Ayman mohyeldin is on assignment. Vladimir putin is heading to japan where he will hold a press conference with the countrys minister. We get reporting that putin was personally involved in his countrys Covert Campaign to interfere in the u. S. President ial election. This morning, we also learned new details about what officials believe motivated the blot. Senior investigative correspondent Cynthia Mcfadden has the report. Nbc news is report that Vladimir Putin was personally involved in the russian attempt to disrupt the u. S. Election. Two Senior Intelligence officials with direct access to all the information tell nbc news, the new intelligence is derived from diplomatic sources and others, including spies working for americas allies. Specifically, a high level intelligence official tells nbc news, putins role was directing the use of the hacked material. Putins objectives were multifaceted. What began as a vendetta against Hillary Clinton morphed into showing corruption in american politics and creating the image that other countries couldnt depend on the u. S. To be a Global Leader anymore. He has had a den veta against kwik kwik. Thats been knoeng for a long time. He wants to discredit american democracy and make us weaker in terms of living the liberal order, and most certaintily, he likes president elect trumps views on russia. Now it seems like we have evidence to support those hipoth cea sees. However, Officials Say u. S. Intelligence dug into putins personal empire and concluded the russian Leaders Network controls a staggering 85 billion worth of assets in russia. Innew york times has a new report saying president obama deliberated for months on whether to publicly blame russia but delayed his sdeshz decision for fear of it looking like he was meddling in the election. Yahoo fears data for more than 1 billion accounts may have been stolen. That scandal dates back to 2013. Making meatters worth is anothe massive breach announced a few months ago. In response to the latest information, they said we have taken steps to secure those User Accounts and were working closely with law enforcement. Exposed information includes names, email addresses, telephone numbers. Dates of birth, even encryptied security passwords. The prosecution now rests as closing aurnlts begin in the Charleston Shooting case against dylann roof. Jurors were shown chilling video of roof taking target practice and played the 911 audio from the horrific shooting that left nine churchgoers dead. Gabe gutierrez has the details. After jurors saw these chilling videos of dylann roof taking target practice. There theres so many people dead. They heard the horrifying 911 call from one of the church massacres three survivors, 72yearold polly sheppard. He shot the pastor, all the people. Come right away. She dove under a table. She testified roof asked, did i shoot you . No, she responded, and he said im going to leave you here to tell the story. Then came more gunshots. Whats going on, ms. Poly . After his arrest, fbi agents asked roof about the woman he spared. Do you remember telling that lady im going to let you live so you can tell my story. Yeah, i remember saying that, but theres really no story. Investigators say theres a long story, that roof carefully planned out his racist rampage. Those who died that night simply died because they were there and they were black. Malcolm graham is the brother of cynthia herd, one of the charleston in my opinion who was shot at least 7 times. Roofs lawyer did not crossexamine poly shepherd, telling her, im so sorry. That was gabe gutierrez. Evacuation of aleppo is under way. Buses and ambulances entered the rebelheld areas of the city, and the Russian Defense ministry claimed 5,000 rebels and their family members are being evacuated. Matt bradley joins us with the latest on what could be a crucial turning point for the civilians especially. Good morning. The evacuation of civilians from east aleppo is finally beginning. The Russian Ministry of defense said this morning that the first convoy of buses carrying some 5,000 rebel fighters and their families had left the previously held eastern previously rebelheld eastern neighborhoods. Most would be taken to the relatively peaceful province in northern syria. Its not entirely clear all the buses have actually departed. Live footage showed buses arriving in order to take civilians but not yet departing. Theyll be accompanied by russian trooped who will escort them into idlib, and the russians being allies of the syrian regime. If you remember, there had been a deal late on tuesday evening to get noncombatants out of the city. That deal was delayed on wednesday morning and finally scrapped, leaving what many thought to bow tens of thousands of people trapped in aleppo. Waw was reached today was a new deal. All of this as the battle for syrias largest city comes to a very violent end. Matt bradley, thank you. Back here in the united states, democratic california governor jerry brown had tough words for the incoming administration. He voiced his support for Climate Change in a special lecture while vowing to fight washington tooth and nail in the name of science. We have the laws. We have the tools of enforcement and the political will. We will set the stage. Well set the example, and whatever washington thinks theyre doing, california is the future. And if trump turns off the satellites, california will launch its own damn satellite. Were going to collect that data. Californias governor making news there. Also out of the state, tech titeants from the countrys leading businesses descended on to trump tower. They met with donald trump, mike pence, and trumps adult children. It was a clash of the powerful as they met to make amends with an incoming president many worked hard against. Those names including sheryl sandbe sandberg, apples tim cook, and amazons jeff bezos. This is a truly Amazing Group of people. I wont tell you the hundreds of calls weve had asking to come to this meeting. But one company was noticeably absent. Twitter, trumps favorite communication tool, was not represented at the summit. Trump clashed with the company during the campaign. However, a transition official tells nbc there was only so much room at the table. The key items discussed, jobs, privacy concerns and the building of Tech Products and innovation. Lock ok at this amazing new video. Forest rangers rest cued hikers in upstate new york. The pair spent two night in the freezing cold and were suffering from hypothermia. They wrapped them in blankets and flew them to a medical center. A warning from a masnasa scientific that got our attention, and bill karins has the snow and coast to coast cold. We had snow in portland, oregon, 2 1 2 inches yesterday. And icy roads. The biggest story has been the arctic outbreak. Still negative 20 windchills and thats now blowing into the northeast. In the west, a plume of moisture into northern california. Flood watches continue. Now well see everything heading further to the south. We were focusing from medford to eugene northward. Look at all the flash flood watchings. In the mountainous areas. 1 to 3 inches. In the valleys, half cascades a sierra. We dont have to worry about the passing too much yet. And it looks like by friday afternoon, this big storm thats been hitting the west will start moving on out. Just in time for the weekend. Bill, thank you. She may look innocent, but this woman is one of the worlds most Infamous International jewel thieves and she was just arrested. And amazon is now using drones to deliver packages. She said its too much work. Lulus hair just floats. Uhh help me doorbell mom, check this out. Wow. Swiffer sweeper, and dusters. This is what im talking about. Look at that. Sticks to this better than it sticks to lulu. Thats your hair lulu mom, can we have another dog . laughing trap and lock up to 4x more dirt, dust and hair than the store brand stop cleaning. Start swiffering. Plumping surface cells for a dramatic transformation. Without the need for fillers. With olay, you age less. So you can be ageless. Olay ageless. Hey reens presents, a holiday mini miracle. Hey this is for you. Did you really . Didnt have too getting the gift you almost kept for yourself . Now thats a holiday mini miracle. And its easy to create your own at walgreens. With 50 percent off the gifts of the week, just around the corner. Walgreens. At the corner of happy and healthy. So dad slayed the problemt with puffs plus lotion, instead. With lotion to soothe and softness to please. A nose in need deserves puffs, indeed. Its time to givehls the perfect gift so let him be a kid again make her sparkle and help him save the galaxy. At kohls youll save a little more with an extra 15 off and earn a little more with kohls cash so you can give a little more this holiday. Kohls. Does your child need help with digestive balance . Try align junior probiotic. So she can have a fraction dominating. Status updating. Helloyellowbelt kind of day. Get 24 7 digestive support with align junior. The 1 doctor recommended probiotic brand, now for kids. New this morning, Dolly PartonsSmoky Mountain rise telethon has raised close to 9 million so far. Her Dollywood Foundation plans to provide 1,000 a month for families who lost their homes. More than 1300 families were displaced by the deadly fires. The two man who captured the nations attention for a sucker punch at one of Donald Trumps rallies have made amends. The man was accused of punching a man in the face for protesting. That altercation led local authorities to briefly consider charging trump with inciting a riot. The two men were in court yesterday, and nine months later, they were able to put their differences aside. You know what you did and i know what i did. Im not going to say youre wrong or im wrong or youre right or im right. Its between two men that for whatever reason, the argument and whatever occurred, we both know what occurred. We dont have to tell lawyers or nobody. I hate it worse than anything in the world. If i met you in the street and the same thing occurred, i would have said go on home. Exactly. Thats what im saying. Exactly. But we called up in a political mess, and you and me, we have to heal our country. The rest of the country can follow. At that hearing, mcgraw pleaded no contest and was given a suspended 30day jail sentence. Leading the news this morning, could a drone be delivering your holiday presents this time nev next year. Amazon said they made their first prime drone drivery. The lucky recipient of the first drone delivery got a package earlier this month near cambridge. It took 13 minutes from click to delivery. What did they order . Amazon fire tv and popcorn to go along with it. Earth is due for an extinction level event. Thats according to a nasa researcher. He says a civilization killing asteroid like the one believed to be responsible for dinosaurs extinction tend to happen 50 million to 60 million years apart. You could say were due for one now. The nasa scientific warns the planet isnt prepared for such an event. He suggested building an interceptor rocked. Just ahead, own a piece of rock and roll history. Plus, more of the holidays hottest toys hitting shelves this weekend. Well tell you where to find them when early today comes back. , thats lovely. So graceful. The corkscrew spin, flawless. His signature move, the flying dutchman. Poetry in motion. And there it is, the baby bird. Breathtaking. A sumo wrestler figure skating . Surprising. Whats not surprising . How much money heather saved by switching to geico. Fifteen minutes could save you fifteen percent or more. Because it knew an ordinary wastissue was near. Ar. The fiery tissue left her nose sore and red. So dad slayed the problem with puffs plus lotion, instead. Puffs have pillowy softness for dakotas tender nose. With lotion to comfort and soothe when she blows. Dont get burned by ordinary tissues. A nose in need deserves puffs, indeed. Now get puffs plus lotion in the squeezable softpack. She pretty much lives in her favorite princess dress. But once a week i let her play sheriff so i can wash it. I use tide to get out those week old stains and downy to get it fresh and soft. You are free to go. Tide and downy together. So yes, they let women do some things at nasa, mr. Johnson, and its not because we wear skirts. Its because we wear glasses. Fast forwarding today, the actors from the film Hidden Figures will be at the white house for a west wing screening of the flick. The movie focuses on the brilliant africanamerican women working at nasa who helped launch john glenn into orbit. Today, the u. S. Of Recreational Marijuana becomes legal in the state of massachusetts. The legalization comes over a month after an initiative was passed in the bay state. 1. 8 Million People voted for the measure despite opposition from top paul tizes, doctors, and religious groups. The number 17 is set to roll into new yorks times square before its placed on the new years eve ball. Today marks 17 days before we ring in the new year. Janet yellens fed raised Interest Rates, but what surprised people was the coming year. The three Interest Rate increases are based on president elect trumps expected business plans. The marketst will attempt to resume their upward climb today following the feds first Interest Rate hike in a year. That move was expected, but investors are now grappling with the fad signaling it could raise rates three more times next year depending on the state of the economy. The Dow Jones Industrial backing off yesterday with its worst performance in more than a month. Just hours after uber started picking up passengers in california in driveless cars, theyre ordered to shut down. They must be tested on public roads or face legal action. Uber argues their cars are not truly selfdriving because they have a driver who can take the wheel if needed. Also, if you havent gotten your hands on the hottest tie of the season, toys r us will ship their shelves with a new shipment on sunday selling them for more than 20 than the retail price, theyre going for more than 100 on ebay, sore maybe its a deal. Sometimes even more, twice that. Great to see theyre restocking. Thank you very much. Just ahead, an ugly sweater too steep for our own pockets, and how many guests can you fit at your christmas dinner table . Bet its not as many as this woman. Well bring you her story next on early today. A sugar shield to protect teeth from sugar found in everyday foods. Crest complete. Shield your teeth from sugar. So sugar may visit, but its not sticking around my hygienist told me to try. A mouthwash. So i tried crest. It does so much more than give me fresh breath. Crest prohealth mouthwash provides all of these benefits to help you get better dental checkups. Go pro with. Crest prohealth mouthwash. Checkup . Nailed it. No, no, no, no, [music] people are both soft and strong. Yey which is why our products are too. Angel soft. Well play something besides video games. Every day is a gift especially for people with Heart Failure. But today theres entresto® a breakthrough medicine that can help make more tomorrows possible. Tomorrow, i want to see teddy bait his first hook. In the largest Heart Failure study ever, entresto® was proven to help more people stay alive and out of the hospital than a leading Heart Failure medicine. Women who are pregnant must not take entresto®. It can cause harm or death to an unborn baby. Dont take entresto® with an ace inhibitor or or aliskiren. If youve had angioedema while taking an ace or arb medicine, dont take entresto®. The most serious side effects are angioedema, low blood pressure, kidney problems, or high potassium in your blood. Tomorrow, im gonna step out with my favorite girl. Ask your heart doctor about entresto®. And help make the gift of tomorrow possible. There goes my sensitive bladder. Sound familiar . Then youll love this. Incredible protection in a pad this thin. I didnt think it would work, but it does. Its called always discreet watch this. This super absorbent core turns liquid to gel, for incredible protection thats surprisingly thin. So i know im wearing it, but no one else will. Always discreet for bladder leaks so how many people will come to your house for holiday dinner . For one washington, d. C. Woman, the guest list is nearly 400. Nbcs Pete Williams picks up the story from here. Welcome to my house. Reporter Shirley Gibson is serving an early christmas dinner. Opening her home to honor washington, d. C. Police officers. She and her husband harrison do it in tribute to her son. 27yearold brian was killed in 1997, an ambush shooting as he salt in his patrol car at a traffic light. After his funeral, she tried to figure out how she was going to get through the holidays. Her solution, cook all her sons favorite dishes and invite his fellow officers. It makes it great, it starts holidays for us. Reporter she cooks three days in advance. Its now so big shes decided at able 70, this years dinner will be the last. Oh, my goodness. Reporter when she arrived to start shopping for the final time, a big surprise, dozens of Police Officers met her, forming an honor cordon at the store entrance. Inside, washingtons mayor, murial bowser with an early christmas gift. Impossible to get tickets to the citys hottest attraction. We want to provide you and your team with 15 tickets to go to the africanamerican museum of history and culture. God bless you. Thank you so much we just have to thank her for all the good meals and all the love and fellowship shes provided to all of the officers. All of these officers come into my house and hugging miss gibson and you feel his Service Representative on the side. When they hug me, it feels like my brian. Reporter 20 years of honoring horsons memory and serving comfort and love. Pete williams, nbc news, washington. 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A new York College Student who said she was harassed by a group of donald Trump Supporters apparently made it all up. Sources tell nbc station wnbc she was arrested and told police she made up the claim because she was out drinking with friends and wanted to avoid upsetting her father. She told police three men approached her on a subway, told her to get out of the country and called her a terrorist. Legendary jewel thief who police say is doris payne, is at it again. Shes been arrested for allegedly trying to sell a 2,000 necklace from a atlanta jewelry store. She hid it in her back pocket. Her exploits were so impressive, they were chronicled in a documentary. Now, she said she let boredom get the best of her. She knows its not good. I think its the thrill. A bond hearing for the accused stealer is scheduled tomorrow. If you want to get your hands on a great piece of rock n roll history, Bruce Springsteens first car is up for grabs. Its selling on ebay, the latest bid stands at a little over 120,000. He bought the ride for 2,000 in 1995 and he wrote classics in it, and in five days, the classic convertable will find a new home. The duchess of cambridge was sight as a special place, celebrating the cub scouts 100th anniversary. Duchess kate kwocoordinated activities for 25 kids. She joined them in parachute games, First Aid Training and cupcake decorating. She helped them renew their cub promise, 160,000 members will renew their promise this week. If youre still searching for the perfect ugly christmas sweater this season, this is it, but you have to shell out about 30,000 for it. Its the worlds most expensive ugly christmas speter. It has 25,000 swarovski crystals in the shape of santa riding a unicorn. You can buy it at ti tipsyelves. Com. And a reminder, christmas, ten days away. See you back here tomoow. Rr bracing for impact. The sandbags are out and the rain preparations are in full force this morning. We have Team Coverage to get you out the door safely. Today in the bay starts right now. Good thursday morning. Thank you very much for joining us, im sam brock. Are we ready to get soggy . Im laura garciacannon. Its a storm weve been talking about for days and for parts of the bay area its already here. A live look at the santa cruz mountains, rain already coming down, and theres more of where that came from. Well have more on the impact the loma fire might have on debris flows. First, our Microclimate Weather Team is tracking the storm right now. Lets check with kari hall. Well see it moving into t