every grand slam i play right now is a goal and opportunity to make more history. of course there is a big significance to that. i wouldn't say, it adds a bit more that i haven't played here for two years, it is just the feeling is pretty much the same. i feel like in grand slams i am more efficient and these other tournaments i on, that i work too, to have the best shape. so for sure i am using that, but on the other hand, you can't take anything for granted. well, if they're among the favourites, how about an outsider like caroline wozniacki? she retired in 2020, has had two children but the former world number one is back. i will always appreciate the game and everything it has given me. i hope that i am always going to be fit enough, that if i want to go out there and hit some balls, and play some doubles or whatever, that would be a possibility with my friends. itjust happens to be that ifelt like i was hitting the ball extremely well, that is still i'm young enough to give it another shot, and you only live once, so why not? let's bring you more on the news you've just been hearing about. spanish prosecutors have opened a preliminary sex abuse investigation into luis rubliales — president of the spanish football federation. it comes after allegations rubliales gave an unwanted kiss to playerjenni hermoso, following their world cup final win. he insists it was consensual. she denies this. the prosecutor's office says it has started the investigation because "the sexual act was not consented". spanish football's governing body and a spain sports tribunal are alos and a spain sports tribunal are also meeting today to discuss rubiales future. rubiales�* future. he has so far resisted calls to resign. also today — news agency efe are reporting rubiales�* mother has locked herself in a church and gone on hunger strike, with what she says is an inhuman hunt against her son. his cousin, vanessa ruiz, says she wants the media to leave them alone and for hermoso to tell the truth. england international georgia stanway gave us her reaction to the situation. it's actually sad. i think to win a world cup, to achieve what you have achieved, people have an individually unbelievable tournament, and for it to be overlooked by something that should you say is a mistake, i think it is hard. that is why we put out a statement as the lionesses, just to show our support and love and just say that, whatever happens, we are with you, and like i said before, it is about building and being powerful as a collective, because situations like this, we don't want to happen again. simone biles has spoken of her pride at becoming the first american gymnast to win the all—around title for an eighth time. aged 26, she's also become the oldest woman to win the all—around. every time i come out here, it feels like a fevered dream. it feels unreal. i knew that i did a good performance, and when i came out and i saw the score, i was not sure... every time i do something, i was like, i did, every time i do something, i was like, idid, i every time i do something, i was like, i did, iam in the every time i do something, i was like, i did, i am in the moment, every time i do something, i was like, i did, iam in the moment, but i'm also like... it doesn't feel realfor some reason. seriously, i'm also like... it doesn't feel realforsome reason. seriously, i can't believe i up a competing again. ijust really can't. i am proud of myself for that. and that's all the sport for now. some breaking news now, we havejust heard that the technical issue has been remedied. the uk air traffic control service say that they have now identified and fixed the technical issue which left thousands of people facing delays at airports. they have also said that they are sincerely sorry, we have a statement in full from the national air traffic services, we have this now with nicky schiller who joins us us in the newsroom. tell us what we have got us in the newsroom. tell us what we have .o. , , , us in the newsroom. tell us what we haveuuo , , ., have got yes, this has come through. i will read it — have got yes, this has come through. i will read it to _ have got yes, this has come through. i will read it to you _ have got yes, this has come through. i will read it to you in _ have got yes, this has come through. i will read it to you in full. _ have got yes, this has come through. i will read it to you in full. they - i will read it to you in full. they say: we have identified and remedied the technical issue affecting our flight planning issue this morning. we are working closely with airlines and airports to manage the flight is affected as efficiently as possible. our engineers will be carefully monitoring the system's performance as we return to normal operation. they go on to say that the flight planning issue affected the system's ability to process flight plans automatically, meaning that they had to be manually processed, which cannot be done at the same volume, hence the requirement for traffic flow restrictions. they go on to say: our priority is always to ensure that every flight in the uk remains a safe, and we are sincerely sorry for the disruption this is causing. they go on to say, please contact your airline for information on how it may impact your fight. but the most inborn information of the last few minutes is that the national air traffic services have identified and crucially remedied the technical issue that has been affecting them all morning, and into the afternoon. that has led to hundreds of flights being cancelled, both flights due to arrive in the united kingdom and also leave the united kingdom and also leave the united kingdom. you can see behind me, this is the flight radar 2a data of all of the flights around the united kingdom taking off and landing at the moment. and as you can see, they are doing that, but at a slower pace. that is because of theissue a slower pace. that is because of the issue that they had where they were not able to automatically update the flight plans. i can show you, if we move on to another bit of flight data that they have, this map. it is really addressing, it shows disruption across europe. you can see that there is lots of that read, hear, it shows that there are major problems long delays and cancelled flights. that is affecting the uk, but across europe, it is having that knock—on effect. we do know that in the united kingdom, one of the aviation data analysts has provided us with information, saying that 232 flights had been cancelled, departing from uk airports. and 271 fights have been cancelled arriving into uk airports. that is roughly 8-9% of into uk airports. that is roughly 8—9% of arrivals and departures. the issue now is that many of the airlines have flights that are abroad which have not left, and they are now working on what they do in terms of planning for bringing these passengers back, whether they cancel those flights all delayed. the good news now is that they know that the problem has been fixed, that will make their planning a lot easier, because they will know the flights coming into the uk will be able to land now that the automated system for the flight planning is operational, which is the bit which was not earlier on, and that was what meant it had to be manually processed, leading to delays for flights arriving and departing. worth bearing in mind that at heathrow, a flight arrives every 45 seconds normally, and that was what was having to be delayed today. they were not arriving and taking off as quickly as they were. also, interestingly, we had a from easyjet before the system is announced to be back up and running. —— they are providing customers with cancelled flights the option to transfer a freak to another flight or to receive a refund, and they are recommending all passengers flying with them today regardless of their destination do check their status the status of their flight, online. they are offering transfers to other flights if passengers have been cancelled. also, if yourflight flights if passengers have been cancelled. also, if your flight has been cancelled, it is worth checking out her bbc news website. there is a live page up and running there, they have lots of tips and information there on the options if your flight is cancelled. but, to repeat, the good news, in the last few minutes, is that the national air traffic service who operate the air traffic system across the united kingdom have said that they have ever rectified the issue, the technical issue, that was causing the problems this morning. that means that they can plan the flight plans automatically, which was what they were having to do manually, which was causing the cancellations and delays. was causing the cancellations and dela s. ., ~ ,, was causing the cancellations and dela s. ., ~' ,, , was causing the cancellations and dela s. ., , . was causing the cancellations and dela s. ., ~ , . ., was causing the cancellations and dela s. ., , . ., , delays. thank you very much, that is certainly good _ delays. thank you very much, that is certainly good news. _ delays. thank you very much, that is certainly good news. we _ delays. thank you very much, that is certainly good news. we will- delays. thank you very much, that is certainly good news. we will have i certainly good news. we will have more for you on that later as we process what that means now for the hundreds of flights that have been delayed or cancelled, and how soon the good news can trickle down to passengers stranding awaiting. now to afghanistan. the taliban has prevented female afghan students from leaving the country to study in dubai. the women were travelling to the united arab emirates because in december 2022, emirati billionaire businessman sheikh khalaf ahmad al habtoor announced scholarships for afghan women — after the taliban banned women from university. a total of 100 afghan women have been successful in gaining these scholarships. but at least 60 girls have been turned away from the airport — as they attempted to travel there to take up their place — according to reports. these are pictures of female students setting off for dubai queuing to go through security. however, some were told that girls are not allowed to leave afghanistan on student visas. there are reports that three girls — escorted by a mahram which is a related male companion — were even removed from a plane. with me is our presenter yalda hakim who has reported extensively on the situation for women in afghanistan. this paint a picture for us, for those girls are standing at the airport being told that they cannot get on a plane. to get to that point in the first place, it is so difficult in afghanistan. it really is difficult. _ difficult in afghanistan. it really is difficult, and _ difficult in afghanistan. it really is difficult, and you _ difficult in afghanistan. it really is difficult, and you can - difficult in afghanistan. it really is difficult, and you can only - is difficult, and you can only imagine, the nerves they would have felt going to the airport, knowing there are so many did restrictions on afghan women already. at the weekend, we heard that afghan women were being banned from going to a national park. for the last two years, afghan girls have been prevented from going to school over the age of 12, as hejust prevented from going to school over the age of 12, as he just reported, afghan women have been prevented from going to universities, and that is why these scholarships are so crucial, so important, because they are windows of hope for these afghan women. and that hope has again been stripped and taken away from them by the authorities. find stripped and taken away from them by the authorities.— the authorities. and we heard there as well that — the authorities. and we heard there as well that even _ the authorities. and we heard there as well that even the _ the authorities. and we heard there as well that even the women - the authorities. and we heard there as well that even the women who . the authorities. and we heard there l as well that even the women who had an escort... please explain the rules and what they are, because apparently, just to travel, afghan women need to be escorted by a male. that is right. they cannot travel certain distances without a male chaperone. these are rules and regulations imposed by the taliban in the 90s when they first rules. —— back when i first ruled. when they were talking to the united states and afghan officials, they made it clear that this would not be afghanistan under the taliban 2.0. they said that they believe in education. all that we have heard the last two years is that they are trying to put the right conditions in place. one of those was that afghan women cannot travel across the country or on their own outside of the country without a chaperone. now, we have seen that even with a chaperone, they are taken off an aircraft. , . a, aircraft. this crusade, if we can call it that, _ aircraft. this crusade, if we can call it that, against _ aircraft. this crusade, if we can call it that, against women - aircraft. this crusade, if we can i call it that, against women going to university, girls being in school, what are the taliban saying? we have not heard from them about this specific instance, i believe. in general, what they say about why they do this?— general, what they say about why they do this? increasingly, you do not hear from _ they do this? increasingly, you do not hear from the _ they do this? increasingly, you do not hear from the taliban, - they do this? increasingly, you do | not hear from the taliban, certainly not hear from the taliban, certainly not on these issues. they realise this is a short sore point for the international community. the more they talk about girls going back to school, the more promises they make and know they cannot do it over, the tougher the pressure on them is. they are a country which is virtually isolated now. the government, the taliban authorities, they are now the de facto government. they are not being dealt with by the international community. they do not like to come out and talk about these issues. they continue to make promises like, we will allow girls to go back to school and university. we have heard from taliban spokespersons who have said that they are travelling, they don't know anything about these issues. that is the default position of the taliban. anyone you go to, they say, we don't know about this current issue, we will get back to you. in current issue, we will get back to ou. , ., ., ., you. in terms of that reaction, it seems that _ you. in terms of that reaction, it seems that the _ you. in terms of that reaction, it seems that the message - you. in terms of that reaction, itj seems that the message coming you. in terms of that reaction, it - seems that the message coming back is that the taliban are saying: even what happens outside of afghanistan, as long as you and an afghan woman, we have some kind of unit jurisdiction over you. certainly when it came _ jurisdiction over you. certainly when it came to _ jurisdiction over you. certainly when it came to the _ jurisdiction over you. certainly when it came to the national. jurisdiction over you. certainly - when it came to the national park, we know that women are not allowed to go even to playgrounds. they cannot take their children to a playground. it is spam. they cannot travel, as you say, without a male chaperone. they cannot chaperone, they cannot work in most places. these increase on a day—to—day basis. the point that they made at the weekend —— weekend, why do they need to go sightseeing? why does a woman need to leave her home for no apparent reason? there is no reason for them to leave their homes. education is one of those reasons. thank you very much forjoining us to talk about this. this now, france has announced it. students from wearing a type of muslim dress, called an abaya, in state—run schools from september. there have been months of debate over whether the loose fitting, full length robe should be allowed in schools, where the wearing let's take a closer look at what the abaya looks like — the garment covers the whole body except the head, and can be worn with a head covering such as the hijab or the niqab. the french education minister — gabriel attal — gave a press conference earlier today where he discussed the ban, and called for unity.( sot tx) we know that our school is constantly being tested. in recent months, there has been considerable attacks on secularism, particularly with the wearing of traditional dress such as abaya. this is being put to the test by the new phenomena, in the face of occasional blows, attacked, and a sense of destabilisation, we must and will stand united. standing together means being clear, the abaya has no place in our school, and now that religious symbols. we're nowjoined by hania chalal who between 2019 and 2022 was the first female president of france's national muslim student organisation. great to have you joining us on the programme. what is your sense as to why this is happening now? thank you ve much why this is happening now? thank you very much for— why this is happening now? thank you very much for having _ why this is happening now? thank you very much for having me _ why this is happening now? thank you very much for having me on. - why this is happening now? thank you very much for having me on. for- why this is happening now? thank you very much for having me on. for the l very much for having me on. for the invitation. one thing that is really important to understand when we see all of this controversy is that, for the last 20 years, there has been a constant pressure on muslim women to police their bodies, what they decide to show off it. we are talking about abayas, the bandanna, the headscarf, and the legitimacy. it could be ourjewellery next, our make up... we still do not know. it has been worrying over the last few years, but this is, i think, the most important element to understand, when we take this controversy at the moment. i was auoin to controversy at the moment. i was going to ask. — controversy at the moment. i was going to ask, what _ controversy at the moment. i was going to ask, what impact - controversy at the moment. i was going to ask, what impact have i controversy at the moment. i was going to ask, what impact have you seen on students and student bodies when these types of policies come into play? i when these types of policies come into -la ? ~ ., ., ., into play? i think that another element to — into play? i think that another element to take _ into play? i think that another element to take on _ into play? i think that another element to take on from - into play? i think that another element to take on from thisl element to take on from this controversy, and from french history is that it is one of the few countries that is trying to have policies about what women are wearing as clothes. it translates as muslim students being harassed by the educational teams of their high schools. hundreds of testimonies have been heard from young women who tell us dreadful stories about them being chased up by their headmasters or teachers waiting for them every morning to check how long the skirt or garment they are wearing is, is it fitting or not? it has been putting a lot of pressure on the french muslim students. find putting a lot of pressure on the french muslim students. and how is this talked about _ french muslim students. and how is this talked about in _ french muslim students. and how is this talked about in public? - french muslim students. and how is this talked about in public? what. french muslim students. and how is this talked about in public? what is| this talked about in public? what is the public discourse about this? how is it presented in the press and media? in is it presented in the press and media? , , , ., ., , media? in the press and media, it is very interesting. _ media? in the press and media, it is very interesting, because _ media? in the press and media, it is very interesting, because the - very interesting, because the students are not seen as students, the muslim students are not betrayed students any more, as inherently dangerous. by wearing a slumber to be mac longer skirt than usual —— they are seen as inherently dangerous by wearing a longer skirt. it is inherently racist. depending on the race of the student, the same dress would not be seen as problematic. it is inherently racist. ~ ., , problematic. it is inherently racist. ., , ., racist. where does the debate go from here? _ racist. where does the debate go from here? in _ racist. where does the debate go from here? in some _ racist. where does the debate go from here? in some ways, - racist. where does the debate go from here? in some ways, this i from here? in some ways, this appears to be seasonal, it keeps coming back. appears to be seasonal, it keeps coming back-— appears to be seasonal, it keeps comin: back. , ~ ,, coming back. yes. it keeps coming back. it is seasonal. _ coming back. yes. it keeps coming back. it is seasonal. in _ coming back. yes. it keeps coming back. it is seasonal. in the - coming back. yes. it keeps coming i back. it is seasonal. in the summer, we had the ban on the berkey knee. muslim students are going to be harassed, and actually, this pressure is lasting throughout the year so many other areas have been attacked, fundamental rights of muslim students, but also muslim others accompanying the students in schools and on outings. so, it is seasonal, it is pressuring, and it is also increasing. i5 seasonal, it is pressuring, and it is also increasing.— is also increasing. is there any olitical is also increasing. is there any political motivation _ is also increasing. is there any political motivation you - is also increasing. is there any political motivation you can i is also increasing. is there any | political motivation you can see is also increasing. is there any - political motivation you can see for this? i political motivation you can see for this? ~ ., political motivation you can see for this? ~ . ., u, ., h, this? i think that what we can also notice is the _ this? i think that what we can also notice is the personality _ this? i think that what we can also notice is the personality who - this? i think that what we can also notice is the personality who is - this? i think that what we can also l notice is the personality who is now minister of education. the fact that he is someone who gave that guideline for the minister of education, the minister of education and the ministry of the interior are the two ones who are seen as having their eyes on the next presidential election. and every political declaration they may have is made on this topic, is made at the expense of young muslims. one thing we can notice from the whole controversy around the abaya garment is that, again and again, it is made at the expense of young french muslims. thank you very much for telling us your thoughts. great to have you on the programme. here in the uk, the fire brigades union has expressed safety concerns over the barge intended to temporarily house migrants moored on the south coast of england. the union has threatened legal action against the government, raising issues such as access to fire exits and overcrowding. suella braverman accused the fire brigade union of a political attack against the government. our political correspondent is following the story. correspondent is following the sto . �* ., , ., correspondent is following the sto. �* ., , ., story. the fire brigades union has been expressing _ story. the fire brigades union has been expressing concerns - story. the fire brigades union has been expressing concerns as - story. the fire brigades union has been expressing concerns as you | story. the fire brigades union has - been expressing concerns as you have said, for some time, about the use of the bibby stockholm to house migrants who have come to the uk illegally. they are now taking that a step further with the possibility of legal action. they have accused the government of a callous disregard for those in its care. there are of course nobody... there is nobody on board. those taken and had to be taken off after health concerns over the legionella bacteria discovered. the fire brigade union so that they have concerns about the accessibility of fire exits on the barge, the fact that rooms are being used as double occupancy rooms when they are only designed a single occupancy rooms... and other concerns as well. they have written to the home secretary expressing these concerns, setting a deadline of the 31st of august for risk assessment other paperwork. and also protocol is drawn up to be published. that is so that they can make a judgment as to whether the barge assay. in response, the home office said that the bibby stockholm it successfully completed all fire and safety checks, and that the health and welfare of those on board is its utmost priority. and this morning, suella braverman responded herself, accusing the fire brigade union of acting with an agenda. let me aet union of acting with an agenda. let me get be clear. i am confident the barges _ me get be clear. i am confident the barges save. it has accommodated people _ barges save. it has accommodated people in— barges save. it has accommodated people in the past. asylum seekers, oil rig _ people in the past. asylum seekers, oil rig workers, and barges of this kind have — oil rig workers, and barges of this kind have been used to accommodate asylum _ kind have been used to accommodate asylum seekers in scotland for example _ asylum seekers in scotland for example. i am confident that this barge _ example. i am confident that this barge is— example. i am confident that this barge is safe for human habitation. we followed all of the advice and protocols — we followed all of the advice and protocols in anticipation of embarkation. let's be clear about what _ embarkation. let's be clear about what the — embarkation. let's be clear about what the fire brigade union are doing. — what the fire brigade union are doing, they are a labour affiliated union— doing, they are a labour affiliated union carrying out a political attack — union carrying out a political attack on _ union carrying out a political attack on the government through their challenge right now. they want to stop _ their challenge right now. they want to stop us, _ their challenge right now. they want to stop us, just like we are dealing with a _ to stop us, just like we are dealing with a range of forces who want us to stop _ with a range of forces who want us to stop stopping the boats. they are all gleeful— to stop stopping the boats. they are all gleeful about the prospect of us not putting people on the barge. there _ not putting people on the barge. there is— not putting people on the barge. there is no guarantee this threat of legal action will come to anything, but, it is the latest potential challenge to the government's policy of housing migrants on the barge moored in dorset. it faces logistical delays, challenges from residents, human rights groups, and others. as to when people may go on board, the home secretary couldn't say specifically this morning when asked, only that it would happen when all the relevant checks had been carried out. studio: lets now bring you an update on a big story we have been following here in the uk. these are live shots of heathrow airport, this is after a technical issue at air traffic control led to long delays to flights with passengers stuck on planes and airports across the country. now, the issue has been fixed according to the uk air traffic control service. the issue has been identified and remedied. however, delays persist: more than 500 flights into and out of the uk have been cancelled. stay with us here on bbc news. hello. there are still some showers out there today, but on the whole, they are not as potent as the downpours we have seen over the last couple of days. quite large amounts of cloud and taking us through the rest of the afternoon, breaking to reveal some spells of sunshine. equally, still producing one or two mainly light showers, although they could pop upjust mainly light showers, although they could pop up just about anywhere. some breaks in the cloud. some spells of sunshine. late in the afternoon, the band of rain approaching in the north west of scotland. temperatures between 16 and 21 degrees, not too bad in any brighter spells. and 21 degrees, not too bad in any brighterspells. for and 21 degrees, not too bad in any brighter spells. for most of us, not too windy. tonight, the band of rain pushing eastwards in scotland, the odd lightning and thunder. patchy rain across northern ireland getting to north—west england by the end of the night. i have that, lots of cloud. behind our rain bands, the skies will clear, a lot of sunshine at the start of tomorrow morning across scotland and northern ireland. the england and wales, more cloud, bands of showers are pushing eastwards. another band of heavy downpours pushing down across the northern half of scotland, may be getting into central part by the end of the afternoon. temperatures generally between 15 and 21 degrees. now, later in the day, this frontal system pushing across the south—east of england, we can see heavier showers, may be the odd thunderstorm. some showers on wednesday. a week of high pressure building in, ortrying. showers across northern and eastern parts of the uk. further west, a little drier and brighter, at least for a time. temperatures... may be higher in some places, 18, 19, 20 degrees. cloud and rain gathering behind me, outbreaks of heavy rain pushing across southern parts of england and wales. i suspect that could push into northern england and northern ireland for a time. sunny spells elsewhere. temperatures between 16 and 19 degrees. heading into the start of september, there are some signs that high pressure will try to build just in time for the weekend. a lot of uncertainty about the detail in the forecast for the end of the week, some showers around, but signs of things for many of us will start to turn a little drier and may be warmer. live from london, this is bbc news. britain's national air traffic service said it has now remedied a technical issue which affected its flight planning system. there is still widespread disruption across europe to flights using uk airspace. iamat i am at present�*s biggest and busiest airport which like its counterparts is dealing with efforts to pov backlog of delays. spain prosecutors open preliminary sex abuse probe over luis rubiales kiss. an urgent meeting of the football federation is under way. and at least 60 female afghan students have been turned away from the airport despite successfully gaining a scholarship in dubai. hello, welcome to verified live, three hours of breaking stories, and checking out the truth behind them. we have two big stories this hour. the first one is here in the uk, where a technical issue has hit air traffic control systems, with thousands of people facing long delays at airports. this has now been fixed, but the knock—on effects are substantial.