Has been closed. And the queen launches the baton relay for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in australia as it starts its journey around the world. In the sport, chris froome breaks his silence on his embattled boss, dave brailsford, saying that there would be no team sky without him. Good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. Scotlands First Minister has announced that she plans to trigger another referendum on Scottish Independence. Nicola sturgoen said she would seek permission to hold a second referendum between autumn next year and the spring of 2019, when the terms of the uks exit from the eu are clearer. Two and a half years after the first Independence Referendum, ms sturgeon said the vote to leave the eu meant the situation was now very different, and it was important for scotland to choose its own future before it was too late. A short time ago Downing Street said another referendum would be divisive and cause huge Economic Uncertainty at the worst possible time. From edi
Who are facing famine across africa and the middle east. The United Nations says the crisis in nigeria, south sudan, yemen and somalia threatens to be the worst in 60 years. In somalia, conflict and corruption has made the effect of a two year drought even worse. Our correspondent Andrew Harding is in baidoa in the countrys south west. You may find some of the pictures in his report distressing. This is baidoa, a town besieged by two unforgiving enemies. The soldiers are here to guard against al shabab, the militant islamists controlling the countryside in this corner of somalia. But its the second enemy, drought, that is now far more dangerous. Nine year old ali has just been carried into the local hospital. He is unconscious. But its not from hunger not yet. After three years of failed rains, clean water is hard to find. The doctors here believe they are battling a sudden outbreak of cholera. Inside, weak from diarrhoea, dozens of new cases. Many families have walked miles get help.