AP News Digest 6 p.m.

Here are the AP’s latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All times EST. 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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NEW & DEVELOPING

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RUSSIA-UKRAINE-WAR-MILITARY AID; OBIT-LAST USS UTAH SURVIVOR; ARIZONA BOWL-NIL; INMATE DEATH-NEW YORK; EXECUTIONS-TENNESSEE;

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ONLY ON AP

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UNITEDHEALTHCARE-POLL — Most Americans believe health insurance profits and coverage denials share responsibility for the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO — although not as much as the person who pulled the trigger, according to a new poll. By Linley Sanders, Tom Murphy and Amelia Thomson-Deveaux. UPCOMING: 820 words, photos by 7 a.m.

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TOP STORIES

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MIDEAST-WARS — Israeli troops stormed one of the last hospitals operating in northern Gaza, igniting fires and forcing many staff and patients outside to strip in winter weather, the territory’s health ministry said. Kamal Adwan Hospital has been hit multiple times over the past three months by Israeli troops waging an offensive against Hamas fighters in surrounding neighborhoods, according to staff. By Wafaa Shurafa, Fatma Khaled and Lee Keath. SENT: 960 words, photos. WITH: MIDEAST-WARS-THE-LATEST.

RUSSIA-UKRAINE-WAR-MILITARY AID — The United States is expected to send another $1.25 billion in military assistance to Ukraine as part of a push by the Biden administration to get as much aid to Kyiv as possible before leaving office on Jan. 20. Officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, say the large package of aid would include a significant amount of munitions, including for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems and the HAWK air defense system. It also will provide Stinger missiles and 155 mm- and 105 mm artillery rounds. The officials say they expect the announcement will be made on Monday. SENT: 440 words, photo.

AZERBAIJAN-CRASH — Russian air defense systems may have brought down an Azerbaijani airliner this week, a U.S. official said after an Azerbaijani minister also suggested the plane was hit by a weapon, citing expert analysis and survivor accounts. SENT: 900 words, photos, audio.

SOUTH-KOREA-MARTIAL-LAW — South Korea’s opposition-controlled National Assembly has voted to impeach acting President Han Duck-soo. Han’s impeachment further deepens South Korea’s political crisis and damages its international image. The assembly approved the impeachment motion in a 192-0 vote on Friday. Governing party lawmakers boycotted the vote. Han, who is also prime minister, had been acting leader after President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached by the assembly over his short-lived imposition of martial law earlier this month. By Hyung-Jin Kim. SENT: 800 words, photos, video. WITH: SOUTH-KOREA-MARTIAL-LAW-EXPLAINER — What to know about South Korean acting President Han’s impeachment.

ABORTION-MATERNAL-SAFETY-NET — Tennessee has nearly total abortion ban and a porous safety net for mothers and young children. GOP state leaders in Tennessee and other states that banned abortion after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022 argue that they are bolstering services for families. Recent research and an analysis by The Associated Press has found that from the time a Tennessee woman gets pregnant, she faces greater obstacles to a healthy pregnancy, a healthy child and a financially stable family life than the average American mom. By Laura Ungar and Kimberlee Kruesi. SENT: 1,450 words, photos. WITH: ABORTION-MATERNAL-SAFETY-NET-TAKEAWAYS — Takeaways from AP’s report on social safety nets in states that ban abortion. (upcoming).

OBIT-LAST USS UTAH SURVIVOR —Warren Upton, the oldest living survivor of the Dec. 7, 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the last remaining survivor of the USS Utah, has died. He was 105. Upton died Wednesday at a hospital in Los Gatos, California, after a bout of pneumonia, according to the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors. By Audrey McAvoy. SENT: 250 words, photos.

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SPOTLIGHTING VOICES

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SIERRA-LEONE-AMPUTEES-AND-FARMING — Sierra Leone’s brutal civil war from 1991-2002 created about 28,000 amputees. Now many live on the streets and beg, facing discrimination. They are often regarded as a shameful reminder of the war. One initiative is tackling this by training amputees to farm and strengthen their independence. Despite its success with 100 trainees so far, the project remains a rare example. The country’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission says there is currently no specific support for amputees from the government. By Jack Thompson. SENT: 1,000 words, photos.

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WASHINGTON/ POLITICS

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MAGA-TECH-IMMIGRATION — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump’s supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in his political movement into public display, previewing the fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. SENT: 780 words, photos.

UNITED-STATES-CHINA-HACK – A top White House official says a ninth U.S. telecoms firm has been confirmed to have been hacked as part of a sprawling Chinese espionage campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Administration officials said this month that at least eight telecommunications companies, as well as dozens of nations, had been affected by the Chinese hacking blitz known as Salt Typhoon. SENT: 370 words, photo.

GEORGIA-ELECTION-INDICTMENT-LAWMAKERS — A judge has ruled that the Georgia state Senate can subpoena Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis as part of a inquiry into whether she has engaged in misconduct during her prosecution of President-elect Donald Trump but is giving Willis the chance to contest whether lawmakers’ demands are overly broad. SENT: 670 words, photos.

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MORE NEWS

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INMATE DEATH-NEW YORK — Body-worn camera footage released Friday by New York’s attorney general shows a man being fatally beaten earlier this month in a New York prison. The footage shows the man in handcuffs as corrections officers repeatedly pummeled him, struck him in the chest by a shoe, then lifted him up by the neck and dropped. SENT: 650 words, photo.

SCI-NASA-SUN-FLYBY — NASA has confirmed that a spacecraft has made the closest approach to the sun. Earlier this week, the Parker Solar Probe passed within a mere 3.8 million miles of the sun. SENT: 200 words, photo.

MORRISON-HOTEL-FIRE — The former Morrison Hotel, made famous by The Doors and their 1970 album of the same name, was significantly damaged by a fire that erupted in downtown Los Angeles. SENT: 260 words, photo.

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YEAR END STORIES

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YE-CLIMATE-BATTERY-STORAGE — 2024 was another banner year for a source of electricity that is better for people’s lungs, better for climate change and may be reaching your home now when you turn on the lights or turn up the thermostat — large banks of batteries. SENT: 880 words, photo.

Find all of the AP’s year-end content in the 2024 Year In Review hub on AP Newsroom.

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NATIONAL

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HOMELESSNESS-TALLY — Federal officials say the United States saw an 18.1% increase in homelessness, a dramatic rise driven mostly by a lack of affordable housing as well as devastating natural disasters and a surge of migrants in several parts of the country. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said that federally required tallies taken across the country in January found that more than 770,000 people were counted as homeless. That increase comes on top of a 12% increase in 2023, which HUD blamed on soaring rents and the end of pandemic assistance. By Michael Casey. SENT: 820 words, photo.

NEW-STATE-LAWS — New laws taking effect in the new year will affect Hollywood actors, social media stars and chatty motorists. In many states, minimum wage workers will see a pay raise in January. New laws in California will provide protections to actors against unauthorized use of artificial intelligence and require parents to set aside social media earnings generated by children. In Florida and Tennessee, new laws restricting social media use by minors face legal challenges. In Missouri, drivers holding their cellphones could face new fines. SENT: 1,090 words, photos.

MARYLAND-FOREVER-CHEMICALS — Maryland is suing the company that produces the waterproof material Gore-Tex often used for raincoats and other outdoor gear, alleging its leaders kept using “forever chemicals” long after learning about serious health risks associated with them. SENT: 880 words, photo.

EXECUTIONS-TENNESSEE — More than 2 years after Tennessee abruptly halted the execution of inmate Oscar Smith — admitting that correction officials were not following their own execution protocols — the state has announced a new method that could allow it to resume executions. The Tennessee Department of Correction announced in a brief statement Friday it had “completed its revision of the lethal injection protocol, which will utilize the single drug pentobarbital.” SENT: 410 words, photo.

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INTERNATIONAL

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FINLAND-ESTONIA-CABLE — NATO will step up patrols in the Baltic Sea as Finnish investigators work to establish whether a ship linked to Russia sabotaged undersea cables there this week. Finnish authorities seized control of the ship, the Eagle S, on Thursday. They’re trying to establish whether it damaged a power cable linking Finland and Estonia and several data cables. It was the latest in a string of incidents involving the disruption of key infrastructure in the region. SENT: 550 words, photos, video.

INDIA-SINGH — Authorities in India have declared a seven-day mourning period to honor Manmohan Singh, officials said, as politicians and public paid tributes to the country’s former prime minister widely regarded as the architect of India’s economic reform program. SENT: 270 words, photos.

GERMANY-ELECTION — German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier ordered parliament dissolved and set new elections for Feb. 23 in the wake of the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition, saying it was the only way to give the country a stable government capable of tackling its problems. SENT: 520 words, photos.

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BUSINESS

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FINANCIAL-WELLNESS-FINANCIAL-RESOLUTIONS — As the calendar changes to 2025, you might be thinking about how to approach your relationship with money in the new year. Whether you’re saving to move out of your parents’ house or pay off student loan debt, financial resolutions can help you stay motivated. If you’re planning to make financial resolutions for the new year, experts recommend that you start by evaluating the state of your finances in 2024. Then, set specific goals and make sure they’re attainable for your lifestyle. SENT: 1,180 words, photos.

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SPORTS

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ARIZONA BOWL-NIL — When Snoop Dogg agreed to become the sponsor of the Arizona Bowl, he had a demand: It must have a NIL component. Other bowls have provided NIL chances for single players the past few years, but the Arizona Bowl is believed to be the first to offer NIL compensation to every player on both Colorado State and Miami (Ohio). The players participated in youth clinics before Saturday’s game and will be compensated for their time. SENT: 630 words, photo.

HKN-OVECHKIN-CHASING-GRETZKY — Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals is chasing the NHL career goals record of 894 held by Wayne Gretzky. Ovechkin entered the season 42 goals short of breaking a record that long seemed unapproachable. He is set to play again Saturday at the Toronto Maple Leafs after missing more than a month with a broken left fibula. Ovechkin was on pace to get to 895 sometime in February before getting injured. At 868, he his 27 goals away from passing Gretzky. SENT: 420 words, photos. WITH: HKN-CAPITALS-OVECHKIN — Ovechkin could return Saturday at Toronto. (sent).

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HOW TO REACH US

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At the Nerve Center, Richard A. Somma can be reached at 800-845-8450, ext. 1600. For photos, Donald E. King 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.

The buildings of the banking district come out of the thick fog over Frankfurt, Germany, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

A Kashmiri rows her wooden boat filled with water canisters after collecting water from the Dal lake, as most taps and water reservoirs at residential houses have frozen due to an intense cold wave, in Srinagar, Indian Controlled Kashmir, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

Syrians hold a copy of the Quran next to a Christian cross during a demonstration in support of unity among minorities and the ousting of the Bashar Assad government in Umayyad Square in Damascus, Syria, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

Workers prepare scaffolding ahead of a new year countdown event to be held in Beijing, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

A woman walks amid pigeons flying in a square in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) runs with the ball as Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens (36) and defensive end Jacob Martin (55) try to stop him during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Milo Lautaro Sandoval gets his slingshot ready to hunt pigeons after assisting his neighbor Carlos Andino to fish in the Parana River in Villa Gobernador Galvez, Argentina, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Mourners cry while they take the last look at the body of Palestinian Zein Atatrah, 18, during his funeral in the West Bank town of Ya'bad, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

Members of the new armed forces, former rebels who overthrew Bashar Assad's government and now serve in the new Syrian government, stand in formation before a military parade in downtown Damascus, Syria, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Supporters, some twins, and the family members of twin brothers, Ziv and Gali Berman, who are held by Hamas in Gaza, gathered in Tel Aviv, Israel to call for their release , Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

BEREA, Ohio (AP) — The Cleveland Browns have again restructured quarterback Deshaun Watson's massive contract to create salary-cap space and give them future flexibility, a person familiar with the move told The Associated Press on Friday.

Watson has been limited to just 19 games in three seasons because of an NFL suspension and injuries with the Browns, who signed him to a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract in 2022.

The restructuring allows the team to spread out the salary-cap hit after the 2026 season, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team does not disclose contract specifics.

The 29-year-old Watson has two years remaining on his contract with an average of $46 million a year. The move to restructure his deal will not preclude the Browns from adding talent at the quarterback position in 2025, the person said.

Watson played in only seven games this season before suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon. He's 9-10 as a starter with Cleveland.

The Browns (3-12) have been a major disappointment this season after making it to the playoffs a year ago behind Joe Flacco, who was signed as a free agent after Watson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury.

Watson had surgery in October and is expected to make a full recovery. While the team hasn't disclosed its plans at quarterback, it's assumed Watson will be in the mix to be the starter next season.

It's also possible the Browns will draft a quarterback in the first round. The team hasn't had a first-round pick the past three years after trading three to the Houston Texans to acquire Watson, who was once considered one of the league's elite QBs.

Watson's disappointing tenure has been a sore spot with Cleveland fans, who had hoped the team had finally resolved its interminable QB issues when they signed the three-time Pro Bowler three years ago.

But it hasn't worked out, and the major investment in Watson and the salary-cap ramifications of his contract — the largest fully guaranteed deal in league history — have made it difficult for the Browns to upgrade their roster.

Watson has shown flashes of being a competent starting quarterback, but there have been just as many moments in which he's looked hesitant in the pocket or unable to connect with receivers down field.

Watson was suspended for the first 11 games of his first season in Cleveland after an independent arbiter ruled he violated the conduct policy after he was accused by more than two dozen women of sexual misconduct during massage therapy sessions.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

FILE - Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) in action during the NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Oct. 13, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola, File)