welcome to bbc news — i'm mark lobel. our top stories: the widow of haiti's assassinated president claims he was killed because of his drive to improve the lives of his people. for now i think the country is calm. but we still believe there is a threat for the elections to come and we still believe haiti will need some kind of assistance. california and nevada brace themselves for record breaking temperatures as the us heatwave continues. less than 2a hours until the euro 2020 final between england and italy — we'll have the latest from both camps.

the world number one, australia's ash barty, wins the wimbledon women's singles final. we begin in haiti where the wife of the late president, who was assassinated on wednesday, has posted an audio message on twitter — describing the moment gunmen stormed their home. she was injured and taken to a hospital in miami. the killing has thrown the country into deep political turmoil — with haiti asking both the un and the us to send military support. the bbc�*s rich preston reports. as haiti's future remains uncertain. as haiti's future remains uncertain. some ordinary haitians are looking for a way out of the country, fearful that the situation could deteriorate further. it is the poorest country

in the americas, and the first lady said her husband planned to change the consultation to improve the life of ordinary people. she described wednesday's attack. my home and riddled my husband with bullets without even giving them the chance to say a word. we cannot let the country lose its way. we cannot let his blood had been spilled in vain. but his proposed constitutional changes made him enemies and many said he wanted to extend his time in office. the attack, and most of them had been arrested or killed. three people now claim to lead the country, and interim prime minister, a new prime minister who has yet to be sworn in, and one nominated as the new

president. haiti has now asked for international help to maintain calm on the streets whether that will come is unclear. earlier i spoke to haiti's minister for elections and asked him what he knew about those who would've wanted to assassinate the president. the president was fighting a lot of battles. one was to effectively change the constitution is because the constitution is because the constitution is because the constitution is bringing a lot of instability and he believed that changing the constitution would make peoples lives better. the second was a fight against corruption, particularly those in the government and energy sector and construction and other big areas that he was trying to regulate. and that is created a lot of enemies for the president so i do understand when the first lady said that. she got a clear understanding of what really happened on that night. of what really happened on that

niuht. . , . night. critics are the constitutional - night. critics are the l constitutional changes night. critics are the - constitutional changes were to allow him to run again. you heard of these contenders do you think was behind this and has the fbi arrived in a country to help you find out? first of all there was no plan for the president to be a candidate again. and in the text of the constitution it was clearly stated that the president, underwhich clearly stated that the president, under which the new constitution was voted, cannot benefit from that constitution so the president was not a candidate. yes, we had called for the in the investigation because he wanted to get from the white house to confirm that they will be sending fbi officers in the country yesterday. we still expect them to be in the country very soon but they are not there yet. you've also asked for help for the un and the us to come and

help protect key infrastructure you say is under threat. have any of those troops arrived or have you heard when they might arrive? �* . . , arrive? actually, the letter was signed _ arrive? actually, the letter was signed by _ arrive? actually, the letter was signed by the - arrive? actually, the letter was signed by the prime i was signed by the prime minister on the seventh. on the day of the assassination. the plan was to assassinate the president then the people would get in the street and mercies might have been in the country to destroy key infrastructure. for now, i think the country is calm, there is no response yet but we still believe there is a threat for the elections to come and we still believe haiti would needs some kind of assistance and materialist for us to be able to have stabilised the country, for the security of the elections that will be coming in september 26.

you are backing a candidate, an interim prime minister that was meant to change based on the late president's wishes. there is now a senator who is saying that elections should not be heard as early as september because this coup, as they refer to that, of having the prime minister who was in power and was about to be powered in place would be going ahead then. according to the constitution article 149, the prime minister presides over the current ministers and the prime minister can leave the county for 120 days to organise the election. this is not the first time. this prime minister did not take the oath. the actual prime minister, no one was expecting him to be assassinated on that night.

that is what the constitution said lessons where we are. that you are not denied was his wish that she became prime minister. was part of the negotiation that was ongoing but the president gave 72 hours to form a government and after forming a government and after forming a government and after forming a government he would come back to the president. the president would publish the name of his ministers and his name as prime minister and then order to leave the country. that did not happen. and now we have the responsibility based on the constitution with the president, the leader of the council of ministers to lead the country for 120 days to continue with the ongoing election. $60 million has

already been disbursed for elections to happen. the electoral decree is out. if you want to lead this country you have to go to the election to receive the vote of the people and only the haitian people can decide who can leave the country, who can take the country, who can take the country forward and that is what we are going to do. according to the constitution. more than 30 million people in the southwestern united states are bracing themselves for a brutal heatwave. dangerously high temperatures are predicted for most of california and nevada in the coming days. on friday, california's death valley equalled it's previous highest record — set in 2020 — the hottest temperature recorded in over a century. hundreds of evacuation orders have been issued as wildfires rage across the beckwourth complex in the north of the state — where thousands of acres of forest land have been destroyed. and power companies have urged consumers to conserve energy ahead of next week.

it's all linked to a heat dome, or ridge of high pressure, over the region. hundreds of people died in the us and western canada when a similar heat dome shattered temperature records at the end ofjune. we can now speak to craig clements who's a professor of meteorology at the wildfire interdisciplinary research center at sanjos state university. what effects of these temperatures having on wildfires? these temperatures, this heatwave is really driving our fuel moisture is down to where getting then allows the fire to spread more easily so thatis fire to spread more easily so that is what we are experiencing.- that is what we are experiencing. that is what we are ex-ueriencin. �* ., , i. experiencing. and what is your wild fire forecast, _ experiencing. and what is your wild fire forecast, if _ experiencing. and what is your wild fire forecast, if you - wild fire forecast, if you like, for the rest of the summer?— like, for the rest of the summer? ~ _, _, , summer? welcome it could be uuite summer? welcome it could be quite grim _ summer? welcome it could be quite grim because _ summer? welcome it could be quite grim because of- summer? welcome it could be quite grim because of our- quite grim because of our drought that we just came out of that date back this winter.

the trees and shrubs are very, very dry and so is the extent of the summer we can expect largerfire so it of the summer we can expect larger fire so it is quite challenging for the months ahead. ~ ~ , ., challenging for the months ahead. ~ ~' , ., ., ahead. we keep hearing about this bad news _ ahead. we keep hearing about this bad news and _ ahead. we keep hearing about this bad news and it _ ahead. we keep hearing about this bad news and it keeps - this bad news and it keeps getting worse and worse but how is it comparatively to other years? well, we're still early in the fire season. we are kind of getting into the court in california, august, september. ourfuel moistures are california, august, september. our fuel moistures are at record levels that they are the lowest they have been and that is a sign we can expect larger fires. it is day—to—day whether that can actually drive our father to it might fire behaviour. expect much larger fires when we get into full. the problem for firefighter seems to be that the ever so dry that much of the water dropped by the aircraft to quell the flames evaporate before it features the ground. so how can these wildfires best

be tackled?— be tackled? well, there is what dro - lets be tackled? well, there is what draplets and — be tackled? well, there is what droplets and retardant - be tackled? well, there is what droplets and retardant which i be tackled? well, there is what droplets and retardant which is | droplets and retardant which is less susceptible to the atmospheric aridity. we just need to be, the firefighters need to be, the firefighters need to be, the firefighters need to develop severe airdrops on these big fires. the complex, for example, but as we get into more fires and later in the season it is going to be challenging for firefighters. the question is, and you understand how these work, how to best mitigate the wildfires of the future.— of the future. one thing the 're of the future. one thing they're in _ of the future. one thing they're in the _ of the future. one thing they're in the western l of the future. one thing i they're in the western us of the future. one thing - they're in the western us is trying to bring in more prescribed for fires. we are also going in and reducing the shrubs and the fuels around in the forest and if we can treat the forest and if we can treat the forest and if we can treat the forest we can reduce the fuels because it is a build—up of fuel that is helping to drive these big fires. there's nothing we can really do about the climate change in terms of how it is affecting the fires. but it is the fuels that we can actually manage. thank you so

much for taking us do that. let s get some of the day's other news in brief. on the sixtieth anniversary of a friendship treaty between china and north korea, kim jong—un and president xi jinping have exchanged messages, promising greater co—operation. according to the north korean news agency, mr kim said their relationship was vital in the face of hostile foreign forces. china is north korea's only major ally. the statues of two confederate generals have been removed from the us city of charlottesville in virginia. the monument to robert e lee was taken away from a central square, four years after the city council ordered its removal. another — of general thomas "stonewall" jackson — which was standing nearby — was also taken into storage. south africa's president cyril ramaphosa has called for calm following violent protests linked to the imprisonment of the former presidentjacob zuma.

25 lorries were torched and shops looted overnight in kwa zulu natal province. gail maclellan reports. luvvies burn on the major highway linking johannesburg with the coast. supporters of former presidentjacob zuma former president jacob zuma erupted former presidentjacob zuma erupted into protest as he began a 15 month jail sentence. —— lorries. police have been deployed to kwa zulu natal to maintain control and 28 people have been arrested. the application _ have been arrested. the application includes... i have been arrested. the | application includes... on friday the _ application includes... on friday the high court dismissed jacob zuma's attempt to have his arrest overcome. jacob zuma's imprisonment has laid

bare deep divisions in the anc and the former president has a large support base in his former province. it has been the most potent internal force opposing the current president. jacob zuma will probably be released from the escort correctional centre after serving four months of his 15 month term for contempt of court. that will not be an end to the controversy. the former president's actual corruption trial is yet to get under way. this is bbc news — our main headlines. the widow of haiti's president, jovenel moise, has made herfirst public remarks since he was assassinated. more than 30 million people in the southwestern united states are experiencing another brutal heatwave. the final of the euro 2020 tournament may be just hours away, but the final of south america's mens football championship, the copa america, has just kicked off.

two of the sports biggest rivals, brazil and argentina are playing in rio. no goals so far. the pandemic has meant only a limited number of fans are allowed in the stadium. whereas in london, more than 60 thousand are expected at wembley where england take on italy on sunday night. gareth southgate's squad arrived in london after their final training session. the england manager praised the home support, and said his players would give everything to win their first european championship. it has been fantastic to have obviously a letter from the queen, letter from the prime minister to all of the team. and the recognition that the players and all of the staff of gone about this on the right way. we had a fabulous reception when we left saint georges, all the local villagers had come out and were lining the route and people pulled over in lay—by is in so you got more a sense of what is going on outside the bubble.

but it always comes back to tomorrow. we are in a final and we are here to win. so everything, it is important how we represented people and we are pleased that legacy has been there. but now we want to go and bring the trophy home to everybody. italy will be looking to win a second european championship. the italian manager roberto mancini said his side will need to be at their best to beat england. translation: there's great | passion for football in england just as there is in italy. england have been very unfortunate in the past

in world cups and european championships. they've always boasted good teams just as they do now. they have a top side. i think it will be a wonderful match in front of a packed house. and i think that's wonderful news for football—lovers everywhere. so, i think it will be a great day, it will be a great day to play this match. and we know they have a lot of quality. so, we'll see how the game pans out. if england have made it to the final, it shows that they're a great side. brazil are taking on their arch—rivals argentina at rio's maracan stadium in the final of the copa america. controversially, the authorities in rio have eased covid restrictions and have allowed a limited number of fans into the stadium. lets cross to rio now and speak to football correspondent tim vickery. last time i looked it was 1—0 to argentina. what is the latest. ,, ., ~ latest. still one nil. we -la ed latest. still one nil. we played now— latest. still one nil. we

played now and - latest. still one nil. we played now and we - latest. still one nil. we| played now and we have latest. still one nil. we - played now and we have an hour to go. and it has been hugely enjoyed by the contingents of argentinian fans. this is late decision. thursday night, to let 10% of the stadium capacity and it has caused considerable confusion outside the stadium and people had to present a pcr test. there were several false tests presented than there are gatherings in an attempt to invades the stadium so it was all very last minute and improvised but it is the travelling argentina fans doing the singing at the moment. half an hour to go on their side reads 1—0. an hour to go on their side reads 1-0-_ an hour to go on their side reads 1-0. , , ., . reads 1-0. this widely watched match means _ reads 1-0. this widely watched match means a _ reads 1-0. this widely watched match means a lot _ reads 1-0. this widely watched match means a lot to - reads 1-0. this widely watched match means a lot to a - reads 1-0. this widely watched match means a lot to a lot - reads 1-0. this widely watched match means a lot to a lot of. match means a lot to a lot of people and there is tough love beans are dished out on the pitch. beans are dished out on the itch. . ., , beans are dished out on the itch, . ., , , pitch. there certainly is. it is intense _ pitch. there certainly is. it is intense and _ pitch. there certainly is. it is intense and likely - pitch. there certainly is. it is intense and likely to - pitch. there certainly is. it| is intense and likely to boil over. forargentina, is intense and likely to boil over. for argentina, then i title for 28 years. nessie has never won a senior title for argentina and the goal that they have scored, it was the

first time of all the goals they have scored in this competition, the first time that he was not involved in that he was not involved in that goal. brazil are proving more dependent. there is a long way to go and in this tournament argentina had tended tournament argentina had tended to fade in the second half. argentinian fans are just holding their breath, and hoping that things stay the way they are to make history for that team and for lionel messi. it is a bit of the case that it brazil when it is a continuation of recent supremacy on the continent for brazil but if they can put this in journalistic terms victory for bill brazil is a little bit like a dog biting man. a victory for argentina is man biting dog. a much bigger story and maybe when we look back in

the tournament in 20 years' time, but argentina when, it won't stand out so much as the covid cap and more as the moment when messi finally got his hand in a senior trophy. will be back to find out what actually happened at the end of that game. sounds like the eurozone is going to be most competitive but this one, if argentina keep it that way it looks like that is going to make headlines around the world. is make headlines around the world. , ., ., ~ world. is at the right. thank ou. thank you. wimbledon has a new women's champion. world number one, ash barty, has claimed her first title at the all england club. she defeated eighth seed karolina plish—kova from the czech republic in three sets, as chetan pathak reports. what a moment. ten years after winning thejunior title here she is now wimbledon champion emulating what her hero did 50 years ago.

she was not over so many from the indigenous australian community. from the beginning she has talked about winning this title and today she achieved that dream. it was not easy and it took three sets in the end against her opponent who really started this one slowly. but in the first 14 points in a row. but once the world number one had won that first set she did find her rhythm again, taking the second on a tie—break and leading us into a decider but her game of variety and slicing and stronger movement got her over the line in the end and when she won she dropped to the ground, the tears soon followed and like many before her, she made her way up the stairs to her box to celebrate with a team and particularly the physios who got her ready for these championships. it was only at the french open that she had to walk out on the second round with a hip injury. you'd uncertainty about whether

she would be fit for wimbledon. she has ended up going all the way and winning the title. another question will be, with two grand slams, can she go on and dominate the women's game? in the men's game, all we have seen is domination for the last two decades. federer, nadal and of course novak djokovic. on sunday, djokovic goes for his sixth wimbledon title. he is a man motivated by numbers. if he beats his opponent it will be another great match to watch and possibly an upset there. so much sport this weekend let's turn to music now. eurovision fans have been hoping for turkey's return since 2013 — when it left the competition — claiming the voting system was "unfair." but now turkish state broadcaster trt and the event's organisers, european

broadcasting union, say they are discussing the country's possible return. bbc monitoring's ilgin karlidag reports. this was one of the proudest moments for turkish music. sertab erener took eurovision by storm in 2003 and led her country to victory. but a decade later, turkey left the competition, with state broadcaster trt complaining about unfair voting. this was related to the introduction of a professional jury alongside tele—voting. turks love eurovision, and rumours have circulated for years about turkey's return. recently, for the first time, both sides are discussing the possibility.

fans are ecstatic. the timing of it is no coincidence. the move may reflect on corrupt�*s renewed interest in european integration. turkey wants to emerge from a period of political isolation after strained ties with europe over human rights and energy exploration. turkey won eurovision a year after president recep tayyip erdogan came to power in 2002, amid a wave of optimism about the country possiblyjoining the eu.

a lot has changed since then. erdogan's conservative and islamist root of government has become increasingly authoritarian. trt's general manager said in 2018 that turkey would not participate because the competition includes drag performers. the turkish broadcaster has until this autumn to decide if it will compete in 2022. it is still argentina 1— brazil

nil. it is still argentina 1- brazil nil. ., �* . it is still argentina 1- brazil nil. . . nil. you'll have a full round-up _ nil. you'll have a full round-up at - nil. you'll have a full round-up at the - nil. you'll have a full round-up at the top| nil. you'll have a full. round-up at the top of nil. you'll have a full- round-up at the top of the round—up at the top of the hour. many of us are on twitter. from me and the rest of the team, goodbye. hello. fairly quiet on the weather front right now. some showers and even the odd downpour and thunderstorms later on. and, of course, it's a very big day in the world of sport. we've got wimbledon, we've got the final at wembley too, so eyes on the weather too. we'd like the best weather conditions we could possibly get. so, this is what it looks like early in the morning. some sunshine and dry, but weather fronts are approaching and showers are brewing. the good news is that, for wimbledon, we're expecting fine weather conditions, very pleasant temperatures of around 18 to 20 celsius with some scattered clouds. so, this is what it looks like for most of us through the morning. it's dry, but then in the afternoon, very quickly, heavy showers will develop across parts of northern england and scotland.

some of them could be thundery. also in the southwest, a weather front is approaching at the same time. so, wet weather for the west country, parts of wales too. and this weather front will move slowly eastwards through the course of the day, so areas looking dry for the afternoon it may turn a little cloudy and then wet, and that does mean thatjust around kick—off time, we're expecting some rain at wembley. but the good news is it should be mostly light and fleeting. so, the forecast into the week ahead, a different extreme here, indicating further showers in the cards and we do get a dip in thejet stream, low pressure over us and the ingredients of further showers and so lots of showers on the way once again on monday and some of them heavy. if you squint, you can make up some lime green colours there, and that indicates

a downpour or two. temperatures in the sunshine will be around 20 degrees 01’ so. the good news is the weather improves, a few showers around. but we are watching these very close by in the continent, northern france. the further west you are, i think the drier the weather will be on tuesday. and then from midweek onwards, we are expecting high—pressure to gradually drift from the azures in our direction, and that means the weather will settle down and most dry weather around, lighter winds and also a little bit warmer too. i suspect in one or two spots eventually towards the end of the weekend, temperatures will hit 25. but wherever you are today, have a good day.

this is bbc news, the headlines: the widow of haiti's assassinated president has accused his political enemies of hiring mercenaries

to kill him, in order to halt efforts to introduce constitutional reform and better living conditions for all. in an audio message posted on twitter, she urged the people of haiti to continue fighting. more than 30 million people in the southwestern united states are experiencing another brutal heatwave. nearly 200 square miles of forest has been closed due to wildfires and people have been moved from their homes, close to the nevada border in northern california. queen elizabeth has sent a message of support to the england men's football team, ahead of their euro 2020 final on sunday. if they beat italy, it'll be their first major tournament victory since 1966. italy haven't lost any of their previous 33 matches. now on bbc news, dateline london.