welcome to our viewers on pbs in america and around the globe. russia says its forces have completed the capture of soledar a small town in eastern ukraine that s been the focus of intense fighting. moscow called it an important step in its offensive which would allow russian troops to cut off ukrainian forces in nearby bakhmut. if russia s claims are true, it would be the first ukrainan town it has captured since july after six months of russian military setbacks. but ukraine s president zelensky says the battle in soledar is still under way. our ukraine correspondent, james waterhouse, reports. a salt mining town under russian assault, soledar has become a story of carnage and contradiction. after months of bloody fighting, an attempt by russia to give a clear message. for the first time, a claim, to be in complete control, and that this town is the start of something bigger. the capture of soledar became possible due to the constant destruction of the enemy, says russ
by rivers and landslides, causing disruption and even isolating communities. here in monterey, the salinas river burst its banks, flooding the surrounding area. there are concerns that entire towns could be cut off here. here in san francisco, itjust keeps raining and raining. the ground here is totally sodden. there is just nowhere for the water to go. and with plenty more rain forecast, there is expected to be further flooding, too. james clayton, bbc news, san francisco. an iranian chess referee has been barred from arbitrating after wearing a t shirt supporting women s rights in iran at a tournament in iceland. shohreh bayat was ordered by the russian president of the international chess federation to change the women, life, freedom shirt. our news reporter azadeh moshiri joins us now. it s interesting, this. talk us through how it all happened. shohreh bayat is a chess referee who actually lives in