this is bbc world news today. our top stories... the former archbishop of washington becomes the first man to leave the college of cardinals in almost a century, as he faces allegations of sexual abuse. final campaign rallies have taken place in zimbabwe — ahead of the first election since robert mugabe was ousted as president. firefighters battle to control a huge wildfire in californa — at least two people have died. the wildfire aspect has intensified over the last few years so we may experience more wildfires. welshman geraint thomas is set to win the 2018 tour de france, after retaining the yellowjersey at the end of today's time—trial. hello and welcome to world news today.

pope francis has accepted the resignation of a prominent us cardinal. the catholic church found that allegations theodore mccarrick had sexually abused a teenager were "credible and substantiated". the 88—year—old is facing a vatican trial, and has already been barred from carrying out any ministry. he becomes the first man to leave the college of cardinals in almost a century. john mcmanus reports. and to speak with civility and pray together... theodore mccarrick was one of the best—known clerics in the us catholic church. as of now, he is no longer a cardinal. he submitted his resignation to the pope after allegations that he sexually abused a teenage boy nearly 50 years ago. he denies the allegations but last month the archdiocese said that they were credible and substantiated.

due to the statute of limitations, too much time has elapsed for a criminal prosecution but the former archbishop of washington will now face a church trial. in a statement, pope francis ordered theodore mccarrick who had already finished his duties to seclude himself in a life of prayer and penance until after his trial. the scandal is doubly embarrassing because he was involved in drafting guidelines on sexual abuse following former scandals. anyone with this problem will never work in the united states, that is clear. other unsubstantiated allegations have also emerged including that he coerced former seminarians into sharing his bed. two dioceses in newjersey said they

had received allegations of sexual misconduct with adults, two of which we re misconduct with adults, two of which were settled financially. many catholics have called for a formal investigation into the us church similar to the one that took place in chile following allegations that senior us clerics knew about theodore mccarrick for many years. supporters of the two main candidates in zimbabwe's presidential election have held rallies on the last day of campaigning before monday's vote. the polls are the first since robert mugabe was ousted from power in november. earlier i spoke to our correspondent nomsa maseko in the capital harare. at the moment, polls in this country have known to be notoriously unreliable so we will have to wait and see after people vote on monday in terms of who they will be voting for. i can tell you for sure that

people are hoping that whoever takes over will try and recover this country's back —— battered economy and take this country forward. how are the candidates different? first, the president who was deputy to robert mugabe and who took over when he was ousted in november. he has promised morejobs he was ousted in november. he has promised more jobs and says he was ousted in november. he has promised morejobs and says he he was ousted in november. he has promised more jobs and says he wants to your back foreign investors in the country and wants to create young people jobs for peace and prosperity. on the other hand, from the movement of democratic change, led by the former late prime minister morgan chang who is

promising to createjobs minister morgan chang who is promising to create jobs and who once the economy to get back on track. he has said he's ready to ta ke track. he has said he's ready to take the forward and has been speaking to international observers and also to investors themselves. also, this is the first time in 16 yea rs also, this is the first time in 16 years that international observers have been allowed into this country so have been allowed into this country so definitely this is a very different election. tens of thousands of people have fled from a raging wildfire in northern california. almost 40,000 people have already left their homes in the city of redding. those remaining are being urged to leave immediately. thousands of firefighters are battling the blaze which has killed two people and destroyed hundreds of buildings. fla mes flames and gale force winds have compound to create what has been described at times as a fire tornado. about 100 foot wall of

flame. this fire has burned through bush and buildings destroying hundreds of homes and some communities. we are by no means out of the woods. we are at the mercy of some of these winds right now. tens of thousands of acres lie scorched and while every effort is being made to try to contain this fire, it is proving difficult and dangerous. two firefighters have been killed and a number of others reported missing. this man has been searching to try and find his wife and their two great—great—grandchildren. and find his wife and their two great-great-grandchildren. they said, grandpa, you need to come, the fire is at our house down. we don't know where they went. the high winds and flames have allowed the fire to jump over and flames have allowed the fire to

jump over the sacramento river threatening thousands more people and properties. many were left with no choice but to flee the city. it's claimed that all of this was started bya claimed that all of this was started by a broken down vehicle which caught fire. other parts of california are battling blazes in what has been called the worst start to the state's wildfire season in a decade. were not getting any break from the weather for at least five days. to fight fire in rugged country, we are used to doing that but when it blows into a community 01’ but when it blows into a community or city it's a whole different element. many have not yet been able to return to the streets to see what damage has been done. a small number chose not to go to evacuation camps and stayed in their houses to try and stayed in their houses to try and save them. homes were exploding, ca i’s and save them. homes were exploding, cars we re and save them. homes were exploding, cars were exploding. i have a white and kids. iwanted

cars were exploding. i have a white and kids. i wanted to see herface one more time. many have been caught out by the speed of the fire spreading. including a local television station. we are going to leave the station because it is now unsafe to be here. this fire still burns out of control and days of further higher temperatures are forecast. leaving firefighters to battle both the flames and conditions. stephen walsh from the american red crossjoins us live on the phone now....he's at one of the organisation's evacuation centres in redding, where the main fire is burning. thank you forjoining us. what's the situation where you are? how many people are you dealing with? the shelter where i am is on a college campus and we were at capacity last

night of 562. we have two other shelters that are not at capacity but are fully operational and ready to receive clients. one of those openjust a few to receive clients. one of those open just a few hours ago. how other people coming in to you? it is a very stressful a nd people coming in to you? it is a very stressful and sad time and people are very worried but for the most pa rt people are very worried but for the most part what i've seen is people staying calm and chatting with the volu nteers staying calm and chatting with the volunteers throughout the day and night and overall it's been a positive experience. we are here to make sure that everyone is co mforta ble make sure that everyone is comfortable and that everyone has something to eat and drink and if they need access to information, we can give that as well. we just saw people torn between going to safety and wanting to stay and protect their homes. is that a dilemma you have seen there? it is something that i've seen here and here in

california every time we have wildfires. letting of your home and wondering and not knowing that you will see it again is a tough thing. but we always tell people that they need to follow orders. but there are people who wish to ride it out and see what happens. your state is no stranger to wildfires but these are ona stranger to wildfires but these are on a different scale and so early on in the season. indeed. the good thing is that we have planned for these contingencies year round. we know that they were going to get bad and we have resource partners so that if we have to open multiple shelters through the state we are ready to do it. we can open the shelters with everything we need. we have the bedding, food and snacks and as people come and things change we have more resorts is. i'm sure

that everybody in your community really appreciates the work that you are doing. thank you for taking the time tojoin us. let's take a look at some of the other stories making the news. thousands have rallied in cities across russia to protest against plans to raise the pension age. the proposal, going through parliament, would see a gradual increase from 55 to 63 for women, and 60 to 65 for men. almost three—million people have signed a protest petition. the taliban has reportedly held its first direct talks with a us official, discussing future peace negotiations and an end to america's longest war. according to a senior taliban official, the group met alice wells, america's top diplomat for south asia, in an attempt to bring an end to the 17—year conflict. militants have attacked a government—run training centre for midwives in eastern afghanistan. a suicide bomber targeted the compounds entrance in the city ofjalalabad, close to the border with pakistan. gunmen are then said to have

stormed the building. officials say three civilians have been killed and eight others injured. local authorities in japan have issued evacuation orders, as a powerful typhoon is due to make landfall. they issued a warning of heavy rain, landslides and strong winds. the storm is expected to hit the western region, where flooding killed more than two—hundred people earlier this month. more than 100 flights have also been cancelled. stay with us on bbc world news, still to come — the fugitive catalan separatist leader, carlos puigdemont, says he will continue to campaign for a sovereign republic from his self—imposed ? exile. mr puidgemont has returned to belgium after spain dropped a european—wide warrant for his arrest. the us space agency has ordered an

investigation after confirmation that astronauts were cleared to fly while drunk. the last foot patrol in the south armagh. once an every day parts of the soldier's lot. now know more afterfour decades. parts of the soldier's lot. now know more after four decades. if someone is in more after four decades. if someone isina more after four decades. if someone is in a private house, not doing any harm to anyone i don't see why people should wander in and say you're doing something. six rare white lion cubs are on the prowl at worcestershire park and already meeting a roar of approval from visitors. they are lovely and sweet.

this is bbc world news today. the latest headlines the former archbishop of washington, theodore mccarrick, has resigned from the college of cardinals over allegations that he sexually molested a teenager nearly 50 years ago. he's the first man to quit the office in almost a century. and the frontrunners in zimbabwe's election have addressed large clouds on the last day of campaigning. election have addressed large clouds on the last day of campaigningm is the first election since robert mugabe was ousted from power last november. the former president of catalonia carles puigdemont has returned to belgium after spain dropped a european—wide warrant for his arrest. the separatist leader is still facing rebellion charges after attempting to create an independent republic of catalonia.

anna holligan reports from brussels. triumphant and defiant. carles puigdemont crosta european border, spoke freely to a roomful of attentive reporters in brussels, and these feats alone were enough to allow the new leader of the cattle lands to proclaim this a day of defeat for the spanish state. today is the day of defeat for the spanish state. in germany, as in belgium before the spanish state has lot the european battle. more defeats will come if they continue to press their case. while that may have scored a victory in this round of thejudicial battle, carles puigdemont still cannot return home without risking arrest.

and so the separatist leader vowed to continue his political campaign for autonomy in exile. myjourney will not end until all political prisoners are released. the exiles can return and the catalan people will have their rights to self—determination without the threat of violence. and later, a small crowd of supporters gathered at the place he will, for now, call home. from waterloo carles puigdemont will frame his peaceful fight for catalan independence in the context of common european values. it's a position he hopes will win the support of the european union which has so far, to his frustration, remained mostly silent. to sweden where attitudes have

hardened to accent thing asylum seekers. but some are hiding asylum seekers. but some are hiding asylum seekers in their homes. sweden has been traditionally tolera nt towards sweden has been traditionally tolerant towards migrants but now stands at the crossroads. in the general election migration has become the biggest issue. most of the parties want to deport more people and close the borders and make harder policies for migrants. since they don't get

assistance, they have to go underground and hide. for some provinces we believe you cannot return. for those with such a risk, the question is can you return to other parts of the country and thatis to other parts of the country and that is one of the reasons you are not given asylum in sweden. we are saying that you come from the province with a high level of violence but you can return to other parts of afghanistan where it isn't that high. how long will you keep him here? as long as i need. as long as he needs. he will always be

welcome here. that you cannot live hidden all your life. hello and thanks forjoining us on sport today. history has been made at the tour de france where britain's geraint thomas has all but taken the title after maintaining the race lead in the penultimate stage on saturday. the welshman came home in third place after saturday's time trial to espelette behind tom dumoulin and his team sky team mate chris froome. he has a one minute, 51 seconds lead as the race heads to paris for the largely ceremonial final stage around the streets of the french capital on sunday... it's incredible just to be sat here with this jersey. it's incredible just to be sat here with thisjersey. it's insane. a big thanks to chris froome because he committed to me and he was really happy to see me do so well and we are good friends and i really

appreciate having probably the best stage race rider ever riding for me. it's just so surreal. it's going to ta ke it's just so surreal. it's going to take a while to sink in, i think. the night, i think, take a while to sink in, i think. the night, ithink, i take a while to sink in, i think. the night, i think, i won't celebrate too much because tomorrow's stage is hard, if you switch off, it's one of the hardest stages. i will certainly have a beer 01’ stages. i will certainly have a beer or two and stages. i will certainly have a beer ortwo andi stages. i will certainly have a beer or two and i think we've got some burgers but i'll save the celebration for paris tomorrow night. defending champion lewis hamilton took his 77th career pole position for sunday's hungarian grand prix after qualifying was run in the wet. the rain gave mercedes the chance to upset the form book after ferrari appeared set for pole position in the dry. hamilton came home first beating his team mate valtteri bottas, while title rival sebastian vettel could manage only fourth place behind ferrari team mate kimi raikkonen. hamilton leads vettel by 17 points in the world championship.

in the international champions cup, manchester city face german champions bayern munich in miami while over in michigan, liverpool take on arch rivals manchester united in a not so friendly friendly in underan hour. spurs face barcelona in around seven hours' time. on saturday, chelsea beat internazionale on penalties, while portuguese giants benfica were beaten on penalties by italian champions juventus in newjersey and arsenal beat paris st—germain 5—1 in a eyebrow raising result. we were working for tactics and movement and the positions they need to play. the first idea we are working is without the ball, we start pressing. but i am very happy, the whole players played and that is

the whole players played and that is the first time for these players. this weekend sees the last of the pool matches at the hockey world cup before the knockout stages next week. earlier germany beat spain 3—1 in pool c — their third consecutive victory so far. south africa have been eliminated but earned a hard—fought point with a 1—1 all draw with argentina who are ranked number three in the world. in pool d — belgium beatjapan 6—3 to ensure that they will go through the cross over games, while australia are drawing one each with new zealand. andy murray is continuing his us open preparations in washington ahead of the citi open on monday — but on friday he was taking part in a warm up match with a difference. former england striker and current dc united captain wayne rooney turned up on court — and perhaps feeling that he was at a slight disdvantage — opted to use his feet

against the former world number one. you can't underestimate andy murray though — it seems his balls skills aren't restricted to weilding a racket. that's all the sport for now. you can find all our stories on the bbc sport website. now back to you. let's get more on our top story, the resignation of one of the highest ranking catholic officials to get caught up in abuse claims. this is an incredibly prominent figure in the us catholic church. this is an incredibly prominent figure in the us catholic churchm is correct. he has been at the top of the hierarchy here for decades.

he has also served as an ambassador for the vatican in difficult situations all over the world so this is a majorfigure. situations all over the world so this is a major figure. how surprised are you buy this resignation and that suspension from public ministry? how unprecedented is that? very surprised. this really has never happened before. very occasionally, a cardinal will be asked to put down his red out but certainly never in a sexual abuse situation like this. we are very surprised by the speed the action. they have made an assessment in advance of the canonical trial that was mentioned today. what do you think that tells us about how the vatican is handling the sexual abuse allegations. i think that the

devastating experience in chile has convinced pope francis that is truly a problem and you would think why would it take him so long to be convinced and i think he is now convinced and i think he is now convinced and i think he is now convinced and he sees the disaster as something that could do permanent harm to the church. thank you very much forjoining us here at on bbc world news. that's the way it's looking. a reminder of our top story. the archbishop of washington theodore mccarrick, one of the highest—ranking members of the catholic church caught up in sexual abuse allegations. you're watching bbc world news today. thank you very much for your company. we'll back again soon. good evening. after this heat of

recent weeks the weather much closer to what it should be at this time of the year. much fresher in the cloud. for some some the year. much fresher in the cloud. foi’ some some very the year. much fresher in the cloud. for some some very gusty downpours. parts of northern ireland have seen a month's parts of northern ireland have seen a months worth of rain in a couple of hours. the jet stream is a months worth of rain in a couple of hours. thejet stream is moving its way southwards and under this little curve we are seeing another area of low pressure developing. for tonight, the rain continues in northern ireland. some very heavy rain pushing up against western scotland. gale force winds across the south. temperatures should drop away to what will be a cold start to sunday morning. it will be wet across england and wales with two areas of low pressure linked to

unseasonably strong winds. some heavy rain in the morning. we could see over two inches of rain in the likes of the brecon beacons. we will see a few splashes of rain further north. not quite as windy further south. a better day for northern ireland. a lot of dry weather across scotla nd ireland. a lot of dry weather across scotland to begin with. away from the hebrides and north—west highlands where we could see winds gusting to 16 mph. brightening up through the day. england and wales turning mo shariff through the afternoon. the best of the sunday whether thankfully after today's storms will be in northern ireland. temperatures a few degrees down on where we should be at the time of year. into tomorrow evening, sky is clear for a year. into tomorrow evening, sky is clearfor a time, only a year. into tomorrow evening, sky is clear for a time, only a future hours around. that links back into

another system which will link its way in for monday. occasional rain, lots of cloud and costly conditions. most likely to see some rain in northern and western areas. temperatures creeping up in a south—westerly breeze. as the breeze eases down through the week, as it does the showers will ease and the days will warm up.