28/03/2014 BBC World News

top stories. The first sighting from a plane of what could be debris of

the missing Malaysian airliner. President Obama leaves Europe for

Saudi Arabia and a mission to reassure one of Washington's most

important allies in the Arab world. One of world cricket's most powerful

men, Narayanaswami Srinivasan, told to step down until an investigation

into alleged corruption is completed. A great flood is coming.

Facing its own storm of controversy, the biblical epic Noah finally opens

in cinemas. But not all. Within the last hour it has been

reported that one of the planes searching for the missing Malaysian

airliner says it's spotted objects which may be debris. It left Kuala

Lumpur in Malaysia 21 days ago heading for Beijing. First analysis

of satellite communications suggested it flew south down an arc

into the southern Indian Ocean. First searching off Western

Australia was in this area, as suggested by that analysis. Now it's

thought the route actually headed here. That's because analysts have

deduced from combining radar and satellite data that the jet was

flying faster than previously thought. So it burned fuel more

quickly. Now they think it is much closer to western Australia. In

areas of see which tend to be much,. -- karma.

Already, one plane is reporting it has spotted objects in the sea. So

far unidentified and the sighting now needing to be confirmed by a

ship. The new area is more than 1000 kilometres north of where they've

been looking for more than a week. The reason for the switch, new

analysis by investigators of the data, as they seek to understand the

Boeing 777's likely height, usage of fuel and therefore range after it

disappeared. The results indicate that MH370 two at a higher speed

than previously thought, which in turn means it used more fuel and

could not travel as far. Because of ocean drift, this new search area

could still be consistent with the potential object identified by

various satellite images over the past week. This work is ongoing. We

can expect further refinements. The Australian authorities gave their

assessment of the new data analysis and the prospects for the intensive

search operation being able to verify what is in the satellite

images. Information provided by the investigative team is the most

credible lead we currently have in the search for aircraft wreckage.

However, this information needs to be continually adjusted for the

length of time lapsed as the aircraft went missing and the likely

drift of any wreckage floating on the ocean surface. Weather

conditions do seem to be more favourable from now in the new

search area, as Malaysia and the world waits to see whether there is

at last a long for breakthrough. There's been one line of detail that

something has been found, it may be connected to the aircraft. In

Perth, that's where the whole operation has been coordinated by

the Australian air force. I asked our correspondent what is known

about this new sighting. This is from a New Zealand air force P-3

Orion, a surveillance aircraft that took off from the air base earlier

today. The crew says it has spotted about 11 unidentified objects in the

new search area. These pieces of debris may be connected with flight

MH370. We won't know for sure. Probably until tomorrow, when a ship

can go to that location and tried to retrieve the debris. So we could be

looking at a very significant breakthrough. We could be looking at

yet another false lead. But as far as the New Zealanders are concerned,

they've related this information to ships bearing down on the new search

area. By this time tomorrow, we should hopefully know one way or

another whether this is connected to the investigation that is almost

three weeks old now. Compared to satellite images taken from 20,000

miles or what ever, this will at least produce images which were

maybe taken literally a few hundred feet away by the plane in high

resolution. Not only that, this is up to date information. When we've

been receiving those satellite images, invariably they are days

old. So what the New Zealand air crew have done today, providing

fresh, up to date information, passing on the exact location to

those ships. It may take those ships a short while to get to that

particular area. But what the Australians and their international

partners are able to do is try and map out how the current work in that

part of the Indian Ocean, to try to predict that if those pieces of

debris have moved, where they might be. This is a very sophisticated

international operation. Satellites in space are invaluable, but it's

when we get down to the nitty-gritty of planes seeing potential pieces of

debris that the Australian led surveillance mission really thinks

it might be zoning in on something quite significant. The number of

people confirmed dead in a massive mudslide near Seattle has risen to

25. Rescuers say they expect that figure to rise substantially over

the next few days, as they recover more bodies from the wall of mud

which engulfed the small town of Oso. 90 people are still unaccounted

for. The authorities warn that the bodies of some victims may never be

found. The BBC's David Willis is in Oso. As the painstaking search

continued, telephone calls to the emergency services were released

revealing the panic as the mudslide tour these homes apart. Hundreds of

trees have fallen outside my house. It sounded an earthquake. Are there

any injuries? Yes, there are people yelling for help! Amongst the

rubble, rescuers have found the body of a four-month-old girl, whose

grandmother also died in the disaster. The search operation is

taking its toll on volunteers. They've recovered more bodies than

the figures indicate, but those bodies have yet to be formally

identified. In the next few days, the death toll is expected to rise

significantly. Comforted by her British friend Heather Rogers,

Nicole Ribeiro told me four of her loved ones are missing. Both her

parents, her 19-year-old daughter, Delaney, Anne Delaney's fiance,

Alan. In other countries where there have been tragic mudslide and lives

lost, many, many times bodies are not recovered and those areas are

then claimed as a manorial ground. I have a feeling that may be the case

in this situation. I'm OK with that. For me, I don't need a body to

know... To get closure? No, I don't. What I want to say about Delaney,

she was beautiful. I will miss her very much. I'm going to do

everything in my power to help as many people as possible in honour of

her and Alan and my mum and dad. The tragic story of this tight-knit

community is slowly starting to unfold. And the grieving has barely

begun. The Turkish government has blocked access to the video sharing

site YouTube. It took similar action a few days ago, to cut off the

microblogging website Twitter. The authorities are unhappy that an

audio file has been uploaded to the website, which apparently features

the Prime Minister's most senior advisors discussing possible

military action in Syria. But, just as with the Twitter ban, people are

still finding ways to access YouTube. Mariko Oi explains. First

it was Twitter. Now it's YouTube. Turkey's government has been

cracking down on social networking sites which Prime Minister Erdogan

accuses of spreading misinformation. This is what the Prime Minister says

is happening to Turkey. In his party's new video, a faceless enemy

tries to bring down the country's flag. The people rise to defend it.

Uniting the nation against conspiracy is his goal. What appears

to have prompted the ban on YouTube is an audio recording between senior

ministers which was posted on the site. They were literally discussing

a possible military operation in Syria. Turkey's Foreign Minister

said it constituted a declaration of war against his country.

TRANSLATION: I've been Facebook and YouTube user for years. I'm an easy

with these developments. I wonder how far they will go to curb our

freedom. First Twitter, now YouTube. What's next, Facebook? How

far will they go and when will this end? Their approach is political and

they don't care what people think. This is an authoritarian ruling. The

Prime Minister faces important local elections this Sunday. He blames

social networking sites for damaging his reputation. But his efforts to

wipe out these sites don't appear to be working too well. Ukraine's

deposed president, Viktor Yanukovych, has called for every

region in Ukraine to hold a referendum on its status within the

country, that according to reports in Russian media. He said such a

move would help stabilise the political situation in the country

and preserve its sovereignty. These are his first comments since Crimea

voted to become part of Russia, in a referendum earlier this month.

Although he did not make specific mention of that vote. Mr Yanukovych

fled to Russia last month after he was ousted by popular protest.

President Obama says Russia, quote, must move back its troops from the

Ukraine border. In an interview on American television, he said that

Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to assemble forces on the

border of Ukraine may simply be an effort to intimidate the country.

But he also said it's possible they have additional plans. President

Barack Obama is due to arrive in Saudi Arabia later today, for talks

with King Abdullah. He left Italy a short while ago, after a tour of

Europe which has been dominated by the crisis in Ukraine. He'll need to

re-focus now on relations with one of Washington's oldest allies in the

Middle East, which have been strained in recent months. I asked

how bad relations between the US and Saudi have become. It's been getting

from bad to worse over the past three years. Not just because of

Syria but because of Iran and Egypt as well. The tensions started in

2011, with the start of the Arab uprising, when the Saudi Arabians

were very disappointed that the Americans had dropped their ally in

Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, at the time and in Tunisia. Then the Syria

crisis started developing and Iran, the Saudis are the arch foes of Iran

and are not happy about the nuclear talks going on right now. They are

not happy about Iran backing the Bashar al-Assad government in Syria.

In turn, they are going into a proxy war with them, backing the armed

rebels there. They feel the Americans are descended from the

region, after withdrawing from Iraq, Afghanistan... The less dependence

on the Gulf oil, with the fracking and new technology and discoveries

in the United States. So they feel Americans are descended from the

region. This is why Barack Obama is going there, to try to reassure them

and mend the fences. Nevertheless, the Saudis looking around for other

countries with whom to build strong alliances, particularly because of

Iran, because they are fearful of the American position. Yes. The

relationship between Saudi Arabia and the US over about seven decades

was based on the US providing the security of Saudi Arabia and the

Gulf will stop and the Saudi Arabia pumping oil. With the attention and

the lack of trust that has built up recently, Saudi Arabia has started

to look outside with Pakistan, a nuclear power will stop Saudi Arabia

is looking in that direction to try and do it on their own, preparing

themselves for a total US disengagement. You with BBC World

News. Still to come... Oscar Pistorius leaves court in South

Africa after his murder trial was adjourned unexpectedly. Here it is

being described as the finest stride in the world but it is by owner. It

is up for auction in June. Here are the details.

The viola, the butt of many an orchestral joke. It is one of only

two violins made -- violas made by Stradivarius. What is this one like

to hold and to play? This instrument is the pinnacle of human achievement

in terms of craft and ship and history associated with this

instrument. To hold this instrument right now, you can feel all the

previous owners and collectors who have owned it in the past 300 years.

It really is an honour. Like most Stradivarius, this instrument has a

long history. Named after the man he purchased it in the 1820s. It has

been lovingly looked after and played over the years. A further

chapter in its history will begin with the sealed bid auction in June.

To have reached this point relatively early in my career is

extremely exciting. It brings to mind the fact I may never be able to

match this in the future. It is a genuinely exciting event and I have

shivers going up my spine talking to you about it. Some collectors may

already own to Stradivarius violins and a Stradivarius cello. The

acquisition of the viola would allow for Stradivarius string quartets.

That would certainly be music for many people 's ears. You are with

BBC world News. I have the latest headlines. I of the plane searching

for the missing Malaysia airline of Western Australia says it has

spotted objects which could be debris. -- one of the planes.

President Obama en route to Saudi Arabia from Europe. To India, where

the Supreme Court has ordered the country 's cricket boss to step

aside. He will be kept out of the role during an investigation into

corruption claims during last season 's Premier League. He will be

temporarily replaced by a test team great. Last year several players

were arrested for allegedly spot fixing, is -- that is exceeding a

specified number of runs for money. I asked him about the effect on

Indian cricket. This is not a guilty verdict by any stretch of the

imagination. He is stepping aside why they look into the transparency

of the Indian board of control for Cricket. A lot of the fans and legal

fraternity are asking, why is there an issue at all where we are looking

into spot fixing and corruption allegations? He will step aside. It

is interesting to note the Supreme Court recommended his Indian cements

company, he will not be holding any position on the board of control for

India. What is happening now is an illustrative purpose of trying to

clear the decks, a bit of spring cleaning may be in place for the

board of control. Two teams were under the cloud spot fixing

allegations and corruption. They are being investigated. There were calls

for those two sides to actually be banned from this year 's IPL 2020

tournament. -- Twenty20. Simon Currie could not stop a team from

playing. It would heavily impact the IPL and would affect millions of

cricket loving public. I am glad to say the court has not passed any

order which interferes with any team participating. Away from this dirty,

dark, alleged underworld, I have a match to play. They are in the

Twenty20 competition and are playing against Bangladesh. They have been

training hard and have won their first two matches in group two.

Bangladesh face early elimination after losing their opener to the

West Indies. India have already beaten the West Indies and

Pakistan. A win on Friday would be good enough to get them through to

the semifinals. Australia have set the West Indies 179 to win. The

trial of the Olympic athlete, Oscar the stories, has been adjourned for

ten days. He had been widely expected to welcome the defence

case. -- Oscar Pistorius. It would have been the most detailed account

so far. Our correspondent is at the court. As usual, the crowds were

here, the crowds of media, as Oscar this story is arrived at court.

Within half an hour or so, we have all learned the trial has been

postponed until April the seven. -- April seven. There had been so much

of a build-up to today. We heard from the judge, what exactly did she

do and why? Simon Critchley told the court the trial would continue today

because one of the assessors had taken ill. The trial has been

postponed. That means the court cannot continue with one assessor

because that means the court is not properly constituted. The importance

of the role they play is they will be helping the judge in order to

reach a verdict, whether guilty or not guilty. They can challenge the

judge basically on matters of fact and matters of the law but they can

only help the judge to breach the guilty or not guilty verdict. After

they get dismissed, the judge will decide on sentencing if Oscar

Pistorius is found guilty. They have a low profile throughout. There is

not a matter of being able to substitute one of them. Unearth one

dies or the one who is ill is sick for a longer period. They can say,

they will need to appoint another one who will need to go through all

the court papers to see who said what in terms of which witnesses are

testified and see if a successor could have new questions to ask.

People in Afghanistan are putting worries about security and economic

troubles to one side. That is to celebrate the Persian New Year.

These celebrations mark the start of spring. Our correspondent reports

from the ground of the presidential palace. There is a rare festival

atmosphere inside the presidential compound. Musicians and politicians

from across this region have come to celebrate Persian New Year. These

musicians have come from neighbouring Irani. In the corner,

you see India, Pakistan and other Central Asian states, all here in a

festival atmosphere. It is rare this happens in what is one of the most

heavily fortified areas of Kabul, the presidential compound. Look at

the traditional high walls which have been fortified by razor wire.

This is where President Karzai has lived and worked since the fall. It

is a mood of celebration and also of worry. How will the presidential

elections, except to take place in a few days time, pass off? -- expected

to take place. What about the departure of all the foreign troops

from Afghanistan by the end of the year? If Afghanistan manages this

without violence, there will be reason to celebrate. One of the year

's most controversial movies is the biblical epic, no. It has opened in

some parts of the world but banned in others. -- Noah. It has a Russell

Crowe in the title role. It has been criticised for straying from the

biblical text. A great blood is coming. We will build a vessel to

survive the storm. Hills and arc. The this adaptation of one of the

Bible 's most famous stories has Russell Crowe at the centre of it

all. -- Build an ark. There is a lot of responsibility. You know you are

going to run into some level of criticism. The film has been banned

from some countries in the Middle East because it is seen as violating

Islam in that it picks the profit. Elsewhere, a range of different

conservative religious groups have criticised the picture in advance of

seeing it. In various religious communities in the US, there is

concern that any version of Noah might stray from a literal

interpretation. You should see the real script, the real techs and they

should publicise such lines. -- texts. People are talking about how

intense the film is. It is a very respectful film. I know people, even

in the press stuff we have been doing, arguing with me about things

they do not believe are connected to Noah. It is like, read your Bible!

The cast has been left to defend the film. Religious texts always draw

huge amount of controversy. This was to be expected to a certain extent.

I am proud of the movie. People will see it is designed to be a very

inclusive film. Now that Noah has finally opened, close attention will

be made to how it performs at the box office. It will give an

indication of how the movie-going public will respond to other

religious films that are already in the pipeline. 50 years ago, well

before the days of modern superheroes, biblical stories were a

Hollywood staple. The studios are hoping that if Noah does well, it

will embolden efforts made to give the religious epic currency once

again. Where did he park his art? Thanks for joining me. Goodbye.