Beach hazards statement issued for Orange County Coast and San Diego County Coastal Areas from Tuesday to Friday

• October 4, 2026

Orange County Coast and San Diego County Coastal Areas are included in a beach hazards statement released by the National Weather Service on Sunday at 12:04 p.m. The statement is valid from Tuesday 4 p.m. until Friday Oct. 9, at 11 p.m.

“Minor coastal flooding and dangerous rip currents expected due to the combination of high tides and elevated surf,” according to the NWS San Diego CA. “Elevated surf of 3-6 feet on south and southwest-beaches. High tides are expected to peak between 6.5 and 7.0 feet during the morning and evenings. There is a moderate chance that an upgrade to Coastal Flood Advisory and/or High Surf Advisory will be needed. These products will likely need to be extended into the weekend.”

“There is an increased risk of ocean drowning. Rip currents can pull swimmers and surfers out to sea. Waves can wash people off beaches and rocks, and capsize small boats nearshore. Moderate flooding of sea water is possibly over some vulnerable low-lying coastal areas. Moderate beach erosion is possible to likely,” the NWS said. “Remain out of the water due to hazardous swimming conditions, or stay near occupied lifeguard towers. Rock jetties can be deadly in such conditions, stay off the rocks.”

For more local weather alerts, visit our Weather Advisory page

​ Orange County Register 

Laotian immigrant deported by the US and held in an African prison for more than a year has been released

• October 4, 2026

By GERALD IMRAY

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — A Laotian citizen deported by the United States to Eswatini under the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown was released from a maximum security prison in the African nation on Sunday after being held there for more than a year, his lawyer said.

Phone Chomsavanh was among five immigrants deported to Eswatini — where he has no ties — in July 2025 in the early days of the Trump administration’s secretive and highly contentious third-country deportation program.

Chomsavanh’s U.S.-based lawyer, Tin Thanh Nguyen, said in a statement announcing his release that he had only been informed that he was being deported to Eswatini shortly before a military cargo plane carrying him and other deportees landed there more than 14 months ago.

Chomsavanh was now being deported to Laos, Nguyen said.

Chomsavanh and the four other immigrants he was deported to Eswatini with were convicted of serious crimes in the U.S., but had served their sentences by the time they were sent to the Matsapha Correctional Complex near Eswatini’s administrative capital, Mbabane.

“Years after he finished serving his sentence in the United States, the Trump administration flew him to the small southern African kingdom and handed him over to a maximum-security prison, where he was held for more than a year without ever being charged with a crime,” Nguyen said.

He said in separate messages to The Associated Press that Chomsavanh had left Eswatini and landed in Johannesburg en route to Laos.

An Eswatini government spokesperson didn’t immediately acknowledge Chomsavanh’s release.

Chomsavanh was born in a refugee camp in Thailand after his parents fled Laos, and his family moved to the United States when he was 7, his lawyer said.

Chomsavanh is one of around 500 immigrants who have been deported from the United States to African countries that aren’t their home nations since the third-country program began last year, according to rights group Human Rights First, which has been monitoring the deportations.

Around a dozen African countries have accepted third-country deportees from the U.S., some in exchange for millions of dollars in payments. Eswatini, which is Africa’s last absolute monarchy and is ruled by a king, was paid $5.1 million by the Trump administration to take deportees, according to the agreement between the countries. Eswatini has received around 30 deportees so far.

The program, which results in immigrants being held in countries they have no ties with and where they haven’t been charged with any crime, has been fiercely criticized by rights groups and lawyers. It has been the subject of legal challenges in the U.S. and in some of the countries where immigrants have been sent.

The Trump administration has defended the policy as a way to quickly remove immigrants who have final deportation orders from the U.S. when their home countries might not immediately take them back.

Last month, a U.S. appeals court upheld a judge’s ruling to halt the program, because it didn’t give immigrants facing removal from the U.S. time to challenge their deportation to a third country because they fear persecution or torture there.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last week to temporarily allow U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration to continue swiftly removing immigrants to third countries, though it will hear arguments in the case in December.

The program has largely been carried out in secrecy, with little transparency over how many immigrants have been deported to third countries, and where and in what conditions they are being held.

​ Orange County Register 

UCLA women’s basketball loses key returner for the season with injury

• October 4, 2026

LOS ANGELES — UCLA women’s basketball announced the loss of one of its main returners from the 2025-26 National Championship team on Sunday.

Sophomore guard Lena Bilic will miss the entire 2026-27 season after tearing her ACL, UCLA athletics said.

No details were given as to how the injury occurred.

Bilic averaged 3.0 PPG and 1.6 RPG per game off the bench on a roster that included six seniors who were all drafted into the WNBA, including Kiki Rice and Gabriela Jacquez.

Bilic, a native of Zaghreb, Croatia, had displayed improvements in her on ball defense and confidence as an outside shooter before her injury.

“We are devastated for Lena,” said UCLA coach Cori Close. “She is such an important part of what we do here, and I know she’ll continue to be impactful for us through her recovery. We’ll be with Lena every step of the way, and she’s in great hands with the best medical staff in the country, so I know she will come out on the other side stronger and better.”

​ Orange County Register 

Germany’s Merz announces new aid for Ukraine in Kyiv as Russia steps up attacks

• October 4, 2026

By SUSIE BLANN, STEFANIE DAZIO and ELISE MORTON

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced a new aid package for Ukraine worth more than 1.3 billion euros ($1.5 billion) during a visit to Kyiv on Sunday, as Russia escalated its attacks on Ukrainian cities.

The aerial war has intensified, with Moscow menacing cities across Ukraine with hard-to-intercept ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones, while Kyiv has been striking Russia’s oil industry and businesses.

About 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) of the package is military aid, including long-range strike weapons, combat drones and satellite technology, “so that Ukraine can also target Russian launch pads,” Merz said at a news conference. Germany is also providing some 350 million euros ($395 million) in energy aid ahead of winter for generators, substations and repair work, he said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the two countries also signed 15 agreements worth more than 8.5 billion euros ($9.6 billion), mostly covering security cooperation, weapons production and procurement, as well as a deal to expand their joint counter-drone efforts.

“This is weaponry that will help right now,” Zelenskyy wrote on X, adding they also discussed the need for air defense, which he called “key” at this time.

At the news conference, Zelenskyy said Merz’s visit amid Russian attacks was “an important signal of support for Ukraine and of the courage of Germany and all of Europe.”

Germany will fund the joint production of drones designed to intercept Russia’s jet-powered drones, Merz said, adding that “significant technical breakthroughs” in recent weeks were speeding up production. “This will quickly and tangibly strengthen Ukraine’s air defense,” he said. “And this strengthening is urgently needed.”

Zelenskyy called jet-powered drones a growing challenge, saying Russia had launched 900 of them this week alone and Ukraine was able to intercept only around half. He highlighted the role of F-16 fighter jets in countering the threat and said he would speak with U.S. President Donald Trump about securing more ammunition.

Germany is Ukraine’s largest donor, sending Kyiv more than 43.3 billion euros ($48.8 billion) since the war began, along with equipment and weapons.

Merz was accompanied by Economy and Energy Minister Katherina Reiche and a business delegation.

US proposes talks by end of October

Zelenskyy said the U.S. was in contact with both Kyiv and Moscow and had proposed holding a trilateral meeting at the technical level by the end of October, possibly in the United Arab Emirates. He said he had told U.S. negotiators on Saturday that Ukraine was ready to take part, and that Kyiv was now waiting for Russia’s response.

He also accused Moscow of avoiding meaningful peace talks, and said Ukraine and Germany were working to advance diplomatic efforts with European participation.

Leaders visit National Academy of Sciences attack site

Merz and Zelenskyy visited a building of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in central Kyiv that was damaged in a Russian attack that killed two people on Monday, as air raid sirens sounded across the capital.

“These barbaric attacks on the civilian population of Ukraine must stop. These are daily war crimes,” Merz said at the site, a few hundred meters (yards) from the German Embassy. Addressing Russian President Vladimir Putin, he called on him to end “this senseless war,” adding: “We’re ready to talk.”

Speaking in English, Zelenskyy called the attack on the academy “absolutely terrible” and noted that Russia was carrying out strikes even while the chancellor was in Kyiv. He thanked Merz for the visit, saying Ukraine was buoyed by its “strong partners.”

Souring German-Russian relations

Merz said Russia’s aggression toward Germany went beyond a failed drone attack at Leipzig Airport in early August, pointing to daily attacks on the country’s data centers and data networks. “None of this will stop if we stop helping Ukraine,” he said. “On the contrary, it will only get worse after that.”

Germany has blamed Russia for the incident at Leipzig and in early September announced the closure of the German Consulate in St. Petersburg, the latest in a cycle of tit-for-tat moves.

Merz said Germany would take further steps to defend itself, including against Russia’s shadow fleet of tankers in the Baltic and North seas, airspace violations and drone attacks.

He also accused Russia of waging systematic disinformation campaigns in Germany through bots and collaborators. “This is the political battle of ideas that we must wage in Germany,” he said, adding that he was “more determined than ever” to fight it because the country’s “peaceful and free future” was at stake.

The German and Russian foreign ministers met on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly’s annual meeting last month in what was believed to be the first such face-to-face meeting since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Russia’s Sergey Lavrov rejected German calls to ease off its “dangerous path of escalation” toward the country, and accused Germany of being Ukraine’s main sponsor and seeking to be a leading military power in Europe.

Strikes on Kyiv’s bridges continue

Russian attacks damaged Kyiv’s Northern Bridge over the Dnieper River again on Sunday. Video circulating on social media showed a drone striking the bridge and exploding as vehicles crossed. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said two people were wounded.

Russian assaults since Thursday have forced the full or partial closure of three of Kyiv’s six road bridges, suspending traffic and causing tailbacks in Moscow’s latest effort to disrupt life in the Ukrainian capital.

Russia’s Ministry of Defense said Sunday it would intensify its strikes against military-industrial facilities and related infrastructure in Kyiv and other regions of Ukraine, in response to Zelenskyy’s comments in an interview with Reuters published Saturday that Ukraine would escalate its attacks on Russian oil refineries.

Zelenskyy said Sunday Russia was escalating attacks on civilian infrastructure, including bridges, data centers and mobile networks. He said Russia had previously targeted warehouses of Ukrainian delivery companies Nova Poshta and Ukrposhta, and that Ukraine had given “a fitting response” with strikes on Russian online retailer Wildberries.

“Now they are attacking bridges. Do they really think we won’t respond?” he said.

In other developments, one person was killed and 16 wounded Sunday in a Russian aerial bomb attack on the Ukrainian city of Sumy, local officials said.

Russia invaded its neighbor more than 4½ years ago, and there are no concrete signs that a peace settlement might be possible. Fighting along the roughly 1,250-kilometer (780-mile) front line snaking through northern, eastern and southern Ukraine has been virtually deadlocked in recent months.

Dazio reported from Berlin and Morton from London. Associated Press journalist Pietro De Cristofaro in Berlin contributed to this report.

​ Orange County Register 

Orange County high school football schedule for Week 7, Oct. 8-9

• October 4, 2026

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

(Please send changes or updates for the schedule to preps@ocregister.com)

Games start at 7 p.m. unless noted.

THURSDAY, OCT. 8

Alpha League

Mission Viejo at Yorba Linda

Delta League

Laguna Beach at El Modena

Iota League

Kennedy vs. Cypress at Western HS

Kappa League

Canyon at Fullerton

Lambda League

Woodbridge vs. Fountain Valley at Huntington Beach HS

Tango League

Santa Ana Valley vs. La Quinta at Garden Grove HS

Santiago at Bolsa Grande

FRIDAY, OCT. 9

Trinity League

Mater Dei at JSerra

Orange Lutheran at St. John Bosco

Servite vs. Santa Margarita at Saddleback College

Alpha League

San Juan Hills vs. Edison at Huntington Beach HS

San Clemente at Los Alamitos

Bravo League

Capistrano Valley at Crean Lutheran

Tustin vs. Corona del Mar at Newport Harbor HS

Villa Park at La Habra

Delta League

Huntington Beach at Dana Hills

Western vs. Troy at Fullerton HS

Epsilon League

Newport Harbor at Tesoro

Trabuco Hills vs. Foothill at Tustin HS

Aliso Niguel at Brea Olinda

Foxtrot League

El Dorado at El Toro

Segerstrom vs. Orange at El Modena HS

Beckman at Irvine

Iota League

Pacifica vs. Northwood at Portola HS

Marina at Laguna Hills

Kappa League

Portola at St. Margaret’s

Sunny Hills at Esperanza

Lambda League

Sonora at Westminster

Calvary Chapel at Valencia

Omicron League

Buena Park at Los Amigos

University at Estancia

Garden Grove vs. Santa Ana at Santa Ana Stadium

Sigma League

Costa Mesa vs. Anaheim at Glover Stadium

Saddleback at Ocean View

Katella at Rancho Alamitos

Tango League

Savanna vs. Magnolia at Western HS, 6:30 p.m.

Century vs. Godinez at Santa Ana Valley HS

​ Orange County Register 

Yemen’s government declares a major operation against the Houthis, and other Mideast news

• October 4, 2026

Yemen’s government has announced a major military operation against the Iran -backed Houthi rebels as they advance in the outskirts of a key city.

Meanwhile, an Israeli strike has killed at least one person in Gaza as Palestinians report a recent surge in such strikes across the enclave. And Iran’s top diplomat says Tehran is still open to diplomacy.

Here is the latest news from the Middle East on Sunday. Full coverage is available here.

Yemen’s government declares major military operation against Houthis

Rashad al-Alimi, head of the ruling Presidential Leadership Council, made the declaration as the Iran-backed rebels advanced in the outskirts of a key southwestern city, Taiz.

Speaking from Saudi Arabia, he said the operation aims at “recovering the remaining territories” controlled by the Houthis, who made their largest land grab in recent years last month when they seized Yemen’s Red Sea coast and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Al-Alimi called for the international community to provide support to his Saudi-backed government.

The Houthis have launched a major offensive in recent days against government forces and their allies on the outskirts of Taiz, disrupting a major road linking the city to the port city of Aden, the seat of al-Alimi’s government. The rebels have besieged Taiz for more than a decade.

Earlier, the Houthis said airstrikes hit the capital, Sanaa, overnight, without giving details. The Yemeni military, backed by Riyadh, claimed responsibility, saying it struck “vital targets” in Sanaa as well as the northern province of Saada on the border with Saudi Arabia.

The escalation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis has revived Yemen’s civil war after a four-year ceasefire.

Houthis claim to hit Saudi oil facilities

The Houthi military spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, said the rebels fired missiles and drones at Saudi oil facilities.

In a prerecorded statement, Saree claimed to have targeted facilities of the Saudi state-run Aramco oil company, in the capital, Riyadh, and the Kurais area, which hosts a massive facility 150 kilometers (90 miles) southeast of Riyadh.

He didn’t say when it occurred, provide further details or offer evidence supporting his claim. A fire broke out at an Aramco oil refinery on Saturday, with no details released on the cause.

Israeli strike kills 1 in central Gaza, health officials say

An Israeli strike on a civilian vehicle killed one Palestinian and wounded at least 11 others, according to health officials at the Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, where the casualties were taken.

Israel’s military said it targeted a known Hamas militant.

Palestinians in Gaza have reported a surge in Israeli fire and airstrikes across the enclave over the past month. Israel says it is targeting Hamas and other militants who pose a threat, and in response to ceasefire violations, including occasional attacks.

Israeli strikes have killed at least 1,445 Palestinians in Gaza since a ceasefire was reached with the Hamas militant group nearly a year ago, according to the territory’s Health Ministry. Its figures are seen as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts. It doesn’t give a breakdown of civilians and militants. Seven Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire.

Tanker in Strait of Hormuz struck by projectile, British military says

A projectile struck a tanker on the Strait of Hormuz, damaging the engine room, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center said.

It was not immediately clear who launched the attack or when it was carried out. The UKMTO said the crew was reportedly safe.

Overall ship traffic on the strait has improved but remains below prewar levels, as do shipments of energy products, even though Iran has lost its near-complete grip on the crucial waterway due to the U.S. Navy’s efforts to guide oil tankers there. That, along with various pipelines, has allowed Gulf countries to restore oil exports to nearly prewar levels.

Iran’s top diplomat says Tehran is still open to diplomacy

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also warned that any renewed military confrontation would bring a stronger response.

“If they seek diplomatic avenues, we remain ready to reach a fair and honorable solution through diplomacy to end this war,” he said, speaking to ambassadors and chargés d’affaires of foreign missions in Tehran.

Araghchi also rejected a U.S. claim that the Iranian delegation had been expelled from the U.S. days after the annual U.N. gathering of world leaders, where Iran proposed a deal to the U.S. that was turned down. He said Iran had returned according to a previously arranged schedule.

​ Orange County Register 

Trump names national intelligence director Jay Clayton to lead a new federal AI task force

• October 4, 2026

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Sunday tapped Jay Clayton, his director of national intelligence, to lead a new government task force on artificial intelligence.

Trump is calling it the “Super Intelligence Force,” because he has tried to rebrand AI as “super intelligence.” The announcement comes after Trump hosted top executives of AI companies at the White House last week and said they had signed a voluntary accord that would effectively self-police the development of the technology.

The task force will coordinate the federal effort “to ensure that America continues to lead the World in Super Intelligence, which many say is bigger than the Industrial Revolution, and the Internet, and will protect the interests, and improve the lives, of all Americans,” Trump in a post on social media Sunday.

The task force will reach out to consumers, public interest groups, religious organizations, critical infrastructure providers and AI companies, the Republican president said.

Others on the task force include the Federal Trade Commission’s chairman, Andrew Ferguson; Emil Michael, the Pentagon’s chief technology officer; and Scott Kupor, the director of the Office of Personnel Management.

The group will report to Trump and his chief of staff, Susie Wiles.

​ Orange County Register 

Santa Anita consensus picks for Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026

• October 4, 2026

The consensus box of Santa Anita horse racing picks comes from handicappers Bob Mieszerski, Eddie Wilson, Kevin Modesti and Mark Ratzky. Here are the picks for thoroughbred races on Sunday, October 4, 2026.

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​ Orange County Register