18/03/2014 ABC World News with Diane Sawyer

shown that disability is no barrier to sporting glory. And

congratulations. Time now for a look at the news as seen across the

United States a couple of hours ago in ABC World News with Dianne

Sawyer. We are with the search party looking

for the black boxes from the passenger plane before the batteries

run out. How deep can the search party see into the water? And the

co`pilot? Are there any clues in his last words? The fight between

President Obama and Vladimir Putin tonight. The earthquake that rolled

across Los Angeles. And hidden tragedy. The mystery surrounding the

famous fashion designer, part of a famous couple. Why police believe

she apparently took her own life. Good evening. As we join you, the

global mystery continues and so does the race against time. Somewhere

right now, the black boxes from that missing passenger plane hold answers

as to what happened to all of those people on board, but with every day

that passes, their batteries are fading. We have the latest on the

search. Tonight, flying over the massive Indian Ocean, American

submarine hunters are looking and listening for Flight MH370. It's a

race because one third of the battery life of those black boxes

has now gone, ten days into the search. Much of the search is moving

south, following this southern corridor of a new map showing the

possible last location of Flight MH370. New details tonight about

what happened in the cockpit. The final words from the flight came

from the co`pilot 38 minutes after take`off. Officials say they are

analysing the recording to see if the co`pilot was under stress, if

someone was forcing him to speak. Authorities have offered

contradictory information about the timeline, but sources say the

evidence continues to point to deliberate action. Someone was

definitely in control of this aircraft and knew what they were

doing. As we recently learned in a simulation, there are a couple of

ways to change the direction of an aircraft but it's difficult to do

without the other pilots noticing, so as this search intensifies, there

are more questions. What about the depth of the Indian Ocean? Will be

black boxes help? In the crash of the Air France jet, it was a

miniature submarine that pulled up those boxes, which revealed a

technical problem and pilot error as the cause of the crash. Reaching

those boxes will be helped if any debris can be spotted from the. Our

first indications will likely be debris and by tracking,

are. It's a daunting global search. Tonight, we report from a search

plane over the Indian Ocean. Today, we joined the hunt for Flight

MH370. It is a ten hour journey over blue waters. We are going west of

Indonesia, covering 54,000 square nautical miles. We dropped close to

the ocean's surface every time the pilot sees something to investigate.

The aircraft can detect sound 1000 feet under the water. Today, we were

looking for physical signs of Flight MH370. At night, using infrared

technology to scan the surface of the ocean. This is one example of

the kind of technology that makes this aircraft able to do such an

exhaustive search. Cameras around the plane at like eyes and they can

do extreme zoom movements into anything that might look like it

could be part of Flight MH370. That could be anything from luggage to

debris, even oil. It feels like an inch by inch search. Now, the latest

on the search inside the lives of the pilots. Even the words of the

co`pilot when he said good night. We spoke with the experts today.

Tonight, authorities are urgently studying the captain's at home

flight simulator for clues. It was reassembled at police headquarters.

They want to know if the co`pilot practised the manoeuvres that the

flight made after it made its last communication to air traffic

control. Could these last words provide clues to unlock the case? Do

you believe that person was the pilots or the co`pilot? The initial

investigation indicates that it was the co`pilot who spoke on that last

recording. Have you analysed it for stress? That is part of the

investigation. They will be looking for any hint in the recording. A

stressful voice could imply that the pilot was acting against his will or

that he was planning something. Now, we turn to the other news of

this evening. Ukraine. It's a fight between the two superpowers after

Crimea voted to break away from Ukraine. President Obama and

Vladimir Putin are locked in a jaw and economic pain is the weapon.

Tonight, Vladimir Putin is claiming victory. With his troops on the

border, it looks like Romania will be he is. President Obama is hitting

back. `` Crimea. The sanctions he launched are targeting among others

the Who's Who of Luiten's associates, 11 in all, hitting them

financially. The reaction from Russia, the deputy PM tweeting: Even

the State Department was unable to say whether Russians on the list had

US assets. Panting up confrontation further, a popular Russian TV anchor

posted that Russia is the only country capable of turning the US

into radio act of dust. A face`off between the worlds top nuclear

powers. `` world's. Obama made clear there would be further sanctions if

Putin makes another mood, but he is clearly not concerned about what

happened today. It was just over four hours after Obama announced the

sanctions that Putin officially recognised Crimea as independent

from Ukraine. Back here at home, a rude awakening

for millions on the West Coast. An earthquake delivers a strong jolt as

it rolls across LA this morning. The 4.4 magnitude did not do much damage

but scientists say for the first time a new warning signal it was

coming. `` signalled. Pictures fell from

walls, glass shattered. A kid told me he thought a monster were shaking

his bed. No injuries or major damage but this was one of the biggest

shakers to hit LA since the after`shocks of the north breach

quake which killed many in 1994. `` Northbridge. Villa it's good

preparation. And early warning system prototype worked for the

first time and gave them a couple of seconds warning. Imagine if there

was an alarm in an operating room so the surgeon could will be nice out

of your chest for it came through. In Japan, another earthquake

hotspot, this has been up and running since 2007. We are waiting

for funding to make this a reality in LA.

In the east, St Patrick's Day was overshadowed by white, snow, a fast

moving storm fell from North Carolina to New Jersey. In the

nation 's capital, the Federal Goverment shut down scenes of a

winter wonderland `` with scenes. Tornado watchers across Florida and

across the peninsula. Remember, spring is only three days away. New

trouble for GM, another recall of 1.5 million cars, problems with the

airbags. That follows the news with the faulty cars with the ignition

switch. The head of the GM said it is time for the car to step up ``

company to step up. GM issues three new recall is, 1.5 million SUV 's,

sedans and fans from 2008` 2014 models, for problems including

airbag and break issues. It is part of an effort to ensure GM is acting

quickly to fix problems. Something went wrong with our process and

terrible things happen. In a video message, the new CEO publicly

addressed the Fire storm over last month 's recall of 1.6 million cars

for defective ignition switches, linked to 12 deaths. Is a mum with a

family, this hits home. They are looking at a review of GM's internal

practices. She tells us a Lotto is changed. We have streamlined the

leadership team. `` a lot has changed. There were too many cooks

in the kitchen. Now she hopes it's a better recipe than what GM served up

in the past. Today, a startling headline, a confounding mystery

about a life that seemed perfect. The death of L'Wren Scott. Even the

First Lady was a fan and she was the long`time girlfriend of meat Jagger.

Police say, apparently she took her own life. `` Mick Jagger. L'Wren

Scott lived life at the top. Mick Jagger's girlfriend of more than a

decade and a successful fashion designer who split her time between

London, New York and Paris. She was found dead in her New York City

apartment. Just weeks shy of 50, she becomes part of a statistic, the age

group with the highest suicide rate, 45`64. Police say it was death by

hanging. While she did not leave a note, police say they do not suspect

foul play. They started dating in 2001, when L'Wren Scott was a

stylist, who went on to become a successful designer. At six foot

three, she was a towering presence in life and fashion. Mick Jagger got

the news shortly after landing in Australia for a Rolling Stones tour.

He said he is completely shocked and devastated.

As we move on, your brain, do you want to think fast? Can you remember

these names? What millions are doing to sharpen their minds at every age.

Next, real answers about keeping your brain sharp. For everyone who

wants to think fast, remember names. 60 million think they know how to

get results. Our correspondent reports. Imagine a game that begins

so easily it looks like child's play. It could make adults smarter.

When Susan Brandt saw her parents lose their memory, she turned to

online games called Luminosity, to sharpen her mind. I am afraid of,

not cancer or walking around, but losing my mind. When she started

losing `` forgetting names, she turned to this game, Familiar Faces.

Try to remember these names, we will come back to them later. This game

has 60 million users, several of many online brain training

programmes. They teach you how to bulk up your brain like a muscle.

According to studies, after about ten hours, thousands of people have

reported improvement in memory and problem`solving. Crossword puzzles

and reading are great for keeping you at the level you are at. But if

you want to expand your ability, do things that get progressively

harder. 56`year`old author and science journalist was first

sceptical but is now a convert. He says after using `` Luminosity, he

got smarter. On a test of intelligence, my inability has

increased 16%. He said he was better able to juggle tasks and meet

demands. The notion of not teaching dogs new tricks is out the window.

Do you remember these names? Susan says her ability to remember names

in this game and in real life has drastically improved. If they are

meant to help me and I like them, it's a win`win. At `` and a top of

the evening to you. St Patrick's Day here at home, the Chicago River is

transformed for the occasion. By the way, that is dire and the recipe is

a secret. It will last 12 hours `` dye. Look now, it could be Chicago,

New York or Saint Louis, but it is the heart of Dublin. A lot of

revelry and a lot of green. And a twist on Shakespeare's question,

with chocolate by any other form be as sweet? We find out as scientists

launch a study to test what is being called chocolate in a pill. It is

packed with flavour novels, the nutrient in cocoa that helps with

heart health, lowers cholesterol and blood pressure. If you are wondering

why not eat the candy bar, the pill will offer an extremely high dose,

more nutrients than you could consume by eating dark chocolate

though less fun. Finally, a cat and a boy awaiting us up two ways we can

help each other loan. `` other ways. Seven`year`old Kolbe loves to

read. He wasn't always this way. A few months ago he struggled and was

embarrassed to be called in class. Not any more. What turned everything

around? This. That's right, once or twice a week, he goes to the animal

shelter to read two cats. It is a programme called buddies, caring

children with cats awaiting adoption. `` Look Buddies. I think

he is listening, what do you think? Yes, because he is curled up next to

you. Getting the cats to pay attention can be challenging but the

kids don't mind and what is amazing is that, because it relaxes the

children, the cats don't judge them if they make a mistake and it makes

them better readers. Workers at the shelter say it helps socialise the

cats. It doesn't matter what the book is about or how well the child

is reading, they love the contact. At the beginning of the year, he was

reading below grade level but now he got an award for most improved

student in the class. I have seen a big growth in his reading ability

and confidence. Reading just fine and having fun thanks to a little

help from a little friend. Thank you for watching. We will see

you back here tomorrow. From all of us, Irish, or not Irish, we wish you

a happy Saint Patrick 's.