Is nbc nightly news with lester holt. Good evening. It was a risky call and a daring military rescue mission, but sadly it ended in failure for a Young American journalist held hostage by al qaeda gunmen in yemen. Killed as u. S. Military commandos closed in on the terrorist hideout in an overnight raid. Believing time was running out for 33yearold luke somers, it was president obama who gave the green light for the rescue attempt. It was the second attempt to rescue somers in less than two weeks. Tonight, weve learned more details of last nights mission and the difficult choices that white house and military planners faced. Were covering several angles of this story. We begin with our pentagon correspondent jim miklaszewski. Jim, good evening. Reporter good evening, lester. This was in fact the second time the u. S. Military launched a mission to try to rescue american hostage luke somers. The first time his al qaeda captors simply moved him. Today, they killed him. In afghanistan today, defense secretary chuck hagel declared luke somers was murdered during a dangerous and complicated rescue mission. Like always in these efforts there is theres risk. My name is luke somers. Reporter the 33yearold somers was a photo journalist kidnapped by al qaeda in yemen in 2013, ten days after the first rescue Mission Failed he was pleading for his life. Im certain that my life is in danger. So as i sit here now, i ask if anything can be done, please let it be done. Reporter in that same video his al qaeda captors threaten to execute somers by the end of today. Somers family responded. His brother jordan pleading for his release while insisting luke had no part in the rescue attempt. He is not responsible for any actions the u. S. Government has taken. Please understand that we had no prior knowledge of the rescue attempt for luke, and we mean no harm to anyone. Reporter but u. S. Officials feared somers time was running out. At the white house, president obama received frequent updates. And in a Statement Today said additional intelligence indicated somers life was in imminent danger. Based on this assessment and as soon as there was reliable intelligence and an operational plan, i authorized a rescue attempt yesterday. In the dark of night dozens of navy s. E. A. L. S. Landed two miles from their target in central yemen with u. S. Fighter bombers and armed drones circling in the skies above. The american commandos soon reached an isolated cluster of buildings. U. S. Military Officials Say as the s. E. A. L. S. Closed in on the building where somers was held, the gun battle broke out. In an intense fire fight the s. E. A. L. S. Killed six to nine al qaeda captors. Somers and a South African hostage Pierre Korkie were grave ly wounded. They were air lifted out of the area to a u. S. Navy ship offshore but both died of their wounds. As of tonight luke somers immediately family has issued no official public statements except to ask that they be allowed to mourn his death in peace, lester. Jim miklaszewski starting us off. Thanks. Behind the scenes in washington it was a series of highlevel meetings that eventually led to the launch of this risky mission. For more lets bring in Nbcs Kristen Welker at the white house. Kristen. Reporter lester, good evening. A u. S. Official describes the rescue mission as a multiagency whole of government effort. It started thursday night when video of luke somers was released. Officials determined the threat was credible and somers would be killed today. Officials say they had credible intelligence about somers whereabouts based in part on their initial attempt to rescue them last month. That set off a series of meetings at the pentagon, state department and white house. And on friday the president S National Security team recommended unanimously that mr. Obama approve the mission. They also contacted the president of yemen who agreed to coordinate with the u. S. Military. Now, as we know ultimately the mission did fail. When asked if the white house had second thoughts, one official said the president still feels it was the right decision to try to rescue somers because the intelligence about his location was reliable. As one official said to me how could we not in good conscience go in . That official adds the entire government is in mourning tonight. Lester. Kristen, thanks. This latest Hostage Mission has put renewed focus on the threat posed by the terror group al qaeda. For more on that lets bring in keir simmons in abu dhabi. Isis has been stealing headlines as of late. Is al qaeda simply trying to raise its profile here . Reporter lester, good evening. In reality they never wentd away. What is happening is underscoring the challenge for washington in dealing with islamic extremism around the world. Al qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula have been focused on targeting aircraft. It, for example, was behind the socalled underwear bomber in 2009. But now al qaeda appears to be in competition with isis in a kind of a terrorism arms race. Its not so say there havent been successes against al qaeda. Pakistanis say they killed the senior al qaeda leader said to be behind a plot to attack a new york subway. An al qaeda core in pakistan has been severely depleted. But in washington at mosque every time they are tackling one fire, there are other fires starting. Lester. Keir simmons tonight, thank you. Tonight, a major typhoon is rolling through the philippines. Its slowly churning across the island nation bringing it with an area that bears devastating scars from last years storm season. Nbcs jim maceda has our report tonight from the central philippines. Reporter the name means to smash. And as ruby made landfall today, the storm did just that. Lashing at houses, trees and slashing power cables across the central philippines. Many of these provinces still hurting from last years devastation when typhoon haiyan left thousands missing. I worry the waves will get bigger like what happened last year in tacloban. Some calling a record in peace tame and sought Higher Ground on their own, or flood to schools and hospitals for shelter before ruby struck. Survivors now know where to go and what to do. While philippine soldiers unseen on the shattered streets last year now keep a lid on chaos and looting. And relief agencies having prepositioned food for a month are ready for this monstrous storm. As much as possible we leave no stone unturned. Reporter it will be downgrade today a category 3 typhoon, can still do damage. Typhoon still continues to track across the central philippines. As it does the wind will decrease, it will weaken as it does but the rain threat will continue to be a big problem. We could see five to eight inches of rain in manila that could cause street flooding. Reporter officials fear hundreds could perish. And tonight wind and rains are kicking up the start of what forecasters warn could be a 15foot storm surge rising from the sea just beyond here. Jim maceda, nbc news, the philippines. Back in this country now police in michigan have charged a man with four counts of attempted murder after a stabbing attack onboard an amtrak train last night. Police responded to a call that a passenger was acting suspiciously. When they arrived the knife attack was already taking place. Three passengers and a conductor were injured. The victims are all in stable condition. No word yet on the suspects motive. Across the country this weekend americans are taking to the streets over what has become a pressing national issue, the use of lethal force by police. While new york has been at the center of a debate this week, protests have been going on from coasttocoast over a series of controversial cases. Nbcs ron allen has our story tonight. Hands up dont shoot reporter latest flashpoint protests after 34yearold Rumain Brisbon was shot and killed by police. Police say a white officer, not identified struggled with brisbon thought the unarmed black man had a gun. His mother asked that her face not be shown. Im telling you, this is not about race. This isnt about a young man reporter but also the case of Bernard Bailey in south carolina. A black man arguing about a traffic ticket then police chief allegedly shot and killed him in 2011. A grand jury indicted combs wednesday. They found probable cause and justice will be served. Reporter holmes faces a murder charge. Cases along with michael brown, eric garner, tamir rice and John Crawford all have the nation wrestling with very emotional questions. An issue that legal experts say is complicated by the fact that police are not required to report Deadly Force Incidents and suspects by race to a national database. One of the opportunities coming out of this moment is to perfect the data. More or less to get a full statistical picture of how often this happens, how many officers are involved, what are the circumstances. Are they resisting this . Oh, certainly. Reporter perception fuels the passion on the streets. So youre going to stay out here and try to block the streets . Im going to do what i have to do Reporter Police and supporters push back. On twitter none of these race debates related to the grown and garner cases have uncovered the real truth, that resisting arrest is never a good idea. Officers say the problem is crime, poverty, no respect for authority. This isnt a failure of law enforcement. Th enforcement. This is a political failure. Its an economic failure. Reporter a National Discussion rages with protesters trying to disrupt Christmas Celebrations in cities like boston and philadelphia, a season of discontent. Ron allen, nbc news, new york. Chuck todd will have much more on this topic tomorrow on meet the press. President obama visited walter reed Military Hospital today after complaining of a persistent sore throat. His physician recommended he go in for tests including a ct scan after complaining of the symptom for weeks. In a statement the white house said it was determined that the president was suffering from acid reflux and would be treated accordingly. When nbc nightly news continues on this saturday, Big Companies are changing the way they target women consumers. But will that make an impact in more ways than one . And later, the book and movie that has hundreds forging their own journey. People with type 2 diabetes come from all walks of life. If you have high blood sugar, ask your doctor about farxiga. 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What do women want . Who cares. Reporter samantha scay does. In its recent survey, the agency found a majority of women like the ad and Want Companies to promote positive messages to women and girls. The preponderance of women who are asking for femveting reporter can advertising solve the problem of low selfesteem, particularly among tween girls . We can at least not contribute. We can at least do less harm and put out some more positive messaging. Reporter the trail blazer is dubbed. Ten years into its Real Beauty Campaign celebrating women in all shapes and sizes. But does it work . It absolutely has over a tenyear period. The brand has experienced unbelievable growth. Reporter now using social media, brands seek a stronger relationship. Barbara lippert writes about advertising for mediapost. Com. It is all about an emotional connection with the brand. Reporter take the like a Girl Campaign by always. Show me what it looks like to run like a girl. 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The tens of thousands of drivers who use one Southern Arizona highway will tell you its unlike any other in the country. But now changes are in store for that stretch of road. And that has locals fighting for what might be described as good measure. Nbcs Hallie Jackson explains. Reporter as road trips go, the drive from tucson to negalis seems ordinary, cacti, traffic, big rigs. But a few minutes in youll see something you wont find anywhere else in america. There it is. Metric signs in use. Reporter the entire highway measured and marked only in meters. For the next hundred kilometers, dont look for mile markers, just a calculator. Whats the conversion from kilometers to mile sns. You know, i just know its a little shorter. 1. 6. Reporter you are the first people who nailed it. On the map this section is metric. Why . Reporter when i19 was first built some 4