zopinion :opinion on my side, have public opinion on my side, support for independence is rising as it is for a second referendum. those other circumstances exactly in which no uk prime minister would dare to allow you a referendum, they would be terrified to be the prime minister who broke up the uk. even people like boris johnson, minister who broke up the uk. even people like borisjohnson, you cannot end up in a situation inevitably where you are denying people their democratic aspirations and wishes. that opposition is cracking so i'm confident we will be a different position around very soon. party members had been persuaded that they have to wait for a legal referendum sanctioned by westminster. an argument they think they can win but not a process that they can win but not a process that they can win but not a process that they can control. sarah smith, bbc news. the booker prize the most prestigious literary award in the uk is awarded to the author who's written the best novel in english published in the uk or ireland. there were six books on this year's shortlist and within the past hour

it's been awarded to two authors. the winners are margaret atwood for the testaments, the sequel to the handmaid's tale, and bernadine evaristo for girl woman other. our correspondent rebecca jones is at the ceremony in central london. hello and welcome to the guildhall, the splendid surroundings here in the splendid surroundings here in the heart of the city of london where there was shock and disbelief in this room when the judges announced that they could not decide between two books and they were going to avoid the dilemma and give the prize jointly even though the rules of the prize expressly forbid that. but the judges said they could not compromise, the only course of action was to split the prize. and thatis action was to split the prize. and that is what they've done and i'm delighted to say that the winners of the 2019 booker prize are with me. margaret atwood and bernardine evaristo. congratulations to you both. margaret atwood, how surprised

are used to be sharing the prize? i'm extremely surprised to be winning it in the first place. i was discounting myself out of the running. it was nice of them to put me on the shortlist. but i certainly did not expect to be winning it in any shape or form and did not expect to be winning it in any shape orform and i am enormously pleased to be sharing it with bernardine evaristo. and what is your reaction? i'm in a bit of a daze, having won the prize and it is amazing to share it with a literary legend. i think it is a great idea share the love when it comes to prizes. two winners, even better, i think it is a game changer for my career think it is a game changer for my careerandl think it is a game changer for my careerand i amjust think it is a game changer for my career and i am just absolutely amazed and dazed, i have to say. you both made history in your own way as well. bernardine evaristo, the first black woman to win the booker prize and margaret atwood, di said, the old est and margaret atwood, di said, the oldest winner at the age of 79. all

the more reason to celebrate tonight! yes, i'm almost 80, i hasten to add. margaret atwood, berna rdine hasten to add. margaret atwood, bernardine evaristo, hasten to add. margaret atwood, berna rdine evaristo, many congratulations and that is that from the guildhall. many congratulations to the joint winners. that is it, time for the news where you are. have a good night. an ugly night in sofia, the qualifier in bulgaria is suspended twice over racism. paddy beck layout struck twice as northern ireland won any fairly match away from home for the first time in 13 years. and we look ahead to the rugby world cup,

host japan begin to believe while scotla nd host japan begin to believe while scotland go home. a night where eglin‘s footballers we re a night where eglin‘s footballers were subjected to racist abuse whilst laying against bulgaria, the match halted twice during their euro 2020 qualifier which england went on to win 6—0. the fa has urged uefa to investigate this as a matter of urgency. the first break in play came in the 20th minute followed by a stadium announcement that condemned the abuse, the game a stopped againjust condemned the abuse, the game a stopped again just before the break with discussions between the referee, england manager and players before restarting. the build—up has

been dominated by concerns around racism, a section of stadium closed off as punishment from a previous incident. cameras on the night picking up fans making nazi salutes, racist gestures and races chimeds. group of fans left the stadium after the game was halted. on the pitch, the game was halted. on the pitch, the win moves england closer to euro qualification. marcus rashford got them off the mark with a powerful drive, barclay added the next couple of girls before writing sterling scored the first of the two on the night. harry kane found the things of with the final goal of the night, he has scored in every qualifier so far. 86 when —— 6—0 win on the night, but all been about the racism and abuse the eglin players have

taken to social media. rahim sterling said,... marcus rashford also with the same sentiment. he also praised the fans. our sports corresponding job wilson is in sofia and centres there is just after full—time. one is in sofia and centres there is just afterfull—time. one eglin supporter has told me she had monkey noises from bulgarian fans from the first minute of the game. england have experienced this before, so what has changed? clearly now they have the confidence and determination to support racism —— report racism. the second protocol

could have involved the game being suspended. it could well be argued that england's emphatic victory is the best response. gareth southgate has said that england has its own rate issues with racism, but this kind of thing cannot stand. the response from uefa is now of the upmost importance. this evening a few thousand seats closed off, it made no difference. joe wilson in sofia. 80 more reaction to that developing story on the bbc sport website. elsewhere northern ireland have finally won a friendly away from home, ending a barren run of 13 yea rs. from home, ending a barren run of 13 years. the 3— to defeat over the czech republic was far from easy. freddie matches are a charter to try out tactics. it looked like the czech republic had made too many changes following their win over england. northern ireland were quick to pounce on their defensive

frailties, with paddy mcnair opening the scoring inside ten minutes. both he and jonny evans played on thursday's euro qualifying defeat against the netherlands and working to make amends. a typical defender‘s goalfrom the to make amends. a typical defender‘s goal from the leicester man was followed by one from the mid—boro midfielder. that was as good as it got for the men in green. the checks made for changes, substitute vladimir derrida got them back into a rhythm. their fans vladimir derrida got them back into a rhythm. theirfans celebrated had barely died down when they were singing againa barely died down when they were singing again a minute later. the czechs thought they had got an injury time equaliser, but this was ruled a foul, not a slip, and michael o'neill‘s side clung on for the win. let's take a look at some other news making the headlines. portugal lost to ukraine to— one, star striker a milestone today, scoring his 700th career goal for clu b scoring his 700th career goal for club and country. he becomesjust

the sixth player to do so, joining the sixth player to do so, joining the likes of brazil's pillai. men and women will compete against each other for and women will compete against each otherfor one trophy at and women will compete against each other for one trophy at a new event to be hosted by swedish golfers henrik stenson and anneka sorensen next year. henrik stenson and anneka sorensen next yea r. tesco henrik stenson and anneka sorensen next year. tesco section by both the men's and ladies european tours. the total prize fund £1.3 million. ireland's bundee aki on this the rest of the rugby world cup after failing to overturn his red card against samoa, it will surmount for them a dark ireland's data japan. 48 hours for him to appeal. i am sure many of you were watching yesterday's showdown between scotla nd yesterday's showdown between scotland and japan, scotland fans left to reflect on the early exit with the quarterfinal line—up now complete. we will be assessing the fallout for scotland and what it

could mean for the potentialfuture of head coach gregor townsend in a moment, but first let's cast a right of the teams remaining. if sport is escapism, really cannot have been more completely thrilling lease so. japanese inhibition left at home, on the streets there were people transformed. the joy at beating scotla nd transformed. the joy at beating scotland to reach a first world cup quarterfinal felt all the more keenly because of the sorrow of the previous day. when a0 people were killed by the typhoon. south africa await, but as hope now turns to expectation in japan, does await, but as hope now turns to expectation injapan, does that change that dynamic?” expectation injapan, does that change that dynamic? i don't think there is more pressure. we got through the quarterfinals and we have nothing to lose. no one expects us have nothing to lose. no one expects us to win again. but we believe. we will go out there and play as well as we can. it is a mark of howjapan

have disrupted the old order that even new zealand say they are pleased