Here are the AP’s latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All Times EST. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s coverage, visit Coverage Plan at https://newsroom.ap.org.

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TOP STORIES

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VIRUS OUTBREAK-EUROPE — Many countries on Monday imposed stringent travel restrictions over concerns about a new strain of the coronavirus in Britain that authorities say may spread more easily. However, health experts have urged caution, saying it’s not clear if the new strain more lethal. By Pan Pylas. SENT: 1,007 words, photos. WITH VIRUS OUTBREAK-TRAVEL-RESTRICTIONS More and more countries around the world are restricting travel from Britain and elsewhere amid concerns about new strains of the coronavirus. SENT: 687 words, photos.

VIRUS-OUTBREAK-EUROPE-VACCINE — The European Union on Monday gave official approval for the coronavirus vaccine developed by BioNTech and Pfizer to be put onto the market across the 27-nation bloc. The move raises hopes that the 27 nations in the bloc can begin administering the first shots to their citizens shortly after Christmas. By By Aleksandar Furtula and Frank Jordans. SENT: 1,222 words. photos.

RACING-FOR-A-REMEDY-ANTIBODY-DRUGS — Companies are testing drugs that mimic the way the body fights COVID-19, hoping they can fill a key gap as vaccines remain months off for most people. One company tested more than 3,300 antibodies before choosing two for its drug, which has gone into the arm of a U.S. president and others fighting COVID-19. By AP Chief Medical Writer Marilynn Marchione SENT: 1,679 words, photos. This is the Tuesday Spotlight.

TRUMP-BARR — Breaking with President Donald Trump, outgoing Attorney General William Barr said Monday that he sees “no reason” to appoint a special counsel on potential election fraud or the tax investigation into the son of President-elect Joe Biden. In his final press conference, Barr also broke with Trump in reinforcing that federal officials believe Russia was behind the cyberespionage operation targeting the U.S. government. By Michael Balsamo. SENT: 466 words, photos.

PAN-AM-103-AIRLINE-BOMBING —,The Justice Department has unsealed charges against a Libyan bombmaker in the 1988 explosion of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, that killed 27 people. Attorney General William Barr announced the charges on the 32nd anniversary of the bombing. Barr had charged two Libyan intelligence officials in his capacity as acting attorney general nearly 30 years ago. By Eric Tucker and Michael Balsamo. SENT: 657 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONGRESS-ECONOMIC IMPACT -- Congress’ $900 billion rescue aid package will provide urgently needed benefits to the unemployed, loans to help small businesses stay open and up to $600 in cash payments to most individuals. Yet with the economy still in the grip of a pandemic, more federal support will likely be needed soon. By Christopher Rugaber. SENT: 1,298 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONGRESS — After months of gridlock, Congress is set to act on a $900 billion pandemic relief package, finally delivering long-sought cash to businesses and individuals as well as resources to vaccinate a nation confronting a frightening surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths. The relief package, expected to draw votes in Congress Monday, would establish a temporary $300 per week supplemental jobless benefit and a $600 direct stimulus payment to most Americans, along with a new round of subsidies for hard-hit businesses and money for schools, health care providers and renters facing eviction. By Andrew Taylor. SENT: 960 words, photos. Developing.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-PRISON TRANSFERS — In prisons around the country, COVID-19 outbreaks have followed transfers of prisoners or prison workers. Nearly all of the 25 state prison systems and the federal Bureau of Prisons that responded to a survey conducted by The Marshall Project and The Associated Press say they had reduced or limited the number of prisoners they moved due to the pandemic. Eight states halted the practice except in special circumstances. But most of those states lifted their restrictions by September and few prison systems heeded the earlier lessons as the pandemic worsened this winter. By Cary Aspinwall of The Marshall Project and Ed White of the AP. SENT: 1,327 words, photos.

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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

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VIRUS OUTBREAK-BIDEN -- President-elect Joe Biden will receive his first dose of the coronavirus vaccine on live television as part of a growing effort to convince the American public the inoculations are safe. By Jill Colvin. SENT: 900 words, photos. Timing of Biden vaccination uncertain; midday or later expected.

LEE STATUE-US CAPITOL — A statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee that represented Virginia in the U.S. Capitol has been removed. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said in a statement that workers removed the statue from the National Statuary Hall Collection early Monday. Northam had requested the statue’s removal and a state commission has recommended replacing it with a likeness of Barbara Johns who protested poor conditions at her all-Black high school in the town of Farmville in 1951. SENT: 419 words, photos.

VOLCANO ERUPTION-HAWAII — The U.S. Geological Survey said on Monday that the Kilauea volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island has erupted and there were reports of lava fountains shooting about 165 feet into the sky. A magnitude 4.4 earthquake hit about an hour after the volcano began erupting, but significant damage to buildings or structures is not expected. SENT: 309 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR — California Gov. Gavin Newsom is back in a precautionary coronavirus quarantine for the second time in two months. SENT: 731 words, photos.

TV-DAVID ATTENBOROUGH — Natural history presenter Sir David Attenborough has been working from his dining room to save the world — with the help of a new TV show called “A Perfect Planet,” a few blankets and a crew member in his garden. By Hilary Fox. SENT: 712 words, photos.

PLANETS-MERGE — Jupiter and Saturn will merge in the night sky Monday, appearing closer than they have in centuries. The last time the two gas giants looked this close together was during Galileo’s time in the 17th century. By AP Aerospace Writer Marcia Dunn. SENT: 446 words, photo.

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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK

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VIRUS OUTBREAK-VATICAN-VACCINE — The Vatican has declared it “morally acceptable” for Roman Catholics to receive COVID-19 vaccines based on research that used fetal tissue from abortions. The Vatican’s watchdog office for doctrinal orthodoxy said Monday that it addressed the question after receiving requests for guidance. By Frances D'Emilio. SENT: 625 words.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-POLITICAL INTERFERENCE — A House investigative panel said on Monday that Trump administration political appointees tried to block or change more than a dozen government articles that detailed scientific findings about the spread of the coronavirus. By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar. SENT: 716 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-US SURGE — California’s overwhelmed hospitals are setting up makeshift extra beds for coronavirus patients, and a handful of facilities in hard-hit Los Angeles County are drawing up emergency plans in case they have to limit how many people receive life-saving care. By Christopher Weber. SENT: 714 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-WINTER IS COMING — Winter is here, and the season at hand is one of uncertainty and fear with coronavirus cases spiking nationwide. Shouldn’t the pandemic be over by now? Before the average person will get inoculated, winter will exact its toll. SENT: 1,180 words, photos. There is an abridged version.

AP POLL-VIRUS OUTBREAK-HOLIDAYS — Fewer Americans say they are feeling festive this holiday season as a year marred by a national health crisis and teetering economy comes to an end. Just 22% of Americans say they feel very or extremely festive this year, down from 49% one year ago, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. By Tammy Webber and Hannah Fingerhut. SENT: 990 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-ONE-GOOD-THING-FOUR-LEGGED-COMPANIONS — After months of social distancing, residents of a Bronx nursing home are getting some much-needed snuggles from a crew of canine companions. Hebrew Home, operated by RiverSpring Health, has had a dog therapy program for 20 years but suspended it when the pandemic lockdown started in March. Now it’s renewing and expanding the program to help fill residents’ need for affectionate physical interactions. By Mary Esch. SENT: 713 words.

Find more coverage on the Virus Outbreak on the featured topic page in AP Newsroom.

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WASHINGTON/POLITICS

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CONGRESS-TOO BIG TO READ — The $900 billion pandemic relief package being rushed through Congress has created a familiar year-end conundrum for lawmakers: It’s a bill that’s too big to fail, and also too big to read. Delivering virus aid to the country will require a leap of faith for lawmakers as they cast votes, practically sight unseen, for a sprawling bill with hundreds of legislative items negotiated by leadership. Some frustrated members are refusing to go along. By Mary Clare Jalonick. UPCOMING: 800 words by 5 p.m.

YE-TRUMP-LEGACY-PRESIDENCY -- Donald Trump, as the most improbable of presidents, has reshaped the office. His legacy includes shattering centuries-old norms and traditions while dominating the national discourse like no one before. Yet it remains unclear how much of his imprint on the office itself will be indelible. By Jonathan Lemire, Zeke Miller and Darlene Superville. SENT: 1,230 words, photos.

ELECTIONS 2020-GEORGIA-LOEFFLER — Kelly Loeffler’s tight embrace of President Donald Trump and the far right while fighting to hold on to her U.S. Senate seat is not exactly what allies of Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp envisioned when he appointed her to the position in 2019. SENT: 1,170 words, photos.

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INTERNATIONAL

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CHINA-XINJIANG-INTERVIEW — A Chinese Communist Party official has signaled there likely will be no let-up in its crackdown in the Xinjiang region. Xinjiang party official Xu Guixiang told the Associated Press in an interview Monday that “we cannot be complacent ... because threats are still out there." China’s policies in Xinjiang have become a major point of division with the U.S. and other Western nations over alleged human rights violations. By Ken Moritsugu. SENT: 691 words, photos.

EU-BREXIT — Problems have increased for the attempt to secure a trade deal between the EU and Britain before a Brexit transition period ends on New Year’s Day. The EU legislature insisted Monday that the drawn-out negotiations left lawmakers without enough time to approve a deal. By Raf Casert and Mark Carlson. SENT: 701 words, photos.

IRAN-NUCLEAR — Countries trying to keep alive the 2015 deal on Iran’s nuclear program agreed on Monday to “positively address” the possibility of a U.S. return to the accord under the Biden administration. Germany’s foreign minister urged Iran not to waste what he called a final window of opportunity. By Geir Moulson. 529 words, photos.

SOCIAL MEDIA MANIPULATION — A vast, globalized industry of low-cost social media manipulation service providers continues to flourish, distorting both commerce and politics — including the verified social media accounts of two U.S. senators. SENT: 760 words, photos.

JAPAN-DEFENSE BUDGET — Japan’s Cabinet approved a ninth straight increase in the nation’s defense budget as the government bolsters funding to develop longer-range cruise missiles and stealth fighters to counter potential threats from China and North Korea. SENT: 390 words, photos.

PAKISTAN-INDIA — Pakistan’s prime minister has warned India against carrying out any “false flag” operations in the disputed Kashmir region. Imran Khan tweeted the warning on Sunday, two days after a U.N. vehicle in the Pakistan-held part of Kashmir came under attack. SENT: 250 words, photos.

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NATIONAL

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MISSING SOLDIER-DEATH — Authorities are holding a U.S. Army soldier in the death of a fellow soldier from Tennessee who was found shot to death in New Jersey after he was missing from a base in upstate New York. SENT: 225 words.

RACIAL INJUSTICE-NEWSPAPER APOLOGY — The Kansas City Star’s top editor has apologized for past decades of racially biased coverage. The newspaper also has posted a series of stories examining how it ignored the concerns and achievements of Black residents and helped keep Kansas City segregated. SENT: 200 words.

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BUSINESS

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FINANCIAL MARKETS: Stocks were falling Monday as a new, potentially more infectious strain of the coronavirus has countries around the world restricting travel from the United Kingdom, raising worries that the economy is about to take even worse punishment. The S&P 500 was 1.3% lower in midday trading, putting it on track to fall for a second day from its record set on Thursday. By Stan Choe. SENT: 833 words, photos.

TESLA-SOARING STOCKS — Tesla will join the S&P 500 on Monday after a streak of profitable quarters helped push its stock price up over 700% this year. The electric vehicle maker has come a long way since the middle of last year when there were doubts about its ability to pay its bills. SENT: 1,020 words, photos.

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SPORTS

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WOMEN'S BKB POLL — Oregon State’s four-year run in the Top 25 is over as the Beavers fell out of The Associated Press women’s basketball poll for the first time since 2016. SENT: 525 words.

PANTHERS-HURNEY — The Panthers on Monday fired general manager Marty Hurney after the team lost eight of its last nine games and failed to make the playoffs for a third straight season. Hurney’s contract was set to expire after the season. The team will immediately begin looking for a replacement. By Steve Reed. SENT: 682 words, photos.

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HOW TO REACH US

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