Three rhinos stroll through the front gate of the zoo making a dash for freedom. That traces the question how is he planning to stop them today, friday january 16th 2015. Announcer from nbc news this is today. With matt lauer and savannah guthrie. Live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. Good morning and welcome to today on a friday morning. It sounds like the beginning of one of als jokes. Three rhinos run out of a zoo. Rhinos with a reason. Today rhino. It has a ring to it. On this friday morning, we stop with our top story. The terror raids across europe. Dozens of suspects necessary custody some with possible attacks to paris and separate chilling plots. Bill neely has the latest on all of this. Good morning. Reporter yes, good morning, matt. In paris a dozen men arrested suspected of supplying or helping the three gunmen in last weeks massacre. In this small town another battle in europes growing conflict with islamic radicals and a terror cell uncovered that was about to strike until they were stopped. The sound of gunfire and explosions on europes streets. Police battling gunmen who were planning a big attack. Two were killed and one arrested. All i can confirm are plans to assassinate policemen in the street or at the police buildings. The men were heavily armed and police had been tracking them for weeks. They were able to launch within hours. Police found four assault rifles here Explosives Police uniforms and radios. They were listening to the mens phone calls and say they would have been the prime target of the planned attack. Its a small town but at least a half dozen young men have gone from here to fight in syria. Within belgium a Large Community of people, the highest per capita within europe. There is no apparent link but the gunmen bought their weapons from a belgian arms dealer. In paris, john kerry laid a wreath at the super market where four jewish hostages were killed. The same at the offices of the magazine paying tribute to all 17 victim of the three gunmen. He is having talks with the french president and another leader David Cameron was meeting president obama. Now more than ever cooperation is vital in the growing conflict with islamic extremists. It is a bigger problem here in belgium than most other European Countries. About 40 belgians killed in syria so far and 100 returned home and two killed here. This morning 13 year people arrested. Another terror plot uncovered. Thank you so much. I want to turn to richard engle. We are hearing about all of these raids and terror crack downs across europe. Is there a renewed sense of urgency . Are they having a wake up call in europe . Reporter seems like that is what we are absolutely seeing. In the wake of the terror attacks. Usual eastern official who is returned from syria are dragging in their nets. We are seeing a crack down in paris. The one in belgium. Also a crack down in germany. We will see more European Countries going after the cells that they have been watching and have decided now its just too dangerous to leave them on the streets. You hearing anything about the terrorist groups weather isis or al qaeda in yemen say going for it this is the time we want to see the mass casualty attacks across europe . Reporter that is specifically what they are saying. That after paris now is the time to mobilize. I think with isis there is a strategic shift in the messaging. For the last year or so isis has been saying come join us and now the message has changed. Dont join. Stay at home arm yourself and go out on the attack. They are saying to do this in the u. S. Too. Disturbing indeed. Thank you very much for that. A new era in the u. S. Cuba relationship starts today. The Obama Administration makes it easier to travel to that nation. Kate good morning to you. Good morning, matt here in miami beach, a prime tourist destination. 90 miles away, there a lot of peaches beaches in cuba that most have never been to. A lot of americans may want to book travel plans. Havana is a fascinating place a time capsule and it will easier for americans to see it. I am absolutely going to cuba. Muy bueno. Americans no longer need special permission for cultural exchanges or education or family visits. I have to go. Jet blue said we are interested in providing service to cuba from multiple u. S. Cities as soon as legally permitted. American and delta eager to expand their service. Cruise ships can stop in cuban ports and a ferry that used to run between key west and cuba can come back to life. Once americans are there, they can spend as much as they want use credit cards and bring back up to 400 in sufners including rum and cigars. In havana this barber said the lives of cubans will improve. The families in the u. S. Can send them four times as much money and they can end up with cheaper wifi and more electronics and American Food imported. The 1950s cars may look cute but they are tough to maintain. A lot of cubans cant wait to buy a ford or a chevy. American companies are lining up to do business in cuba but the biggest question mark is what cuba will allow. They want a trickle and not a flood of trade. They want to control the pace of the relationship. In phoenix, roger said collectors cant wait until they can shop in cuba for a classic car. Its like opening a time capsule of cars that were buried more than 50 years ago. This might be the greatest find of all time. It may take a while before they can put them up on craigslist for all of us to buy, but there changes saying that cuban entrepreneurs can sell their products here in the united states. Not clear whether that will be cuban cigars right away. Its a new era. She mentions you by name. You know where i can get one . Kate snow, to you. Big news out of the whouds. Ite house. They will be deploying troops to train moderate syrian rebels. Up to 15,000 recruits will be needed to retake areas controlled by isis. President obama signed a bill that endorsed his plan including air strikes including iraqis and syrian rebels. The ohio man plotting to kill government officials will appear in court today. They will argue that 20yearold Christopher Cornell should remain in jail until his trial. He planned to attack the capital with pipe bombs and assault rifles. His father told nbc news he believes his son was coerced boy a snitch and never could have carried out the attack on his. David cameron said the u. S. And the uk will stage cyber war games to boost resistance against cyber attacks. He is on a twoday visit here in the united states. Cameron and president obama held a working dinner in the white house residence and today they are to meet for discussions on Economic Growth trade, and security. Pope francis is calling out leaders in the philippines to end poverty and social injustices. He is getting an enthusiastic reception in asias largest catholic nation. The pope called on the church to combat the deeply rooted inequality that mar the face of filipino society, he said. Southwest airlines was hit with a record fine thursday for stranding passengers on the tarmac for hours. It happened during a bad storm earlier this month at chicagos midway airport. The airline failed to clear 16 planes off of the runway in a timely fashion and fined southwest 1. 6 million. Regulations require that passengers must be let off a plane within three hours of landing. A zoo guard is out of work after he fell asleep on the job, allowing three rhinos to escape at a safari zoo in israel. You can see the rhinos getting their opportunity to run past the gate. They are not going to see us. Geeing a brief taste of freedom. They were spotted in a parking lot loitering. Trying to boost a car. Exactly. The zoo manager rushed to the site and drove them back by clapping his hands. A spokes woman said they managed to escape through a side gate after the guard dozed off. If you could hear what they were thinking. Or the sleeping zoo manager was thinking. How do you get three rhinos in a volkswagen . Two in the front, one in the back. Anyway. We have icy conditions. My Scholastic Book of jokes and laughs. It was a classic. Look at the southeast. We have freeing fog out there and it is wreaking havoc for traffic in atlanta. I20 at mcdaniels going eastbound. The roadways are a mess. Freezing fog and it will warm up when the sun comes up but in the meantime no relief in sight. Warmer weather in the good portion of the plains. Kansas city up to 58. 63 in dallas. St. Louis will be 59. Look at this. 55 tomorrow in st. Louis and cincinnati 51. 39 in minneapolis. Here in the northeast, no thaw for you. Thats right. A cold front pushes through and look the at temperatures. Tomorrow morning 16 in new york city and feels like 7. 8 in boston. 1 below in syracuse. Thats not very nice. Good morning im meteorologist bill henley. Bright sunshine to start with. Temperatures climb into the low 40s this afternoon. Then the wind kicks in. And the temperatures start coming down during the afternoon hours. By tomorrow morning, 17 degrees. Just 31 degrees tomorrow afternoon. Lots of sunshine saturday. But sunday it will turn rainy with the rain arriving in the middle 40s in the afternoon. A windy day for the Martin Luther king holiday monday followed by Colder Weather for tuesday, wednesday and thursday. Have a great day. Thats your latest weather. Matt . There is more bad new when is it comes to flu season. The cdc reports activity reached epidemic levels nationwide and the vaccine is just 23 effective. Doctor natalie is an nbc contributor. Good morning. This is troubling. Disappointing. People went out and got the vaccine and now they have a 1 in 4 chance. How common is this . One thing that is important to remember is the numbers used to generate this idea of vaccine effectiveness have to do with the most severe cases. The people who get diagnosed with the flu and find out were they vaccinated or not. The people who may have mild flu who stay at home we cant get those numbers. If the effectiveness is lower than we hoped, we have to take things on our own to stop getting sick and have to be vigilant. You want people to start taking medications as soon as they start getting symptoms. We used to say reserve it for the highest risk people but if you come down with the symptoms of the flu, the on set of high fever, cough, sore throat nausea, vomiting they can prescribe it over the phone and we remember in the first 24 to to 48 hours. The oral called tamiflu and inhaleable called relenza and a new injectable just approved in december. You mentioned the at risk groups. Would youing is someone who is elderly or has a history of respiratory illness take these medications . We dont remember for the general population to take them but there might be a situation and discuss with your doctor. For the vast majority of people if you have exposure to someone with the flu and at the on set of symptoms. Before you wait for a confirmation that you have the flu. We were saying this morning, now that its only 23 effective, why should i get it . I think being protected 23 is better than not at all. Exactly. Some protection is better than zero and even if the vaccine is not as specific for that particular strain,ing this the vaccine and getting the flu, you are likely to have a less severe illness and that translates into less mortality. Thank you very much. Over to you. Thank you. There is a big controversy over the oscar nominations. For the first time in nearly 20 years all of the nominees are white. Joe friar has that story. At the heard of the controversy selma scored a best picture nomination but nothing necessary director or lead actor. All 20 of the acting nominees are white and women were shutout of the directing and screen writing categories. Last nights awards Jessica Chastaine discussed the need for diversity. Martin luther king,jr. Said our lives begin to end the day we welcome silent about things that matter. I would like to encourage everyone in this room to please speak up. In 2o 12 the l. A. Times reported oscar voters were 94 white and 77 male. Last years best picture 12 years a slave. The academys president who is africanamerican told access hollywood this year was very competitive competitive, saying those who were not nominated will still benefit. The public knows who they are and careers will increase across the board. Many argue they can only acknowledge work put before them in the first place and that starts by financing and promoting more diverse films. Movies directed by and starring women and people of color are still far fewer than movies directed by and about white men. We spoke with a few hollywood observer who is feel the Television Industry is well ahead of film when it comes to issues of diversity in front of the camera and behind it with diverse shows doing well in ratings and awards. Savannah and matt . A lot of people talking about this. Carson is here. We have more on it. A different oscar story. A different snub. Besides the other issue. Kicked me right in the leg. Whats going with the lego movie. Where was the nomination . Big social media outcry for the lego movie not getting nominated in the animated film category. 80,000 tweets was immediately an instant trending topic. They sent out this tweet saying its okay. Made my. Seth rogen said in my opinion the lego movie is good. What are they looking for . Another writes in thanks for all the outpouring of love. We didnt make it for the awards we made it a trending topic on twitter. Good news. They won at the critics Choice Awards last night for best animated film. Congratulations celebrating with magnum of lego champagne. Dont feel the effects just yet. Good news. Silver lining for last night. Back to you. Sometimes it doesnt seem to be a rhyme or reason. It truly is a genius animated movie. Thank you very much. Coming up, a stunning admission from a young man who claimed he die and went to heaven. Why he said he made up his best selling story. And floridas growing bear problem. A number of homeowners attacked. Is it time to make bear hunts legal again . They are considering it. First, this is today on nbc. Thank you cable. For the slower internet upload speeds. For making me wait longer to share my photo albums. Thank you cable, because if we never had you. We wouldnt know the incredible difference verizon fios makes. The numbers dont lie. In Customer Satisfaction studies, fios is rated 1 in Internet Speed and reliability, and hd picture quality. Get a fios triple play online at an amazing price guaranteed for two years and get a 400 bonus with a two Year Agreement. Hurry its your last chance this offer ends january 17th. Call the Verizon Center for customers with disabilities at 800. 974. 6006 tty v coming up on trending the big star who will sing the National Anthem at the super bowl. Too cool to be cold. Should you let your kids brave the winter in youre unpacking already . Yeah. Help me find some mugs . Sure. [ beep ] hey. Okay. Thesell do. Yeah. [ male announcer ] wake up to the mountain grown aroma of folgers. The best part of wakin up so, where do you want to start . I think this is a pretty good place. Is folgers in your cup americans. 57 of us try to exercise regularly. 83 try to eat healthy. Yet up to 90 of us fall short in getting key nutrients from food alone. Lets do more, together. Add one a day. 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Tell your doctor about your medical history muscle or nerve conditions and medications, including botulinum toxins as these may increase the risk of serious side effects. Put the odds on your side. Visit botoxchronicmigraine. Com to learn how to save on your treatment. Talk to a headache specialist today about botox®. And weapon continue to follow this news with problems on the new jersey turnpike. Maintenance crews are still trying to clear up what is left of this crash after a tractortrailer slammed into an overpass in gloucester county. Skyforce 10 was over the scene just a short time ago. For more now well check in with first alert traffic reporter jillian mele. Good morning, the new jersey turnpike near route 168 which is exit 3 has lane restrictions in both directions. Expect to see volume out there as well. Take 295 to avoid the new jersey turnpike until later this morning when thats cleaned up. We have an accident on the walt whitman bridge in philadelphia heading into new jersey. Thats in the process of being cleared, but 95 with the ramp to the walt is jammed. We have a heavy delay there. And were off to a cold start this morning. Well get the first alert forecast this morning with bill henley. A warm up on the way . Well see temperatures climb pretty much this morning with bright sunshine to start with. The sun is up. Thats a live view from center city from the comcast center. 29 degrees right now at philadelphia. A lot of 20s and low 30s to start with but well be topping out near 40 degrees heading into the afternoon hours. But then the wind kicks in and youll feel a gusty wind blowing during the day today. And that will drive temperatures down this afternoon after we hit a high of 40 at lunchtime. Thank you. Well be back in 25 minutes with another update. For now, back to the today show. Im chris cato. Have a great friday. Back at 7 30 on the 16th of january, 2015. A big problem in florida with bears. Numbers are growing and attacks are on the rise. Why some say its time to bring back bear hunts. But its controversial. Very controversial. Lets take a look at whats making headlines. At least 12 people have been arrested in france overnight. The suspects are being questioned about possible links to last weeks