‘ rudd has the right person. amber rudd has said targets were only used to assess internal performance but now it's her own performance that under scrutiny. iain watson, bbc news. onto sport: and the former world number one ronnie o'sullivan has been knocked out of the world snooker championships in the second round. of the world snooker championships he was beaten by ali carter in a tense match that became heated when the five—time champion appeared to barge into carter's shoulder in the 19th frame. to barge into carter's shoulder the two exchanged words but it was carter who had the final say winning13—9. but it was carter who had and ferrari's sebastian vettel has beaten rival lewis hamilton in qualifying in azerbaijan to take his third consecutive pole position. to take his third vettel finished a little under two tenths of a second clear of his mercedes rival. tenths of a second clear the german is currently nine points ahead of hamilton in the championship. points ahead of hamilton there's more throughout the evening on the bbc news channel. we're back with the late news at ten. now on bbc one, it's time for the news where you are. goodbye. for the news where you are. some sunshine across the west of the

uk with showers building up. and that cloud of spray in the area of rain. it'll be slow to clear as a guide to this evening. it will become dry sticking across eastern parts of england keeping temperatures here up about 8 degrees. with clear skies for scotla nd degrees. with clear skies for scotland with some pockets scotland with some degrees. with clear skies for scotland with some pockets of frosted areas simple sunshine across the northwest this time mainly affecting northern ireland. cloudy skies for southeast england, could bring some spots of morning rain, and is and downs as well. and that rain will turn heavy and be accompanied by strengthening winds, not just a taste accompanied by strengthening winds, notjust a taste of accompanied by strengthening winds, not just a taste of what will come from monday, cold wet and windy. you

feel more like winters morning. supermarket giants sainsbury‘s and asda confirm they're in "advanced discussions" about a merger alfie evans, the little boy who was at the centre of a legal battle about his hospital treatment, has died. supporters pay tribute to the toddler, releasing balloons in a park in liverpool cabinet colleagues rally around the home secretary amber rudd after she says she wasn't aware of targets for deporting illegal immigrants. the government proposes changes to the parole system in england and wales, in the wake of thejohn worboys case relegation battles continue in the premier league. west brom live to fight another day with a one nil win at newcastle. and ronnie o'sullivan loses to ali carter in a heated second—round match in the snooker world championship. we'll have that and all the day's sporting news in sports day in half an hour. good evening and

welcome to bbc news. the supermarket giants sainsburys and asda are in advanced talks about merging. sources say sainsbury‘s would buy its rival from its american owner, walmart. the two firms are the second and third largest supermarkets in the uk and, if combined, would overtake tesco in terms of market share. our business correspondent, joe lynam reports. now they want to merge into one company. asda sainsbury would join up company. asda sainsbury would join up the, they said that it confirms that it and walmart, which owns asda, aren't advanced

—— are in advanced discussions. -- are in advanced discussions. this could shake up the sector, tesco is the biggest grocer in the uk with 20% of the market. asda sainsbury almost at 16% each. put them together and their combined 2800 stores would hop over tesco into the top spot. but not everybody likes it. it makes no sense to me at all! to businesses that are on opposite poles of the market, as much as you try to bring those businesses together, you end up undermining both. it's already been shipped up by the merging of all and amazon is beefing up its process and the fresh food sector with one—hour deliveries. so this deal could be in anticipation of that happening. but

it could yet falter, the competition and market could well say that cutting the number of supermarkets that consumers can choose from is not on. they could be ordered to sell of dozens if not hundreds of stores. joining me from wiltshire is retail analyst, julie palmer. would you make of this? good, bad, as it would go through? can you hear me? i can hear you now, it's sending shock waves through the industry. it is a merger of staggering proportions if you look at some of the numbers. potentially over 30% of grocery market, beginning on how they get on it. and almost 3000 employees, quite

staggering numbers. and we heard her do not report, that it could undermine both brands. if any fear that have? you a matter of they're very keen on this deal it has really been under threat. but also, the re—emergence of war which you've seen also, the re—emergence of war which you've seen over also, the re—emergence of war which you've seen over tesco, some distances of the moment. at about 30% of the market. so, i can see that their team to try and find a bit more marketing position. and we know that sainsbury have been in very critical positions. so it is a shocking deal, but actually see some sense on the sides as well. and what difference will customers notice? sense on the sides as well. and what difference will customers notice ?m there is less competition in this,

will customers have the same sort of buying power in terms of prices to be, and the other concern is, the buying power. consumers, we seem to beissues buying power. consumers, we seem to be issues with tesco and the bases, and they'll be trying to figure out how this affects things in the supply trade as well as customers. of course, you mentioned possible falloff in the numbers of supermarkets as they emerge, because presumably, it won't just supermarkets as they emerge, because presumably, it won'tjust be the back office. is that something that the workers need to worry about?” think it is. i think i might stem from the proposed merger on the basis that it's a 32 market share, that they insist on condition names which may include store closures. i do think whether store closures is

going to be a concern. and shop workers already posturing in terms of position of members to save jobs. and the competition merger, do you think that isjust and the competition merger, do you think that is just a question of the conditions of the regulation? that they might actually just say, no deal at all? i think it probably is, and really the whole retail landscape is changed, get into the takeover, that was a very large deal as well which, was scrutinised by the cma. so it's difficult to see if they could get is what red light, but they will under some conditions. thank you forjoining us. alfie evans, the terminally ill toddler at the centre of a long legal battle, has died, nearly a week after his life support was withdrawn. alfie, who would have been two next month, had a degenerative neurological condition. alfie's parents have said they're heartbroken. 0ur correspondent judith moritz reports. today their fight turned to grief.

remembering the little boy outside the hospital where he died. the first week he seemed healthy and happy and well. but he soon started to develop problems and he was admitted to hospital, where scans showed that his brain was being destroyed. the little boy spent a year in intensive care before doctors said they felt his life support should be stopped. alfie's parents, kate and tom, strongly disagreed with the medical view that their son could not be helped. he's shown the biggest fight, and that's given us the biggest drive to get him through this. it's heartbreaking knowing that the doctors, just because they can't find a diagnosis, think it's ok to come to us and say, we can't find an answer, so we think it's time we give up on alfie. if you're going to give up on him, please reassure us and refer him. the couple began a long legal battle. they took their case through all the available courts, several times in the uk and twice to europe.

but on monday his life support was switched off. and a facebook post his father said that his sun had laid down his shield and gained his wings. as news of his death spread, many came to the hospital to give their support. he's been so brave! they've done everything they can for him at day one. i will nation that does not know them personally believe your story about this it captures you, massively. investigate complaints that staff was intimidated by the protesters. the thoughts and prayers are with alfie and his parents after their

devastating story. —— journey. today the pontiff tweak it to say that he was praying for the family, and also praised the hospital.” was praying for the family, and also praised the hospital. i think we have a really wonderful hospital staff, and it's fun to be proud of. and i think that they kept the integrity and quite about what was going on, but they did it in the most wonderful way. after many weeks in which their plight was played out in public, they were with us in private onto the end. 0ur correspondent andy gill is outside the alder hey hospital in liverpool. nothing further from them as, you can see nothing further from them as, you can see behind me there is a small

group of people who have been supporting alfie's family throughout this process. but in addition to this process. but in addition to this blue and purple balloons and the football cloud favours, people are now leaving flowers as well and memory to alfie abends as well as to attribute him. they were, they had a heartfelt sympathy to the family and said that the family had been on a devastating journey. they asked for privacy now, that the family staff here at the hospital. there is still a small police presence at the hospital outside and inside the main building. the melee, people have been remembering alfie abends and paying tribute to him, the pope has tweeted his sympathy as well. the football cloud, the family about the abends, they were saddened by the loss.

parole board decisions in england and wales could be challenged more easily, under new proposals. a review was set—up after the parole board approved the release of the serial sex—offender, john worboys, a decision that was later overturned. here's our home affairs correspondent, danny shaw. still behind bars, john worboys, the man known as the black cab rapist. his victims had to go to court to appeal against the parole board decision to let him out ofjail. they didn't even know why the 60 year old prisoner had been approved for release until the legal action began. the case exposed flaws in the parole system and ministers are now trying to address them. they're planning a series of reforms to the parole board to make it more transparent. a summary of the reasons for parole decisions will be sent to victims and in some cases to other people who request it. a scheme to keep victims informed about their cases and offenders' licence conditions will be extended. and a parole board judge will review decisions that are contested and could even hold hearings in public.

nick hardwick lost his job at the parole board because of thejohn worboys case. he told the bbc extra resources would be needed for the government's reforms to work. but ministers want to go further. they are reviewing the composition of parole panels and the evidence that's needed to make decisions about the release of prisoners likejohn worboys. when it initially granted his parole, he will be in the studio speaking with us about his reaction to that news shortly. labour's intensified its calls for the home secretary to resign. amber rudd apologised last night for being unaware that the home office had targets for removing illegal immigrants from the uk. this morning cabinet ministers offered her their support. our political correspondent, iain watson, reports. we have been seeing a lot of amber

lately, probably more than she would like. home secretary, will you resign over when the rush? and inconvenient questions keep coming. on wednesday, the home secretary denied knowledge to remove migrants. targets to remove migrants? but with a she was in the parliament to clarify. the home office has been using global targets for internal performance management. on friday, they showed a leaked document, talking to explicitly about targets. ita talking to explicitly about targets. it a series of tweets, she said she had not seen it, and she will be backin had not seen it, and she will be back in parliament to explain herself on monday. apologising that

of course, she should have seen it. but she can't be held to accountable for something that she did not see ortake. for something that she did not see or take. why on earth is amber is still in her job? or take. why on earth is amber is still in herjob? well, i'm told that they made it clear to her that she still had vital work to do and that the prime minister still had confidence in her. but it's upsetting the delicate balance, and to those who like her voted to remain in the european union. if she we re remain in the european union. if she were to resign. critics say she is still there because she is in effect being used as a human shield to protect her predecessor in a home office. the prime minister herself. she cannot be the right person to clear up this mess. she was not even aware there was a mass until it was published in the newspapers. and the fa ct published in the newspapers. and the fact that she does not seem to know

that she has targets are not, just reinforces the understanding that she isjust reinforces the understanding that she is just not the right person. she has said targets were only used to assess internal performance. but now it is her own performance that is under scrutiny. the headlines on bbc news: asda and sainsbury‘s are in advanced talks to merge, but the move would have to be approved by the competition and markets authority. alfie evansn the toddler at the centre of a legal battle over his treatment —— has died. battle over his treatment, has died. earlier, hundreds of people released balloons in a tribute to the 23—month—old. cabinet colleagues rally round home secretary amber rudd after she reveals she wasn't aware of ttargets 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. the two leaders agreed to work to rid the peninsula of nuclear weapons.

joining me now via webcam from boston is sung—yoon lee, who is a professor of korean studies at the fletcher school at tufts university. good day to you. hello. what is your verdict on that historic meeting that we saw yesterday? is it as historic as they are claiming today? it is historic for north korea. north korea, produces this high drama which is gripping and terms of the optics, but very shallow in terms of substance. no schedule, no real discussion was broached on the issue of denuclearization. the form that north korea insists on is denuclearization of the peninsula, which is odd because there are no

nukes in the south. and what it means by denuclearization of the peninsula that is the united states, the us extension and deterrence from south korea and japan, so that it will be able to bully, sensor, and extort, prevail over that other korean state, the one that is a magnet for north korea's on people. as opposed for political reasons, that they have to talk about denuclearization of the peninsula rather than just denuclearization of the north. the thing that you described is not going to happen, the us is not point to remove its umbrella from the south. and so in effect, are we not actually talking about the denuclearization of the north? not really, because for north korea, they are bound by a systemic

need to get the us troops out of the south so that the us downgrades its support for south korea. and how does not create entries north korea achieve that? north korea will when they show the world that it can mary the hygiene weapon on an icbm and north korea can fire it to every corner of the us mainland and north korea is very close to that point. one has to go back to the very basic question, why did kimjong—un back to the very basic question, why did kim jong—un changes tone dramatically this year, because he has a banner and now it was time to dangle the carrot. and then with the possibility of denuclearization of north korea, and get the world leaders lined up for a summit meeting with him just as his father

did in 2004, and this is an elaborate process by which kim comes to be accepted as a global everyman. an average guy that the world can embrace. he seeks to buy time and money to protect his interests. obviously, you're extremely sceptic that there is anything involved your other than playing for time. whether it's the south korean leadership or american leadership that they should be meeting kim jong—un to talk? american leadership that they should be meeting kim jong-un to talk? they should meet him after some disagreements have been ironed out that the normal procedure when it comes to diplomacy. a summit meeting, unlike the blind date or a family reunion, this is a summit

meeting that must ensure that there is no drama, no surprises. all the major disagreements need to be addressed before this affirmation of those agreements. but we are approaching the south korea and the us and the reverse order and walking right into a trap. when ever an american official orjournalist or academic actually gets to meet with the leader, and the first second or third, the cia director less than a month ago, they came away dazzled, com pletely month ago, they came away dazzled, completely surprised that the dictator is not only not crazy, but quite reasonable, knowledgeable, south strangely pleasing things about him that we understand that the troops and the reason play a stabilising role, but we're not calling for their immediate withdrawal. and then they come out

convinced that they have reached some basic deep inside the regime. it isa some basic deep inside the regime. it is a trap. you make yourself very clear, thank you so much forjoining us. the former chair of the parole board who was sacked in march byjustice secretary david gauke after the high court's decision to block the release of the serial sex attacker it calls for greater transparency in the process and for the dems to be able to easily. he was sacked in march after the hike course decision to block the hike course decision to block the release of the rapist worboys. what is your initial reaction was yellow there is a big gap between the political reality and what was actually being proposed, it was something i was advocating long before the worboys case. it's what's

left out is really disappointing here, and some of the changes that are not going to happen. what do you think of the key things that are in? the rule stops the probe or from explaining its decision will be abolished. and be alert to publish a limited explanation whites decided, and it set —— why it is decided. there'll be further consultation that before a final decision is made. which will involve who exactly? made. which will involve who exa ctly ? it made. which will involve who exactly? it is not clear who will be a wooded view those, maybe the victims? maybe the prisoners? may be the general manager ends of the public? we it should be? at issue be open to the prisoner and the victim.

so that first of all you can see if there's any substance to the claim, and if there was, that should then bea and if there was, that should then be a new hearing and that initial review should be done by someone who judges the probe or. pineapples imported was what was left out of this. what is that then? whether there's going to be made to pay for it or whether they have a big backlog of cases, if anything, the administration ofjustice will be owed to correct the error if it was made in the case. in provide, if they didn't have crucial information in it, and nothing at all about a threat to the independence of the board. and it's clear now not properly independent, and needs to move properly into the court service, so that it can make decisions based on the law and evidence before. not what is going

to give a politician happy. why has that been left out? because politicians want to be a good gain some semblance of control over it. it needs to be free of political control. and yet we always have politicians interfering, or being involved perhaps is more mutual word, and is extremely sensitive cases that the people are really agitated about. made recommendations to politicians. what's happened since, after a succession of courts, if it needs to be able to make a decision independently. it can't be making decisions independently if the politicians are trying to tell it what to do in those times, or threatened to do something that the politicians don't like. so, that's

got to be resolved. what we have seen got to be resolved. what we have seen today is doesn't go far enough? principles are there, apart from the issue of independence, but money is still not there. probation and presence where there've been, there will be not provided the means, it is not clear yet whether it is forthcoming. weather with chris fawkes the weather comes into today, we have seen some decent and certainly for northern ireland and certainly for northern ireland and scotland there's been some heavy todayit and scotland there's been some heavy today it has been bringing us some pretty good weather through the

afternoon. the last thing we want as heavy rain. and that's what we've got coming through sunday night monday, and it could cause a few problems. and before you go overnight tonight, the system will ease away overnight tonight, the system will ease away from eastern england, and keep a lot of cloud across, it is around six to eight celsius. worse for the north, as the skies clear attempt to turn cold and there'll be pockets of frost in the countryside. in the east, the early rise as sunday morning. on the uk very sunshine, particularly for northern ireland. heavy and slow moving. some rain at times, across southeast england, if even pick up some spots ran to the morning before the next band of rain before it heads to the afternoon. and with that comes in strengthening winds. through sunday, pressure builds both the uk, and then on monday, it squeezes together

because of the highs and lows. and that creates a weather system that is going be bringing some wet and cold weather. monday looks like a very cram data be honest. it look something like this, across eastern areas something like this, across eastern areas with cold winds, gale force winds, these are the temperatures for five celsius. around west, it progresses. but longest western french, we could do some of that rain, it's going to most of the hills but for the most part, it's just an indication of how court monday is going to be. the rest of the day, the wind is affecting england, it might not vote across wales. but the more north you go, the better chance to see. we're still having the best of weather on tuesday, are low pressure continues to bring cloudy skies with a few spots of rain, but remains cold on the temperatures at only 8 degrees. this is bbc news,

our latest headlines. talks to merge the supermarket chains asda and sainsbury‘s are at an advanced stage. together they would have a bigger share of the grocery market than tesco.