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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ONLY ON AP

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ELECTION 2024-BALLOT DECEPTION — Wisconsin donors who have a long record of backing Democrats helped provide the money to get a far-right candidate to run as an independent in the Senate race, an effort to siphon votes from Republicans. By Ryan J. Foley and Brian Slodysko. SENT: 1,250 words, photos.

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TOP STORIES

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MIDEAST-TENSIONS — Israeli ground forces crossed into southern Lebanon, marking a significant escalation of an offensive against Hezbollah militants and opening a new front in a yearlong war against its Iranian-backed adversaries. There was no word on how long the operation would last, but the army said soldiers had been training and preparing for the mission in recent months. By Josef Federman, Abby Sewell and Mathew Lee. SENT: 1,190 words, photos, videos, audio. With MIDEAST-TENSIONS-IRAN-ANALYSIS — Analysis: Iran reluctant so far to retaliate against Israel after airstrike kills Hezbollah leader; MIDEAST-TENSIONS-US-TROOPS — The US is sending a few thousand more troops to the Middle East to boost security; MIDEAST-TENSIONS-YEMEN — Suspected Yemen Houthi rebel attack targets ship in Red Sea; UN-HAMAS-COMMANDER-UNRWA — Top Hamas commander killed in Lebanon was an employee of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency who had been on administrative leave; and MIDEAST TENSIONS-THE-LATEST — SENT.

MIDEAST-WAR-ANNIVERSARY-ISRAEL-FREED-HOSTAGE — Aviva Siegel has come to embody the disaster that befell Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Armed Hamas militants snatched her from her home and thrust her into Gaza’s web of tunnels. Released during a brief cease-fire, she returned to find her community destroyed. She has emerged as a prominent voice in the struggle to free the remaining hostages, fighting tirelessly for her husband’s release. By Tia Goldenberg. SENT: 1,090 words, photos. Click here for more on the AP’s plans for the anniversary of the Oct. 7 attacks and the start of the war in Gaza.

TROPICAL-WEATHER — President Joe Biden was set to survey the devastation in the mountains of Western North Carolina on Wednesday, where exhausted emergency workers continued to work around-the-clock to clear roads, restore power and cellphone service, and reach people left stranded by Hurricane Helene. The storm killed at least 133 people and hundreds more were still unaccounted for, four days after Helene initially made landfall. By Jeffrey Collins. SENT: 1,230 words, photos, videos, audio. With TROPICAL-WEATHER-PHILANTHROPY — How to help those affected by Hurricane Helene; ELECTION-2024-TROPICAL-WEATHER-FEMA — Trump slams federal response to Helene, even as supporters urge cutbacks to federal disaster agencies; TROPICAL-WEATHER-40 TRILLION GALLONS-EXPLAINER — Here’s how Helene and other storms dumped a whopping 40 trillion gallons of rain on the South; MEXICO-FLOODING — Along Mexico’s Pacific coast, flooding from Hurricane John left devastated towns and 17 dead ; and HURRICANE-HELENE:-PHOTO-COLLECTION — SENT.

PORT-STRIKE — Dockworkers at ports from Maine to Texas began walking picket lines in a strike over wages and automation that could reignite inflation and cause shortages of goods if it goes on more than a few weeks. The contract between the ports and about 45,000 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association expired at midnight, and even though progress was reported in talks, the workers went on strike. By Tom Krisher and Tassanee Vejpongsa. SENT: 990 words, photos, audio.

ELECTION 2024-DEBATE — Tim Walz and JD Vance meet for their first and possibly only vice-presidential debate. The event will give Vance, a Republican senator from Ohio, and Walz, the Democratic governor of Minnesota, a chance to introduce themselves, make the case for their running mates and go on the attack against the opposing ticket. By Michelle L. Price and Chris Megerian. SENT: 720 words, photo. Debate at 9 p.m. With ELECTION 2024-TRUMP — Trump heads to Wisconsin’s critical Democratic stronghold ahead of vice presidential debate — SENT.

JAPAN-POLITICS — Japan’s parliament formally elected Shigeru Ishiba, head of the governing Liberal Democratic Party, as the country’s new prime minister. Former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida took office in 2021 but left so his party could have a fresh leader after his government was dogged by scandals. Ishiba plans to call a parliamentary election for Oct. 27. By Mari Yamaguchi. SENT: 720 words, photos.

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SPOTLIGHTING VOICES

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TULSA-RACE-MASSACRE-FEDERAL-REVIEW — The Justice Department announced it plans to launch a review of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, an attack by a white mob on a thriving Black district that is considered one of the worst single acts of violence against Black people in U.S. history. By Sean Murphy. SENT: 580 words, photos.

BOOK-REVIEW-JOHN-LEWIS — David Greenberg writes about the life of the late Civil Rights icon and Georgia congressman John Lewis in “John Lewis: A Life.” The Associated Press’ Andrew DeMillo writes that Greenberg’s biography gives readers a complete portrait of Lewis’ evolution and political education, including moments of despair and vulnerability the optimistic Lewis sometimes faced. By Andrew DeMillo. SENT: 380 words, photos.

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RUSSIA-URAINE-WAR

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RUSSIA-UKRAINE-WAR-ZELENSKYY-TRIP — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is back home leading Ukraine’s fight against Russia after a U.S. trip that brought him face to face with the American leaders who will help decide his country’s future. But the Ukrainian’s leader’s longer-term strategic aim — convincing his allies to adopt a victory plan that he is promoting— remains elusive and out of his control, analysts and officials said. SENT: 870 words, photos.

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MORE NEWS

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OBIT-PETE-ROSE — Pete Rose, baseball’s banned hits leader, has died at age 83. SENT: 2,730 words, photos, video, audio. An abridged version is available.

INDIA-BLIND-PIANIST-PHOTO-GALLERY — AP PHOTOS: A blind pianist from Nagaland says music is ‘one thing that has kept me alive.’ SENT: 410 words, photos.

SNL-RATINGS — ‘SNL’ 50th season premiere gets more than 5M viewers, its best opener since 2020. SENT: 250 words, photo.

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WASHINGTON/POLITICS

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JIMMY-CARTER-100TH-BIRTHDAY — Jimmy Carter is preparing to celebrate his 100th birthday on Tuesday, the first time an American president has lived a full century and the latest milestone in a life that took the son of a Depression-era farmer to the White House and across the world as a Nobel Peace Prize-winning humanitarian and advocate for democracy. SENT: 790 words, photos, video.

ELECTION-2024-NATIVE-AMERICANS — Native Americans living on a remote Montana reservation filed a lawsuit against state and county officials saying they don’t have enough places to vote in person — the latest chapter in a decades-long struggle by tribes in the United States over equal voting opportunities. SENT: 680 words, photos.

ALASKA-RUSSIA-MILITARY — Military officials have released new video of a startling encounter between a Russian fighter jet flying near Alaska and a U.S. Air Force F-16 sent to intercept it. In the video, the Russian plane comes from behind the camera and swoops by the U.S. jet, just feet from the aircraft. SENT: 390 words, photos, video, audio.

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NATIONAL

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TYRE-NICHOLS — Closing arguments were expected in the federal trial of three former Memphis police officers charged with violating Tyre Nichols’ civil rights in a beating that proved fatal following a 2023 traffic stop. SENT: 330 words, photos.

ABORTION-GEORGIA — A Georgia judge struck down the state’s abortion law, which took effect in 2022 and effectively prohibited abortions beyond about six weeks of pregnancy. SENT: 1,030 words, photo, audio. With ABORTION-PILLS-LOUISIANA — Abortion pills will be controlled substances in Louisiana soon. Doctors have concerns — SENT.

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INTERNATIONAL

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KASHMIR-INDIA-ELECTION — Voting in the final phase of the election to choose a local government in Indian-controlled Kashmir began in the first such vote since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government stripped the disputed region of its special status five years ago. SENT: 470 words, photos.

MEXICO-INAUGURATION — Claudia Sheinbaum will take the oath of office as Mexico’s first female president in more than 200 years of independence, promising to protect an expanded social safety net and fight for the poor like her predecessor, but facing pressing problems. SENT: 760 words, photos. With MEXICO-CLAUDIA SHEINBAUM — Who is Claudia Sheinbaum, the scientist who will head Mexico as its first female president? — SENT.

UN-GENERAL-ASSEMBLY-TUMULTUOUS-WORLD — World leaders gathered at the United Nations amid warnings of an escalating conflict that could engulf the Middle East and the breakdown of international relations based on nations working together. A week later, they headed home with the prospect of a broader war intensifying and global divisions front and center, not only in the Mideast but elsewhere. SENT: 980 words, photos. With UN-GENERAL-ASSEMBLY-NORTH-KOREA — On a day when isolated nations get their say at the UN, North Korea reups condemnation of US — SENT.

ASIA-TYPHOON — Taiwan closed schools and offices and evacuated hundreds from vulnerable areas around the island ahead of a strong typhoon expected to hit its populated western coast after lashing northern Philippine islands. SENT: 270 words, photos, video.

NEPAL-FLOODING — Rescuers searched for people still missing and tried to recover bodies of those killed in weekend flooding and landslides in Nepal that killed more than 200 people. SENT: 240 words, photos.

CHINA-75-YEARS — China is marking the 75th year of Communist Party rule as economic challenges and security threats linger over the massive state. SENT: 540 words, photos, videos. With CHINA-COMMUNIST-PARTY-EXPLAINER — China’s Communist Party has ruled for 75 years. Will it make it to 100? — SENT.

KOREAS-TENSIONS — South Korea unveiled its most powerful ballistic missile and other weapons targeting North Korea during a massive Armed Forces Day ceremony, as the South’s president warned the North’s regime would collapse if it attempts to use nuclear weapons. SENT: 550 words, photos.

EUROPE-ASSANGE — Wikileaks founder Julian Assange will make his first public statements since he was released from prison when he addresses the Council of Europe. SENT: 430 words, photo.

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EDUCATION

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EDUCATION-PRESCHOOL VOTING — Preschools around the country are starting students early on civics education. The goal is nothing short of raising good citizens and strengthening democracy. In one Virginia preschool, students learned about democracy by voting for their favorite “PAW Patrol” characters. SENT: 820 words, photos.

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BUSINESS/TECH

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JEEP-RECALL — Jeep is recalling more than 194,000 plug-in hybrid SUVs worldwide because they can catch fire with the ignition turned off. In addition, Jeep is urging owners not to charge the SUVs and to park them outdoors and away from structures until they are repaired. SENT: 150 words, photo.

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SPORTS

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METS-BRAVES — The Atlanta Braves bounced back from a stunning loss in the first game of a makeup doubleheader, claiming the last postseason berth with a 3-0 win over the Mets in the nightcap after New York clinched a playoffs trip with an 8-7 victory in the opener. SENT: 950 words, photos.

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HOW TO REACH US

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Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James, left, and his son, Bronny James, pose for photos during the NBA basketball team's media day in El Segundo, Calif., Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

President Joe Biden, left, and Olympic swimmer Torri Huske attend an event celebrating the 2024 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Argentine President Javier Milei, right, and El Salvador's President Nayib Armando Bukele point from a balcony during Bukele's visit to the government house in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen, front, speaks to the media as she arrives at the court house in Paris, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a rally on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Smoke rises from an Israeli airstrike that hit the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

A Palestinian child wounded in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip is treated in a hospital in Deir al-Balah, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

A Palestinian man holds a child wounded in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip in a hospital in Deir al-Balah, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

An Israeli tank manoeuvres in northern Israel near the Israel-Lebanon border, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner)

SRINAGAR, India (AP) — Voting in the final phase of the election to choose a local government in Indian-controlled Kashmir began Tuesday in the first such vote since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government stripped the disputed region of its special status five years ago.

Over 3.9 million residents are eligible to cast their votes to choose 40 lawmakers out of 415 candidates in the region’s seven districts during the third — and last — phase of the election.

It’s the first such vote in a decade and the first since Modi’s Hindu nationalist government scrapped the Muslim-majority region’s semi-autonomy in 2019.

The unprecedented move downgraded and divided the former state into two centrally governed union territories, Ladakh and Jammu-Kashmir. Both are ruled directly by New Delhi through its appointed administrators along unelected bureaucrats and security setup. The move — which largely resonated in India and among Modi supporters — was mostly opposed in Kashmir as an assault on its identity and autonomy.

The region has since been on edge with civil liberties curbed and media gagged.

India and Pakistan each administer part of Kashmir, but both claim the territory in its entirety. The two nuclear-rivals have fought two of their three wars over the territory since they gained independence from the British colonial rule in 1947.

On Tuesday, thousands of armed government forces patrolled the voting districts and guarded over 5,000 polling stations. Lines of voters stretched across the stations to cast their ballot. The region’s chief electoral office said about 28% turnout was recorded as of 11 a.m.

In Jammu areas, tens of thousands of Pakistani Hindu refugees are voting for the first time in any regional election since their migration in 1947. The refugees, officially called as West Pakistan Refugees, have long been recognized as Indian citizens with voting rights in national elections. However, before 2019 changes, Kashmir’s special status allowed only descendants from residents of the territory in 1934 to vote and own property.

At a polling station in Jammu’s R S Pura area, scores of these refugees lined to cast their votes.

“It’s a Diwali for us,” said Vikram Choudhary, 26, while referring to the Hindu festival of light symbolizing the victory of light over darkness. “We feel liberated.”

“Our children will have a secure future and a say in local affairs now,” 76-year-old Satpal Choudhary said.

India’s ruling BJP has a strong political base in the region’s Hindu-dominated areas of Jammu that largely favor the 2019 changes and has won multiple seats from there in the past elections. But it is weak in the Kashmir Valley where the BJP has never won a seat. The party has fielded only 19 candidates for the 47 seats in the valley while it is contesting all 43 seats in Jammu.

Modi’s party is not officially aligned with any local group, but many politicians believe it is tacitly supporting some parties and independent candidates in the Kashmir Valley who privately agree with it. The region’s main pro-India political parties say the BJP of trying to manipulate the election and fragment the valley’s vote through independents.

About 43% of 503 candidates contesting in the Kashmir Valley are independents, in contrast to 35% of 359 in Jammu.

Voting began Sept. 18 with about 61% turnout. In the second phase on last Wednesday, overall turnout was about 55%. There were no incidents reported from either phase.

Votes will be counted on Oct. 8, with results expected that day.

The multistage election will allow Kashmir to have its own truncated government and a local legislature, called an assembly, rather than being directly under New Delhi’s rule. However, there will be a limited transition of power from New Delhi to the 90-seat assembly as Kashmir will remain a “Union Territory” — directly controlled by the federal government — with India’s Parliament as its main legislator. Kashmir’s statehood must be restored for the new government to have powers similar to other states of India.

Militants in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir have been fighting New Delhi’s rule since 1989. Many Muslim Kashmiris support the rebels’ goal of uniting the territory, either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country.

India insists the Kashmir militancy is Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Pakistan denies the charge, and many Kashmiris consider it a legitimate freedom struggle. Tens of thousands of civilians, rebels and government forces have been killed in the conflict.

Associated Press journalist Channi Anand contributed to this story from Jammu, India.

Follow AP's Asia-Pacific coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific

People queue up to cast their vote at a polling booth during the final phase of an election to choose a local government in Indian-controlled Kashmir in Jammu, India, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photos/Channi Anand)

Paramilitary soldiers guard as people queue up to cast their vote at a polling booth during the final phase of an election to choose a local government in Indian-controlled Kashmir, in Jammu, India, Tuesday, Oct.1, 2024. (AP Photos/Channi Anand)

People queue up to cast their vote at a polling booth during the third phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election in Jammu, India, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photos/Channi Anand)

Kashmiris queue up at a polling booth to cast their vote during the final phase of an election to choose a local government in Indian-controlled Kashmir, north of Srinagar, Tuesday, Oct.1, 2024. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)

People queue up to cast their vote at a polling booth during the third phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election in Jammu, India, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photos/Channi Anand)

A paramilitary soldier guards as people queue up to cast their vote at a polling booth during the final phase of an election to choose a local government in Indian-controlled Kashmir, in Jammu, India, Tuesday, Oct.1, 2024. (AP Photos/Channi Anand)

A woman shows the indelible ink mark on her finger after casting vote during third phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election in Jammu, India, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photos/Channi Anand)

People queue up to cast their vote at a polling booth during the third phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election in Jammu, India, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photos/Channi Anand)

People queue up to cast their vote at a polling booth during the third phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election in Jammu, India, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photos/Channi Anand)

People queue up to cast their vote at a polling booth during the third phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election in Jammu, India, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photos/Channi Anand)

An Indian paramilitary soldier guards as Kashmiris queue up at a polling booth to cast their vote during the final phase of an election to choose a local government in Indian-controlled Kashmir, north of Srinagar, Tuesday, Oct.1, 2024. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)

An Indian paramilitary soldier guards as Kashmiris queue up at a polling booth to cast their vote during the final phase of an election to choose a local government in Indian-controlled Kashmir, north of Srinagar, Tuesday, Oct.1, 2024. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)

Kashmiri women queue up at a polling booth to cast their vote during the final phase of an election to choose a local government in Indian-controlled Kashmir, north of Srinagar, Tuesday, Oct.1, 2024. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)

Kashmiris queue up at a polling booth to cast their vote during the final phase of an election to choose a local government in Indian-controlled Kashmir, north of Srinagar, Tuesday, Oct.1, 2024. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)

People queue up to cast their vote at a polling booth during the final phase of an election to choose a local government in Indian-controlled Kashmir, in Jammu, India, Tuesday, Oct.1, 2024. (AP Photos/Channi Anand)

A Kashmiri man on a wheelchair smiles as as he comes out after casting his vote during the final phase of an election to choose a local government in Indian-controlled Kashmir, north of Srinagar, Tuesday, Oct.1, 2024. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)

Kashmiris queue up at a polling booth to cast their vote during the final phase of an election to choose a local government in Indian-controlled Kashmir, north of Srinagar, Tuesday, Oct.1, 2024. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)

People queue up to cast their vote at a polling booth during the third phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election in Jammu, India, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photos/Channi Anand)

An Indian paramilitary soldier guards as a Kashmiri man casts his vote during the final phase of an election to choose a local government in Indian-controlled Kashmir, north of Srinagar, Tuesday, Oct.1, 2024. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)

People queue up to cast their vote at a polling booth during the final phase of an election to choose a local government in Indian-controlled Kashmir, in Jammu, India, Tuesday, Oct.1, 2024. (AP Photos/Channi Anand)

Indian paramilitary soldiers guard as Kashmiris queue up at a polling booth to cast their vote during the final phase of an election to choose a local government in Indian-controlled Kashmir, north of Srinagar, Tuesday, Oct.1, 2024. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)

FILE- India's opposition Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi waves to supporters during a campaign rally of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections in Jammu, India, Sept.25, 2024.(AP Photo/Channi Anand, File)

Polling officials leave with electronic voting machines and other election material on the eve of the third phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election, in Jammu, India, Monday, Sept.30, 2024. (AP Photo/Channi Anand)

Polling officials leave for poll duty with electronic voting machines and other election material on the eve of the third phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election, in Jammu, India, Monday, Sept.30, 2024.(AP Photo/Channi Anand)

A security person guards as polling officials wait to collect electronic voting machines and other polling material on the eve of the third phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election, in Jammu, India, Monday, Sept.30, 2024.(AP Photo/Channi Anand)

FILE- Kashmiri women queue up at a polling booth to cast their vote during the second phase of the assembly election in the outskirts of Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Sept. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin, File)