AP News Digest 3:10 a.m.

Here are the AP’s latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All times EDT. Find the AP’s top photos of the day in Today’s Photo Collection. For up-to-the-minute information on AP’s coverage, visit Coverage Plan in AP Newsroom.

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WEEKEND COVERAGE

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For weekend stories, please click here for the Weekend Lookahead digest.

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TOP STORIES

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IRAN-PROTESTS — On the streets of Iranian cities, it’s becoming more common to see a woman passing by without a mandatory headscarf, or hijab, as the second anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini and the mass protests it sparked approaches. Across social media, videos of people filming neighborhood streets or just talking about a normal day in their life, women and girls can be seen walking past with their long hair out over their shoulders, particularly after sunset. This defiance comes despite what United Nations investigators describe as “expanded repressive measures and policies” by Iran’s theocracy to punish them. By Jon Gambrell. SENT: 880 words, photos.

ELECTION 2024-SENATE-DEMOCRATS — Democratic Sens. Jon Tester of Montana and Sherrod Brown of Ohio are trying to capitalize on the momentum Kamala Harris’ emergence as the party’s nominee for president has injected into key voting blocs. But in states that Donald Trump is expected to win, they must do so without alienating moderate voters. By Matthew Brown and Julie Carr Smyth. SENT: 1,200 words, photos. WITH: ELECTION-2024-HARRIS — Harris says one difference between her and President Joe Biden is that she offers a “new generation of leadership.” SENT: 590 words, photos.

PANDEMIC AID-GOVERNMENTS — Time is running out for local governments to use billions of dollars of federal pandemic relief funds. The American Rescue Plan passed by Congress in 2021 provided $350 billion to states, counties, cities and other governments. They must obligate the money for specific purposes by the end of this year or return the rest. U.S. Treasury Department data shows 80% of the funds nationally were allocated as of this spring. An Associated Press analysis found about 3,500 local governments reported obligating less than 25% of their funds. By David A. Lieb. SENT: 1,150 words, photo.

GOOGLE-ANTITRUST — An ongoing trial in Virginia may determine whether Google holds an illegal monopoly on the technology used to buy and sell certain types of web advertising. The auctions over ad impressions occur in milliseconds and are designed to match an advertiser’s product or service with interested consumers. The Justice Department contends Google rigged the bidding to favor its own products. Google says it no longer auctions space in the ways alleged. By Matthew Barakat. SENT: 980 words, photos.

HAWAII WILDFIRE REPORT-VICTIMS — A new report shows that more than 60% of the 102 people who died in last year’s Lahaina wildfire tried to flee the flames. The Fire Safety Research Institute report for the Hawaii attorney general’s office released Friday includes details of victims’ attempts to survive and highlights how Lahaina’s already-deteriorating infrastructure complicated evacuation efforts. By Jennifer Sinco Kelleher and Claudia Lauer. SENT: 780 words, photos.

BRITAIN-PRINCE-HARRY-TURNING-40 — Prince Harry was always something different. From the moment he first appeared in public, snuggled in Princess Diana’s arms outside the hospital where he was born in 1984, Harry was the ginger-haired scamp who stuck his tongue out at photographers. He was the boisterous adolescent who was roundly criticized for wearing a Nazi uniform to a costume party. And, later, he was a young man who gave up the trappings of royal life and moved to Southern California with his American wife. By Danica Kirka. SENT: 1,060, photos.

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SPOTLIGHTING VOICES

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BELARUS-LOSING IDENTITY — Belarusians are experiencing a new wave of Russification as Moscow expands its economic, political and cultural dominance to overtake the identity of its neighbor. Perhaps the biggest sign is the decline of the Belarusian language, which is close to, but distinct from, Russian. Belarusian cultural figures are being persecuted and hundreds of institutions are being closed. Experts say Moscow is seeking to implement in Belarus what the Kremlin intended to do in neighboring Ukraine. By Yuras Karmanau. SENT: 1,200 words, photos.

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RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR

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RUSSIA-UK — Russia accused six British diplomats of spying and said it decided to expel them. The U.K. said the “completely baseless” move came weeks ago and was linked to its action in May to revoke the credentials of an attaché at the Russian Embassy and limit Moscow’s diplomatic activities in London. SENT: 770 words, photos, video. WITH: RUSSIA-UK-EXPULSIONS-TIMELINE — The six are a small number in the history of Moscow-London acts of expulsion over the past decades. SENT: 410 words, photo.

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MORE NEWS

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KENYA-CULT-DEATHS — In one of the deadliest cult-related massacres ever, more than 430 bodies have been recovered since police raided Good News International Church in a forest in Kenya. Seventeen months later, many in the area are still shaken by what happened despite repeated warnings about the church’s leader. SENT: 1,330 words, photos. WITH: KENYA-CULT-DEATHS-TAKEAWAYS — Takeaways from AP’s report updating the cult massacre that claimed hundreds of lives in Kenya. SENT: 680 words, photo.

MEXICO-CHALCO-FLOODS — Sewage-infused floodwaters have invaded streets, homes and businesses in Chalco, a low-income suburb southeast of Mexico City, for over a month. According to the Government of Chalco, more than 2,000 homes and over 7,000 residents have been affected and the water was as deep as 5 feet in some areas. SENT: 1,040 words, photos, video.

GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTING-FUNERALS — A teenage student and a math teacher will be remembered at funerals set to take place Saturday, 10 days after they were killed in a mass shooting at a Georgia high school. SENT: 730 words, photos.

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WASHINGTON/POLITICS

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GRAY WOLVES-ENDANGERED — The Biden administration on Friday asked an appeals court to revive a Trump-era rule that lifted remaining Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves in the U.S. SENT: 750 words, photo.

ARIZONA-ABORTION BAN REPEAL-EXPLAINER — A repeal of Arizona’s Civil War-era ban on nearly all abortions, approved by state lawmakers and signed by the Democratic governor, takes effect on Saturday. SENT: 730 words, photos.

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NATIONAL

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TROPICAL-WEATHER — Residents of the Carrollton neighborhood in New Orleans are among the thousands in the city who remain without power after Hurricane Francine passed through. The city’s utility provider, Entergy, sent out notifications Friday informing some people their power had been “restored” even though they still had no electricity. SENT: 920 words, photos, video, audio.

WILDFIRES — Firefighters battling three major wildfires in the mountains east of Los Angeles were gaining ground Friday against the blazes. SENT: 810 words, photos, video, audio.

US-OREGON-NON-CITIZENS-VOTER-REGISTRATION — Oregon officials acknowledged the state mistakenly registered more than 300 non-citizens as voters since 2021. A spokesperson for the Oregon Department of Transportation described it as a “data entry issue” when people applied for driver’s licenses. Of those, two voted in elections since 2021. SENT: 310 words, photo.

SUPREME-COURT-YOUTH-CLIMATE-LAWSUIT — Young climate activists in Oregon have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to revive their long-running lawsuit against the federal government in which they argued they have a constitutional right to a climate that sustains life. SENT: 300 words, photo.

COLORADO-SUPERMARKET-SHOOTING — A psychologist who evaluated a mentally ill man who killed 10 people at a Colorado supermarket says the gunman heard “killing voices” right before opening fire. SENT: 390 words, photo.

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INTERNATIONAL

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TROPICAL-WEATHER-MEXICO — Tropical Storm Ileana forced residents and tourists in Mexico’s resort-studded Los Cabos to stay inside as rain pounded the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. Ileana moved Saturday northward over the southern Gulf of California. SENT: 470 words.

CHINA-ECONOMY — China’s economy softened in August, extending a slowdown in industrial activity and real estate prices as Beijing faces pressure to ramp up spending to stimulate demand. SENT: 300 words, photo.

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BUSINESS

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WALGREENS-LAWSUITS SETTLED — Walgreens agreed to pay $106 million to settle lawsuits that alleged it submitted false payment claims with government health care programs for prescriptions that were never dispensed. SENT: 230 words, photo.

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HEALTH & SCIENCE

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BE WELL-PETS-DOG WALKING INJURIES — Researchers have found dog walking-related injuries have been on the rise among adults and children in the U.S. Fractures, sprains and head trauma are among the most common. Staying safe when walking a leashed dog takes diligence, focus and precautions. SENT: 900 words, photos.

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ENTERTAINMENT

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MUSIC-LIL-WAYNE-SUPER-BOWL-SNUB — Lil Wayne opened up for the first time about his devastation after not being selected as the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show headline performer in his hometown of New Orleans. SENT: 290 words, photo.

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SPORTS

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AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ELITE-PREVIEW — The first edition of the AFC Champions League Elite begins Monday with stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Riyad Mahrez striving to lead their Saudi Arabian clubs to continental success. Saudi Pro League clubs have spent over $1 billion on transfers to bring top-level players from the big European leagues. SENT: 480 words, photos.

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HOW TO REACH US

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The Nerve Center can be reached at 800-845-8450, ext. 1600. For photos, ext. 1900. For graphics and interactives, ext. 7636. Expanded AP content can be obtained from AP Newsroom. For access to AP Newsroom and other technical issues, contact apcustomersupport@ap.org or call 844-777-2006.

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, centre, celebrates with Bruno Fernandes after the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Portugal and Scotland at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

FILE - Lil Wayne performs during "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" 25th anniversary tour, Nov. 5, 2023, at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, Calif. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - A woman walks a dog across the street in Denver on Oct. 29, 2023. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

FILE - People look at their phones while waiting to cross an intersection in the rain at the Taikoo Li Sanlitun shopping center in Beijing, July, 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian, File)

Bridges stand in Berwick Bay in Morgan City, La., Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, after Hurricane Francine. (Hilary Scheinuk/The Advocate via AP, Pool)

FILE - This remote camera image provided by the U.S. Forest Service shows a female gray wolf and two of the three pups born in 2017 in the wilds of Lassen National Forest in northern California on June 29, 2017. (U.S. Forest Service via AP, File)

Claudia Alvarado points to damage from sewage-infused floodwaters at her home in Valle de Chalco, State of Mexico, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

FILE - Extremist evangelical leader Paul Mackenzie, who was arrested on suspicion of telling his followers to fast to death in order to meet Jesus, appears at a court accompanied by some of his followers in Malindi, Kenya on Monday, April 17, 2023. (AP Photo/File)

FILE - Schoolchildren march during the traditional opening of the school year, known as the Day of Knowledge, in Minsk, Belarus, on Sept. 1, 2018. (AP Photo, File)

FILE - Britain's Prince Harry dances with a girl during a visit to the non-governmental organization RISE - Reaching Individuals through Skills and Education, in Kingston, Jamaica, Tuesday March 6, 2012. (AP Photo/Collin Reid, File)

FILE - A visitor walks by photos of victims of the August 2023 wildfire at a memorial near the Lahaina Bypass highway on Saturday, July 6, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File)

Eric Mahr, left, a lawyer representing Google in the Department of Justice's antitrust case against the tech giant, returns to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia after a lunch break in the trial, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, in Alexandria, Va. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

The lot of the future victims' advocacy center is shown, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024 in Gilbert, Ariz. The town has obligated only one-quarter of funds received through the American Rescue Plan for projects, according to the most recent data from the federal government. Construction on the dirt lot near its fire department for the advocacy center remain unrealized. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign event, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., leads a cheer at a rally with Planned Parenthood Action Fund President Alexis McGill Johnson, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Bozeman, Mont. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown)

FILE - An Iranian woman without a mandatory headscarf, or hijab, flashes a victory sign as she walks at the old main bazaar of Tehran, Iran, June 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi, File)

LONDON (AP) — Google won a court challenge on Wednesday against a 1.49 billion euro ($1.66 billion) European Union antitrust fine imposed five years ago that targeted its online advertising business.

The EU's General Court said it was throwing out the 2019 penalty imposed by the European Commission, which is the 27-nation bloc's top antitrust enforcer.

“The General Court annuls the Commission’s decision in its entirety,” the court said in a press release.

The commission's ruling applied to a narrow portion of Google’s ad business: ads that the U.S. tech giant sold next to Google search results on third-party websites.

Regulators had accused Google of inserting exclusivity clauses in its contracts that barred these websites from running similarly placed ads sold by Google’s rivals. The commission said when it issued the penalty that Google's behavior resulted in advertisers and website owners having less choice and likely facing higher prices that would be passed on to consumers.

But the General Court said the commission “committed errors” when it assessed those clauses. The commission failed to demonstrate that Google's contracts deterred innovation, harmed consumers or helped the company hold on to and strengthen its dominant position in national online search advertising markets, it said.

The ruling can be appealed, but only on points of law, to the Court of Justice, the bloc's top court.

The commission said in a brief statement that it “will carefully study the judgment and reflect on possible next steps.”

Google said it changed its contracts in 2016 to remove the provisions in question, even before the commission imposed its decision.

“We are pleased that the court has recognised errors in the original decision and annulled the fine,” Google said in a statement. "We will review the full decision closely.”

The company's legal victory comes a week after it lost a final challenge against a separate EU antitrust case for its shopping comparison service that also involved a hefty fine.

They were among three antitrust penalties totaling about 8 billion euros that the commission punished Google with in the previous decade. The penalties marked the beginning of an era of intensifying scrutiny for Big Tech companies.

Since then, Google has faced escalating pressure on both sides of the Atlantic over its digital ad business. It’s currently battling the Justice Department in a U.S. federal court over allegations that its dominance over the technology that controls the sale of billions of internet display ads constitutes an illegal monopoly.

British competition regulators this month accused the company of abusing its dominance in the country’s digital ad market and giving preference to its own services.

EU antitrust enforcers carrying out their own investigation suggested last year that breaking up the company was the only way to satisfy competition concerns about its digital ad business.

FILE - In this April 17, 2007 file photo, exhibitors work on laptop computers in front of an illuminated sign of the Google logo at the industrial fair Hannover Messe in Hanover, Germany. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer, File)