that a lot of people call simple, but when you're extremely heavy they're not so simple. golo is real and when you take release >> welcome back. and follow the plan, it works. i'm cory coffin in from the's vossoughian. i new year's eve arriving already around the world. this was the scene in bangkok thailand not too long ago. crowds already gathering in times square to bring in 2023. the ball dropped just nine hours away. but, celebration is mixed with morning this holiday weekend as tributes pour in for pope benedict. as well as a giant broadcast journalism, barbara walters. also this hour, the latest revelations involving congressman elect george santos.

just days away from being seated, despite an avalanche of lies about almost every facet of his life. helping him, out the fact that kevin mccarthy needs santos and every single vote he can get to win his bid for speaker of the house. we will have a bit the latest on that battle ahead. but first, millions of people around the world already saying, hello to 2023. here are some live pictures from dubai where the clock is striking midnight. just a beautiful spectacular display at the world's tallest building. the burj khalifa. and, earlier australia rang in the new year with fireworks along the sydney harbor. and, crowds in new zealand were among the very first to enter 2023. here is a look at how they ring in the new year on pretoria island in, victoria harbour i should, say in hong kong. gorgeous colorful display there. and, here in new york we have still got several hours to go, but revelers are getting excited for the times square celebration with no covid restrictions for the first time in three years. nbc's kathy park is at the

center of it all. kathy, how are preparations going for the ball drop? >> hey there, cory. good afternoon to you. well, preparations for one of the biggest new year's eve celebrations in the world gets underway after the last celebration. so, last year they began planning and prepping for this. and, officials are saying that we are anticipating roughly 1 million people in times square later on this evening. so, over the next couple of hours the streets here in times square will be packed. you can probably see the crowds behind me. that barricades are up along the roadblocks. they are coming into place right now, as well. this really is just beginning. so, because the large numbers, the crowds, they are heightening security. there's a large police presence out here as. well you might have seen these live shots. some of the rain that is falling on me. there are a lot of things that you can't bring and one of those items as an umbrella, unfortunately. so people are encouraged to pack lightly. no large. bags backpacks, no umbrella. no coolers. and no alcohol. but nonetheless, earlier today

we were down a little bit farther where the ball will be dropped at 11:59 tonight. and, we had a chance to speak with some visitors. here's what they told. me take a listen. we >> once in a lifetime experience. >> was this something you had been planning for sometime? >> a couple of months. >> it was kind of just out of the blue. we just decided to come. >> i've never been to new york before, so what better time the new year's eve. >> we heard about some people wearing diapers. so i don't over going to do. that but we will try our best. we >> have. some we do have diapers. >> yeah, so, cory. we are several hours away for that ball drop. but there are no public bathrooms in the area. pretty much, this times square area is being shut down right now. so if you're headed this, way you are planning on being here throughout the evening. but, nonetheless a lot of folks here are in good spirits. this is the first time, as you mentioned earlier. that we don't of covid

restrictions in place. so, people are looking forward to getting back to normalcy. restarting in the new year. really, the festivities kind of kick off around 6:00 this evening. there are a lot of performances on deck including it duran duran, chelsea cut, even max as well. it's a little something for everyone. and of course, when that iconic ball drop settlement of the 9 pm this evening, you have 3000 pounds of confetti that will be scattered here in times square. obviously, quite a sight to see. and iconic sight to be in for new years eve. cory? with >> kathy park, you have the assignment of today. that's for. sure kathy park, reporting from times square. thanks, cathy. >> we want to get down to some breaking news and news in the killing of the four university of idaho students. we have just learned that the suspect, 28 year old brian coburg are intends to waive his extradition hearing to expedite's transport to idaho after being arrested in pennsylvania. he is charged with four counts of first degree murder. also, following more breaking news this hour, south korea's

military says north korea has touched launched another round of ballistic missiles into the sea of japan. it counts the end of a year filled with an unprecedented number of missile tests by north korea. and it comes after five transfer north korea cross the border earlier this week before returning back to the north. more breaking news out of ukraine. new missile strikes hit the heart of kyiv today. at least one person was killed in an attack on a hotel. the mayor keith says, another 20 were injured. those strikes forced ukraine's electrical utilities to preemptively shut off power. ukraine's president blamed the attack on russia and, said their leaders must be held accountable in the new year. . we will go now to vatican city where mourners are gathering throughout the day today in st. peters square to pay their respects to poke emerita's benedict the 16th he died this morning at the age of 95. back in 2013, benedict became the first pope in nearly 600 years to resign the position. let's bring in nbc news foreign

correspondent claudia lavanga for us at the vatican. claudia, set the scene for us. what is it like at the vatican this evening, how are people reacting to the news? we >> hey, cory. if you go to st. peters, where if you went to st. peters square earlier this evening, it just look like business as usual. pope francis is scheduled remained unchanged despite the fact that the people veritas died this morning. so, he led the evening prayers. the even prayer city usually does. at the end of the, year and then he was wheeled into an empty st. peters square to greet the pilgrims and the tourists who are there for the end of the year celebrations. but of course, behind the vatican walls behind, me there are the preparations ongoing for the funeral of pope emeritus benedict 16. now the vatican today gave out the guidelines of what is going to happen in the next few days. first, of all the remains of the pope emeritus will stay in the monastery behind the vatican walls where he's been living since 2013. but he, resigned and where he

died this morning. then, on monday morning the body will be taken inside st. peter's basilica so that the faithful from around the world can go and get their last farewell. and, on thursday january the 5th, the funeral will be held in st. peter square and he will will be led by pope francis. so, the first time that a pope leads a funeral of another pope. and, the burial will take place. the vatican said in the vatican grow to which is underneath st. peters basilica, which is where john paul the second, the last pope to dine 2005 was buried before it was moved to the last final resting place. just an interesting number for you, cory. the prefect of rome said that he expects about 60,000 people to attend. we compare that with the more than 4 million pilgrims who came down to rome for the last funeral of the pope, john paul the second in 2005, corey. we >> claudio lavanga for us.

claudio, thank you. >> and we want to do more breaking news. today the, broadcast world is remembering the life and legacy of barbara walters. the pioneering journalist and talk show host died friday at the age of 93. walters began her national broadcast career on the today show in 1961 as a reporter and a writer. and, later became today's first female co-host. in 1976, she joined abc news as the first female anchor on an evening news program. she went on to co-host 2020, and launch the view. walters interviewed the leader of dozens of countries. several presidents, and celebrities. if they were notable, they sat down with barbara walters. in her over half a century long career, she credits the countless women who pursued broadcast journalism after her, as her ultimate legacy. here she is in her own words. >> we i have had an amazing career beyond anything i could ever have imagined. and i hope i may also have inspired other women to make

television. and most of, all i want to say to all of you have been watching me for so many years, and to have traveled the same wrote that i have traveled with me, we have been together a long time. my cup run it over. i think you, thank, you thank you we >> earlier, president biden took to twitter to offer his condolences saying in part, quote, barbara walters has always been an example of bravery and truth. breaking barriers while driving our nation forward. her legacy will continue as an inspiration for all journalists. barbara walters was 93. >> coming up, a newly elected republican faces multiple investigations as the parties leader in the house struggles to gain the power of the speakership. how divided gop will start in the new year in congress. start i the new year in congress the new year in congress laundry truths: the bargain jug. ♪♪ that's a huge jug of detergent. yeah, isn't it a bargain? you know that bargain detergent is 85% water, right? really? it's this much water!

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how quickly and how easily it came off, how much better i felt, what a change it made so fast. i feel like anything is possible after accomplishing what i've done with golo. as we get ready to bring in a new year, we are also looking ahead to congress. 2023 could get up to a rocky

start for republicans. there is the ongoing scandal surrounding congressman elect george santos. he is facing calls to resign before he even takes office, over lying about his background. he's also facing federal and state investigations into his campaign. santos apologized this week, admitting that he embellished his resume. that said he will not step down. nbc news has reached out for comment to santa's but has not received a response. and then there is the fight over who will be the next speaker of the house. the gop has will start with a razor-thin majority meeting that kevin mccarthy will need everybody can get including santos's. joining me now is former congressman and executive director of the serve america movement, david jolly. also with, me democratic strategist bassetts michael. thank you both for being. here david, explain to us how the desantis scandal is colliding with the five respeaker, a crucial vote for kevin mccarthy? >> yeah, interestingly. in terms of how a house speaker is anointed, if he. will they have to crossed a

threshold of 218 votes. it doesn't matter if there are three, four, five, or only one candidate. they have to cross tonight in 18. house republicans right now have 222. meaning, kevin got you can only lose four votes. he already has five who have said they won't vote for him. now, can he move just one of those? maybe. but even if he does, he needs george santos to be seated. because, george santos has expressed his support for kevin mccarthy. so, kevin mccarthy appears poised to overlook all of the scandal and controversy around george santos, accept the republican congress and acceptance vote for speaker. i would, say corey, if kevin mccarthy can't get, there and i'm not convinced he can get to 2:18. the same scenario is two for any other republican candidate for speaker. if it is steve police, or somebody else, they need george santos. so, watch or santos get sworn in and have tool standing among house republican colleagues come tuesday. >> he is in such a unique position. basil, do you think the

democrats have any recourse when it comes to santos, is there anything they can do to stop him from being seated? >> sadly, there is very little that they can do. he will, unless there was some fraud when that can be discovered. and there seems to be some alleged already. but there is very little that can be done to keep him from being seated. so, to david's point, mccarthy really needs this. really needs him to be able to serve at least for the next two years. and that is, why even though number republicans from the state party here in new york and even in long island where the seat exists, have said, well, we are not going to support him two years to know, they are not as strident in saying that he should be removed from office or resign. right. now >> and, david, you've been active in the effort from stopping mccarthy to become speaker. if he does manage to pull this off, how much will he be