i'm nick watt for "nightline" in london. >> something out of a movie there.ick watt. >>> when we come back, after a dubious day at the general assembly has the united nations hit a new low? that's the subject of tonight's "closing argument."

our thanks to nick watt. >>> when we come back, a do it yourself biergarten at the click of a mouse. we go behind the scenes on howcast in tonight's "sign of the times". hey fly free. you know other airlines charge up to 20 bucks for the first bag. and 30 for the second. roundtrip, that's almost 100 dollars. that's crazy talk. well, how about if i just send my bags on vacation, and i stay home? why do you charge for bags? for any bag out there watching this commercial right now... fly, be free. ♪ ( ding ) ♪ you can blow your nose but nothing comes out! because the real problem isn't always mucus. it's often swelling from inflammation. advil cold & sinus relieves swelling and sinus pressure. the right medicine for the real problem. advil cold & sinus campbell's omato soup. we've added a unique sea salt. it helps us use lesssalt than before without changing our famous flavor. that means it's healthy... along with over 65 others and more to come. campbell's., >>> in this cash-strapped economy, it's no surprise that do it yourself is in. but while we're keen to save money, some of us can

nick watt, abc news, london. >> indeed bang robbers are of n oftofte often? >> the criminologist is saying they only have 10 people involved and about ten people. >> i wonder it was sort of an inside job. >> more news coming up. >> now w >> now what sure looks like a return to the bad old days of the cold war. it comes on the heels of some rocky times. >> the story centers on an mern diplomat and actions caught on tape. as brian ross reports, it's all the work of the spy agency that took over from the k.g.b. >> there are few americans in moscow by the riggs's security service, then this man -- the u.s. diplomat assigned to work with rrjs and human right groups, a valuable densityo -- >> he's responsible for outraesh to the russian orthodox church, human rights society, civil rights heros and would like to discredit him in the eyes of his contact. >> and that became clear when this undercover video of hatcher was posted on a russian internet side complete with background music. first hatch ser seen in surveillance video on a moscow street talking on a cell pho

nick watt met a man who try good it alone for three months and nearly lost his mind, and his life in the process. it's tonight's edition of "nightline into the wild". >> i spent a summer trying to survive completely alone in the far north of canada, miles from anyone and any place. it was a boyhood dream for me. what have i accomplished? >> the plan, three months totally alone in the yukon wilderness, home to 17,000 bears. >> a bear in. >> eating what he can kill. >> that is my dinner tonight. a bit of porcupine liver. >> living off the land. a young californian, christopher mcand canless tried to live like this in alaska. he died trying. it was captured in the movie "into the wild". ed filmed himself for a national geographic show called "into the wild". >> that's brilliant. >> but his dream in many ways became a nightmare. did you ever turn off the camera and bawl your eyes out? >> no, i did that on camera. i promised them that i would do everything in i could on camera. even if i didn't feel like speaking i'd still turn the cameras on. >> july 3, the dream began well. he is an out

i really am happy that i did that. >> reporter: nick watt, abc news, london. >>> and stay with us forning america." coming up at 7:00. >> and for updates anytime, check out our website, abcnews.com. >>> have a great morning. and as always, thanks for watching "america this mor >>> people are dropping like flies. >>> people are dropping like flies.

nick watt now examines a new understanding of thou shalt not kill for our series "the ten commandments". >> death a natural process. >> in a drab church hall, dr. philip nitschke is explaining how to kill oneself using a plastic bag. >> it doesn't take long before you find it very, very unpleasant. that's not how to go. >> nurse betty demonstrates the best method in a video presentation. >> we have chosen an oven bag because it fits you -- >> some of the today's crowd are terminally ill. but most aren't. not yet. >> if you want to look nice, you bet gore and get your hair done because this stuff does mess your hair up. >> australian authorities have removed nurse betty's videos from youtube and they scrutinized every controversial move. >> police will investigate the role that dr. philip nitschke who was in the house when the woman died but denies helping her commit suicide. >> you're sailing pretty close to the wind. >> yeah, and one hopes one doesn't make a mistake. >> the detective seized two laptop computers connected to the death of -- >> you plan people to plan ahead. >> yes. >>

nick watt, abc news, london. >> nick is telling us to call him ringo watt now. >>> that's "world news wednesday. we'll be back with the president's speech at 8:00 eastern time. i'm charlie gibson, and i hope you had a good day. for all of us at abc news, have you had a good day. for all of us at abc news, have a good night. captions by vitac when you're sick, you go to the doctor for answers. and when you hear scary rumors about

here's abc's nick watt. >> reporter: polanski has lived in france since he led the u.s. in '78, avoiding countries that might extradite him, living a public life, continuing to make movies. he made his name in hollywood with "rose mare reap's baby," and his 1974 masterpiece "china town." but three years later, he was accused of drugging and raping a 13-year-old girl during a photo shoot. he cut a deal, pled guilty and served 42 days in jail. but he believed the judge would renege on that deal. he feared more jail time and fled to france. >> i think at the time, i had a hard time to persuade myself that it was wrong, because i don't think anybody was hurt. >> reporter: you don't? >> at that time, i said. just -- you know, i was too ow, close to the forest to see the trees. >> reporter: he hasn't set foot on u.s. soil in 31 years. tonight, he s supposed to be receiving an award here at the zurich film festival. the los angeles d.a.'s office tipped off swiss authorities that he was on his way and they were here at the airport waiting for him. he was arrested. last year, he

nick watt, abc news, london. >> great pictures.ly animal friends will premiere this saturday on the national geographic channel. >>> that's "world news" for this thursday. i'm charlie gibson, and i hope you had a good day. for all of us at abc news, have you had a good day. for all of us at abc news, have a good night. captions by vitac and rancher's reserve beef, guaranteed tender 100% of the time. at safeway, we have a new promise. a commitment to thousands of new everyday low prices... with savings of up to 25%. so you can get what you want... when you want it. at the price you need. today... and tomorrow.

nick watt, abc news, zurich. >>> and one more overseas item -- disaster in the philippin philippines. the death toll is rising there from flooding that killed at least 140 people and forced almost 500,000 to flee their homes. officials expect the toll to rise sharply when they reach villages cut off by floating debris. a tropical storm dumped more than a month's worth of rain in just 12 hours. >>> still ahead on "world news" -- the americans turning to each other and to their faith for health care insurance. that will be our "closer look." >>> why was a high school honor student brutally murdered on a chicago street? three young people are under arrest. >>> and -- our reporter meets the reindeer who are a vital part of an ancient people's life. rr for all the moments that make every day special. fancy feast introduces an entirely new way to celebrate any moment. fancy feast appetizzrs. simple high qualiiy ingredients like wild alaskan salmon, white meat chicken, or seabass and shrimp in a delicate broth, prepared without by-products or fillers. new fancy feast appetizers celebrate the

nick watt, abc news, london. >> great pictures.ly animal friends will premiere this saturday on the national geographic channel. >>> that's "world news" for this thursday. i'm charlie gibson, and i hope you had a good day. for all of us at abc news, have you had a good day. for all of us at abc news, have a good night. captions by vitac

nick watt is in zurich tonight. >> reporter: roman polanski has lived a very pubublic life in france since fleeing u.s. justice 31 years ago. >> he feels this case, in his mind, is over. >> reporter: polanski has continued to make movies. he's married with two chchildre. >> i've been traveng around the world for 20 years. i don't have any problems. >> reporter: today, we asked the los angeles district attorney's office, why arrest h now? their answer, why not w? they say they have tried many times, a game ofof cat and mous. twice polanski planned to visit britain, which has an extradition treaty with the u.s. twice british police were asked to arrest him. twicice, for whatever reason, h just didn't show up. polanski assumed he'd be safe here in switzerland. he has visited the country often and for the past 10 years, he's even owned a house here. so for polanski, h arrest came as a complete surprise. but abc news has learned that last week, investigators in l.a. noticed on the zurich film festival's website that polanski was to receive an award sunday night. they asked swiss authoriti

. >> reporter: i'm nick watt, in zurich. >>> well, former alaska governor, sarah palin, has wasted nofinishing her memoir. the book deal was announced four months ago. but palin is all done. the publisher says the release date has been moved up, just in time for holiday gift-giving. the 400-page book will be called "going rogue in american life." >>> hero pilot chesley sully sullenberger will return to a cockpit jet. he will take on a new role as part of the safe management team. back in january, sully ditched his airbus 320, into the hudson, after bird killed power in his engines. >>> back to sports. the playoffs and "monday night football" in the big "d." here's will selva. >> good morning. it was the first football game in the new cowboy stadium. panthers and cowboys. third quarte cowboys down 7-3. first and goal. and that running back for felix jones, earlier in the night, suffered a knee injury. dallas up 10-7. third quarter, cowboys up 13-7. jake delhomme's pass picked off by terence newman. and newman finds his way all the way in the end zone. and steve smith, looks like he bro

nick watt, a

nick watt takes a look. >> reporter: ants live in highly structured societies.e and even agriculture and now scientists tell us ants actually talk to each other. were you surprised by what you found? >> we were. yes, we were surprised. >> reporter: with an ipod and old pair of headphones, they discovered worker ants are indifferent to rock music. but standed guard when a distressed queen makes this particular sound. >> they stand on the speaker, something like saying i'm defending my queen. >> reporter: now, no one is saying these little creatures talk like they do in the movies. >> now stay calm, we are going around the leaf. >> around the leaf? i don't think we can do that. >> reporter: but they do have a kind of language. look at the back end of them, moving up and down vibrating. that's how they make noise. that's how they're supposed to talk to each other. scientists made these startling discoveries by accident while studying the large blue butterfly. they watched butterflies pupai trick ants by taking them to ant nests and nurturing them until they became

nick watt reports from europe. >> reporter: roman polanski has avoided countries that might extraditeblic life and continuing to make movies. polanski, a french citizen, made his name in hollywood with the acclaimed "rose marie's baby" released in 1968. and his 1974 masterpiece "china town." but three years later he was accused of drugging and raping a 13-year-old girl during a photo shoot. he cut a deal, pled guilty to one of the six charges against him and served 42 days in jail. but polanski believed the judge would renege on that deal. he feared more jail time and fled to france. >> i think at that time i had a hard time to persuade myself that it was wrong because i don't think anybody was hurt. >> reporter: you don't? >> at that time i said. later on i realized, you know, just you know i was too close to the forest to see the trees. >> reporter: he hasn't set foot on u.s. soil in 31 years. he was supposed to be receiving an award at the zurich film festival. the los angeles d.a.'s office tipped off swiss authorities that he was on his way and they were here at the airport waitin

nick watt is in zurich with the latest. >> reporter: polanski's lawyers have filed that petition, demanding his release. but the judge said his decision could take a few weeks. also this morning, we know a lot more about how this arrest went down. the zurich film festival website was, in the end, roman polanski's downfall. investigators in los angeles, noticed they were selling tickets to a roman polanski appearance, sunday night. he was being given an award. through diplomatic channels, the swiss police were asked to arrest him on arrival. and polanski walked into the trap. he's been hunted since 1978, during visits to khanna, germany, thailand, brazil. and twice, investigators thought he was headed for britain. twice, british cops were asked to arrest him. twice, for whatever reason, he just didn't show up. polanski, who admitted to having sex with a minor in 1977, before fleeing to france, has some powerful supporters. movie mogul, harvey weinstein, has made this statement. we're calling on every filmmaker we can, to help fix this situation. debra winger is on the judge panel of the zuri

nick watt reports. >> reporter: in a drab church hall, dr.itschke is explaining how to kill yourself with a plastic bag. >> nurse betty with a demonstration. some of today's crowd are terminally ill but most aren't. not yet. >> if you want to look nice, you better go and get your hair done because this does mess your hair up. >> reporter: australian authorities have removed nurse betty's video from youtube. they scrutinize nitschke's every controversial move. you advise people to plan ahead. >> very much so. >> reporter: federal reserve the possibility they might want to kill themselves. >> exactly. >> i've come away knowing there are options. >> i don't think it being forced on b, the doctor's opinion. >> we show them how you can use it using a fitting -- >> but if you weren't giving people the information, they wouldn't be able do this. >> that's true. they'd probably go out and hang themselves. this is peaceful, it's quick, it works. in his book "the peaceful pill handbook," it comes in at number 6. he's lab tested most options and number

here's nick watt. >> reporter: animals are supposed to stick with their own kind, a pride of lions, schooleese, i don't know, a bunch. once in a while, nature's rules are broken. take the orangutan and hound dog. >> to me they seem like long lost friends. they would make you believe in reincarnation. >> reporter: in a kenyan reserve, a boisterous baby hippo named owen and grouchy 130-year-old tortoise became inseparable. >> to know that these animals are capable of emotions like love and understanding and caring like we are is quite an eye opener. >> reporter: take the crow and the kitten in massachusetts that were play mates for years. >> the big message i get out of it is cooperating works. being social works. >>eporter: in the wilds of africa, this lioness mothered a baby antelope. by the laws of jungle, she should have eaten it. >> reporter: if a dopey dog can make friends with a bright orange goofball, i guess there's no excuse for anyone, man or beast, nbe

many developments this morning and our nick watt is in zurich with the latest. good morning, nick. >> reporter: good morning, robin. well, this morning the french and polish foreign ministers have written to hillary clinton asking for clemency when polanski walked foo a police trap here at zurich airport he sparked an international rage. a french minister said there is a scary america that is just showing its face. roman polanski has been on the run since 1978 avoiding countries that might extradite him. he hasn't set foot on u.s. soil in 31 years. he won an oscar for "the pianist" in 2003. ♪ and had harrison ford collect it for him. >> roman polanski. >> reporter: in 1977 polanski pled guilty to having sex with a minor. he was accused of drugging and raining a 13-year-old. he says he didn't know her age. polanski spent 42 days in the california jail being psychologically evaluated then he fled to france. >> he wouldn't surrender himself. he pled this jurisdiction to avoid sentencing. he fled the jurisdiction. so it took this long because he was a fugitive. well,

nick watt joins us from italy with the latest. eporter: good morning, chris. well, amanda knox spent the summer sweating in an italian jail while the judge and jury were on vacation. but this morning, they were all back in court. the defense team promises some explosive revelations they're challenging the dna evidence. amanda and her father hope the case against her will be blown out of the water. >> she's hoping that this really is i guess the home stretch of the tri and hopefully what they will see what is very clear to me that she had nothing to do with this and acquit her of this and we'll get 0 bring her home. >> reporter: knox and her ex-boyfriend stand accused of killing her roommate found in their house semi make with her throat cut. have you ever thought for a second in your mind maybe she did do this? >> never. >> reporter: knox's parents spent the past two years since amanda's arrest shuttling between seattle and pe rouge ya. >> oftentimes you don't get to sit down with your kids. and spend an hour just sitting there tal