a winter every time the nhs had a winter crisis so must they when a threat to the security that underpinned a way of life increases. sometimes it is not about what dividends you can take out but what investment in people can put in. too long france efficiency savings you the list. starting to increase. right now, russia is the most direct and pressing threat to europe martyr to our allies, and to these shores. i am serious when i say there is a very real danger that russia will lash out against wider europe, but in these days, of long—range missiles and its telco distance is no protection. as the chief of general staff so quickly pointed out this morning, the threat has changed. as the prime minister and its leaders are addressing today in madrid, so must our response. russia is not our only problem. and china with ready to challenge its rules and democracy, terrorism on the

march across africa, the threat is growing and is a global and multi—domain. it is now time to signal that peace dividend is over and investment needs to continue to grow. before it becomes too late to address the resurgence threat, it is time to mobilise, to be raised, to be relevant. thank you. that was ben wallace, the secretary of defence giving that speech in central london, —— central london, facing the challenges of how the uk armed forces, against, this extraordinary backdrop of the threat being posed by russia. the interesting lines to pull out from what he said, referencing vladimir putin, he said he cannot be deterred by threats of punishment at all costs on the russian people, and

separately outlining real threat, that russia lashes out again. he emphasised that as the threat changes, so must the funding, so a few interesting lines that will be dope like that we will be digesting from the defence secretary. we will return to that story a little later on. you're watching bbc news. the white house has described the deaths of 46 migrants — whose bodies were found in an abandoned lorry in texas — as "absolutely horrific and heartbreaking". the truck was discovered close to the border with mexico. the fire chief in the city of san antonio described finding "stacks of bodies" after someone heard a cry for help. the mexican president says 22 mexican nationals are among the dead. 16 survivors — among them four children — are being treated for heat exhaustion. richard galpin reports.

dozens of emergency vehicles tried to get to the abandoned lorry, but many inside had already died. a fire official said 16 people, including four children, had also been taken to hospital. the patients that we saw were hot to the touch. they were suffering from heat stroke, heat exhaustion. no signs of water in the vehicle. it was a refrigerated tractor trailer, but there was no visible working ac unit on that rig. we're not supposed to open up a truck and see stacks of bodies in there. none of us come to work imagining that. the lorry was found in san antonio, texas, more than 150 miles from the border between the united states and mexico. the victims are thought to have been migrants trying to get into the usa. a worker who works in one

of the buildings up here behind me heard a cry for help, came out to investigate, found a trailer with the doors partially open, opened them up to take a look and found a number of deceased individuals inside. locals here are shocked that people would be left to die in the heat. trailers like that without ac, it's going to get at least... if it's 100 outside, it's going to be about 125 degrees inside without water, without air, with nothing. it's ridiculous. i just... ijust can't understand how drivers can do that. but san antonio is a major transit route for people smugglers, and it's a much disputed issue. three people are now being held in custody and the investigation has been handed over to federal agents. richard galpin, bbc news.

backin back in to the uk... the population of england and wales has grown by 6% in a decade — rising to a record 59 million, according to the results of the 2021 census. the survey, which is carried out every 10 years, asks people about themselves, their household, and their home to build a detailed snapshot of society. our home editor — mark easton — has been having a look at the results. hi, mark, what are the headlines? i think that was the big number you had there, but let'sjust think that was the big number you had there, but let's just break that down a little bit. the senses is who was well on march 21, sunday, last year? it is very detailed, as you say, 97% of all households filled it out, so we have a really good idea of actually what the population was that day, in england, i can tell you, the figure from the census is 56,489,800. interestingly, slightly lower than expectations because the

ons projections, the office for national statistics, obviously try and do their best guess of what the population is, but they thought it would be 57 million, so there are some people missing. in wales, the figure is 3 million, 170,500, —— three people thought it would be 3.2. the census of northern ireland, thatis 3.2. the census of northern ireland, that is 1.9 million, is the best estimate of scotland's population, because they are having their senses a year later than the rest of the uk, the best we have for that, is a 5.4 million, giving a uk total of 66,966,400. very close to 97 million. —— 67 million. people thought that would be a bit higher, but that matters because these numbers are used to decide how much money goes to local authorities, schools, gp services and or thing.

so some people will be scratching their heads. so some people will be scratching their heade— their heads. what about area by area? is interesting, _ their heads. what about area by area? is interesting, some - their heads. what about area by area? is interesting, some of. their heads. what about area by l area? is interesting, some of the laces area? is interesting, some of the places that _ area? is interesting, some of the places that might _ area? is interesting, some of the places that might be _ area? is interesting, some of the places that might be a _ area? is interesting, some of the places that might be a bit - places that might be a bit worried, if we look at those, there have seen their populations fall in the last ten years, the one i would pick out, kensington and chelsea, the richest local authority in the country, according to the census, according to this census, saw its population fall by almost 10%. now, how, why? westminster saw its population fall by 7%. one theory is that those people who lived there, amongst the wealthiest of the country, in the middle of the pandemic, maybe they just went to their second or third home. and they went in london on march 21 last year. it was somewhere else. the applications of that are quite serious for those boroughs because if it is not a true reflection of the population in normal times as it were, that could

have a big funding applications. the other things that we know from these figures, we know that the increase in population was the largest in the east of england, went up just over 8%, wales saw an increase of only i.4%. the 8%, wales saw an increase of only 1.4%. the oldest local authority in the country is north norfolk, where more than one third of the population, one in three, over 65. fascinating stuff. we must leave it there, but i know will be getting you back and dig down into the details of those figures later on. thank you for that. i want to take you straight live now to scotland because a little bit later, we are hearing live from the scottish first minister, nicola sturgeon, she will be making a statement to msps in the scottish parliament in hollywood on plans to hold a second referendum on scottish independence. a potentially huge did it make you see significant announcements coming up, so we're keeping across these pictures here

live in holyrood and are soon as we see nicola sturgeon, we see nicola sturgeon, will come back here to looking in —— listen into a significant speech from her. next,... a 29—year—old man is being held on suspicion of murdering a woman in east london. zara aleena, who was 35, was attacked while she walked through ilford in the early hours of sunday morning. the met police believe she was the victim of what it called an "opportunist stranger attack". our correspondentjon donnison is in ilford at the scene now. hi. friends have been sharing their memories stay?— hi. friends have been sharing their memories stay? they have. i think a real sense of — memories stay? they have. i think a real sense of shock _ memories stay? they have. i think a real sense of shock year _ memories stay? they have. i think a real sense of shock year and - memories stay? they have. i think a real sense of shock year and that. real sense of shock year and that was for two reasons, that this could have happened in such a public space, very busy road, lined with houses, and you can see the spots there were zara was found with serious head injuries, around 2:45am

on sunday. the second reason is that police say this was, they believe, carried out by a stranger. they don't believe that a weapon was involved. they have been here this morning, speaking to local people, gathering, we understand, cctv footage, lots of the houses here to have a cctv, so that could be crucial evidence, but all morning, people have been coming to lay tributes, flowers, and i spoke to one woman, jasmin, who had known her for many years. she was amazing. she didn't have a bad bone in her. she was kind. she was loving. you know, she was, again, like all her friends and family said. a lifeline for her grandma and her mom. ——mum. she wasjust so innocent, so pure. you know, it'sjust a shock. people that i haven't spoken to in many, many years have, you know, we've started talking and hoping to get together for a vigil soon. sad circumstances. it is unfortunate and...

sounds like, you know, she just started a newjob after years of study. yeah, from what i've heard, she just graduated in law. from when i knew her, she was always into law, etc. she always had headss in books and was studying. i did hear that she just started a newjob up in central london. so she had a she had a bright future ahead of her. a lot to look forward to. all that hard work that she'd done at uni would have paid off, but unfortunately, her life was cut short. and you live locally around here. i mean, this is a busy road. you've got houses, buses, traffic. i mean, it's pretty shocking, isn't it? it is. yeah, it is awful. you know, i've got younger sisters, teenage kids that regularly use this road. i mean, i only live a stone's throw from here. it's just hard to think that something, on such a busy road, even at the crack of dawn, you wouldn't expect

something like this, not with so many houses. and, you know, i'm sure these houses are camera'd up and everything. so it is shocking. it's shocking. that view was something we had from everyone, no one had a bad way from hazara. that will of course raise concerns about the safety of women in the capital. —— zara. it comes after several very high profile murders in the last few years, sarah everard, sabina nassar. the police have arrested a man on suspicion of murder, 29—year—old man from ilford, and they say the investigation is fast moving. and they say the investigation is fast moving-— and they say the investigation is fast moving. and they say the investigation is fast movinr. , ., ., ,, , ., ., fast moving. 0k, jon, thank you for brinuain fast moving. 0k, jon, thank you for bringing us — fast moving. 0k, jon, thank you for bringing us the _ fast moving. 0k, jon, thank you for bringing us the details _ fast moving. 0k, jon, thank you for bringing us the details there - fast moving. 0k, jon, thank you for bringing us the details there from l bringing us the details there from ilford. ghislaine maxwell will be sentenced later for grooming teenagers who were then abused by her ex partner, the paedophile jeffrey epstein. the 60—year—old daughter of the late

disgraced media tycoon, robert maxwell, could be jailed for a maximum of 55 years. from new york, nada tawfik reports. the sense of knowing you have spoken your truth is a powerful feeling. annie farmer's distressing testimony helped secure ghislaine maxwell's sex trafficking conviction. on the stand, she recounted how maxwell molested and groomed herfor abuse byjeffrey epstein when she was 16 years old. when maxwell is sentenced, annie hopes the judge considers all of those she harmed. these crimes have not only impacted the individuals that experienced them, but also that there is a systemic impact for those people's partners and families and loved ones. if you think about all the number of people involved in this, the harm that she caused is almost immeasurable. jurors found maxwell guilty on five of the six counts against her in late december. annie and three other women detailed how maxwell was epstein's chief enabler,

a predator who manipulated the teenagers and then tried to normalise sexual contact under the ruse of a massage. still, in the latest court documents, her lawyers continue to argue that she was being made a scapegoat for epstein. in a bid for a lighter sentence, they wrote, "she had a difficult, traumatic childhood with an overbearing, narcissistic and demanding father. it made her vulnerable to epstein." they also raised concerns about her treatment in prison, writing, "ms maxwell was the target of a credible death threat from a fellow inmate." yeah, it's interesting because i noticed... annie farmer said she was disappointed but not surprised by maxwell's focus on how her own life had been ruined. ifelt, again, that there had been an opportunity for her to take ownership of what she had done, for her, in some ways, to express remorse to the victims of her crimes. and it was all about her. evidence presented here during this high—profile trial gave the public

a glimpse into maxwell and epstein's lavish lifestyle and relationship. but many questions remain. how did epstein amass all of his wealth? why did maxwell help him? and will any other accomplices be held accountable? i think that made a difference... david boies represents dozens of epstein's accusers, including annie. he said many of his clients are concerned that the justice department will consider the epstein case now closed. this could not have gone on at the scope it went on and for the years that it went on without the cooperation, complicity and collaboration of many people, some of them rich and powerful and politically connected. whether those people escape justice or not, i think, is one of the unanswered questions. annie says she and the other women are grateful to have got this far in their quest for accountability. after their long and difficult fight to be heard, ghislaine maxwell's sentencing is a significant

step towards justice. nada tawfik, bbc news, new york. western leaders have described russia's missile attack on a busy shopping centre in central ukraine yesterday as a "war crime". ukrainian officials say at least 18 people were killed and 59 others injured in the attack in the city of kremenchuk, around 80 miles from russian occupied territory. emergency crews are still searching for survivors. our ukraine correspondent, joe inwood, reports from kyiv. rescue soon turned into recovery. late into the night, firefighters searched through the smouldering wreckage of the complex, reduced to a twisted mass of metal by at least one russian missile. they were searching for bodies, victims of one of the most devastating attacks of the war. it happened just before 4pm yesterday. a shopping centre engulfed in flames. passers—by turned into paramedics.

the injured were taken to local hospitals, still in shock at what they had witnessed. translation: | felt - like i was flying somewhere. i was thrown head first. splinters, shrapnel, something else was hitting me. the whole place was collapsing, exploding. then i landed on the floor, and i don't know if i was conscious or unconscious. people, burned people. some were covered in blood. one girl fell down and we pulled her along. she kept falling but we tried to help. it's not known how many people were inside when the fire started, but president zelensky put the figure at around 1,000. centres have been set up to register the missing. ukraine and its people are exhausted by this war. translation: why are you tormenting us? -

what have we done to you? all this propaganda, this is not only putin. please, bear in mind this is not only putin, it is the russian nation, it has been going on for years and years. russia has denied targeting the shopping centre, instead claiming it struck a nearby warehouse that was storing western supplied weapons and ammunition. it also claimed the shopping centre was closed at the time of the attack. as the clear—up operation continues, that will be difficult to hear for the residents of this central ukrainian city, who have seen and now felt the cost of russia's war. joe inwood, bbc news, kyiv. just quickly want to take you live to spain, madrid, president biden is arriving there, you can see him shaking hands, he is arriving there ahead of the nato summit, which is hot on the heels of the g7 summit of course, which is

just wrapping up. nato leaders meeting there in extraordinary circumstances of course, we have already heard from yens stoltenberg where they are aiming to rapidly increase the number of the forces, tenfold the number given the security backdrop that nato now faces. —— jens. security backdrop that nato now faces. ——jens. we'll be security backdrop that nato now faces. —— jens. we'll be discussing the additional members potentially joining, they were hoping that there would be those new membersjoining ahead of this summit in madrid. we all will be waiting to come across those pictures again, later on this afternoon. nicola sturgeon is expected to set out her plans for a second referendum on scottish independence in the next few minutes. the first minister is due to make a statement in the scottish parliament. she's expected to say a vote will take place in october next year, with or without the formal consent of westminster. the stakes are pretty high.

let's talk to our scotland correspondent lorna gordon who's in edinburgh. hello, so what are we expecting? as you say, with or without the formal consent of westminster, but let's be clear, nicola sturgeon has this first minister post, and is very keen for a legal referendum. she said that the preferred route for thatis said that the preferred route for that is going through a section 30 order, that is where the uk government temporally passes the powers to hold a referendum to the scottish parliament, to the scottish government. that would be the preferred route. it seems as if the uk government is not minded to do that, so the question is, what other options might be open to the scottish government to hold a legal referendum? might they have found a way to hold a ballot with a differently worded question, perhaps, that it might perhaps one that asks the people of scotland to open the negotiation with united kingdom government, whether to be a yes vote. there would be challenges

with that, some experts say it may be boycotted by prounion voters, but of course, the key for the government here at holyrood, here in edinburgh, is that they want any result of any referendum, wear it to be in favour of independence, to be recognised internationally, for the uk government to be in a position to negotiate off the back of it, so a lot of interest in what nicola sturgeon's going to stay in the next few minutes. it has been a very closely guarded secret. the scottish government cabinet was briefed on it this morning, but we know some consuls and embassy have also been briefed on the timescale for a possible referendum and that was reported by the times newspaper this morning. they are suggesting that the bill aimed at holding another vote will be proposed after holyrood's summer recess because of course, there are questions about the timing as well, whether it would

go ahead. that would be a tight timescale. and with possible legal argument in between, it is highly likely any proposed referendum might end up in the courts. you've also got to factor in how long it would take to test any referendum question through the electoral commission. that would take 12 weeks as well. but would experts believe there would be enough time left for campaigning, should it be passed by the courts? lots of questions to be answered, and nicola sturgeon is expected within the next minute or two, in fact, expected within the next minute or two, infact, to expected within the next minute or two, in fact, to stand up at holyrood and give some answers. it is also likely this afternoon that there will be a focus on a mandate for a referendum. there will be a focus on a mandate fora referendum. nicola there will be a focus on a mandate for a referendum. nicola sturgeon says she has that mandate, the snp msps, along with the green msps, constitute a majority, here at holyrood, both of those parties of course had proposals for a second independence referendum in their

manifestos, and both those parties make up the government here in scotland. alison jack who make up the government here in scotland. alisonjack who is the scotland. alisonjack who is the scotland scottish representative in uk government has a different point did be my agreement. it does not accept that there is a mandate, that the majority of seats was not one, he even suggests a majority of the electorate, notjust those he even suggests a majority of the electorate, not just those who actually voted, should be required in orderfor any actually voted, should be required in order for any vote to go ahead. that is one opinion, nicola sturgeon has the first minister and hope government, they strongly feel that they do have a mandate, but expect that question of a mandate to port does not form part of the act which makes this afternoon, and of course, a lot more widening of that question of this road map to a second referendum, what it might be as well. she is expected to make a statement that will last around 20

minutes, then off the back of that, we will hear from the leader of the scottish conservatives here at holyrood, giving his position, followed by labour and the liberal democrats as well. it is likely... she has called it a detailed substantial statement today, but there have been lots of questions over the last few months over exactly what she will say that we expect those answers to come within the next minute or two here at holyrood. the next minute or two here at holyrood-— the next minute or two here at hol rood. ., ., , ~ ., holyrood. lorna, 'ust so... we are keein: holyrood. lorna, 'ust so... we are keeping _ holyrood. lorna, just so... we are keeping across the _ holyrood. lorna, just so... we are keeping across the images, - holyrood. lorna, just so... we are i keeping across the images, obviously from inside, there we are, so we are just waiting for this announcement, from nicola sturgeon. we are expecting it in the next couple of minutes, as you mentioned. i'm just going to stay on these pictures here, just in case this is the announcement and nicola sturgeon will be standing up in the next few

seconds... if not, then we will come back to you. i think we can see here now. let's now listen into nicola sturgeon. it now. let's now listen into nicola sturreon. . , now. let's now listen into nicola sturreon. .,, sturgeon. it was rooted in the belief that _ sturgeon. it was rooted in the belief that self-government i sturgeon. it was rooted in the - belief that self-government would belief that self—government would improve the lives of those who live here and so it has proved. there were and still are honourable differences about the ultimate destination of scotland's self—government journey. destination of scotland's self—governmentjourney. but all destination of scotland's self—government journey. but all who campaigned to establish this place were united in and by this fundamental principle. the democratic rights of the people of scotland are paramount. that principle of self—determination was encapsulated by these words in the scottish constitutional conventions claim of right. the sovereign right of the scottish people to determine the form of government best suited to their needs. when the late person, who led the convention,

addressed westminster�*s refusal to accept the democratic demand for a scottish parliament, with this question, what, if that is the voice we all know so well, respond by saying, we say no, and we are the state? his answer, well, we say yes, and we are the people, we are simple but powerful. it is as relevant now as it was then. presiding officer, the people of scotland last may said yes to an independence referendum, by electing a clear majority of msps committed to that outcome. the democratic decision wasn't clear. two weeks ago, the scottish government started the process of implementing that decision with the first in the building a new scotland series of papers. that paper presented compelling evidence of the stronger economic and social performance, relative to the uk, of a range of independent countries

across europe, that are comparable to scotland. that should be both a lesson and an inspiration to us. scotland, over generations, has paid a price for not being independent. westminster governments we don't vote for, imposing parliaments that make policies we don't vote for, too often holding us back from our potential. that reality had really been its darker than it is now. —— rarely. the conservatives had just had six mps in scotland, barely 10% of scottish representation and yet, they have ripped us out of the eu against our will. they have created the worst cost of living crisis in the worst cost of living crisis in the g7 and saddled us with the second lowest growth in the g20. they are intent on stoking industrial strife, demonising workers, and provoking a trade war. businesses and public services are

struggling. because of freedom of movement has been ended. our young people have been robbed of opportunity. presiding officer, the scottish government will do everything in our power to mitigate the damage, but that is not enough. our country deserves better. and yet, this parliament looked to for leadership by so many across scotland, does not have the power to tackle the root causes of the financial misery being inflicted on millions. we lack the full range of leavers to shape our economy and grow our country's wealth. we are powerless to stop our budget being cut, we cannot block the tories�* new anti—trade union laws, or stop them tearing up human rights protections. we are not able to restore freedom of movement and while we invest billions, billions in measures to help with the cost of living, tens of thousands of children can be

pushed deeper into poverty at the merest stroke of the chancellor's pain. presiding officer, it does not have to be this way. independence is about equipping ourselves to navigate the future, guided by our own values, aspirations and interests. about helping us to fulfil our potential, here at home, and play our part in building a better world. that does take more than a changing of the guard at westminster. i fervently hope that the tories lose the next election. they thoroughly deserved to. on the big policy issues of our time, from europe, to migration, to human rights, and fairness for workers, labour is more a pale imitation than a genuine alternative. labour won't take scotland back into the european union, or even a single market and neither will the liberal democrats.

they won't restore freedom of movement for our young people, they won't prioritise tackling child poverty over investment in nuclear weapons. presiding officer, first minister... . weapons. presiding officer, first minister---_ weapons. presiding officer, first minister... , ., ., ., minister... , 'ust have a moment, i have asked — minister... , just have a moment, i have asked that _ minister... , just have a moment, i have asked that there _ minister... , just have a moment, i have asked that there are - minister... , just have a moment, i have asked that there are no - have asked that there are no interruptions during the first minister's statement, i would be grateful— minister's statement, i would be grateful if we could have some silence, — grateful if we could have some silence, thank you.— silence, thank you. presiding officer, independence - silence, thank you. presiding officer, independence won't. silence, thank you. presiding - officer, independence won't always be easy. it isn't for any country. but independence will give us the opportunity to chart our own course, to build a wealthier, greener, fairer nation, to be outward looking and internationalist, to lift our eyes and learn from the best, so presiding officer, now is the time, at this critical moment in history, to debate and decide the future of our country. now is the time to get scotland on the right path, the path chosen by those who live here. now is the time independence.

this parliament has a clear democratic mandate to offer scotland that choice and the uk government, regrettably, is refusing to respect scottish democracy, and that is why the statement today is necessary. the uk and scottish governments should be sitting down together, responsibly agreeing a process, including a section 30 order that allows the scottish people to decide. that would be the democratic way to proceed. it would be based on precedent and it would put the legal basis of a referendum beyond any doubt. that is why i am writing to the prime minister to inform him of the prime minister to inform him of the content of this statement and in that letter i will make clear that i am ready and willing to negotiate the terms of a section 30 order with him. what i am not willing to do,

what i will never do, is allow scottish democracy to be a prisoner of borisjohnson or any prime minister. of boris johnson or any prime minister. �* �* ,, minister. applause members, - minister. applause members, they - minister. applause l members, they should minister. applause - members, they should be no interruptions, thank you. any interruptions.— interruptions. the issue of independence _ interruptions. the issue of independence cannot - interruptions. the issue of independence cannot be i interruptions. the issue of- independence cannot be suppressed and it must be resolved democratically. that must be through a process that is above reproach and commands confidence. that is why i'm setting up to date the actions the scottish government and the lord advocate will take in the absence of a section 30 order to secure scotland's right to choose. my determination is to secure a process that allows the people of scotland whether yes or no, or yet to be decided to express their views in a legal constitutional referendum so

that the majority view can be established early and democratic. the steps i am setting out today seek to achieve that. they are grounded in and demonstrate this government wants respect for the principles of rule of law and democracy. indeed these principles, respect for the rule of law and respect for the rule of law and respect for the rule of law and respect for democracy under everything i say today. respect for the rule of law means that a referendum must be lawful and that is a matter of principle. but it is also a matter of practical reality. an unlawful referendum would not be deliverable. even if it was, it would like effect, and the outcome would like effect, and the outcome would not be recognised by the international community, bluntly, it would not lead to scotland becoming independent. it is clear a

referendum must be lawful and my deliberations in recent times have led me to this further conclusion, the lawfulness or otherwise of the referendum must be established as a matter of fact and not just referendum must be established as a matter of fact and notjust opinion. otherwise as we have seen again in recent days, opposition parties will just keep casting doubt on the legitimacy of the process so they can avoid the substantive debate on independence which scotland deserves but they so clearly fear. that is not in the country's best interests. turning now to the detail of the steps we will take to secure that objective of an indisputably lawful referendum. and then make sure that from today we can focus on the substance of why scotland should be independent. i can announce that the scottish government is today publishing the scottish independence referendum bill and will draw

attention in particular to three key provisions of this bill. the purpose of the referendum, as set out in the first action, is to ascertain the views of the people of scotland on whether or not scotland should be an independent country, and in common with the 2014 referendum, and in common with the brexit referendum and the referendum to establish this parliament, the independence referendum proposed in the bill will be consultative and not self—executing, just as in 2014 and recognised explicitly in the 2013 white paper, a majority yes vote in the referendum will not in and of itself make scotland independent and for scotland to become independent following a yes vote legislation would have to be passed by the uk and scottish parliaments. there has been much commentary in recent days to the effect that a consultative referendum would not have the same

status as the vote in 2014 and that is simply wrong, factually, and legally. let me be clear, the status of the referendum proposed in this bill is exactly the same as the referendum is of 1997, 2014 and 2016. the next provision of the bill i wish to draw attention to relates to the question to be asked in the referendum, and the bill states the question on the ballot paper should be, just as it was in 2014, should scotland be an independent country? finally, the bill includes the proposed date on which the referendum should be held. in line with the government was much clear mandate, this is a date within the first half of this term of parliament, and i can announce that the scottish government is proposing that the independence referendum be held on the 19th of october 2023.

applause thank you, thank you. members. applause thank ou, thank ou. members. , thank you, thank you. members. these are the key elements _ thank you, thank you. members. these are the key elements of _ thank you, thank you. members. these are the key elements of the _ are the key elements of the referendum legislation that the scottish government which is this parliament to scrutinise and cast. let me now turn to the aim of establishing as fact the lawfulness of the referendum.— of the referendum. applause members- _ of the referendum. applause members- i— of the referendum. applause members. i consider - of the referendum. applause members. i consider this - of the referendum. applause members. i consider this to i of the referendum. applause| members. i consider this to be of the referendum. applause i members. i consider this to be of the utmost _ members. i consider this to be of the utmost importance _ members. i consider this to be of the utmost importance and - members. i consider this to be of the utmost importance and we i members. i consider this to be of i the utmost importance and we know already that the legislative competence of the scottish parliament to pass this bill in the absence of a section 30 order is contested and we know that legislative competence can only be determined judicially. we know that for as long as there is no judicial determination, opinions will differ and doubt will continue to be cast on the lawful basis for the referendum. that benefits only those

parties opposed to independence because it allows them to avoid the substance of the independence debate. finally, we know if this parliament does seek to legislate without a section 30 order, the bill will go to court, that is inevitable. the only questions are, when it ends up in court and at whose hands. if the issue of legislative competence remains unresolved at the point of formal introduction of a bill, the uk government will almost certainly use section 33 of the scotland act to refer it to the supreme court after it has passed. it is possible that one or more private individuals will launch a judicial review of the bill, and it was reported last week that tory supporters had already planned to do so. the challenge by private individuals could also go through successive courts and so be a very lengthy process. either way at the point of parliament passing the bill, they would be no certainty about when or even if it could be implemented. a challenge could still

lie ahead at the timetable i have set up to date would quickly become difficult to deliver. between now and then, claim and counterclaim, good—faith arguments and bad faith fear mongering about so—called wildcat referendums will continue to muddy the water and cast out and take the process. that may suit politicians opposed to independence —— taint the process. none of it would be in the interest of the country and none of it would serve democracy, and the fact is neither that legal opinions or political arguments will resolve this point. we must establish legal fact. that is why in my view we must seek now to accelerate to the point when we have legal clarity, legal fact, to accelerate to the point when we have legal clarity, legalfact, and crucially in doing so i hope establish and safeguard the ability of this parliament to deliver a referendum on the date proposed. it

is to this end that some weeks ago i asked the lord advocate to consider exercising the power she has under paragraph 34 of schedule six, to the scotland act, to refer to the supreme court the question of whether the provisions in this bill relate to reserved matters. this is a power exerciseable by the lord advocate alone and not by scottish ministers collectively, and whether or not she does so is accordingly a matter solely for her. but i can confirm that the lord advocate has considered this request and she has taken into account the following factors, this government's democratic mandate, the constitutional significance of this issue, the fact that the bill does raise a genuine issue of law that is unresolved, and the importance of making sure that this government and parliament act lawfully at all times. she is now informing me of her decision and i can advise parliament that the lord advocate

has agreed to make a reference of the provisions in the bill to the supreme court. presiding as i speak, the process for serving the requisite paperwork on the uk government by lawyers at arms is under way and i can confirm that the reference will be filed with the supreme court this afternoon. whether or not this is accepted, how long it takes to determine and what judgment is arrived at, these are all matters for the court to determine, and i accept that. as i have made clear, this government respects the rule of law. but by asking the lord advocate to refer the matter to the court now rather than waiting for others to do so later, we are seeking to deliver clarity and legal certainty in a timely manner and without the delay and continue to doubt that others would prefer. obviously, it is this

government's hope that the question in this bill, proposing a referendum thatis in this bill, proposing a referendum that is consultative and not self—executing, and which would seek to ascertain the views of the scottish people for or against independence, will be deemed to be within the legislative competence of the parliament, and if that outcome is secured, there will be no doubt at all that the referendum is lawful. i can confirm that the government will then immediately introduce the bill and asked parliament to pass it on a timescale that allows the referendum to proceed on the 19th of october next year. it is possible that the supreme court will decide the scottish parliament does not have power to legislate even for a consultative referendum and to be clear, if that happens, it will be the fault of westminster legislation and not the court.— and not the court. laughter members- — and not the court. laughter members. that _ and not the court. laughter members. that is _ and not the court. laughter members. that is not - and not the court. laughter members. that is not the i and not the court. laughter i members. that is not the clarity and not the court. laughter - members. that is not the clarity we would hope — members. that is not the clarity we would hope for _ members. that is not the clarity we would hope for but _ members. that is not the clarity we

would hope for but if _ members. that is not the clarity we would hope for but if that _ members. that is not the clarity we would hope for but if that is - members. that is not the clarity we would hope for but if that is what i would hope for but if that is what the law establishing this parliament really means, it is better to have that clarity sooner rather than later. what it will clarify is this, any notion of the uk as a voluntary union of nations is a fiction, any suggestion that the uk is a partnership of equals is false, and instead we will be confronted with this reality, no matter how scotland votes, regardless of what future we desire for our country, westminster can block an overall, westminster will always have the final say. —— and overall. they would be few stronger arguments for independence than that and it would not be the end of the matter, farfrom it. i said earlier that two principles would guide what i said, the rule of law and democracy. democracy demands that people must have their say so finally, in terms of process, let me confirm this, although it describes

a scenario i hope does not arise, but if it does transpire that there is no lawful way for this parliament to give the people of scotland the choice of independence in a referendum, and if the uk government continues to deny a section 30 order, my party will fight the uk general election on this single question, should scotland be an independent country? applause members, members. _ independent country? applause members, members. members,| independent country? applause i members, members. members, it is important— members, members. members, it is important regardless of the content of any— important regardless of the content of any statement, that we adhere to parliamentary standing orders and that we _ parliamentary standing orders and that we continue to hit the statement without interruptions. thank _ statement without interruptions. thank you. statement without interruptions. thank ou. , ., ., statement without interruptions. thank you-— statement without interruptions. thank ou. ., ., ., thank you. the path i have laid out is about bringing _ thank you. the path i have laid out is about bringing clarity _ thank you. the path i have laid out is about bringing clarity and i is about bringing clarity and certainty to this debate and above all it is about making sure that scotland will have its say on independence and i won't be process set in train today to lead to a

lawful and constitutional referendum and for that to take place on the 19th of october 2023 —— and i want the process set in train. but if the law says that is not possible, the general election will be a de facto referendum, and either way, the people of scotland will have their say. as the lord advocate is now referring the question of legality to the supreme court, that need no longer be the subject of sterile political debate, and indeed the principal and our own standing orders demand that the arguments on competence now be made in court and not in this chamber. that means we can and we should now focus on the substance, and that is what this government intends to do and in the weeks and months ahead we will make the positive case for independence and we will do so with commitment, confidence and passion. let the opposition, if they can, make the case for continued westminster rule and then let the people decide. to believe in scottish independence is

to believe in a better involves an unashamedly optimistic view of the world, the belief that things can be better than they are now. above all it means trusting the talents and ingenuity of all of us who live here no matter where we come from, it is not a claim to be better than anyone else, it is about looking around at all the other successful independent countries in the world, so many of them are smaller than we are, and without the resources we are blessed with, and asking why not scotland? think of all our talents and advantages, unrivalled energy resources, extraordinary natural heritage, exceptional strengths in the industries of the future, brilliant universities and colleges, highly skilled and creative population, there is no reason at all that independent scotland would not succeed. nothing in life is guaranteed but with hard work and the independence to chart our own course, scotland will prosper. the

people of scotland have told us, in this chamber, that they want to be right to decide. today we have set “p right to decide. today we have set up the path to deliver it. applause studio: nicola — up the path to deliver it. applause studio: nicola sturgeon _ up the path to deliver it. applause studio: nicola sturgeon has i up the path to deliver it. applause studio: nicola sturgeon has laid i up the path to deliver it. applause| studio: nicola sturgeon has laid out her plan for a second referendum on scottish independence, now is the time for independence, she said, she said she had a clear democratic mandate and the issue of independence cannot be suspended. she argued the date for it should be the 19th of october 2023 with the same question as 2014, should scotland be an independent country? a statement there with huge ramifications and we are expecting now from the opposition which we will stay for and listen to. they should be fascinating. nicola sturgeon also said she will be writing to the prime minister and she is prepared to negotiate terms

of a referendum.— she is prepared to negotiate terms of a referendum. nicola sturgeon... because nicola _ of a referendum. nicola sturgeon... because nicola sturgeon _ of a referendum. nicola sturgeon... because nicola sturgeon is - of a referendum. nicola sturgeon... because nicola sturgeon is at i of a referendum. nicola sturgeon... because nicola sturgeon is at it i of a referendum. nicola sturgeon... because nicola sturgeon is at it all. because nicola sturgeon is at it all over again. because nicola sturgeon is at it all overagain. her eye is because nicola sturgeon is at it all over again. her eye is off the ball once more. the real priorities of people across scotland are on the back burner. instead the first minister is putting her plans to divide scotland front and centre. nicola sturgeon has shown again today that the snp's selfish obsession with another divisive referendum is always their top priority. she will use government time and resources to further her plan to break up the country, just when we need to be pulling together and working as one. all of our focus should be on tackling the huge challenges we face right now, helping families with their bills,

supporting front line services, and creating good jobs. a potentially illegal referendum next year is the wrong priority for scotland. members, will hear mr ross. what wrong priority for scotland. members, will hear mr ross. what the snp members — members, will hear mr ross. what the snp members are _ members, will hear mr ross. what the snp members are unhappy _ members, will hear mr ross. what the snp members are unhappy about, i members, will hear mr ross. what the snp members are unhappy about, it i snp members are unhappy about, it has been referred to the court because the legality of it is not known, therefore potentially it is an illegal referendum. it would distract away from our recovery and damage our efforts to rebuild the country after covid and it is the last thing a clear majority of scottish people want. the first minister speaks of fear and be first minister speaks of fear and be first minister speaks of fear, but what concerns everyone is the price scotland pays for her continued obsession with another referendum. we won't play her games, we won't

take part in a pretend poll when there is real work to be done. real work on the global cost of living crisis, realwork work on the global cost of living crisis, real work to invest in public services and real work to rebuild our economy. those are our priorities and they are the real priorities and they are the real priorities of people across scotland as well. but instead of focusing on the right priorities, nicola sturgeon is railroading this parliament into talking about the snp's obsession. on her watch this is becoming a do nothing parliament. nicola sturgeon has confirmed today that she will introduce a bill for another independence referendum but what is she doing about the country's top priorities? nothing. education, no bills, drugs, no ideas, this is nicola sturgeon's scotland and this parliament is beginning to be a parliament that doesn't get to act on the priorities of the people, a parliament that

exists only to further the interests of the snp, i do nothing parliament with a first minister obsessed with another referendum at all costs, so can i ask the first minister, why should the people of scotland's real priorities be put on the back burner for another divisive damaging independence referendum? first minister. douglas _ independence referendum? first minister. douglas ross - independence referendum? first minister. douglas ross had i independence referendum? first| minister. douglas ross had three 'obs at the minister. douglas ross had three jobs at the last _ minister. douglas ross had three jobs at the last count _ minister. douglas ross had three jobs at the last count and - minister. douglas ross had three jobs at the last count and he i minister. douglas ross had three i jobs at the last count and he might be a do _ jobs at the last count and he might be a do nothing msp but this is a do much _ be a do nothing msp but this is a do much parliament. douglas ross has also demonstrated... much parliament. douglas ross has also demonstrated. . ._ he j much parliament. douglas ross has i also demonstrated. . ._ he has also demonstrated... members. he has demonstrated — also demonstrated... members. he has demonstrated an _ also demonstrated... members. he has demonstrated an inability _ also demonstrated... members. he has demonstrated an inability to _ also demonstrated... members. he has demonstrated an inability to what i demonstrated an inability to what was said — demonstrated an inability to what was said in the statement. i know the legality of a referendum passed by this_ the legality of a referendum passed by this parliament without a section 30 order— by this parliament without a section 30 order is— by this parliament without a section 30 order is contested and that is why i_ 30 order is contested and that is why i have — 30 order is contested and that is why i have asked the lord advocate to refer _ why i have asked the lord advocate to refer the — why i have asked the lord advocate to refer the matter to the supreme court _ to refer the matter to the supreme court so _ to refer the matter to the supreme court so that can be put beyond any doubt _ court so that can be put beyond any doubt i_ court so that can be put beyond any doubt. i referendum that goes ahead

will be _ doubt. i referendum that goes ahead will be indisputably legal because the supreme court will have deemed it so and _ the supreme court will have deemed it so and at— the supreme court will have deemed it so and at that stage any claims about— it so and at that stage any claims about boycotts will sound even sillier — about boycotts will sound even sillier than they do now and demonstrate one thing and one thing only, the _ demonstrate one thing and one thing only, the conservatives have no confidence _ only, the conservatives have no confidence in the arguments for the continuation of the union. we have a strange _ continuation of the union. we have a strange conundrum in scotland where the tories _ strange conundrum in scotland where the tories suggest that nobody in scotland — the tories suggest that nobody in scotland once the opportunity to choose _ scotland once the opportunity to choose independence in a referendum and yet _ choose independence in a referendum and yet they have somehow managed to elect a _ and yet they have somehow managed to elect a majority of msps in this parliament who propose an independence referendum. douglas ross says _ independence referendum. douglas ross says a clear majority don't want _ ross says a clear majority don't want independence but can i gently suggest _ want independence but can i gently suggest to him, if he was confident in that, _ suggest to him, if he was confident in that, he — suggest to him, if he was confident in that, he would be desperate to put in that, he would be desperate to but the _ in that, he would be desperate to put the question to the people of scotland — put the question to the people of scotland in a referendum. my plans are to _ scotland in a referendum. my plans are to equip this parliament and

this country with all of the powers and all— this country with all of the powers and all of— this country with all of the powers and all of the resources that other independent countries take for granted — independent countries take for granted and that we need to navigate the challenges that scotland in common— the challenges that scotland in common with the rest of the world face right— common with the rest of the world face right now. scotland is paying a price _ face right now. scotland is paying a price for— face right now. scotland is paying a price for not — face right now. scotland is paying a price for not being independent and ripped _ price for not being independent and ripped out— price for not being independent and ripped out of the eu and the single market— ripped out of the eu and the single market completely against our will, suffering _ market completely against our will, suffering one of the worst cost of living _ suffering one of the worst cost of living crises in the developed world because _ living crises in the developed world because of— living crises in the developed world because of that, high inflation than any other— because of that, high inflation than any other g7 country, lower growth than any— any other g7 country, lower growth than any g20 country apart from russia, — than any g20 country apart from russia, we — than any g20 country apart from russia, we are seeing children are pushed _ russia, we are seeing children are pushed into— russia, we are seeing children are pushed into poverty by a conservative government that we did not elect _ conservative government that we did not elect and scotland needs independence to better navigate those _ independence to better navigate those challenges so that all of the focus _ those challenges so that all of the focus and — those challenges so that all of the focus and the power and all of the resources — focus and the power and all of the resources of this government and future _ resources of this government and future scottish governments can be on exactly — future scottish governments can be on exactly that, addressing the priorities— on exactly that, addressing the priorities of the scottish people in line with — priorities of the scottish people in line with mandates given by the

scottish — line with mandates given by the scottish people.— line with mandates given by the scottish people. studio: we will leave nicola _ scottish people. studio: we will leave nicola sturgeon _ scottish people. studio: we will leave nicola sturgeon there. i scottish people. studio: we will leave nicola sturgeon there. we | scottish people. studio: we will. leave nicola sturgeon there. we can now speak to our correspondent lorna gordon. b. now speak to our correspondent lorna gordon. �* ., ., ., , ., gordon. a lot more in that statement than we expected, _ gordon. a lot more in that statement than we expected, and _ gordon. a lot more in that statement than we expected, and we _ gordon. a lot more in that statement than we expected, and we note i gordon. a lot more in that statement than we expected, and we note the l than we expected, and we note the wording of the question that nicola sturgeon would like to be asked in a second referendum, the same question that was asked in 2014, should scotland be an independent country and we know the timing of this, that it would be on the 19th of october 2023. as expected she talked about having a mandate for another referendum and of course the snp

along with the greens hold a majority in scotland and both of those parties clearly set out their wish to hold another referendum on scottish independence, and she talked about the legality of another referendum. she is clear that she wants any referendum to be legal and it needs to be recognised by the international community as such. the clearest path to illegal referendum is there a mechanism called a section 30 order by which the uk government grants the scottish parliament temporary powers to hold another referendum and she said she is writing to the prime minister to negotiate the terms for the section 30 order but she made clear that there is another pathway if that doesn't happen in her opinion, and that legal process would start to date, the papers are being launched just now with the uk government, and

that she asked the lord advocate, the top law officer in scotland, to ask the supreme court if the scottish parliament has the power to legislate for a consultative referendum on independence. and that the lord advocate has agreed and is lodging those papers with the supreme court without request but it will be up to the court to decide whether it accepts the request. there is no timetable for any decision should it do so but we have seen the supreme court is weighing in on pretty weighty constitutional matters over the past few years and that process can be expedited and can be quite quick if the requirement for a speedy timetable is there so a lot laid out in that statement today, a lot to think about, but there are dates proposed,

about, but there are dates proposed, a date proposed and a question proposed, and a path proposed to a section 30 order. and if that request what is section 30 order is turned down by the uk government, nicola sturgeon says she has a second pathway now under way by which the lord advocate has lodged these papers with the supreme court but her determination is that any referendum held to determine the future of scotland and whether it should be an independent country, will be a legal process that can be recognised internationally.- recognised internationally. lorna gordon, recognised internationally. lorna gordon. very _ recognised internationally. lorna gordon, very complicated i recognised internationally. lorna gordon, very complicated details in that but thank you for explaining it so clearly. thanks forjoining us. now it's time for a look at the weather with chris fawkes. hello again.

a brisk south—westerly wind gusting at around 30—40 mph for some but across central and eastern england staying dry for the most part with present spells of sunshine and temperatures quite close to average. the band of rain approaches eastwards tonight, and a few showers working into western areas, and it will stay quite breezy and not very cold. 12—14. tomorrow the band of rain clears away from eastern england and sunshine and showers follow and some of those will be heavy with hail and thunder mixed in and the wind is a bit lighter, so the sunshine will come out and it will feel a bit more present with highest temperatures and the best of the sunshine in the east. —— a bit more pleasant.

this is bbc news. i'm lewis vaughanjones and these are the latest headlines: scotland's first minister nicola sturgeon sets out her plans to hold a second referendum on scottish independence. she has used the country is being held back by westminster. the is also being called a pretend referendum.— also being called a pretend referendum. ., , ., . referendum. there was a critical moment in _ referendum. there was a critical moment in time _ referendum. there was a critical moment in time to _ referendum. there was a critical moment in time to debate i referendum. there was a critical moment in time to debate the l referendum. there was a critical- moment in time to debate the debate and decide the history of our country, now is the time to get scotland on the right path, the path chosen by those who live here. irate chosen by those who live here. we won't play nicola sturgeon's games, we won't _ won't play nicola sturgeon's games, we won't take part in a pretend pole when _ we won't take part in a pretend pole when there — we won't take part in a pretend pole when there is real work to be done, well— when there is real work to be done, we'll work— when there is real work to be done, we'll work on — when there is real work to be done, we'll work on the global cost of living _ we'll work on the global cost of living crisis, real work to be investing _ living crisis, real work to be investing in public services. ——

bolt _ the white house calls the deaths of 46 people found in an abandoned lorry on the outskirts of the texan city of san antonio, as �*absolutely horrific and heartbreaking'. ghislaine maxwell is due to be sentenced in the next few hours for recruiting and grooming minors for herformer partner, paedophilejeffrey epstein. borisjohnson faces a row over increased defence spending as he heads to a nato summit likely to be dominated by the need to boost military resources to counter russia in ukraine. the odds of it being while —— a war in europe, have shortened almost as much as the timeline, so we must act. we cannot protect the british people and didn't make all our allies with transfer meeting —— translation strategies and glossy equipment. and coming up in sport we'll be live at wimbledon as 23—time grand slam champion serena williams prepares to go on centre court after a year off with injury.

hello, welcome to the programme. in the past hour, nicola sturgeon, the first minister of scotland has been outlining plans to msps in hollywood for a bill to set in motion a second referendum on scottish independence. it would take place on october the 19th next year, the question to be asked will be the same as the one in 2014, should scotland be an independent country? what nicola sturgeon said she would be writing to the premise to borisjohnson it to the premise to borisjohnson it to inform him of her plans. haifa to the premise to boris johnson it to inform him of her plans. now is the time for _ to inform him of her plans. now is the time for independence. i to inform him of her plans. now is i the time for independence. presiding officer, this parliament has a clear, democratic mandate to offer scotland that choice. uk government, regrettably, however, is refusing to

respect scottish democracy. that is why today's statement is necessary. the uk and scottish governments should be sitting down together, responsibly agreeing a process including a section of 30 order that allows the scottish people to decide. that would be the democratic way to proceed. it would be based on precedent and it would be the legal basis of a referendum beyond any doubt. that is why i am writing to the prime minister today to inform him of the content of this statement, and in that letter, will also make clear that i am ready and willing to negotiate the terms of a section 30 order with him. what i am not willing to do, what i will never do, is allow scottish democracy to be a prisoner of borisjohnson or any prime minister. irate be a prisoner of boris johnson or any prime minister.— be a prisoner of boris johnson or any prime minister. we speak to our olitical any prime minister. we speak to our

political correspondent. _ any prime minister. we speak to our political correspondent. we - any prime minister. we speak to our political correspondent. we now- any prime minister. we speak to our. political correspondent. we now know quite a bit more about nicola sturgeon's plans for a second independence referendum? $5 sturgeon's plans for a second independence referendum? as she has 'ust independence referendum? as she has just said what her plan _ independence referendum? as she has just said what her plan is, _ independence referendum? as she has just said what her plan is, the - just said what her plan is, the first idea of asking for the uk government to agree to another referendum, i think we can pretty much ruled that one out, boris johnson is very unlikely to budge on that, he has shown no sign that he wants to see another referendum, so thatis wants to see another referendum, so that is extremely unlikely. that seems to me that there is going to be a legal legal battle over this in the supreme court. we had the first minister stay the mac say she is publishing a bill, she said what she wants to be the question, the same as 2014, should scotland be an independent country? she has named the date, in october 2023 as well. but we did know that it was likely to end up in the supreme court, and what the first minister seems to do is getting on the front foot, and saying, i've asked my top law officer, lord advocate in scotland to refer this to the supreme court,

to refer this to the supreme court, to look at it so that we have an answer sooner rather than later. so the hope the scottish government has is that it will win in that case, that it has the right to hold that consultative referendum. the question is who fights in court, i'm certain there will be a legal battle of some sort, i think the uk government might be a bit reluctant right away to be seen to be in a legal battle, with the scottish government, but ultimately, someone is going to have to fight that in the supreme court. and it is untested. you will hear a lot of commentators down here, i think you will hear lots of mps all over the coming hours of westminster, saying, no way, it is illegal. ultimately, that will be a question for the supreme court to decide upon. remember, the scottish parliament does have control over elections, so i suspect the argument you will hear in court from scottish law officers is that that is within the competence of the scottish parliament and, because it is

consultative, non—binding, the constitutional but that is controlled by westminster, is not actually impacted. —— constitutional bit. another thing i found interesting, at the end, from the first minister, was something we have not heard from her before, the idea that she would use... using the next general election as a de facto referendum. in essence, saying to people, we cannot hold a referendum, so we are going to use a general election to ask you to vote for us if you want independence. i have been chatting to some people close to the first minister, and they are saying that that is exactly what it means. a victory in that general election, in scotland, as a mandate, not for another referendum, but a mandate for independence. i think that will cause a stir it down here as well. we will be hearing lots from opposition mps say this is all

nonsense, that this will not happen, that the referendum is absolutely not on the card, and it is not dia, the right idea at the moment, with the right idea at the moment, with the cost of living crisis, we had something similar from the the cost of living crisis, we had something similarfrom the prime minister this morning, but it does open the whole question of how a future general election in scotland could be fought, and s mps seeming to say now that it is prepared to use that as a mandate for independence.— use that as a mandate for inde endence. w ., ,. ., independence. nick, fascinating stuff. you have _ independence. nick, fascinating stuff. you have raised _ independence. nick, fascinating stuff. you have raised some i independence. nick, fascinating stuff. you have raised some in i stuff. you have raised some in dressing constitutional questions there. —— interesting. we'll try to answer them now. i can introduced our next guest, former uk government adviser on constitutional matters and the 2014 independence referendum. ciaran martyn. goad referendum. ciaran martyn. good afternoon to _ referendum. ciaran martyn. good afternoon to you. _ thank you for having me. a big moment, this afternoon, in a constitutional terms, so what do you make of this laid out by nicola sturgeon? i think there is a very interesting tactical move that is

part of a wider strategic move. the tactical move is the to a factoring broker to the secret district has been caught immediately. i think thatis been caught immediately. i think that is partly to put things beyond doubt, but also to reassure people who might have heard phrases like wildcat referendum or an official referendum, that the scottish government will only act lawfully. in effect, this should not be overlooked. what she has said is that if the bill is deemed beyond the powers of the scottish parliament, then the vote that she is planning on the bill will not go ahead. something that is really important. i think that is designed to reassure people that the scottish, will only act lawfully, constitutionally and peacefully. the strategic point that that links to is that i think they are trying to force the uk government and into the open. at the moment, basically, i think it is not unkind to characterise the uk's position as go away, come back and in 17 years, come back. if you want another

referendum, that is. what they're trying to is change the question, by what means can it scotland become independent, if any? what means can it scotland become independent, ifany? otherwise, or you are saying is not now. this bill the courts, in which case we will hold a vote which is deemed to be lawful, and to be lawful, and defy the uk government to ignore that vote. if it is deemed unlawful, the new move into some very interesting at language, if this is a voluntary union, a union of consent, essentially, she will be put into the peach, people, a question of giving westminster a message that scotland has the right to become independent, and the government has to say how, which is the aim of the announcement today.— announcement today. interesting i 'ust want announcement today. interesting i just want to _ announcement today. interesting i just want to put — announcement today. interesting i just want to put to _ announcement today. interesting i just want to put to use _ announcement today. interesting i just want to put to use of - announcement today. interesting i just want to put to use of the i just want to put to use of the points that nick eardleyjust raised. firstly on the idea of using a general election as a mandate for independence. why does that stand, constitutionally? —— ware. is

independence. why does that stand, constitutionally? -- ware.— constitutionally? -- ware. is 'ust a olitical constitutionally? -- ware. is 'ust a political manoeuvre. * constitutionally? -- ware. isjust a political manoeuvre. ultimately, i political manoeuvre. ultimately, independence is political process, that one of the week a point of the statement and this will come up in court, is his attempt between consulting and self—executing referendum, the first referendum. most, if not all referendums, including the brexit referendum, are not self—executing, nothing happens automatically, with as we saw with the parliamentary wranglings after brexit. ultimately, the only way an independent scottish state can come into being as with the consent of the uk government. how to do that is to political pressure, you try and bring political pressure to bear on a referendum and if you can't have that, that referendum, the news the next mechanism available more than me, they might say, is that westminster generally is quite good territory for the snp, they don't have to defend their record in

government in holyrood, they can campaign against the incumbent government, but because it is first past the post, they will win a majority of seats, as we saw in 2017, they don't have to have a clean sweep of 2015 to clean up the mandate. there is literally nothing on the other hand, any scottish government could do, to propel the united kingdom to break itself up. you would have to persuade westminster to take action and whether that is done through applying pressure through all by referendum, afterwards, through general election, pressure through a hollywood referendum, it is still just a democratic pressure and unless the westminster says, he was a clear, lawful path to gain independence, scotland does not become independent.— independence, scotland does not become independent. thank you, fascinatina become independent. thank you, fascinating and _ become independent. thank you, fascinating and i _ become independent. thank you, fascinating and i know _ become independent. thank you, fascinating and i know we - become independent. thank you, fascinating and i know we will. become independent. thank you, fascinating and i know we will be | fascinating and i know we will be hearing from you and your expertise again, as we pick up this issue. thank you for coming on for the moment. we speak now to the scottish conservative mp, good afternoon, to

you, andrew. we have heard nicola sta nton stanton extension standing up, saying there was a time for independence, she has a clear democratic mandate, do you agree? a clear democratic mandate, do you auree? ., ., �* ,, a clear democratic mandate, do you airee? ., ., �* ,, saying that now is the time for independence since the 19th of september 2014, independence since the 19th of september201li, but independence since the 19th of september 2014, but i do not believe now is the time for referendum, but i think it is the worst thing that we could embark upon right now. in other devices and damaging referendum, sewing uncertainty at the very same time, as we need to be working together to solve some of the big issues of the day, not least the big issues of the day, not least the cost of living situation which is what all elected representatives from anywhere in the united kingdom should be spending our time talking about... but should be spending our time talking about... �* ., , ., about... but voters in scotland voted for _ about... but voters in scotland voted for elected _ about... but voters in scotland i voted for elected representatives who promised to hold a referendum. that they will be the case, but the scottish government do not have the power to hold a referendum. nicola sturgeon has as much as admitted this today, when she said that she will have to the courts. quite

remarkable. we saw is that she admitted that she does not have the legal basis to hold this referendum, and even more so that she insinuated that should a court ruling go—ahead to scottish government, she use the next general election as a referendum to break scotland away from united kingdom. it is quite clear there was no plan in snp headquarters at all. our focus is a uk party, uk government committees dealing with the big issues of the day, working hard to resolve issues in the cost of living, people in the ukraine, and is doing a thing we can to support the scottish government and what they are trying to do, driving down health, national health waiting times, which help at their longest ever, investing in schools and education to make sure the education gap is closed, it was at the widest level ever, investing in transport infrastructure... these are all things that nicola sturgeon has responsible tli, are all things that nicola sturgeon has responsible ta, and i think people would prefer to be dealing with her. ijust do not think it is a pressing matterforjust now. but

a pressing matter for 'ust now. but her a pressing matter forjust now. but her argument was that she doesn't have the full levers of power to deal with them. she said she'll be writing to prime minister boris johnson but she is prepared to negotiate the terms of a referendum, so how do you think those negotiations will go? interesting, she said she _ negotiations will go? interesting, she said she was _ negotiations will go? interesting, she said she was writing - negotiations will go? interesting, she said she was writing to - negotiations will go? interesting, she said she was writing to the i she said she was writing to the primacy to alert him for what she said in parliament today. she did not say she was writing to him to request a section 30 order, which means she is not even attempted to go down that path. we believe now is not the time for an independence referendum. it is the worst thing that could be happening to scotland and the uk right now, another damaging referendum, sewing uncertainty, it would be the wrong thing for the security, people's jobs, it would be the wrong thing to embark upon this now. we should be doing is working together to support the british people is one of the toughest times we have had as a country, since 19115. toughest times we have had as a country, since 1945.— toughest times we have had as a country, since 1945. thank you, we must leave — country, since 1945. thank you, we must leave it _ country, since 1945. thank you, we must leave it there. _ ghislaine maxwell will be sentenced later for grooming teenagers who were then abused by her ex partner, paedophilejeffrey epstein. the 60—year—old daughter of the late

disgraced media tycoon, robert maxwell, could be jailed for a maximum of 55 years. i'm joined by our washington correspondent nomia iqbal. in an hourorso, in an hour or so, the courthouse, behind me here, in an hour or so, the sentencing will start, and she will be facing some of the victims that say that she was involved in their abuse. that say that she was involved in theirabuse. over that say that she was involved in their abuse. over the past 17 years, scores of women's health accuse the late jeffrey epstein... scores of women's health accuse the latejeffrey epstein... ghislaine maxwell has been really integral in that, as a son who lured them into set at the massages, on a jeffrey epstein, that then turned into the cycle of abuse they were trapped in four years. they will be giving their victim impact statements. the trial itself which took place six months ago in the court behind me involved just for women who were

abused as teenage girls between 1994 and 2004. thejudge has said abused as teenage girls between 1994 and 2004. the judge has said that she will hear up to six women, their testimonies, during the sentencing, and in terms of the sentencing could be cool we know that the federal authorities set prosecutors say that they once had to face up to 55 years injail. she is at they once had to face up to 55 years in jail. she is at 60 they once had to face up to 55 years injail. she is at 60 years old, so she will be spending the rest of her life behind bars if that is the case, but her defence has called for her to be given no more than five and a quarter years, and they say thatis and a quarter years, and they say that is because she did not do anything wrong, they have maintained this argument throughout, that she isjust merely being this argument throughout, that she is just merely being made a scapegoat forjeffrey epstein's kind, because he is no longer alive. he died three years ago in a suicide, while awaiting his own at trial. she has been injailfor the past two years, rested by the fbi here in america, and they also say that she suffered a bad childhood, she was neglected, she was raised by

a dominating, bullying father, robert maxwell, that left her vulnerable to be exploited by jeffrey x seen. that is their argument. thejudge in the end, she did not here yet arguments from the prosecutors... but is up to her to do so. —— jeffrey epstein. thank you, what we will be back with you to hear about the update. we start in texas where the bodies of 60 people have been found in an abandoned truck. 16 survivors, including children, are in hospital in the city of san antonio suffering from heat exhaustion. they were trapped in the vehicle with no signs of water or cooling, during a heatwave in texas. police have taken three people into custody. it's one of the deadliest cases of human smuggling across the us border with mexico. the white house described the deaths as horrific and heartbreaking.

dozens of emergency vehicles tried to get to the abandoned lorry, but many inside had already died. a fire official said 16 people, including four children, had also been taken to hospital. the patients that we saw were hot to the touch. they were suffering from heat stroke, heat exhaustion. no signs of water in the vehicle. it was a refrigerated tractor trailer, but there was no visible working ac unit on that rig. we're not supposed to open up a truck and see stacks of bodies in there. none of us come to work imagining that. the lorry was found in san antonio, texas, more than 150 miles from the border between the united states and mexico. the victims are thought to have been migrants trying to get into the usa. a worker who works in one of the buildings up here behind me heard a cry for help, came out

to investigate, found a trailer with the doors partially open, opened them up to take a look and found a number of deceased individuals inside. locals here are shocked that people would be left to die in the heat. trailers like that without ac, it's going to get at least... if it's100 outside, it's going to be about 125 degrees inside without water, without air, with nothing. it's ridiculous. i just... ijust can't understand how drivers can do that. but san antonio is a major transit route for people smugglers, and it's a much disputed issue. three people are now being held in custody and the investigation has been handed over to federal agents. richard galpin, bbc news.

a 29—year—old man is being held on suspicion of murdering a woman in east london. zara aleena, who was 35, was attacked while she walked through ilford in the early hours of sunday morning. the met police believe she was the victim of what it called an "opportunist stranger attack". joining me now is jas athwal, leader of redbridge council. is your reaction to what has there? utter disbelief. i think the void that has been left behind by this young lady's tragic murder, the fact that she is a carer for her grandmother, the fact that she just enjoyed a night out and she had been literally 200 yards from home. it's just too dramatic to even taking at this stage. just too dramatic to even taking at this staue. ~ . .., just too dramatic to even taking at this staue. ~ . .. , just too dramatic to even taking at this staue. ~ ., .. , ., just too dramatic to even taking at this stare, . ., , ., . ., this stage. what can be done? what can ou do this stage. what can be done? what can you do to _ this stage. what can be done? what can you do to try _ this stage. what can be done? what can you do to try and _ this stage. what can be done? what can you do to try and reassure - can you do to try and reassure people who are feeling particularly vulnerable? i

people who are feeling particularly vulnerable? ~ . people who are feeling particularly vulnerable?— vulnerable? i think there are lots of thins vulnerable? i think there are lots of things that _ vulnerable? i think there are lots of things that we _ vulnerable? i think there are lots of things that we are _ vulnerable? i think there are lots of things that we are already - vulnerable? i think there are lots i of things that we are already doing, and certainly, we are reassessing. things like we have turned purple of the lights, the streetlights to their maximum so that it gives us their maximum so that it gives us the maximum visibility, we have also secured additional resources from the metropolitan police, and they will be there at least for the next few weeks. i know only about three months ago, we announced an extra 25 police officers that we secured, and we are looking at our enforcement hubs, which was something we launched last year, to make sure that these are in the community, in the areas which need them the most. of the areas which need them the most. of course, we have even launched our own challenger vehicle which can actually pick up images from the two miles away. we have done it women's safety works, actually come along this road. we are trying to see things from the perspective of a

woman. but at the end of the day, we have got to look at how we can end that culture of abuse and harassment. i think it is the male behaviour that we have got to look at, not the female behaviour. i was really sad yesterday when we were asking people, women are to be vigilant, actually, they should go about their business the way they feel. and what we as men have to do is to really look at what we are doing. this culture that we need to remove, this is what we need to remove, this is what we need to remove, we had to be honest and have that conversation as we go forward, but certainly, you know, listening to residents, making sure that we have a physical police presence, enforcement presence, making sure that council offices around there, reassuring the public, as we have been doing comedy and slight, since this tragedy struck, and we will continue to do so. well into the future, making sure that some sort of normality returns. so what is

quite a normally quiet residential area. ~ . ., ., , hazara, saying she was the nicest person, you could ever meet, she lit up person, you could ever meet, she lit up the whole room. —— zara. the up the whole room. -- zara. the unimaginable — up the whole room. —— zara. tue; unimaginable pain and up the whole room. —— zara. the: unimaginable pain and that up the whole room. —— zara. tta: unimaginable pain and that her family must be going through. we couldn't even possibly do it justice. i think anybody who has got daughters, i came home and just gave all my children a hug because it is one of those traumatic moments in your life that you will never forget. the empathy that people are showing in redbridge, neighbours are coming together, making sure that we are there for each other, helping at are there for each other, helping at a time that is certainly very traumatic for the entire community. thank you very much for coming on as talking to us this afternoon. thank

ou. the defence secretary has said britain's spending on defence has to be "threat driven" — and that if the threat level increases, ministers should consider greater investment in the military. in a speech in london, ben wallace warned that the post—cold war "peace dividend" — in which western governments were able to spend less on defence — was now "over". i've always said that as a threat changes so must the funding. if government historically responded every time the nhs had had a winter crisis, so must they when a threat to the security that underpinned a way of life increases. sometimes it is not about what dividends you can take out but what investment in people can put in. for too long, defence has lived on a defence to my diet of smoke and mirrors, fancy efficiency savings, one of the last few years, the threats up from state have started to increase. right now, russia is the most direct and pressing threats to europe, to our alleys and to these shores. i'm serious when i say

that there is a great very real danger that russia will lash out against a wider europe and in these days of long—range missiles and stealth, distance is no protection. as the chief of general staff so correctly pointed out this morning, the has changed. as the prime minister and his fellow leaders are in madrid today, addressing madrid today, so must our response. russia is not our only problem. china, ready to challenge its system of democracy, terrorism on the march across africa, iranians nuclear ambitions as yet ends is a different result. the threat is growing, global, and not contain. now it's time to signal that that peace dividend is over and investment is to continue to grow before it becomes too late to address an insurgent threat, it is time to be ready and relevant. leaders of the g7 industrialised nation say they will take further measures to stop russia profiting from its roar of oppression against

ukraine. at the end of the summit in bavaria, the german chancellor said that president putin must not win, and the g7 would stand together for the long run. a diplomatic focus has now been shifted to madrid, the leaders of the west military alliance, nato, our meeting. our correspondent is in madrid. no doubt of what is top of them are gender, butjust give us a flavour of some of the topics they will be tackling. the leaders meeting here are trying to redefine at the entire strategic direction of the nato alliance, what is called the strategic concept, thatis is called the strategic concept, that is in effect the guidelines for the north atlantic military alliance to move forward in the next decade because the last one that was set in 2010 talked about how the chance no —— conventional war in europe was a low, and the need for a strategic partnership with russia. how the world has changed in the last 12

years. that is why there is this patient now to completely change the focus of the nato alliance, seeing russia of course as the principal threat, and responding to that threat, and responding to that threat, with massively increased manpower and firepower, that the rapid reaction force of nato would be increased more than a sevenfold from a 40,000 to more than 300,000 troops ready to spring into action to defend nato's vulnerable eastern flank, particularly baltic countries like latvia, lithuania and estonia, which may feel under fire from russia. there will be an increase in troops there to move from in two divisions in some places, more troops placed in those countries. also, there will be a big push to try to break the deadlock on the membership aspirations of sweden and finland, both countries applied recently for membership to nato, but both have been blocked by turkey, nato member which is that both countries harbour what they call kurdish terrorists. there is a meeting this evening between the

turkish, swedish, finnish leaders, to try to break that impasse, but president adam one is standing firm currently. —— president macron. the? currently. -- president macron. they stand at the — currently. -- president macron. they stand at the time _ currently. -- president macron. they stand at the time that _ currently. —— president macron. they stand at the time that would be made in madrid, if not slightly before. —— president erdogan. is there a pessimism that now that perhaps everyone's a little bit too overconfident? t everyone's a little bit too overconfident?— everyone's a little bit too overconfident? .. , ., ., overconfident? i can tell you that there is a sense _ overconfident? i can tell you that there is a sense of _ overconfident? i can tell you that there is a sense of frustration - overconfident? i can tell you that i there is a sense of frustration from finland and sweden, which were said to have got a preapprovalfrom finland and sweden, which were said to have got a preapproval from all 30 members, months ago, when they werejust thinking about 30 members, months ago, when they were just thinking about nato membership, only forturkey were just thinking about nato membership, only for turkey too, they say, raise objections later, further down the line, and that has scuppered, as you say, the hopes that both countries memberships would be approved here in madrid, but it is now more realistic, i think, that there will be more

talking and more negotiations going down further into the weeks and months ahead, potentially, to try and move president erdogan. critics of turkey say that mr erdogan is using this awful domestic political consumption, to try to bolster his nationalist support back into her cheek —— inc in turkey, which faces elections next year, real actions, the economy in turkey is terrible, with an inflation rate of 75%, so he needs critics say, some kind of enemy, whipping boy to try to bolster support. enemy, whipping boy to try to bolstersupport. he enemy, whipping boy to try to bolster support. he and his government say that that is absolute rubbish, that turkey has a right to raise its legitimate concerns that defendant and sweden are giving solace and welcoming in terrorists as turkey puts it, so at the moment, two sides of a part to fight far apart. we have to see if this meeting moves things forward, but we hope that this will be approved in

madrid, but that hope is fading. a slow—moving area of low pressure is going to be bringing unsettled weather conditions for the rest of this week. it is rain showers every day. today, we have a main band of rain pushing into western areas scotland, across wales, western wear is —— western areas of england. the rain is easy to sunshine and showers for northern ireland, but a brisk south—westerly wind gusting at around 30—40 miles per hourfor some. southern eastern england, staying dry, pleasant spells of sunshine, temperatures close to average. tonight, the band of rain pushes eastwards across england, some showers working into western areas, it will be breezy and not cold. 12—14 . areas, it will be breezy and not cold. 12—14. tomorrow, the band of rain clears away from eastern england quickly in the morning, sunshine and showers follow, some will be happy with hail and thunder mixed in. the winds are lighter, some of sunshine comes out, perhaps

feeling a little more pleasant. highest temperatures in the best of the sunshine in the east. hello. this is bbc news. i'm lewis vaughanjones and these are the headlines... scotland's first minister nicola sturgeon sets out her plans to hold a second referendum on independence next october arguing the country is being held back by westminster. but the scottish conservative leader calls it a "pretend referendum." the white house calls the deaths of 46 people found in an abandoned lorry on the outskirts of the texan city of san antonio, as "absolutely horrific and heartbreaking." ghislaine maxwell is due to be sentenced in the next few hours for recruiting and grooming minors for herformer partner, paedophilejeffrey epstein.

borisjohnson faces a row over increased defence spending as he heads to a nato summit likely to be dominated by the need to boost military resources to counter russia in ukraine. and in sport injust a moment we'll be live at wimbledon as 23—time grand slam champion serena williams prepares to go on centre court after a year off with injury. sport now and a full round up from the bbc sport centre. we have been glued to our screens here. not only has the women's world number one been in action but on court three britain's paul gubb has been battling it out with nick kygrios. this is the latest. pauljubb went level with nick kyrgios which has taken it to a deciding set. kygrios has looked quite rattled but you can see his experience coming through in the final set. pauljubb is not

going anywhere, though. kygrios is leading 5—3 but there is a battle continuing. you can follow this match on the iplayer and on the bbc website. a great start for britain's ryan peniston on his debut as he overcame henri laaksonen in straight sets in the first round. the wildcard, ranked 135th, won 6—4 6—3 6—2 against the swiss who is ranked world number 95. british wild card jay clarke was beaten by american christian harrison in a match that had to be halted in the third set yesterday because of bad light. and bad news too for another wild card, katie swan. she lost in three sets to ukraine's marta kostyuk. she took a bit of a tumble in the first set. complaining that the surface was slippery. she went on to lose

the next two 6—4, 6—4. it's a stellar line—up over on centre court. rafa nadal is on. serena willams is back from injury. earlier world number one iga swiatek went into the record books in style as she breezed into the second round. she beat croatia's jana fett 6—0, 6—3 in what is her 36th win in a row. a run that goes back to february. swiatek�*s amazing streak, which goes back to february and has seen her win sixtournaments, means it is the longest winning streak of the 21st century, overtaking venus willams' record set in 2000. so rafa nadaljust getting underway on centre court. he's facing francisco cerundolo

making his return from injury — he was a doubt for this tournament but he's still on track for the calendar grand slam. england white—ball captain eoin morgan has confirmed he is retiring from international cricket. morgan led england to a famous world cup victory against new zealand in 2019 when his side won after a dramatic super over. he made his odi debut in 2006 and has played 248 times, scoring 14 centuries at an avergae ofjust under 40. jos buttler is among the favourites to replace him. you know, you wake up and you know, at the moment came for me in amsterdam. it's a culmination of a lot of things. that over the course of my international career which has been a long time, i'vejust of my international career which has been a long time, i've just come to the end. i'm glad i was in a sound enough space to understand that

feeling and be well aware of what it meant and also what it means both for the england white ball teams that i've led until now and my personal life. england women face south africa in day two of the one—off test at taunton this afternoon. england looked to be in a bit of trouble. they didn't get off to the best start with heather knight run out and since then south africa have been on top. they've just lost a fifth wicket. nat sciver has got her half century, though. formula 1 has condemned three—time world champion nelson piquet for using racially abusive language about lewis hamilton. abusive language the 69—year—old brazilian, who won the world title in 1981, '83 and '87 used a racially offensive term

in referring to hamilton on a brazilian podcast. the seven time world champion has responeded on social media saying... that's all the sport for now. heather watson is an action at the moment. you can follow that on the bbc sport website. more later. let's get more now on that announcement by scotland's first minister nicola sturgeon that she's making plans for another independence vote to be held in october next year. i'm joined now by the former chief executive of the pro independence yes scotland campaign during the 2014 referendum,

blairjenkins. good afternoon. we heard the announcement from nicola sturgeon and we heard the response of the scottish conservatives, douglas ross talking about the price scotland pays for the sturgeon's continued obsession with another referendum. that is the kind of nonsensical thing douglas ross is prone to saying and the truth is there is a very clear democratic mandate which the scottish government has to hold a new independence referendum. i know if us and the rest of the uk will not necessarily pay close attention to scottish politics but the snp victory last year was astounding, getting 48% of the vote —— | astounding, getting 48% of the vote —— i know the rest of the viewers in the rest of the uk. this is something no party has achieved in the uk general election since before the uk general election since before the second world war. they won by miles and miles. you the second world war. they won by miles and miles.— the second world war. they won by

miles and miles. you mention 48% and ou know miles and miles. you mention 48% and you know what — miles and miles. you mention 48% and you know what is _ miles and miles. you mention 48% and you know what is coming, _ miles and miles. you mention 48% and you know what is coming, people - miles and miles. you mention 48% and you know what is coming, people will. you know what is coming, people will argue that is not over 50%. that you know what is coming, people will argue that is not over 50%.— argue that is not over 50%. that is argue that is not over 50%. that is a ludicrous — argue that is not over 50%. that is a ludicrous point. _ argue that is not over 50%. that is a ludicrous point. boris _ argue that is not over 50%. that is a ludicrous point. boris johnson i argue that is not over 50%. that is. a ludicrous point. boris johnson and a ludicrous point. borisjohnson and the conservatives went ahead with brexit having won an election with 37% of the vote. you don't need more than 50% of the vote to win an election, that happens in almost no country. the biggest party put forward a manifesto, and so it is clear there is a majority in the scottish parliament for the referendum and there is a clear mandate from the election, nicola sturgeon achieved a higher share of the vote than either tony blair or margaret thatcher achieved in their heyday, and i know most people in the uk would prefer that scotland did not become independent but most people in the uk are fair—minded and they respect democracy. it would be a mistake morally and politically and intellectually and internationally for the uk government to obstruct democracy and to stand in the wake of the outcome of a fair and free election that

there must be a new independence referendum in scotland if the uk is serious about being a democracy. this is going to go to the courts, so what did you make of that as a political tactic?— political tactic? what the first minister is — political tactic? what the first minister is trying _ political tactic? what the first minister is trying to _ political tactic? what the first minister is trying to do, i political tactic? what the first minister is trying to do, and i political tactic? what the first minister is trying to do, and it political tactic? what the first - minister is trying to do, and it was interesting, very tightly guarded statement, no one knew what was going to be said, and there's a lot in there to digest and think about. the scottish government are trying to get a firm handle on what is now the democratic legally sound mechanism by which scotland can express its choice, the kind of future we want to have, want to be an independent country or state as part of the uk. we have a decision to make, these are different paths, we need a clear democratic route for doing this and what is not acceptable, i hope and believe that fair—minded people will agree with is, what is not acceptable is a westminster government which has no

credibility and very little support, simply saying, it doesn't matter what you think you have got to stay in the uk whatever the views of the people in scotland are, and that is not the basis that anyone has ever understood about the uk and scotland, it is a voluntary union and if we wish to vote to leave that is acceptable and i think all previous british prime ministers understand that. do previous british prime ministers understand that.— previous british prime ministers understand that. do you wish that before the last _ understand that. do you wish that before the last independence i before the last independence referendum that the snp and people had not said this is a once in a generation referendum? a once—in—a—lifetime opportunity? well, at the time that was a reasonable thing to say, because you would not have these all that often but brexit changed everything, it fundamentally changed us, uk has changed, we have had and boris johnson, everything we have had in the last seven, eight years, so what is already, voters have heard the line about what the snp said in 2014

and they have given this the wait they think it deserves, it has been said by opponents of independence for the last seven years, it is well understood by voters and they have looked at it and said, ok, they did say that in 2014 but brexit has changed everything and we want a new referendum. this is up to the people. last year in scotland the people. last year in scotland the people decide they wanted a new referendum and if democracy means anything in the uk than a moment of truth is coming. is the uk a democracy?— truth is coming. is the uk a democra ? �* . . ~ , ., ., democracy? blairjenkins, thanks for 'oinin: us. western leaders have described russia's missile attack on a busy shopping centre in central ukraine yesterday as a "war crime". ukrainian officials say at least 18 people were killed and 59 others injured in the attack in the city of kremenchuk, around 80 miles from russian occupied territory. emergency crews are still searching for survivors. our ukraine correspondent, joe inwood, reports from kyiv.

rescue soon turned into recovery. late into the night, firefighters searched through the smouldering wreckage of the complex, reduced to a twisted mass of metal by at least one russian missile. they were searching for bodies, victims of one of the most devastating attacks of the war. it happened just before 4pm yesterday, a shopping centre engulfed in flames. passers by turned into paramedics. the injured were taken to local hospitals, still in shock at what they had witnessed. translation: i felt - like i was flying somewhere. i was thrown head first. splinters, shrapnel, something else was hitting me. the whole place was collapsing, exploding. then i landed on the floor, and i don't know if i was conscious or unconscious. people, burned people.

some were covered in blood. one girl fell down and we pulled her along. she kept falling but we tried to help. it's not known how many people were inside when the fire started, but president zelensky put the figure at around 1,000. centres have been set up to register the missing. ukraine and its people are exhausted by this war. translation: why are you tormenting us? i what have we done to you? all this propaganda, this is not only putin. please, bear in mind this is not only putin, it is the russian nation, it has been going on for years and years. russia has denied targeting the shopping centre, instead claiming it struck a nearby warehouse that was storing western supplied weapons and ammunition. it also claimed the shopping centre was closed at the time of the attack.

as the clear—up operation continues, that will be difficult to hear for the residents of this central ukrainian city, who have seen and now felt the cost of russia's war. joe inwood, bbc news, kyiv. the population of england and wales has grown by 6% in a decade — rising to a record 59 million — according to the results of the 2021 census. the survey — which is carried out every ten years — asks people about themselves, their household, and their home — to build a detailed snapshot of society. earlier i spoke to our home editor — mark easton — who broke the numbers down for us. the census is who was where on march 21, sunday, last year. it is very detailed, as you say, 97% of all households filled it out, so we have a really good idea of actually what the population was that day, and in england, i can tell you, the figure from the census is 56,489,800.

interestingly, slightly lower than expectations because the ons projections, the office for national statistics, obviously try and do their best guess of what the population is, but they thought it would be about 57 million, so 50,000 people are missing! in wales, the figure is 3 million, 170,500, people thought it would be about 3.2. the census of northern ireland, that is 1.9 million. our best estimate of scotland's population, because they are having their census a year later than the rest of the uk, the best we have for that, is 5.4 million, giving a uk total of 66,966,400. very close to 67 million. people thought that would be a bit higher, but that matters because these numbers are used

to decide how much money goes to local authorities, schools, gp services and that kind of thing. so some people will be scratching their heads. what about area by area? it's interesting, some of the places might be a bit worried, those that have seen their populations fall in the last ten years. the one i would pick out, kensington and chelsea, the richest local authority in the country, according to the census, according to this census, saw its population fall by almost 10%. now, how, why? westminster saw its population fall by 7%. one theory is that those people who live there, amongst the wealthiest of the country, in the middle of the pandemic, maybe theyjust went to their second or third home. and they weren't in london on march 21 last year. they were somewhere else.

the implications of that are quite serious for those boroughs because if it is not a true reflection of the population in normal times as it were, that could have a big funding implications. the other things that we know from these figures, we know that the increase in population was the largest in the east of england, went up just over 8%. wales saw an increase of only 1.4%. the oldest local authority in the country is north norfolk, where more than one third of the population, one in three, are over 65. a woman is suing a rape crisis centre in brighton forfailing to provide female—only support meetings and making group sessions trans inclusive. she's told the bbc she's fighting for women's rights and is bringing a case under the equality act. the charity which runs the service denies it's breaking the law with its trans inclusive policy. our home affairs correspondent, june kelly, reports. i think my case is

about women's rights. i think women have sex—based rights and protections, and these are under threat at the moment from trans activism. the words of the woman bringing this legal case against her local rape crisis centre in brighton. she says she started going to group meetings here because she was sexually abused as a child, and then, when she was in her 20s, she was raped. how did you find those initial meetings? really, really supportive and helpful. it was all women. i had a support network, which is the first time i had felt that since the abuse happened and i was raped. legally, she has to remain anonymous, and so she is using the pseudonym sarah, and we've had her words re—voiced. you go to another session and, just talk us through what happened. there was someone in that group that appeared to be male. i assumed this person was trans. i was a bit taken aback. why was it so difficult for you to have somebody in that

group who is a trans woman? i have been raped by a man. i have been sexually abused by men, and ijust don't necessarily trust that men are who they say they are. the charity survivors network, which runs the rape crisis centre in brighton, declined our request for an interview because it said it hadn't yet received details of the legal claim from sarah's lawyers. but in a statement, it told us... sarah denies she is transphobic. i think it's brilliant that they are so openly supportive to the transgender community but,

for me, personally, a mixed—sex space doesn't work. i think having one additional group for women who were born female would be the obvious solution. sarah says there are no other single—sex services in brighton. meanwhile, the rape crisis centre says it wants to reassure all survivors that it is still there for them. june kelly, bbc news. how much time have you spent scrolling on your phone so far today? and how many hours will it be by the time you go to bed tonight? the fact that so many of us spend so much time on our mobiles means some are swapping smart phones for so—called "dumb" ones, which have fewer distractions. even the man who helped to invent the very first mobile believes his creation is now out of control. jayne mccubbin has been talking to him. this is what the very first mobile phone looked like. as you can see, it's huge. this is martin cooper,

the man who helped to invent the very first mobile phone. do you know how many people have a mobile phone right now on earth? and, way back when, could you ever imagine it would be that prolific? of course, we knew. but what we did not anticipate is that you are going to have access to the internet, a digital camera, this powerful computer in your phone, because none of those things existed. today, more than 6.5 billion people own a mobile. almost 84% of the world's population. but let's stop and ask, how we are all doing with that? how long do you think you spend on your phone every day? five or six hours. most of the day, to be honest. screen time. i'm going to get caught now. daily average five hours, 29 minutes. six hours 25 minutes. i feel like that is probably average. what are you looking at all day? cats and food. my name is dulcie cowling and i gave up my smartphone

because it was too addictive. this is what dulcie did. remember these? she ditched her smartphone and switched to an old—style dumb phone. i would recommend it. i think there are nicer things to spend your time on. but with the old dumb phone 3g network being switched off in 2033, tech entrepreneurs are updating martin cooper's original idea. my name is kai. i co—founded light phone in brooklyn, new york. what we are creating is similar to a hammer or screwdriver, right? you use it and then you put it back. they disappear. it's not like you use your hammer and swipe your hammer for two hours for entertainment. suddenly, some social media has just gotten impossible. they've taken over some people's lives. i would guess that i use my mobile phone less than 5% of my time. so what would you say to anybody, like myself, who are upwards of five hours? do you really?

you really spend five hours a day? i'd say, jayne, get a life! laughter are you ready for a new ear—worm? the bbc has chosen the official track for its commonwealth games coverage. and it's rather catchy. "it's a brum ting" — by the friendly fire band — is also on a new album of music which celebrates the city of birmingham. ben sidwell has the story. # it's a brum ting, it's a brum ting i # it's a brum ting, it's a brum ting #.i a musical love letter to birmingham. friendly fire band's it's a brum ting is one of 11 tracks that have been recorded by an eclectic mix of artists to celebrate the city they call home. it's a song you will be hearing an awful lot of during the commonwealth games, as it's the music the bbc have decided to use across all their coverage. you kind of hear different people talk about, you know, they win a gold medal, or win a world cup, the feeling that they have,

and it's kind of the same kind of feeling, you know, that you have something that a lot of people are going to hear, and hopefully like, you know, it's going to be played to millions of people all over the world. you couldn't ask for more. it really is an honour and a pleasure, and i feel humbled to be part of it. let's go on a musical touraround birmingham. on record, as the album is called, was the idea ofjez collins, the founder of the birmingham music archive, and has been created as part of the birmingham 2022 festival. so, it'sjazz, rock, hip—hop, rap, grime, whatever it might be, and the idea, really, i suppose, was just to say, actually, birmingham is a city of music, and it is a music city, and we wanted to record these songs, these artists, and capture them on record just to celebrate this brilliant city. and i think we've done that. this double grammy award winner is another artist on the album. born in nigeria, the jazz musician now calls

birmingham home along with his wife kate and named his son after the road where they live. it is an honour and privilege to be part of history. i am glad i have got my name into it among great musicians and artists. great historians. the album also introduces new and upcoming artists. i am super happy and super excited. i am also happy to kind of be representing disabled artists. cos i live with an invisible illness and sometimes i do need a walking stick, sometimes i don't. and ijust felt happy to be able to express and represent disabled people in birmingham. a musical celebration of the city, this album really is a brum ting. # it's a brum ting.# now it's time for a look at the weather with chris fawkes.

hello again. we're just going to have a quick look at what's going on across central and eastern europe, where temperatures are well above average, highs up to about 44 degrees across parts of southern italy. the high temperatures here, the red colours are all to do with a big ridge in the jet stream that is a very slow moving feature. unfortunately for us, that feature is going to trap this trough, this u—bend over the uk. and what that does is it traps this area of low pressure. in fact, the same area of low will be with us really for the whole of this week. so it is going to be quite unsettled for the next few days with rain or showers. now, today, we've seen outbreaks of rain move into many western areas and it's been quite heavy at times for western scotland with some rather murky conditions here along with that low cloud. the other feature of the weather is it's quite a windy day with the winds coming in from the south west, gusts into the 30s, even 40s of miles an hour. but across central and eastern england, perhaps parts

of eastern scotland, at least there is something a little bit drier and brighter here and the rain eases to showers in northern ireland through the afternoon as well, so where the sunshine pops out, not feeling too bad, 22, 23 degrees in the highest temperatures. but for the western areas, generally, temperatures a bit below par. now, overnight tonight, our band of rain will slowly push its way eastwards across parts of england. again, there'll be some heavy bursts mixed in with that for a time. temperatures generally double figures, about 12 to 14 degrees celsius. and then tomorrow, this band of rain should clear out of the way quite quickly. and broadly speaking, tomorrow is a day of sunshine and showers. now, some of the showers will turn heavy and thundery. there'll be some particularly slow moving ones lining up across the peninsula down towards the south west of england, again, where we see some sunny spells breakthrough, 22, 23 degrees, not feeling too bad in the sunshine. the winds a little bit lighter as well. now, it could be some rain across eastern england overnight. that will tend to clear as we head into thursday and then thursday, another day of sunshine and showers.

again, the showers widespread. there'll be some heavy and thundery ones, perhaps a bit of hail mixed in and temperatures still across western areas, upper teens at best, 20 to 23 degrees in the warm spots across the east. however, as we get towards the weekend and into next week, pressure starts to rise. so we lose those showers. there'll be more in the way of sunshine and it will start to get a bit warmer as well with temperatures approaching the mid 20s for some of you.

this is bbc news. i'm lewis vaughanjones and these are the latest headlines: scotland's first minister nicola sturgeon sets out her plans to hold a second referendum on independence next october arguing the country is being held back by westminster. but the scottish conservative leader calls it a "pretend referendum. now is the time, at this critical moment in history, to debate and decide the future of our country. now is the time to get scotland on the right path, the path chosen by those who live here. we will not play her games, we will not play _ we will not play her games, we will not play roles in a tense game, when there _ not play roles in a tense game, when there is_ not play roles in a tense game, when there is real— not play roles in a tense game, when there is real work to be done, real work_ there is real work to be done, real work on _ there is real work to be done, real work on the — there is real work to be done, real work on the cost of living crisis, real_ work on the cost of living crisis, real work— work on the cost of living crisis, real work to _ work on the cost of living crisis, real work to invest in public services _ the white house calls the deaths of 46 people found in an abandoned

lorry on the outskirts of the texan city of san antonio, as 'absolutely horrific and heartbreaking'. ghislaine maxwell is due to be sentenced in the next few hours for recruiting and grooming minors for herformer partner, paedophilejeffrey epstein. borisjohnson faces a row over increased defence spending as he heads to a nato summit likely to be dominated by the need to boost military resources to counter russia in ukraine. the odds of it being a war in europe have shortened almost as much as the timeline, so we must act. we cannot protect the british people or our allies with transformation strategies and glossy equipment. and coming up in sport we'll be live at wimbledon as 23—time grand slam champion serena williams prepares to go on centre court after a year off with injury.

hello, welcome to the programme. the premise of borisjohnson says it is not a time for another referendum on scottish independence. downing street has just said in the last few minutes it is and it is after death mcguinness after the plans have been out loud dishing out 92 msps to set a second referendum in motion. the first minister of scotland, nicola sturgeon wanted to take place on october 19 next year, with the question the same as the one in 2014, should scotland be an independent country? she has said she will be writing tojohnson, to inform him of her plans. now is the time for independence. this parliament has a clear democratic mandate to offer scotland that choice. the uk government, regrettably, however, is refusing to

respect scottish democracy. that is why today's statement is necessary. the uk and scottish governments should be sitting down together, responsibly agreeing a process, including a section 30 order which allows the scottish people to decide. that would be the democratic way to proceed. it would be based on precedent. it would be putting the legal basis of a referendum beyond any doubt. that is why i am... that is why i'm writing to the prime minister. i'm also ready and willing to negotiate the terms of section 30 order with him. the presiding officer, what i'm not willing to do, what i will never do, is in our scottish democracy to be a prisoner of borisjohnson or any prime minister. of boris johnson or any prime

minister. ,, _ , minister. downing street says the details of the _ minister. downing street says the details of the proposal— minister. downing street says the details of the proposal will- minister. downing street says the details of the proposal will be i details of the proposal will be carefully studied and it will be for the supreme court to consider. speaking just after the first minister, the scottish conservative leader, douglas ross said, that he won't play nicola sturgeon's games, or take part in a pretend poll. —— in what he calls a pretend poll. nicola sturgeon is at it all over again. her eye is off the ball once more. the real priorities of people across scotland are on the back burner. instead, the first minister is putting her plans to divide scotland front and centre. nicola sturgeon has shown again today that the snp's selfish obsession with another divisive referendum is always their top priority. let's talk to our scotland correspondent lorna gordon who's in edinburgh. hello. of course, we have long known this was nicola sturgeon same stuff we now have a lot more detail on the

actual plan. —— nicola sturgeon's aim. b. actual plan. -- nicola sturgeon's aim. �* ., ., ., actual plan. -- nicola sturgeon's aim. ., ., ., ., ., :: aim. a lot more detail and that 20 minute statement _ aim. a lot more detail and that 20 minute statement that _ aim. a lot more detail and that 20 minute statement that she - aim. a lot more detail and that 20 minute statement that she made l aim. a lot more detail and that 20. minute statement that she made to the scottish parliament, just over an hour ago. we found out the question, that she would like to pose, should scotland be an independent country? that was the same is back in 2014. we know the preferred date, 19th of october 2023, and we know the three paths that she sees to holding at this second referendum. she says the legality underpinned everything she said today, as a matter of principle and a practical reality. that is because she needs any referendum result to be recognised internationally. the first path that she sees towards holding a referendum is through what is known as a section 30 order. it sounds very legal, but it is a mechanism for a tempe transfer of power from the uk government to the government up the uk government to the government up here, in order to be able to hold a referendum. the uk government,

though, is not minded to grant such an order, so the second part is that nicola sturgeon asked the lord advocate, scholar�*s most senior legal officer, the possibility of taking this to the supreme court, and thejudges there taking this to the supreme court, and the judges there would establish whether it was in the scottish government's authority to hold the vote. the lord advocate agreed to do that and has lodged papers at their —— lodge papers there this afternoon. the third path was that if the supreme court minded not to agree with the lord advocate's motion, that they would find a single issue next general election on that of independence, a de facto referendum on independence, if you like. three pathways to holding another referendum, as nicola sturgeon would stay here. of course,

if it was to come to the next general election, we are talking about possibly a two and a half year referendum campaign there because the next general election could be in january 2025 at the latest, so if that ends up being the past, it could be 2.5 years of this fight over whether scotland should or should not be an independent country is played out. even if it were to be interpreted that the next general election result fell in favour of scotland becoming an independent region, it would be an interpretation of what the majority might mean, a majority of mps, would it be an input does make a majority of those who voted? the actual electorate? how you interpret that would be dependent on where you fall in this argument, which side of the divide you are on, but even if there

were to be a majority as a next general election, in favour of scotland becoming an independent country, of course, it would still be up to the uk government then to agree to any negotiations. we have had some responses afternoon from opposition parties here at holyrood, douglas ross, the leader of the scottish conservative says this is becoming a do nothing parliament, obsessed with another parliament. scottish liberal democrats are calling it an appalling waste of energy and focus. let me just check my notes here as well. we are just getting some reports from downing street, the official spokesman their speaking to journalists earlier so that they would carefully study the details of nicola sturgeon's proposals to hold a referendum on scottish independence in october 2023, and they said the uk government's position on this remains unchanged, and that both the uk government and the scottish government's priorities should be working together with the relentless focus on the issues that they say,

no matter to people, up and down the country, that they would study the details of the proposal, however, and the supreme court, as we no, will consider the lord advocate's referral. most of the comments within the last few minutes, coming from downing street. asked about the idea of the next general election, becoming a de facto referendum, is the first minister has suggested, the first minister has suggested, the downing street spokesperson said they would not get into hypotheticals.- they would not get into hypotheticals. they would not get into h otheticals. ., ., ., ., hypotheticals. lorna, thank you for brin . inc hypotheticals. lorna, thank you for brinuain us hypotheticals. lorna, thank you for bringing us the _ hypotheticals. lorna, thank you for bringing us the latest _ hypotheticals. lorna, thank you for bringing us the latest details i hypotheticals. lorna, thank you for bringing us the latest details there | bringing us the latest details there from edinburgh. i'm joined now by the scottish labour leader, anas sarwar. good afternoon. good afternoon. so, nicola sturgeon _ good afternoon. good afternoon. so, nicola sturgeon standing _ good afternoon. good afternoon. so, nicola sturgeon standing up, - good afternoon. good afternoon. so, nicola sturgeon standing up, saying l nicola sturgeon standing up, saying that now is the time for independence. same as she has a clear mandate, does she? t independence. same as she has a clear mandate, does she?- independence. same as she has a clear mandate, does she? i think she made it very — clear mandate, does she? i think she made it very clear _ clear mandate, does she? i think she made it very clear towards _ clear mandate, does she? i think she made it very clear towards the i clear mandate, does she? i think she made it very clear towards the end i made it very clear towards the end of her statement, and lorna gordon has rightly summarised it towards the end of the contribution there, this is not about a referendum, this

is about the general election, and this is nicola sturgeon trying to frame that general election away from it being boris versus britain in trying to make it about independence for scotland. i think thatis independence for scotland. i think that is what is behind this. the point i would say about her statement, of course it is right to establish every legal basis for any referendum, but it is also important to consider the timing of any referendum, the context of the and the consequent. the last time, we'll be living still under covid—19 restrictions. nicola sturgeon promised then, she said directly that people did not support the referendum during that recovery, and should they... they should vote for her safe in the knowledge that covid—19 would be the priority. 4000 scots have died since the last election. 700,000 people are on the nhs waiting list, 10,000 people are waiting for nhs health or mental

health across. many businesses have gone to the wall as well cross the pandemic... 50 gone to the wall as well cross the pandemic - -_ gone to the wall as well cross the andemic... ., ., , ., , pandemic... so how long should she wait? the partisan _ pandemic... so how long should she wait? the partisan nicola _ pandemic... so how long should she wait? the partisan nicola sturgeon l wait? the partisan nicola sturgeon there was to _ wait? the partisan nicola sturgeon there was to pick _ wait? the partisan nicola sturgeon there was to pick scott _ wait? the partisan nicola sturgeon there was to pick scott against i there was to pick scott against scott is back. and people across this country will pay the price. less than one third of people want the referendum over the course of the referendum over the course of the next year. the next chance of a change in this country is going to be a general election. we have a choice, we can unite across our country, to boot out borisjohnson's tories, so i would agree with nicola sturgeon's but it seems that she would rather make it about independence, the referendum, because she knows it suits her to keep borisjohnson, the tories and it downing street, because it gives her leave to break up our country. i think scotland and the uk deserve better than that and they should be an alternative. this better than that and they should be an alternative.— an alternative. this pretend poll, the phrase. _ an alternative. this pretend poll, the phrase, has _ an alternative. this pretend poll, the phrase, has been _ an alternative. this pretend poll, the phrase, has been used. i an alternative. this pretend poll, l the phrase, has been used. would an alternative. this pretend poll, i the phrase, has been used. would you call it that? t

the phrase, has been used. would you call it that? ~ , ~ ., , call it that? i think she knows there is not _ call it that? i think she knows there is not going _ call it that? i think she knows there is not going to - call it that? i think she knows there is not going to be a i there is not going to be a referendum, this is all a tactic, icy, to get her line into a general election, to give her some relevance in that the general election. the next general election, despite what she tries is not going to be scotland versus england, the next one will be boris versus britain and britain will win. but one will be boris versus britain and britain will win.— britain will win. but she said that if there is no _ britain will win. but she said that if there is no poll, _ britain will win. but she said that if there is no poll, that _ britain will win. but she said that if there is no poll, that becomes| britain will win. but she said that| if there is no poll, that becomes a de facto poll, do you recognise that? ~ �* ., de facto poll, do you recognise that? . �* ., ., ~ that? well, i've heard her talk about this _ that? well, i've heard her talk about this single _ that? well, i've heard her talk about this single issue - that? well, i've heard her talk. about this single issue campaign, she is a single issue politician, she is a single issue politician, she went a single issue government. everything she has ever run is on a single issue, so the idea that the next general election is somehow a different single issue campaign is a reason why she exists, the reason she gets out of bed in the morning, the reason she pretends she is in opposition despite being in government for 15 years, and first ministerfor government for 15 years, and first minister for eight years. government for 15 years, and first ministerfor eight years. it government for 15 years, and first minister for eight years. it is the same descriptorfrom the minister for eight years. it is the same descriptor from the same old nicola sturgeon, pandemic nicola has gone. she nicola sturgeon, pandemic nicola has tone. ,, , , . nicola sturgeon, pandemic nicola has tone, ,, , ., gone. she says, people are so confident _ gone. she says, people are so confident of _ gone. she says, people are so confident of their _

gone. she says, people are so confident of their side - gone. she says, people are so confident of their side of i gone. she says, people are so confident of their side of the l confident of their side of the argument, have the referendum. t argument, have the referendum. i think she's going to relate to the consequences that people are living right now. less than one third of people want the referendum, he put —— even people who support the independents don't want it right now. t independents don't want it right now. ., independents don't want it right now. . ., , .,~ independents don't want it right now. . ., now. i hate to break it to her, whether you _ now. i hate to break it to her, whether you voted _ now. i hate to break it to her, whether you voted yes - now. i hate to break it to her, whether you voted yes or i now. i hate to break it to her, whether you voted yes or no, | now. i hate to break it to her, i whether you voted yes or no, your bills are going up, petrol prices, food —based —— food prices. iloathed bills are going up, petrol prices, food -based -- food prices. what you demand is to — food -based -- food prices. what you demand is to governments, _ food -based -- food prices. what you demand is to governments, both i food -based -- food prices. what you demand is to governments, both the | demand is to governments, both the uk government and a scottish government, doing everything they can to confront the cost of living crisis, not using a ministry in order to further your own political interest. i think people across scotland can see what she is doing that i can see through what she is doing today. that i can see through what she is doing today-— doing today. keep coming in the programme- _ leaders of the g7 say they will take further measures to stop pressure profiting from its war of aggression against ukraine. at the end of a summit in bavaria, the german chancellor, olaf scholz said that putin must not win and that the pete -- g7 putin must not win and that the pete —— g7 would stand together for the long run. the diplomatic focus has

now shifted to madrid where the leaders of the western military alliance our meeting. —— our meeting. let's get the latest from our correspondent mark lowen who's in madrid and joins us now. lots on the agenda, lots of existential questions to answer because? , existential questions to answer because? ., ., because? exactly, to the extent that the native team _ because? exactly, to the extent that the native team at _ because? exactly, to the extent that the native team at nato _ because? exactly, to the extent that the native team at nato executive i the native team at nato executive general has called this a widely pivotal summit, a transformational summit since the end of the cold war, in which nato leaders are meeting amidst a war of the european concert for more than three decades, the first time in more than three decades, the most fatal war in europe since the second that is best accessed since the second world war. they are coming together to form at their strategic concept with a set of guidelines that you take nato forward over the next decade, the last one hammered out in 2010 said

that the war in iraq the risk of a conventional war in europe was low and that there was a need for a strategic partnership with russia. how the world has changed in the last 12 years. a new strategic concept will be hammered out here at this meeting in madrid, with the promise of massive boosts to the manpower and firepower, particularly on a nato's vulnerable eastern flank, countries like latvia, lithuania, estonia. we will see more troops there. the quick increase of nato troops from 40,000 to more than 300,000 troops, ready to shore up the eastern flank of nato, in case of an incursion onto nato territory. there will be a lot of talk of supporting ukraine with more arms, war weapons, supporting ukraine with more arms, warweapons, changing supporting ukraine with more arms, war weapons, changing ukraine's top—down command structure. there will be discussions also about other strips or threats to the perceived threats to the nato from china, for

example, so lots of discussion topics here in madrid.- example, so lots of discussion topics here in madrid. thank you for that, kee topics here in madrid. thank you for that. keep us _ topics here in madrid. thank you for that, keep us updated _ topics here in madrid. thank you for that, keep us updated with - topics here in madrid. thank you for that, keep us updated with events i that, keep us updated with events there in spain. ghislaine maxwell will be sentenced in the next couple of hours for grooming teenagers who were then abused by her ex partner, paedophilejeffrey epstein. the 60—year—old daughter of the late disgraced media tycoon, robert maxwell, could be jailed for a maximum of 55 years. from new york, nada tawfik reports. the sense of knowing you have spoken your truth is a powerful feeling. annie farmer's distressing testimony helped secure ghislaine maxwell's sex trafficking conviction. on the stand, she recounted how maxwell molested and groomed herfor abuse byjeffrey epstein when she was 16 years old. when maxwell is sentenced, annie hopes the judge considers all of those she harmed. these crimes have not only impacted the individuals that experienced them,

but also that there is a systemic impact for those people's partners and families and loved ones. if you think about all the number of people involved in this, the harm that she caused is almost immeasurable. jurors found maxwell guilty on five of the six counts against her in late december. annie and three other women detailed how maxwell was epstein's chief enabler, a predator who manipulated the teenagers and then tried to normalise sexual contact under the ruse of a massage. still, in the latest court documents, her lawyers continue to argue that she was being made a scapegoat for epstein. in a bid for a lighter sentence, they wrote, "she had a difficult, traumatic childhood with an overbearing, narcissistic and demanding father. it made her vulnerable to epstein. they also raised concerns about her treatment in prison, writing, "ms maxwell was the target of a credible death threat from a fellow inmate." yeah, it's interesting because i noticed... annie farmer said she was disappointed but not

surprised by maxwell's focus on how her own life had been ruined. i felt, again, that there had been an opportunity for her to take i ownership of what she had done, for her, in some ways, to express remorse to the victims of her crimes. and it was all about her. evidence presented here during this high—profile trial gave the public a glimpse into maxwell and epstein's lavish lifestyle and relationship. but many questions remain. how did epstein amass all of his wealth? why did maxwell help him? and will any other accomplices be held accountable? i think that made a difference. david boies represents dozens of epstein's accusers, including annie. he said many of his clients are concerned that the justice department will consider the epstein case now closed. this could not have gone on at the scope it went on and for the years that it went on without the cooperation, complicity and collaboration of many people, some of them rich and powerful and

politically connected. whether those people escape justice or not, i think, is one of the unanswered questions. annie says she and the other women are grateful to have got this far in their quest for accountability. after their long and difficult fight to be heard, ghislaine maxwell's sentencing is a significant step towards justice. nada tawfik, bbc news, new york. we can here live to new york. this is the scene outside the courtroom, ghislaine maxwell is due to be sentenced in the next hour or so. we will be heading back to new york as soon as we get a sense of any movement there inside the court and of course we can seal the microphone and ready to get any reaction to that sentencing as and when we get it. next, in texas, the number of bodies found in an abandoned truck

has now risen to 50. 16 survivors, including children, are in hospital in the city of san antonio suffering from heat exhaustion. they were trapped in the vehicle with no signs of water or cooling, during a heatwave. police have taken three people into custody. it's one of the deadliest cases of human smuggling across the us border with mexico. the white house has described the deaths as 'absolutely horrific and heartbreaking'. richard galpin reports. dozens of emergency vehicles tried to get to the abandoned lorry, but many inside had already died. a fire official said 16 people, including four children, had also been taken to hospital. the patients that we saw were hot to the touch. they were suffering from heat stroke, heat exhaustion. no signs of water in the vehicle. it was a refrigerated tractor trailer, but there was no visible working ac unit on that rig. we're not supposed to open up a truck and see stacks of bodies in there.

none of us come to work imagining that. the lorry was found in san antonio, texas, more than 150 miles from the border between the united states and mexico. the victims are thought to have been migrants trying to get into the usa. a worker who works in one of the buildings up here behind me heard a cry for help, came out to investigate, found a trailer with the doors partially open, opened them up to take a look and found a number of deceased individuals inside. locals here are shocked that people would be left to die in the heat. trailers like that without ac, it's going to get at least... if it's100 outside, it's going to be about 125 degrees inside without water, without air, with nothing. it's ridiculous.

i just... ijust can't understand how drivers can do that. but san antonio is a major transit route for people smugglers, and it's a much disputed issue. three people are now being held in custody and the investigation has been handed over to federal agents. richard galpin, bbc news. i'm joined now by shabia mantoo, spokesperson for the united nations high commissioner for refugees agency. thank you for coming on the programme. thank you for coming on the programme-— thank you for coming on the rouramme. . ~ i. ., ., programme. thank you for having me. i know it is far— programme. thank you for having me. i know it is far too _ programme. thank you for having me. i know it is far too soon _ programme. thank you for having me. i know it is far too soon to _ programme. thank you for having me. i know it is far too soon to speak i i know it is far too soon to speak about specifics of this particular horrific incident, butjust more widely, what are some of the reasons that people risk their lives like that? , , ., that people risk their lives like that? , ., , that? this is a heartbreaking traced , that? this is a heartbreaking tragedy, horrific, _ that? this is a heartbreaking tragedy, horrific, but- that? this is a heartbreaking tragedy, horrific, but the i tragedy, horrific, but the circumstances of the case, fortunately is not unique. we see

time and time again, this desperation and an ability of people who are taking these journeys, being preyed upon by smugglers and by others, but we are yet to determine and have the full facts available to us, but there are a myriad of reasons of forcing people to take these journeys, reasons of forcing people to take thesejourneys, whether reasons of forcing people to take these journeys, whether they are fleeing persecution, human rights violations, instability or simply on the move for a better life, but unfortunately, this situation we are seeing these mixed movements and mixed people and really driven to the rate heartbreaking desperate situations in circumstances of —— and circumstances. situations in circumstances of -- and circumstances.— and circumstances. neat despite --eole and circumstances. neat despite people moving _ and circumstances. neat despite people moving across _ and circumstances. neat despite people moving across the i and circumstances. neat despite| people moving across the mexico and circumstances. neat despite i people moving across the mexico us border has been happening since the border has been happening since the border existed. is itjust fundamentally difficult to get a full grip on things? and so, therefore, incidents like this are inevitable? is there more that could be done? ~ . , .,

be done? what we urge is that life needs to be _ be done? what we urge is that life needs to be protected, _ be done? what we urge is that life needs to be protected, we - be done? what we urge is that life needs to be protected, we need i be done? what we urge is that lifei needs to be protected, we need to mitigate the risks of these really tragic incidents and events from happening. but we know that in these groups of people in general, you have asylum seekers and refugees and migrants among them, so what is needed is what we call it safe and regular pathways for people to access those, without having to resort to... access those, without having to resort to- - -_ resort to... sorry to interrupt, what has — resort to... sorry to interrupt, what has the _ resort to... sorry to interrupt, what has the safe _ resort to... sorry to interrupt, what has the safe pathways i resort to... sorry to interrupt, i what has the safe pathways mina? among those people taking these journeys, people who might be refugees and asylum seekers, needing access to international protection, disk they need that, they must receive it, be able to access it. there are also other situations for others who do not need these, but there are safe pathways, looking at alternative arrangements through family schemes or other visa types

of policies, to just really sure there are avenues for people who have reasons or it needs to be able to access that without resorting to these desperate means. {lit to access that without resorting to these desperate means. of course, we alwa s these desperate means. of course, we always talk about _ these desperate means. of course, we always talk about push _ these desperate means. of course, we always talk about push and _ these desperate means. of course, we always talk about push and pull - always talk about push and pull factors here, some of the push factors here, some of the push factors fundamentally in central and south america are so huge and geopolitical ads will take an awful long time to solve, but it does mean that it makes it a very difficult problem to try and cut down on any of those push factors?— of those push factors? there are indeed a number of _ of those push factors? there are indeed a number of reasons that for people to move, but under international law,... persecution and then they are required to have their claims assessed and have that protection. there is also definitely a need for international solidarity for corporations to address the other drivers of these movements and to look at those reasons and have a holistic approach. there are loads

of factors that force people to move, political instability, social and economic security, human rights violations, persecutions and so on, but it does require those to be addressed in a focused, humane and rights —based way. addressed in a focused, humane and rights -based way.— rights -based way. thank you very much for coming _ rights -based way. thank you very much for coming in _ rights -based way. thank you very much for coming in and _ rights -based way. thank you very much for coming in and talking i much for coming in and talking to us. here in the uk... a 29—year—old man is being held on suspicion of murdering a woman in east london. zara aleena, who was 35, was attacked while she walked through ilford in the early hours of sunday morning. the met police believe she was the victim of what it called an "opportunist stranger attack". our reporterjon donnison spoke to jasmin, a friend of zara's. she was just a kind soul, the sweetest girl. she could never harm a fly. i mean, always polite, always bubbly. the sweetest girl you could ever meet, really. so much going for her. i'm nowjoined by andrea simon, director of end

violence against women. thank you so much for coming on and talking to us on what is yet another case of a very difficult today with emotions very raw, still.- case of a very difficult today with emotions very raw, still. thank you, thank ou emotions very raw, still. thank you, thank you for— emotions very raw, still. thank you, thank you for having _ emotions very raw, still. thank you, thank you for having me. _ emotions very raw, still. thank you, thank you for having me. we - emotions very raw, still. thank you, thank you for having me. we are i thank you for having me. we are incredibly sad and angry to be discussing another woman's murder, zara aleena and countless other victims of this violence, that have every right to say, as we saw last year, 141 women —— women are killed by men, that is an increase in the previous two years, this is not a problem though is going away. it is getting worse. the conversations we have been having about violence against women, sparked by tragic mergers that make murders last year, primarily focused on women's safety and public spaces, but we know that the of the abuse and violence experienced by women is most common... it does not change the

fact that this killing will have sent shock waves both into that community, in east london, but it will also have an impact broadly on a woman because we know what it is to live with the threat of male violence, one in two women so they feel safe if they are walking alone after dark in a quiet street their home. exhausted, frustrated at their home. exhausted, frustrated at the constant advice that we receive, that this places responsibility on us to avoid being attacked, positions us as having to be more in public, and we are already doing so much of that safety planning work, already carrying keys and our friends, telling ourfriends where we are, taking longer routes to get home, and so... to emphasise that women should not have to change their behaviour. we should be able to go about our business, any time of day or night. 50 to go about our business, any time of day or night-— of day or night. so what would you like to see — of day or night. so what would you like to see happen? _ of day or night. so what would you like to see happen? what - of day or night. so what would you like to see happen? what would i of day or night. so what would you i like to see happen? what would you like to see happen? what would you like to see change?— like to see change? perpetrators

don't no like to see change? perpetrators don't go out _ like to see change? perpetrators don't go out and _ like to see change? perpetrators don't go out and kill— like to see change? perpetrators don't go out and kill without i like to see change? perpetrators don't go out and kill without any| don't go out and kill without any prior indication that there is a dangerfor the women and prior indication that there is a danger for the women and girls, so prior indication that there is a dangerfor the women and girls, sol think we need to be looking at what opportunities have been missed to identify somebody who has gone on to kill a woman. there will have been signs, some misogynistic views concerning behaviours, things i could have been noticed, opportunities to intervene, notjust by police, but colleagues and friends, health and social services. we need to understand much better how perpetrators behave, help may be low—level offences or behaviours that come to the attention of others around us and the police can contribute to the escalation of more serious offending. there is a role for all parts of states, society to play, misogynistic behaviour. i just play, misogynistic behaviour. i 'ust wanted to separate i play, misogynistic behaviour. i 'ust wanted to separate those, i play, misogynistic behaviour. ijust wanted to separate those, because thatis wanted to separate those, because that is what was really interesting, and i wanted to come on more widely for people who are not involved in the state structure, ordinary people

up the state structure, ordinary people up and down the country watching this, he may well feel helpless, what kind of thing is, if there is anything, can be done? it is difficult but _ anything, can be done? it is difficult but there _ anything, can be done? it is difficult but there is - anything, can be done? it is difficult but there is a - anything, can be done? it 3 difficult but there is a role for all of us to play, all parts and for society to challenge men who are displaying misogynistic behaviour, it does need to start. we are looking at young people in schools, but we are looking at is people in at school, how we are shaping and forming is kind of attitude is a really young age. but then, also, it goes beyond that is when men are older, they have colleagues, friends, he noticed that behaviour, there is a role for bystander intervention, to come forward. we're often told as women, to come forward and report to the police, but is very difficult and a lot of the time, if men come to the attention of the police and they been doing things like indecent exposure, so—called low—level offending, there

is a legacy of them not being taken seriously and nothing really happening. you have got to think, thatis happening. you have got to think, that is building a sense impunity amongst men who feel that they can go on and behave in a way and there is not any consequence for it. we need to be looking at the state's responses, but also what we can do as a society to pick up when there are many displaying is really concerning attitudes. thanks forjoining us. now it's time for a look at the weather with chris. hello again. a slow moving area of low pressure is going to be bringing unsettled weather conditions for the rest of this week. it's rain or showers every day. today we've got a main band of rain pushing into western areas of scotland, across wales and western areas of england. that is where the wettest weather will be. the rain easing to sunshine and showers for northern ireland. all the while a brisk south—westerly wind gusting at around 30 to a0 miles an hour for some. but across central and eastern england, staying dry for the most part with some pleasant spells

of sunshine and temperatures quite close to average really. overnight tonight, our band of rain pushes its way eastwards across england again. there'll be a few showers working into western areas. it will stay quite breezy and so not particularly cold, 12 to 14 degrees. now, tomorrow, that band of rain clears away from eastern england quite quickly. in the morning, sunshine and showers follow. some of them will be heavy with some hail and thunder mixed in. the winds a little bit lighter. so where the sunshine comes out, perhaps feeling a little bit more pleasant. again, highest temperatures in the best of the sunshine in the east. hello. this is bbc news. i'm lewis vaughanjones and these are the headlines... scotland's first minister nicola sturgeon sets out her plans to hold a second referendum on independence in october next year, arguing the country is being held back by westminster.

but the scottish conservative leader calls it a "pretend referendum. the white house calls the deaths of 46 people found in an abandoned lorry on the outskirts of the texan city of san antonio, as "absolutely horrific and heartbreaking." ghislaine maxwell is due to be sentenced in the next few hours for recruiting and grooming minors for herformer partner, paedophilejeffrey epstein. borisjohnson faces a row over increased defence spending as he heads to a nato summit likely to be dominated by the need to boost military resources to counter russia in ukraine. and coming up in sport injust a moment... ..we�*ll be live at wimbledon as 23—time grand slam champion serena williams prepares to go on centre court after a year off with injury. good afternoon. where else do we start but at wimbledon where rafa nadal is on centre court as he begins his bid for a third title there...

but it's been a busy day for the brits and chetan pathak is there. i's been a mixed bag of results but what a match for wildcard pauljubb, going toe to toe with nick kygrios this afternoon. pauljubb to play nick kyrgios he would be in for a very eventful match and we had plenty of classic moments from nick kyrgios, hoofing the ball out of the arena, arguing with the umpire, but pauljubb went toe to toe, and pauljubb was to have one up in sets, the british wild card having the biggest match of his career. nick kyrgios, though, has got the talent to win this tournament outright, and this was him serving it out. he picked

himself as one of the front winners to win this title, you would not bet against him, but he hasn't done it here at here for the finalist. ryan peniston has gone to the quarterfinals at eastbourne and queens and he is into the second round. he beat henri laaksonen, the swiss player. peniston now has an american opponent in the next round, and you would imagine he might power through potentially into the third round. one man who came onto the scene last year, jack draper, the big hope, the teenager, he took a set of novak djokovic last year, and he is currently playing and these are live pitches. these two met in a

challenger final in northern are live pitches. these two met in a challengerfinal in northern france a few months ago which was won by jack draper —— live pitches. jack draper has got all of the speed he needs. a bit tight in the second. for— four at the moment. —— 4—4. heather watson is through, she has had a really tough and emotional couple of years, she has been asked a lot of questions about how long she will continue playing. today she played korpatsch, the german. the game carried over after starting last night. this is what it meant to heather watson.— heather watson. these are the moments _ heather watson. these are the moments you _ heather watson. these are the moments you dream _ heather watson. these are the moments you dream of- heather watson. these are the moments you dream of as - heather watson. these are the moments you dream of as a i heather watson. these are the i moments you dream of as a little -irl moments you dream of as a little girl andm — moments you dream of as a little girlandm i— moments you dream of as a little girland... i don't moments you dream of as a little girl and... i don't know why i'm girl and... idon't know why i'm getting— girl and... i don't know why i'm getting emotional.— girl and... i don't know why i'm getting emotional. cheering and applause

i think i'vejust applause i think i've just had applause i think i'vejust had a applause i think i've just had a really rough couple _ i think i've just had a really rough couple of— i think i've just had a really rough couple of years, so many people have, _ couple of years, so many people have, so — couple of years, so many people have, so this means a lot.- couple of years, so many people have, so this means a lot. great to see heather _ have, so this means a lot. great to see heather watson. _ have, so this means a lot. great to see heather watson. we _ have, so this means a lot. great to see heather watson. we were - have, so this means a lot. great to i see heather watson. we were getting emotional in the studio over that. nadal is playing at the moment. he is looking in great form. he nadal is playing at the moment. he is looking in great form.— nadal is playing at the moment. he is looking in great form. he has had to battle with _ is looking in great form. he has had to battle with a _ is looking in great form. he has had to battle with a chronic _ is looking in great form. he has had to battle with a chronic foot - to battle with a chronic foot problem, which is not going to go away. he is going for a grand slam number three this year, and these are live pitches on centre court. cerundolo is his opponent. nadal winning the first set 6—4, grinding it out, but close again in the second set. it would be 23 grand slams if nadal can get there. he could potentially meet novak

djokovic in the final. berrettini pulled out this morning with covid which further opens up the draw. we have serena williams to look forward to this afternoon, as well and we will have more details later. england white—ball captain eoin morgan has confirmed he is retiring from international cricket. morgan led england to a famous world cup victory against new zealand in 2019 when his side won after a dramatic super over. he made his odi debut in 2006 and has played 248 times, scoring iii centuries at an avergae ofjust under a0. jos buttler is among the favourites to replace him. england women face south africa in day two of the one—off test at taunton this afternoon. england looked to be in a bit of trouble. they didn't get off to the best

start with heather knight run out and since then south africa have been on top. but nat sciver is going well, she's got her half century. as they chase south africa's 281i that's all the sport for now. ghislaine maxwell will be sentenced in the next couple of hours for grooming teenagers who were then abused by her ex partner, paedophilejeffrey epstein. the 60—year—old daughter of the late disgraced media tycoon, robert maxwell, could be jailed for a maximum of 55 years. what is happening at the moment? the: sentence what is happening at the moment? tt;e: sentence hearing what is happening at the moment? tt9 sentence hearing is what is happening at the moment? tt9: sentence hearing is under what is happening at the moment? tt9 sentence hearing is under way and ghislaine maxwell will find out what her sentence is in the next hour or so and she will also be facing her victims. the trial last year revolved around the testimony of four women who were abused by jeffrey epstein and ghislaine

maxwell between 1984 and 2004 but over the last 17 years scores of women have come forward to say they were abused by epstein and described ghislaine maxwell as a central figure who seduced them, these were young vulnerable women and tempted them into this lifestyle of where they were constantly sexually abused and trapped in the lifestyle over the years. we will be hearing from “p the years. we will be hearing from up to six women, they will be giving their testimony in court where ghislaine maxwell will hear that and of course you have the prosecution, the prosecutors want ghislaine maxwell to face up to 55 years in prison, and her defence team said she should face no more than five years but ultimately it is the judge, presiding over the case, who will decide the fate of ghislaine maxwell. :, ~ will decide the fate of ghislaine maxwell. ., ~ , ., ., ., will decide the fate of ghislaine maxwell. ., ~ ., ., maxwell. thank you for that. do you know what we _ maxwell. thank you for that. do you know what we are _ maxwell. thank you for that. do you know what we are expecting - maxwell. thank you for that. do you know what we are expecting and - maxwell. thank you for that. do you i know what we are expecting and when, is it the next few minutes that we

should hear something? the? is it the next few minutes that we should hear something? they have got a lot to no should hear something? they have got a lot to go through, _ should hear something? they have got a lot to go through, we _ should hear something? they have got a lot to go through, we will— should hear something? they have got a lot to go through, we will hear- a lot to go through, we will hear from the victims and they will read out the impact statements and we will hear from the lawyers so we are expecting to get the final sentence in the next hour or so but we will bring you that as soon as we get it. thanks forjoining us. let's get more now on that announcement by scotland's first minister nicola sturgeon that she's making plans for another independence vote to be held in october next year. i'm joined now by the former constitutional adviser to the scottish parliament referendum bill committee in 2013, and professor of constitutional theory at the university of edinburgh, professor stephen tierney. good afternoon. good afternoon. quite a complex _ good afternoon. good afternoon. quite a complex issue _ good afternoon. good afternoon. quite a complex issue to - good afternoon. good afternoon. quite a complex issue to deal- good afternoon. good afternoon. | quite a complex issue to deal with as well, but nicola sturgeon said in

her mind she has a democratic mandate and the time is now for independence but on the legal question, she effectively said she is going to get on the front foot here, recognising that this would be decided by a court, she said her bill that she introduces would be referred to the supreme court, so what do you make of that? 19, referred to the supreme court, so what do you make of that?- what do you make of that? a very different environment _ what do you make of that? a very different environment to - what do you make of that? a very different environment to the - different environment to the situation in 2014 when of course there was an agreement between the two governments to hold a referendum and at that point everyone was focused on the substance of the issue but where we are now is in a mire of legality. a couple of sides to this, one argument is that this requires the consent of westminster, a section 30 order would have to be given to allow this, and the first minister knows it is unlikely that borisjohnson will say minister knows it is unlikely that boris johnson will say yes to minister knows it is unlikely that

borisjohnson will say yes to a referendum and she wants to go on the front foot and take the case before the supreme court early and find out what the court has to say. can the scottish parliament do this on its own?— on its own? what is your view on what she said — on its own? what is your view on what she said and _ on its own? what is your view on what she said and that _ on its own? what is your view on what she said and that tactic, - on its own? what is your view on | what she said and that tactic, that approach? it what she said and that tactic, that a- roach? , ., what she said and that tactic, that a--roach? , ., , approach? it is an interesting tactic because _ approach? it is an interesting tactic because it _ approach? it is an interesting tactic because it is _ approach? it is an interesting i tactic because it is multilayered. on the one hand and she said she will ask borisjohnson again to allow this to go ahead and she also said that the government is committed to doing this, the scottish government, to doing this in a lawful and legitimate way, so there is no question of a wildcat referendum that would be unlawful. that is very clear, the first minister has taken that approach, but there are a couple of layers to the legal question, will the supreme court take this reference? unusual procedure, so will they decide in fact that the bill should go through

parliament before they assess it? we don't know that. that will be interesting to discover that and also there's the substance of the issue, the supreme court save the referendum proposal relates to the union and the union is referred to the macro reserved and itjust can't go ahead. —— the union is reserved and itjust can't go ahead. go ahead. -- the union is reserved and itjust can't go ahead.- and itjust can't go ahead. nicola sturueon and itjust can't go ahead. nicola sturgeon says — and itjust can't go ahead. nicola sturgeon says it _ and itjust can't go ahead. nicola sturgeon says it is _ and itjust can't go ahead. nicola sturgeon says it is a _ and itjust can't go ahead. nicola sturgeon says it is a matter- and itjust can't go ahead. nicola sturgeon says it is a matter for. and itjust can't go ahead. nicola l sturgeon says it is a matter for the scottish parliament and the uk parliament, so could it become a crisis, where nicola sturgeon says they have got to take a general election as a mandate on the issue? the line between the political crisis and a constitutional crisis can be a narrow one. certainly they have taken account of that and nicola sturgeon today said if the court says no, we are going to run as the snp in the next general election declaring that to be a

factor referendum and that their manifesto would simply be the single issue of independence —— de facto referendum. they would seek to turn the uk general election into a single issue election in scotland. that is another high—stakes gambit and it is some way down the road but there's a lot to die just from the statement today. == there's a lot to die 'ust from the statement today._ there's a lot to die 'ust from the statement today. -- digest. not to talk about in _ statement today. -- digest. not to talk about in the _ statement today. -- digest. not to talk about in the weeks _ statement today. -- digest. not to talk about in the weeks months i talk about in the weeks months ahead, so thanks forjoining us. western leaders have described russia's missile attack on a busy shopping centre in central ukraine yesterday as a "war crime". ukrainian officials say at least 18 people were killed and 59 others injured in the attack in the city of kremenchuk, around 80 miles from russian occupied territory. emergency crews are still searching for survivors. our ukraine correspondent, joe inwood, reports from kyiv. rescue soon turned into recovery.

late into the night, firefighters searched through the smouldering wreckage of the complex, reduced to a twisted mass of metal by at least one russian missile. they were searching for bodies, victims of one of the most devastating attacks of the war. it happened just before 4pm yesterday, a shopping centre engulfed in flames. passers by turned into paramedics. the injured were taken to local hospitals, still in shock at what they had witnessed. translation: | felt - like i was flying somewhere. i was thrown head first. splinters, shrapnel, something else was hitting me. the whole place was collapsing, exploding. then i landed on the floor, and i don't know if i was conscious or unconscious. people, burned people. some were covered in blood. one girl fell down and

we pulled her along. she kept falling but we tried to help. it's not known how many people were inside when the fire started, but president zelensky put the figure at around 1,000. centres have been set up to register the missing. ukraine and its people are exhausted by this war. translation: why are you tormenting us? i what have we done to you? all this propaganda, this is not only putin. please, bear in mind, this is not only putin, it is the russian nation, it has been going on for years and years. russia has denied targeting the shopping centre, instead claiming it struck a nearby warehouse that was storing western supplied weapons and ammunition. it also claimed the shopping centre was closed at the time of the attack. as the clear—up operation continues, that will be difficult to hear for the residents of this central

ukrainian city, who have seen and now felt the cost of russia's war. joe inwood, bbc news, kyiv. the uk government has bought shares in a sex party planning company called killing kittens as part of the future fund scheme set up during the pandemic to help innovative firms. the company was set up to provide an adult social network where women feel in control of their sexuality and has member only events in cities across the world. let's talk to ceo of killing kittens, emma sayle. most companies don't have the government is owning some of its shares, so how did this come about? most companies across the uk had access to the government bounce back loans that were the first things to come out in the pandemic and it came

about because we did not qualify for any of those loans because we are a tech business, regardless of the daily mail headline, and we had raised money in 2018 and 2019 in order to build the technology at a very fast pace, so in 2019 the company accounts, a lot of the offers from the company that it may grow government at the start of the —— a lot of the offers from the government at the start of the pandemic word that you had to be in profit. suddenly we ticked all the boxes and we had raised a certain amount and loads of other boxes and suddenly it was a case of, we could go down this route, but it was very much, it was designed to be very much, it was designed to be very much the vc, they are the ones who profit when it comes to future fund,

so in order to get the money you had to raise the money which was a juxtaposition because you are dealing with businesses that really need the money in order to survive the pandemic, being told that you are not going to get the money unless you raise the money, and then we will match what you raise. so thatis we will match what you raise. so that is how it came about and that is how we went about it by raising the money, raising 170,000 ourselves through members and using a crowd platform, and then getting the future fund. it platform, and then getting the future fund.— future fund. it seems to have worked, clearly, _ future fund. it seems to have worked, clearly, are - future fund. it seems to have worked, clearly, are you i future fund. it seems to have worked, clearly, are you in i future fund. it seems to have worked, clearly, are you in a| future fund. it seems to have i worked, clearly, are you in a good position now as a business? yes. position now as a business? yes, what the government _ position now as a business? yes, what the government have i position now as a business? 93 what the government have put in, position now as a business? t9: what the government have put in, we have done £1 million raise, a valuation of 50 million which means that what the government put in, they have made nearly 70% of the investment, so i would say we are probably in a better position than a lot of the future fund businesses

but obviously the shock and outrage of here we are as a business, this overlay is what we have actually achieved as a business.- overlay is what we have actually achieved as a business. what about --eole achieved as a business. what about people saying _ achieved as a business. what about people saying this _ achieved as a business. what about people saying this is _ achieved as a business. what about people saying this is not _ achieved as a business. what about people saying this is not what i people saying this is not what taxpayer money should be used for? t taxpayer money should be used for? i have had a lot of comments from taxpayers who say that finally the taxpayers who say that finally the taxpayer money is going to something which is making their money and at the end of the day it is sex, it drives you and drives every human being, it is the core of what we are as people, so i think it is 2022 and it should be all be stuck in prehistoric 17th—century beliefs about what sex is and the prudish side of it all? our business is an aduu side of it all? our business is an adult social network with a big dating site element to it. ijust think people just need to grow up, a lot of people. think people just need to grow up, a

lot of people-— lot of people. laughter great to _ lot of people. laughter great to talk _ lot of people. laughter great to talk to - lot of people. laughter great to talk to you i lot of people. laughter great to talk to you and l great to talk to you and congratulations with how well it is going and good luck in the future. thank you. the population of england and wales has grown by 6% in a decade — rising to a record 59 million — according to the results of the 2021 census. the survey — which is carried out every 10 years — asks people about themselves, their household, and their home — to build a detailed snapshot of society. earlier, i spoke to our home editor — mark easton — who broke the numbers down for us. the census is, who was where on march 21, sunday, last year. it is very detailed, as you say, 97% of all households filled it out, so we have a really good idea of actually what the population was that day. in england, i can tell you, the figure from the census is 56,489,800. interestingly, slightly lower than expectations

because the ons projections, the office for national statistics, obviously try and do their best guess of what the population is, they thought it would be about 57 million, so 500,000 people are missing! in wales, the figure is 3,170,500. people thought it would be about 3.2. the census of northern ireland, that is 1.9 million. our best estimate of scotland's population, because they are having their census a year later than the rest of the uk, the best we have for that is 5.74 million, giving a uk total of 66,966,400. very close to 67 million. people thought that would be a bit higher, but that matters because these numbers are used

to decide how much money goes to local authorities, schools, gp services and that kind of thing. so some people will be scratching their heads. what about area by area? it's interesting, some of the places might be a bit worried, those that have seen their populations fall in the last ten years. the one i would pick out, kensington and chelsea, the richest local authority in the country, according to the census, according to this census, saw its population fall by almost 10%. now, how, why? westminster saw its population fall by 7%. one theory is that those people who live there, amongst the wealthiest of the country, in the middle of the pandemic, maybe theyjust went to their second or third home. and they weren't in london on march 21 last year. they were somewhere else! the implications of that are quite serious for those boroughs because if it is not a true reflection of the population

in normal times, as it were, that could have big funding implications. the other things that we know from these figures, we know that the increase in population was largest in the east of england, went up just over 8%. wales saw an increase of only 1.4%. the oldest local authority in the country is north norfolk, where more than one third of the population, one in three, are over 65. the metropolitan police has been put in special measures by her majesty's inspectorate of constabulary. in the wake of a series of failures, the watchdog has confirmed, so the metropolitan police has been put in special measures and we will have more details on that at the top of the hour with my colleague victoria derbyshire. now we have the weather.

hello again. we're just going to have a quick look at what's going on across central and eastern europe, where temperatures are well above average. highs up to about 44 degrees across parts of southern italy. the high temperatures here, the red colours are all to do with a big ridge in the jet stream that is a very slow moving feature. unfortunately for us, that feature is going to trap this trough, this u—bend over the uk, and what that does is it traps this area of low pressure. in fact, the same area of low will be with us really for the whole of this week. so it is going to be quite unsettled for the next few days, with rain or showers. now, today, we've seen outbreaks of rain move into many western areas, and it's been quite heavy at times for western scotland, with some rather murky conditions here, along with that low cloud. the other feature of the weather is it's quite a windy day, with the winds coming in from the south west, gusts into the 30s, even 40 miles an hour. but across central and eastern england, perhaps parts of eastern scotland,

at least there is something a little bit drier and brighter here, and the rain eases to showers in northern ireland through the afternoon as well. where the sunshine pops out, not feeling too bad, 22, 23 degrees in the highest temperatures. but for the western areas, generally temperatures a bit below par. now, overnight tonight, our band of rain will slowly push its way eastwards across parts of england. again, there'll be some heavy bursts mixed in with that for a time. temperatures generally double figures, about 12 to 14 degrees celsius. and then tomorrow, this band of rain should clear out of the way quite quickly. and broadly speaking, tomorrow is a day of sunshine and showers. now some of the showers will turn heavy and thundery. there'll be some particularly slow moving ones lining up across the peninsula, down towards the south west of england. again, where we see some sunny spells break through, 22, 23 degrees, not feeling too bad in the sunshine. the winds a little bit lighter as well. now, there could be some rain across eastern england overnight. that will tend to clear as we head into thursday, and then thursday, another day of sunshine and showers. again, the showers widespread. there'll be some heavy

and thundery ones, perhaps a bit of hail mixed in, and temperatures still across western areas, upper teens at best, 22—23 degrees in the warm spots across the east. however, as we get towards the weekend and into next week, pressure starts to rise, so we lose those showers. there'll be more in the way of sunshine, and it will start to get a bit warmer as well, with temperatures approaching the mid 20s for some of you.

hello, welcome to bbc news. i'm victoria derbyshire. here are your headlines at 5pm... the metropolitan police has been put in special measures after a series of failures. scotland's first minister, nicola sturgeon, sets out her plans to hold a second referendum on independence in october next year, arguing the country is being held back by westminster. the scottish conservative leader calls it a "pretend referendum. now is the time, at this critical moment in history, to debate and decide the future of our country. now is the time to get scotland on the right path, the path chosen by those who live here.

we won't play her games, we won't play roles in a tense