and three months later, he died. 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 infusion this is bbc news — and there could be many more i'm geeta guru—murthy. who still don't know. the headlines at 11:00. the fact that for thousands thousands of haemophiliacs of people out there, contracted hiv and hepatitis c who like me, didn't have the least after being given contaminated blood products in the 1970s and ‘80s and now a public inquiry is hearing idea they have hepatitis c from some of the victims. and there may be a whole wave i was told i had about a year to and i hope it's going to be handled live and i was told not to tell a darn sight better than it has been up till now. for perry, it's the support of his wife and family which has anybody, including, excuse me, my kept him going. there is a huge impact on family. family, my parents. because they carry you and... but. . . but the focus is always on the patient, violent clashes outside the person who's suffering. a military base in the venezuelan capital as the battle for political power intensifies. a new police investigation is launched into the deaths of hundreds of patients

at gosport war memorial hospital. labour's governing body agrees to support a second brexit referendum but only if victims and their families other options fail. and japan's emperor akihito gives have been calling for increased financial support. up his throne in a formal ceremony making the first emperor to do so in over two centuries. pay—outs in scotland are higher we report from nottingham on social than in the rest of the uk. just hours before the start of the inquiry today, mobility or lack of it and what can the government at westminster announced increased funding, but campaigners say it's much too be done doing ——to increase career early to say whether it addresses their main concerns. opportunities outside of london. today, in some other countries, full compensation has been paid. officials have been taken to court. and at 11:30 we'll be only now, more than three decades taking an in—depth look at the papers with our reviewers on, is the uk mounting a full public inquiry. former pensions minister baroness campaigners hope it altmann and political will get to the truth. commentatorjane merrick — hugh pym, bbc news. stay with us for that. our health editor, hugh pym reporting. 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. from caracas, our correspondent

good evening. some of the victims of the worst scandal in the history of the nhs have been giving evidence guilermo 0lmo reports. at a public inquiry. it started this morning. with tear the inquiry is looking at how gas fired on those on a bridge in thousands of people were given contaminated blood products caracas. 0pposition leaderjuan in the 1970s and 80s. (ani) almost 5 guaido calling on the opposition in the military and the president's contaminated blood products in the 1970s and 80. rule. almost 5,000 nhs patients contracted hiv or hepatitis c after receiving translation: the call products that were infected is for everyone to come out to the streets at this including those who had transfusions moment to get back into after an operation what we have built over the years. or after childbirth. a poignant memorial to victims alongside him a prominent opposition of the infected blood scandal. politician jailed in 2014 and released last night by security messages left by some of theirfamilies. it will travel around the country, as this public inquiry gathers evidence. at the heart of it, people like derek, a haemophiliac, staff loyal to mr guaido. 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. gunfire i was told not to tell anybody... throughout the day, tensions rose. a growing crowd of

protesters throwing rocks at the military in the capital. the situation now is quite including, excuse me, unclear, uncertain. we have seen all around how including my family. 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 derek's brother also had haemophilia canisters and also pellets. and developed aids and on one occasion wanted to translation: the venezuelan people talk about his fears. have taken to the streets but i couldn't, it was too close to home, for me. because the president has called and i wasn't there for him. 00:03:32,970 --> 4294966103:13:29,430 i wasn't there for him. on us to 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, thiis. a national guard armoured car is set alight after it slams into the crowd. the flames are soon put out. juan guaidojoined supporters at a rally this afternoon. thousands lining the streets.

translation: the government called on its supporters to gather outside the presidential palace. president nicolas maduro tweeted the military commanders are still loyal to him. but at this point, uncertainty is the only thing the that can be taken for granted in venezuela. guilermo 0lmo in caracas. 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 a50 patients died after they were given strong painkillers at gosport war memorial hospital. three previous investigations have ended with no charges being brought. 0ur correspondent duncan kennedy reports. the familes of those who died in gosport have waited 30 years for a nswe i’s. 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 a50 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. low 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, dedicated doctor, doing the best for her patients in a very in adequately 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. let's have a look at some of the other main stories this hour. two men are being questioned on suspicion of murder after the bodies of two women were found in a freezer in east london. the victims haven't been formally identified. police are offering a reward of 20,000 pounds for information that leads to the arrest and prosecution ofjoseph mccann who is wanted in connection

with the abduction and rape of two women in london last week. alex hepburn, a cricketer who raped a woman as part of a sexual conquest game while she was asleep, has been jailed for five years. 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 serious incidents at the royal glamorgan and prince charles hospitals. it found that staff shortages and a "blame culture" had led to poor care. sian lloyd reports. we have kept things along the way. this was our first christmas without her. sarah and jonathan had only a brief moment with their daughterjennifer, she died shortly after being prematurely at their home. sarah had gone to her local hospital while in labour but was told she had

constipation and was sent home with laxatives. hours laterjennifer was born. despitejonathan attempting cpr, she didn't survive. she fought so hard to be with us and she wasn't given the opportunity because she wasn't born in the medical unit with medical care. the report identified serious failings described today as taking place from the board to the ward. some women received poor care which didn't meet the standards expected, there were significant staff shortages and not all staff behaved as they should towards patients, deep—rooted cultural failings in leadership were identified and systemic failings in how incidents were reported. health board's chief executive apologised for the failings. in the report some women were describing the units as cattle markets, they weren't being listened to, they were being laughed at when they raised concerns. what did you feel when you read that? a whole host of emotions,

most profoundly a sense of sadness, a sense of shame and a sense of real determination to do something to make sure that we put this right. jennifer's parents gave evidence to this inquiry, they are among 43 cases that have been identified as needing investigation. it's absolutely devastating in a way i cannot even describe. you know, for any otherfamilies, if we can stop any other family going through this, that means jennifer's life has had a good impact and meant something. a new review will now look at cases dating back to 2010 to try to determine how many women and babies may have come to harm. sian lloyd, bbc news, 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. 0ur chief political correspondent vicki young is at westminster and has more on labour's decision. labour has been accused of sitting on defence when it comes to its exit 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 will then campaign to remain in the eu and those who think that would be a total betrayal of the original results of the big question for labour, what on earth were they going to put in their manifesto for these eu elections and jeremy corbyn has really got his way here 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 can't trickle a general election and even then it should only be to prevent what labour calls a damaging tory exit or

no deal brexit. now, this continuing ambiguity has worked tonight given the both sides are saying they have got what they wanted of course what will labour voters and all voters make of it? they may, in the end, decide labour is a party that might one day campaign to stay in the eu 01’ one day campaign to stay in the eu or will they decide labour is a party that is determined to deliver brexit? that is still not entirely clear. the headlines on bbc news: 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 professional jobs.

it is 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 topjob. 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? i mean, 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 4,500 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.

0nce, 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 them 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 businessperson, 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. yeah. 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. 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 is 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 is the world's most widely consumed vegetable oil found in processed foods, cosmetics, even biodiesel 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 palm oil producer. in the past two decades, huge areas of rainforest 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. 0rangutans 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. so yeah, he's 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'll eat palm oil seedlings in the same way that a shipwrecked mariner will eat his shoes or his belt. you know, it's not food, it's 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 lobbies heavily for the multibillion—dollar industry, which is dismissive of the needs of orangutans.

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. it is one of those stories that pits farmers against the naturalists. at the heart of the row is what to do about these birds in england, and who has the right to kill them. farmers think they are pests because they attack livestock and eat crops. wildlife campaigners argue that many are killed indiscriminately, and not just by farmers. what has up to now been a vigorous debate hasjust turned nasty, with the presenter of bbc springwatch, chris packham, getting death threats.

0ur rural affairs correspondent claire marshall reports, and a warning — her report contains images some may find distressing. look at this. trees filled with nesting rooks in the cotswolds. and what do you see? a beautiful sign of springtime, or nests of pests that need to be controlled. you'll shoot about 20 at a time, and the next day, there'll be 100 to take their place. edward says he has to keep his newborn lambs inside to stop crow attacks. and there's another problem — rooks feasting on his crops. last year, laws were changed. the system is now so confusing that edward says he has stopped shooting, and says his farm is suffering. you need to manage it. if you have too many of one species, they become the dominant species, and they will destroy others. images of lambs alleged to have been attacked by crows were posted

on social media over the weekend. edward's13—year—old daughter isla helps him to run the farm. you've got to be open—minded to it all. there's definitely one answer and it's to have equal crows and equal sheep, and to have balance. the problem is this debate is spinning out of control. if you listen closely, the majority of people on both sides want the same thing — to stop animals being killed or suffering unnecessarily. this is what nature campaigner chris packham woke up to at the weekend. police are also examining suspicious packages sent to his home, and he has had death threats. it was a legal challenge by his campaign group, wild justice, that led to the licences being changed. what concerns us is that large numbers are being killed purely

not because they're pests or harming anyone's interest. and we've never sought to restrict the ability of farmers to kill birds damaging their livelihood. a government statement said natural england are working as quickly as possible to issue new licences. the hope is that clarity comes before the argument gets even uglier. claire marshall, bbc news, in the cotswolds. 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, and 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 are 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 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 results 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. it is the end of an era injapan. this morning, emperor akihito formally declared his abdication and delivered his last public address as emperor. the 85—year—old is the first japanese monarch to stand down in more than 200 years. oxford—educated crown prince naruhito will ascend the throne tomorrow. laura bicker reports. japanese emperors are supposed to die on the throne, but this is a man who has redefined what it means to be a monarch. emperor akihito has come to the imperial palace shrine to ask his dead ancestors' permission to abdicate. in truth, he has pleaded with his people and the government for years to allow him to step down. after 30 years on the chrysanthemum throne, his health is failing, and it's time to say farewell.

translation: we sincerely hope the prosperity and peace of new era, and i wishjapan and the world peace and prosperity. the ceremony is taking place behind closed doors in the imperial palace. it is only ten minutes long. no—one is going to see anything out here, and yet still they have gathered in the rain, because they want to pay respects to an emperor who won their hearts. when akihito ascended to the throne, he was crowned emperor of a country that many believed would become a new superpower. a year later, the economy crashed. then came further disaster — an earthquake in kobe in 1995. a more powerful quake and tsunami hit the north—west in 2011, leaving almost 16,000 people dead. emperor akihito and his wife addressed those suffering, and sat with them. royals injapan were once seen as descendants of the gods.

to see him kneeling made him human, and they loved him for it. he was also the first to marry a commoner, empress michiko, his constant companion. as pacifists, they travelled the world to help heal japan's wartime reputation. their son, the crown prince naruhito, will become emperor at midnight, leading the country into a new era which many hope will build on his father's legacy. laura bicker, bbc news, in tokyo. now it's time for the weather, with helen willetts. hello there. it's time to take a look a little further forward with the weather forecast which happens to tie in with the bank holiday weekend. what we are thinking at the moment, we are thinking it's shaping up moment, we are thinking it's shaping upfairly moment, we are thinking it's shaping up fairly decently but between now and then we have a few things to happen. for a start, the weather front advancing in with the start of the week, the