today at one: the uk's highest court rules the scottish government can't hold a another independence referendum unless westminster agrees. the judges were unanimous that the consent of the uk government would be needed before a second vote on independence. the scottish parliament does not have the power to legislate for a referendum on scottish independence. the prime minister has welcomed the ruling as "clear and definitive", but scotland's first minister says she's disappointed. we must, and we will, find another democratic, lawful and constitutional means by which the scottish people can express their will. we'll be analysing what today's ruling means for scotland.

also this lunchtime... we talk to the motherjailed for killing a sex offender accused of abusing her three sons. she is now campaigning to stop paedophiles hiding their identities. seven dead after a mass shooting in a walmart store in the united states. reports say the gunman was the store manager. a world cup scare for england captain harry kane — he's due to have a scan on his injured ankle. and going, going, gone — a blast furnace that dominated the teesside skyline is finally demolished. and coming up on the bbc news channel. four—times champions germany get their world cup under way, hoping to right the wrongs of 2018. can they start with a win overjapan?

good afternoon. welcome to bbc news that one. judges at the supreme court have ruled that the scottish parliament cannot organise a second independence refendum, unless the uk government agrees. in 2014, voters in scotland rejected independence, but the first minister nicola sturgeon wants another referendum next october. she says she's disappointed by today's ruling. the prime minister, rishi sunak, says it's "clear and definitive". here's our scotland correspondent lorna gordon. in edinburgh this afternoon. one door close this morning but scotland's first minister nicola sturgeon is still seeking other routes to a referendum. a preferred order would be a section 30 order,

permission from westminster for the parliament to hold a referendum, but successive prime ministers have refused to grant that. she is reframing the argument, saying this is no longerjust about independence, but this is also now a debate about democracy. and the democratic mandate. and she's going to convene a special snp conference in the new year to debate the details of an approach to frame the next general election, as a de—facto referendum. there might have been legal clarity today, but the political arguments are far from over. speedy and unequivocal, after complex arguments from the uk and scottish governments, a clear legal ruling. scottish governments, a clear legal rulina. . ., , scottish governments, a clear legal rulina. , ., ., , ruling. the court is unanimous, which considerably _ ruling. the court is unanimous, which considerably shortens - ruling. the court is unanimous, | which considerably shortens the ruling. the court is unanimous, - which considerably shortens the time required. the which considerably shortens the time re . uired. ,, , which considerably shortens the time reuuired. ,, , ., required. the five supreme court 'udaes required. the five supreme court judges reaching _ required. the five supreme court judges reaching their _ required. the five supreme court judges reaching their decision - required. the five supreme court judges reaching their decision in l judges reaching their decision in just six weeks. ruling that the power to grant a second vote on independence lies with the uk government at westminster. the scottish

government at westminster. tue: scottish parliament government at westminster. tte: scottish parliament does not have the power to legislate for a referendum on scottish independence. scotland's first minister says she respects and accepts the judgment. she will continue to look for westminster authority to proceed with a vote and wants of this if it is not forthcoming.— with a vote and wants of this if it is not forthcoming. what i will not do, is not forthcoming. what i will not do. however. _ is not forthcoming. what i will not do, however, is _ is not forthcoming. what i will not do, however, is go _ is not forthcoming. what i will not do, however, is go cap _ is not forthcoming. what i will not do, however, is go cap in - is not forthcoming. what i will not do, however, is go cap in hand. i is not forthcoming. what i will not | do, however, is go cap in hand. my expectation in the short—term, at least, is that the uk will maintain its position of outright democracy denial. that position is, in my view, notjust unsustainable, it is also utterly self—defeating. the more contempt the westminster establishment shows for scottish democracy, the more certain it is that scotland will vote yes. the prime minister _ that scotland will vote yes. the prime minister welcomed the ruling and said it underlined that both governments should focus on day—to—day issues and not the constitution. irate day-to-day issues and not the constitution.— day-to-day issues and not the constitution. ~ , , . . ., constitution. we respect the clear and definitive _ constitution. we respect the clear and definitive ruling _ constitution. we respect the clear and definitive ruling of— constitution. we respect the clear and definitive ruling of the - constitution. we respect the clear l and definitive ruling of the supreme court _ and definitive ruling of the supreme court of— and definitive ruling of the supreme

court of the united kingdom. and i think_ court of the united kingdom. and i think that — court of the united kingdom. and i think that the people of scotland what is _ think that the people of scotland what is to be working on fixing the major— what is to be working on fixing the major challenges that we collectively face, whether that is the economy, supporting the nhs, or indeed _ the economy, supporting the nhs, or indeed supporting ukraine, now is the time _ indeed supporting ukraine, now is the time for politicians to work together— the time for politicians to work together and that is what this government will do.— together and that is what this government will do. opinion polls su: est government will do. opinion polls suggest scotland _ government will do. opinion polls suggest scotland remains - government will do. opinion polls suggest scotland remains evenlyl suggest scotland remains evenly divided on what the country's future should be. that divided on what the country's future should be. ., , , , , ., should be. not surprised, it is what we do next — should be. not surprised, it is what we do next which _ should be. not surprised, it is what we do next which is _ should be. not surprised, it is what we do next which is the _ should be. not surprised, it is what we do next which is the interesting | we do next which is the interesting bit. we do next which is the interesting hit~ i— we do next which is the interesting bit. ~' , we do next which is the interesting bit. ~ , , ., ., bit. i think they should have the ri . ht to bit. i think they should have the right to decide _ bit. i think they should have the right to decide if they _ bit. i think they should have the right to decide if they go - bit. i think they should have the right to decide if they go for - right to decide if they go for independence. you don't have to vote for it if you don't want to. so leual for it if you don't want to. so legal clarity, but the political arguments will continue. scotland's first minister would like the next election to be a referendum in all but name and says her party will now build a wider movement to support the same. let's go back to lorna gordon in edinburgh, nicola sturgeon saying this really has been a hard pill to swallow so where does the

independence campaign go now? yes. independence campaign go now? yes, disappointment _ independence campaign go now? te: disappointment for nicola sturgeon, but she has always said she respects the rule of the court and she reiterated that today. you will see later today pro—independence rallies in various towns and cities across scotland from as far north as orkney down to dumfries and outside the scottish parliament here as well. it will be interesting to see the size of those rallies, which political pro—independence politicians turn up and what is said at the rallies. because nicola sturgeon is moving the debate forward. she says this is now about democracy, notjust independence, saying that the snp wants now to build a wider movement to fight on that platform. and there was an upping of the language in that press conference she gave earlier as well. talking about whilst respecting the rule of the

courts, that this perhaps indicated that the voluntary partnership between the nations of the united kingdom was being strained at the seams. so she will take every opportunity going forward to make the case for independence. that started with, of course, arguments over brexit, now it is argument over the cost of living, which the snp and their partners the scottish greens, their partners in parliament, would say could be dealt with better were scotland to be independent. they will continue to make that case and they will now make that case and they will now make it with this argument about democracy as well.— make it with this argument about democracy as well. lorna, thank you ve much democracy as well. lorna, thank you very much indeed. _ democracy as well. lorna, thank you very much indeed. let's _ democracy as well. lorna, thank you very much indeed. let's get - democracy as well. lorna, thank you very much indeed. let's get some i very much indeed. let's get some reaction from westminster. our chief political correspondent nick eardley is at westminster. the prime minister said he welcomes the supreme court ruling as clear and definitive.— and definitive. yes, there is no doubt this _ and definitive. yes, there is no doubt this is _ and definitive. yes, there is no doubt this is a _ and definitive. yes, there is no doubt this is a welcome - and definitive. yes, there is no doubt this is a welcome relief. and definitive. yes, there is no l doubt this is a welcome relief for the uk government. i think they were expecting something along these lines for the last few days. but now they have avoided that sense of

immediate crisis, which would have come had the ruling gone the other way. to be honest, the strategy of the uk government for the past few months is to sort of hope that support for independence wanes and that the calls for another referendum start to fall away. rishi sunak is hoping that a more constructive tone up when it comes to working with the scottish government and the other devolved governments helps. you heard him talk a lot at prime minister's questions today about working together on some of the big challenges the country is facing. but that doesn't mean that this is going to go away because there is a fundamental problem for the uk government, which is that the scottish parliament has a pretty comfortable majority of msps who want another vote to happen. that means that they are going to continue to call for one. it means that you are going to keep hearing the question asked, as it was at

pmqs today about how scotland gets another referendum if it wants one. that is not a question the uk government wants to engage with at the moment. today, we have had an answer to a legal question, the bigger political one, though, continues. it is not going to go away. continues. it is not going to go awa . . ~' continues. it is not going to go awa. ., ~ continues. it is not going to go awa. ., , continues. it is not going to go awa. .~g , . away. nick, thank you very much. nick eardley _ away. nick, thank you very much. nick eardley at _ away. nick, thank you very much. nick eardley at westminster. - a mother who stabbed to death a man accused of sexually assaulting her three sons hasjoined a campaign calling for tighter controls on paedophiles who change their names to hide their identity. sarah sands was jailed for seven and a half years for the manslaughter of 77—year—old michael pleasted in 2014. our home affairs correspondent, june kelly, has been hearing her story. sarah sands back in silvertown in east london, where as a single mother, she made a home with herfamily. and where eight years ago, she stabbed to death a neighbour accused of sexually

assaulting three young boys. she'd originally befriended michael pleasted, who was 77. what we can report for the first time is that all three children he was accused of abusing were her sons. they've now turned 18 and have waived their right to anonymity to speak publicly about seeing their mother go to prison. the little things, you miss. sometimes, you just want to really tell your mum a problem. sarah, did you feel remorse? absolutely. and why did you feel remorse? i bring life into the world. it never occurred to me that i would be guilty of taking life out of the world. while he was awaiting trial for the offences against her boys, michael pleasted was allowed to live back on the estate. sarah sands was caught on cctv as she made her way to his flat. she says she wanted to appeal to pleasted to plead guilty

and spare her sons the court ordeal. she was carrying a knife. she says, after he accused her children of lying, she stabbed him. she did this eight times. he bled to death. sarah sands was found guilty of manslaughter, rather than murder, on the grounds that she lost control. her original sentence of three and a half years was deemed to be too lenient and was increased to seven and a half years. the offender took with her to the scene a knife, which was used in the infliction of fatal injuries. when the jury was sure that at the time, she intended to cause at least serious grievous bodily harm, the offender, having fatally stabbed the deceased, did nothing to assist him, in that she did not call the

emergency services. they absolutely have the right to demand answers from me. i had taken the law into my own hands. i had done that. after she killed him, it emerged that michael pleasted was already a convicted paedophile and had a long history of offending under his original name of robin moult. sarah sands has now joined a campaign calling for tighter controls on sex offenders who change their names. and despite what happened in their family, her sons also have this message. if you are being abused or have been abused, try and talk. the sooner you say it, the sooner you potentially save more people from being in the same pain that you are feeling. june kelly, bbc news. you can watch the documentary killing my children's abuser on bbc iplayer, now. and if you have been affected by any of the issues raised, you can find help and advice at bbc.co.uk/actionline.

explosions have been heard in the ukrainian capital kyiv today after an air raid alert was issued for the whole country. the mayor of kyiv vitali klitschko says infrastructure facilities have been hit and officials are reporting at least one person has been killed. there are also reports of explosions in the south and south east of ukraine. our correspond itjust park it is in kyiv. you are in a shelter because the air—raid sirens i have been sounding. ——jess parker, our correspondent. tote sounding. -- jess parker, our correspondent.— sounding. -- jess parker, our correspondent. sounding. -- jess parker, our corresondent. . ., ., ., correspondent. we have come down to the shelter after _ correspondent. we have come down to the shelter after those _ correspondent. we have come down to the shelter after those air-raid - the shelter after those air—raid sirens sounded. we have got reports and heard from the mayor of kyiv vitali klitschko, who posted on social media that there had been several explosions and a piece of critical infrastructure had been hit. we have also heard from officials that a residential building, homes have been hit, there are reports of casualties as well.

there are reports of explosions and other parts of ukraine as well. and the mayor of lviv has said the lights are out in the city, that is in the far west of ukraine. and we are hearing of disruptions to water supply. now, of course, recent strikes have seen extensive damage to energy infrastructure, infrastructure in ukraine just as the winter is really setting in here, it has been around minus two degrees outside. so ukrainians have been preparing as wealth or power outages which have been ongoing, planned and unscheduled through the city and beyond. —— have been preparing for power outages. we don't know how extensive the damage is following strikes in kyiv today and across other parts of ukraine. but you have got to remember they were racing after a brief period of respite to repair some of this energy infrastructure and further attacks like this is exactly what had been feared.— attacks like this is exactly what had been feared. thank you very much, had been feared. thank you very much. jess _ had been feared. thank you very much, jess parker _

had been feared. thank you very much, jess parker in _ had been feared. thank you very much, jess parker in kyiv. - one person has died and at least 1a others have been injured in explosions at two bus stops on the outskirts ofjerusalem. israeli police said the first blast appeared to have been caused by an explosive device placed in a bag. the second explosion came about 30 minutes later. a police spokesman said there had not been such a coordinated attack injerusalem for years. six people have been killed in a mass shooting at a walmart store in the united states. it's believed the attacker was the manager of the store in chesapeake, virginia, who opened fire on his staff before turning his gun on himself. our correspondent richard galpin has this report. the police were soon on the scene looking for other victims. the store is large with plenty of places to hide. ~ ., , ., ., , hide. we found multiple fatalities and multiple injuries. _

hide. we found multiple fatalitiesj and multiple injuries. we were on site to provide life—saving measures rapidly. we believe the single shooter is deceased. this rapidly. we believe the single shooter is deceased. , ., ., , shooter is deceased. this woman says her brother was _ shooter is deceased. this woman says her brother was shot _ shooter is deceased. this woman says her brother was shot but _ shooter is deceased. this woman says her brother was shot but is _ shooter is deceased. this woman says her brother was shot but is now - shooter is deceased. this woman says her brother was shot but is now up - her brother was shot but is now up and breathing. he her brother was shot but is now up and breathing-— and breathing. he was shot in the side and he _ and breathing. he was shot in the side and he is _ and breathing. he was shot in the side and he is up _ and breathing. he was shot in the side and he is up talking - and breathing. he was shot in the side and he is up talking and - side and he is up talking and breathing. they do not have details i’i l ht breathing. they do not have details right now — breathing. they do not have details riaht now. ~ . ., ., breathing. they do not have details riaht now. ~ . . ., breathing. they do not have details riahtnow. ~ . . ., j right now. walmart have said they're shocked at the _ right now. walmart have said they're shocked at the and _ right now. walmart have said they're shocked at the and the _ right now. walmart have said they're shocked at the and the virginia - shocked at the and the virginia state senator louise lucas has said she is heartbroken. the chesapeake mayor described it as an act of senseless violence. and what has happened here is just the latest of many mass shootings in the country. less than a week ago five people were killed and many injured in a gun attack attraction in colorado springs. richard galpin, bbc news. the time is 13:16.

our top story this lunchtime. the highest court in the uk rules the scottish government cannot hold another independence referendum unless westminster agrees. and the growing number of people who can't work because of long—term health problems. coming up on the bbc news channel. pep guardiola is staying put. with four league titles under his belt already, the manchester city boss has signed a two—year contract extension that will keep him at the club until 2025. england are sweating on whether their captain harry kane will be fit for their next world cup match on friday. he injured his ankle in the team's opening game against iran. meanwhile this morning, morocco have been playing croatia — and let's go tojohn watson in doha who has all the latest for us, john. john watson. good afternoon and many thanks. many

of these fans are gathering for the match today. croatia had that goalless draw with morocco and iran for the quench of course beat england four years ago in the world cup before going on to lose to france at the last world cup. obviously managing to avoid that upset which we saw playing out yesterday as saudi arabia produced that astonishing result beating argentina in their opening match. we will see germany, spain and belgium begin their tournaments as well today. but let's get the latest from the england and wales camps. in a moment we'll speak to hwyel griffith about how the wales team are getting on. but first lets talk to alex howell who is at the england training camp. what is the latest on this injury concern regarding harry kane? t’m

concern regarding harry kane? i'm here at the — concern regarding harry kane? tn here at the england training camp now in al wakrah and it is a nervy wait for the results of the scan that harry kane is having on his right ankle. he picked up an injury in the game against iran and had treatment for it during the match. penny came back on the pitch but later he was substituted in that match. he came to training yesterday, he was not on the training pitch but none of the players were who started the match and it would be concerned if harry kane was to be unavailable for the upcoming matches as he is the talisman and arguably their most important player. but we just heard from the england goalkeeperjordan pickford who said harry kane is sore but he is fine and crucially he was out on the training pitch so gareth southgate will be hoping that he comes to training well and the scan is positive and he will be available for the match against the usa on

friday. for the match against the usa on frida . , , ' for the match against the usa on frida . , , , , friday. hywel griffith is with the welsh camp _ friday. hywel griffith is with the welsh camp and _ friday. hywel griffith is with the welsh camp and we've - friday. hywel griffith is with the welsh camp and we've seen - friday. hywel griffith is with the l welsh camp and we've seen some friday. hywel griffith is with the - welsh camp and we've seen some of the welsh fans gathering had of the match on friday in full voice. how are the welsh team shaping up for the match against iran on friday? after all the exhilaration of playing the first world cup game in 64 years on monday, wales seem to show that they found their rhythm in the second half and that has given them some momentum to face iran on friday. we heard from striker keith who came on and seem to transform the way that they played on friday. then they were unable to unleash players like gareth bale. kieffer moore was playing non—league football a decade ago and holding

down a job as a lifeguard. he is not performing on the world stage and he is hopeful that he will start on friday. but that is the job of the manager at robert page. but all 26 players were at training today and we expect them to fit and ready for selection. the football association of wales will be some pictures of the dragon racing in the swimming pool! we used to seeing players relaxing and playing darts and so on so dragon racing seems to be the latest thing to keep the welsh players occupied in their downtime. certainly they're looking to take all three points in the game on friday which would still give them a realistic chance. 50 friday which would still give them a realistic chance.— friday which would still give them a realistic chance. so the welsh team findin: realistic chance. so the welsh team finding time — realistic chance. so the welsh team finding time to _ realistic chance. so the welsh team finding time to relax _ realistic chance. so the welsh team finding time to relax in _ realistic chance. so the welsh team finding time to relax in around - finding time to relax in around those matches. many thanks for that. wales are taking on iran at ten o'clock on friday before england go

on to face the united states at seven o'clock on friday evening before both england and were then meet in theirfinal group game next tuesday. that's all from me here in doha, now back to ben in the studio. it's one of the biggest and most famous football clubs in the world, but the owners of manchester united are thinking about selling the club. the american glazer family bought it 17 years ago, but they've long faced protests against their ownership from fans, angry about the way they've run the club. our sports correspondent andy swiss is at old trafford for us. even by the manchester united standards it has been a dramatic 24 hours. as you say the glazer family announced that they are considering selling the club and that is news that manchester united supporters because ever since they took over in 2005 the family have been hugely

unpopular with the supporters. that is because they were only able to buy the club by borrowing money against it, effectively plunging the club into millions of pounds of debt. the fans feel they should have spent more money in the players. they've not won a trophy since 2017 and the protests against the glazer family have been getting louder and louder. so why have they made this announcement now? a number of reasons. first of all the demise of the european super league which would have been hugely lucrative to the glazer family had happened would have been hugely lucrative to the glazerfamily had happened but it has not happened. and also the fact that both the stadium and the training facilities required millions of pounds of redevelopment. of millions of pounds of redevelopment. of course all this comes hours after it was announced that their star player cristiano ronaldo was leaving the club with immediate effect following that expensive tv interview in which he accused the club of betraying him. ronaldo also was critical of the glazer family in

the interview and said they did not care about the club. so ronaldo is leaving and it seems that the owners might soon be leaving as well. thank ou ve might soon be leaving as well. thank you very much. _ might soon be leaving as well. thank you very much. andy _ might soon be leaving as well. thank you very much, andy swiss _ might soon be leaving as well. thank you very much, andy swiss at - might soon be leaving as well. thank you very much, andy swiss at old - you very much, andy swiss at old trafford. cost—of—living payments worth hundreds of pounds will arrive in millions of people's accounts from today. more than 11.6 million pensioners will start receiving up to £600 from the government to help with their energy bills. the payments will be made over two months. another one million people on tax credits will also receive payments. the number of people who can't work because of a long term health problem has risen to a record two and a half million, according to officialfigures. it comes as the bank of england warns that growth is suffering because of a sharp rise in economic inactivity — in other words, people not in work or looking for work. our health correspondent jim reed reports. there you go. mary has to watch her

step as she climbs down to the beach in norfolk. girls! she's already had seven operations on her knees and is now on the waiting list for number eight. good girls! yes! i've had a number of different drugs from my gp who has been very understanding and very good. but in all honesty, they don't cut through the pain. theyjust turn you into a bit of a bit of a zombie, to be frank. a former nurse, the pain forced her to give up full time work in 2004, though she kept up some part time and voluntary roles. she wants to get anotherjob but needs that operation first. i wouldn't say that i am my work or myjob. but it was a huge part of my life. i miss being useful in that sense. mary is one of a record 2.5 million people not in work because of a long

term health problem. the number has risen sharply since the pandemic started. looking across the uk, sickness rates in northern ireland are now at 9% of the population, higher than in scotland, wales and england, although parts of the north east are now seeing rates above 8% and rising. we've been seeing increases in cardiovascular disease and other category, which can include covid related illnesses and also mental health and depression. so those seem to be some of the key contributors. patrick is now on the road to recovery in welshpool. a lorry driver, he hasn't worked since catching covid two years ago. i think i caught covid right at the end ofjuly 2020, and then i went downhill again rapidly and now i'm into my third year. and things for me personally seem to be improving. it's thought the rise in long term sickness may be partly down to covid and long waiting lists.

it started, though, before the pandemic, and the causes are complex, taking in everything from obesity to mental health. i think i was close to suicidal at one point and i sat on the end of the bed and i broke down. absolutely broke down. and it was, yeah, i don't think i could take any more. and a big part of that was not being able to work? yeah, not been able to work. not that daily contact. and again, money worries. yeah, it was horrible. truly horrible. tackling this problem is important notjust for pat and mary, but for the economy. at a time when staff shortages are driving up inflation. with millions off sick doctors and employers say urgent action is needed to try to reverse a worrying trend. jim reed, bbc news. new research shows that getting pregnant within a few months of a miscarriage or an abortion does not appear to pose extra risks for the mother and baby. the world health organization recommends at least a six—month gap but researchers in norway who have looked at recent real—life data

suggest couples can feel safe about concieving sooner. nhs england has drawn up its first national guidance to support employees during the menopause. chief executive amanda pritchard said taboos around the subject must be broken and simple steps such as cooler uniforms and fans to reduce temperatures should be happening "right across the board". it's been described as the beating heart of the teesside steel industry, an an iconic part of the skyline, but this morning the redcar blast furnace was demolished. it's the last of around a hundred blast furnaces that once lined the river tees. peter ruddick has this report. when the end came, it came quickly. redcar�*s blast furnace,

once one of the largest in europe, another part of the north east's steel—making past to make way. mixed emotions for local residents and former workers like tony who spent more than 30 years on site here. end of an era, start of a new one, i think. i made lots and lots of friends there, they are like family. i met my wife there and just two weeks ago it was our 24th wedding anniversary. congratulations! she will certainly be shedding a tear. at its peak, the furnace produced 3.6 million tonnes of iron a year. iron destined for british steel. ships, bridges, and construction sites around the world. more than four decades of british industrial history brought to the ground in just a few seconds. the question is what will fill this newly created gap on the iconic teesside skyline?

there had been calls to stop the demolition and preserve the structure as a sculpture or attraction. however the local mayor said that had not been a viable option. the cost to the taxpayer of this site anyway since the closure of the steelworks has been astronomical, more than £200 million of lost money. but ultimately we are very practical people on teeside. we get our hands dirty, we have a proud industrial heritage and we want that opportunity again, we want those manufacturing jobs, we want those industries, those power generationjobs back. because teesside has always done that. we built the world and we want to build it again. the four gas stoves which survived today's blast will be taken down next month when the work really begins to clean up the site and get it ready for its new future. peter ruddick, bbc news. time for a look at the weather. here's louise lear. it never rains but