Airports to cancel flights, the citys chief minister says the air has become unbearable. Lewis hamilton will start the us formula one grand prix in fifth position on the grid, but is still poised to win the world drivers championship. And confirmation of the december 12th general election is analysed by the week in parliament. Thats in half an hour, here on bbc news. Good afternoon. The leader of the brexit party, nigel farage, has announced he wont be a candidate at next months general election. Mr farage, who has tried to become an mp seven times, says hell focus instead on touring the country to support his pa rtys candidates. The announcement comes days after he offered an Electoral Alliance to the conservative party, an offer which was quickly rejected by the Prime Minister borisjohnson. Heres our political correspondentjessica parker. Walking into this election, nigel farage says borisjohnsons brexit deal is a gigantic con and that the brexit party is ready to field hundreds of candidates who will say so. But he wont be one of them. Do i find a seat, try and get myself into parliament . Or do i serve the cause better traversing the length and breadth of the uk supporting 600 candidates . Ive decided the latter course is the right one. So, you arent going to stand yourself . No, its very difficult to do both. Some will say hes running scared, after being turned down by the tories for a leave alliance. Is there anything you can offer nigel farage at this stage . I dont think were interested in offering anything. What i would say is nigel has spent his entire career fighting for brexit, the Prime Minister has now negotiated a very good brexit deal. He says it isnt brexit at all. I campaigned for leave. Away from brexit, borisjohnson is trying not to be on the back foot when it comes to spending pledges. Today, serving up an end to the freeze on working age benefits from next year, scheduled to happen anyway. Labour says its a cynical election ploy. But they have Spending Plans too, a £60 billion programme of Energy Saving upgrades for low income households. 27 million homes will be fitted to ensure they are fully insulated, and that will be part of our contribution towards zero emissions. It will happen very quickly. Its early days in this campaign, all parties are trying out their opening pitches. Im a candidate to be Prime Minister in this election, and frankly, when you look at the way Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn are carrying on, i think i could do a betterjob than either of them. We will be fighting hard for every vote, every constituency, putting forward a very strong prospectus about the future of scotland. Parliament hasnt even been dissolved yet, that happens this week. Then, those after your vote will be out across the uk, hoping for a chance to work here and work out where the country goes next. Jessica is here with me. Its the very start of what will be quite a Long Campaign but Nigel Farages announcement is still something of a surprise stop he has tried seven times before to be elected, unsuccessfully, and i think political opponents of his will suggest he is running scared and perhaps that is why he is not personally going to stand. He says the reason he is not standing as he thinks his efforts would be better spent going across the country and helping the 600 odd brexit candidates across england, wales and scotland. I think it is true that had he stood in whatever seat, the conservative party would have thrown a lot of resources at that seat as they had before so maybe he thought it would be something of a distraction. He gave the conservative party until mid november to decide whether they wa nted mid november to decide whether they wanted to take him up on this lever alliance. His offer was that if they ditched Boris Johnsons alliance. His offer was that if they ditched borisjohnsons deal then maybe they could come up with some sort of pact. As far as it is concerned between the brexit party and the conservative party it seems to be game on. The difficulty for the brexit party is that the campaign moves beyond brexit quite quickly to other policy areas. This party was formed to. The question is whether it has a policy range for a general Election Campaign. General selection of policies will need to be available. This may hinge on how much it is an election about brexit or how much other parties like labour can stir it onto other issues. It does depend to some extent as to whether this is a brexit election or an election on other issues. It seems likely that the public want to hear about a range of topics. It will be interesting when their manifesto comes out to see what they will have there in black and white. We will have to wait a bit longer before we get the full manifestos. It sounds quite an expensive pledge. Get the full manifestos. It sounds quite an expensive pledgeli get the full manifestos. It sounds quite an expensive pledge. I think the labour party, with a number of their plans, have some quite big figures attached. They think it is worth it in the long run and would generatejobs and worth it in the long run and would generate jobs and revenue for the treasury. I think it is interesting to see borisjohnson, when he has been out and about, start the Election Campaign before it was even confounded by mps. He has gone to hospitals, schools, police stations he wants to talk about investment in Public Services. I think they want to fend off the idea that there are a party of austerity. Labour led a Good Campaign in 2017 where they talked a lot about austerity and investment in Public Services and so i think Boris Johnson investment in Public Services and so i think borisjohnson is going on the attack of that one. They might go in the attack of that one. They might goina the attack of that one. They might go in a bidding war about how much they are going to spend but the question will come of where you are getting the money from and will this bea getting the money from and will this be a load of borrowing to make these pledges happen. We will have more opportunity to talk about this later and maybe have some answers. Lets get more now on the governments confirmation, that the freeze in benefit payments is to come to an end next year. The department for work and pensions said working age benefits such as universal credit and job seekers allowance will rise by 1. 7 from april 2020. But labour called it a cynically timed announcement ahead of the general election on 12 december. Lets get more on this now with helen barnard, Deputy Director for policy from thejoseph rowntree foundation, which is a think tank focused on tackling poverty in the uk. Shejoins me down the line from leeds. In terms of what the opportunity is here for the government, we knew this announcement was coming, it had been trailed the date that this would come in with the start of the new financial year, what in practical terms does this mean in terms of a change of policy . practical terms does this mean in terms of a change of policy . I think we hoped that it was coming but the government had refused to confirm it which was worrying. We need to understand that there has been a rising tide of poverty across the country for a number of years and this freeze on benefits has been a big factor pulling families under, especially those with kids. When we talk about families and what difference it makes, one family said they could only just difference it makes, one family said they could onlyjust keep their head above water but as the benefits freeze tightened then she couldnt. Freeze tightened then she couldnt. More freeze tightened then she couldnt. More and freeze tightened then she couldnt. More and more people pulled deeper into hardship. It is great to know that that is ending. Of course, that doesnt turn back the rising tide that we already see so the rising tide that we already see soi the rising tide that we already see so i think that what this shows is that all parties know they have got to give a good offer to low income voters who are one of the biggest swing groups of voters but they have got this has just got to be the start. People need to be able to rely on it. You cant get back the money you werent given in the first place. The question is raised by this good news story that the restriction of the growth of benefits is to end and that is good news to people who are in receipt of them, is how much poorer they are in terms if this was never introduced. Basically, what it is meant is that average low income families have been losing around £560 from their income every year and that is about three months worth of food shopping. 0bviously, people having to make much less money stretch across those essentials and that does mean that people get called into debt and have to go without essentials and that really tightens that great. 0ne to go without essentials and that really tightens that great. One of the things that is a real shame is that it undercut some of the good policies like raising minimum wage. That is a great thing to do but for many families they would have felt pity much of no benefit from that because at the same time, we have been weakening the Social Security that for people who are locked in by low pay and high rents, that is how you make it work for you as a family so you make it work for you as a family so that needs to be just as strong as what the parties are offering on minimum wage. What impact has it had on the benefit and welfare system more generally . Has it helped to string the proportion of the National Wealth that is going into welfare because that has a ways been an ambition that governments have had and they wanted to find other ways to support people rather than the benefits system . Ways to support people rather than the benefits system . |j ways to support people rather than the benefits system . I think it has certainly saved money from the welfare budget but we need to question whether that is actually the right way to do that. When you think the majority of people who have been pulled under by this are in work already and it minimum wage has been going up, there has been a lot of good news on that side. It has just been such a shame to have really pulled the rug out of under all those good policies by knocking out the thing that people who are stuck on low pay, who are trying to bring up kids, really need to rely on. I spoke to one mother who said that she works two jobs but she has to fit in a trip to food bank in between those jobs because you still cant make the money stretch across the essentials. We know that that is not what any of us want for our society because that is not compassionate and just. I think this isa compassionate and just. I think this is a good start to say lets reset and we are going to fund its like oui and we are going to fund its like our other Public Services. We want the nhs funded so we can rely on it and many others will have to rely on Social Security when we have young kids when we are ill, when we are caring for someone, when we are on low pay, when we are trying to pay high rents and we need to be able to rely on that as a Public Service alongside all the others. Thank you. A mass has been taking place in the catholic Vietnamese Church in london to remember the 39 people who were found dead in a refrigerated lorry in essex ten days ago. Police have not confirmed the individual identities of the victims, but believe they were all from vietnam. Another service last night was attended by more than 100 people, as Richard Lister reports. This congregation feels the migra nts deaths more keenly than most. More than 15,000 londoners were born in vietnam, forming the largest Vietnamese Community in britain. Some gathered at this East End Church last night to commemorate their countrymen who had died trying to reach the uk. 0ur sympathy for the people who have lost their life on their way for seeking their freedom, dignity and happiness. And we ask god to welcome them into his kingdom. People here have been following news of the investigation closely essex police are slowly identifying the victims and there are families in the congregation who have told father simon they too may have relatives who are among the dead. I think the more information we get, the quicker the investigation will become so i enquired what information they could provide and they said so far eight families have come forward to give me information and they have passed it on to essex police. Footage has emerged of the lorry , shortly before the terrible cargo was revealed. Vietnam has called for closer International Cooperation to combat migrant smugglers and human trafficking. By ronan hughes on the left, they are still searching for him and his younger brother chris. It may be some time before we know the names and stories of all those who died but this congregation is keeping them in their prayers. Richard lister, bbc news. Another mass has been taking place today, our correspondent Chi Chi Izundu was at the service and sent this update. Well, it has been an understandably Emotional Service for the Vietnamese Community here in britain that have congregated in the church just behind me. It started with a projection of the container containing those 39 bodies from that Industrial Park followed by a minutes silence. The mass is being led by Bishop Nicholas hudson who said that he wanted to offer prayers to some members of the congregation who could possibly be relatives of the dead and the victims. He also offered prayers for the Emergency Services that had to deal with that incident but he interestingly also offered prayers for the traffickers and said that he hoped, as a result of this tragedy, would have a change of heart. The headlines on bbc news the brexit party leader, nigel farage, says he is not going to stand as a candidate in next months general election. The government confirms the benefits freeze introduced by the conservatives three years ago will end next april. Income tax will rise for the top five per cent of earners and Corporation Tax will increase, under a labour government, according to shadow chancellor, john mcdonnell. Airbnb, which allows people to rent property online, says its banning bookings for so called party houses. It follows the death of five people in a shooting in San Francisco on halloween night. Heres our north america correspondent chris buckler. Parties have been a big issue for the company for a long time, but what has led them to act was a party thrown at a home in 0rinda, which is an affluent suburb in San Francisco last week. Now a woman rented that house, claiming she wanted to find a place to allow her asthmatic family to escape from the smoke from the california wildfires. In fact, she threw a Halloween Party in which 100 people turned up and it descended into violence. In which there were shootings and five people died, in their 20s and late teens. Now, airbnb has said thats completely unacceptable and they say they are going to put in place new policies that will ban party houses. Now that might prove difficult to do, but brian chesky, who is the co founder and chief executive officer of airbnb has set out a number of things that they are going to do. He says theyre going to create a dedicated party has Rapid Response team and that theyre going to screen high risk reservations among other things. Hes pretty blunt in this post on twitter. He says we must do better and we will. At least four people have been injured in a knife attack in hong kong after another day of clashes between pro democracy protesters and riot police. Local media say that the assailant had been arguing over politics before taking out a knife. He was then turned on and subdued by an angry crowd. Riot police had stormed the Shopping Centre in tai koo district earlier after some protesters formed a human chain inside began vandalising restaurants. Demonstrators in iraq have been shutting roads in the capital, baghdad and other cities as they continue a wave of Anti Government protests. More than 200 people have been killed in clashes with the Security Forces since the demonstrations began last month. Dozens of flights to the indian capital, delhi, have been diverted, because of Poor Visibility caused by toxic smog. Schools are closed and a Public Health emergency is in place, in a city thats home to 20 million people. Pratiksha ghildial has sent this report. For a fifth day now, people in delhi are breathing the citys most toxic air. Pollution comes every winter but people are saying this is the worst they have seen. In many parts of the city, the pollution levels are more than 20 times their safe limit. These people have gathered outside the Prime Ministers house to demand a basic right, clean air. They believe there isnt enough political will to find a solution. You can see how terrible it is. Patients are coming who are suffering with asthma. One problem is the burning of crop stubble. They say they dont have any other way of getting rid of it. Angela merkel visited and she chose not to wear a mask. The cricket team continued practising, despite the air quality. The worst sufferers are people who work on the streets like traffic policeman and the homeless. The government says they are doing what they can and has banned construction activities, limiting the number of ca is activities, limiting the number of cars on the road and has asked for schools to remain shut for a few days. A longer Term Solution does not seem to be in the site and latest studies show that lung cancer and premature deaths are rising in the city. Police are appealing for information following a fatal collision in essex. A ao year old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a man died when a car hit a pub in colchester. The victim has been identified as a 36 year old man who died at the scene after a White Nissan Qashqai crashed into the spinnaker public house. Three other people were taken to hospital, including a man with life changing injuries. A 300 year old violin, valued at a quarter of a million pounds, which was accidentally left on a train in london last week, has been safely returned to its owner. The instrument was handed over in a supermarket car park to its owner Stephen Morris after secret negotiations. The man whod taken the violin said hed made a mistake and apologised. Earlier my colleague ben brown spoke to the musician Stephen Morris, he told him more about the 300 year old violin. It was made in 1709, the same year that samueljohnson was born. It was made in rome, by tecchler. Sorry. Dont drop it im struggling for words because im still getting over the shock of getting it back. It is 300 years old and worth about £250,000. Tell us the story you lost it on a train . I was tired, finished very late at night at abbey road studios, and when i got off at my local station, i got off and left the violin where i had put it. And i didnt realise until the following morning that it was missing, which was a terrible shock. That is a heart attack moment, isnt it . It certainly is how did you go about trying to find it . First, i had to make sure i had a violin to play on tour, i was on tour with bocelli, and my wife lent me a violin. The btp took control of the search. The british transport police. Thats right. Their amazing team ran the search. And then you found it, and the person who had taken it gave it back. Tell us a bit about how that happened. I got a message on my newly created twitter account to say that somebody knew somebody who had the violin, and a few phone calls later, we managed to negotiate a location to return the violin. You must have been gobsmacked, thrilled, delighted. All those things. A lot of prayers answered. Lets hear a bit of that beautiful violin, because you were playing a little bit earlier, and it makes the most amazing sound. Thank you. Plays amazing grace. That is sumptuous. Is it fair to say that you will be a lot more careful with that wonderful violin . Thats a fair comment may be just chain it to your wrist when you are next going on a train. I think a tracker is probably in order. But you are grateful to everyone who helped. Hugely grateful. Mike pannett, the author, who was the engine room of the search, what a hero. Couldnt have done it without him. From a very valuable violin to a very valuable pair of trousers once worn by the singer Olivia Newton john whose best known role was of course sandy in the film grease. The skinny black trousers she wore in the film have been bought at a Charity Auction for just over three hundred and fourteen thousand pounds. Shes previously said they were so tight, she had to be sewn into them for each day of filming. The identity of their buyer remains a secret but the auction raised rounghly £1. 9 million in totalfor 0livias Cancer Treatment centre. Now its time for a look at the weather with sarah keith lucas. It felt quite mild earlier. Temperatures are going to be on the deck as we head into this week. An autumnal mix. At the moment is quite mild and we had all those in strong winds yesterday, certainly a lot windier lot less windier picture today. Into the rest of this afternoon, a few showers towards the south west of england, parts of Northern England and scotland seeing some showery rain but temperatures up some showery rain but temperatures up to 15 degrees or so. Through this evening and tonight, the heavy showers in the south west make their way gradually northwards across england and wales. Could be the odd rumble of thunder mixed in two. The rain across eastern scotland comes quite persistent tonight. This weather front will be slow moving over the next day or so so there could be some flooding problems over North Eastern scotland. Away from eastern scotland, for much of the rest of the country sunny spells. In the south west there could be the odd rumble of thunder mixed into. Top temperatures between ten to 13 degrees which will feel quite pleasa nt degrees which will feel quite pleasant in the sunshine until later on in the week. Hello, this is bbc news with shaun ley. The headlines. The brexit party leader, nigel farage, says he is not going to stand as a candidate in the general election. Do i find a seat, try and put myself into parliament, or do i serve the cause better traversing the length and the breadth of the united kingdom, supporting 600 candidates . Ive decided that the latter is the better one. The government confirms the benefits freeze introduced by the conservatives three years ago will end next april. Income tax will rise for the top 5 of earners and therell be increases to Corporation Tax, under a labour government, according to shadow chancellor, john mcdonnell. The Vietnamese Community comes togetherfor a vigil for the 39 people found dead in a lorry in essex. Delhis toxic smog forces airports to cancel flights the citys chief minister says the air has become unbearable. Now on bbc news, the week in parliament. Hello and welcome to the week in parliament. Its on. The uk will vote on december the 12th as borisjohnson argues a general election is the only way to push brexit forward. This endless, wilful, fingers crossed, not me, gulf refusal to deliver on the mandate of the people, and that is, mr speaker, to refresh this parliament and give the people a choice