'll be all right tomorrow morning. So when we get through Saturday afternoon, that this storm and the Gulf will get closer to Florida. We'll also combine with this storm that you see over the top of Kansas. That'll happen on Sunday on the East Coast. So we'll start with Saturday first off. We'll have the persistent winds. We've already been dealing with this all week long, easterly wins. We're not going to power out of just from the wind, but we will be seeing the rain intensifying, and we also will have a chance of isolated severe storms after dark. So nocturnal severe weather is never fun for anyone, especially if it's during the overnight

hours when you're asleep, and that's the potential for at least an isolated tornado or two. And that's from Tampa to just south of Orlando all the way through, you know, roughly about two-thirds of the state of Florida has a chance of severe weather during the overnight hours, Saturday night into Sunday. And then by the time we get through the weekend, this storm goes all the way up to east. East Coast, and by Monday, it'll be plaguing us in New England. So what does this all mean? Well, everyone's going to get rain. Some areas will get heavier than others, locally up to five inches. Jacksonville, I'm concerned with our friends from Savannah, to Brunswick,

heading up here, Hilton Head to Charleston, the Myrtle Beach, Georgetown. This area is going to get a lot of heavy rain, and it's going to have a chance for some coastal flooding concerns. There's not a lot of snow with this. This will be on the backside Monday into Tuesday, but these are areas that expect to get snow. Ellison, if anyone has travel plans, a big heads up in the Northeast Monday morning. It's going to be very difficult. It's going to feel like a tropical storm is over the top of us. All right. Bill Cairns, thank you.

Moving overseas now to the war in the Middle East, Israel revealing tonight the IDF accidentally killed three Israeli hostages, mistaking them for Hamas fighters. This news coming as the U.S. continues to urge Israel to switch to a more targeted military strategy in Gaza. Here's NBC's chief foreign correspondent, Richard Engel, with the latest. This video was taken by 28-year-old Yotam Haim on his kibbutz near Gaza on October 7th. He says a terrorist infiltration is underway. Sometime after, Hamas militants set fire to his house when he opened the window for air.

He was kidnapped. Tonight, Israel announced that Haim, along with two other Israeli hostages, 25-year-old Samer Al-Talaka, and 26-year-old Al-Lal-Talaka. Lone Shemries were killed when Israeli troops mistook them for Hamas fighters and shot them, according to the Israeli military, which says they may have escaped or were abandoned by their captors. Prime Minister Netanyahu wrote, in part, together with the entire people of Israel, I bow my head in deep sorrow, calling it an unbearable tragedy. Tonight, families of other hostages are calling to restart talks to free more captives.

We cannot handle with more death. We want them now here. Israeli troops are fighting Hamas street to street and bombing intensively. The Biden administration is urging Israel to switch to a more targeted campaign. We're not here to tell anybody, you must do X, you must do why. We're here to say, this is our perspective as your partner, as your friend. The Israeli military says it does more than any other army in the world to avoid civilian casualties. including warning Palestinians with leaflets and robocalls.

Tonight in the West Bank, I met Gazans who were working inside Israel and are now trapped. They'd all undergone background checks by Israel. Ahmed al-Masri told me his wife and four children were killed in Gaza by an Israeli air strike a week ago. He showed me their pictures. I have one left, he says. Nearly everyone has had at least one relative who's been killed. me that what bothers him the most is not that his brother died. Thank you. Thank you very much. But that he's still under the rubble of the apartment that he was in.

They don't know when they'll go back to Gaza and say every time the phone rings, it's usually bad news, that someone else is either injured or dead. Richard Engle joins us now from Jerusalem. So Richard, with this tragic news that the IDF accidentally killed three Israeli hostages. and the international community urging Israel to limit its attacks on Gaza. Are the people of Israel still in support of this war? And if so, how much? Support for the war against Tamas is extraordinarily high.

I think Israelis are united in that. Some people from the Israeli left who support a two-state solution, people from the Israeli right who don't want to have any accommodation with the Palestinians at all. Both support destroying Hamas. But support for Prime Minister Netanyahu is extraordinarily low. Many families, of hostages in particular, don't support his approach. They think that it's time to go back to a ceasefire, that they should have negotiations with Hamas, at the very least to get or try and get more hostages out. They think that Netanyahu is focused on his political survival, that he is too eager to go into this military campaign in order to placate

some of the extreme members of the Israeli society. So generally, yes, they support the war against Hamas, but they don't trust Prime Minister Netanyahu, according to opinion polls, to carry it out and worry that his personal agendas may be impacting his decision-making. and that puts the hostages' lives at risk. All right, Richard Engel, in Jerusalem. Thank you. Now to Moscow, and our NBC News exclusive interview

with the top Kremlin spokesman, weighing in on the war in Ukraine, the U.S. presidential election, and a whole lot more. NBC News's chief international correspondent, Kierce Simmons, has this report. Tonight's Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman weighing in on the upcoming U.S. elections,

calling for dialogue, despite Russia's invasion of Ukraine. President Putin would like to see someone who is more constructive towards our country. Could the Kremlin work with President Trump? I have no doubt that President Putin will be ready to work with anyone who is ready to work with him. It's illegal in Russia to call its special military operation a war. But Dmitri Peskov says, it is a war. It is a hybrid war.

that actually the United States is orchestrating against our country. Saying Russia will still win, even with more U.S. aid for Ukraine. This is a great mistake of Washington, actually. But you accept that so far America's funding and its weapons has been one of the crucial factors that has prevented Russia from reaching its goals. It's making this story longer. One independent polling organization tells us half of Russians now want peace talks, though most would not give up territory.

To return back the territories is treated like a surrender. And on Americans, Paul Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkevich, who the USA are wrongly detained. President Putin is always interested in a deal. They are hostages to the deal you want to do, aren't they? No, they're not hostages. They're in custody. And Kier Simmons joins us now from Moscow. Kier, it is pretty rare for an international journalist to have access to such high-ranking officials within the Kremlin.

What else stood out to you in your interactions with Dmitri Peskov? Well, I think one aspect, Edison, which sometimes gets overlooked about Russia, is that things can be a little bit disorganized. So just to give you an example, I asked him about another American journalist. Elsou Komeshava, who is also held here in Russia, about whether she might be part of a deal, the kind of deal I talked about in the piece, whether or not she might be, her release might be negotiated, and Dmitri Peskov honestly didn't have an answer for that. He said, I honestly don't know. And then just the contradictory nature of some of the things that the Russians are saying,

that the Kremlin is saying. So, for example, saying, yes, we want to do. talk, but we don't want to give up any of our goals or blaming the U.S. for breaking down dialogue, for not having dialogue with Russia, when of course that happened after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. And I think what that goes to is this, Alison, is that even if there are talks, the Russians are going to come into those talks with such preconceived notions of where they should end up. It's very difficult to imagine how they even, even are worth having at this stage. And also for the Ukrainians, with President Zelenskyy saying,

demanding that Russia leave Ukraine back to the 2014 internationally recognized borders. The two sides are so far apart. I said to Dimitri Peskov, frankly, we're looking at more fighting, aren't we? And he said yes. In Moscow, thank you. Now to a story we've been following in Europe where a boy missing for six years, has just been found. Tonight, details emerging about where he's been and how he got free. NBC News foreign correspondent Matt Bradley has more. At just 11 years old, Alex Batty vanished.

The Manchester UK boy missing since 2017 mysteriously found in southern France on Wednesday. A French student spotted the now 17-year-old and offered him help. I saw a young guy on the side of the road with a skateboard under his arm, backpack. just a normal guy. Badi said he had been walking through the forest for days. He told me that he was kidnapped by his mother and grandfather. Badi went missing after going on vacation with his mother and grandfather. He now tells authorities they whisked him away to live in nomadic spiritual communities in France. Authorities say the teenager finally fled when his mother tried to move him once again to Finland. His

mother and grandfather's whereabouts are unknown. They're wanted in connection with Alex's his disappearance. He just wanted to live a normal life to see his grandmother again and to have a normal future. Badi's grandmother is his legal guardian and has continued searching for him since his disappearance. One of the first things he did, reach out to her with a text message saying he wanted to come home. Now an international effort underway to get him there. And our priority is to get him back to the UK and getting back to his family in Oldham as soon as possible. With Alex finally starting his journey home, home, authorities say his family near Manchester are now massively relieved.

And there's still a lot we don't know in this case. Questions remain about the communities that Alex and his family were living in, in France, and whether or not he was held against his will. And, you know, UK officials still have to verify Alex's identity, even if his grandmother is 100% sure it's him. And then Alex has to go about the business of going on with the rest of his life. And that's also not going to be easy. He told authorities that during his six-year ordeal, he never wants.

went to school. Ellison? Matt Bradley, thank you. Still ahead tonight, killed in Columbia, a Minnesota man kidnapped and then stabbed after going on a date, the call he made to his brother just hours before he was found dead. Plus, the mother of a six-year-old who shot his teacher in Virginia sentenced late today, how much time she's facing in prison. And a fast-fashioned face-off why T-Mu is suing the popular retailer she in, accusing the company of using, using mafia-style tactics to intimidate the competition. Stay with us. We're back now with a mystery in Colombia.

A man visiting the country was reportedly kidnapped and killed on Sunday shortly after calling his family back in Minnesota and asking for thousands of dollars. NBC News correspondent Stephen Romo now with what the family says about this shocking loss. Tonight, the family of a Minnesota. man desperate for answers after they say he was kidnapped and killed while visiting Colombia. I'm out of words to describe. I just, I don't even know how I feel right now. 50-year-old Tuzer Zhang, an artist and activist, had been traveling in South America when he called his brother asking for money while on a date Sunday night.

This time he was like, hey, you have a couple thousand? I was like, yeah, no problem. And what do you want it? He said, I want it now. I'm in this bit of a situation here. I go, Yeah, I can do that. His family growing more fearful when Zhang stopped responding to texts. I woke up in the morning at 7 a.m. I texted him back and said, hey, I thought you said you need money. You still want the money? Tax me back if you still want the money.

No answer. According to a local prosecutor, Zhang was kidnapped during a date and killed when he could not make the payment. His body later found in a wooded area covered in stab wounds. His family still searching for answers about how this shocking crime unfolded. I was confused. To me honestly, I don't know what the motive is. Zhang had visited Colombia in the past, posting photos and videos to social media as recently as October with an unidentified woman. I'm with my girl. A refugee from Laos, Zhang and his family moved to St. Paul when he was a child.

In recent years, he became a well-known comedian and community activist. Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar issuing a statement saying him, quote, this is a heartbreaking tragedy. Tuzer was an incredible person who was constantly working to uplift his community. He truly believes in equity work and fighting for the underprivilege. And many times I always tease him. I say, you know, you're not getting paid. Why are you doing it?

But it's what motivate him. A tragic loss made even more confounding by the mystery that still shrouds his final moments. And he'll draw everybody in. That's the type of people here. Yeah, Allison, so heartbreaking for this family trying to find answers from so far away. We do know that Senator Tina Smith from Minnesota is also working with the State Department to try to get the remains brought back home so they can have a funeral. Allison.

Stephen Romo, thank you. Next tonight, two Chinese fast fashion giants are going head to head, but not over who has better deals. Timo, now the most downloaded iPhone app in the world, filing a 100-page loss. against rival Cheyenne, accusing the company of using mafia-like tactics to intimidate suppliers and stifle competition. Tonight, a battle between two fast-fashioned giants is heating up. This is absolutely legit. Timu, a Chinese-owned online retailer known for its cheap prices on everything from clothes to

home goods, has launched a new lawsuit against its rival, Shien, over copyright concerns and quote, mafia-style intimidation of suppliers. Petimu spokesperson telling CNBC they had no choice but to sue after Sheehan, quote, began to illegally detain merchants forcibly asking for their phones, stealing our merchant accounts and passwords, stealing our business secrets and simultaneously forcing merchants to leave our platform. The lawsuit filed in D.C. alleging that in some instances, suppliers who worked with both companies were detained in Sheehan's office for up to 10 hours. Then were, quote, coerced to sign a number of documents. before they were allowed to leave. Some of those contracts, according to the complaint, allowing Cheyenne to seize the supplier's worldwide intellectual property rights. Timo has certainly thrown everything but the kitchen sink at fashion giant Xien in their 100-page

complaint. That doesn't necessarily mean they'll win. If anything, they've created a pretty high burden to have to meet in proving each of those claims. Timu, which gained massive popularity after. running this ad during the Super Bowl and is now the most downloaded iPhone app in the world. Also alleging Sheehan copied Timo's copyright games to increase customer acquisition. This is Sheehan.

It's not the first time fast fashion giant Cheyenne, which is valued at $66 billion, has faced serious allegations. Big Sheenhall today. The Chinese company, popular with influencers, is one of the largest fashion retailers in the world, known for its extremely low. prices and for adding thousands of products to its site every day. Over the summer, a lawsuit filed in California federal court accused the retailer of such aggressive copyright infringement that it violates the RICO Act, a racketeering law that was originally created to target organized crime. One thing's for sure.

Timu is not kidding around. Normally, complaints are maybe a dozen pages. Timu is sending a message, not just to the court, but to members of the public who might read this complaint so that they can. get their narrative out against this defendant. In response to the new allegation, Sheehan telling NBC News, quote, we believe this lawsuit is without merit and we will vigorously defend ourselves. Regarding the lawsuit in the summer, it said it takes, quote, swift action when complaints

are raised. And we should note both companies are subjects of ongoing congressional investigations with a report back in June, finding that Timo's supply chain uses forced labor in parts of China. When we come back, a nightmare ride at an amusement park in Japan, a roller coaster stuck upside down more than 100 feet in the air, how the 32 people on that ride were finally rocked down to the ground. Stay with us. We're back now with Top Stories News Feed, and we begin with the sentencing for the mother of that six-year-old who shot his teacher in Virginia. Taylor, sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to felony child neglect. Her son opening fire with her gun in a classroom in January.

The teacher has recovered from her injuries. Taylor is already serving a 21-month sentence for a separate federal gun charge related to this case. Now to a violent street takeover caught on camera in Connecticut. New body and dash cam video shows a crowd shooting fireworks at police. Authorities say the takeover happened in multiple cities around New Haven and included more than 500 cars. One officer was hospitalized with minor injuries. Police are now asking the public to help identify the suspects and oversees a terrifying moment for passengers on a roller coaster in Japan. New video shows riders stuck upside down, more than 100 feet in the air at a Jurassic

Park themed ride at a Universal Studios theme park in Osaka. Local media reporting staff used a set of emergency stairs to get the passengers off after 45 minutes. Luckily, no one was hurt. Now to the alarming new United Nations report on women in Afghanistan. The report found that the Taliban is sending some survivors of gender-based violence to prison, claiming, quote, for her protection akin to how prisons have been used to accommodate drug addicts and homeless people in Kabul. The report adding this de facto policy is now in place after the Taliban closed all 23 state-sponsored women's protection shelters in Afghanistan. One Taliban official telling the UN such shelters were, quote, Western concept. The Taliban, long known for their restrictive view of women's rights,

dating back to their first government in the mid-1990s and early 2000s. After 20 years of progress, many of the fundamental rights and freedoms Afghan women fought for stripped away as the Taliban returned to power in 2021 during the U.S. military's chaotic withdrawal. Joining me now to provide context on this report in the state of women in Afghanistan, Wilson Center Middle East Program Director Marissa Korma, us now from Washington, D.C. Marissa, I understand you actually just got back from a trip where you were meeting with students from the American University of Afghanistan.

For those women who did grow up in the last 20 years in Afghanistan and understanding that women's rights were not perfect before the Taliban. But how do they say things are for them now under Taliban control? How different is it? That's right, Alison. I met with students from the American University of Afghanistan. the campus that moved to Doha, Qatar, and very generously supported by the government in Qatar, the female students were very worried about the situation in Afghanistan.

But I was also very inspired and very hopeful because they were very adamant and very determined to give back to the students who are stuck in other parts of Afghanistan, who are unable to go back to university. So they're all contributing in various ways with do that. different online programs, sometimes even coaching other students in Kabul and other provinces on WhatsApp. And so online education is key. But of course, they're very worried about their families and especially if they have female siblings. This report, it is just the latest in a string of Taliban policies targeting women, including the recent closure of beauty salons. We saw that

happened this past summer. Are there any safe spaces, truly safe spaces left for women in the country? That's a really good question. And tragically, I don't think there are any safe spaces, because the private spheres, people's homes, are also not safe, precisely because the gender-based violence amongst partners is also very high worldwide, but particularly in Afghanistan. And I think that some of these shelters that were state-sponsored and organized and run by a lot of civil society organizations, as you indicated in your report, have shut down.

And so women are being taken to jail. This is impacting them psychologically, physically, and mentally as well. Various reports in the last few months also indicated that 80% of the attempted suicides in Afghanistan are amongst women. And so the situation is really disconcerning, and the international community has a responsibility to pressure the Taliban government to do a lot better. Unfortunately, we're not seeing any signs of that. Yeah, that was going to be my next question for you.

I mean, we talk about issues like this as if they are problems solely with the Taliban and happening in Afghanistan. And obviously, this is a problem in Afghanistan. It is because of the Taliban. But at the same time, the United States has been so heavily involved in Afghanistan for decades. Does the U.S. and the international community bear some responsibility for what is happening there right now and when you speak to women? And you said the international community isn't doing enough here.

What do they want to see countries like the United States do? They want to see the United States governments as well as other governments around the world step up by supporting different types of programs to ensure that young girls and young women in Afghanistan have a chance to be educated. I think that the fact that you have a generation that in the last 15 to 20 years have had access to educational institutions is very important. And they are very determined to keep at it. They are so strong and truly inspiring in moving forward with that.

But they're also putting themselves and many family members at risk. So I think the least the United States and other governments in the West can do is to help support a lot of these initiatives that are homegrown. But also, there is a responsibility for Muslim-led countries or governments of Muslim-led countries to also step up, because condemnation of what the Taliban is doing is not enough. If they can use the same terminology that they use in their own countries to ensure that women have access to education and to the workforce, then they may have their way to also ensure that girls and young women in Afghanistan have the same opportunities. And so they even have,

I guess, more credibility, or they should at least have more credibility. So they should also step up these efforts and support. Marissa Korma, director of the Wilson Center Middle East program. Thank you so much. We appreciate your time and insight. Thank you. Coming up, the Hanukkah party bringing light amid darkness, a 12-year-old in California raising money for his bar mitzvah and an effort to help Israeli children who lost parents during the October 7th Hamas terror attack, how that money was put to use for a very special holiday celebration. Back now with the power of giving, impacting someone thousands of miles away.

The story of one 12-year-old boy in Israel resonating with another 12-year-old in California. Tom Yamas has this update on the Israeli community finding comfort from strangers across the globe. What was your name? ORI. What's your name? Tom. When we first met ORI on the streets of Ophakim near the Gaza border, he told us a story we'd never forget.

We now are going to see the area where my father and my brother died. The 12-year-old was headed to a nearby home where his father, Moise O'Hoyon, and his older brother, Eliad, died defending their town from Hamas terrorists. The family says this image shows how Elisha O'Hiyahon and his older brother, Eliyadh, died defending their town from Hamas terrorists. The family says this image shows how Eliad died embracing his father. I'm collecting, which I want to keep them for feelings. It's nothing to feel better.

Ori's words resonating around the world, capturing the attention of a 12-year-old boy in California. Shaiton-Tacombsaw says he saw the story and couldn't stop thinking about Ori. The reason why I decided to help Ori was because he was 12 years old and I'm 12 too. At first, Shaiton was just going to donate. his allowance to Ori's Bar Mitzvah, but then realized there were other kids who also lost parents, so he started raising money. And this is what that generous act turned into.

We were there as these children of war found a reason to laugh, sing, and dance, celebrating inside of a bomb shelter, the money allowing Ori to buy toys, food, and throw a Hanukkah party. A young boy from across the world who didn't know. us at all is coming and lighting a candle. I want to say thank you for chitain. In a town that lost so much, on this day, their community growing, finding comfort in new friends, thousands of miles away.

Tom Yamas, NBC News. When we come back, a look at what you can binge watch and listen to this weekend. The summer blockbuster Barbie now available to stream, plus the end of the hit series, The Crown, and new music from Kavana. Carol G. We are back now with binge-worthy. Our look at the best things to watch and listen to this weekend. Let's bring in Friend of Top Story, Darren Karp.

She is a pop culture expert and the host of Shaken and Disturbed, a true crime podcast. Okay, Darren, so we start first with the big movie. Barbie, if you missed it in theaters, you can finally watch it now on HBO Max. I don't think this needs a clip, but we can show it anyway. This is it. This is the real world. What's going on? Why are these men looking at me?

Yeah, they're also staring at me. You've got to make your own kind of music. Barbie in the real world. That's impossible. If this got out, this could mean extremely weird things for our world. This would be catastrophic. I mean... Do you know anyone who hasn't seen it?

Well, that's the thing I was going to say, like, do I need to explain? but I think I should. That's why I'm on here. Okay, so this is like the biggest movie of the year. I honestly think. Barbenheimer brought people back into the theaters. Obviously, Barbie and Oppenheimer. But yes, it's back on Max. You can watch it at home. This kind of flips the patriarchy on its head. Of course, Barbie is worshipped in Barbieland and Ken is just Ken. He's kind of an accessory. He's a side piece. But when they decide to go into the real world, as we find maybe not all Barbies are queens in this world. And of course, it definitely upflips Ken. But honestly, I was going to say this is type of movie I actually just like having on in the background because the music is so good.

That is true. The music's very good. The dance pieces are fun. It's campy. It's from Greta Gerwig. She deserves every single Oscar for this. I loved it. She is amazing. Okay. So next we have the return of a very popular series that is back for its final season on Netflix. This is Season 7, Part 2 of The Crown. It is out with a look at the future of the monarchy while Queen Elizabeth reflects on her life. Let's watch a clip. We must change not just the politics of this country, but the soul of this country. The boys need you now more than ever. I'm afraid we don't do fathers and sons very well in this family.

Perhaps you don't like to be reminded how we got to this point. I haven't seen it, I'll be honest, never seen it. And I know people love it. It's a global phenomenon. Okay, this has been going on for quite some time now. And honestly, it's very interesting because it truly chronicle a family that is still living and still present. Okay, so the first four episodes of this last season kind of chronicled the weeks before Princess Dye's death and a little bit of the aftermath. The queen kind of disappearing from sight for a bit.

These final six episodes have a little bit more lightheartedness. We cover the Golden Jubilee. We just got Prince Charles at the time. Of course, King Charles now of marriage to Camilla Parker Bowles. And, of course, the university relationship budding romance between Kate Middleton and Prince Wood. William. So it's a little bit more upbeat. And, of course, Dominic West there from the Wire fame, from The Affair, who I love. He's up for a Golden Globe for this. And I definitely think he's a contender and deserves to win. Yeah, he's very, very talented. I haven't seen in this, but he is

talented. Okay, so this next one, this is a new movie on Apple Plus TV. It stars Mark Wahlberg, and it is called The Family Plan. Yeah. Let's watch. Oh, hey, Dan. Happy anniversary. Dan, my husband, he's an amazing dad. You're almost ready to go to size four of us, huh? I used so big. Look at the big muskos. I just wish our lives were bigger.

Really? Lisa, let me put my kid down. So confident. I am confident I'm going to be watching this at home because my mother loves Mark Wahlberg. She still calls him Marky Mark, but she'll be like, we got to watch the Marky Mark movie. And he takes a shirt off, of course, because it can't be a Mark Wahlberg, like, movie. He knows his brand. This is good for all ages, though.

Okay, so mother to kids, it's pretty funny. I will say it's a little bit predictable. Here's kind of the plot line of it. Dan, played by Mark Wahlberg. He's sort of a retired former assassin for the government. And when his enemies kind of catch up to him, he brings his wife, his three kids, including a 10-month-old baby, on a spontaneous road trip to Las Vegas, and chaos ensues. So it's a little funny. You kind of kind of know where it's going, but I do recommend it. It's really good. Okay, so this next one, it's another plan-related movie. I think this one we're going to is, yeah, the retirement plan. We love plans here on Top Story. This one is on Amazon. prime and it's actually a crime thriller comedy and it stars nicholas cage look i think my parents aren't some kind of trouble oh ashley's in trouble what is it this time get on that flight and do not come back without my heart drive purpose for your visit pleasure lay low for a few minutes welcome to the island i'm losing my patience oh no no no boom kills him i just get out of it with my life.

What do you think? I'll watch anything with Ron Perlman saying, boom, kill him. I just love him from Sons of Anarchy, so maybe just because I was obsessed with him and I'll watch this. Nicholas Cage, he's got to grow on me. I know this is probably a hot button issue for a lot of people, but this role actually serves him well. It's kind of action-packed.

It kind of brings back his whole Nicholas Cage-ness of it all. But essentially his daughter, he's estranged from his daughter and his granddaughter. Once they get caught up in this really bad scheme, they go to him on the Cayman Island. where he's retired and living his life with his long hair. And they ask him to protect him, protect them. And he does in this chaos and funniness ensues. But Nicholas Cage, he's still got to grow on me a little bit. I got to be honest with you.

Yeah, I mean, same. I'm not. I say it and people are like, what? I loved him in National Treasure. We did love that. I enjoyed that, though. Good stunts in this, though. Good stunts.

All right, so this next one, it's the last to watch on our list. It's called Bad Surgeon, Love Under the Knife. It's actually a docu series. It's on Netflix about one of the biggest frauds in modern medical history. Look. Paola Macarini treated people as human labranes. She was coughing up pieces

of her own flesh. The first liver transplant, the first kidney transplant, the first heart transplant. Did they go all well? No. I think that this is the future. The next patient's everything will be better. The question is, was he torturing people to death?

It's the biggest con in medical history. This one's a dark one, but if you If that's your vibe, I mean, true crime podcast, I was going to say, like, this is my vibe, and I think you really see me right now, but I am excited for this. And the story is obviously tragic, like they were saying, this is one of the biggest medical mishaps kind of to ever happen. So Dr. Paolo Macarini was really famous for having, I have to even write this down, revolutionary stem cell infused windpipe transplants, so something super niche.

But the problem is all his patients kept dying. And there was a lot of dirty work kind of going on here. He also had multiple affairs with people. That's not necessarily going to get you arrested, but I think it kind of goes to his character. He had an affair with a woman, Benita Alexander, who's actually interviewed in this documentary. But if you don't know the story, it's truly incredible, and it definitely gives you pause. Okay. Yeah.

This next one, we're going to go to music now. This is a new song from Carol G. It's her song, Kchimba de Vida. Focusing on the wrong thing, but very big fan of the pink pigtail braids. Yeah, yeah, focusing on the... But loved that. Carol G is awesome, and the song stands for What a Great Life. And what I love about this song, first off, it's got a really cool, like, trap track to it.

But also, it's positive. I mean, she's talking about how grateful she is for everything that she did this past year. You can see S&L in the video, her meeting Rihanna, her performing on just world stages. So big fan of Carol G, and I think the song is great. Okay, so the next one is Renee Rapp, who we love with Megan the Stallion. This song is called Not My Fault. Let's listen. So I was kind of surprised they did a song together.

I mean, I'm here for it, but I was a little surprised. She wrapped Megan the Scallion for this. This is on the Mean Girl soundtrack. This is Paramounts, like, big movie that's coming out next year. And this is one of the first singles to actually drop from it. it is great. I love Renee Rapp from Sex Lives of College Girls, which I've told you to watch. I am on my list. I will be doing it. But anything with Megan the Stallion, I mean, she really brings some, like, funk and class to it, which is awesome. But this is a really good song,

and I'm so excited for Mean Girls. These are great. This is a good list of everything. Top of it will be that if you need another one, add Sex Life of College Girls. Yes, on Max. It's great. Yes. And Kimmithy-Salem-Sister. Oh, we do like that. All right, Darren. Thank you for being here, and thank you so much for watching Top Story. For Tom Yamis. I'm El and Barbara in New York. Stay right there. More news now is on the way.