Briefly

UNITED KINGDOM

Top court rejects vote on Scottish independence

Britain's highest court on Wednesday rejected a bid by the devolved Scottish government in Edinburgh to hold a new referendum on independence without London's consent. The unanimous ruling by the Supreme Court torpedoed the Scottish government's push to hold a second plebiscite next year. The Scottish National Party had said that in that event, it would turn the next general election into a de-facto vote on splitting from the rest of the UK, threatening constitutional chaos. First Minister and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said she respected the ruling but was "disappointed".

UNITED STATES

Seven killed in Walmart store shooting, city says

Seven people were killed and several wounded in a shooting at a Walmart in Chesapeake, Virginia, on Tuesday night, authorities said. The city of Chesapeake confirmed the deaths in a tweet early on Wednesday, citing the city police. Police identified him as an employee at the store. Chief of Chesapeake Police Mark G Solesky told reporters on Wednesday that the gunman killed himself. He said the assailant opened fire with a pistol and that the motive was not yet known.

Agencies via Xinhua