25/04/2014 ABC World News with Diane Sawyer

place currently in Canberra. Time now for a look at the news as seen

across the US a couple of hours ago an ABC World News with Diane Sawyer.

Welcome. Target Americans, three goodhearted Americans trying to help

the sick killed in Afghanistan by the guard hired to protect them.

Outbreak, a health alert about measles in this country. Surprising

video, people walked right by the homeless on the street, not even

noticing they are secretly their wives. Or, their uncles or family.

Good evening. Even though we have heard a lot of news from

Afghanistan, this story to note is different. The grief stretches to

Chicago, three Americans killed as they were trying to heal the

children of our country, raising the question, can any American, even a

civilian, even a doctor, be safe that? `` tonight. One of the

victim's Wise is sending a message. A surprising one for all of us. ``

wives. Our correspondent tells us what this means for the US.

Even in a nation accustomed to violence, this attack stands out for

the brutality and heartbreak. This is an American doctor killed today.

For more than seven years, he worked to save mothers and babies in

Afghanistan. I am here with this doctor and he is from Chicago. Here

he is two years ago, interviewed by a Christian station about his

life`saving work. This baby has done remarkably well for how small it

was. What are the child's chances in Kabul without a QR? Most of these

kids here, they would be dead. The Philadelphia `based Christian

organisation running the that includes 60 children with cleft

pallet annually. Today, needy entrants to this hospital, he was

gunned down as he greeted to other Americans, a father and son. As a

security guard opened fire, killing them all. His wife, who also

volunteered in Afghanistan, copy call along with her son early this

morning at their home in Chicago. Our family has suffered a while our

hearts are ageing, we are aching for the loss of the other families. As

well as the loss and multiple losses that the Afghan people have

suffered. Today is an attack of so many targeting Westerners recently

the violence has understandably scared away eight organisations. At

the widow of this doctor insisted the Afghani 's who need help should

not be abandoned. `` aid. The others who were killed have not been

identified. Today the cat comes in the face of America's drawdown. The

government is trying to find how many to leave behind `` the attack.

We moved to news about the US and Russia moving closer to the brink

and President Obama losing patience with Vladimir Putin's actions in

Ukraine. Russian launched military drills along the border and the US

warned that new sanctions are being prepared. On another note, the

American journalist held captive by insurgents has been released. Now,

back into the new warning from the CDC about measles on the march in

America. We are tracking a surge of cases, outbreaks in 13 states.

California and New York are the hardest hit. The number of cases

growing at a pace unseen in 20 years. How far and how fast can this

go? Our correspondent breaks it down. Fever, aching eyes, hacking

cough. And every square inch covered in a rush. Measles. Tonight, the CDC

warns that its back and spreading. Even doctors don't recognise it.

Most people in training have never seen measles. 129 cases this year,

58 in California. This time last year, there were only four. The CDC

says it's the highest number of cases since 1996. It is so

contagious, we had to prepare a negative pressure rooms in the

emergency room in San Diego. Behind the outbreak, unvaccinated

travellers, ringing measles back after trips to the Philippines where

there is an outbreak, and an increasing number of parents who

refuse to vaccinate their children. We are up to 4.5% of our children in

kindergarten who have not had all of their vaccines. Hilary Chambers with

a baby exposed to measles has something to say to parents who

refuse to vaccinate. That is not fair. You are relying on everybody

else to do it for you. For many paediatricians, it's a hot button

issue. Isn't it a parents right to vaccinate their child or not? If you

send your teenager out to drive a car without wearing a seatbelt?

There is a new battle out West tonight surrounding a rancher who

has become an anti`government folk hero, a man who is winning a

high`stakes showdown with Washington. Several politicians have

rallied to his side, but tonight, they are backing away because of

something he said about race in America.

The rancher who grazed his cattle on federal land but refused 20 years to

pay fees to the government stayed down US agents with a handful of

supporters one week ago. But tonight, he is losing support as

faster than the temperature rises in Nevada after his racist comments to

reporters. I want to tell you one more thing I know about the Negroes

will stop they put their young men in jail because they never learned

how to pick cotton. They were better off in picking cotton... Today on a

radio programme, he did not help himself much.

Some Republicans lawmakers had also hailed him, including his home state

Senator. Tonight, they are heading for the hills, now trying to

distance themselves from him. He says his remarks on race ``

tonight, the rancher has fewer friends and still owes the federal

government more than $1 million. And a growing danger in the east

tonight. Nine states from Delaware domain are at risk of wildfires.

Today, New Jersey was hit. Flames closed in on several homes. Families

were ordered to leave and a nearby school was evacuated. Firefighters

say conditions in the state of New Jersey are so dry that one cigarette

butt is enough to start a fire. And now a headline about something you

may be seeing all around you. Health officials have proposed a crackdown

on popular electronic cigarettes, saying they should be treated like

the real thing, including a ban on sales to young people because of

something that is happening around the country. They are touted by

advertisers as a smart alternative to cigarettes. Celebrities have been

photographed using electronic cigarettes, battery`powered devices

filled with nicotine `based water. Sales are expected to pick $2

billion this year. Tonight, regulators for the first time are

cracking down. It's like the wild West in terms of what people are

doing. The products are evolving. There is no regulatory oversight and

they are being marketed in ways that are very worrisome. New rules would

ban sales of electronic cigarettes to anyone under 18, require warning

Wiggles `` require warning labels and force companies to get FDA

approval before they marketed electronic cigarettes as a way to

quit smoking. They say that electronic cigarettes are a

technology product and not big tobacco product. Others want the

advertisements reined in. There is no question that this industry has

reached its tactics straight from the big tobacco playbook. Candy and

fruit flavoured products aimed at children. The glamorisation of

electronic cigarettes. Some of that marketing may look familiar. Look at

the glamorous woman in the blue dress smoking a cigarette in 1930.

And this woman today. The rugged cowboy then and now. And the

adventurous girl then and now. But some people say that electronic

cigarettes are a gamechanger for those trying to kick the habit. They

are using electronic cigarettes to quick regular cigarettes. Yes. That

is the number one reason. Both sides tonight awaiting for the smoke to

clear. There was a poignant moment at the

White House today. Michelle Obama sat down with children who have a

family member working at the White House. Watch what happens when she

calls on one little girl in front. Well, it's a little private, but she

is doing something for her dad. Right? Got it. No word from the

White House on what she plans for that resonate. `` that resume. And a

photograph we are all passing around today. Look at it. It's not what it

seems. A woman offers food to a man who appears to be homeless. In fact,

he is Richard Gere in character, shooting a film. The groups that

help the homeless say this picture is a way to open everyone's eyes to

how invisible the homeless have become. One group filmed a kind of

experiment. People walking by the homeless, not knowing that they were

secretly members of their own family, relatives they love. This

woman was filmed walking past a homeless person, something that

happens thousands of times per day in America. But she did not realise

the woman on the sidewalk was her own sister. This woman did not

realise it was her uncle. This man had no idea the person he was

walking past was his wife. It was all a set up to shine a spotlight on

the homeless in a way we would never forget. This was how it worked. An

advertisement had been placed announcing a film being made about

New York, with the director looking for real people with real opinions

on the place they call home. The idea was hatched by these two. They

secretly contacted the relatives of those who answered the ad and

arranged for them to be out here when their loved ones walked by. And

so pharaonic passed right by her sister. And Thomas, married for over

34 years, walked right past his wife. Each of them were shown the

tape. Things are much more real than you expect. It is not the film's

purpose to single them out. It is to say that we have become so used to

seeing the homeless that we don't see them. The number of homeless in

America has passed a 600,000 people. Every single person you see

homeless on the street is somebody's mother, cousin, daughter.

The film ends on an upbeat note. Each passerby, now informed, get

another pass, another chance to do what they did not do the first time

to see and connect. The daredevil styling of the highest

building in the world. Can you guess the wild idea that ensured they

would break the world record? That's coming up. A reminder that it is

Beyonce's world and we just live in it. She is on the cover of Time

magazine. And the reason for her top ranking... And a familiar face is

getting a makeover. Ronald McDonald House. Here's clown suit is gone ``

Isolde costume is gone. And watch while these two daredevils do

something never done before, base jumping off the tallest building in

the world. 2700 feet tall, the height of two Empire State Building.

They decided to jump off a special platform to make the jump a little

bit longer and worthy of a worthy record. Finally, there is a hospital

in America where the healing person you meet may not be a doctor or a

nurse but a welcoming stranger, making a connection with every

patient and their family. A shining beacon of what is possible in so

many lives. Come here and get your daily hearing hug. `` daily hearing

hug. Everyone walking in, staring down cancer. 14 years, David. I'm

still smiling. It goes far beyond the smile. He knows their names, the

cancer, the family. I can sense it. I can sense but, you know what? I

have seen some difficult cases turn around. I'm going to love you back

to health whether you want it or not. It was a gift spotted in a

little boy with a hint of a smile. Your grandmother told you when you

were a little boy that you had a gift. I did not understand what she

meant by that. She said, I don't tell this to everybody but I see

this in you. But she told him was that he would one day gives people

hope. This man was diagnosed with lung cancer one year ago. I remember

the first time that I met him. He must have read something on my face.

He said, you are going to be a cake. One year later, the scans are clear.

`` you are going to be OK. The patients here all hope... You know

his schedule? Yes. This day, they make it. And mix has heard the news

about David. `` and Nicolas has heard the news about David. He

admitted to me that he did not like hugging in the beginning. You have

changed that. It is not just him. The letters from so many patients.

Even the doctors depend on him. You know him as well? Definitely. This

is one of the researchers. Through those glass doors tonight, he is

cleaning up his desk, preparing for 13 more `` 1300 more hugs tomorrow.

Thank you for watching.