29/08/2012 BBC News at One

Thousands of people turn out to welcome the Paralympic flame as it

arrives in London for tonight's opening of the Games. Carried

through the capital's tourist spots, the flame just hours away now from

lighting the Paralympic cauldron. This is the scene live in central

London as the flame heads towards the Olympic Stadium in Stratford

for a ceremony described as both spectacular and deeply human.

It's hoped the years of hard work are about to pay off with

Paralympic GB setting themselves a target of 103 medals from at least

12 sports. Breaching flood defences, hurricane

Isaac hits the American coast. Sea water is reported to be coming over

one of the levees near New Orleans. Andrew Strauss quits as England

Captain. He is retiring from the game in the best interests of the

team, he says. It's a very tough decision to make but for me the

driver to it all was, quite frankly, my form of the bat, in truth I

haven't batted well enough for a long period of time.

The Chancellor appears to dismiss the idea of making the wealthy pay

an extra tax, suggested by the Deputy Prime Minister.

Later on BBC London: The Games lanes are back as the capital

prepares for the start of the Paralympics and why cancer patients

put London at the bottom of the Good afternoon and welcome to the

BBC news at One. The biggest ever Paralympic Games open in London

tonight. The Queen will be attending the ceremony which will

herald the start of 11 days of competition with athletes from more

than 160 countries taking part. The Paralympic torch is on the final

stages of its journey to East London for the opening ceremony.

Thousands of people have turned out along the route to cheer on the

teams of torchbearers and our correspondent Robert Hall is among

the crowds at Trafalgar Square. We are expecting the Paralympic

flame here shortly. I watched the cauldron being lit, the flame

setting off from Stoke Mandeville last night and again there was a

palpable sense of excitement and expectation. There is no getting

away from the fact this is shaping up to be what Team GB certainly

hope, the most successful Paralympics ever.

In the streets around Britain's first traditional Hindu temple, a

swirl of colour and excitement. The crowds here had been waiting for a

glimpse of the flame since first light. Delay had simply served to

heighten their excitement. Unlike the Olympic relay, this

flame was carried through the night, past the sleeping communities of

Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire, and on into the northern suburbs of

London. Teams of five, some who had conquered their own disabilities,

others nominated for their generosity and inspiration when

working with disabled groups. Among them, the family members who

have helped wheelchair racer Hannah become a double world champion by

giving up their time to help her achieve that dream. It's amazing to

be here. I am amazed there's so many people here waiting to see the

torch. I am really proud that I can be part of all of this. Hannah

carried the Olympic torch, and she will be racing at the Paralympic

Games, so it's all just coming together. It's great.

Once again, this 92-mile route will take in some of our most iconic

sights. At Lord's cricket ground, torch-bearer s including members of

the first pwhreupbd women's cricket team, joining role models from all

areas of sport, weaving their way towards central London. I think the

torch relay is amazing because you saw from the Olympics how excited

everyone got by it and it signals the start of the Games and it's

important for the athletes, as well, that they know that the flame is

coming closer and closer. A lot of the athletes want to get on it now

and competing but the saerp ap -- ceremony and protocol is an

important part of the excitement of the Games and generating more

support and more interest. Down the road another team found themselves

face-to-face with a more unusual audience. London's zoo's penguins

providing the backdrop for another photo call as the relay planners

work to catch up lost time. The crowds may not have been as

numerous but as the miles rolled by, their enthusiasm and support was

never in doubt. These were stories of hope and determination

triumphing over despair. Where there is life, there is always hope,

nothing is impossible. If you only believe. Once again, the eyes of

the world are being drawn to Stratford, following the flame to a

sporting spectacle. The eyes of the world are being

drawn to Trafalgar Square, they're closing the road for the flame to

come through, we are running a couple of hours late. There are

extra challenges involving disabled people in doing the relay, of

course that has to be taken care of. But the team are well used to

catching up, to dealing with problems on the road and I am sure

that everything will be back on track by the time that all-

important opening ceremony comes around this evening.

Thank you very much. With a record number of athletes

taking part and tickets selling out, it's expected that the Paralympics

will generate a similar level of excitement to that seen during the

Olympics. The UK team, known as Paralympics GB, has high hopes,

aiming to come second in the medals table. Our sports correspondent

James Pearce reports. A morning training session in the

park for some of the athletes, a final chance to make the most of

the emptiness before the crowds descend to the opening ceremony.

Elsewhere, there's still work to do. One of the Olympic shops has been

turned into a mascot home. The British team had 203 members in

Beijing. That's been increased by 50% for London. These will be the

biggest Paralympics ever staged and the organisers are confident that

tonight's opening ceremony will set them on the way to being the best.

It is a radical show. This is not a show to talk about Britain, this is

a show to talk about perceptions. Of course, they're using, as it

happens, some of the greatest minds this country has ever produced.

should we look out for over the next 11 days? Lee Pierson will

become Britain's most successful Paralympian if he wins three more

golds in dressage. Ellie Simmonds was 13 when she made her name in

Beijing. She's back for more in London.

Oscar Pistorius is the biggest name of the Games, the 400 metres is his

favourite event but he will also compete in the 100 metres, up

against Johnny Peacock. All looks set for memorable competition. No

wonder the man in charge is so confident. With Beijing the world

awakened to the Paralympic Games and the movement, but here we are

moving into sustained growth. A premium sports competition with

incredible athletes, not just from their performance, but from the

type of people they are. Last night the British team was

officially welcomed into the athletes' village. Tonight they can

be sure of an even better reception when they arrive in the stadium for

the opening ceremony. We can talk to James now.

They're already calling these the sellout Paralympics. They are

almost going to be a sellout. There are still a few tickets available

for tonight's opening ceremony, the most expensive categories, �500 and

�300 so they might be quite a sellout. But you can see behind me

all the volunteers reporting for duty, all working at the opening

ceremony tonight. They were the heroes of the Olympics and I am

sure will be the heroes of the Paralympics, too. It's quiet now

but in a few hours where I am now will be awash with people,

thousands arriving for the opening ceremony. So much excitement now

around this area and around the city, about what is in store. These

are the third Paralympics I covered, in 2000 I covered the Sydney

Paralympics and many people after those Games thought it would be

hard to beat them, and that does seem almost certain the London

Games will do just that, be the best ever. Thank you.

People in New Orleans are bracing themselves as Hurricane Isaac

travels across Louisiana, bringing high winds and torrential rain.

Reports say water has been flowing over the top of one of the flood

defences south of the city. It's exactly seven years since the city

was devastated when it was struck by Hurricane Katrina. Alastair

Leithead reports from New Orleans. Hurricane Isaac hit land as night

fell. The darkness adding to the chaos of high winds, driving rain

and power cuts. It's entering the stage of the

storm where there's nothing anyone can do, but hope their shelter

holds and wish the storm quickly on its way. This is the leading edge

of hurricane Isaac hitting the French quarter in New Orleans. We

have very high winds now, a lot of driving rain and debris being

thrown down the streets and inside this garage. People are trying to

get out into shelter now, those who haven't already, as the bulk of the

hurricane strikes. Seven years after hurricane Katrina,

New Orleans was confident it was ready for Isaac. Many people

decided to stay, knowing the storm was far weaker than Katrina before

it and confident the city would cope this time. They say it's

category one, so I am not too worried as much as I was during

Katrina. But we still worried a little bit. Just before the

hurricane hit, the police and emergency services were out making

sure people were getting to safety. On stand-by in case of flooding,

which is the biggest risk posed by Isaac.

The Gulf coast was being battered as the hurricane approached. A

storm surge hit the shoreline. It's a dangerous time.

Many people were confident in the new and enforced levees which cost

billions. It's the first big test for the flood defences, and there

are hours of the storm still. Alastair spent the night in New

Orleans and gave us an update on the situation a few hours ago.

are in this weird period of time when wur not sure what's going on

around town and a lot of power has already gone out, people are

sitting in homes hoping that the barricades they've put up will be

enough to protect them from the wind and rain and potentially from

the flooding. But the confidence they get also comes from the fact

that new levees have been built and old ones repaired. The city is

confident it can withstand this storm, the size that it is. People

appear to be accepting that's the case. Billions has been spent. We

won't know until the storm has passed which areas have been most

badly affected and who needs help and only then can the emergency

services get out in this weather and start to help them.

England captain Andrew Strauss has resigned from international cricket.

He has been one of the team's most successful captains, winning nearly

half his 50 matches in charge but the Test side recently lost their

number one spot in the world rankings to South Africa. Strauss

was also at the centre of a row with the batsman Kevin Pietersen.

Our sports correspondent Joe Wilson is at Lord's.

Over the years there have been various reactions from England

Captains when they decide to call it a day, you might recall Michael

Vaughan's tears. Today Andrew Strauss kept his emotions in check

and there was a sense of relief from him, a certainty in his own

mind that his best days were behind him. He won't play professional

cricket again and ends a career of the highest quality. There is some

flash photography in this report which follows.

There it is... Andrew Strauss's contribution to English cricket is

virtually unmatched. 21 Test match 100s, one short of the all-time

England record. As a Captain he was always steadfast. Today he

announced he could do it no longer. I haven't batted well enough for a

long period of time now and I think for a Captain to perform his role

properly it's important that you are not a passenger in the side,

but also that people aren't speculating as to whether should be

in the side or not. Strauss made a century on his Test debut in 2004,

the first glimpse of his talent and his character. He took over the

captaincy after Kevin Pietersen left it in a mess and and guided

England to Ashes victory in Australia for the first time in

nearly 25 years. When England beat India last year they became

officially the best Test team in the world. He is one of only five

players to have played more than 100 matches for England in Test and

one-day internationals and, as such, will be remembered as one of the

outstanding cricketers of his generation. But 2012 has seen

defeats. He has struggled with his own form, notably this summer

against South Africa. And the breakdown in trust with Kevin

Pietersen added considerably to the strain on Strauss. Pietersen is

still an issue for England to deal with. What happened, I didn't feel

kind of undermined me in the eyes of the team in any way. It wasn't

something that - it was obviously a difficult situation to deal with,

but not in terms of making me more or less keen to leave the side.

When England won back the Ashes in 2005 it signalled a start of an era

of success. Andrew Strauss was at the heart of it. As he often said

himself, when there was a challenge he led from the front.

Well Alastair Cook takes over as Captain, that's been on the cards

for sometime. But the issue that now faces him and the people who

run English cricket is what to do with Pietersen? Can he be

rehabilitated into that England dressing room? With him the team

could be disunited. They could be inexperienced in the batting side

without Pietersen and now without The Chancellor has appeared to

dismiss the Deputy Prime Minister's suggestion that the wealthy should

pay more tax to help recovery. He said he had already increased tax

on very expensive property transactions and the Government

needed to be careful that it didn't drive away people who created

wealth. The houses of the superrich have long been in the sights of the

Liberal Democrats as a source of more taxation, but the party has

failed to get the proposal passed the coalition partner. Now, Nick

Clegg wants to look at other ways of taxing the wealthy, at least

temporarily. In a newspaper interview he said: We as Liberal

Democrats have long taken the view that particularly for the

wealthiest a tax on wealth, a tax on assets, would be far more

effective than an income tax approach, because an income tax

approach frankly when you're at the upper end is is so avoidable. Some

people have done all right from the coalition and their tox rate has

gone down to 45%, but that's not down to the 40% that they were used

to in the past. But, on the other hand, they've had hit back at them,

higher stamp duty on the most expensive houses that are being

transferred. The Chancellor was in Sunderland this morning, launching

a new enterprise zone. Since the beginning of the summer he's

insisted we're all in it together so should the rich pay more?

mustn't drive away wealth creators and businesses. This country needs

to compete in the world and earn its way in the world. Taxing wealth

rather than income is not a new Lib Dem idea. Though, the detail this

time around, is distinctly absent. It could include changes to

Interance tax or charges on land, all of which will be discussed at

the conference in Brighton next month. After a string of policy

disappointments, this could be something that the activists would

rally around. Our top story - thousands of people turn out to

welcome the Paralympic flame, as it arrives in London for tonight's

opening of the Games. Coming up - how hosting the Paralympics changed

attitudes to disability in China. Later on BBC London - Britain's

most successful Paralympian of all time, Tanni Grey-Thompson tells us

what she is most looking forward to seeing. And, the charity in Surrey

taking part in tonight's opening Republican delegates cast their

votes in an energised convention hall. As the confirmed nominee,

Mitt Romney will now get access to 165 million dollars in additional

funding, much of which will be spent on advertising. He knows this

week is also about something else, something money can't buy. America

has not yet fallen in love with Mitt Romney. In polls voters

describe the multimillionaire as aloof, unable to relate to them.

So, stepping out to change their minds, the person who knows him

best. As his partner on this amazing journey, I can tell you

Mitt Romney was not handed success. He built it. She then spoke in

personal terms of what she called a real marriage that had begun years

ago in a tiny basement apartment and been strengthened by hen other

fight with breast cancer and multiple sclerosis. Let me say this

to every American who is thinking about who should be our next

President - no one will work harder, no one will care more and no one

will move Heaven and earth like Mitt Romney to make this country a

better place to live. And at the end there he was, teary-

eyed and telling her "you were fabulous", as a character reference

this speech was as good ags anything -- anything, the question

now will it help land him the job? The former editor of the News of

the World in Scotland, Bob Bird, has been charged with attempting to

pervert the course of justice. The allegation relates to a defamation

case involving the newspaper and the former MSP Tommy Sheridan.

relates to a series of stories which the newspaper published about

the former socialist politician Tommy Sheridan. Sheridan sued the

newspaper and won and today Bob Bird was questioned for four hours

about the circumstances of that defamation case. He was charged

with attempting to perverting the course of justice and when he came

out of the the police station he made this statement. I'd just

wanted to say I'm really sad and disappointed that things have come

to this today. I have always tried to do the right thing in my career,

throughout my 30, 40-odd years in skwrorpblism -- journal imand I

Tommy Sheridan was later jailed for perjury in relation to the action

and two other men, former News of the World men, Douglas White and

the Prime Minister's former Director of Communications, also

face charges in relation to the perjury case. It's now up to the

prosecution here in Scotland to decide how to proceed with all

three of these cases. James, thank you. The Syrian President, Bashar

al-Assad, has rejected a proposal that refugees from the fighting

should be sheltered in a buffer zone inside Syria. In a television

interview, Mr Assad also said defections to the Free Syria Army

were the result of weak elements leaving the government. Our

correspondent, Barbara Plett, sent this report from neighbouring

Lebanon. Residents of this suburb are trying to come to terms with

the latest outburst of violence in the capital. A powerful car bomb

damaged buildings, killing and wounding dozens. This is an area

that has stayed largely loyal to the Government, as the Army has

unleashed a ferocious assault against rebels in other parts of

the city. In this escalating war, the President is trying to project

an image of calm and confidence, through an interview heavily

promoted by the pro-regime channel. The Government's strategy is

working, he says, but at the same time he's rallying his constituency

for a longhaul. TRANSLATION: We are engaged in a regional and global

battle and we need time to win it. But I can sum it up, we are

progressing. The situation underground is better, but we have

not yet won. This will take more time. That message falls on deaf

ears here, in this town in the north. Most of the people have fled.

Those left behind say that's because of shelling by the

Government and air strikes. This man has to prepare a grave for his

mother who died of a heartattack, triggered by the bombing, he says.

He blames the international community for failing to stop this.

TRANSLATION: Now the French President is talking, but for what?

For nothing. Turkey talks and does nothing. The refugees are waiting

at the borders and they won't let them in. A sharp increase in

refugees is putting pressure on neighbouring countries like Turkey.

It's proposed there is a buffer zone inside Syria. The President

dismissed this as unrealistic and it probably is given international

reluctance to intervene, but there's growing concern that unless

something's done the humanitarian crisis will spiral out of control.

Parts of Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam have been closed

temporarily after the discovery of a bomb which is thought to date

from the Second World War. One terminal is reported to have been

evacuated and some flights have been suspended. An airport

spokesman said explosives experts were examining the device. Earlier,

in Munich, explosives experts did detonate a large Second World War

bomb found under a bar, after the device proved too difficult to

defuse. A number of buildings in the surrounding area had to be

evacuated during the operation. More now on the Paralympics. Four

years after they played host to the Games, China is once again expected

to top the medals table. In Beijing the team won an astonishing 89 gold

medals - more than double its nearest rival. As our Beijing

correspondent, Martin Patience reports, Paralympic success led to

changing attitudes in China. Xiao Huan Yi is used to dealing with

obstacles in life. He was born blind, but that doesn't stop him

getting around Beijing. When he first started making this journey

he sometimes took the wrong bus. But now he knows the route. This

morning, he's attending a weekly film club for blind people. A guest

speaker nar rates what's happening on screen, so the audience --

narrates what's happening on screen, so the audience it follow the film.

He says this is one example of how his life's improved. TRANSLATION:

In the past, people would talk about you as you walked in the

street. Sometimes kids would chase after you. But that almost never

happens now. People treat you normally and many are willing to

help. The Beijing Paralympics four years ago played a huge part in

changing attitudes in China. The longer those with disabilities are

no longer seen as charity cases who you should feel sorry for and they

are now seen as winners, who should be celebrated. Despite all the

progress, many disabled people are overlooked. They are forced to fend

for themselves. Campaigners say that China still has a lot of work

to do. I think one of the biggest challenges is just the fact that

there's an uneven development in China, so the people with

disabilities are getting quite a lot of support, but because many

are still in the more rural parts of China, then this means that it's

much slower paced than in other parts, where it's happening much

faster. Xiao Huan Yi says China has come a long way in terms of

recognising disabilities, but the journey is far from over. Let's get

more now on those final preparations in London for

tonight's opening ceremony. Earlier our correspondent, Adam Parsons,

went to the Olympic Park for us. Welcome back to the Olympic Park.

It feels like just yesterday that the -- The Who were ending the

closing ceremony and music surrounding us once again, because

tonight it's the opening ceremony of the Paralympics. There will be

all those thousands of athletes descending on this fantastic

stadium. They will be waiting in the depths of the stadium and the

people who will be entertaining them are these guys, the national

youth theatre. They've done ceremonies for every country as

they enter the village and now this is what we have got - dancing,

singing and that spectacular puppet. All sorts of ceremonies. As you saw,

I neever got brained by a break dancer -- I nearly got brained by a

breakdancer. We'll have a word with a couple of members of the theatre.

There is Jackie and Tim. Jackie, this is a very impressive thing.

Are you looking forward to tonight? Yes, I am. There are some amazing

athletes who you will be welcoming to Britain. That's quite a

responsibility? It is, but it's fun as well. They are very open and

they make it easy. Tim, just tell us what will you be doing? We'll be

sort of welcoming and entertaining the athletes as they make their way

to the ceremony. We should be doing that for 90 minutes to all the

athletes. They are very inspirational, the group of

athletes? Yeah, they are. Incredibly so. Ultimately they are

rehearsing like us for their sport and it's an honour to be a part.

Thank you both very much indeed. We are going to wish everybody here

the best of luck for tonight. The weather at the moment is dry. The

forecast was for rain, but at the moment it seems to be a triumph of

hope over forecasting. Adam there at the park. We'll look at the

at the park. We'll look at the weather. All eyes are on an event

off the American coast. We have Hurricane Isaac on the scene. This

is the satellite picture. It's quite powerful. It's a category one,

with sustained winds of around 80mph. The centre is just to the

south-west of New Orleans itself. It's a very slow-moving system. It

will track west and north-westwards, along the Louisiana coastline

before taking a turn inland. It's across the east of the hurricanes

that we have significant storms. Six to 12-foot storm surges

battering the coastline and rain for the next couple of days.

Flooding risk here. At home, we have a weather front. On the back

of this weather front, we'll have squally winds. Then come the

showers which are already heavy and thundery across Wales and Northern

Ireland and the north-west of England at the moment. Really

through the rest of this afternoon's forecast we are

expecting further showers to come and go across the south-west of

England and Wales. There could be a few heavy ones, but at least some

sun between those intense downpours. In you will be lucky to stay dry.

There are loads of the showers moving across. Some will be heavy

too. In the north of Scotland, rain at times. Quite a cool day. 12 in

Stornoway. Some sunshine elsewhere, with rain. The showers that we have

at the moment in western England will sweep across the Midlands into

the north-east, with thunderstorms breaking out widely. We still have

the heavy rain across East Anglia and south-east England with the

winds towards the back of the weather front. That front should

move away in time for the opening ceremony, so we are pretty hopeful

that the weather should stay dry here. Overnight, plenty more

showers packing in across many parts. Perhaps some longer

spellings of rain across the north and east of Scotland, where it will

turn cool. The temperatures down by a few degrees. A cold night in

Stornoway. Thursday will be another fairly unsettled day. Bright spells

or showers. The majority of the showers will be across England and

central and eastern areas, with the weather dry and settled in the

north. For Northern Ireland and Scotland, decent weather and sun,

but the temperatures not impressive. It will be quite a cold night

Thursday night. Into Friday, we are looking at cloud and outbreaks of

rain for Northern Ireland and Scotland. Dryer and brighter as we

get towards Saturday. In the south across the Midlands, Wales and the

south, high pressure, so the weather should be largely dry and

settled with bright or sunny spells. settled with bright or sunny spells.

Thank you very much. Our top story - thousands of people have turned