17/04/2014 ABC World News with Diane Sawyer

supermarket's performance. Lots more on our website. Time now for a look

at the news as seen across the United States a couple of hours ago,

in ABC World News with Diane Sawyer. Welcome to World News. Tonight,

amazing rescue, frantically pulling hundreds of schoolchildren off a

giant fairy thinking in the water and South Korea. Passengers pulled

from cabin windows, and through it all, children taxing their parents

on shore. `` ferry. Moving in, what our lawyers doing, as families

grieve over the missing plane. You are accused of being a high`stakes

ambulance chaser. A lot more snow on the way. Good evening to you. On

this Wednesday night, we start with the urgent race to save hundreds of

people thinking into the ocean. It began as a slow motion tragedy, a

giant fairy taking on water. We read the text messages from students on

board to their family members on land. A desperate rescue mission.

First responders struggling to reach the massive ferry, on its side and

sinking fast. Locking passengers, many of them teenagers, clutching

railings to keep their footing `` plucking passengers. It was very

intense. The ship was tilted more than 45 degrees. Helicopters

dropping first responders onto the sinking boat. This woman clinging to

a balcony railing. Grabbing hold of a rescuer's hand. Lifting people to

safety, one by one, from the deck. And from frigid 50 degrees water,

watch as this life raft is thrown to survivors floating 12 miles from

land in the middle of the sea. The boat was sailing to a southern

resort island, most of the passengers were high school students

on a class trip. Near the end of the journey, survivors say they heard a

thud, and the boat again to turn on its side. One floor below, the

crowded cafeteria and game room, where many were thought to have been

trapped. Tonight, questions about whether those passengers were told

to wait for help rather than trying to get out. TRANSLATION: The

announcement told us we should stay still. At the ship was already

sinking. It took just two hours for the boat to go from this, to this.

Sinking in 90 foot seas. On shore, hundreds of angry, frantic

families. Korean news stations reported some parents received texts

from their children. Tonight, the parents are scanning a

handwritten list of survivors. Searching for their loved ones'

names. The latest numbers are six dead, and 200 still missing, as the

search gets under way on its second day. Thank you very much. And so

many people here at home watching that large vote sink were asking,

what could you do to survive in that situation? `` large boat. Could you

swim away? Our correspondent with a survival guide. It took just two

hours for the ferry to disappear. I spoke to the chief naval engineer

for the coastguard. I suspect it had damaged on the left`hand side of the

ship. That caused flooding, which made the ship keel over. Even a

large ship can sink very quickly. This one went under in moments. In

1991, this ship took over a day. The ship can suck survivors under the

water. It was reportedly in a rocky area, if it struck a rock, it could

have taken on water quite quickly. The ship would have gone under

quickly. Escape becomes impossible. If they jumped, it would be 25 feet

from an upper deck into the water. You really shouldn't jump unless you

know it will sink or you have a place to go. And back here at home,

it is hard to believe our eyes. So much snow. In mid April. Cars and

slippery accidents, and just when we were thought we were clear to

celebrate spring `` and just when we thought we were clear to celebrate

spring. We asked our correspondent whether it has ever happened this

late in spring before. The snowploughs are back, with fresh

snow in Minnesota tonight. From Alabama to New Hampshire, we are

asking, this is spring? A dramatic drop in temperatures, with winds

gusting to 70 mph. At least one person is dead, in as floodwaters

swept him away. Chicago has seen a trace of snow as late as June two,

and Boston made the 10th. Can you believe it? More snow was on the

way. This would be for the Northern great Lakes. We are talking 4`8

inches. Some places 12 inches or more. That is abnormal. They get

snow here in April. It will stick around for one more day. There is

freeze warnings. It is hovering around the States, just above

freezing mark. Just for one more day and then it will warm up. What we

have learned today from that bomb scare in Boston. It introduced a

strange twist to an inspiring anniversary. Today we saw the man

accused of the hoax in court and read a statement from his mother

that was a plea for help. At his hearing in a Boston courtroom, this

man appeared grim, but said nothing. The 25`year`old is in a

state psychiatric hospital tonight. Accused of leaving the backpack at

the finish line that led to some tense moments on the one`year

anniversary of the Marathon bombing. He was stopped by a police

officer who saw him ranting and walking barefoot in the middle of

the street in the pouring rain. The backpack was blown up as a

precaution. Police later said there was nothing explosive inside, just a

rice cooker filled with confetti. His mother told ABC News the

following: she says she has run a marathon

herself six times and had this message for those running next

week: now we turn to the search for the

missing passenger plane, flight 370, all hope is now resting from the

unmanned submarine slowly tracing the bottom of the ocean. `` on the.

The families released a list of questions that they say authorities

have failed to answer. Our correspondent says that some of

those families are feeling vulnerable in other ways.

In the midst of their anguish and grief... Families of the missing

passengers say they are being besieged by high`stakes versions of

ambulance chasers. US lawyers looking for clients. That is piling

insult on to injury. That is not acceptable. Be US lawyers who have

already shown up in Malaysia are members of a law firm from Chicago.

Led by this woman. Already discussing multi`million dollar

lawsuit against bowing before anyone knows exactly what has happened. We

cannot wait for them to find the wreckage. ``Boeing. According to

grief counsellors they have been aggressively distributing leaflets

in Chinese to family members, that would be illegal in the USA, in

order to protect honourable families that a difficult time. This man is a

grief counsellor in Beijing and he told ABC about the experience of one

family. `` vulnerable. They said they could get $1 million of the

plane was confirmed as crashing. He had to let us do it. So he had to

sign something? So they could do it for us. And the addresses of this

Chicago high`rise. But it appeared to be empty. Supposedly being

remodelled. When we caught up with the lead lawyer, she denied any of

her lawyers solicit clients directly. They said everyone asked

her to represent them. At this point, before the plane is found or

any bodies are covered, should you be negotiating with these families?

`` are recovered. It is up to the families? Is that ethical? Are you

proud of doughnut? Of course. They made employers at one point but

veteran lawyers are saying what happens now often happens after big

charities and is a gold rush by lawyers who know there could be

millions of dollars of legal fees. `` big tragedies. Thank you. We turn

to another story in the news, US intelligence experts are studying

this video for clues, a conference of Al Qaeda fighters, some of them

escaped from jail, and some are Al Qaeda's most dangerous man.

Officials believe the video is authentic and recent. Down under

today, the pictures may still look like a charming postcard but the

trip by the Royals has a diplomatic target. In the past, young

Australians have shown less support for being part of the Commonwealth,

but a new poll shows it is rising. The glamorous couple and their tiny

prints could be helping. Now it is Australia's turn.

The royal Charm offensive arrived down under today led by Prince

George bouncing delightedly in his father 's arms. A global superstar

already at eight months old. Such an attractive young family. Continuing

on their mission... To what? This three`week tour of Australia and New

Zealand, where George had an epic play date and Kate played cricket in

heels, this is about building the Royal brand. And renewing ties that

bind nations together. Ashley and New Zealand are part of the

Commonwealth, 53 countries, 2.2 billion people, most former

colonies, that all share a history of being ruled by the British Crown.

Although she technically remains head of the association, Queen

Elizabeth has no real political power of these countries any more.

There are other kinds of influence today, like celebrity. So, as her

great`grandson takes to the world stage with mum and dad, could

actually be strengthening the monarchy, and Britain's abiding

role, in so much of the world. He is being adorable, for Queen and

country. One poignant image from the trip, Prince William let him play

with a large toy wombat, and everyone noted that is what Princess

Diana used to call him. Next, the murder trial of Oscar Pistorius

today, we will play you to sounds to see if you can tell the difference.

The difference could help determine guilt or innocence.

A dramatic day in court for the murder trial of Oscar Pistorius.

Today, the question, what did the neighbours here? Which of these

sounds is the truth? Oscar Pistorius had his hands on his

ears, the court room is filled with critical sounds. In re creation put

on by his legal team to prove he is telling the truth. First, a bat

hitting word. And then the sounds of gunshots. `` hitting word. Witnesses

reported hearing screams and then a gunshot. With this audio recording,

the defence is hoping to illustrate similarities between the sounds of

gunshots and a bat hitting the bathroom door. ``wood. He claims

after hitting his model girlfriend by mistake, he used a bat to break

through the bathroom door. In a desperate race to help her. The

prosecution claimed he was arguing with her all along. She screamed,

and he shot her in cold blood. The sounds were played in court by this

forensics expert. The lead prosecutor tore into him, pointing

out that he is merely a forensic geologist. An expert in minerals and

material found in the earth. Beginning on Friday the court will

take a two`week break in a ruling that could come as late as July. It

is worth noting, for the 24 days of the trial so far, the family of

revisiting camp, including her mother, have been there in court. We

have watched them, sometimes steely resolve, sometimes anguish,

sometimes dissolving in tears. Now, tonight, that two`week break before

the ordeal resumes. Time for the index tonight. Results are in on the

best and worst jobs in America, based on salary, stress, and job

prospects. At the top of the list, mathematician, followed by Professor

and statistician. The worst jobs in America tonight include newspaper

reporters, broadcasters, although we beg to differ! The very worst job,

according to the survey, is a lumberjack. Job prospects dim as

machinery takes over. And, introducing the wild ride in

Georgia. A runaway horse and terrified tourists. The carriage

ripping through the streets of Savannah. For six white knuckle

blocks went on until it the force slowed, and he was fed carrots to

calm him. `` until the horse. These twins were born conjoined, connected

at the abdomen, and after surgery, they were separated and today they

left the hospital. Tiny survivors facing the next chapter. Thank you

for watching, see you tomorrow night. Good night.

Something of a north`south split. Some outbreaks of rain and quite

breezy. A rather chilly feel. Come the afternoon, cloud will pull

further south. There could be some light rain across East