A month after Nepal-China floods, Ukrainian families still desperate for answers

• September 25, 2026

By HUIZHONG WU

BANGKOK (AP) — Olena Kalynychenko was looking forward to sharing the chrysanthemum tea she had bought in China with her partner.

“She said, ‘When I come back home, we will drink the tea made from Chinese flowers,’” said Oles Visich, Kalynychenko’s partner. He has now been waiting for news about her for a month, after she and thousands of others disappeared in catastrophic flooding along the Nepal-China border.

Her last known location was exiting China at a border post at 10:22 a.m. local time, 15 minutes before the flood.

Kalynychenko, 36, was part of a group of 56 people, mostly Ukrainians, who had traveled to Mount Kailash in Tibet for a spiritual retreat.

Their families’ situation is a sign of how complex and time-consuming the process is of rescuing, recovering and identifying victims lost to the disaster. Given the number of missing, the process will likely take months.

They disappeared while heading from China to Nepal on their way home. Some relatives say they have received no information from authorities. The Chinese government has told at least two families that their relatives left Chinese territory before the flood struck, but they haven’t been able to confirm whether they entered Nepal as Nepal’s immigration complex and its records were destroyed in the floods.

Little information is reaching families

The floods killed more than 1,400 people and left more than 6,000 missing, most of them on the Nepali side of the border. Nepal has said that 636 foreign nationals remain missing, including 54 Ukrainians. China has reported 261 foreign nationals among the missing on its side, including one Ukrainian.

Families in Ukraine say most of them have not received any answers since realizing their relatives were among the missing.

“We only have the statistics that are being posted online — how many people have been found, how many are alive, how many are dead, and how many are still missing,” said Stanislav Solohub, whose brother and sister-in-law went missing on Aug. 25.

Nepal says it has recovered 1,451 bodies, but only 112 have been handed over to families so far.

The government said it has collected DNA samples from 2,035 relatives so far, but it has not disclosed how many victims have been identified.

Last messages were sent minutes before the floods began

The group, led by Irina Blonskaya, a spiritual teacher who often organized retreats, was returning from its journey home in China when the flood struck Aug. 26. Their plan was to travel by bus from the Tibet region to Kathmandu, where its members would board flights to their respective countries. The group’s last message was sent at 8:27 a.m. Nepal time, about 10 minutes before the mountain slope collapsed.

Many had not checked in with their loved ones that morning, owing to the time difference.

Authorities have said the floods were triggered when a section of ice and rock broke away from a Himalayan mountain slope, creating a fast-moving torrent of water, ice, mud and debris. It destroyed communities and Gyirong Port, a border crossing used by some pilgrims traveling to or returning from Mount Kailash.

‘Who is looking for them?’

Vladsylava Horlova’s mother, Elena, was traveling in the group as well. She initially found her mother’s name on the list of the missing from the Nepali government, but hasn’t received any further information from the Nepali side. Later, the Chinese embassy confirmed her mother had left the country, and was not counted in China’s list of missing people.

Horlova, a college student who is a refugee in Norway, worries that her mother was not recorded as being in either country, and that neither side is looking for her. There’s a stretch of road between the Nepali immigration building and the Chinese one along the border, videos from travelers show.

“You think about what if someone appeared to be in a no man’s land or that they left China, but not physically, who’s looking for them?” she asked.

Horlova has attempted to contact organizations ranging from the Ukrainian embassy in China, to Norwegian police, and even the Red Cross. She, like the others, has submitted her DNA samples to police to help the search.

On the other side of the border, China has said that when the remains of foreigners are identified, it will notify their respective embassies, but the authorities have not given any details about how many identities have been confirmed so far.

People still have hope

Though it has been a month since the original disaster, some families are still holding on to hope.

Just days before Kalynychenko left for her travels, she organized a retreat for women in Ukraine whose partners were fighting on the front lines of the war, some of whom had not heard from their partners for two years.

Visich, her partner, sees the irony of his situation, but like others in the group, has chosen to stay positive. Visich, also a psychologist, wrote a support guide for others like himself, offering tips on mental health.

“Because for my Olenka, for example, the most important thing in our connection is that each other … needs to be happy,” Visich said.

Associated Press writer Binaj Gurubacharya in Kathmandu, Nepal and senior video producer Volodymr Yurchuk in Kyiv, Ukraine contributed to this report.

​ Orange County Register 

UN adds 61 companies to settlements blacklist over alleged Palestinian rights violations

• September 25, 2026

GENEVA (AP) — The U.N. human rights office on Friday said it added 61 more companies to a blacklist of firms that it says are involved in violating Palestinian human rights through business ties to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

The vast majority of the total 214 companies, which are based in 11 countries, are Israeli. Five of the 158 companies listed last year were removed in the latest update.

The blacklist, first published in 2020, was born of a vote by the U.N.’s Human Rights Council, which has no ability to force companies to act. Its main goal is to name and shame businesses with ties to the settlements.

It is unclear how the inclusion on the list has affected the companies financially.

“This report is another reminder to companies that they have human rights responsibilities and are expected to conduct due diligence to ensure that they do not become involved in human rights violations or abuses,” said Volker Türk, the U.N. human rights chief, in a statement.

Israel’s diplomatic mission in Geneva, which has repeatedly criticized the rights council, called the database a “political tool” used by Türk’s office “to advance a smear campaign against business enterprises that committed no wrongdoing.”

The latest report comes as Israeli settlements in Palestinian areas have faced new scrutiny.

Earlier this month, Britain banned trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, where it says “settler terrorists” are carrying out “ethnic cleansing” of Palestinians. France and Canada announced they would take similar action.

​ Orange County Register 

No. 20 Oregon at No. 12 USC football: Who has the edge?

• September 25, 2026

No. 20 Oregon (2-1) at No. 12 USC (3-0)

When: 4:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

TV/Radio: NBC (Ch. 4)/ESPN LA 710 AM

Line: Oregon by 3

Injury report

USC: OUT: WR Corey Simms, S Kendarius Riddick, LB Taylor Johnson, OL Kilian O’Connor; DOUBTFUL: WR Trent Mosley; QUESTIONABLE: DL Jahkeem Stewart, RB Deshonne Redeaux, S Alex Graham, LB Jaydn Walker; PROBABLE: LB Elijah Newby.

Oregon: OUT: WR Jeremiah McClellan, RB Simeon Price, LB Brayden Platt, OL Trent Ferguson; DOUBTFUL: WR Jalen Lott; QUESTIONABLE: TE Jamari Johnson, TE Kendre Harrison; PROBABLE: DB Carl Williams IV.

What’s at stake? Essentially, the College Football Playoff. After a Week 2 loss to Oklahoma State, Oregon needs to run the table throughout its Big Ten schedule to ensure a spot in the 12-team field. USC is about to embark on a stretch of six games, including four opponents ranked inside the top 20, bookended with a back-to-back against Ohio State and at Indiana. Assuming the Trojans drop one of those two, they must beat the Ducks to make the CFP. More so, the Trojans haven’t defeated the Ducks since Nov. 5, 2016, when Clay Helton was at the helm. Not only do Oregon and USC compete on the field, but the Ducks have made Southern California a hotbed for their recruiting base, and it’s important USC protects its turf. All of this is to say, the Trojans have to be the hungrier team. Saturday’s game is a perfect spot for Jayden Maiava’s Heisman Trophy case and NFL stock to surge. If he can outperform Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, who could have been a top pick had he declared for the 2026 NFL draft, then scouts and voters will have a direct comparison and measuring stick for Maiava. The Trojans senior has displayed raw talent, but if he proves it against Moore, who left UCLA for Eugene after one season, the staying power is stronger.

Who’s better? Oregon and USC are evenly matched, mirroring one another’s strengths and weaknesses. Each team is led by a dynamic quarterback on the fringe of the Heisman conversation who lead with their arm but can make plays with their feet. Maiava and Moore will each play on Sundays in the future, and this Saturday’s matchup will help determine how much those NFL teams value them. With their play this season, the quarterback competition is a wash between Oregon and USC. Additionally, they each have defensive fronts that entered the 2026 season with high promise, but have underwhelmed. USC allowed 168 rushing yards and two touchdowns against Rutgers, and Oregon couldn’t get any pressure on Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker in a 39-31 loss in Week 2. USC and Oregon each have injuries to their top receivers as Trent Mosley is doubtful because of a knee injury and Jeremiah McClellan is out after breaking his foot in warmups last week.

Prediction: USC 42, Oregon 41. Because of the equalities and stakes laid out above, this game will be tight. The defenses are weaker than expected so points will be scored. As it goes down to the wire, coaching will determine the outcome. Dan Lanning has outsmarted Lincoln Riley before, and with Oregon’s backs against the wall, he could do it again. But the nod goes to USC because of Riley and its coordinators as Oregon’s in-house promotions, offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer and defensive coordinator Chris Hampton, haven’t looked the part.

​ Orange County Register 

Federal court says US government can label Anthropic a supply chain risk

• September 25, 2026

By KAITLYN HUAMANI, AP Technology Writer

In the latest twist in Anthropic’s dispute with the Pentagon, a federal appeals court on Friday rejected the AI lab’s challenge to the government’s labeling of it as a supply chain risk.

The decision allows the Pentagon to continue to remove Anthropic’s Claude models from its systems and bar the use of its products for Defense Department work. Judges from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled 2-1 in the Pentagon’s favor.

The dispute between the AI company and the government broke out in February when President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accused Anthropic of endangering national security and designated the company a supply chain risk. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei refused to back down over concerns the company’s products could be used for mass surveillance or autonomous armed drones.

“The Department reasonably feared that Anthropic might manipulate Claude’s design to prevent it from performing national-security functions that the Department deems contractually authorized and necessary,” Judge Gregory G. Katsas wrote in the majority opinion.

The ruling is separate from one a federal judge made this summer in California, where she found the Pentagon acted illegally by punishing the AI company for its criticism of the Pentagon’s views on AI use. This case, which was filed earlier this year in Washington, D.C., focused on a different rule the Pentagon was using to try to declare Anthropic a supply chain risk.

An Anthropic spokesperson said in a statement the company “respectfully disagrees” with the court’s decision. “Another federal court has already held the government’s parallel designation unlawful,” the statement continued. “We remain confident in our position and are considering all options, including further review.”

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

​ Orange County Register 

CDC vaccine policy recommendations grind to a halt under Health Secretary Kennedy

• September 25, 2026

By MIKE STOBBE, AP Medical Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration recently approved a new flu vaccine that tested well in older adults. But the federal agency responsible for telling doctors and the general public how to use it has made no recommendation on it.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s inaction on the mFlusiva vaccine marks a break in longstanding practice. It’s also an example of how the agency’s vaccine review-and-recommendation process has been blown up in the past year, grinding decision-making to a halt.

Efforts by vaccine-wary officials in President Donald Trump’s administration to scale back shot recommendations have been put on hold. Federal guidance on new vaccines has stopped. And public discussion of vaccine policy questions that might cross political divides — including whether there’s solid evidence to justify giving fewer shots to kids — has diminished.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s crusade to upend vaccine policy and the legal action opposing it have disrupted longstanding systems that deliver crucial health guidance to Americans, affecting whether people are getting the best available protection against vaccine-preventable diseases.

“We find ourselves at a point where even if credible evidence (for a new vaccine policy) has reached a tipping point, we don’t have an obvious mechanism that can formalize that change,” said Jason Schwartz, a Yale University health policy researcher who studies government health agencies.

Many in the medical field praised a court ruling that halted Kennedy’s changes

For 60 years, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices guided the CDC’s vaccine recommendations. The committee met publicly, reviewed vaccine data and sought input from various health groups. The panel voted on recommendations that went to the CDC director, who almost always adopted them as the government’s guidance, leading public and private insurers to pay for the shots.

Trump, a Republican, appointed Kennedy to oversee federal health agencies, including the CDC. Kennedy last year dismissed the committee and replaced it with a group that included several anti-vaccine voices. Controversial decisions followed, leading to a lawsuit from the American Academy of Pediatrics and some other medical groups.

In March, a federal judge said Kennedy likely violated federal procedures, stopped Kennedy’s panel from holding further meetings and suspended Kennedy’s decision to reduce the number of vaccines recommended for children.

Many in the medical and public health communities celebrated the decision and took the order as a respite from what they saw as the Trump administration’s assault on vaccines.

Dr. Jason Goldman, president of the American College of Physicians, said he hoped “it will mean a return to a transparent and evidence-driven process that safeguards the health of all communities and the best interests of our patients.”

In reality, the process stalled and splintered

With Kennedy’s committee shut down by the court order, doctors’ groups that used to collaborate with the ACIP have gone their own way. Working with a University of Minnesota researcher, they have debated — not publicly — the kind of medical evidence formerly presented at ACIP meetings and issued their own recommendations.

The trade association for private health insurers decided to heed the medical societies’ choices, and the insurers have continued to pay for shots recommended by those organizations.

Many of the groups’ recommendations match prior ones made by ACIP and the CDC before Kennedy’s arrival. But they also made their own updates.

For example, ACIP previously recommended that a new shot be given to women late in pregnancy: a vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, which can be dangerous to newborns. The government panel recommended that the vaccine be given between September and January in most of the U.S., to coincide with the time of year when RSV infections are most common.

But RSV season sometimes remains active longer. For that reason, the medical groups recently said the shot should be offered to those women through the beginning of March.

“We all recognized this needs to evolve,” Chris Regal, director of clinical innovation at America’s Health Insurance Plans, the health insurance trade association, said in a recent webinar.

The official CDC guidance remains unchanged.

Unanswered vaccine issues are piling up

The mFlusiva flu shot is another example of the unusual way vaccine policy updates have stalled.

The shot is the first flu vaccine made with the mRNA technology that was key to ending the COVID-19 pandemic. Kennedy has criticized mRNA vaccines and last year canceled contracts for the development of new ones. The shots also took a tortuous path through the FDA, which finally granted full approval in people ages 50 to 64.

But the CDC this month quietly posted that it has decided to maintain its flu vaccine endorsements from last year due to “legal uncertainties and inquiries.” That means mFlusiva is not among the listed flu vaccines recommended to the public this fall.

The medical societies are recommending it as an option, however.

Another ACIP function was to vote on whether certain vaccines should be covered by Vaccines for Children, a government program that pays for shots for children who have no health insurance.

The FDA approved updated COVID-19 vaccines, but as the summer dragged on — and fall vaccination campaigns got underway — the government would not say if the VFC program will pay for those shots. It was only this week that officials confirmed orders could be placed through that program.

HPV vaccine reassessment is derailed

Another question concerns the HPV vaccine, given to preteens to prevent certain cancers.

Two HPV shots are recommended, but some recent research has suggested that perhaps one shot could be enough — at least for girls. Indeed, in 2024 the ACIP formed a working group to begin a reassessment of the recommendations.

That work was derailed when Kennedy fired the entire committee. In January, he decided on his own to order that the number of recommended doses be reduced to one as part of a dramatic contraction of the childhood vaccination schedule. His decision was suspended by the judge’s order.

Experts are trying to better understand the timing and the duration of protection from just one dose, particularly in boys. The American Academy of Pediatrics is weighing a change to its HPV vaccination recommendations and could reach a conclusion later this year, said the AAP’s Dr. James Campbell.

It’s possible that the medical societies will end up agreeing with Kennedy on just how many HPV shots make sense. But that might not necessarily clear up the current mess, Schwartz said.

“The credibility of the Trump administration, when it comes to vaccine recommendations, is so compromised in the eyes of the mainstream medical and public health communities,” he said, “that even recommendations that might align with where the public health community was trending are likely to be viewed with skepticism or distrust.”

Meanwhile, the Trump administration is considering changing the federal government’s categories for vaccine recommendations, although a specific proposal has not been released and a Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson did not respond to questions about what is being contemplated. Public comments were due earlier this week.

An alliance of 15 Democratic state governors said the proposed changes are likely to increase confusion and administrative complexity.

“It’s Governors and their residents who bear the brunt of any increased disease outbreaks due to confusion related to hastily made federal changes,” Angela Botticella, managing director of the Governors Public Health Alliance, said in a statement.

The Associated Press’ health and science coverage receives financial support from the AP Fund for Journalism and private foundations. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find the AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

​ Orange County Register 

White House TV pool appears to be back in operation, but CNN’s media analyst calls situation ‘fluid’

• September 25, 2026

By JOCELYN NOVECK, AP National Writer

The U.S. network video pool for the White House appeared to be back in operation Friday, although the situation “remains fluid,” according to the media analyst for CNN, one of three outlets that were banned for three days.

A judge temporarily struck down the ban of CNN, MS NOW and Politico on Thursday, but his ruling didn’t directly address the pool, which consists of five major U.S. broadcast outlets that take turns shooting and sharing video. In a show of solidarity, the other four had declined to participate in the video pool until CNN was reinstated.

CNN was not commenting directly, referring instead to its editorial coverage. But Brian Stelter, the network’s media analyst, posted on X that the major networks plan to resume TV pool coverage of Trump events on Friday.

He said CNN has a pool assignment at the National Archives with U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, and that the White House had approved the network’s credentials for the event.

A daily White House press schedule listed CBS as one of the pool assignments Friday.

CNN also had a pool assignment Friday, and an Associated Press journalist saw the network preparing on site.

​ Orange County Register 

HOA Homefront: Dealing with new disciplinary limitations

• September 25, 2026

Q: As of now, new owners are given a copy of our HOA rules and sign to acknowledge their receipt. In anticipation of legal fights that will ensue from the several new laws emasculating HOA boards, I am thinking that members should also be required to sign an agreement to abide by the HOA rules. This would better show a breach of contract in court should those rules are ignored by paying a $100 fine. Thoughts? How would that procedure be put in place for new buyers, or perhaps all members after the fact? — R.S., Solana Beach.

A: Rules, if properly adopted, do not conflict with law or the other governing documents, and are announced to all members, should bind all HOA owners. I understand why you would want owners to be aware of rules, since frankly homebuyers in HOAs often don’t bother to look at the rules (or CC&Rs) until after they become members and are having a problem.

However, Civil Code Section 5975(c) already provides a very powerful incentive for members to avoid violating the governing documents – in actions to enforce the governing documents (including the rules) if the HOA is successful in that action it “shall” be awarded its attorney fees.

The problem is that litigation is very expensive and destructive to relationships within the HOA, which is why many HOAs formerly used to try stronger fines to induce compliance – which stronger fines are now prohibited by Civil Code Section 5850 (except regarding health and safety rules violations).

Under the new restrictions imposed as of July 1, 2025, HOAs now have fewer options to induce compliance and consequently may increasingly need to rely on court action to stop unneighborly behavior.

Q: Our board has decided that in response to AB130, that ALL violations shall be considered “Safety and Health” violations. Plus, if you violate say, a conduct rule, that they will have you charged multiple times. One homeowner was charged dozens of times for a single continuing violation. He faced a $100 fine imposed many times on a single continuing violation for a large total. Is this legal? — B.G, Palm Desert.

A: Your board may want to consult with its legal counsel. Civil Code Section 5850(d)(2) requires that before imposing a penalty over $100 for a violation of health and safety rules, the board must in an open board meeting specify the adverse health or safety impact upon the common area or another member’s property.

A blanket label on all rules as “health and safety related” would violate the spirit of the statute. A board invoking a blanket adoption of all rules as “health and safety rules” could expose the HOA to potential embarrassment in court if a judge finds the fine was excessive because the violation did not truly involve a health and safety concern.

A continuing violation unfairly characterized as multiple daily violations also may lack credibility to a court if the fines were disputed. That could expose the HOA not only to embarrassment and a negation of enforcement but could also result in the court ordering the HOA to pay the homeowner’s legal fees. So, short cuts could prove to be very expensive mistakes for HOAs in this area.

Kelly G. Richardson, Esq. is a Fellow of the College of Community Association Lawyers and Partner of Richardson Ober LLP, a California law firm known for community association advice. Submit questions to Kelly@roattorneys.com.

​ Orange County Register 

Batteries removed from La Verne fire site, evacuation order lifted

• September 25, 2026

Lithium ion battery experts and firefighters removed batteries from the site of a dayslong fire in La Verne, making the area safe for residents to return on Friday morning, Sept. 25.

Evacuation orders were lifted at 6 a.m. on Friday, clearing the way for residents and businesses to come back, the city of La Verne said.

A blaze at the Metropolitan Water District facility at 3201 Wheeler Ave. began Tuesday, burning one storage unit and triggering high temperatures in a neighboring unit, necessitating extended evacuation orders.

Lithium ion battery fires can be difficult to extinguish because of the sustained heat and possibility for reignition that this type of fire creates, experts said. This makes it sometimes lengthy for fire personnel to remove enough heat from the batteries to safely approach and remove them.

Experts on lithium battery fires arrived from out of state Thursday and were able to work with firefighters overnight to safely remove the batteries, officials said.

Air quality remained normal throughout the fire and drinking water was not impacted, according to the city of La Verne. Air quality testing will be ongoing until the battery compartments are removed from the city of La Verne, the city said.

Grace Miller Elementary School remained closed on Friday.

A city council meeting is planned for Tuesday, Sept. 29 at the Community Center at 3680 D Street. Residents will be updated on the situation and allowed to ask questions and have discussions at the 6 p.m. meeting, city officials said.

​ Orange County Register