hello, this is your update from the bbc sports centre. the women's football world cup has got underway in auckland — with the co—hosts new zealand sealing a famous victory in the opening match, with a 1—0 win over the former champions, norway. the second game of the day, australia against ireland is underway. let's go live to shaimaa kalil in sydney. first of all, a famous victory for new zealand. never won a world cup game before. new zealand. never won a world cup game before-— game before. never won a world cup came game before. never won a world cup game before. — game before. never won a world cup game before, and _ game before. never won a world cup game before, and what _ game before. never won a world cup game before, and what a _ game before. never won a world cup game before, and what a game - game before. never won a world cup game before, and what a game to . game before. never won a world cup i game before, and what a game to win, theirfirst game against game before, and what a game to win, their first game against and favourites norway, on a very difficult day for new zealand. this was hours after that shooting in

auckland. there was a minute's silence at the beginning of the game. new zealand had actually proven to be the better side in the first half. hannah wilkinson and jackie hand giving norway... they deliver that first goal. they had a chance to win 2—0, but they missed a penalty. they came out the happy team. there were huge cheers for them. they delivered for their fans who were cheering for them all the way on a difficult day. on the opening day, which overshadowed by that shooting. really one for the history books, having never won before. �* , ., ~ history books, having never won before. �*, ., ~ ., before. let's talk about new zealand, _ before. let's talk about new zealand, because _ before. let's talk about new zealand, because their- before. let's talk about new - zealand, because their campaign is under way as we speak against ireland, but there was a really big injury blow for them not long before

kick—off. hat injury blow for them not long before kick-off. ., ., , ., ~ kick-off. not long before kick-off, i think an hour— kick-off. not long before kick-off, i think an hour or _ kick-off. not long before kick-off, i think an hour or so _ kick-off. not long before kick-off, i think an hour or so before, - kick-off. not long before kick-off, i think an hour or so before, we i i think an hour or so before, we were all looking at our phones, thinking, is that really true? sam kerr, their top goal—scorer, it cannot be overstated how difficult this will be for the matildas. she is out for the tournament with a calf injury. it can go either way. they are a force because they have such chemistry and a great deal of experience. but sam kerr missing that game is not good news for them. it is a big loss. ok. that game is not good news for them. it is a big 1055-— that game is not good news for them. it is a big 1055-— elsewhere in football, declan rice made his first appearance for his new side arsenal overnight as they comfortably beat the mls all—stars 5—0 in washington. it was rice's gunners debut following his £100 million transfer from west ham.

there was a debut too forjurrien timber. it was a great occasion, great atmosphere. it was great to see so many arsenal supporters telling the stadium. so, yeah, we had great moments in the game. especially in the first half, there were not that many great moments, but it was great to see some debuts. really pleased at the end with the result. staying with football and more big—named players look set to make their move to saudi arabia, including the first englishman to make the switch this summer. liverpool captain jordan henderson looks set for a reunion with former teammate and now al etti—faq manager steven gerrard — after liverpool agreed a initial deal of £12 million with the saudi arabian club

for their midfielder. manchester city have agreed a £30 million deal for saudi pro league side al ah—lee to sign algeria winger riyad mahrez. the 32—year—old has been given permission not to travel on city's pre—season trip to japan and south korea. let's move on to cricket where england made a great start to the second day of their fourth ashes test against austrlia. jimmy anderson dismissing captain pat cummins with the very first ball of the morning. they did eventually wrap things up in the last few minutes, all out for 317. ingle's reply hasjust in the last few minutes, all out for 317. ingle's reply has just got under way. they are currently 6—0.

on to the golf now and the isist open championship is underway at royal liverpool, in hoylake on the wirral. many of the big hitters are yet to start their first round — the likes of rory mcilroy and john rahm will take to the tee in just over three hours' time. defending champion cameron smith is out on the course though. he is one over at the moment. attention at the tour de france turns to the sprinters today with a flattish 185 kilometres stage after yesterday's toughtest day of the race as good as decided the overall winner. defending champion yonas vingergaur rode away from his struggling rival tadey pogarcher on the highest

mountain of this year's race and now leads by over seven and a half minutes with four stages to go. and that's all the sport for now. rail passengers face more disruption as there is a fresh round of strikes. the action will affect 14 train companies across england, but also impact services running to scotland and wales. it was a transport correspondence, katy austin. once again, fewer trains are running as rail workers walk out.

the level of disruption will vary around the country. some passengers in birmingham had changed their plans. annoying. so i'm travelling up to see my friend in sheffield and there's been a lot of, like, disruptions and stuff. so i've opted for the bus, obviously, because it's just a bit easier. i completely support the train strikes, yeah. they're battling for fair wages, aren't they? i they're battling for their terms and conditions and all those i things matter, don't they? strikes have now been going on for more than a year. the rail industry is under pressure to cut costs from the government, which controls what's on the table in the dispute between the rmt and 14 train companies. the operators continue to call for members to get a vote on proposals for a backdated pay rise of 5%, followed by 4% this year, all in exchange for changes to ways of working. it's a really strong offer made in a climate where we know that there are challenges in terms of new lower passenger numbers during covid and, ultimately, it's taxpayers that will foot the bill if we increase an offer to the union. the rmt rejected the latest proposals back in april. there are conditions in this offer that we can't live with. whenever they want to come to the table, they have to get

permission from the government. that has not been granted. we know that we could move this forward. the announcement this week of massive cuts to station staff has exacerbated the problems. the rmt opposes plans to close hundreds of ticket offices around england. the industry and ministers argue staff would assist passengers around the station and insist they're listening to disability groups�* concerns about the proposals. 100,000 people have already responded to a public consultation, which closes on wednesday. the next train strikes are this saturday and next saturday, with action on the london underground also due next week. katy austin, bbc news. a lovely development for you now. a rare plant at the university of leicester's botanic garden, has finally bloomed again much to the delight of fans who have been waiting a very long time for it to happen. yes, the agave succulent plant last flowered in 1998 — 25 years ago, as

helen astle reports. this is no ordinary plant. the succulent is also called the century plant because originally early explorers thought it took 100 years to flower. thankfully, they were wrong, and it isjust been to flower. thankfully, they were wrong, and it is just been a 25 year wait. it wrong, and it is 'ust been a 25 year wait. ., , ., ., , ., wait. it does have to be grown indoors. there _ wait. it does have to be grown indoors. there are _ wait. it does have to be grown indoors. there are some i wait. it does have to be grown l indoors. there are some botanic gardens that have got them and they nearly have to always take glass out of the roof to allow them to flower because the greenhouses are not bold enough! the because the greenhouses are not bold enou~h! ., , because the greenhouses are not bold enou~h! . , , ., because the greenhouses are not bold enou~h! ., , ., .,, enough! the last time the plant was flounderin: enough! the last time the plant was floundering this _ enough! the last time the plant was floundering this back— enough! the last time the plant was floundering this back in _ enough! the last time the plant was floundering this back in 1998 - enough! the last time the plant was floundering this back in 1998 stop i floundering this back in 1998 stop tony blair was priming a, google had just been launched, and interest rates were not 5% like they are now. they were 7.5%. we were there as well to capture the moment. there are some weird plants in here.

none _ there are some weird plants in here. none of— there are some weird plants in here. none of these plans have settled better_ none of these plans have settled better than this. the none of these plans have settled better than this.— better than this. the plant is certainly attracting _ better than this. the plant is certainly attracting a - better than this. the plant is certainly attracting a lot i better than this. the plant is certainly attracting a lot of i certainly attracting a lot of attention. certainly attracting a lot of attention-— certainly attracting a lot of attention. ., , ., ., , attention. the gardens had a big sale and family _ attention. the gardens had a big sale and family day _ attention. the gardens had a big sale and family day at _ attention. the gardens had a big sale and family day at the i attention. the gardens had a big i sale and family day at the beginning ofjuly, and for the first time ever, people were queueing to get into the greenhouse. i ever, people were queueing to get into the greenhouse.— into the greenhouse. i was looking at the stem _ into the greenhouse. i was looking at the stem end _ into the greenhouse. i was looking at the stem end it _ into the greenhouse. i was looking at the stem end it is _ into the greenhouse. i was looking at the stem end it is like _ into the greenhouse. i was looking at the stem end it is like that i into the greenhouse. i was looking at the stem end it is like that big. | at the stem end it is like that big. it is amazing. it at the stem end it is like that big. it is amazing-— it is amazing. it is quite extraordinary. - it is amazing. it is quite extraordinary. never. it is amazing. it is quite i extraordinary. never seen it is amazing. it is quite _ extraordinary. never seen anything like it before.— extraordinary. never seen anything like it before. amazing. i have been as aidd like it before. amazing. i have been as giddy as — like it before. amazing. i have been as giddy as a _ like it before. amazing. i have been as giddy as a kid. _ like it before. amazing. i have been as giddy as a kid. they _ like it before. amazing. i have been as giddy as a kid. they have - like it before. amazing. i have been as giddy as a kid. they have come l as giddy as a kid. they have come back to see _ as giddy as a kid. they have come back to see this _ as giddy as a kid. they have come back to see this one _ as giddy as a kid. they have come back to see this one after- as giddy as a kid. they have come back to see this one after 25 i as giddy as a kid. they have come | back to see this one after 25 years. it is a long time. it seems as if it has gone like that.— has gone like that. what does it mean to see — has gone like that. what does it mean to see it? _ has gone like that. what does it mean to see it? better - has gone like that. what does it mean to see it? better than i has gone like that. what does it i mean to see it? better than looking at the ta' mean to see it? better than looking at the taj mahal _ mean to see it? better than looking at the taj mahal or _ mean to see it? better than looking at the taj mahal or something. i at the taj mahal or something. because it is a force of nature.

once it has finished flowering, it will eventually die. the whole plant will eventually die. the whole plant will die and, by the end of the year. — will die and, by the end of the year. it— will die and, by the end of the year, it will have been removed. visitors — year, it will have been removed. visitors are _ year, it will have been removed. visitors are being encouraged to see the once in a generation flowering plant as soon as possible. amazing. now it's time for a look at the weather with matt taylor. hello. as summer goes even more into reverse this weekend, there will be some strong winds around, a cool feel and plenty of rain. this chart shows just how rainfall will tot up across the uk as you go through the weekend. some of the brighter colours, snowdonia, around cumbria, and also towards the south—east of scotland, where we will see some of the highest rainfall totals and potentially the greatest impacts. it's the cloud here which has been gathering just off the coast of canada which will bring that area of low pressure but, for the time being, we are seeing reasonably well broken cloud

across the uk. a few more showers, though, brewing into the afternoon and beyond. some of the most widespread showers will be across parts of central and northern scotland. but, elsewhere, fewer showers than yesterday. more of you will spend the afternoon completely dry, if not the bulk of the day dry. but whilst it will feel pleasant in the sunshine when you've got it, out of it, temperatures down the little bit on yesterday's values and still below where we should be at this stage injuly. that includes at old trafford and hoylake, where we've got the ashes and the open taking place. but increasing amounts of sunshine through the afternoon. breezy, though, on the coast at hoylake. now, as we go into this evening and overnight, the strongrst of the breeze, as we've seen today, in the far north of scotland. light winds elsewhere. many of the showers will fade, but cloud in scotland and northern ireland will remain, some further patchy rain to come here to take us into tomorrow morning. temperatures to start tomorrow morning not far from what we saw this morning for many of you, down to single figures in some parts of the countryside. so it might be a bit on the fresh side. a dry and bright start from any, but already some patchy rain in central and southern scotland, northern ireland, some developing in northern england. a few showers towards the south, many will stay dry.

a few heavier showers towards the north—east of scotland, and temperatures tomorrow similar to today's values, but with cloud increasing from the west, not as much sunshine around. and even less sunshine as we go into saturday. here is that area of low pressure spreading down from the north atlantic. strongest winds on the southern flank of it, so it is england and wales that will have the windiest conditions on saturday. gales towards the south—west. heaviest of the rain across central and western parts. east anglia and the south—east, you might not see rain until late in the day, good and proper. the far north of scotland may stay dry and bright through saturday. temperatures, well, in the teens for all. it will feel colder where you are stuck with that wind and rain. that area of low pressure will push its way eastwards slowly through the night into sunday. stronger winds developing across scotland and into the north—east of england. and it is the northern half of the country where we will see the heaviest of the rain for the second half of the weekend. take care.

live from london. this is bbc news. thousands of