Announcer from nbc news World Headquarters in new york, this is nbc nightly news with brian williams. Good evening. It was two years and one day ago we were trying to process, along with everyone else, the horror we had just witnessed at a school in newtown, connecticut. The world was watching back then as they are again tonight. A school in pakistan was attacked today by the taliban. A suicide squad. And when it was over upwards of 145 people were dead, virtually all of them children. And so today, halfway around the world, parents were yet again looking for childrens names on a list. We get our report tonight from our chief Foreign Correspondent richard engel. Reporter this was a wellplanned massacre, a bloody eighthour rampage executed without mercy. As the wounded arrived at a nearby hospital, they describe the horror. Translator we locked our classroom door from the inside, says amir, but three attackers shot their way in and then shot at us. Shah was hiding under a desk and watched in horror as his teacher was killed. She tried to stand up to the gunman. They shot our teacher, he says, then burned their body. This reporter was at the scene of todays massacre. The assailants look advantage of the broken barbed wire, infiltrated the school, then went on to kill over 130 students. Reporter survivors say there were at least seven militants. Once inside, they entered an auditorium packed with high schoolaged students. One detonated a suicide belt. The others opened fire indiscriminately then fanned out through the classrooms, firing as they went. Pakistani commandos arrived within an hour, but the militants had boobytrapped the school compound. Parents, some army officers, some civilians gathered outside the hospital desperate for news. Many of the kids in this school are the children of the soldiers who are fighting on the frontlines of pakistans war on terror. Reporter this summer the Pakistani Army launched a major offensive into the talibans border area stronghold, flattening villages, confiscating weapons. Todays attack was the talibans revenge. It drew condemnation from around the world including from pakistans own Nobel Laureate malala yousafzai, shot by the taliban for daring to go to school. I call on all Political Parties and everyone that we should stand up together and fight against terrorism. Reporter tonight it seems pakistanis may be ready to come together and demand that their government take on those who dare to massacre so many innocent children. This was an absolute atrocity. More than 130 dead children. But brian, it could have been even worse. The attackers brought with them lots of ammunition, gasoline, food. They planned to stay inside this compound for as long as they could and keep on killing. Just such a tragedy from overseas. Richard engel starting us off here tonight, ripped, thanks. The electronic attack on Sony Pictures took a potentially violent turn late today thats being described in terms of terrorism. The group that has infiltrated the companys computers today made a threat of a 9 11 type attack on movie theaters that choose to show the new movie from sony, a comedy that depicts the assassination of north Korean Leader kim jong un. No one is laughing at this. And tonight the u. S. Department of Homeland Security was compelled to say theyre aware of the threat but unaware of any credible intelligence to indicate an active plot against movie theaters. Nbcs joe fryer has the latest from los angeles. Reporter the hackers started releasing their socalled Christmas Gift today, another huge batch of data stolen from Sony Pictures. A threat to movie theaters that show the upcoming sony film the interview. The message says, the world will be full of fear. Remember the 11th of september 2001. The goal is very clear. They want this movie pulled and not released. Reporter its a comedy about a plot to assassinate north Korean Leader kim jong un. Its due out on christmas. Department of Homeland Security official says theyre aware of the threat, but at this time there is no credible intelligence to indicate an active plot against movie theaters within the united states. We take those threats very seriously, and we will take extra precautions during the holidays at theaters. Reporter still, the movie star seth rogen and james franco have canceled all media appearances including one tomorrow night on the tonight show with jimmy fallon. Federal investigators say theyre closing in on the source of the attack including the part of the world where it came from. The north korean government has denied any role in the hack. Also today the first hackrelated lawsuit was filed against sony. A class action suit by former employees. The hackers stole thousands of Social Security numbers, data about salaries, medical information and more from former and current employees. Its almost like sony had a safe deposit box with all its employees information and left it open for anyone to access. Reporter sony declined to comment today on the lawsuit and the hackers latest threat. Joe fryer, nbc news, los angeles. The manhunt that had suburban philadelphia on edge is over tonight. The suspect, bradley stone, former marine suspected of killing his exwife and five members of her family. He was found dead in the woods near his home. Its believed he took his own life. According to investigators, he was locked in an ugly custody battle with his exwife. The people of australia awoke this morning to a changed nagts, the day after two innocents were killed in an agonizingly drawnout hostage standoff. Tonight were learning more about the victims and getting an incredible Vantage Point on the crisis as it unfolded. Our own Hallie Jackson is in sydney for us. Good evening. Reporter brian, martin place is one of sydneys most popular meeting spots. Perhaps its no surprise this is where people have gathered over the last 48 hours filling this plaza with bouquets and cards. Australians showed solidarity and support for the hostage victims. The sea of flowers in downtown sydney grows every hour. Just a block from the cafe where the 16our siege ended early tuesday, many australians watching it live. The lindt cafe is so close to the newsroom of channel 7, one of australias biggest broadcasters, that the network set up cameras against the windows and Police Watched as the hostage crisis unfolded. One sniper watched and waited for hours along with cameraman greg parker who captured unforgettable images of terrified hostages standing at the window at gunpoint. It was genuinely horrible. In 20 years, rare to come across up footage. Reporter they even picked up the words. The hostage down was tori johnson, the cafe manager, killed as he reportedly tried to wrestle the weapon from a dozing gunman. It doesnt surprise me. He was never going to leave. He never would have left. Reporter Katrina Dawson also died, a lawyer said to have shielded her pregnant friend from the gunfire. The reporter learned of her debt on the air. Katrina dawson who i know and shes the mother of three children. Reporter the gunman, Man Haron Monis was killed as police stormed the cafe. The selfdescribed cleric with a criminal history was not on a terror watch list. The individual concerned is obviously, was obviously a deeply disturbed person. Reporter but many here are choosing instead to focus on the victims. These heroes were willing to lay down their lives so others might live. Reporter remembering their strength and sacrifice. People downtown here have noticed much more of a visible police presence. That will continue through at lease the end of the year, not necessarily because of any specific threat but to give people a sense of safety after the siege. Harks Allie Jackson in front of that incredibly sad scene. As we turn to politics in this country, remember this. Americans aged 26 or younger have only known a republican president named bush in their lifetime. This was in the news today because jeb bush, son of 41, brother of 43, said today he is exploring the possibility of becoming 45. Running for president in keeping with whats become the family business. Our political director moderator of meet the press chuck todd is at the white house tonight. How does it help jeb bush by getting on the board early and does it scare anyone off . He has to get out early because many people like myself and others never believed he was serious about running. Now everybody believes hes serious about running, number one. Number two, there are a lot of skeptical conservatives, the activist base of the Republican Party is more conservative than jeb bush is or his brother or his father. And hes got to work hard to win over those conservatives. Thats another reason to start early. Finally, it puts pressure on the socalled establishment frontrunners, Chris Christie in new jersey, mitt romney, jeb bush getting in now makes their candidacies longer shots today. Chuck todd on the north lawn of the white house tonight. Thanks. Now to geopolitics. As weve been reporting the price of gas continues to get dramatically cheaper across this country. In some places now below 2 a gallon. Great for those of us who drive. It also happens to be very bad news for vladimir putin. As the falling price of oil sends russia spiraling into an economic crisis possibly that could have a Ripple Effect around the world. We get our report tonight from nbcs tom costello. Reporter on the streets of moscow, the economic crisis is worsening by the hour with the russian currency in freefall. The ruble has now lost 50 of its value so far this year with the price of oil also in free fall going from 115 a barrel to 60 just since june. The problem for russia nearly half its revenues come from oil and gas. And moscow is still facing crippling sanctions over its actions in crimea and ukraine. It will be up to president putin to decide whether or not these economic costs are worth it to him and are worth it to the russian people. Reporter today the Russian Foreign minister was defiant. I can assure you that russia will not only survive but will come out stronger out of this. Reporter but the International Banking community is losing confidence in russia. This crisis is really hurting the average russian. When they go to the store and all the food that they buy that is imported, its going to be a lot more expensive. Reporter while the drop in Oil Prices May mean sky high inflation in russia, its been a boon for americans. More than half the country is now paying less than 2. 50 a gallon. Gasbuddy. Com national map shows who is paying the most, in red, and who is paying the least, in green. In some cities now under 2. 00 a gallon. 1. 86 in baton rouge. Why are Oil Prices Dropping . Analysts say saudi arabia is flooding the market with oil to drive competitors like the u. S. Out. Tom costello, nbc news, washington. Still ahead for us on a tuesday evening, a new approach to preventing alzheimers. How doctors are training 30 and 40yearolds to fight back against this awful disease decades before the symptoms begin to appear. Also tonight, the heartwarming and hilarious moments that millions of americans are sharing that have been judged the years best. And tkind of like you huffing sometimes, grandpa. Well, when you have copd, it can be hard to breathe. 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Unlike creams and rubs that mask the pain, thermacare has patented heat cells that penetrate deep to increase circulation and accelerate healing. Lets review heat, plus relief, plus healing, equals thermacare. The proof that it heals is you. Cases of alzheimers continue to grow in this country. More than 5 million americans are living with it and were told that numbers expected to triple by 2050. With no effective treatment yet, prevention is the new frontier. And the key to it may come much earlier in life than previously thought. Our report tonight from our chief medical editor dr. Nancy snyderman. Reporter 32yearold musician and filmmaker max lugavere does not look like someone worried about alzheimers, but he is. What did you see in your mom that consumed you . My mother who is 62 three years ago started having symptoms of memory loss and cognitive difficulty. So i became obsessed with this idea of taking steps in my own life that could potentially ensure that ill never have anything like dementia. Reporter in hopes of warding awe the disease by intervening at a young age what kind of memories is this testing for . Reporter hes participating in a unique study at presbyterian wile cornell medical center. Clinic director dr. Richard isaacson who has alzheimers in his own family designs personalized programs for younger people like max who may be at risk. Your brain is processing really well. I try to use a persons jeanetgenetic background to hel refine or fine tune. Reporter while a young and seemingly healthy, maxs blood tells another story. He has a genetic variation and an amino acid associated with an increased rick for dementia. Blueberries. Reporter to reduce those levels, hes changing his diet and lifestyle. Playing music may also reduce the risk of dementia. Lifetime musical experience as well as midlife onward musical experience can absolutely its been proven to delay cognitive decline. Reporter he believes delaying cognitive decline could be the first step in wards off alzheimers disease. We have to empower young people and people of all ages to make brainhealthier choices. Reporter this is so important because the brain changes leading to alzheimers can start as early as 20 years before symptoms show up. This is the new frontier, brian. Thinking about that guitar i have in the corner. Nancy snyderman, well take the good news. Thank you very much. It is good news, you bet. Well be back in a moment with the newest additions to the list of the all time. Big changes coming soon at the drivethrough perhaps. Sheila you see this ball control . You see this right . Its 80 confidence and 64 knee brace. Thats more. Shh. I know thats more than 100 . But thats what winners give. Now bicycle kick your old 401 k into an ira. I know, i know. 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A lot of numbers making news tonight, starting with our new nbc news wall street journal poll. 51 of americans believe the Interrogation Practices detailed in that socalled torture report were acceptable. 28 say they went too far. And further, 45 say they should be used in the future. Heres another number. 98. 6. We equate that with normal, but in this context its high. Aaa expecting 98. 6 million of us to be on the road over christmas traveling 50 miles or more. That would be a record. And the top google searches of 2014 are out. Number one was the late robin williams. Followed by world cup, ebola, Malaysia Airlines and the ice bucket challenge. In ukraine, for example, the most googled recipe was how to make a molotov cocktail. The complete list on our website. Norman brigwell has died. Y was the creator of clifford the big red dog. His idea was initially rejected by 15 publishers. Now there are 129 million copies of clifford books in print say nothing of the tv show and the toys. Clifford was based on his wifes childhood imaginary friend. Norman brigwell was 86 years old. This years rock and roll hall of fame inductees, joan jett, ringo starr, bill withers, stevie ray vaughan. You can just hear it from mcdonalds fans. Say it aint so. The chain is experimenting with some menu changes at certain restaurants in six different states. With sales down almost 5 . Theyre trying to keep up with the times and market tastes. So theyre trying out fe