06/08/2014 BBC News at One

Boris Johnson says, he will try to return to Parliament in 2015.

He says, he'll serve out his term as London Mayor but is now looking

for a constituency. I think the 2015 election will be

tough. I want to make sure it is not an Ed Miliband Premiership. I will

be fighting hard to avoid that. I want to see a Conservative

government. for a constituency.

Also this lunchtime... The first chance for funerals

in Gaza, as the three day ceasefire holds.

An aspirin a day to keep cancers at bay.

New research, aimed at people in their 50s and 60s.

The Ebola outbreak could be declared a global emergency as the

World Health Organisation meets to discuss the crisis.

And catching a comet. Scientists celebrate

the first pictures from the Rosetta probe 250 million miles from space.

Later on BBC London... We'll ask, can Boris Johnson

handle two jobs - as mayor and MP? And campaigners head to

Downing Street over funding cuts to GP surgeries.

Good afternoon and welcome to the BBC News at One.

Boris Johnson has confirmed that he will stand for a parliamentary

seat in the 2015 General Election. The London Mayor admitted to dancing

around the question for an awfully long time but, this

morning, he ended the speculation, saying that he was looking

for a constituency to represent. He also said he would serve out

his term as mayor. The Prime Minister has tweeted that

it was great news he was planning a return to Parliament.

Here's our political correspondent, Vicky Young.

The unmistakable mop of blonde hair, the crumpled suit. One of the few

politicians that people recognise. Now the stage is set for Boris

Johnson should -- to return to Westminster as MP and, some believe,

one day lead his party. Today the London man admitted he had been

dancing around the issue for a long time. I cannot endlessly go on

dodging these questions, as I have tried to do. So... Let me put it

this way. You ask about Uxbridge, I have not got any particular seat

lined up but I do think that, in all probability, since you cannot do

these things furtively, I might as well be absolutely clear. I will try

to find somewhere to stand in 2015. How does David Cameron field about

having his friend and rival returning to his team? In a tweet he

called it great news and said he had was wanted his star players on the

pitch. With a hard battle ahead to win the next election, the Tories

know they need all the help they can get. I hope that whatever

constituency he can find, people elect him. I would like to see him

back in Parliament. There is a big role he can play. Boris Johnson

revelled in the success of the London Olympics. As a conservative

men in a city that traditionally votes Labour, years seen as an he

can reach parts of the electorate others cannot. Can this old Etonian

with a knack of dropping Latin phrases into conversation really do

this? Most people when they see a politician, they walk away and they

turn off the television and turned to something else. Boris has the

charisma. You will give him the benefit to give him 20 seconds of

your time. That is precious for anybody trying to connect with

people. To say sorry for the things I can apologise for. . Everything he

touches turns to gold. In 2004 he was forced to apologise for in

sensitive comments about the Hillsborough tragedy and accusing

Liverpudlians of wallowing in their victim status. Labour says all the

attention on the man shows the Tories are turning inwards, focusing

on leadership races to come and said of helping families with the cost of

living crisis. The prospect of Boris Johnson returning to the

Parliamentary freight causes a stir at Westminster. He can crack a good

joke. Whether David Cameron and Boris Johnson will still be smiling

next year is another matter. For all the warm words about the

prospect of getting a real star back on the Conservative benches, a

Wellcome to summer you can reach out beyond the Westminster village and

has some broad appeal, there will undoubtedly be concerns that Boris

Johnson will be seen as that leader in waiting. A number of Conservative

MPs have said of the record that they'd fear this could well be a

distraction. Every time things are going badly for David Cameron,

people will be looking over his shoulder and questioning whether

Boris Johnson is doing a better job. Boris Johnson will have burnished

those leadership credentials with his speech this morning on Europe in

which he said, yes, we should try to reform the EU. If that does not

succeed, we should not be afraid of life outside the EU, believing that

Britain could negotiate a lucrative relationship with outside. That is

music to the years of many conservatives and well, I think,

increase the questions he is already facing as to whether he sees himself

as a leader in waiting. He has not managed to close down that issue.

That world of past is something of anomalous cloud over the sunshine of

the camera on holiday. Thank you very much.

And Carole Walker is in Westminster. The US Secretary of State, John

Kerry, has told the BBC that Israel and Hamas must take advantage of

their 72-hour ceasefire and start moving towards broader discussions.

The truce appears to be holding for a second day and negotiators

from both sides are in Cairo to try to broker an extension to

the current three-day truce. Jon Donnison reports from Gaza.

Gaza has come back to life. The street are busy as people stock up

on supplies. Hoping this three-day truce will hold. The cease-fire is

good. We have come out to get food, water and let the children go out.

We do not have water, we do not have electricity. Some areas have been

flattened. Hundreds of thousands have been displaced. Many no longer

have homes to go to. UN school shelters are packed with desperate

people. TRANSLATION: My home was destroyed.

I have no place now. I will not be in the UN school until they find me

a place to live. More than 1800 Palestinians have been killed. The

majority of them are civilians. 400 of them are children. Palestinians

are still burying the dead. The funeral for a senior Islamic Jihad

commander. A senior Islamic Jihad commander. There may well be a

cease-fire in place. There is still a lot of anger. Still a lot of ill

feeling. This does not feel like peace. The US Secretary of State,

John Kerry, told the BBC he saw this as an opportunity. I even believe

this situation now that has evolved perhaps will concentrate people 's

minds on the need to get back to the broader negotiations and tried to

resolve the issues of the two states. Most in Gaza and Israel

think Mr Kerry is dreaming. Israel 's troops have withdrawn to the

border. This cease-fire will only ever be a short-term fix. This is

unlikely to be the last war in Gaza. Jon Donnison reports from Gaza.

Well, our Middle East correspondent, Kevin Connolly, is in Jerusalem.

The cease-fire is holding. What progress has been made on the wider

talks, the wider issues? They are beginning pretty cautiously, I think

is the truth, over in Cairo. We are hearing very little about the

detail. The first task probably and realistically will be to keep the

cease-fire going. Any cease-fire only last up until the moment when

it breaks down. We have 72 hours and both sides seem to think that is a

solid 72 hours in prospect. After that you need to keep the guns

silent while the talks continued. The real fundamental issues that

separate Israel and Hamas go much deeper than this last month or so of

conflict. They will take a very long time to resolve. The first chance

for the Egyptian negotiators, keep the cease-fire going. After that,

too tentatively is search for common ground. Something to do with the

easing border restrictions on Gaza, something to do with security

guarantees for Israel. No one should doubt that the task facing those

negotiators is extraordinary forbidding. Thank you very much.

Kevin Connolly, is in Jerusalem. After the heated exchanges

which dominated the first TV debate on Scottish

independence last night, both sides in the campaign are assessing

their leader's performance. Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling

clashed over currency, EU membership and taxation.

Our Scotland correspondent, James Cook, reports,

on how the battle shaped up. Straight back to business. Alistair

Darling traded TV studio for factory floor inspired this morning. Alex

Salmond was back on the campaign trail, addressing business people in

Edinburgh. Both men tried to capitalise on a feisty debate. Any

eight-year can tell you the capital of a country, the flag of the

country and its currency. You cannot tell us what currency you will have.

Alastair, we will keep the pound because it belongs to Scotland as

much as it belongs to England. It is our pound as well as your pound. He

also came under pressure over what powers would accrue to Scotland if

it voted no. Give me two powers that would definitely accrue. Sky tax and

the power... -- tax, and the power... All of it? Varying the rate

of income tax. No one will ever govern Scotland better than the

people who live and work in Scotland. We will always make the

best decisions about Scotland 's future. Far too much of this debate

has been characterised by blind faith and crossed fingers. The no

camp were delighted as they left and last night. Both sides are claiming

victory. The yes campaign is positive. We have a vision for the

future of Scotland. The no campaign is relentlessly negative. Possibly

the most cynical and negative campaign British politics has seen.

Those differences were very apparent last night. This morning we were

pretty clear and confident we have the arguments to take to the people

of Scotland in the coming six weeks. The Nationalists are short of

time. On the night, short of answers. And so the pressure mounts

as Scotland nears a momentous decision.

on how the battle shaped up. And we can speak to James now.

Alex Salmond was regarded as favourite going into the debate.

There is no doubt the no camp was easily be happier with the

performance of their man last night. They work, I would say,

cock-a-hoop as they emerged. They immediately declared a decisive

victory in contrast to the yes campaign who said they were pleased

to have managed to get their arguments out there. There is a

notable difference in language. There were some furrowed brows. Some

of their prominent supporters in the media said they thought Alistair

Darling had won. Even if you accept an alternative, some people say

there was a draw, that is not good enough for the yes campaign. They

are still behind in the polls. They are arguably running out of time.

Just six weeks to go and they really need to begin to get the pollster

now if they are going to have the prospect of winning independence.

And on 18th of September. There will be a rematch. It is not confirmed

yet. We understand the BBC is set to host another debate between these

two men, probably on 25th of August. That state -- that date still

finally to be confirmed and a venue to be confirmed as well. At that

debate, all the pressure really will be highly on Alex Salmond.

And we can speak to James now. And you can watch the whole debate

on BBC Parliament at 7pm tonight. And, for more information about the

Referendum, go to our online page. Healthy people in their 50s

and 60s should be encouraged to take aspirin every day to help prevent

stomach and bowel cancers, according to new research.

Scientists believe the benefits of taking aspirin long term, outweigh

the risks associated with the drug. Our health correspondent,

Dominic Hughes, reports. The evidence around the benefits of

a daily dose of aspirin is growing. This cheap, everyday medicine is

already taken by many people to avoid heart problems. Now new

research adds weight to existing studies which shows the drug might

help to prevent cancer. It was found that drug helps to prevent cases of

death from stomach, bowel and oesophageal cancer. Researchers

believe, on balance, many people, aged between 50 and 65 would benefit

from taking a low dose of aspirin every day for at least five years.

Scientists are increasingly convinced that a small, daily dose

of aspirin could have a powerful impact on chances of developing some

cancers. There are risks of taking aspirin, such as internal bleeding

or stroke. Those risks are outweighed by the benefits, it is

claimed. It is clear the most important thing is to avoid smoking.

Smoking if you are already. After that, this is probably the second

most important thing anyone can do to prevent cancer. There are many

other important things but none as powerful as this, because of the

widespread benefit across a range of cancers. Cancer Research UK says

aspirin is showing promise but there are lingering concerns at the

possible side-effects. We need to understand more who is at risk of

the side-effects of all we can recommend that people in general

start to take this drug. Official NHS advice does not recommend taking

a daily dose of aspirin. And everyday that has been around for

decades looks like it could be a powerful weapon in the battle

against cancer. The Ebola outbreak could be declared

a global emergency by the World Health Organisation who are meeting

to discuss the crisis today. Two American aid workers who were

infected with the virus in West Africa are said to be improving

after taking an experimental drug. More than 800 people have died

in the outbreak and British Airways have suspended all flights to

the region. Our World Affairs Correspondent Nick

Childs reports. International alarm grows over the

worst of wake of the deadly virus since it was discovered almost four

decades ago. With concern that this health crisis is spinning out of

control, the World Health Organisation is holding an emergency

meeting. It could declare a global health emergency, imposing travel

bans and border controls on affect the country. Some say what should

have been done earlier. We have repeated on several occasions that

the epidemic is far from being under control. This most deadly outbreak

has so far affect did for countries in West Africa. Guinea, Sierra

Leone, Liberia and now Nigeria. The death rate is estimated at 50, 60%.

Almost 900 people have died. We welcome the delegations with whom

were working to control this out. As President Obama posted African

leaders in Washington, both the American aid workers who contracted

the virus in Liberia has now flown home. A Spanish priest in Liberia

has also now tested positive. But the Americans have been improving.

They have received an ex--- an experimental drug. The company is

trying to scale up on production. It is difficult to produce these

antibody cocktails and it is not at the level of being able to mass

produce. British Airways has said its suspended its flights to and

from Sierra Leone and Liberia for the rest of this month. Authorities

and airlines are monitoring the work closely. The risk of transmission is

said to be low here. And Ebola is containable. But the country is

currently affected urgently need more outside help to prevent this

becoming an even bigger crisis in the region.

Childs reports. Our top story this lunchtime.

Boris Johnson says he will try to return to Parliament in 2015.

The Mayor of London will look for a seat to contest.

And still to come. My mouth was so dry. I would have

given ?1 million for a drink of water.

And still to come. The man who landed a plane

when the pilot collapsed meets the rescuer who guided him

in that fateful night. Later on BBC London.

Reaction to Boris Johnson's decision to stand for parliament next year

as well as continuing at Mayor. And the story of how soldiers

from the First World War with horrific facial injuries were given

radical treatments developed at a London hospital.

A moment of space history was made today,

when after a decade of chasing a comet, the Rosetta spacecraft

It's the first time a comet will be studied in detail, as previously

But as our Science Correspondent, Pallab Ghosh explains, Rosetta's

findings could reveal more about the emergence of life on Earth.

Delight at the Mission Control Centre in Germany. This is the comet

that the spacecraft has been chasing for ten years. It is oddly shaped,

like two balls fused together. Never before has a spacecraft being so

close to the comet, just 60 miles away, and for so long. The

spacecraft will spend the next few months analysing what the comet is

made from. Its mission is to find out if the comet might have

kick-started life on the planet. They peppered the early Earth 4.5

billion years ago bringing with them water and it is thought, some of the

ingredients for life. As it cooled those ingredients mingled to create

the chemicals from which life emerged. Charles Darwin described

the origin of life in a warm little pond. Somehow water was involved and

that could have come from the comets. The carbon in the DNA were

all made from could have come from the comet. The theory is that comets

brought with them many of the basic building blocks of life. Molecules

like carbon, water and methane and many other chemical compounds. They

all mixed together in a primordial soup to form at first very simple

organisms which billions of years later, went on to evolve into plants

and animals that we see in the around us today.

What started off as pond life evolved into more complex

organisms, including us. Great Jones is a researcher working at the space

laboratory here in Surrey. One of the big questions that were set is

addressing it did comets kick-start life on Earth, did they bring to

press the key ingredients for this primordial soup that later led to

the development of life. Rosetta will spend the next few months

taking measurements and pictures. It is up close and personal. We will be

able to understand everything there is to understand about the comet,

the chemical composition, whether the ice on the comet was the source

of the oceans. In November scientists plan to land a probe to

take actual samples and find out whether comments really do hold the

key to how life on Earth began. More than 170,000 cars were sold

in the UK last month, the highest figure for July

since 2007, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

It's predicted that almost 2.5 million cars will be sold this year

as a result of economic confidence and attractive finance deals,

which would make it the best since 2004 for car sales.

A 47-year-old man who was arrested at Manchester Airport yesterday

on suspicion of making a hoax bomb threat on a

plane from Qatar, has been sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

An RAF Typhoon was seen escorting the Qatar Airways flight from Doha

after the pilot was handed a note about a possible device on board.

The plane was carrying 269 passengers and 13 crew.

Anyone found guilty of rigging wholesale gas and electricity prices

faces up to two years in jail, under new proposals by the government. At

the moment people can be investigated and fined

for manipulating the market but not jailed.

The proposals are expected to become law by next spring.

The majority of business leaders fear that

a skills shortage, will adversely affect the UK's economic recovery.

A survey for the Prince's Trust also found that

three quarters of British businesses fear a skills crisis will hit the UK

in the next three years, unless more young people are trained in areas

such as construction and retail. Here's our Business Correspondent,

Emma Simpson. Construction was hit hard by the

recession. But things are picking up.

Here they are building new student flats. One of the biggest problems

facing the industry right now is a shortage of workers. We all struggle

to fill places such as graduate civil engineer is, graduate quantity

surveyors and many of the trades as well found on construction sites.

The survey today reveals that the proportion of business leaders who

think they will be a significant skills crisis within three years is

an astonishing 73%. Almost as many worry it could harm the recovery.

And one third were the skills shortages could destroy their

businesses. Balfour Beatty is lifting the

barriers to employment. This apprentice left school with

almost no skills. Trying to find some way that is allowing me to be

accepted with out the skills is impossible. So for me to get it, I'm

over the moon. Recruiting people with the right skills, especially

young people, has long been an issue for British business. What is

striking about this report is the extent to which company bosses

believe the skills shortage could hold back the recovery. As ever the

question is how to bridge the gap. We have more than 800,000 unemployed

young people and yet 50% of employers say they cannot fill

vacancies. We need to bridge the skills gap and make sure unemployed

young people have the skills and motivation to take those jobs. And

that should help keep this economy on the move.

Emma Simpson. Last October,

John John Wildey was a passenger on a light aircraft when

the pilot collapsed and he was forced to take over the controls.

The 78-year-old had never had a flying lesson

and didn't even know how to turn on the lights, but he was guided in

by a helicopter and landed safely. Today for the first time,

John and helicopter pilot who helped him, met for the first time.

Dan Johnson has the story. Good to see you again. The student

pilot meeting his instructors. After introduction to fly in the West

possible circumstances. John wildly wanted to put faces to the voices

that guided him to safety. I wanted to say thank you face-to-face. It is

not the same as writing a letter. We arranged this and here I am. I was

glad to meet them because I have only seen them on television, on the

broadcast. It is not the same as seeing them in life.

He was forced to take the controls after his pilot friend had a heart

attack and died in the cockpit. An RAF search and rescue helicopter was

sent to help him stay in the air and then talk him down. The structures

on the ground were telling him physically how to fly but we were

there as a point of contact and to follow him around if he got

disorientated. To show him someone else was up there with him. They

were very helpful. Chatting to me and getting me settled. They helped

to keep me settled. After settling for an hour John managed a safe

landing at Humberside. Rather than putting him of flying, he is now

taking proper lessons. I still love it. I have been quite a few times

already. I have had a few unofficial lessons as well. I love flying. It

is great that he is having lessons. He is unique because he will have

more landings and take-offs in his logbook. He is unlikely to forget

that first line experience. -- flying experience.

Dan Johnson has the story. The journalist and author,

Chapman Pincher, who had a series of sensational exclusives when he

was the defence correspondent of the Daily Express in the 1950s and

60s, has died at the age of 100. Once known as the

"great spy-catcher of Fleet Street", he went on to write a series

of books about espionage and the Intelligence Services.

Time for a look at the weather. Some heavy rain recently. We can

take a look at the rain we have had so far today. The weather system is

taking longer to take the rain north across Scotland. And still in the

north-east there is heavy rain to come this afternoon. Elsewhere there

is sunshine and a few showers around. Many of us remaining drive.

-- dry. To the east of England there is some warmth around with

temperatures heading into the mid-20s. But the heavy showers which

here this afternoon. Some of us to improve as the afternoon goes on. In

Northern Ireland you will know about those showers if you catch one. This

evening and tonight that bad weather moving across the Northern Isles.

Elsewhere it is dry and becoming mainly clear. Some mist and fog

patches developing. And temperatures down on where they were last night.

It does mean we start tomorrow with plenty of sunshine. And for many of

us what you start the day with is what you will keep. Sunny spells and

a dry day. Still some showers developing especially across

Northern Ireland and Scotland but they will move through quite

quickly. And the risk of the odd heavy shower in the far south east

of England as we go through the afternoon. Elsewhere variable cloud

and some sunshine around. Still pleasantly warm when the sun does

make an appearance. Then on Friday more organisation to the showers in

Northern Ireland and western Scotland. The risk of some very

heavy rain developing through parts of the East and South East of

England as we go through the afternoon. That is one to watch.

Then on Saturday, sunshine and showers. And that exist to Sunday.

We are looking to the south of the UK, this weather system, the

remnants of a hurricane. Mostly coming to the south of the UK but

just minimal impact. But still giving us showers. But it could be

further north delivering more widespread wet and windy weather. We

will keep you updated on that. And more on the BBC weather website.

and the Intelligence Services. Now a reminder

of our top story this lunchtime. Boris Johnson says he will try

to return to Parliament in 2015. The Mayor of London will look

for a seat to contest. That's all from us,

now on BBC One it's time for