here at nbc 10, thanks for watching. i'm renee chenault-fattah. >> i'm jim rosenfield. the news continues with "nbc nightly news." on our broadcast tonight -- making history. the surprise announcement by the president, the u.s., and cuba agree to normalize relations after more than half a century, opening up the floodgates for travel and commerce. tonight the prisoner swaps, the tearful reunion for an american held there for years. the fallout and reaction from here to havana. breaking news -- the feds say they know who was behind the sony attack as the studio now cancels its christmas-day movie release after threats of violence. and nightmare flight -- a genuinely terrifying ride, the kind of turbulence that has rarely ever been recorded on video as passengers are heard praying for their lives. "nightly news" begins now.

good evening. four out of five americans alive today have never known a free cuba, and while that didn't change today, a lot of history seems to fall down at once. it's been over half a century of tension, fear, cold war and frigid relations. the u.s. and cuba are moving to now restore diplomatic relations effective today. that will change a lot between the two countries, separated by 90 miles of ocean and several decades in terms of economic advancement. the day started with the homecoming of an imprisoned american and a prisoner swap and it then went quickly from there. before we get reaction from cuba to south florida tonight, our chief foreign affairs correspondent andrea mitchell starts us off from the state department this evening. andrea, good evening. >> reporter: good evening, brian. that half-century change with

relations began with the release of one man from a cuban prison and his dramatic homecoming. the drama began early this morning when state department contractor alan gross flew home on a government plane with his wyche, judy, after five years in a cuban prison, cheering when he entered usair space, accompanied by senator pat leahy and others who negotiated his freedom, getting a call from the president, en. >> joe:ing popcorn, pancakes and a corned beef on rye with mustard. >> i'm incredibly blessed finally to have the freedom to resume a positive and constructive life. >> reporter: arriving at andrews air force base to a hug from the secretary of state as they watched president obama unveil an historic policy change. >> neither the american nor cuban people are served by a rigid policy rooted in events that took place before most of us were born. >> reporter: simultaneously in havana, president raul castro -- >> translator: this decision of president obama is worthy of the

respect and neck in addition of our people. >> reporter: the u.s. and cuban presidents had talked tuesday for 45 minutes, a first for the two run countries in a half-century. today's carefully orchestrated deal. three cubans convicted of conspireing to spy on the u.s. were released after 15 years in prison. the u.s. got back a top american spy imprisoned for 20 years in havana. the congressionally mandated u.s. trade embargo against havana remains, but president obama is restoring full diplomatic relations. embassies will open in havana and washington. the u.s. will review and likely remove cuba from the list of terrorist nations, ease travel restriction, open banking ties, permit the use of debit cards in cuba. cuban-americans can send more money to the island. how did it happen? after decades of tension between di fi dell castro and washington, 18 months of secret talks, some in canada, a big push from the first

latin-american pope. senator pat leahy shuttling between washington and havana. >> we have frequent flier miles, you see. >> is it great to be back in america? >> great to be back. >> and a new home. >> i'm looking forward to buying a new computer and getting a mobile phone, getting a wristwatch and everything that normal people do. >> reporter: telemundo and anchor jose vilas ballard said americans want to see big reforms in cue kuba. >> the process of calling for free and democratic elections, the release of political prisoners and freedom of the press, of worshipping, of labor uni unions. >> reporter: the u.s. will now be pressing hard for those reforms, but after in the past suggesting cuba's offer of help, after katrina, the bp oil spill, leaders of both countries say they are ready to start a new era. brian? >> reporter: andrea mitchell from the state department tonight. thanks. now to the reaction to all of this in cuba.

nbc's mark potter is there for us tonight. mark, good evening. >> reporter: good evening, brian. here on cuban street, the announcement in washington and havana have been met with great excitement. this is something the cuban people have wondanted for years better relations with their powerful neighbor to the north, hoping it would dramatically improve their live ls. cubans welcome today's news, over. >> joe:ed that the three cuban agents held by the u.s. will be coming home. they're national heroes here. but it is much more than that. people watching today's announcement saw a chance for cuba and the united states, bitter enemies for decades, to become friends. "we are very happy," this man says. "we've been waiting many years for this." more than 50 years, in fact. fidel castro swept to power at the height of the cold war, but he's 88 now, last seen publicly in july in failing health. his revolution is showing its age too. and havana, known for its charm

and vintage cars, is on life support, its economy crippled by the long-standing u.s. embargo. people here now hope that will change. "let's see if the embargo can be lifted so our quality of life can improve so we can get more food, more things from other country," this man said. the potential for u.s. economic investment here is enormous. even cuba's famous cigar, now restricted in the u.s., could see a booming market. if travel restrictions are lifted, millions more american touris could visit this caribbean island nation so close to the united states. and many cubans and cuban-americans, friends and relatives, could soon be reunited, much freer than now to travel between the two countries. that would be a revolution. and over the years, the cuban people have been through many ups and downs in u.s./cuban relations, and many worried here if these changes will actually occur. but many others believe they are much closer today than they have been for decades. brian? >> our thanks to mark potter in

havana for us tonight. mark, thanks. to your last point, anyone in their mid-50s and on up remember what is a looming presence cuba has been in our lives from the cold war era until present day. back in '59, castro overthrew the president, declared a revolutionary socialist state. then president kennedy tried and failed to overthrow castro at the bay of pigs. then the cuban missile crisis. soviet missiles were moved into position, remember, 90 miles from the u.s. many thought nuclear war was inevitable, something we talked about today with the head of the council on foreign relations, richard haass. >> there was no guarantee. we were going to survive this. this was the first real nuclear crisis, and there was -- there was a sense when people went off to school, or husbands and wooichs kissed good-bye in the morning that it was fateful. >> having survived that fateful time in recent years, 125,000

cubans came to our shores, then witnessed the kind of tawdry custody battle over young boy, elian gonzalez. and now, as you just saw, fidel castro, as old and frail, a new generation has come up, not really understanding the point of the revolution or some of the hardship in cuba while a number of u.s. conservatives came out today and blasted this development as appeasement, bargaining away our security. tonight the cuban-american community in miami is weighing in on how history has taken yet another turn. nbc's jacob rascon is there for us tonight. jacob, good evening. >> reporter: brian, good evening. tonight we're at calf tay versailles at lit hall vana, where the community of the cuban exile community come for coffee and conversation. tonight the crowd has been growing in numbers and emotion all day. welcome to little havana, the cuban-american capital of the

united states. alive as always with political passion. "this is terrible," the man says. it was an announcement many believe they wouldn't live to here and some wished they hadn't. >> i think it's a terrible mistake. >> reporter: for cuban-american sebastian paris, the reversal in u.s./cuban relations mean he can finally visit his family. >> of course it will change things, especially for friends and family in queue kuba. why can't we do the things we do with china? they can travel, have mcdonald's, american products. why can't cubans have the same things? i don't get it. >> reporter: reaction is split between those old enough to remember cuba's darkest days -- >> when are they going to free cuba from dictatorship? this guy has been intervening in all of it and nobody touch him. why? >> reporter: -- and the younger generation. >> something that's great. it brings attention to this issue that so many of us latins

struggle with on a daily basis, frankly. >> reporter: in colorado today, restaurant owner anna says today's change is a start. she was born in havana and fled to the u.s. with her parents more than 40 years ago. >> we want the island to be free. we're only 90 miles away from the coast of florida. and our people suffer on a daily basis. they need everything. so i really hope that what's happening now it's is beginning, you know, of really close freedom for my people. >> reporter: and old and young cuban-american, there is common ground, everyone seeming to be pleased that alan gross is free as now everyone here, the shouting matches are no doubt just getting started. brian? >> jacob rascon in the little havana section of miami for us tonight. jacob, thanks. there is breaking news tonight on this ongoing electronic attack on sony pictures. nbc news has confirmed the feds have determined who is to blame,

and they are ready to name north korea as the instigators of this. the news comes as the studio has pulled out of the christmas-day release of the film "the interview," the movie that sparked the threats of violence. nbc's joe friar in our l.a. newsroom tonight with late details. good evening. >> good evening, brian. u.s. officials tell nbc news the hacking attack originated outside north korea, but they believe the individuals behind it were acting on orders from the north koreans. one u.s. government source says we have found linkage to the north korean government. and today in the wake of all this, the interview's christmas release was canceled. >> it's not eve an real story. >> reporter: after the country's biggest movie chains announced they would not be showing "the interview" next week, sony pictures declared it won't move forward with the film's christmas release, saying, "we expect and under our partners' decision and of course completely share their paramount

interest in the safety of employees and theatergoers." >> it's really shocking. ap owl of this is entirely unprecedented. >> reporter: earlier today, five major movie chains announced they were holding off on the film. in a statement, regal cited wavering support of the film "the interview" by sony pictures as well as the ambiguous nature of any real or perceived security threats. >> it stinks for people that actually want to see the film and, like, are looking forward it to. >> hello, north korea! >> reporter: the hacker who is infiltrated sony pictures have said they want to stop the release of "the interview," a comedy about a plot to assassinate north korea's leader. in a threat to theaters showing the film, the hackers wrote, "the world will be full of fear. remember the 11th of september, 2001." the department of homeland security says there's no credible intelligence to indicate a plot against movie theaters, but the chains didn't want to take the chance.

>> you're looking at a loss to sony of upwards of $50 million in theatrical revenues that they otherwise would have received. >> reporter: today hollywood power player judd apatou said i think it's disgraceful. and for sony, the company says, we stand by our filmmakers and their right to free expression and are extremely disappointed in this outcome. the wording of sony's announcement leaves open the possibility the interview could be released in some form down the road, but that may hinge on what happens with the ongoing investigation into this cyber attack. >> joe friar in our l.a. newsroom, thanks. we turn now to the horror in pakistan, the country now observing three days of official mourning after one of the worst mass killings in history. the taliban murdered over 140 people in an instant, an overwhelming number of them children. now, as protests erupt against the government that is too often seen powerless to stop

extremists, the country is doing away with its moratorium on the death penalty in terrorism cases. still ahead on this wednesday night, the kind of thing we rarely see recorded -- violent turbulence strikes without warning at 35,000 feet, an agonizing ride as passengers are forced to pray for their lives. and later, bringing back a big part of childhood that's gone missing from so many u.s. classrooms. ♪ music ...the getaway vehicle! for all the confidence you need. td ameritrade. you got this. [ inhales deeply ] [ sighs ] [ inhales ]

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>> reporter: and some passengers began to play. >> dear lord, i love my family. >> i haven't seen this. i have flown about 5 million miles, and this was probably the worst i have seen. >> reporter: with the plane a complete mess and passengers injured, the pilot turned back and landed in tokyo. in all, 14 injured, seven taken to area hospital, including a flight attendant with a broken arm. >> everything that wasn't bolted down or seat belted flew into the air. >> reporter: to date, many of flight 280's passengers arrived in dallas. american airlines says the plane had been routed around a winter storm in the area, but without warning it ran into severe clear-air turbulence. clear-air turbulence is essentially a fast wave-like motion created by atmospheric pressure, jet streams, and air pockets. while modern planes carry advanced weather mapping systems, turbulence can be very difficult to forecast. >> there's no way to predict. you're in clear air. it all looks good. and then suddenly you find you're in moderate or greater turbulence. >> reporter: 30 to 50 people are injured in turbulence each year,

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earners and the rest of the country, at its widest point in over 30 years. the economy is a factor in another stat. law school enroll suspect down to its lowest point since 1982, and it's down big. a rough job market being cited as a big part of the cause. decision 2014 just ended today. the last undecided congressional race in our country was decided for the republican martha mcsally, who defeated ron barber by 167 votes in arizona. he was the aid to gabby giffords, who took over the seat after her shooting. this gop pickup in arizona means the largest republican house majority in 83 years. when overtime is over, nhl games get decided by shoot-outs, and pro hockey history was made last night when the shoot-out between the florida panthers and the washington capitals went 20 rounds before the panthers won a 2-1 game. that's 40 shots on goal of

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tonight we go west to find the story of creative young minds, talented kids who deserve help, but for them the school money just isn't there anymore the way it was for so many of us in things like the arts. but there are schools in california going to great lengths to make up for what they're missing. we get the story tonight from nbc's rehema ellis. >> reporter: this is a sound rarely heard in california's public school, but at claireton elementary in san francisco, you hear tyco drumming a lot. this class on iconic japanese music and culture is a favorite. how does it make you feel? >> powerful. >> because it builds up my confidence, especially when we have performances. >> reporter: the class is taught by a visiting instructor paid through a grant from a california arts program and private fund-raisers to fill a budget gap in public schools.

california spends less per student on art programs than almost every other state, demand many low-income communities, art programs have been completely phased out because of lack of funds. even here, amidst the stunning vineyards of napa valley, miles from san francisco, schools are also struggling for arts funding. at salvador elementary, the principal raised money for puppetry classes, which have attracted a diverse group of students. >> it just sort of changes how kids connect with their learning, and they are connected. >> reporter: 6-year-old connor confirms this. do you like it here? >> oh, yeah. >> reporter: oh, yeah. back in san francisco, the andrews family rallied to get their daughter, maiya, in claireton for that very reason. >> have her in a public school to give this exposure is wonderful, wonderful. we're very proud. >> reporter: beating budget shortcomings and giving students a better chance to make the sounds of success.

rehema ellis, nbc news, san francisco. that's our broadcast on an eventful wednesday night. thank you for being here with us. i'm brian williams. we, of course, hope to see you right back here tomorrow evening. good night. the unbelievable upset on "the voice" finale. >> how blake toppled adam again with the guy who almost got cut twice, now on "extra." ♪ blake beats adam for the fourth time. let the smack talk begin.

>> the crap he's going to have to hear from me. >> why new champ craig wayne boyd almost quit singing. plus, jennifer hudson squeezed into skin-tight black leather, showing off her amazing weight loss. stephen collins finally confesses. >> collins' very first interview. why he says you didn't hear the full story. new video, jen aniston and kevin hart on the sony hack attack. angelina revealing her cyber security team. plus, the question that made angie say this -- >> so many things that are inappropriate come to mind. in today's star photo feed, lindsay stripped down to her underwear. and what happened when sharon osborne lost a tooth live on the air? >> oh, [ bleep ]. this is "extra" at universal studios hollywood, the entertainment capital of l.a. [ cheers and applause ] welcome to "extra." mario is