tonight at 10: some of the victims of the worst scandal in the history of the nhs have been giving evidence at a public inquiry. thousands of people were infected when they were given blood products in the 19705 and ‘80s. many have died, thousands of others could be undiagnosed. the blood products supplied by the nhs infected people with hepatitis c and hiv. one man described the pain he'd endured. i was told i had about a year to live and i was told not to tell anybody... ..including, excuse me, including my family and my parents. we'll be hearing from more of those affected, as they gave their heart—rending evidence to the inquiry. also tonight... in venezuela, violent clashes

outside a military base in caracas, as battle for political power intensifies. one of the world's critically endangered animals, the sumatran orangutan, could be extinct within two decades. we report on the industry that's fuelling the decline. we report from nottingham on mobility — social mobility, or the lack of it, and what can be done to promote better career opportunities outside london. commentator: threads it through to van de beek, who has time and scores! and ajax put tottenham hotspur under pressure in their champions league tie this evening. and coming up on sportsday on bbc news: england'sjudd trump has got off to a flying start in the quarter—finals of the world snooker championship.

good evening. some of the victims of the worst scandal in the history of the nhs have been giving evidence at a public inquiry. the inquiry is looking at how thousands of people were given contaminated blood products in the 19705 and 1980s. almost 5,000 nhs patients contracted hiv or hepatitis c, after receiving products that were infected — including those who had transfusions after an operation or childbirth. of those, around 3,000 have since died, but tens of thousands of others may still be living with undiagnosed conditions and the inquiry comes after decades of campaigning by patients and their families who say there's been a cover—up, as our health editor hugh pym reports. a poignant memorial to victims of the infected blood scandal. messages left by some of theirfamilies. it will travel around

the country, as this public inquiry gathers evidence. at the heart of it are people infected and affected. they would come first and love said thatjudge leading the inquiry. at the heart of it, people like derek, a haemophiliac, supported by his wife and son. he explained how he first learned he had hiv. i was told i had about a year to live. i was told not to tell anybody... including, excuse me, including my family. with his son at his side, derek talked about his brother, also a haemophiliac who developed aids and recalled the time his brother wanted to talk about his fears. but i couldn't, it was too close to home, for me. and i wasn't there for him. i wasn't there for him. and three months later, he died.

it's the biggest regret of my life, because he's gone and i can't do anything to make amends for that. nearly 10 million pages of official documents are being searched, as the inquiry tries to find out whether there was a high—level cover—up. some victims have only recently discovered they were infected. so, for 30 years, you were unaware you had hepatitis c? indeed. carole only found out two years ago she was infected with hepatitis c after a blood transfusion and there could be many more who still don't know. the fact that for thousands of people out there, who like me, didn't have the least idea they have hepatitis c and there may be a whole wave coming from that. for perry, it's the support of his wife and family

which has kept him going. there is a huge impact on family. because they carry you and... but...but the focus is always on the patient, the person who's suffering. but i know that i wouldn't be here without friends and family. victims have been calling for more financial support. in scotland, some can get around £37,000 a yearfrom official funds but the equivalent to the rest of the uk is nearly £15,000 less. today, hours before the inquiry, the government at westminster announced higherfunding government at westminster announced higher funding but campaigners say it is too soon to say what that will mean in practice. in some other countries, full compensation has been paid, officials have been taken to court. only now, three decades

on, is the uk mounting a full public inquiry. campaigners hope it will get to the truth. the strength of the test at me —— testimony speaks for itself. what does this signify? test at me —— testimony speaks for itself. what does this signify7m isa itself. what does this signify7m is a very big moment. we had preliminary hearings last september but today saw the official launch of thisjudge led but today saw the official launch of this judge led public but today saw the official launch of thisjudge led public inquiry. you could see how relieved people affected by it well when they came along today. the uk is well behind other countries affected by all this. france, italy and japan, for example, have put people on trial, officials and politicians. compensation has been paid out. nothing like that has happened here. yes, there have been financial subsistence payments but never finding fault in compensation for the loss of a loved one, penn station for a loss of earnings over a lifetime and that is where this inquiry may eventually get to, with its power to pull documents, molly

millions of them from around whitehall. the power to compel witnesses to give evidence and yes, politicians, secretaries of state, ministers going back will be asked to give evidence next year sometime. no wonder it has been called the uk's biggest ever public inquiry. thank you. hugh pym, our health reporter. in venezuela, there have been clashes outside a military base in the capital caracas. the authorities say they dealing with what they say is an attempted coup, after the opposition leader juan guaido announced he was in the "final phase" of ending the rule of president maduro. mr guaido declared himself interim president in january and has called for massive street protests to force mr maduro from office. live to caracas and our correspondent guilermo olmo. it has been a long day of violence here in venezuela, all the way through we have seen clashes between

the security forces and opposition forces at the air base behind me. is the lace it latest episode of the venezuelan political crisis and it seems far from over. it started this morning, with tear gas fired at protesters on a bridge in caracas. opposition leader mr guaido calling on venezuelans and the military to end mr maduro's rule. translation: the call is for eve ryo ne rule. translation: the call is for everyone to come out to the streets at this moment to get back into what we have built over the years. alongside him a prominent opposition politician jailed in 2014 and released last night by security staff loyal to mr guaido. gunfire throughout the day, tensions rose. a

growing crowd of protesters throwing rocks at the military in the capital. the situation now is quite unclear, uncertain. we have seen how protesters are throwing stones and anything they can use as projectiles against the national guard and the national guard is using all the means they usually use, throwing gas canisters and also pellets. translation: the venezuelan people have taken to the streets because the president has called on us to support him. we were asking him to ta ke support him. we were asking him to take the first step. he has taken it and now it's time for us to back him. and then, there is. a national guard armoured car is set alight after it slams into the crowd. the fla mes after it slams into the crowd. the flames are soon put out. mr guaido join supporters at a rally this afternoon. thousands lining the

streets. translation: the government called on its supporters to gather outside the presidential palace. the president mr maduro tweeted the military commanders are still loyal to him. but at this point, uncertainty is the only thing that can be taken for granted in venezuela. the latest on the political turmoil in venezuela from our correspondent. police have started a new criminal investigation into the deaths of hundreds of patients at a hospital in hampshire between 1987 and 2001. an independent inquiry last year found that more than 450 patients died after they were given strong painkillers at gosport war memorial hospital. three previous investigations have ended with no charges being brought. our correspondent duncan kennedy reports. the familes of those who died in gosport have waited 30 years for answers. today, at a special meeting, police told them there would now be

a criminal investigation. the daughters of stanley carby, who was one of hundreds to die in the gosport war memorial hospital, say the new inquiry must find truth where three previous ones failed. we want justice for the relatives and for the families that's been fighting. we're all getting older and, you know, it's been 20 years. so, for us, anyway, with dad. last year's independent inquiry found that more than 450 people died at the hospital because they were probably given strong painkillers for no medical reason. police say families who spoke to that inquiry would now be at the centre of their investigation. they want answers. i want to try and give them the answers, but i can't promise that i'm going to give them the outcome that they want. the police also say that they are looking at a full range of charges, including murder.

but they say it all depends on whether they can prove that the shortening of lives here at gosport was directly caused by the use of these powerful painkillers. drjane barton was responsible for prescribing painkillers at the hospital in the 1990s, though last year's report said other staff were also involved. speaking through her husband last year, she denied she was at fault. she's always maintained that she was hard—working, a dedicated doctor, doing the best for her patients in a very inadequately resourced part of the health service. the new investigation will take at least nine months. the families of those who died say they simply want to be heard. duncan kennedy, bbc news, in gosport. maternity services at two hospitals in south wales have been put into special measures, after an independent review found serious failings. the review was prompted by a number of baby deaths and other serious incidents.

it found that staff shortages — and what was described as a "blame culture" — had led to poor care. the cwm taf morgannwg university health board said it fully accepted the findings of the review, which criticised the units at the royal glamorgan hospital in lla ntrisa nt and the prince charles hospital in merthyr tydfil. the labour party's governing body has been discussing whether a commitment to another eu referendum should be part of its european election manifesto, and, if so, under what circumstances. the national executive committee decided this evening that the party would support a further referendum on brexit but only under certain circumstances. our chief political correspondent vicki young is at westminster. tell us more about the decision. well, labour has been accused of sitting on the fence when it comes to its brexit policies, it tries to keep these two factions together, those who think they should be a second referendum in all

circumstances and many of those who would then campaign to remain in the eu, and then those that think it would be a total betrayal of the original result. so the big question to labour, what on earth were they going to put in their manifesto for the eu elections and jeremy corbyn has really got his way by broadly sticking to the agreed labour party policy for a referendum, but only in some circumstances and there is some very careful wording here, saying it should only be an option if labour cannot trigger a general election and even then, it should only be to prevent what labour calls a damaging tory brexit ora no—deal brexit. now, there is continuing ambiguity has worked tonight with both side saying they have got what they wanted but what will labour voters and all boaters think? they may in the end say that labour is a party that may one day campaign to stay in the eu 01’ one day campaign to stay in the eu or they decide that labour is a party that is determined to deliver brexit. that is still not entirely clear. vicki, many thanks.

let's take a look at some of today's other news. and a reward of up to £20,000 is being offered for information which leads to the arrest and prosecution ofjoseph mccann, who's suspected of abducting and raping two women in london. he's also been linked to a third attack in watford. scientists have found many elderly people have a newly recognised form of dementia that is being misdiagnosed as alzheimer's disease. their study suggests the condition shares symptoms with alzheimer's but is a distinct disease, affecting as many as one in five the research could help develop new treatments. the body which represents rail operators has suggested major changes to the way train services are run, including scrapping the current franchise system and taking control away from the government. the submissions to a government—appointed review also suggested long—distance routes being serviced by more than one company and control of commuter routes could be given to local authorities.

japan's emperor akihito has declared his abdication in an historic ceremony at the imperial palace in tokyo. he handed over the symbols of power after being given permission to abdicate due to declining health. the 85—year—old is the first japanese monarch to stand down in more than 200 years and is handing over to his eldest son. one of the world's critically endangered animals, the sumatran orangutan, is being killed in increasing numbers and could be extinct within two decades. that's the bleak warning from charities working to protect the animals, whose rainforest habitat faces unprecedented pressure. vast tracts of indonesia's tropical rainforest are being cleared for palm oil plantations. it's the world's most widely—consumed vegetable oil, found in processed foods, cosmetics, even bio—diesel fuels. many adult orangutans are being killed by farmers, while their babies are traded as exotic pets. from sumatra, our correspondent

mehulika sitepu sent this report. this rescue team has been told the wife of a soldier has been keeping a young orangutan as her pet. bom bom was kept in a cage for three years. they have agreed to hand him over. it's hard to watch. life with this family is all bom bom has known since his mother was killed. getting him to a rehabilitation centre is his only chance of freedom back in the wild. bom bom is a victim of indonesia's deforestation. this country is the world's biggest oil back to lead palm oil producer. this country is the world's biggest palm oil producer. in the past two decades, huge areas of rain forests have been destroyed. millions of indonesians now depend on the crop for a living.

inside this, there is a kernel, like this. this is where biofuel comes from. orangutans have been pushed aside. many are killed by farmers as they search for food on the fringes of plantations. the babies are captured and sold as pets. this large male was shot 62 times by farmers. he was shot two in one eye, one in the other. charities do what they can. he is going to spend the rest of his days as a captive animal. the plantations will say, oh, the orangutans come out the forest to eat our palm oil seedlings but they will eat palm oil seedlings in the same way that a shipwrecked mariner will eat his shoes or his belt. you know, it is not food, it is just the only thing there that they can try and survive with. indonesia's government says it is trying to limit palm oil expansion, but also lobbied heavily for the multi—billion dollar industry, which is dismissive

of the needs of orangutans. translation: this is the journey back to freedom for one lucky orangutan. but charities can only do so much. well done. good luck, harry. countless others are being lost. bye, harry, good luck. mehulika sitepu, bbc news, sumatra. social mobility in the uk has stagnated and will remain unimproved without urgent action, according to a new report. the organisation set up to promote social mobility says around a third of people from working class backgrounds are in professionaljobs. it's calling for additional funding for older teenagers in education

more free childcare and measures to stop the so called brain drain to london from provincial towns and cities. our home editor mark easton reports from nottingham. if you want to get on, you have to get out. service to london st pancras... the numbers show that those who leave cities like nottingham are more likely to get a ticket aboard the express to career success. but for people from poorer backgrounds, the government's social mobility commission complains too often there's only a slow train to a top job. if you can afford to leave, it's great, but if you can't, then you'll stay in a region and you won't get access to some of the top jobs and some of the top opportunities. would—be solicitor paris mckenzie suspects her dream of a law career is more likely if she moves to london, but as a single mum, she simply can't afford to leave her home city. and why should she? it's a good city, people are always surprised when i say i can't find the rightjob for me here. would you go to london? well, i can apply but i'm thinking,

is there any point, because i wouldn't be able to go there? she is responsible for winding the silk yarn on 4500 bobbins... nottingham was once a magnet for ambitious entrepreneurs. its textile industry, notably lacemaking, led the world. high—flyers might have got on their bikes to the raleigh factory — once the most successful bicycle manufacturer on earth. but these days, raleigh has to pedal much faster to retain and attract top talent. somebody that understands the modern economy... once, its factories employed 10,000 people. now, it'sjust over 100, and with traditional manufacturing workers being replaced by experts in digital, marketing and design. that's the type of skill set we didn't have in the business previously, but, fortunately, we've been able to find some very, very good people and bring them into the business. but then retaining them is obviously a challenge, as well. one in six adults in nottingham is a student.

the city can boast two top universities, but can they convince the brightest and the best to stay when they've finish their studies? you want to be a barrister? yes, yes. how attractive is london to you? very. the majority of the top chambers are in london. with accountancy, that's a business degree and everyone always says if you're a business person, you're going to want to be in london. they can't keep you in nottingham? no, i don't think so. you have got a job after uni in nottingham. will you stay? yeah, i do think so. if i didn't get on this scheme, i would've probably been looking forjobs in london. the social mobility commission is today telling ministers they should invest more injobs, and skills and infrastructure in places like nottingham, so people don't feel they have to get out to get on. trains once rattled through nottingham station loaded with coal, iron and beer to fuel the nation. now, too often, they simply export the region's talent. mark easton, bbc news, nottingham.

football — and a good night for ajax, playing tottenham tonight in spurs' first—ever appearance in a champions‘ league semifinal. our sports correspondent joe wilson was at the match. let'sjoin him now. let's join him now. the streets are only required now —— are quite, there were altercations earlier, police were here and several arrests we re police were here and several arrests were made, and in the stadium, the totte n ha m were made, and in the stadium, the tottenham manager had urged his players to aim for infinity and beyond. after the first leg, they have barely reached the m25. this place is all about aspirations. the stadium is status. who knew when this chance would come again for totte n ha m ? this chance would come again for tottenham ? for this chance would come again for tottenham? for a place in the final, they went up against real madrid, juventus or barcelona, it was ajax, in black, and after 15 minutes, the dutch side had passed spurs to a

standstill. goal—scorer donnie van de beek. ajax since childhood. tottenham's own harry kane was already injured. then yann vertonghen was hurt in a collision and clearly couldn't vertonghen was hurt in a collision and clearly had dn‘t vertonghen was hurt in a collision and clearly had to ‘tl had left. vertonghen was hurt in a collision and clea —— 1ad to ‘tl had left. vertonghen was hurt in a collision and clea —— dele>‘t| had left. vertonghen was hurt in a collision and clea —— dele alli, 1ad left. vertonghen was hurt in a collision and clea —— dele alli, not left. vertonghen was hurt in a collision and clea —— dele alli, not that delhi ali —— dele alli, not that time, or when the cross came over. ajax came close to scoring again, this close. could have been better for them, a lot worse for spurs, but they could use some fresh legs for they could use some fresh legs for the next leg. this thursday, people across most of england and in northern ireland will head to the polls to vote in local council elections in 248 local authority areas. and while many voters will be exercised by local issues, party workers are reporting that brexit and the stalemate at westminster is the cause of much resentment and frustration among voters. john pienaar reports

on the significance of this thursday's contests. what? another election? yes, i know, but we don't get bored with using these. orfinding the odd road in decent shape. or seeing where we're going after dark. forget about brexit, just for a moment, anyway. these elections are about choosing the people who run things, so the rest of us don't have to worry about it, and so we know who to tell when we do. there's elections in nearly 250 english authorities, with over 8,400 seats up for grabs, all of them waiting for voters to decide who they want to run their services and how. but, of course, we'll be trying to read the national political picture too. the conservatives have by far the largest number of councils. then come labour. the lib dems and ukip have hundreds of council seats between them, but only hold a handful of authorities.

and look out for results in key councils, to see which way the wind is blowing, like tory—held swindon or bath. the conservatives were on a high last time these seats were fought in england four years ago, and they‘ re braced for a tough night. some analysts believe that the tories could lose anywhere between 500 and 1,000 seats. we'll see. labour are leading in some national polls, but the way the seats are distributed, some say they may make fewer gains than the liberal democrats, and the lib dems are trailing in all the polls. there are elections in northern ireland too, and all the main parties are involved, and where local councils are important. so, what of the national backdrop? will there be anything here to encourage theresa may? well, frustration with brexit won't help the tories. labour's result may not quite reflect the fact that they've gained ground in some polls, and the lib dem results may look rather more encouraging than some of the polls suggest.

remember, the european elections are just three weeks away. this time, with the brexit party and the new change uk party both taking part. fed up with elections and politics? who isn't? that doesn't mean that these elections don't, in many ways, matter to every one of us. john pienaar looking ahead to the local elections in england and northern ireland on thursday. newsnight is getting under way on bbc two, here on bbc one it's time for the news where you are. hello and welcome to sportsday — i'm jane dougall. first leg of the champions

league semifinal... totte n ha m tottenham had an uphill battle after losing to ajax. the other side of the draw, liveable gearing up for their match in spain against la liga. and judd trump has had a great start to his quarter final in the snooker world championship — taking the first six frames. hello and welcome to sportsday. we start with tottenham and a disappointing 1—0 loss in their champions league semifinal at their new stadium, but it is only half time — spurs still have a second leg to play against ajax. and they have a good track record in the second legs of this competition, putting manchester city out on aggregate. however, ajax do have an away

goal and it will be a tough ask for tottenham. john watson is outside the stadium for us. john, were ajax just better on the night, or was it a lack of first team players available for tottenham ? i think it was both, certainly in the first half, and ajax were dominant, such was the below par performance of tottenham in the first half demonstrated by the opening goal that came from donnie vanderbeek when he gave the freedom of the tottenham box, so much time and space to fire home for ajax opening goal inside for 15 minutes, it was a poor opening first half from tottenham. it was an enforced change they get caught in a much needed momentum towards the end of the first topic was their defender who went for the challenge, for he had air alongside his team—mates the defensive partner and a clash of heads as well with the ajax

goalkeeper that saw the driving much needed momentum and driving force in the centre of the field for totte n ha m. force in the centre of the field for tottenham. and tottenham were able to build on the second half, much improved despite another decent ajax attempt in the second half. data hitting the post for ajax but the best chance for tottenham with the header and shot comfortably saved, but ajax will celebrate with that away goal and home advantage to come in the second leg, they will feel that they are the favourite to progress but plenty of work to do 110w progress but plenty of work to do now for tottenham and certainly they will hope that maybe harry kane can come back to give them a much—needed boost and the second leg but the returning player will be a huge boost as well out suspended for the press like that he returns for second leg and it'll help tottenham because as we know they have to score 110w because as we know they have to score now that they stand a chance

of progressing to the first ever champions league