Hello, everyone. Thank you so much for joining me. Im fredericka witfield. The southwestern u. S. Is bracing for potentially catastrophic flooding as hurricane hilary churns off the pacific. We just learned moments ago that the storm has weakened just a bit to a category 3 storm with 125 mile an hour winds. Its lashing mexico with strong winds and high waves right now. Forecasters warn it could dump more than a years worth of rain across parts of california, nevada and arizona. The storm is expected to weaken as it moves north, but the threat is so severe, a Tropical Storm watch has been issued for california, the first ever for that state. People there are trying to prepare as best they can. Cnn meteorologist Allison Chinchar is joining us. A new advisory has just been issued. While it may have been downgraded a little bit, thats still very threatening. Right. Keep in mind the weakening was forecast. We knew as it slid into cooler waters, this was going to happen. In terms of the fore
worthjust reminding you about the origins of the alliance and its central article of collective defence. the north atlantic treaty organisation was established in 1949 in a bid to stop soviet expansion following the second world war. it was initally made up of 12 countries including the us uk canada and france. since then, the membership has grown to 31 with finland the very latest to join. the central principle of nato, is its commitment to collective defence. under article 5 of the treaty, all member countries agree to help each other, if one of them is attacked. and it s that commitment which makes many countries wary about allowing ukraine to join. let s cross live to my colleague lewis vaughanjones in vilnius. over lewis vaughanjones in vilnius. to you. over lewis vau:han jones in vilnius. to ou. ., , plenty of warm words and support for ukraine in the last couple of hours, or updates like denmark, training f-165, or updates like denmark, training f 16s, fighterjets, ukr
pilots and trainers being trained on f-16 technology which belongs to the united states, provided european allies did the training and likely were involved in the eventual supply of jets. this has been a lengthy process, lots of hurdles. denmark announced yesterday in the next days they would likely start training ukrainian pilots in this technology. there are a lot of steps. the u.k. and netherlands are also going to get involved. once trained, that could take five to six months. we have a long road ahead until we finally see ukrainian f-16s flying. it s a distant project and one that ukraine wants immediately because of the impact it could have in the counteroffensive in pushing back russian air superiority. some signs of progress, but still nothing fast enough for
over lewis vau:han jones in vilnius. to ou. ., , plenty of warm words and support for ukraine in the last couple of hours, or updates like denmark, training f-165, or updates like denmark, training f 16s, fighterjets, ukrainian f 16s, fighter jets, ukrainian pilots f 16s, fighterjets, ukrainian pilots in august and the packages of military support from germany and france sending long range missiles. and practical military support for ukraine and plenty of warm words about ukraine at some point becoming about ukraine at some point becoming a member of nato but you re from president zelensky but he wants it to happen straightaway. the last few hours of all those world leaders, those nato country leaders that have been taking place here after that all broke up, we had some words and this was the phrasing that he used about ukraine joining this was the phrasing that he used about ukrainejoining nato, we will issue an invitation to join nato when allies agree and conditions are