This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service.

I'm Janet Chalille, and in the early hours of Monday 21 August, these are our main stories.

A huge tropical storm has caused flooding in parts of Mexico as it heads towards the southwest of the United States.

The people of Ecuador have voted in elections that have been overshadowed by political assassinations and soaring violence.

The West African grouping ECOS has rejected an announcement by the co-leader in Niger that it will be three years before civilian rule is restored.

Also in this podcast...

Injured of the cat is a natural antidepressant.

He's positive, cuddly and nice, and he's helping people find hope and light inside themselves.

The power of cats and dogs to help Ukrainians deal with the impact of Russia's invasion.

As we record this podcast, the US state of California is bracing itself for tropical storm Hillary,

which has already brought fierce winds and flooding to Mexico's Pacific coast.

One man died in the Mexican state of Baja California after his vehicle was swept away in rising waters.

Hillary is expected to be the first tropical storm to hit southern California in more than 80 years.

Amid warnings that it could bring a year's worth of rain in places that are normally very dry.

The Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michael Moore warned conditions could be life threatening.

What we need from our public is their cooperation, we need their help and assistance,

and avoiding travel wherever possible.

If, by nature, their assignment or job or position they find themselves as needing to travel,

that they're mindful of the weather conditions around them.

Vehicles can become immobilized and people's lives can be endangered by simply driving through a pool of water

with unknown depth or content.

For more on this unusual storm I spoke to our correspondent in Los Angeles, Peter Boes.

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