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 course of wednesday, ahead of it could well be a bit foggy again first thing for the rush. the fog lifts, the cloud and the weather front brakes up. heavy showers with gusty winds and hail and thunder thrown in as well. looks and thunder thrown in as well. looks a little sunnier further northern ireland. it will tend to fade away through wednesday night. by the time we get into thursday, we are starting to find a change taking place in the north. ahead of that, once again, it's a day of sunshine and showers the start of may as well. we get some heavy showers around which will limit our temperatures but by the end of the day, here is that cold air we've been talking about this. it certainly looks set to occur late on thursday but for more of us on friday, the arctic blast.

temperatures well below where they should be for the start of may. another showery day on friday. even the south will notice that shell but in the north, barely five or six degrees, bearing in mind on monday oi’ degrees, bearing in mind on monday or tuesday, temperatures in the high teens and low 20s. it will feel a lot colder because that strong northerly wind. so big changes. it looks like it will be a short cold snap for most of us. so the bank holiday weekend will start on a chilly note because we will have frosts around. it looks mainly fine. once be clear that weather front and the cold air is introduced, would still got that breeze but high pressure eventually cuts off that hotair pressure eventually cuts off that hot air flow and quietness the weathered down. that fly in the morning —— ointment the bank holiday monday. the key northerly wind. showers and eastern parts of both

england and scotland. the west will be best. it really will feel quite nippy for the north sea coast but stay with us. wind is then easing as we go through saturday night into sunday. a fairly widespread ground frost. air frost in a few places as well. gardeners, beware. many painting delicate lands. sunday, very similar, losing that key northerly. more dry weather, starting to feel a bit warmer. always the risk of this weather front just floating to always the risk of this weather frontjust floating to the north of scotland, introducing more cloud here. elsewhere, it means it will be dry and time. what about beyond them? high pressure is with us through the start of the week, perhaps into tuesday but then we see these low coming in. uncertainty as to whether they will go to the south

of the north of the uk but what it does mean is the weather turns more settled and we start to get rain into the forecast as we head into the middle part of next week but at least temperatures will recover after that chilly snap later this week. as ever, there is more on the website. hello. this is bbc news with geeta guru—murthy. we'll be taking a look at tomorrow mornings papers in a moment — first the headlines. thousands of haemophiliacs infected with hepatitis c and hiv an inquiry begins into how their blood was contaminated. violence erupts on the streets of venezuela after opposition leader juan guaido calls for military support to oust president nicolas maduro. 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 other options fail. we report from nottingham on social mobility or the lack of it and what can be done to promote better career opportunities outside london. and japan's emperor akihito gives up his throne in a formal

ceremony — the first emperor to do so in over two centuries. hello and welcome to our look ahead to what the the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. with me are former pensions minister ros altmann and political commentatorjane merrick. many of tomorrow's front pages are already in. the telegraph says the prime minister is close to agreeing to brexit demands from labour — the paper says theresa may is convinced their support is needed in order for a stable majority to back her deal in parliament. the guardian's front page

also focuses on labour — but looks at the brexit policy debates going on within the party over whether to support a second referendum, and the is front page features stories from the victims of the contaminated blood scandal, after the inquiry into what happened opened today. the times leads with venezuela — after military vehicles ran into protestors during an escalation of protests against the current government. on the front page of the mirror, chris packham says he won't give in to anonymous threats over his campaign to protect birds from a planned population control scheme. we have to lots of elections, one on thursday. i think it is. we are in a slight limbo. but after that, we had

a slight lull in brexit. actually, the reality is, these talks are going on behind the scenes between labour and the tories and the need to get toward some sort of arrangement because theresa may needs a strategy. what else is she going to do? she has to come forward with something and i think it is credible that she is going to have to sort of back down in some way to get labour votes onboa rd. to sort of back down in some way to get labour votes onboard. it's how she spends that and how labour spends that. you're in touch with the conservative party. let's say there was some deal that emerges at some point, which is around the customs base. how many conservative votes would you lose in parliament versus how many would you gain? both parties would lose, wouldn't they? it's very hard to see how this really will play out. i can see that it's worth trying and i can see the attraction of believing it might happen. in practice, when you get

back into the real world of the political realities, the tories won't want to be perceived as pushing through a brexit only because it was one that labour wanted, not one that the tory mps wanted. the conservatives you know, how difficult is that to sell? the fa ct how difficult is that to sell? the fact that she said to go to him for support... this is being really poisonous within the party. the party is, incredibly, as everyone wants to know, split. brexit is making politics, it's breaking the usual relationships within britain. you are in the house of lords, slightly separate from the commons. what is the mood been like? we have had a pause and a break. what is the mood been like? we have had a pause and a breaklj what is the mood been like? we have had a pause and a break. i think the mood is one of bewilderment and frustration. what is actually going to break this logjam? it's very hard

to break this logjam? it's very hard to see labour wanting to push through a tory brexit so it will need to be painted as a brexit that labour got the tories to cave into. the tories won't want to be perceived as having been forced into something by labour. although both party leaders want brexit, it's very ha rd party leaders want brexit, it's very hard to see the rank—and—file average back venture being satisfied with a deal that looks as if it is what the hard brexit supporters would call vassalage. it's a very unfortunate phrase. it's hard to see the average labour politician who knows that probably the majority of their voters are knows that probably the majority of theirvoters are remain knows that probably the majority of their voters are remain supporters, feeling comfortable that they've pushed through a brexit without going back to the country. i think thatis going back to the country. i think that is really important... jane, if

we have an election that seems to be only way of changing the numbers, you get a different composition in the house of commons. it's very difficult to see how anything gets through. one way the prime minister can do this is say to the tory mps, this is the way you get brexit otherwise it's not going to happen. i put my agreement to the house of commons three times and we've rejected it. it's a brexit of sorts. people like michael gove who was one of the leading campaigners believe backing her in the cabinet today and saying, to try to get around. other is disastrous outcome in his words. what is the alternative? the position is thought to be, just get it over the line. she has to spin it and say this is the only way you're going to get brexit. that's why i

put the prime minister always thought the erg would back the agreement she reached. she was delivering drugs it. what happens after we've left is totally open, the political declaration is not worth anything, it can be changed, torn up, moved into another direction and she's been let down by the brexit supporters. you are remain supportive, you told me wa nted remain supportive, you told me wanted second referendum. tory leadership is key to what happens with exit. what are people saying? it's after easter, after the break. it's after easter, after the break. it was most likely to win? there has to be one at some point. it looks as if that is too much on the cards sooner if that is too much on the cards sooner rather than later, i assume, but you can't take anything for granted in politics right now. if there were to be an election, again, it's hard to imagine there wouldn't

bea it's hard to imagine there wouldn't be a brexit supporter and possibly a ha rd be a brexit supporter and possibly a hard brexit supporter. boris's name comes up hard brexit supporter. boris's name comes up every single time, whether you are talking about the mps will originally have devoted and then put forward to go to the party membership. if you talk to the party membership, everybody seems almost to say we want boris but there is a strong stop boris contingent within the tory mps so whether they will be able to push through someone else, jeremy hunt, michael gove, dominic raab, david livingstone is a compromise but i don't think he would agree to do it anyway. we are ina very would agree to do it anyway. we are in a very unusual position where everything is a bit stuck and any

outcome is possible. no deal is possible. soft exit is possible. the tory party needs a leader who can win an election soon or next prime minister to govern properly, those are two different candidates. what we need is some leader who can actually run the country rather than run the tory party. we've got to get national interest front. who do you think? i'm quite keen on amber rudd. i very much respect dominic grieve. there are a lot of very good mps. there are a lot of very good mps. there is anotherjohnson as well. none of these are the most likely candidates at all but then nothing seems to be particularly... of course, who are they going to face? are they going to be facing jeremy corbyn when the general election

does come, at the point that it is due to be. i'm not convinced about that. there is a lot of speculation. he may stand aside for somebody who is less tainted perhaps than he is. that doesn't mean the policies would be any different. itjust means the person leaving it would be different. john mcdonald. if it's in the next year or two. and i think it would bejeremy corbyn. the next year or two. and i think it would be jeremy corbynm the next year or two. and i think it would be jeremy corbyn. if we go full term, maybe he hands over. jeremy corbyn is once again mired in claims about anti—semitism and it's just relentless and he has a blind spot there and it's a problem. i've seen on spot there and it's a problem. i've seen on twitter, people are tearing up seen on twitter, people are tearing up their membership cards. in

coupled with the problem about... the guardian's front page is anger, as he faces down calls to back exit. this is about a second referendum not being backed under any circumstances. anna subry tweeted, it's a lot crystal clear what labour's policy is. the people 's vote parties, the remaining groups that are campaigning for another recommended —— referendum. people we re recommended —— referendum. people were saying they were hoping they would rally around it. they have now put out messages which say, do not vote labour if you want to remain because you can't trust them if they are not calling for at least the people to have a final say or confirmatory boat, it is still the will of the majority.

but believe activists in the north emphasising that there will not be a second vote —— a leave activist. keir starmer potentially pushing for that boat, so labour's ability to hold it together is potentially problematic. keir starmer said in the house of commons this would likely lead to a confirmatory vote, and it has left voters with a very poor choice. if you are a traditional labour voter who has voted labour all your life, you will have to look for one of the green remain parties. nigel faris's new party has risen in the polls immediately, it is extraordinary. it will be very interesting to see what happens with both the local and eu

elections in terms of where the votes go, how big the turnout is. elections in terms of where the votes go, how big the turnout islj think votes go, how big the turnout is.” think the european elections will be effectively a referendum on brexit. i think people will vote, and i think it is very clever of nigel faris to have a party called the brexit party, you may as well call it the let's get on with it party, and change uk have had a problem because they are not calling themselves remain party. they are right not to, because then they become obsolete when brexit happens, i think they have longer term ambitions than that. but they should have come together in an alliance with the lib dems, i think that would have been more powerful, and the snp. to be fair, they didn't have a lot of time to register a new alliance party which would have been the clearest thing. you are still backing the conservatives. would you leave if boris became the new

leader? if we were proceeding with no deal brexit i couldn't stay, because i think that would be catastrophically damaging for the country. i do not believe that is what people voted for. but if boris johnson becomes your new leader and brexit is still unresolved, would you stay in the party? if we were pursuing a no deal brexit, i can't see pursuing a no deal brexit, i can't see howl pursuing a no deal brexit, i can't see how i could stay. i am hoping that the tories will recognise this is about more thanjust one issue stop i am hoping the tories will recognise that, without going back to the british people and checking what will of the majority is now, it's very difficult to say that the tories have upheld democracy. the brexit party will take the hard brexiters. we are conservatives, we other pragmatic party of business. deal cannot possibly be the party of business. it will decimate small businesses, undermine the success of businesses, undermine the success of business that our economy has relied

on, and the jobs that are created by that. so i think both labour has got a problem with the extreme left, the tories would have a problem if we we nt tories would have a problem if we went for no deal, but i know that the majority of the tories that i speak to, the majority of the tories that i speakto, and the majority of the tories that i speak to, and i believe the majority of the tory parliamentary party, does want to be more pragmatic, does not want to just crash out with no dealjust to get this over with. you just think for all the businesses out here who actually want a decision, it has got to that point, hasn't it? we have not heard from them, we have not been covering in this in the last few days, people are waiting for something to happen. i want to move on quickly before we totally run out of time, onto the daily express. this is not going to help anybody, if this is true. headline is is this the end of free cashpoint machines. other going to start charging even more? exactly,

there are so many that charge already, and i think this is a real problem. we have already seen hundreds of cash machines closing, especially in small towns, where people have the only access to cash, bag wrenches closing across the country —— bank branches. this is a real problem, it is the same story about the sort of decline of small towns and the decline of the high street. this is symptomatic of that. and this is based on a which report out tomorrow, and 150 cash machines have converted to charging in one month alone. it says fees of 95p per withdrawal, which adds up. there are more than 2 million people in this country who rely almost entirely on cash for their transactions, especially elderly people who have

never been used to digital banking and never will be. they are increasingly being marginalised by the banking system and society, and we are supposed to have the payment services regulator, whichjust a few months ago said it would be ensuring that banks do make sure that, you know, link keeps free cash machines available and doesn't keep closing them down. and you are hearing now that they are saying, well, link will be investigating what is happening. in the meantime, more and more people are finding that if they wa nt more people are finding that if they want cash, they have to pay for each withdrawal or they have to travel miles to find a machine where they can get the cash. and if you are a frail elderly person, you can't do that either. so this is really serious. cashless society, here we come. thank you very much indeed. that's it for the papers tonight. don't forget you can see the front pages of the papers online on the bbc news website. it is all there for you seven days a week at bbc.co.uk/papers, and if you miss the programme any evening, you can watch it later on bbc iplayer.

thank you, baroness altmann and political commentator jane merrick. goodbye. good evening. here is your latest sports news. we start with tottenham, and a disappointing 1—0 loss in their champions league semi—final at their new stadium. but it is only half—time. spurs still have a second leg to play against ajax. joe wilson was there. this place is all about aspiration. the stadium is status. but who knew when this chance would come again for tottenham? for a place in the final, they weren't up against real madrid, juventus or barcelona. it was ajax in black. within 15 minutes, the dutch side had passed spurs to a standstill.

commentator: he's got time, and scores. goal—scorer donny van de beek — ajax since childhood. tottenham's own harry kane, was already injured, and then jan vertonghen was hurt in a collision, and clearly couldn't continue. tottenham had to conjure something with the players they had left. dele alli... ..not that time. and shortly afterwards, when the cross came over, not this time either. yeah, that was the feeling. ajax actually came close to scoring again — this close. it could have been a lot better for them, a lot worse for spurs. still, they could use some fresh legs for the next leg. joe wilson, bbc news, north london. in the other semi—final, liverpool face barcelona tomorrow night. the liverpool squad have been at the camp nou to get themselves used to the stadium, and managerjurgen klopp says it will be a momentous occasion. people say barcelona is not barcelona anymore, i mean, yes, that isa barcelona anymore, i mean, yes, that is a brilliant team here. we are the

first year a little bit and the second year a little bit in contention. they are here for nearly 20 years, so it will be so difficult, but i couldn't be more excited about heading over to play, and that is what i hope i can... transport my players, that they feel the same, and then let's play football. the businessman trying to take over bolton wanderers has been given an extra 48 hours to provide proof he has the necessary funds. representatives of the english football league have met with laurence bassini, who is attempting to buy the troubled club. the efl have confirmed bolton's match against brentford, which was postponed on saturday, will not be played this week. players went on strike after they weren't paid for march or april. kyle edmund has been knocked out in the first round of the bavarian international in munich. the british number one lost in straight sets to denis kudla of the united states, who is ranked 60 places below him. there was joy for johanna konta, though. the british number one is through to the second

round at the morocco open in rabat. she came from behind to beat china's wang yafan 2—1. in cycling, same rider, same team, slightly different name, as team ineos launched at the tour of romandie in switzerland. the team formally known as team sky had their first official race under new ownership, with geraint thomas finishing fifth on the opening time trial. ineos's new look will be unveiled tomorrow ahead of the tour de yorkshire, which starts on thursday. the quarter—finals of the world snooker championship started today, and two former champions went toe—to—toe in the afternoon session. neil robertson and john higgins have four frames each, butjudd trump is flying. trump raced into a 6—0 lead, knocking in a highest break of 131 against stephen maguire before the scot managed to register a frame. the tournament favourite took the final frame to lead 7—1. first to 13 go through. they will finish off tomorow. that's all the sport for now.

hello there. on tuesday the temperature reached 90 degrees, with some sunshine, but temperatures are only going one way through the rest of this week. it will be getting colder everywhere. at the moment,

though, we still have this area of the cloud here. it's been producing some showery outbreaks of rain, and thatis some showery outbreaks of rain, and that is moving very slowly eastwards. we are dragging on a bit more cloud across scotland, most of the rain probably in the south of the rain probably in the south of the country, and the rain should have moved away from northern ireland and some sunshine on the way. a much better day for wednesday. that rain, though, moving over the irish sea away from the isle of man into westernmost parts of england and wales, perhaps the west midlands. further east, dry, may be some mist and fog patches to lincolnshire, east anglia and the south—east but some brightness and sunshine and dry here for most of the day. elsewhere, we are likely to see some showers breaking out, especially if it does tend to brighten up. there will be a fair bit of cloud around, temperatures not quite so high as they were on tuesday. highest impetus towards the south—east, 17 or 18. a woman day for northern ireland, a cooler day for northern ireland, a cooler day for northern scotland stop and here we will have some more showers, which could be quite heavy into the evening as well. showers further south, they do tend to fade away and we will probably find some more brea ks we will probably find some more breaks in the cloud here and there. not too cold, mind you. lowest temperatures are going to be around five or six degrees. one or two mist and fog patches, perhaps. as we head into thursday, though, we're going to find that while they will be some sunshine, the cloud will develop, and we will find some showers developing in some of those can be

heavy and thundery. wetter weather moving down into scotland and the north—east of england, the wind direction beginning to change, a sign of things to come. in scotland, further south, temperatures of 15 or 16 degrees. by the time we get to friday, though showers continuing to develop across a good part of england and wales. the showers that are pushing into scotland, those are turning wintry, even to some quite lower levels, as well. temperatures only six or seven degrees here. highest temperatures towards southern england and wales, 15 degrees. but that cold air is going to be pushing down across the whole of the country through friday night and into the start of the bank holiday weekend, and it may well be a bit of frost around as well for the start of the weekend as well. so a chilly start. it will feel cold and the wind down the eastern side of the uk, where there will be some showers, but on the whole a lot of dry weather over the weekend, and probably by monday, those temperatures beginning to rise.

you welcome to newsday. i'm kasia madera in london. the headlines: tens of thousands of venezuela ns take to the streets, after a call from opposition leaderjuan guaido to topple president maduro. in, washington, senior officials urge president maduro's supporters to abandon him. this is clearly not a coup. we recognise juan guaido as the legitimate interim president of venezuela. i'm mariko oi in tokyo. a new era begins injapan. celebrations are underway — as naruhito becomes the country's emperor. one of the world's critically endangered animals — the sumatran orangutan — could be extinct within two decades