Talk about a big surprise at the national zoo. A giant panda giving birth on saturday night to two little cubs today sunday, august 23, 2015. Announcer from nbc news this is today live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. And welcome to today on this sunday morning. Im erica hill. Im petter alexander. We have panda watch this morning. Feeling a little ron burgundy. We were at the zoo a week ago my daughters saw the panda for the first time and we saw the news. There was a speculation about whether or not she was pregnant and when we were sitting in the news room last night, all we had the panda cam up and the good news came. Later that night we heard the second baby. Its funny they dont know when theyre pregnant. Its exciting. Only the size of a stick of butter when theyre born. Thats a separate issue. The investigation into the attack on that passenger train over seas. The three american heros still getting accolades from around the world this morning. Tomorrow they will meet with the french president. This morning much of the talk is about the suspect as were learning more about his past. Nbcs Kelly Cobiella continues to follow the story. Reporter good morning, erica. There are conflicting reports about whether the man travelled to syria. The troop prosecutor in belgium tells nbc news theyre looking into whether he acted alone or part of a wider network. The French Interior minister only saying the man was a known radical flagged last year because of alleged ties to terrorist groups. New information emerging this morning about the man accused of attacking the train heading for paris. Belgiums chief prosecutor telling nbc news his name is ayoub el khazzani, 26 of more rock can origin and lived here for 27 years. Hes being questioned this morning. Spanish media report he lived in the southern port towns and attended a radical mosque under surveillance. Nbc neuews hasnt confirmed the reports and the French Interior minister cautioned against speculation. This morning the Three Friends whose european vacation took a dramatic turn are together again in paris. Anthony sadler, alex scar lots to, and this is the scene seconds after they took down a gunman on the highspeed train to paris. Stone is a trained paramedic is giving first aid to a man shot in the neck. Even with his own hand badly cut. Stone underwent surgery on saturday. They were able to reattach that portion that was severely cut. Im proud of him. Im happy hes alive. Alive and already recovering. Stone was released late saturday afternoon with a smile and a waive. And we understand stones parents are meeting him in paris. We also hear all the train heros will get a personal thank you from french president Francois Hollande tomorrow morning, erica, a private ceremony. Were hoping to see some of these young men, at least. I have a feeling there will be a picture at some point. Kelly, thank you. To the latest on the horrific scenes this from southern england where a vintage jet taking part in an air show crashed with thousands looking on. At least seven people were killed. More than a dozen others injured. A lot of people are asking an important question about safety at these air shows. Nbc Kristen Dahlgren is here with more. The video is terrible to watch. Officials are worried they might find more victims overnight. Luckily it hasnt happened. Now the investigation is underway. It leaves a lot of questions for many. A warning which you are about to see may be disturbing. The final moments were streaming live on the internet. Its such a beautiful airplane. The plaannouncer waiting for many to pull up. Oh, my word. Then the historic military jet slammed into a busy road erupting into a ball of fire in thick black smoke. You see him fighting the last second. I was that close. I mean, there was babies there, there was children there. This photograph captures this morning. As stunned crowds looked up to see the 1950s era Hawker Hunter jet barrelling toward them. It went straight down. A big fire ball. That was that. The pilot was pulled from the wreckage in critical condition. Seven bystanders on the ground were killed. Another 14 were injured. Fans at the air show could only stare. Stay in your places, please. It is the latest in a string of air show disasters. In september 2011, ten bystanders and a pilot were killed in this crash at the reno, nevada air races. Debris flying into the crowd. In 2013 a wind walker pilot died in this fiery crash. And in 1988, 70 were killed and hundreds of injured in germany when the stunt by an italian team went terribly wrong. So as the latest investigation gets underway, it is with many asking if air shows are simply too dangerous. Theyre looking for thrills. Theyre looking for something that looks lick, oh, my goodness. How are they going to pull out of that . Sometimes they dont. And this morning were learning about another air show accident. Two planes collided in switzerland. At least one person was killed there. In england, the air show has been cancelled for today. There was a moment of silence for them. Trying to find the balance of entertainment and tragedy. Were keeping an eye on two storm systems this morning. Danny continues to weaken its a Tropical Storm tracking closer to puerto rico. Tropical depression kilo could turn into a hurricane near hawaii. Family rogood morning. Were watching danny slowly weaken. Its a small storm. It strengthened quickly and weakened quickly, too. It shouldnt even by a Tropical Storm by the time it makes the way to the Leeward Islands or puerto rico. You see its barely a Tropical Storm before it weakens to a depression by tuesday morning. It will bring beneficial rain to puerto rico about 2 to 4 inches. It should help with the drought theyre dealing with. In the pacific we have a Tropical Storm kilo that is going to do the reverse of what danny did. Its going to strengthen very rapidly and also take a turn up to the northeast. Watch what happens as a category two thursday evening. It takes a turn toward the Western Islands of hawaii. This one bears watching. Were starting to see some of the outervance produce heavier rainfall. We have flash flood watches in effect because of the downpours. We could see some impacts from kilo as we go into the end of the week in the Western Islands of hawaii. Peter . Dylan, thank you very much. To politics now theres a lot of buzz this morning about a secret private meeting between Vice President joe biden and senator Elizabeth Warren this weekend. This is another sign that biden may be closer to making a run for president. Chuck todd, of course, is moderator of meet the press. Good morning, chuck. Good morning. We know the Vice President has been privately courting donors. Elizabeth warren, of course, is the most popular name among progressives alongside bernie sanders. What does the private meeting signal to us . Does it say that biden is any closer to making a decision . It does to me. You dont leak it out if you dont want to send the message to democratic activists of how biden what type of Campaign Biden plans to run by signaling that a meeting with warren took place. I think thats bidens Campaign Teams way of saying, hey, we know it isnt just Hillary Clinton we would be challenging. Its also bernie sanders. And obviously he cant be competitive if he doesnt also not just take away from clinton but take away from sanders. And i have to say it perked my ears up. I started to think that biden was going to talk himself out of this. I dont think you leak this out unless youre looking for a way in . Lets talk timing. Joe bidens aids said the deadline for them to make an announcement is the end of summer. The first democratic debate is october 13th. Thats the drop dead deadline for them. Is there an advantage, perhaps to wait to see if Hillary Clintons campaign imploeds and swoop in as a white knight as opposed to coming in a little bit early . Well, i mean, look i think some democrats will go to biden and say if you get in now, youre going to steal the thunder from the trump show. Right now democrats love donald trump. If biden got in now, i can tell you this Biden Clinton becomes the big story for a good 60 days, and the republican field goes away. So i think there is some concern among the National Democrats on that front. You talk about timing i think the democratic debate is the real deadline. October 1st in or out joe biden has to make a decision. Thank you so much. Well be watching. I know, youll have more on the race for president this morning on meet the press. See you then. Firefighterers are hoping for a little help today as they try to get an upper hand on the relentless fires in washington state. Thats one of the stories sheinelle is following. Lighter winds may be giving western firefighters the edge they need. Theyre battling dozens of fires across the region. The blaze that claimed the lives of three firefighters last week grew to 100 miles. Many towns are taking the step asking volunteers to join the fight. In afghanistan three American Contractors are among those killed in a suicide bombing. The blast in kabul that left a total of 12 dead targeted the vehicles of dine corps. International. They provide training, security, and maintenance for the Afghan Military and nato. They were traveling in a nato convoy when they were attacked. A texas family is trying to find out who stole their daughters body from a san antonio funeral home. Hours after the service for 25yearold julie mott the funeral home found that the body disappeared. Its offering a reward for the information leading. Police are confident julies body will be brought home. There was a tribute held for the golden knight. They performed with american flags for corey hood and landed to join in the final salute for their fallen comrade. In greensboro, North Carolina tiger woods is closing in on a pga title. Hes two strokes behind in the windham championship. It would be his first major pga tour win in more than two years. Theres pandemonium at the national zoo in washington. The staff welcomes twin pandas. Were keeping a close eye on the tiny creatures and mom mei xiang. The two were born hours apart. The second showing up something of a surprise. Officials say theyre looking healthy and i should mention theres even more to celebrate today. A birthday for big sister bao bao who turns two today. A big blow out at the national zoo. I remember infant twins and a toddler theyre the size of a stick of butter. Yeah. Very impressive. Dylan has a check of the rest of the countrys forecast. We have rain through parts of the midwest. We have heavier downpours even a severe thunderstorm watch, there you see it across northwestern arkansas. Heavy downpours something to keep an eye on this morning. Its a cold front moving eastward. Look how chilly it gets behind the system. Minneapolis highs in the upper 60s. Again in the Pacific Northwest because of the calm winds it helps firefighters but its smokey air quality is poor in the pacific good morning, im first alert meteorologist brittney shipp. Today temperatures will be close to average. Ranging between 83 and 86. Mix of sun and clouds and light wind speeds. Temperatures warm up heading into monday, close to 90. A hot day. Then we drop down, tuesday and wednesday. The rest of the work week staying nice and warm and dry with the exception of a chance of a few isolated showers monday evening. And thats your latest forecast. Dylan, thanks. Court is back in session tomorrow in the trial of a former student accused of sexually assaulting a classmate at the elite prep school in new hampshire. The victim has taken the stand already this week. The accuser is expected to do the same. Gabe gutierrez has more. Reporter he was a popular athlete on citizenshscholarship planned to study thoueology on harvard. Now owen labrie will testify this week. I was raped. I was violated in so many ways. Of course i was traumatized. Im sorry. Were disguising his accusers voice and not showing her face. Prosecutors say she was sexually assaulted on saint pauls campus as part of a tradition known as senior sclalute. Where older students ask out younger students sometimes for sex. This case is about owen labrie sexually assaulting a young girl. This is how he thought about this for months. How he made a plan and executed the plan. Reporter after hearing from her mother, friend, and million professional. The jury is expected to listen about dna evidence this week before the defense presents its case. Labrie pleaded not guilty to Sexual Assault and other charges. He says they never had intercourse and the encounter were consensual. You were laughing at various points with owen, werent you . Again, laughing nervously, yes. High Profile Defense attorney jay carney questioned friendly emails she exchanged with labrie after the alleged attack and inconsistencies in her story. You try not to lie as much as possible. Sometimes i guess youre unsuccessful. No. After that tense cross examination the alleged victim issued a statement. I can now say im a survivor. The trial is expected to last through the end of the week. For today gabe gutierrez, nbc news. Up next on today. Millions of dollars raised in the ice bucket challenge actually helped lead to breakthroughs against als . Well get shopping for a used car is so intimidating. I mean, you feel like you have to be this expert negotiator to get a fair deal. I hate to haggle. When you go to a restaurant you dont haggle over the chicken parmesan. Why cant carbuying be like that . As long as people drive cars carmax will be the best way to buy them. Time for a new routine. Eartburn flareups . Try nexium® 24hr. The latest choice for frequent heartburn. Get complete protection. Nexium level protection. Yeah, its a samsung is thatwith activewash. Achine . Its got a builtin sink to pretreat and help get stains out. How about this . The samsung washing machine with activewash. Get 10 off select major appliances 396 and above. At lowes. Back on this sunday morning. Do you remember when the ice bucket challenges were all the rage . It seemed like just about everybody was doing them . Of course, look at andy. It was in an effort to raise money for als research and tens of millions of dollars was raised. The challenge is back. Supporters are hoping a new round of videos will help spur a new round of donations. Here is kelly jackson. Reporter it made a splash last summer coast to coast all the way to 30 rock. Now the ice bucket challenge is back. After raising 220 million into research for als. Als has been known as a disease that was underfunded. Now we have some real financial support. Reporter for pat quinn, its personal. He has als and hopes the new videos from major leaguers and major stars will support a new round of donations. That can happen more than once. The money will have an effect and it will lead to a breakthrough. Reporter already the Als Association funneled millions of dollars to researchers looking for a cure like this team at Johns Hopkins which published new findings on a protein cluster found in 97 of als patients. This is breakthrough weve searched for a long time for what the protein does. Without the Financial Stability to pursue high risk high reward research, we cant really engage in the fundamental questions of disease. Reporter its preliminary. Years from clinical trials. To als supporters its a start. To those living with als its about more than money. Als is tough. We go from smiling and laughing. Reporter another reason to take the challenge this summer and make every drop count. For today Hallie Jackson nbc news. Its so brilliant that such Competition Among charities to try to get everybodys attention. Its something that everybody can do. My friendss little guys are 4 and 5 and they got excited. Yeah. A great way to raise the awareness level as well as well as Important Research dollars. The pregnant tv meteorologist who is fighting back against the viewers who body shamed her. Body shamed her. Easy way to pay online. N enter your username and password. A few clicks. And check out. Simple as that. No reentering payment and billing info. You feel like youre onestep ahead. Say hello to visa checkout. Visa. Everywhere you want to be. The thing is people think boys are loud and immature and dont care about feelings. But theyre wrong. Thanks. Kleenex. Someone needs one. A pregnant tv meteorologist is getting a lot of support this morning. She fought back against people who were body shaming her. This is ridiculous. Sheinelle is in the orange room with more. Katie works in philadelphia. Shes nearly 35 weeks pregnant with twins she said she knows being on tv can make her a target for criticism. He w she was horrified after people called her a sausage casing and sticking your pregnant abdomen out is like is disgusting. She wrote, you this little manifesto is dedicated to every mother out there other pregnant moms to be moms reading this while their toddlers play. You are beautiful. She goes on to say frankly, i dont care how terrible or inappropriate anyone thinks i look, i will gladly gain 50 pounds and suffer sleepless uncomfortable nights if it means upping my chances to deliver two healthy baby girls. Its about more thanes a threat threatthrea esthetics. One mother said what a great role model you are already to your girls as a mom of three girls i applaud you. Another person said you look great. Working at eight months pregnant with twins . You go girl you cant imagine carrying twins and having to share it with the world is not easy. She looks amazing you had twins. To make it to 35 weeks is an accomplishment to be working she looks fantastic. Can people stop being rude for no reason . I second that. We think kate looks great. Thats a show. We should hashtag th if i want to go up. Hello. If