hoda loves it. >> i love it. >> hoda loves the stuff as seen during sochi. >> seth: right. [ laughtert have to go to sochi to do shots. [ laughter ] >> seth: yeah but you don't use it as an excuse. >> she does. >> we had shots for every medal that the u.s. won. >> seth: right. >> and in those shots, some were water and the gold -- for the gold ones, there were vodka shots. >> seth: right. >> hmm. >> so you played like, a random game and every -- every time you'd take a shot. [ talking over each other ] on the show. >> seth: oh, my goodness. >> i didn't do it. i did not do it. hoda did it. >> seth: every time i talk to you guys, i feel like i should get h.r. [ laughter ] >> hoda used to been an award winning journalist but no longer. >> used to be. >> seth: so ultimately you say that, like, by drinking, you guys got closer. [ laughter ] basically i will say, this is interesting because that is, i feel like, what happens to everybody in college. they show up -- [ cheers ] >> seth: they're a little like -- >> and i went to oral roberts university where you didn't drink at all! >> seth: o

so, today is -- >> who knew, hoda? >> hug an anchor day. >> yes. >> but there are rules, according to the huffington post. >> on hugging in general. first of all, questions about hugging in the workplace. rule one is it is okay to hug your peers, but never hug people who supervise you. >> in other words, your boss. >> why wouldn't you? i've done it? >> jerry and rope are hugging now and it is unseemly. don't do that, guys, really. >> first of all, i think hugging is -- >> hoda is a major, major hugger. >> why are you offended by it? why? >> i don't want to be hugged by just everybody or anybody. there are certain people that i enjoy a hug by, hug from. but other people i'm a little uncomfortable. >> okay. >> the worst kind of hug is the fake hug. that's the one where it is -- pat, pat, pat. >> hey. >> don't even go in. might as well just shake a hand. >> one of the worst things is someone looks at you and goes, oh, you look like you need a hug. >> i hate that. that is the worst. >> and you want to go, you look like you

shall we, hoda?yes, let's do it. >> "today" with kathie lee gifford and hoda kotb. >> i have my journalistic standards. ♪ ♪ i wanna hoda on your coffee on the back of my gilapi ♪ >> kathie got low. >> you have not let me do my friday funny. >> it is finally time. hold on one second. >> oh, i wonder if my phone is going to ring. oh, oh -- >> there's a number. >> oh. >> is that my number? is my phone ringing? >> hello, hello. >> look -- i have 20 voice mails. 22. 23. >> proven, hoda woman. ♪ ♪ here we come on the run ♪ with a burger on the bun >> did anybody find anything attractive down there until we started shaving and dyeing and -- what about you, missy? >> i'm the landing strip. >> seen any 747s recently? >> fat guys make better lovers. >> i've known that. no, i've known that. ♪ ♪ boots with the pearls >> i'm not even going to drink. i'm going it eat. >> please, crank it. >> god bless you all. ♪ >> love you, sweetheart. >> love you too. i can't believe that. >> i thought i was going to stay one ye

i'm saying true. >> hoda wins. >> here is your prize, hoda. >> aw. >> thank you so much. >>> a collegele. >> katherine schwarzenegger is with us. we love her, coming up after this. >> this is "today" on nbc, hoda. >>> college graduation is a scary time, especially if you have no idea what you're going to do after you get that cap and gown. >> most of us have been there. and here with great advice is katherine schwarzenegger, author of the new book "i just graduated, now what?" >> if her name sounds familiar, that's because katherine is the daughter of maria shriver and arnold schwarzenegger. >> just as gorgeous as your mom. so nice to have you with us. >> and your hair is like hers. >> i know. thank you. >> this is an interesting book. we both think that somebody as famous as your family is, you never have a worry in the world, a care in the world. >> yes. >> couldn't be more wrong, according to this book. >> yes. i graduated almost two years ago from usc and had absolutely no idea what i wanted to do and was terrified of what was going to come next in my life. and i came up with the i

no way. >> hoda, hoda! ah! ah! >> oh, please. >> couldn't you have them so they moved, jerry? a little bit of motor action? oh, my god. >> give it up for blake. >> i gave you one of my best screams, and they don't even move. that is sad. >> okay. but wait. >> oh, let's just put it to our -- oh. >> oh, it vibrates. >> oh, in that case. >> it's a lap mouse. >> that was gross, jerry. >> thank you, jerry. that was just pitiful. >> by the way, on subways, that would be terrifying to have been on that thing when a mouse ran by. have you ever been in the presence of, like, a mouse or a rat or anything yourself? >> oh, yeah. i've seen them. we've had personal visitations on occasion. yep, yep, yep. they're nasty little things. all right. from last night on "the voice." >> yeah. >> i never want to see that again, jer. >> these are the playoffs. so they had five singers perform. this is on team blake. not that we're biased. so he had to send two of the people home. now, it was a great night for sisaundra, one who's been really terrific. we're going to let you watch her, and of course sh

hoda abdel-hamid saying a volatile situation indeed. thank you, hoda abdel-hamid. >> now, syria's government and rebel fighters are accusing each other of launching chemical attacks. bashar al-assad is pointing the finger at what it calls terrorists. the opposition is denying it's responsible and demands the international community investigates. >> it looks like the usual bombing campaign in syria. according to activists the barrel bombs dropped from helicopters contained toxic chemicals. according to witness accounts those chemicals went airborne after the bombs fell. as people were ferried in ambulances, the person recording this video is coughing and others are covering their mounteds. we cannot independently verify the videos, but syrian tv said there was an attack and blamed the fighters. >> trial judge in the -- >> translation: in the hamad suburbs a group was attacked using gas we are aware that the group are prepared to carry out more attacks. >> act visits said many -- activists said many died. children and adults appeared to h

>> so it is time to get organized, hoda woman.everything in its place and give you that extra space is consumer lifestyle expert sissy biggers. >> hi, girls. >> little smaller, a little bigger when i'm with you guys. here is the fun part about the kitchen. it is the heart of the home. my kitchen this weekend looked like grand central station with an open buffet. >> yeah. >> so it's all about the real estate. the countertops are real estate, the drawers, the shelves, it's maximizing. >> right. >> let's go vertical. our paper towel holder is now also your digital home. you've got your ipad up there, which can be a cookbook. so that eliminates cookbook space. or your monitor for your television. recipes. >> smart. >> in your drawers, you want collapsible. this is the winston chop from joseph joseph. it goes completely -- almost completely flat. you can rinse and you can chop. it does double duty. and from oxo, collapsible silicone, which is great. everything must be flat. >> genius. >> this is joseph joseph. this is their nesting, wa

hoda has the most beautiful feet you've ever seen in your life. and i was very pleased to be able to rub them for you this morning. >> by the way, i've got to tell you, if it took me getting in that magazine to get a foot rub, i'd do it again. so thank you for that. >> okay. now, they also did something fun. they took people, you know, beauty -- if you're beautiful, you tend to remain beautiful as the aging process, you take good care of yourself. people.com teamed up with some of the most beautiful stars from the past years with their younger selves to show that real beauty never ages. >> this is so great. take a look at some of our favorites. michelle pfeiffer may be the first one. this is her with her younger self photo shopped next to her. >> she's really, truly, beautiful. >> that's better. thanks. look at kate hudson. >> this is hysterical. ready for kate hudson. there we go. >> oh, my gosh! >> that doesn't look like her at all. yeah. >> it's cute, though. julia roberts. this is her and her younger self. i remember that. yeah. leonardo dicap

abdel-hamid -- donetsk, hoda abdel-hamid. thank you very much. >> the deposit in south sudan -- government in south sudan, said it sent soldiers across the country to secure bases belonging to the united nations. 58 people were killed at the site, where the displaced people have taken shelter. violence began four months ago, when fighting broke outs between government soldiers and rebel troops loyal to the former vice president. >> these are some of the survivors on a u.s. base in bor. among them women and children. some have bullet wounds, others attacked by people with machetes. this boy was beaten with sticks, by a group numbering in the hun deds. >> this wall yn was told to -- woman was told it lay on the ground. she refused and ran away. >> translation: they caught up with me. i tried to jump over a wall. a man caught up with me, hitting me in the head with a machete. i lay still because i didn't want them to come back and finish me. >> another woman described being shot in the arm as she, too, tried to run away from her

let's go live to hoda abdel-hamid. what are you seeing there? >> i have to say, if, indeed, the anti-terror operation has started, so far it's a discrete one. we are in the city center. the building - the police building that has been taken over by the pro-rush protesters, 300m down the road to my right. we went there, had a little look. you don't see armed men on the streets. you have this usual barricade of rubber tyres blocking access to the building. that barricade is manned by some men wearing minor helmets or biker helmets, they are holding shoes. in front of them is a group of people presumably some of their supporters. that group of people is not more than between 500 to 1,000 people. i have to say, if the government has issued that warning to the resident of the city center to leave the city center, where no one has heeded that call, you see people on the street. families and some shops are open. we also have seen a lot of people go to church. what i have seen of government presence so far is a fortified checkpoint on the road, just at

>>> from nbc news, this is "today" with kathie lee gifford and hoda kotb, live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >>> welcome,verybody. thank you so much for joining us on this fun day monday, april 28th. any day that the academy award winning julie andrews is here is a good day, hoda. >> and the pick for artist of the month, the name is lo-fang, google it. >> and our kentucky derby hat contest winner. but first, our weekends. my dog louie had a good weekend. here is a picture i tweeted of louie in the kitchen sink. >> why does he have shades on? >> he likes to relax. when the sun comes through you put the -- this dog will sit in the kitchen sink for hours in the water if you let him. he just moans, falls asleep, has dreams. you can be changing flowers, washing dishes next to him in a different separate sink -- happiness is a little afternoon bath. >> how cute. >> in the kitchen sink. >> sweet. >> your friend had a better weekend. >> my friend karen, her sister got married, kimmie. i have a quick picture of kimmie and her husband, paul. it was this beautiful wedding in new hampshire. and i

>> hoda has all kinds of slips that come in the mail. you almost went to jail for not responding to -- >> jury duty. >> jury duty. she has no time for such things. >> here's the thing. the mailboxes in new york are small. you can't fit that much in there and they jam mine so full. so every couple of weeks i get in there and yank it out, and go through things. >> every couple of weeks. by the way i tried to call you yesterday. your mailbox was full. >> my phone was -- okay. all right, so anyway, we did reach out and nbc news -- >> as nbc news. because that's what we do. >> we reached out to nigella lawson and she had no comment. okay. >> we just want her to come on and cook. but apparently, she can't do that. all righty. we talked yesterday about that mile high club. and this guy that has the -- i don't want to give him any more attention. >> he's from vegas. it's called the love cloud. you can pay $800 to get intimate in the skies above. >> or you can stay home and do it for free. >> anyway. so there was a couple on an air canada flight.

she made a kathie lee and hoda inspired cake that she took to a family potluck.t's so attractive. and apparently it was a huge hit. >> pamela, we love your cake. >> thank you, sweetheart. how are you today? >> i am wonderful. i am so blessed to be here with you ladies. >> so are we. >> we're going to test your fandom reality with us with a trivia question. >> okay. >> all right. who was the host of the mad food challenge segment and she's also our nutritionist. >> she's blonde. >> and little. >> is it jill? >> no. >> her name is rhymes with madelyn fernstrom. >> do you know what? you win anyway. >> she's got it. >> you and a guest will head to the beautiful bernardis lodge and spa in carmel valley, california. look for a certain vineyard while you're there. for four days and three nights, you can lounge by the pool, take in the breathtaking views of the lavender fields and the vineyards. >> and relax with a luxurious spa treatment at spa tear and enjoy a breakfast and dinner. are you excited? >> i'm overjoyed. i'm ready for my mimosa. >> you have a great day and

>>> from nbc news, this is "today" with kathie lee gifford and hoda kotb, live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >> hello, everybody. good news and bad news. >> what is the good news? >> booze day tuesday, april 15th. that means your taxes are due tonight. right? >> midnight. >> midnight tonight. >> the good news is, two things, number one, you always get an extension. >> i do. which my tax guy wrote me this morning, like, hello. >> matt money? >> no, somebody in new orleans. i'm a creature of habit. i lived in new orleans 15 years ago and that same guy does them. >> that's loyal of you, but -- >> i like him because i like what i know. i like what i know. >> the other good news is my sister mishy's birthday today. i love her to pieces. god bless her. we have great families. >> we do. mom and niece are here. we have a picture of them. they arrived yesterday. they're in my apartment. there is my mom and my niece and there's blake. and hannah has a little bit of a bug, but we think it's over and she's coming to see us soon. >> that is adorable. >> i know. >> before she got sick or after -- >

one of them is hoda's favorite, let's take a look. >> those guys are trouble. and i'm just saying not from experience. >> 100%. i'm just saying. >> i'm just saying. >> not nice. >> i'm just saying. >> not nice. >> i'm just saying. >> repeat it three times. >> so sad. the other is my bad, the verbal equivalent of a shrug. >> chill out. not so bad. i apologize if i made you feel that way. not i apologize for what i said, i apologize that you took it the way you took it. >> in today's world where people don't say anything nice, i'll take an apology any way it comes, honestly. i think that's taking responsibility. >> another one you're not supposed to say -- >> if you say it honestly, it means you're lying. >> it usually does. that's what somebody told us. >> some people don't like if it is meant to be, it is meant to be. >> or everything happens for a reason. >> i believe it does. >> i do too. >> i think because we say it so much, it feels worn out. >> i don't like at the end of the day. >> at the end of the day. i know. anyway -- >> you know what i do love? >> ca

i'm so sorry i didn't ask. >> that's okay, hoda. i'm good. i'll be in physical therapy most of the week. i'm actually going to be -- tomorrow from 1:00 to 3:00, i'm going to be out in yonkers. there is one in connecticut, one in yonkers. they're the coolest stores. it is just -- aisles and aisles and aisles of strawberries this big. >> you'll be there at 1:00? >> from 1:00 to 3:00. signing stuff i can't discuss. >> okay, you know when people send out save the date cards so you can remember to go to the wedding. >> i appreciate it. do you? >> i always appreciate it. i also appreciate this one. this one is taken the save the date to a new level. all right. now, this one came in the form of a video, a very elaborate video. a guy named bambo abora and janice. watch their save the date video. ♪ >> looks like a -- an ad, a commercial ad for mercedes or something, doesn't it, so far? >> mm-hmm. >> yes, kath, it does. hoda, i'm talking to you. >> okay. i'm riveted. >> okay. you're invited. >> boss wedding, san francisco. >> whoa. >> wow. >> i just he

you must try. >> hoda, don't do it. >> we're launching this, duct tape mix.com.hat you think. >> this is ice cream. >> no, it's not. >> cake in a jar, doesn't need to be refrigerated. do you want some? >> everybody wave. >> bye. >> birthday cake. >> drop a dress size by memorial day. >> isn't that amazing? >>> welcome back to more of "today" on this tuesday. and our special series "love your selfie," according to our "today" aol body image survey, 67% of adult women say they worry about their appearance regularly. more than money, health, relationships and professional success. >> wow. actress sutton foster is here encouraging all women to embrace who they are. very exciting day here, because the two-time tony winner wowed critics and fans with glamorous role like reno sweeney in the revival of "anything goes". >> now she steps back from the glam to star in "violet" on broadway, a role for which she just landed her sixth tony nomination. >> wow. >> 1964, about a woman whose face is scarred from a childhood accident and dreams of being beautiful. ♪ when you see a

hoda says she's going to behave herself now.ite pair when it comes to relationship advice are here with all their opinions. >> "today" contributing love strategist matthew hussey and "elle" advice columnist e. jean carroll ready to answer all your questions. stacy says, asked this question, my husband and i are going through a really hard time. when he sees me looking frazzled, he'll ask me what's wrong, but when i try talking about it, i'll always end up in a huge fight and i'm wanting drama. on the other hand, if i don't say anything or tell him nothing is wrong, it will end up in a huge fight because i shut him out. what am i supposed to do? >> tough one. the thing about this is every guy wants to feel significant in the way he's able to deal with the problem. so if she starts communicating in a way where it is, like, you're more for me to chew on, another person in the day i'm going to vent to, it won't work. if she came home and said, he said to her, honey, what's wrong? and she says, it is nothing, it made me miss you so m

anyway, try it. >> all right, mine is obviously and always much deeper than hoda's. a book called "parenting the whole hearted child." if you want to raise a child and hopefully the results will be pretty darn good, this is by jeanne kunian, from amazon.com, i was blown away by this. i wish i had this book, i wish i had written this book, but it is excellent. it talks about harnessing all the joy in a child and keeping it there, as you're also raising them. okay? >> sounds like a great book. >> it is terrific. >> stayed way up after midnight to be with us, vanessa williams is here. >> didn't come with an entourage himself, the emmy and golden globe winning jeremy piven is here. >> looking good. >>> he won three emmys and golden globe for his portrayal of the hot tempered hollywood power agent from the show "entourage," but his latest character is as far from ari gold as it gets. >> jeremy plays harry selfridge, that has a management style that sometimes surprises. take a look. >> i understand it is your birthday today. >> indeed it is. >> you must be very proud. you'

and it is true that hoda and i are both having twins. so don't believe it when our spokespeople deny it. >> or we start looking bloated. that's what it is. we have a great show today. we have charlie daniels. >> love him. >> just downstairs. >> love him. >> sizzles. >> a guest on my podcast a couple of weeks ago and i love this man. i've known him forever. he was on some of bob dylan's original nashville recordings. he has a brand new cd all acoustical, all ten songs, which is fantastic. >> we have our guys tell all panel. we have t.d. jakes' daughter here, sarah. >> beautiful. >> has a fascinating story to tell of being lost and then being found, yeah. we'll talk to her in a little bit. hey! >> okay. >> so just when we taught tori spelling was getting her life together, and happy with her husband and how many children does she have now? eight? >> they announced they were breaking up. that's a terrible and sad thing. not only are they -- they made that announcement, they made another announcement, they're going to do a docuseries about t

and hoda kotb, live from studio >>> from nbc news, this is "today" with kathie lee gifford and hoda kotb, live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >> gorgeous. >> it is a beautiful day. i can't even believe i'm actually saying the words. >> say it again. >> it is a beautiful thirsty thursday, april 10th, here in new york. we have waited, it seems like, ages. >> and to mark this day -- >> grateful for it. it only seems right that goldie hawn would arrive. >> a ray of sunshine. >> goldie is here to talk about one of her education programs and her life. she is joy personified. she walks in the room, you're happy. she's going to join us. okay. >> good. >> somebody made a mistake and it was not us. >> or did they? that's the news coming from nbc news today is that somebody made a mistake. don't know if it is on purpose because it gets more life out of the controversy. >> you guys saw the cover of "rolling stone," you remember what you saw, we talked about it yesterday. julie louis-dreyfus is wearing the words of the constitution. and at the bottom there is a signature and it is john hancock.

what more do we know hoda?> reporter: actually the self proclaimed mayor of slaviansk has confirmed that his people were holding these -- this delegation of the usce, it was a team that was here to do military a very -- verification. there was a deal by which when the team arrived around the first check point, it should have called in and coordinated for the entrance into the town. the mayor said that that did not happen. he also said in the same bus where the eight members of this team was, there were five ukrainians and among them one who worked for the ukrainian chief of staff. the self proclaimed mayor describes him as a spy from what also we understand this military verification team was under the commanding the german ministry of defense. it issued a statement confirming that among the team were three german nationals and the other six were from various nationalities. >> reporter: the skies above the town, the ukrainiian government says a helicopter exploded just as it was taking off, the pilot survived.

hoda is losing it. we're all wearing blue to support autism awareness day. >> we have breaking news on our program. it's going to be heartbreaking for a lot of people out there especially in the washington, metropolitan area. the meat market. >> yes. another wedding on our today family. willard scott and his longtime partner paris tied the knot. isn't that lovely? >> they dated 11 years. married in fort myers. when asked what honeymoon plans are, she says our whole life has been a honeymoon. >> he spoke about his wife that died in 2002. he loved her. it's so terrific when you've had a great love in your life and at 80 years old you announce it again. >> first time i was ever on television it was with willard scott. i was nine years old in washington d.c. >> remember when you came up to him recently in the makeup room? >> it's not a good time to tell that story. people think we're feuding about yesterday. >> i finally said something after six years. >> and sent my mother to the hospital. >> i went after

>>> from nbc news, this is "today" with kathie lee gifford and hoda kotb, live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >> hello, everybody. it is thirsty thursday, april 17th. we've got a terrific show today. if the music would just -- >> no, we like it. >> the emmy and tony winning actress tyne daley is with us today. she's in a new broadway show. and actress chloe grace moretz making her off broadway debut. >> quite the little starlet too. big congratulations. today is a big day. it's my mom's birthday. so can we say happy birthday to sami -- ♪ happy birthday >> that's a throwback. look at her hair. we decided to do a throwback picture. and in addition, that's where i got the hair. in addition, it is also alana's birthday. that's tammy, our executive producer's baby girl. >> happy birthday to everybody. >> so we have big news in the tori spelling world. >> yes. i haven't seen what we're about to see. >> tori and her husband, you guys know that they have -- they were separated for a bit, and now they're trying to repair the relationship, and they're doing it on a reality show, and it's called

hoda abdel-hamid joins me from donetsk. it's complicated, this story, hoda. it is becoming very complicated, and the major is feeling emboldened and empowered by it. he declared the o.s.c.e. team was considered as prisoners of war, even though it wasn't clear whether he decided that europe was an enemy. he said they were not allowed in his territory, and accused them of being spies to give information to the enemies of his up to. now, there is a lot of pressure on him from all sides. we understand from the o.s.c.e. that they have been talking to all sides. they have put its weight on it. sergei lavrov clearly said that he will do whatever he can, but this happened because of the anti-terror operation that was launched against the town of slovyansk, and never kicked off. it is a very complicated situation at this stage. from what we understand, the mayor is under pressure to release at least o.s.c.e. delegation, at least the foreigners, three of them are germans, there's a daip, a pol -- dane, a pol, a czech. yes, that's the nationalities, i'm sorry, there. wi

hoda stop it!egs. >> that shows when you have to be strong, you are. >> i'm sorry, but no one is funnier than hoda laughing so i'm going to try a friday funny. >> i don't want -- i love dogs. i deposit thinkidn't think that was funny. at funerals, sometimes i get weird. it just happens. >> i wouldn't want to read your e-mails after this. early one morning a mother went into wake up her son. wake up time to go to school son turned over in bed and whind, but why, i don't want to go. the mom replied, give me two reasons why you don't want to go. the son said well the kids hate me for one and the teachers hate me too. that's no reason not to go to school said the mom. come on now and get ready. she tried to pull him out of bed. frustrated, the son quickly sat up in bed and yelled, give me two reasons why i should go to school? the mom thought about it a second and said well for one, you're 52 years old. and for another, you're the principal. >> oh, good. >> i reich thatlike that one. >> that was good.

bye. >> hoda, are you sure you don't want it?s like a row dent. rodent. >> there you go. >> isn't that amazing? yes. he's only nine weeks old. he will get anywhere from 20, 35 pounds. they get pretty large. >> i can't believe this. don't you love to watch any little animal having a ba-ba? >> he's one of the only animals that's monogamous. they're monogamous. they stay in life partners. humans are not monogamous. >> oh, my gosh. get in there. come on. hey. >> you're putting it up his nose. he doesn't like it. we're going to bring out the last one. >> kathie lee. because we just had a rodent on, he might bite. that's why we're -- thanks, guys, for leaving. >> yes. thank you all very much. >> this is an albino burmese python. i would let you guys touch it, but like i said, we just had a rodent. found in the forests of southeast asia. isn't that cool? >> i've seen a lot of them but not that color. >> that's an albino? >> it's an albino. a lot of people don't realize they are born out in the wild. a bird of prey, raptor, picks them up

hoda abdel-hamid, a similar situation there as well. what are the activists demanding? >> well, they are actually demanding, first of all, that the words of the acting president, the promise of an amnesty turns into an official decree or, indeed, a bill voted by the parliament in kiev. they say at that stage they would really believe that promise, and they would feel safe to go home. after that, what they want is a referendum, and they point out over and over again that they don't want to separate from ukraine. they want a federal system, a system in which they could deal with their own regional issues as they please. they are scared of the idea of ukraine coming closer to the e.u. and western general. some of the e.u. regulations could bring out the life of the city, which is basically centered around the mining industry. that is what they want at the moment. we asked them about the deadline. they said they weren't worried too much because negotiations are ongoing directly with the government. they wouldn't tell us who, but they have been talking. in about an hour or s

what do you think, hoda? >> we're not quite sure.was at home with his mother, wandered out of the house and wound up in a bear claw deal at the arcade at the local bowling alley in nebraska. >> that happens every day. >> all right. so the cops were called. so we do know that there was a child in the bear claw machine. apparently this little boy must have loved this machine, left his mom home while she says she was in the bathroom, walked to the bowling alley, climbed in the bear claw machine. by the way, those bear claw things are so addictive. you can see -- crummy prizes. >> crummy stuff, but you want it because you're watching it hanging on. >> so close. >> imagine a kid watching that happen. >> so he climbed up through the mechanism somehow to get into it. >> weird. >> he was freed from the claw machine without injury, and the police say the mother will not be cited for neglect. okay. >> i don't know. i want to know the whole story. maybe it's true. >> you know what? any parent who has lost your child for, like, five seconds or 1

hoda abdel-hamid reports on the build-up. >> it was a day after they vowed to leave ukraine in mid march. any russian troops that crossed into ukraine. >> i don't think anybody is going to come, but looking at the big picture, if that kind of situation comes about, we'll be the first to meet them. we're ready to fulfill all duties before us. >> russia already has tens of thousands of troops stationed across the fields that separate the two countries. there was troop movement not far from here. moscow said that they were military exercises, and still the ukrainians have not taken any chances. they have been digging troops. the armed protesters took control of the towns in the east of the country. there's nothing they can do except monitor their movements from the sky. the sound of hospitals rumble above the borders. he lives in one of those villages. she feels at home in both russia and ukraine, and she has been concerned didabout the military. >> my concern is in russia, my two children, if something is to happen, i don't know how i'll see them. on the way to college, i see tanks, is it

let's go to donetsks and join hoda abdel hamid.does seem things are escalating in lahansk. >> certainly. and this comes just a say after they announced a system similar to the people's republic. i have to tell you that building is quite a big building, but as you said, they -- it was fairly easy. police didn't take a stand at all, and it comes in a day where the eu just issued its list of sanctions, and some of the people on that list are separatist leaders here. so it raises the question these sanctions where are they going to go, and what impact will they have here on the ground? people asked us, they said, okay. we're hearing about sanctions and steps taken by the international community, but what is it going to change here? prices are deepening by the day. yesterday another building was taken in another town and problem tomorrow there will be another building taken somewhere else. >> thank you very much for that update hoda. >>> a deadline for peace talks between israel and the palestinians has passed with no break through in s

>>> from nbc news, this is "today" with kathie lee gifford and hoda kotb, live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >> hello, everybody. welcome to booze day tuesday, april 22nd, 2014. happy earth day. >> oh, yes. >> we are recycling today with danny seo. should be interesting. >> we're going to help you drop a dress size by memorial day. we're all trying to do that. >> yeah. i don't ever want to do anything madelyn says to do. and 31 days to become a happy wife. you can still take the test on klgandhoda.com. and press the connect button. >> you have about 15 minutes. >> this person is a happy wife. >> in knoxville, tennessee, something funny happened on our nbc affiliate. we love everybody in knoxville. wbir. they got a surprise. they brought some rabbits on the set. it was easter. rabbits do what rabbits do, don't they? >> they can be up here but -- you've got to stop that. let's go to the -- >> we will announce the third rabbit's name in nine months. >> it is a weird -- bambino likes that position too. i got to be honest. but -- i love it, the animal on the receiving end never seems to ca

. >> hoda is live for us in donetsk.ng us up to speed with reports that some of the [ inaudible ] there may be run into trouble, hue -- hoda. >> reporter: well, we do know that eight people from the osc have disappeared according to the minister of the interior. they are part of the military investigation team. they have different branches here on the ground. one is for election monitoring and one is for mediation, but the ones who disappeared are from the military investigation team. we did speak to the self proclaimed mayor's office in slaviansk. so far they say they don't nothing know anything about it. we don't know if that a true or not, but it does appear these people have disappeared. >>> u.s. president barack obama is warning north korea to not carry out nuclear weapon testing. harry fawcett reports. >> reporter: president obama landed in the country still gripped by grief. it is just nine days since the ferry capsized. more than 300 people are dead or missing, most of them children. the u.s. president suggests a

. >> on the phone outside of slovyansk is hoda abdel-hamid. our correspondent. the second deadline has come and gone. have you seen any signs of a military operation about to be launched? >> absolutely nun. yesterday on the road we saw a limited military present, military hardware moving along the road, today there's none of that whatsoever. earlier i had gone to the barricade in the center of luhansk, in front of the security building that has been taken over by protesters more than a week ago. they said overnight they were wary that something would happen. they said that they didn't think that actually ukraine reporters would want to participate in such a raid or attack g. what they were fearing more than anything else is that there would be some sort of provocation that would have them or would show that they are the ones who started a fight, and then if that is so the ukrainian forces would step in. they are thinking certainly of more security measures than those coming in and out the barricade is being checked. that is the thing that may be happening at thi

. >> hoda in slovyansk, thank you. >>> of course, as hoda was mentioning, protests are spreading acrosstern ukraine. tamatorsk is another city where pro-russian gunmen have taken over government offices. the latest developments there >> reporter: tensions are spilling over in eastern ukraine in the city of slovyansk, ukrainian authorities say they have launched an anti-terrorism operation. the military they claim at least for a short time moved in. there were reports of dead and wounded. this video which can't be independently verified appears to show a man taking cover after being shot on the outskirts of the city. near bookyby a man sits lifeless. in the city center, pro-russian activists remain in control of the city's police station. ukrainian forces on sunday tried to retake the building but retreated, reported because of a risk to the public. >> we are the residents of slovyansk, the national guard is coming here, has already been a shoot-out this morning. we have nothing to hide. here is my face. i want to ask comrade putin, you promised to protect us. please come here and protec

we talked about the momentum hoda abdel-hamid, that the government have. what are they doing and what can they do? >> that's what they are discusses at a cabinet meeting. we heard from the interior minister who said within 48 hours, this situation in the east will be solved either by peace or by nurse. he went further by saying both options are on the table. both are a challenge for the government here. if we look up over the past days. they have sent many invoice to the east to quell the situation. there has been some success in carr kif, and that's probably because the interior minister is from there. and he managed to have the demonstrators evacuate that government building that has seized. but in the rest of theees the situation is at a standoff. if we look at the military option from the outside, it seems that the government is showing that it's prepared. people have been drafted. it's showing that forces are prepared. if anything happens, but really, as you said earlier, russian forces are on the other side of the borders, inside russia. according to

people living here, now it's a fortified barrier, a symbol of a growing divide. >> we can go live to hodabdel-hamid, who is now in donetsk. so you have been off to the border region as your report showed us. it seems as though the tensions are building there, reflecting the strength of language that is now being volleyed back and forth between moscow and washington. >> absolutely. when we were there, there were prorps of russian -- reports of russian troops and convoys. you could feel the tension among the border guards, the ukrainian paratroopers who had been deployed to that area. i have to say, when you see the amount of troops that the russians have on the other side of the borders, and the pictures of long convoys, you do wonder what could the ukrainians do, and how long would they withstand, if, indeed, the russians cross that border. you know, a little down the road, leading to the official crossing there are several checkpoints by the pro-russian sprautists. so -- separatists, they are isolated there. i don't know how the ukrainian government could send reinforcements on the road,

our open egyptian sun goddess hoda is focused in this beautiful picture.ay. >> hoda has the most beautiful feet you have ever seen in your life. i was pleased to rub them for you. >> by the way, i have to tell you, if it took me getting in that magazine to get a foot rub, i'll do it again. thank you for that. >> they did something fun. they took people -- if you're beautiful, you tend to remain beautiful as we age. so people.com teamed up with the most beautiful stars from the past years with their younger selves to show that real beauty never ages. >> take a look at our favorites. michelle pfeiffer this is her with her younger self photoshopped next to her. >> she is truly better. >> that's better, thanks. look at kate hudson. this is hysterical. ready for kate hudson. there we go. >> oh, my gosh. >> that doesn't look like her at all. >> it's cute though. >> julia roberts, her younger self. i remember that, yeah. >> leonardo dicaprio is just priceless. look at that. >> so it looks like he's there with his son or something. >> very cute. >> something that

hoda abdel-hamid is live in donetsk. given that the separatist refuse to recognise the 4-way agreement between russia, ukraine, u.s. and the e.u., what options does the mediator have to convince them? >> these are tough negotiations. the people we spoke to, the pro-russian activists in some of these buildings said that they were surprised at the outcome of geneva, especially that russia had joined in the call for them to arm and evacuated the buildings. they say they'll listen to their commanders, and so far they have told them to stay put, and they say, well you know, we have demands and none have been concretely met at this point. negotiators are going around the region, we have negotiators from kiev, we have the team from the organisation for security in europe. but there's no real concrete outcome of all that. there won't be until the government in kiev turns into legislation all their promises. they talk about anamnesty law, decriminalization. they were promises. there's no law. setting a date for the referendum on

the region is divided as we see from hoda abdel-hamid's report from donetsk. >> they are uniformed and well equipped. they were at the forefront of a building seizure in kramatorsk, and the taking of an airfield in slovyansk. it prompted the mayor of the town to draw parallels with the take over of crimea by russia. she said. >> translation: the city is besieged by them at the moment. the men in green are there. they don't hide they are from crimea and russia. >> moscow denied involvement on the ground in eastern ukraine. these men don't hide their allegian allegiance. that has people questioning their movements. >> i'm scared of the crimean scenario being repeated. i saw the military cars without numbers on it, and from it people in uniform with guns. they have weapons, they can use it to injure the people not just us. >> the protesters say they are demanding their rights as ethnic russians. >> the protesters inside the building deny russian involvement as of yet. they say they were promised military backup if they came under attack. ask anyone here, and they'll tell you if the russia

argues hoda abdel hamid reports. >> the care cations are up.ussian protest who seized the building are holding ground. >> i am nervous about the future. >> igor, an it specialist when he is not protesting, has been here for neil a week and has no intention to leave any more soon. >> if they get the right sector and acting president turchnov out, the right sector in power, making laws and they say they want our heads. >> the protesters have settled inside the building and are preparing for the long haul. there is no shortage of food and medical supplies here donated by sympathizers who see their cause as a just one. they are fully supported by their mothers and wives who turned the police station into a little community of its own. pro-russian supporters have counted on the backing of moscow. they worked hard to keep the momentum in the region where not everyone agrees with them. the picture is not very clear now. it's all uncertain. we are now only counting on forces and strength. let's see if they get out of of our buildings in kiev first. we

, first of all, any signs hoda -- there you go.d you have with us. any signs that this military operation has started? >> i'm afraid there is no sign on the ground whether it's here in donetsk or in places like slaviansk or kramatorsk. we just heard it will be relaunched, but i think there was a botched attempt last week and it resulted in the pro-russian protesters seizing six armored vehicles from the ukrainian paratroopers, so there is some difficulties there. the government says it is mainly going to focus on slaviansk and kramatorsk because there is lawlessness there. in other place like here in donetsk where there are a lot of civilians around the buildings, supporters inside, and there are no signs of weapons on the streets, the government is still favoring negotiations. yesterday we had the presidential candidate who was here. she tried to speak to the protesters, but they didn't want to. from what we're hearing and it's not confirmed report, she wrote a letter to be handed over, but they said they haven't received the let

shortly we'll hear from hoda abdel-hamid, in donetsk. first jacky rowland reports. >> local people call it the easter massacre. what took place at this makeshift checkpoint in the early hours of sunday is unclear. villages say unknown attackers drove up and opened fire an activists manning the barricade. >> they came in jeeps, lit up the barricade and started shooting. my neighbour got a bullet between the eyes. others came to help us. if they hadn't come, the attackers would have slaughtered everyone like chickens. the interior ministry said three pro-rush job activists were -- pro-russian activists were killed. the attackers took the dead and wounded with them. there are a lot of unanswered questions here. for a start, where did the two cars come from. if there was a shoot-out between the men at the checkpoint and the vehicles, how come there are bullet holes in the back of the second car, and how did the two vehicles end up burnt out. forensic experts are trying to answer some questions, but with the cars torched the evidence is limit

hoda has more. >> reporter: yeah, just about 20 minutes ago, we saw some ukrainian paratroopers, wearingforms, and looked like proper soldiers, coming out of the city council building. now that's where the armored personnel carriers have been positioned since this morning. they came out of that building -- or they went towards two buses and sat inside the buses and prevented them from [ inaudible ] which is a complete -- completely opposition to what we have been allowed and the access we have been given to this pro-russian defense unit. these were ukrainian paratroopers. [ inaudible ] and we were told that they were going home now. some of the people here refer to them as hostages, but i have to underlie that kiev has been saying that [ inaudible ] pro-russian protesters in this area. there are also a lot of people cheering these soldiers as they were leaving. go home, go home, leave our land. this is the situation. it's really not clear where these ukrainian paratroopers came from, or were they the men that had been deployed from kiev [ inaudible ]. >> hoda thank you very much for that

. >> let's go live to hoda abdel-hamid, in the eastern ukrainian city. the pro-russian groups in eastern ukraine seem emboldened. they are occupying government buildings. and show no signs of backing down. >> they have no intentions to back down until all demands are met. on top of the list is demands for a federal system, and that the russian language become the second official language of ukraine. they are emboldened. when you look at the map and see the cities where they seize buildings, it has not been done haphazardly, it's almost in a straight line from donetsk, and they went further east, they have control of the main security building. and as you mentioned earlier, now they have a presence in an area where there's an important port. actually, i asked why there, and they wanted to make sure that the ukrainian forces can not bring anything in to this area from the sea. here in slovyansk, there's a railway station. in kramatorsk, about 20 minutes drive from here, there's an airfield. so they have a plan, and they - it's likely when you ask them, wil

hoda abdel-hamid joins us from donetsk. moscow clearly fewerious over the attacks that have taken place near slovyansk. do you know more about what happened? >> well there are very conflicting reports here. one thing we know is that there was a shoot-out at a check point, on a dirt road, on the outskirts of the town of slovyansk, leading towards a village in that area. now, according to kiev and moscow, the story differs. moscow says that it suspects that it is some elements of the right sector, which is the ultra national group in ukraine that had a big role in the process in kiev, and certainly in rappelling the attack by -- rappelling the attack by security forces. the ministry of defense in kiev, in his statement said that there was a shoot-out, and confirm one death, not three or four like the reports that came out of the moscow, but hinted that it could have been a fight between different pro-russian groups on the ground, or maybe even some criminal gangs, or some sort of local score settling. that's the point at this

but jackie is a big fan of our show, she made a kathie lee and hoda themed derby hat.he name of her hat, run for the roset. >> she's standing by, by skype. congratulations. >> good morning. thank you! >> how does the hat work, jackie? show us. >> okay. >> can you hear it? >> oh, my gosh. >> it doesn't look like it is too comfortable. you have a miniature version? oh, my gosh. >> oh, my gosh, she's running. >> run for the roset. you're genius. here is what your trip includes, you get tickets to the kentucky derby events, all furnished by churchill downs incorporated. >> you're going to have an unbelievable time. >> thank you so much. >> thank you, jackie. >> catch all the excitement on the 140th kentucky derby on saturday, may 3rd, at 4:00 p.m. eastern time here on nbc. >> we'll be back after this. ♪ ♪ ♪ if you're going to bring the artichoke dip, bring the friggin' artichoke dip. the one-of-a-kind, creamy blend of sweet and tangy. miracle whip and proud of it. marge: you know, there's a more enjoyable way to get your fiber. try phillips fiber good gummies. they're deli

we can talk to hoda abdel-hamid in donetsk, which is not far from slovyansk. we are hearing that the team of negotiators that have just come in, could be getting there and will be granted an audience with those holding the international monitors. >> i didn't hear all the question, but i can say that the team should be arriving any minute and will be meeting with the self-proclaimed mayor, who says actually that the situation could be solved very quickly. it is a situation that embarrassed and put pressure on the >> now the south korean prime minister resigned over the government's handling over the ferry disaster. 187 have been confirmed dead after the ferry capsized and sank. more than 100 people are unaccounted for. ... on behalf of the government i apologise for many problems, from the pretches to the early plans of the disaster. he was in charge. rescue effort. he was in the firing line. literally at one point parties of missing children threw a water bottle and scuffled with him. again, when they stopped the car leaving the island of jindo. relatives were