on our broadcast tonight from london, the biggest blackout in the world by far, in a huge nation where half the people couldn't turn on the lights today, and gridlock took officer. in syria, what could be a new stage in the fight and a game changer for the rebels. here at these games, phelps in the pool again, and making big news ain. sore the women of the u.s. gymnastics team. and tonight our interview with high school swimmer and now gold medal swimmer missy franklin. "nightly news" from london begins now. captions paid for by nbc-universal television

good evening from olympic park in london, where in a moment we will update you on another history making day here, and a momentous day for team usa in gymnastics and swimming. however, we begin tonight with what was by far the largest blackout in world history. at its peek today near 10% of the world's population was without power. it happened in india, where just under 670 million people found themselves plunged into darkness and gridlock. and this involves something that is a bit of an issue in the u.s. an aging power grid. we begin tonight with jim maceda. >> reporter: imagine being caught in a blackout the size of america and then double it.

traffic lights, hundreds of trains and subways, all grinding to a halt. that's the kind of chaos that people in india, as many as 670 million of them faced over the last two days as half of the national power grid shut down. so did an elevator in a mine shaft in west bengal trap mine workers for hours. and air conditioning, even fans stopped in many hospitals. i paid for an extra said this patient. because of the blackout, i can't get it now. monday's outage was bad enough, but as switches tripped across the country. a 2,000 mile swath was plunged into darkness. officials overwhelmed, blamed the states for using more power than they were allocated by the national government. record blackouts are bound to happen, as an outdated grid just can't keep up with the appetite of an emerging superpower.

>> there are going to be a lot of tough questions to answer this is the worst we've seen in over a decade. >> reporter: india is used to blackouts. the added cost of fuel to run the generators hurts struggling indians. we need electricity, our machines don't work, and generators aren't that helpful. everyone's in trouble he said. tonight power has returned to the capital of new delhi, but across the world's second most populous nation, tens of millions remain in the dark. jim maceda, nbc news, india. the battle for aleppo is now in its 12th day. tonight richard engel has learned of a development in that battle that may be a turning point for the rebels. richard is with us again tonight from inside syria. >> reporter: good evening, brian. rebel sources tell nbc news that

for the first time in this conflict the free syrian army has been armed with nearly 2 dozen shoulder fired anti-aircraft missiles. they came in from turkey, rebels hope this is the first batch and say their effects will be felt soon. >> for days in aleppo, syrian troops have had total air superiority. that is now changing. and the new anti-aircraft weapons could help their battle for aleppo. the syrian government promised to make quick work of what it called the frists in aleppo. but the rebels are holding on. the rebels battled to defend every corner of their strong hold in the southwest of the city. they took over a police station, defaced images of president assad. thousands of civilians continue to flee the city today. a doctor who didn't want to be fully identified escaped aleppo

and said the city is critically short of medical supplies. a few miles away, a vegetable merchant says the syrian government isn't just attacking aleppo, but shelling towns around it, to cut off the rebels' movements. >> you were eating in your house and then a big explosion? >> they were having dinner, he says. in towns all around aleppo, rebels are setting up defensive positions in case they're attacked next. here they've set up a barricade on a main road. it wouldn't stop a tank invasion, but at least might slow it down. the rebels are preparing. now armed with weapons that can counter assad's feared air force. richard engel, nbc news, in northern syria. now, to mitt romney's three nation overseas trip which ended today almost the way it started here in london, with controversy. some hurt feelings and some raw tempers. campaigning back home in the states is hard enough. the stakes weren't supposed to be this high for the campaign

overseas. nbc's peter alexander is traveling with the governor and remains in warsaw tonight. peter, good evening. >> reporter: brian, good evening to you. here in poland, mitt romney wrapped up his week-long foreign tour visiting several war memorials and praising the polish people, small government and free enterprise economy. this trip was supposed to be a low risk one, with romney projecting the image of a leader ready for the world stage. it was at times by missteps, offending his olympic hosts and palestinian leaders. tensions grew today over restricted access. and this morning it boiled over when romney ignored shouted questions and a press aide angrily intervened. >> mr. romney -- >> show some respect. >> taken three questions.

>> show some respect. >> reporter: that press aide later apologized to reporters, but be very clear tonight. this did not go the way the campaign had planned. as they land back in boston, they are all happy to be focusing on what they think is the top issue in this election, the economy. >> peter alexander in warsaw. now to the olympic games in london. the focus is in the pool and on the u.s. women's gymnastics team. here's what we have to do tonight, because news was made here today, and it's already been flashed all around the world. we have too talk about some real results, something we normally try not to do, for the sake of those folks who like to watch it happen in prime time. fair warning here and lots of it, for the next two minutes or so, we're going to be talking about what happened at the olympics, who won, who lost, and the history that was made here today. and here to do that, nbc's kevin tibbles. we really do hate to do it in

cases where people like to watch it happen. >> absolutely. but history was made here in london tonight. an evening of records, redemption and high drama. he is now the greatest olympian of all time. tonight michael phelps proved why, winning two olympic metals, a silver and a gold. making it a career total of 19. phelps had gotten off to a rough start at these games, stunning the swim world by not making the podium in the 400 meter individual medley. but tonight he turned it around in this, what he says, is his last olympics. >> it's the last, probably 20 meters of the race, i started smiling, i knew we had won. a very special night, special feeling. time to get some rest for some other eventses. >> reporter: phelps thanked his teammates, including rival ryan lochte for helping him make

history. across town there was history of another kind. for the first time in a generation when the magnificent seven captured hearts and gold in atlanta 1996, the u.s. gymnastics team are champions. and there's no doubt dr. the favorites coming into london, the fab five as they're called are deep in talent and dominated this event from the vault to the floor exercises. bella coroll pi coached that '96 team. >> they're a strong and powerful united team. >> reporter: kross the youngest raisman at 18 the team captain. and a dramatic comeback for jordan weaver, who was in tears

for misqualifying for her all around event. >> this is good redemption for me and the fact that we all came together and put all our hard work in. i'm proud of everybody. >> reporter: as for china, the team missed the podium all together, finishing fourth. they're calling the fab five the greatest u.s. women's gymnastics team ever. when it comes to michael phelps, you can't argue with that at all. already the u.k. papers have him on the front page saying the greatest olympian period. >> a lot of emotion out of these games today. kevin tibbles wrapping it all up. we have an update on a story we told about you last night. the chinese swimming sensation, who smashed the world record in the 400 meter medley over the weekend and put in times faster than ryan lochte over the u.s. raising all kinds of doping speculation. including the american coach calling her win disturbing.

the british olympic association cleared her, saying the anti-doping agency is on top of things here. she was tested, and she's clean. and score one for the home team's royal phillips, zara phillips finished behind germany, as will, kate, harry and other selected members of the family looked on. she was presented with her medal by her mom, princess anne. still ahead, as nightly news continues. what may be the comeback of all time, the place we are standing in right now is the proof of that. and later, they call her the missile. 17-year-old missy franklin, bringing home a gold medal. and tonight we talk to her and her proud parents. ♪ [ female announcer ] for everything your face has to face. face it with puffs facial tissues.

unlike the leading regular tissue, puffs has soft, air-fluffed pillows for 40% more cushiony thickness. so you can always put your best face forward. face every day with puffs softness. begins with back pain and a choice. take advil, and maybe have to take up to four in a day. or take aleve, which can relieve pain all day with just two pills. good eye. which can relieve pain all day with just two pills. sometimes life can be well, a little uncomfortable. but when it's hard or hurts to go to the bathroom, there's dulcolax stool softener. dulcolax stool softener doesn't make you go, it just makes it easier to go. dulcolax stool softener.

make yourself comfortable. back here in london, you've perhaps seen the british world war ii era poster, keep calm and carry on. that about sums up how this city survived world war ii. unlike the mainland u.s., the war was fought here. in fact, much of the blitz of german bombs hit this end of town, and it's been a long recovery. they lost 20,000 londoners, another 70,000 were wounded and a million homes were wiped out here. but hitler picked the wrong country to defeat. and hitler certainly picked the

wrong city. it was a stunning sight on the horizon, german bombers wing to wing and 20 miles wide closing in on london, and the blitz was underway. ron mitchell was 12 years old that day. >> the next thing we heard was the bombs exploding. they were bombing the docks and you could see everything going up. >> jean archer was a young girl. >> everything was burning. it was just absolute nightmare, something you never forget. >> many of the volunteer firefighters had never encountered fire before. hitler had vowed to destroy london, and break the city's resolve. a big target early on was the east end, the factories, wear houses and docks vital to the war effort. but hitler picked the wrong people. the east end was packed with poor but proud immigrants. their labor built the place, and

this wasn't about to stop them. >> the battle of london is still on. never before has any city with stood such a sustained attack from the air. each day sees more damage done. >> after that first couple of nights of total shock. defiance, he wasn't going to get his way, they were going to stand up to him. >> d. wood was a teenager back then. >> i would go out in the morning, i didn't know if my parents would be there when i came back or not. same as thousands of other people. >> ron mitchell served as a bike messenger to deliver messages. >> i remember cycling while the air raid was on. shrapnel coming down from the bursting anti-aircraft shells. >> german bombs hit parliament, damaged big ben, and buckingham palace, which oddly made the queen one with the people. she famously said the bombing at

her house made her feel she could look the east end in the face. >> we're walking along to where we lived. >> his home has been rebuilt. land that was once pulverized and cratered, now home to apartments, a thriving financial center and the london 2012 olympic park. >> nobody ever doubted we would win the war. we just wouldn't let it happen. otherwise there wouldn't be much point in winning. >> in the end they kept calm and carried on. at the time they called it blitz spirit. the british resolve crucial in winning the war. and just today, just this afternoon, not far from here, outside one of the new olympic venues, we happened to glance down at the unmistakable sight of pock marked bullet holes in an old stone pillar. even in this now gleaming city, the war is never that far off. real proof tonight of what

these olympics are doing to people who should be doing something else. ...98, 99, 100! ready or not, here i come! ♪ found ya! you always find me. you always hide here. [ male announcer ] tim and richard smucker have always loved the taste of just-picked fruit. so it's no wonder why today smucker's makes the world's best jam. for five generations, with a name like smucker's, it has to be good. my name is sunshine and i have three beautiful girls. i like taking advil® for a headache. it nips it in the bud. and i can be that mommy that i want to be. ♪ [ male announcer ] take action. take advil®. the calcium they take because they don't take it with food. switch to citracal maximum plus d.

it's the only calcium supplement that can be taken with or without food. that's why my doctor recommends citracal maximum. it's all about absorption. insuring that stuff must be a pain. nah, he's probably got... [ dennis' voice ] allstate. they can bundle all your policies together. lot of paperwork. [ doug's voice ] actually... [ dennis' voice ] an allstate agent can help do the switching and paperwork for you. well, it probably costs a lot. [ dennis' voice ] allstate can save you up to 30% more when you bundle. well, his dog's stupid. [ dennis' voice ] poodles are one of the world's smartest breeds. ♪ bundle and save with an allstate agent. are you in good hands?

with an allstate agent. until i had the shingles. i have never encountered such a burning sensation... it was like a red rash. like somebody had set a bag of hot charcoal on my neck. i had no idea it came from chickenpox. it's something you never want to encounter. for more of the inside story, visit shinglesinfo.com

more announcements from the democrats prior to their convention in charlotte 34 days from now. the first lady will address the convention in a prominent prime time roll. and the keynote address, which then senator obama delivered eight years ago, will go to hulian castro, mayor of san antonio. he's the first hispanic to deliver the keynote address at the democratic convention. in other political news. an ohio republican has announced he's leaving congress after nine terms. this is notable, because he's one of the last gop moderates remaining in congress. he said today washington has changed so much since he first got there, and he lamented the fact that compromise has now

become a dirty word. the folks who measure such things say the time we are spending following these summer olympics. in some cases while being paid to follow other things like what's going on at work, could cost american businesses $650 million in productivity, before it's all over. 12% of workers admit they plan to watch some olympics coverage while at work. other surveys put that number closer to 4 in 10 americans in the american workplace. word arrived today from not far away from here in ireland, that the author maeve binchy has died. she sold 40 million books worldwide. she authored circle of friends and tara road among her 16 novels. the prime minister there said today ireland has lost a national treasure. maeve binchy from dublin was 72.

the pressure was on, and missy franklin came through. how this breakout star got her start. [ ryan ] maybe just a short run today.

[ man ] "the odyssey," by homer. book one. tell me, o muse... famous town of troy... book three. book 12. poseidon... book 17. book 20. thunderbolts. book 24. the end. [ ryan ] alright, what's next. [ man ] chapter one. call me ishmael. some years ago... [ male announcer ] at&t. the nation's largest 4g network. rethink possible. challenge that with new olay facial hair removal duo. a two-step process that removes even coarse, stubborn facial hair gently. plenty of gain, without all that pain... with olay. they claim to be complete. only centrum goes beyond. providing more than just the essential nutrients, so i'm at my best.

centrum. always your most complete. his morning starts with arthritis pain. and two pills. afternoon's overhaul starts with more pain. more pills. triple checking hydraulics. the evening brings more pain. so, back to more pills. almost done, when... hang on. stan's doctor recommended aleve. it can keep pain away all day with fewer pills than tylenol. this is rudy. who switched to aleve. and two pills for a day free of pain. ♪ [ female announcer ] and try aleve for relief from tough headaches. finally tonight, we wanted

you to meet one of the stars of these games, even though they're just getting underway. missy franklin, you'll see her again in the pool tonight in prime time. back home she's in high school. last night as she won her first individual gold medal in the 100 meter backstroke, her classmates were going wild as they watched live from our nbc station in denver, kusa. tonight, chris jansen talks with missy and her parents about the making of an american champion. >> reporter: watching 17-year-old missy franklin power her way to gold on monday and flashing her winning smile -- >> i couldn't be happier. >> reporter: -- it has to be hard for her parents not to think back. >> what are you playing with? >> a noodle. >> reporter: to a little girl snorkeling in the pool before she was three. and fearlessly swimming with dolphins when she was five.

the kindergartener who wrote about how much she loved her team. long before she became the breakout star of the 2011 world championships -- >> shatters the american record. >> reporter: missy franklin just loved the water. >> we would sit by the pool for hours after hours after hours. that child would go in and play. we'd take turns. she would never come out. >> being in the water, i can just let everything go. >> reporter: she was built for the part, 6'1", with a 72 inch wing span. and a work ethic that's earned the admiration of quarterback tim tebow, who used to work out at the same gym. >> she's doing it because she has a passion for it. it's exciting to see. >> reporter: passion but no preten pretense. she's been training with the same coach at the local swim club since she was 7. just a few miles from home in

centennial, colorado. where the dinner conversation is more likely to be about her beloved dog or her mom's world class lasagna, than the world championships. >> i have the best parents in the entire world. they have taught me to love with my whole heart. and to be open, and to be kind to everyone. >> reporter: like any other teen, she was thrilled to finally get her license. and drives herself to high school. in all honors classes. but that's not the only thing that makes her exceptional. >> she's a good quality kid, great ethics, great morals. >> reporter: and surprisingly, she still competes for high school. >> swimming on my high school team is unbelievable, they're my second family. >> reporter: she made a pretty remarkable decision, turning down six figures in prize money and endorsements, just so she could continue to be part of a team in college.

something she couldn't do if she turned pro. >> i know, i know, it's so much money. but i can't put a price on friendship. or teammates or that second family. there's no price for that. >> reporter: at a pep rally to send missy off to the olympics, you see melissa jeanette franklin feared by many a competitor, is really all heart. >> i love you so much. knowing no matter what happens this summer i still get to come home to you is the best feeling in the world. >> reporter: but a feeling that just might be matched by standing atop the olympic podium. missy said winning gold for her country was 100 million times more than what she thought it would be. look at this reunion with her family. they are so close, that whatever comes her way now, i cannot believe she won't stay grounded. she really is as impressive out

of the pool as she is in it. >> it's so nice to see her just being a high schoolkid. >> she is so typically teenager. >> chris jansing, great story. thank you for sharing it with us tonight. missy franklin is in the pool tonight. all the coverage starts at 8:00, kw7 00 central. that for us is our broadcast on a tuesday night.