:00:00. > :00:12.I'm Babita Sharma in Rio de Janeiro where the 2016 Olympic Games
:00:13. > :00:23.The Olympic torch has arrived at Rio's sugarloaf mountain -
:00:24. > :00:26.the opening ceremony is now just hours away.
:00:27. > :00:28.We'll be getting a taste of how the atmosphere is building
:00:29. > :00:35.at one of the fan zones where thousands are gathering.
:00:36. > :00:38.And here in London I'm Tom Donkin, here's our other headlines.
:00:39. > :00:42.Months of scandals take their toll on South Africa's governing ANC -
:00:43. > :00:46.they've suffered their worst ever poll results.
:00:47. > :00:49.Five months ago this woman became the face of the Brussels attack
:00:50. > :00:52.when a photographer captured this image in the chaos that followed
:00:53. > :01:16.Now she's spoken for the first time to the BBC.
:01:17. > :01:22.Here we outside the Maracana Stadium where we are five hours away from
:01:23. > :01:29.the opening ceremony that will signal the official start of the Rio
:01:30. > :01:32.2016 Olympic Games. Behind me we have volunteers, officials, some
:01:33. > :01:39.athletes will be coming through at some point here but crucially those
:01:40. > :01:45.taking part in the ceremony. It is pretty calm here. A fewer hours ago
:01:46. > :01:48.it was very calm as this area surrounding the Maracana Stadium has
:01:49. > :01:52.been locked down by security, roads have been blocked and anybody
:01:53. > :01:58.without accreditation to come into the area is not able to get into
:01:59. > :02:02.this part of town. You do get a sense of the anticipation building
:02:03. > :02:06.but when you are on the road and moving around the city it is quiet
:02:07. > :02:12.because it is a public holiday here today. You get the sense that the
:02:13. > :02:18.locals here are heeding the advice of the Maher of this city, who told
:02:19. > :02:24.them yesterday to stay away -- the Mayor of this city who told them to
:02:25. > :02:28.stay away to ease congestion. These Olympics have been marred in the
:02:29. > :02:33.build-up by the controversy of the Zika, pollution of the waterways
:02:34. > :02:37.holding sporting events, the Russian athletes, who we heard yesterday
:02:38. > :02:44.with the IOC announcement yesterday clearing the way for at least 271
:02:45. > :02:49.Russian athletes to take part in the Rio Olympics. As my colleague now
:02:50. > :02:58.reports, the focus is on the opening ceremony and whether or not Rio can
:02:59. > :03:03.deliver. This family will have one of the best views the night of the
:03:04. > :03:08.opening ceremony. The Maracana Stadium dominates the skyline.
:03:09. > :03:10.Despite their vantage point, how much have people in these
:03:11. > :03:19.communities been touched by the Olympic spirit? TRANSLATION: Beta
:03:20. > :03:24.tags are expensive for us. The Games -- the tickets are expensive for us
:03:25. > :03:30.but the Games have brought us something good. His daughter can
:03:31. > :03:35.barely contain her enthusiasm. TRANSLATION: I am really excited. I
:03:36. > :03:42.can't wait for it to start and be part of it. After a marathon journey
:03:43. > :03:46.around this vast, culturally diverse country, the Olympic torch visited
:03:47. > :03:51.some of the most famous landmarks. There has never been a more stunning
:03:52. > :03:55.backdrop for an Olympic Games. This is the first time the Games have
:03:56. > :04:01.taken place in South America, a proud moment for the continent and
:04:02. > :04:05.many Brazilians. Public support for the Games has sometimes felt patchy.
:04:06. > :04:10.In many areas where there has been little investment the question is,
:04:11. > :04:14.who are these Olympics? As the opening ceremony mayors, there have
:04:15. > :04:19.been plenty of enthusiasm, some protest and a lot of security.
:04:20. > :04:22.85,000 troops have been deployed on the city's streets and there have
:04:23. > :04:28.been rumours that more demonstrations were held -- will be
:04:29. > :04:33.held outside today's opening ceremony. This protester shouts
:04:34. > :04:41.have! Anger at the billions being spent on these Olympics. This is a
:04:42. > :04:46.city undoubtedly transformed by the Games. Some new infrastructure and
:04:47. > :04:50.urban regeneration. There have been missed opportunities, too. In a city
:04:51. > :04:54.with high levels of inequality. The Olympic games perhaps not providing
:04:55. > :05:02.as much momentum for change as had been promised.
:05:03. > :05:10.The security operation is very heavy here. The biggest presence of
:05:11. > :05:15.security on the streets of Rio in the history of Brazil. Some 85,000
:05:16. > :05:20.police and army will be deployed to ensure the safety of everyone
:05:21. > :05:25.attending and participating. That is what you get a sense here of
:05:26. > :05:29.regulation and quiet I should say as we count down the hours to the
:05:30. > :05:34.opening ceremony. It is a very different situation if you are in a
:05:35. > :05:39.fan zone in the city and the largest is in a Port region of Rio. This is
:05:40. > :05:44.downtown Rio where my colleague Julia is and you have been speaking
:05:45. > :05:54.to a lot of the bands they're getting excited and a bit of dancing
:05:55. > :06:00.as well. Yes, I can't dance on air but let us go to the fans! A lot of
:06:01. > :06:04.excitement in the fan zone. This is the harbour area of Rio and I have
:06:05. > :06:07.been talking to some people to find out how they are building up their
:06:08. > :06:20.excitement, just hours ahead of the opening ceremony. A lot has been
:06:21. > :06:24.spoken of regarding the security issues and also the fact that there
:06:25. > :06:29.are planned protests taking place. We don't know how big they are going
:06:30. > :06:33.to be but of course we should make the point that this is a city and a
:06:34. > :06:38.country that is facing a political uncertain times here as the
:06:39. > :06:43.suspended president is facing an impeachment trial. Any sense that
:06:44. > :06:51.people are worried about security and those protests, if they take
:06:52. > :06:55.place, might mean? Yes, there are protests going on in two different
:06:56. > :07:01.places in Rio today because of the political situation in the country
:07:02. > :07:05.and also some activists are gathering, protesting against human
:07:06. > :07:10.rights violations in the run-up to the Games, according to them. There
:07:11. > :07:15.are fans from around the world and fans from Rio and I have asked fans
:07:16. > :07:21.to join us and help us find out more about the atmosphere. These two are
:07:22. > :07:28.from Rio and they went to their first ever football match. Yeah! I
:07:29. > :07:35.am a big football fan, I love football a lot so it was a special
:07:36. > :07:42.moment. So, you were watching Brazil versus China, the opening match of
:07:43. > :07:48.women's football? We were cheering for the girls and they were doing
:07:49. > :07:54.their job and they were great. It was the best, perfect! The perfect
:07:55. > :07:59.first match I could ever imagine! Enjoy! Brazil won a 3- nil against
:08:00. > :08:07.China in that match. There are other bands from other parts of the world.
:08:08. > :08:15.She has made all her way from New Zealand to Rio. My partner's niece
:08:16. > :08:23.is in the rugby sevens. My niece is playing in the women's rugby sevens
:08:24. > :08:26.so we have come all the way from New Zealand to support her. What are
:08:27. > :08:31.your first impressions of this city? There was so much negative news in
:08:32. > :08:36.the build-up. We love it. It is more than what we expected it to be.
:08:37. > :08:42.There are so much to do, it is so lively and vibrant. Love it.
:08:43. > :08:47.Definitely coming back. Perfect. Thank you so much and good luck to
:08:48. > :08:52.your knees. There is a lot of excitement here ahead of the opening
:08:53. > :08:56.ceremony. This is one of the three fan zones in the city where the
:08:57. > :09:00.opening ceremony will be transmitted but we will also have concerts
:09:01. > :09:05.during the Games, all the competition being shown live, so
:09:06. > :09:09.this is where many people will be able to come and enjoy the
:09:10. > :09:16.competition and have some fun, some music and a good atmosphere. You
:09:17. > :09:20.have got the atmosphere there Julia but I think as we count down the
:09:21. > :09:23.hours it is going to be happening right here because the creative
:09:24. > :09:31.director at what is taking place in the stadium -- Maracana Stadium is a
:09:32. > :09:35.famous director from a number of Hollywood movies and he has said we
:09:36. > :09:40.are dealing with tough times in terms of austerity, they have a tent
:09:41. > :09:44.of the budget that London 2012 had to host this opening ceremony. He
:09:45. > :09:54.said Athens with classical, London was smart and Brazil is going to be
:09:55. > :10:02.cool. A lot of mystery surrounding what this will look like. We have
:10:03. > :10:05.had some sad news that the footballing great Pele will not be
:10:06. > :10:10.light in the cauldron so we are wondering who will be filling his
:10:11. > :10:15.shoes? That is just the talk where you are but that is the talk in Rio.
:10:16. > :10:22.It was very much tipped that it would be Pele, who else could have
:10:23. > :10:25.the honour of lighting the torch in the Maracana Stadium? He released a
:10:26. > :10:29.statement saying he is not in physical condition to take part in
:10:30. > :10:33.the opening ceremony. He has been suffering from ill health for some
:10:34. > :10:37.time. Devastating news for the many fans here in the city that were
:10:38. > :10:41.expecting that it would be him and indeed it should be him but now
:10:42. > :10:48.people are wondering about who it could be and possible names being
:10:49. > :10:51.spoken about our the Olympic medallist, five-time Olympic
:10:52. > :10:58.medallist who could possibly carry the torch and light the cauldron
:10:59. > :11:03.here. Also the Brazilian tennis star. We will find out who exactly
:11:04. > :11:07.it will be. The opening ceremony starts at 8pm local time and we
:11:08. > :11:14.don't know how it will run but we do know that the famous Brazilian pop
:11:15. > :11:19.sensation will be singing alongside to iconic Brazilian musicians and
:11:20. > :11:24.also the British actress Dame Judi Dench will be making a speech. She
:11:25. > :11:28.will be reading a poem, a Brazilian poem. That is all we know. As soon
:11:29. > :11:33.as we get any more information we will let you know. Just before you
:11:34. > :11:37.go, I have to ask you about the ceremony itself. A lot of mystery
:11:38. > :11:49.about it. Behind you, it has been emptied out the day. Now, those
:11:50. > :11:52.crowds are slowly building up. Locals have been told to stay away
:11:53. > :11:54.and many have heeded that advice. Yes, we said that earlier that even
:11:55. > :12:00.when we were travelling from the West to the North, the Olympic lanes
:12:01. > :12:04.were flowing freely, the traffic was light and that is something I have
:12:05. > :12:09.not been able to say in the last week. Locals have been listening to
:12:10. > :12:13.that advice from the Mayor of the city. We are five hours, less than
:12:14. > :12:19.five hours away from the opening ceremony and that could change. The
:12:20. > :12:22.security presence means anybody with authorisation is allowed access it.
:12:23. > :12:28.Anybody without accreditation cannot come into this area. Where Julia is
:12:29. > :12:33.at one of the fan zones in downtown Rio, it is a different picture, a
:12:34. > :12:38.lot more people milling around, it will be interesting to see how the
:12:39. > :12:43.situation changes. Calm, almost too calm, the city is however ready to
:12:44. > :12:48.host the opening ceremony in a few hours' time. Enjoy the tranquil
:12:49. > :12:52.before two weeks of insane action. Thank you very much with the best
:12:53. > :12:55.beat in the house, overlooking the Olympic stadium there in Rio.
:12:56. > :12:57.From South America to South Africa where the governing
:12:58. > :13:00.African National Congress has just recorded its worst ever electoral
:13:01. > :13:02.performance in local elections the ANC has admitted defeat
:13:03. > :13:04.in the key battle ground of Nelson Mandela Bay which includes
:13:05. > :13:09.Christian Parkinson in South Africa, has been picking apart
:13:10. > :13:22.Nomsa Maseko has this report from Johannesburg.
:13:23. > :13:30.This is the first time the party of Nelson Mandela won less than 60%, an
:13:31. > :13:33.embarrassment and a major psychological blow, even though it
:13:34. > :13:43.still commands huge support, Countrywide. There have also been
:13:44. > :13:49.issues but broadly the ANC have done very well against all of the arts.
:13:50. > :13:52.Infighting, court cases and a host of corruption scandals, some
:13:53. > :13:58.involving the President, are widely seen as the reason for the ANC's
:13:59. > :14:02.weakening support. They need to learn from the opposition. They need
:14:03. > :14:10.to take the citizens of South Africa seriously. The municipal election
:14:11. > :14:13.results show that the ANC's power and influence is declining. The
:14:14. > :14:18.party is coming to the realisation that it can no longer take it for
:14:19. > :14:25.granted that the country's black majority will follow it blindly. The
:14:26. > :14:30.official opposition Democratic Alliance unseated the ANC in Nelson
:14:31. > :14:32.Mandela Bay, an area with rich history in anti-apartheid struggle.
:14:33. > :14:35.We're very happy with the results so far, it's 95% counted.
:14:36. > :14:36.We're still waiting for results from Johannesburg
:14:37. > :14:38.and Tshwane but indications are that it looks like
:14:39. > :14:47.we will do very well in both those municipalities.
:14:48. > :14:53.None of the parties have won an outright majority in fiercely
:14:54. > :15:01.contested cities, including Pretoria and Johannesburg. This puts the
:15:02. > :15:12.economic freedom fighters, who won 8% of votes nationwide, in a strong
:15:13. > :15:19.position to the kingmakers. A historic lesson in humility has been
:15:20. > :15:25.learned. We will put the ANC in it so they can never again think they
:15:26. > :15:33.are indispensable and they must learn to respect the people's power,
:15:34. > :15:37.to respect the people's mandate. These municipal elections have no
:15:38. > :15:40.doubt proven that South Africa's political landscape is maturing into
:15:41. > :15:45.a competitive, multiparty democracy. Let's take a look at what else
:15:46. > :15:48.is making news around the world. The death toll from the Bastille Day
:15:49. > :15:50.lorry attack in Nice has risen to 85 after
:15:51. > :15:52.a 56-year-old man seriously injured in
:15:53. > :15:54.the incident died in hospital. The death was confirmed
:15:55. > :15:56.on Twitter by President of the French Riviera
:15:57. > :15:58.region, Christian Estrosi. He offered condolences to the family
:15:59. > :16:04.of the latest victim. At least 13 people have been killed
:16:05. > :16:07.when suspected militants opened fire at a market place in the Indian
:16:08. > :16:10.town of Kokrajar. Police have blamed the attack
:16:11. > :16:12.on an insurgent group called the National Democratic Front of
:16:13. > :16:14.Bodoland. They say they have
:16:15. > :16:19.killed one militant. Indonesian police have arrested six
:16:20. > :16:21.men suspected of planning a terror The men, who were arrested
:16:22. > :16:25.on the Indonesian island of Batam, are alleged to have been plotting
:16:26. > :16:28.to fire a rocket at Singapore officials say
:16:29. > :16:32.they were aware of the plan and had The president of Fifa,
:16:33. > :16:38.Gianni Infantino, has been cleared of breaching the organisation's
:16:39. > :16:45.ethics code following an investigation into his expenses,
:16:46. > :16:47.recruitment practices and the alleged sacking
:16:48. > :16:48.of whistle-blowers. in the benefits he enjoyed,
:16:49. > :16:54.and any concerns regarding his hiring methods were simply matters
:16:55. > :16:57.of internal compliance. Lawyers for the US-based Turkish
:16:58. > :17:00.cleric, Fethullah Gulen say they fear that there could be
:17:01. > :17:02.an attack on his life. The Turkish government has blamed
:17:03. > :17:11.Mr Gulen for masterminding the recent failed coup there -
:17:12. > :17:13.an accusation he denies. The government has submitted
:17:14. > :17:16.evidence to the US in preparation The woman who became became --
:17:17. > :17:24.the face of the attack has given a special interview
:17:25. > :17:27.to the BBC. 35 people died and more
:17:28. > :17:30.than 300 others were injured in blasts at the city's airport
:17:31. > :17:32.and a metro station. Nidhi Chaphekar, featured
:17:33. > :17:34.in one of the most iconic images, told the BBC in Mumbai
:17:35. > :17:54.that her children saw their mother's when I first saw the picture my eyes
:17:55. > :18:01.were out of my face. It showed how helpless I was at that particular
:18:02. > :18:06.time. How frightened I look. The agony, the pain. I spoke to my kids
:18:07. > :18:14.because I was worried about... I have a 14-year-old son, seeing their
:18:15. > :18:19.mum in half covered clothes. He may have felt, or my daughter who is ten
:18:20. > :18:24.years old, she may have felt my mum has been exposed to the world. I
:18:25. > :18:30.said are you ashamed? They said they were looking at my strength. Even in
:18:31. > :18:34.this condition your eyes are open. Even in this condition, you are
:18:35. > :18:44.still wanting to be alive and that is what it is.
:18:45. > :18:58.It was a blast like a ball of fire. A sound that was on full volume, and
:18:59. > :19:04.I found myself someone picked me from that place and I was on the
:19:05. > :19:09.ground. Those cries, cries of grief of people, those who were asking,
:19:10. > :19:17.where is my child? I'm calling for my child, I'm asking for help.
:19:18. > :19:24.People were crying because of pain. We have to live. We have to go on.
:19:25. > :19:28.Life has the move. It has to go on for good. If you can do something
:19:29. > :19:35.better for someone, I think you have gained something and that is what I
:19:36. > :19:38.think we have two, everybody has two things. That is it.
:19:39. > :19:41.That was the story behind one of the iconic images of the attack
:19:42. > :19:43.on Brussels which took place back in March.
:19:44. > :19:46.Two pilots have had a lucky escape after their cargo plane overshot
:19:47. > :19:49.The Orio al Serio International Airport was closed
:19:50. > :19:52.for two hours after the plane burst through a perimeter fence
:19:53. > :19:55.and onto a highway while trying to land.
:19:56. > :19:58.No-one was injured, but the incident caused severe
:19:59. > :20:02.The airport, which is one of Italy's busiest
:20:03. > :20:04.with more than ten million passengers each year,
:20:05. > :20:19.All eyes are on the Olympic Stadium in Brazil where in just a few hours'
:20:20. > :20:21.time the opening ceremony of the Games will take place.
:20:22. > :20:32.It is not the height of summer but you are looking very well where you
:20:33. > :20:39.are. This is how Brazilians do things. It is not like winter in
:20:40. > :20:44.London, what I am used to! It is 27 Celsius here. It is a boiling hot,
:20:45. > :20:49.for me anyway! The last few days it has been raining and cloudy so the
:20:50. > :20:55.climate changes day by day. I don't know if you can hear the noise
:20:56. > :20:58.behind me but we have got young kids, volunteers and possibly
:20:59. > :21:02.participants in the opening ceremony clapping at the moment as they have
:21:03. > :21:07.seats in the Maracana Stadium. The ticket prices, to give you an idea,
:21:08. > :21:15.the cheapest seats were $60, the most expensive for this ceremony
:21:16. > :21:23.around $1300. We think it is sold out, we are waiting to verify that.
:21:24. > :21:28.It is a 45,000 seat capacity stadium in the Maracana Stadium and 206
:21:29. > :21:33.Nations, the athletes from those 206 Nations and also a refugee team will
:21:34. > :21:38.be coming through bearing their flags for the competition as they
:21:39. > :21:43.get underway. All the focus will be on what the athletes are wearing. A
:21:44. > :21:47.short time ago I was joined by the Brazilian fashion blogger who has
:21:48. > :21:52.been looking at the athletes's uniforms in detail. She joined me to
:21:53. > :21:58.talk about that and also have favourites, no guesses for which one
:21:59. > :22:03.she likes, Brazil, of course I! Brazil brings the nature, florist,
:22:04. > :22:16.flowers and birds, they bring the colour of the country. The flags and
:22:17. > :22:21.I love the head because it reminds me of Brazil and it looks amazing.
:22:22. > :22:27.They bring the colours and the designer is a breach where designer.
:22:28. > :22:37.A lot of attention on the designs because it is a big moment. A big
:22:38. > :22:40.moment in the world. So big in Brazil, the fashion designer it is
:22:41. > :22:48.so big in Brazil and I love the colours. Let us talk about Canada.
:22:49. > :22:56.My favourite. They did a really nice job. These blazers with the iconic
:22:57. > :23:02.maple leaf, I love it and I could wear it in the day in my routine! It
:23:03. > :23:08.doesn't look like a uniform. It is amazing. I love it. A lot has been
:23:09. > :23:12.said about the Georgia team. I remember when the announcement came
:23:13. > :23:15.out from the designer showcasing what the athletes were wearing and
:23:16. > :23:19.people were saying they can't believe a dressing like this because
:23:20. > :23:29.they said it was too traditional. It to traditional. It is not all the
:23:30. > :23:33.uniforms are so kind of cool. The concept according to the designer
:23:34. > :23:38.was medieval Georgian times so make of that what you will. They will be
:23:39. > :23:47.hot because the uniforms are long and the temperatures today are 27
:23:48. > :23:52.Celsius, so being cool is important. The day here is so hot and it is
:23:53. > :23:56.strange, that uniform. I don't like it so much. We should talk about
:23:57. > :24:10.Cuba because they have hit the headlines about their uniform. They
:24:11. > :24:21.have Louis Bhutan -- Vuitton as their designer. It is so chic and
:24:22. > :24:23.elegant. Vuitton made the collaboration and they have created
:24:24. > :24:39.a really nice uniform for the Olympics. -- Louboutin is the
:24:40. > :24:43.designer for Cuba. Stella McCartney's collaboration with
:24:44. > :24:48.Adidas for 12 years is amazing. She has done a really nice line. The
:24:49. > :25:00.uniform and the clothes to wear during the Games is 10% lighter than
:25:01. > :25:04.it was in 2012. I am impartial but my favourite uniform that I have
:25:05. > :25:10.seen is Team GB, designed by Stella McCartney. A look at what we can see
:25:11. > :25:16.behind us. A lot more activity now. The performers who are going to be
:25:17. > :25:20.taking part in the opening ceremony are behind me. The cartel much from
:25:21. > :25:26.what they are wearing but I am being told there are over 1000 costumes
:25:27. > :25:32.here -- you can't tell much from what they are wearing but I am being
:25:33. > :25:43.told there are over 1000 costumes. A lot of pageantry, Carnival and
:25:44. > :25:46.Samba. A bit of dancing and singing as well. You can stay up to date
:25:47. > :25:56.with all the coverage on our website and mobile app.
:25:57. > :26:01.What ever team or individual you are going after these Olympics I hope
:26:02. > :26:03.they perform well for you. That is all for us and the team. Goodbye for
:26:04. > :26:08.now.