this is bbc news. i'm shaun ley. the headlines at 103m. alfie evans, the toddler at the centre of a legal battle over his treatment, has died. his father said in a tweet ‘my gladiator lay down his shield and gained his wings. absolutely heartbroken.‘ cabinet colleagues rally round home secretary amber rudd. she says she didn't see a memo copied to her office which detailed home office targets for deporting illegal immigrants. the home secretary has apologised saying that she should have seen it, but she cannot be held accountable or responsible for a document she did not seek and four decisions she did not seek and four decisions she did not seek and four decisions she did not take. paving the way for a new era — north and south korean media hails yesterday's historic summit. also, the race to the premier league goes down to the wire. fulham beat sunderland and move to second in the championship. premier league relegations could also be confirmed today with west brom and stoke on the brink with west brom and stoke on the brink.

and the travel show is in alice springs to see australia's royal flying doctor service. that's in half an hour, here on bbc news. at 10:00, good morning and welcome to bbc news. alfie evans, the terminally ill toddler who was at the centre of a legal battle over his treatment, has died. alfie had a degenerative neurological condition and had been in a semi—vegetative state for more than a year. following a series of court cases, alder hey children's hospital in liverpool removed his life support on monday, against his parent's wishes. in a facebook post, alfie's father tom evans said he was "absolutely heartbroken". at 2.30 this morning his son "lay down his shield and gained his wings."

judith moritz reports. for the first weeks of alfie evans' life, he seemed healthy, happy and well, but he soon started to develop problems and he was admitted to hospital, where scans showed his brain was being destroyed. the little boy spent a year in intensive care before doctors said they felt his late support should be stopped. alfie's parents, kate and tom, strongly disagreed with the medical view that their son could not be helped. he has shown the biggest fight, and thatis he has shown the biggest fight, and that is what is getting us through this. it is heartbreaking, just because the doctors cannot find a diagnosis, think it is ok that they say they think it is time to give up on him. if you're going to give up on him. if you're going to give up on him, please refer him. they began a long legal battle, taking their case through all

the available courts — several times in the uk, and twice to europe. they changed their lawyers more than six times. alfie's father tom, 21, even representing himself on this occasion. we have no legal team today, i'm here on my own today. iamon i am on with my mum and dad, we need an adjournment today. release alfie evans! and throughout it all, the family have had vocal support, initially from a group of mums and children, but increasingly from a growing social media campaign. the self—styled alfie's army has more than 400,000 followers, and crowds have turned up to campaign outside alder hey. it has not always been peaceful. on one evening protesters tried to force their way inside. hospital management published an open letter which said... alfie's plight has made international headlines,

especially in italy. alfie's parents wanted to airlift him to a hospital in rome with connections to the vatican. tom evans was granted an audience with the pope, who backed his case, and alfie was granted italian citizenship. there was also support in poland. i saw this post yesterday from alfie's father, thanking the international community. you do not need to know people to support strangers. we are human. outside the hospital, campaigners have kept vigil, united behind their common cause. inside, after his ventilation was switched off, alfie hung on for days. his family clung to hope as he held to life until until eventually there was no more fight. with his parents by his side,

the little boy slipped away. this morning, alder hey children's hospital have released a statement. the environment secretary michael gove has strongly defended amber rudd over the row on immigration targets. he says it was entirely possible the home secretary did not see a memo sent to her last year about targets. last night amber rudd tweeted she hadn't seen the memo but accepted that she should have. days of damning headlines about the treatment of caribbean

migrants who lived and worked in britain for decades. and increasing pressure for amber rudd to quit over her handling of the saga. home secretary, will you resign over windrush? but on wednesday, mps quizzed the home secretary on the government's wider approach to immigration. it was then that amber rudd said this. targets for removals, when were they set? we don't have targets for removals. she later clarified in the house of commons that targets were set at a local level. there are some officers which are working with them, unfortunately i was not aware of them and i want to be aware of them, which is why i'm now putting in place different measures to ensure that that happens. then yesterday the guardian obtained a memo dated last year, copied to the home secretary and her senior team referring directly to national target. in a series of tweets last night, amber rudd said she was not aware of removal targets, accepted that she should have been, and said that she was sorry. the home secretary said she had not seen the leaked documents, although it was copied to her office

as, she said, many documents were. she also promised to make a statement in the house of commons on monday. downing street said the prime minister had full confidence in the home secretary, and conservative mps have rallied around her with statements of support. labour are keeping up pressure on amber rudd to resign, saying that she is hanging by a thread to shield the prime minister. jonathan blakejoins me now. where does this leave her if she says she never saw the memo and michael gove says it was never even in the red box, the document ministers take home with them at night and go through? her explanation is that she did not see the memo, but it was sent to her office, as many documents were, and we have had a little bit of further explanation around that from the environment secretary michael gove this morning, making the point that

when documents are placed in front of the home secretary that should be placed in front of the home secretary, rather, that can't, it is sad and in his words regrettable, but he also made the point that there are many documents copied into cabinet ministers and their most senior staff and advisers, and it will not all necessarily make his way —— make their way in paperform into the box that requires the attention of mps daily. she has admitted she should have seen it, and she has apologised for that, nevertheless we have seen a show of support from conservative mps and cabinet ministers this morning for the home secretary amber rudd, and michael gove says as far as he's concerned she is the right person for thejob. as he's concerned she is the right person for the job. the home secretary has apologised saying of course she should have seen it, but she cannot be held accountable or responsible for a document that she

didn't see and four decision she did not take, and she is going to appear in front of the house of commons on monday. i think it is important to recognise that whatever issues had been raised, the home secretary has been raised, the home secretary has been quick to react, authoritative in her response and determined in policy prosecution. sajid javid and the community secretary, as well as david liddington, the de facto deputy all supporter, and a statement was releasing to may has full confidence in the home secretary. error there was no letup from labour and others saying that she should resign. diane abbott repeated the call this morning. she should resign. diane abbott repeated the call this morninglj think she is in a very difficult position, i think she is hanging by a thread. 0n the one hand there may be more to come out, but what we do know is that no one will take this

government seriously on the windrush scandal until amber rudd offers her resignation. i think amber rudd is oi'i resignation. i think amber rudd is on her fourth apology about the scandal. there comes a point where the apologies have to stop and amber rudd accepts responsibility. the apologies have to stop and amber rudd accepts responsibilitym the apologies have to stop and amber rudd accepts responsibility. it has clearly been a difficult week for the home secretary, that is something of an understatement, but in the series of tweets yesterday it was clear that amber rudd has taken the view that she should stay. she is dating her heels in and tackling head—on and she is staying in the job for now, and as long she has the support of the prime minister, cabinet ministers and conservative mps, she will remain there for no. but as we have seen, the windrush scandal and the government's handling of it has led to almost daily revelations which has caused problems for the home secretary, and there may well be more to come. a woman police officer has been sexually assaulted whilst detaining

a man in sheffield in the early hours of yesterday morning. officers were responding to a report of an attempted rape on scotland street, when it's alleged a man struck the officers with a wooden signboard and sexually assaulted one of them. the man was arrested on suspicion of attempted rape, assault, sexual assault and criminal damage and remains in police custody. after the smiles, handshakes and hugs, north korean state media has hailed yesterday's historic summit with south korea as a new milestone in bringing prosperity to the region. it also printed the agreement made between the two leaders in full, including the goal of denuclearisation of the korean peninsula. while images of the historic meeting dominate south korean media, the tone has been more sceptical. andrew plant reports. it was a handshake that surely marked the start of a new era for north and south korea. the two leaders hand in hand and a north korean leader setting foot in the south for the first time in 65 years. their day of talks

ended with vows to work towards a korean peninsula without nuclear weapons. korean teenagers now living in japan celebrating something that many thought they would never see. the question is, after decades focused on developing nuclear weapons, is denuclearisation realistic? america is hoping that friday's summit will be the start of that process. i think some very good things can happen with respect to north korea. we are setting up meetings now, we're down to two countries as to a site and we will let you know what that site is. the us defense secretary was asked if he trusted north korea. this was, he replied, a rare opportunity for a new relationship. this is about negotiations and we will build through

confident building measures a degree of trust and go forward, so we'll see how things go. the chinese leader too has said his country will do whatever it can to help north and south korea resolve their differences. many are hoping the warm words lead to a permanent thaw with north korea as the secretive state appears to take its first steps in from the cold. 0ur correspondent said the meeting had been welcomed by the south korean media. given those extraordinary scenes at the summit yesterday, it is perhaps not surprising that there are some excitable headlines here this morning. heeded the korea herald. korea is to declare end to korean war. most of the front pages of the korean papers in south korea are very much of the same thing. this one has a big

picture of kim jong—un and moon jae—in. it is interesting to also note that people in north korea are getting to see these pictures for the first time, because the biggest official paper in pyongyang is showing pretty much every scene from yesterday's summit and publishing in full the declaration that the two leaders signed at the end of the summit yesterday, in which it includes the words, commitment to seek complete denuclearisation of the peninsula, that is in there, but without comment. in terms of the interpretation here in the south, one would describe it as optimism, but cautious optimism. in some of the papers, scepticism as well. for example in one very popular newspaper here, there is commentary saying it was never made public what

kim's idea of denuclearisation is and how it will be accomplished. they think that sums up a lot of the mid—. a real sense that an opportunity is open for dialogue to go forward and for peace to be achieved, but scepticism about what the north korean leaders' intentions are, particularly regarding nuclear weapons. let us take a look at the headlines. alfie evans , the toddler at the centre of a legal battle over his treatment , has died. his father said in a tweet ‘my gladiator lay down his shield and gained his wings. cabinet colleagues rally round home secretary amber rudd. she says she didn't see a memo copied to her office which detailed home office targets for deporting illegal immigrants. state media in north korea has hailed yesterday's summit with the south as an historic meeting that paves the way for the start of a new era.

sport now. sells sporting his gold coast tan, it is mike bushell. good to have you back. it a sunny here too, pretty much like the gold coast! today some relegation battles could be decided. phil are relegation battles could be decided. philare in relegation battles could be decided. phil are in pole position to take the second automatic promotion spot after beating sunderland at craven cottage last night. wolves are already up so it is now a straight fight between full and cardiff as to whojoins them, which fight between full and cardiff as to who joins them, which will be decided on the final day of the season next weekend. who will be be replacing in the premier league? west brom must meet newcastle —— beat newcastle otherwise they don't. stoke city could also be relegated

if they lose to liverpool. paul lambert says they still have the fight to survive. they have given me absolutely everything that is in the bodies. they played well, i have asked them to do things and they have done it. little individual things have probably come back and hurt us, but we're still in the fight. former liverpool captain steven gerard is the number one candidate to become the new manager of rangers. bbc sport understands thejob is his if he wants it. rangers chances of finishing second to the head last night, as aberdeen beat darts 2—0. —— hearts. victory was sealed before the break. rangers have the chance to move back into

second tomorrow, but to do that they would have to win the old firm derby with celtic. aaron ramsey has spoken of the shock among arsenal players we re of the shock among arsenal players were nursing vendor told them they we re were nursing vendor told them they were that she was leaving the club. he leads after almost 22 years in charge of arsenal. -- arson vendor. you could hear a pin drop. it was not a long meeting, there was a lot of emotion in the room. to switch off we have to put it behind as motivation to win something and lift the trophy. at midday you can watch that interview on bbc one. ali carter has ronnie 0'sullivan on the

ropes in the evening session at the crucible. carter leads 9—7, and it is the first to 13 who goes through. 0n the othertable,... is the first to 13 who goes through. 0n the other table,... dan evans returns to tennis today after serving a year—long ban are taking cocaine. the former british number two says the drug is shocking, life ruining, and taking that was the worst thing he has ever done. he left his tennis racket at his pa rents left his tennis racket at his parents house while he served his ban so he was not haunted by the sight of it. he will play at the qualifying event for the glasgow challenger today after being given a wild card. big news from the world of racing, jockey katie walsh is going to retire. the 33—year—old broke the news after another when yesterday. her brother ruby, who is also a jockey... and that is it,

thatis also a jockey... and that is it, that is the sport for now. let's get more now on the news that the terminally ill boy alfie evans has died. the 23—month—old had been at the centre of a legal battle over his treatment since doctors in liverpool said in february that they could do no more to treat him. i'm joined now via webcam by fraser nelson , editor of the spectator and also a columnist for the daily telegraph. he's written about the introduction of "alfie's law", which would protect the right of parents to arrange alternative treatment for their child when the nhs says it can do no more. good to speak to you this morning. it isa good to speak to you this morning. it is a sad morning for us to be speaking about his case. yes, it certainly is. this was of course inevitable when the light support

was taken off there was only going to bea was taken off there was only going to be a matter of days before alfie passed away. looking back, the pain for the parents has been made so much worse by the prolonged and unnecessary legal battle. we have seen unnecessary legal battle. we have seen protests, we have seen behaviour from those supporting the pa rents behaviour from those supporting the parents and alfie. can we avoid this? i think this was unnecessary, because i do not think the law ever intended situations like this for the nhs to say there is nothing more we can do, and for the parents to be banned by the courts from seeking extra help. the english legal system means the decision rests with the courts, not the parents, and i'm not sure that should always be the case. if it is looking for a treatment which could possibly save the child's wife,... if the authority

say no, a lot of people in this country and abroad would think but surely the parents should be given that right. it isn't the fault of the nhs or the courts, this is to do with parliament and they can make new law and give the right back to pa rents. new law and give the right back to parents. it is a huge dilemma. from whichever perspective you approach a case like this, and in the end every case like this, and in the end every case is very individual and personal to those involved. what about the dilemma that courts will have also wrestled with, what is in and who should decide what is in the best interests of the child, and should the parents always be relied upon to do that because the emotion and grief of our case, i am not talking specifically about alfie's case, will be make the best decision? can parliament of legislator effectively for that? i think it can. this is

not for the courts to decide, they are told by parliament, it is your decision, not the decision of the pa rents. decision, not the decision of the parents. this is what has caused shock and alarm. the former presidential hopeful, jed bush, said he was shocked at how the parents we re he was shocked at how the parents were treated in england. in america the courts would probably find on the courts would probably find on the side of the parents. take the example of charlie gard who died last year. his parents argued the same case, saying last year. his parents argued the same case, saying there will be a small number of cases where it is not a case of the government or the nhs wanting the child to get more treatment but it is the nhs saying they can do no more, what happens in that rear circumstance? it would be

interesting to see if any of the parliamentary parties will that this. how would you avoid for example a situation which has arisen in previous cases, where a family for religious reasons do not believe in blood transfusions, when they say to doctors we do not want to give —— you to give our child blood transfusions. that is what the law was intended to do. if you are a jehovah's witness who does not believe in blood transfusions, i think most people would agree that the courts have the right to decide the courts have the right to decide the best interest of the child. but thatis the best interest of the child. but that is overruling the parents, so why is one decisional key to overrule them but the other is not? that is what i am wondering. overrule them but the other is not? that is what i am wonderingm overrule them but the other is not? that is what i am wondering. it is relatively easy to answer, we the courts see that we can think of a wave for a child to live and be more healthy that make sense, you can overrule parents, but when the pa rents overrule parents, but when the pa re nts wa nt overrule parents, but when the parents want a last shot at life and the courts rule the child should

die, ithink the courts rule the child should die, i think that is when the pa rents die, i think that is when the parents should be free to pursue whatever hope they have left. in the case of charlie gard, there was a hospital in new york offering to look after them. and an alfie evans case, there were hospitals in rome and zurich. if the hospital said we cannot do any more, by all means fly him to rome, i do not think many people would have thought that was a controversial decision. the controversy controversial decision. the c0 ntrove i’sy co m es controversial decision. the controversy comes because the pa rents controversy comes because the parents do not have the choice and they are the ones arguing for life, where the courts say there is not a chance of life, that is where the law needs to be changed, to let the decision be made by the parents. law needs to be changed, to let the decision be made by the parentsm your day job decision be made by the parentsm your dayjob you edit a political magazine, one which watches with interest what governments do, particularly conservative governments. do you find the home secretary's explanation of her apparent ignorance of the use of targets credible? unfortunately it

is credible because the home office is credible because the home office is that kind of department, it is difficult for any home secretary to be fully across what is happening in that department most of the ten. it is amazing theresa may lasted as long as she did without a similar explosion. and john reid was the home secretary he said the sort of things happen all the time, home secretaries will tell you it is normally the last job secretaries will tell you it is normally the lastjob you do in government because something is bound to go wrong that will end your career. i think in the case of amber rudd, the information about windrush was set in stone by his crime work must —— set in stone by the prime minister. she has not acquitted herself with the skill and determination that people who saw her as a prime minister might have liked, but should she resign? i don't personally think so. but there is no doubt that this looks very bad for the government. fraser, thanks

for the government. fraser, thanks for your time. members of the public could be able to challenge parole decisions more easily, under new government proposals. a review was set up after the parole board approved the release of the serial six offender, john worboys — a decision that was later overturned. of the serial sex offender, john worboys — a decision that was later overturned. i think it will through the circumstances of john worboys i think it will through the circumstances ofjohn worboys with these new rules in place, victims would have greater transparency and there would be an opportunity for there would be an opportunity for the parole board panel to look at it again to ensure all the information that should have been in front of the panel was in front of the panel, so the panel was in front of the panel, so these are necessary changes that would mean if we had thejohn worboys circumstances again, we would have better process, and i hope a much better result. more than 35,000 people a day are fleeing venezuela

into neighbouring countries to escape the economic crisis. the world food programme has warned that the number of people leaving the south american country could reach the levels seen in syria. venezuela is facing shortages of food and medicine. a former policeman suspected of committing dozens of rapes and murders has appeared in court in the united states. joseph deangelo is alleged to be the so—called golden state killer, whose crimes terrorised california in the 1970s and ‘80s. prosecutors say they tracked him down with the help of genetic information from websites used to trace family ancestry. a pilot scheme designed to make people prove their identity at polling stations before they vote is "deeply flawed" — that's according to the the electoral reform society. the campaign group expressed concern that some legitimate voters could be put off. the measures, which are intended to reduce voterfraud, are being tested in five council areas in next week's local elections. when the football coach caroline hulme was 12, she was told she could no longer

play football with the boys at her local club. but she took on the system and won. 18 years later, caroline still has a passion for the sport. she now works for the english fa, where she encourages young girls to try out football. described as a natural ballplayer, caroline hulme was a linchpin in the defensive line—up of denbigh town under—13s, but the teenager was devastated when the football association of wales banned herfrom playing. welsh football bosses argued that girls aged 12 and over were forbidden from playing in mixed gender sports. the faw today relented. it means girls can compete against boys until they are 16. i wouldn't want any girl to go through that feeling of being told by an manager that you can't play at the weekend. being so young, you just don't have an understanding of way.

you basically think i love football, why can't i play? why are the boys getting to play, but i'm not? yeah, because i've played ever since i was in primary school, and i play every week and everything. it was pretty incredible, actually, to have the spotlight on girls' football and showing that football should be for all and that girls should be playing football too. so, yeah, it's brilliant. i was just so driven, by doing this, hopefully i'll get to start playing football again. this was the petition, we managed to get well over 1000 signatures on this which was pretty incredible at the time. it's really about getting, you know, brand—new girls that have never