AP News Digest 2 p.m.

Here are the AP's latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All times EDT. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit Coverage Plan at h ttps://newsroom.ap.org.

-------------———

TOP STORIES

-------------———

VIRUS OUTBREAK — New travel restrictions and border closures reverberated across Europe and beyond as daily life increasingly ground to a halt to try to keep people apart and slow the spread of the coronavirus. Americans returning home faced chaos at airports as overwhelmed border agents tried to screen arriving passengers. With new infections dwindling in Asia, Europe has become the main front line of the fight against COVID-19. The virus has infected 156,000 people and killed over 5,800, but nearly 74,000 people have already recovered from it. By Joseph Wilson and Geir Moulson. SENT: 1,310 words, photos. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-THE LATEST; VIRUS OUTBREAK-WHAT'S HAPPENING (both sent).

VIRUS OUTBREAK-US — Long lines and hourslong waits for required medical screenings greeted weary travelers returning to some U.S. airports amid coronavirus-related travel restrictions. The dense crowds Saturday night at some of the 13 airports where travelers from Europe are being funneled — among the busiest across the country — formed even as public health officials called for “social distancing” to stem the spread of the pandemic. By Terry Spencer and Mallika Sen. SENT: 940 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-HOSPITALS — Authorities are sounding increasing alarm about the readiness of the nation's hospital system to absorb an influx of patients during the coronavirus outbreak, including a lack of equipment, beds and staff. New York's governor calls on President Trump to call up the military to deal with the situation. By John Seewer. UPCOMING: 800 words by 3 p.m., photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-GLOBAL ECONOMY — When the global economy melted down in 2008, world leaders swiftly created an international forum to boost economies by spending more and keeping trade open. Central banks announced rate cuts within seconds of each other. But so far, nations' approach to the economic shock from the coronavirus outbreak is looking very different. With the world economy teetering, plenty of action is being taken — but often without coordination or consultation that could increase its impact. By David McHugh. SENT: 1,090 words, photos.

Find more all-format coverage below and on the coronavirus outbreak featured topic page in AP Newsroom.

ELECTION 2020-DEBATE — The two remaining major Democratic presidential candidates return to the debate stage in Washington in a TV studio without an audience. Their party, the political stakes and the world look much different from their last meeting less than three weeks ago. The coronavirus is expected to dominate the debate between Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders. By Julie Pace. SENT: 1,120 words, photos. UPCOMING: Debate begins at 8 p.m. With ELECTION 2020-DEBATE-AUDIENCE — What it’s like to have a debate with no audience; ELECTION 2020-DEBATE ANALYSIS; ELECTION 2020-DEBATE-TAKEAWAYS

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE — The Justice Department has charged multiple defendants in recent years with routine criminal violations derived from foreign intelligence-gathering. The cases rely on the same surveillance tools the FBI has admitted misusing in investigating the 2016 Trump campaign and Russia. The cases are attracting the attention of defense lawyers and civil liberties advocates who object that tools meant for foreign intelligence collection are being used for prosecutions with no obvious connection to national security. But the Justice Department says the law allows evidence collected through foreign intelligence surveillance warrants to be repurposed for use in criminal prosecutions. By Eric Tucker. SENT: 1,240 words, photos. This is the Monday Spotlight.

SUNSHINE WEEK-MISINFORMATION CAMPAIGNS — Political misinformation is often considered a national and international challenge, in part because of the Russian-based trolls and bots who spread false claims and sow division in a bid to influence elections in the U.S. and abroad. It's increasingly a problem on Main Street, too, as local candidates and politicians adopt misinformation tactics and local news organizations shrink or shut down, leaving residents with fewer credible sources of information. By David Klepper. SENT: 1,320 words, photos. With SUNSHINE WEEK-MISINFORMATION CAMPAIGNS-GETTING HELP — Groups help local journalists call out misinformation (sent).

SYRIA-INTO WAR'S 10TH YEAR — In a world gripped by a pandemic, global unrest and a fast-moving news cycle, it can be difficult to remember that the war in Syria is still happening. Even before the coronavirus outbreak took over daily lives around the globe, the nine-year old conflict had largely fallen off the world’s collective radars. But as the war enters its tenth year, the conflict that gave rise to the Islamic State group and that triggered the worst humanitarian catastrophe of the 21st century continues to create new tragedies with an outsized impact on global politics. By Zeina Karam. SENT: 1,080 words, photos. With SYRIA — Turkish and Russian troops began joint patrols on a key highway in northwestern Syria, Turkey’s Defense Ministry said, while both the Russian government and Syrian opposition activists said the patrols were shortened because of protests. SENT: 490 words, photos.

————————————————————- MORE ON VIRUS OUTBREAK ————————————————————-

VIRUS OUTBREAK-MEDICAL IMPACT — The medical impact of the new coronavirus is coming into sharper focus as it continues its spread in what is now officially recognized as a pandemic. By Marilynn Marchionne. SENT: 1,280 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-MIDEAST — The official leading Iran's response to the new coronavirus acknowledged that the pandemic could overwhelm health facilities in his country, which is battling the worst outbreak in the Middle East while under heavy U.S. sanctions. Iran's Health Ministry reported another 113 deaths, bringing the country's total death toll to 724, with nearly 14,000 confirmed cases. It was the biggest single-day jump in fatalities since the virus was first reported in the country. SENT: 1,100 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-SUNDAY WORSHIP — The pews are empty around the world due to the outbreak, with the cancellation of Holy Week processions and U.S. congregations having only one option Sunday to view their services online. President Trump marked the National Day of Prayer by watching the service online held by Pastor Jentezen Franklin of Free Chapel in Gainesville, Ga. UPCOMING: 700 words by 4 p.m., photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-VATICAN — The Vatican's Holy Week ceremonies will go ahead but without public attendance as Italy tries to contain the coronavirus outbreak, the Holy See says. SENT: 840 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-BARS — New Jersey's governor is considering a curfew and Illinois may require bars and restaurants to close after revelers ignored warnings against attending large gatherings to prevent the spread of coronavirus. In New Orleans and Chicago, people clad in green for St. Patrick's Day packed bars and spilled onto crowded sidewalks Saturday even after the cities cancelled their parades. UPCOMING: 600 words by 3 p.m.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-PHILIPPINES — Thousands of police officers and army troops started sealing the Philippines' densely populated capital at the start of one of Southeast Asia’s most drastic containment moves against the new coronavirus. Under monthlong restrictions imposed in the entire Manila metropolis — home to more than 12 million people — residents are compelled to stay at home, except when they need to leave for work or go on urgent errands, including medical emergencies. SENT: 620 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-STATE BUDGETS — States across the U.S. are allocating hundreds of millions of dollars to respond to the coronavirus, even as the U.S. government prepares to send billions more their way. Many states have built up sizable stockpiles in their “rainy day” funds during several robust years of tax collections. Some governors and state lawmakers now are tapping into those savings for emergency expenses. SENT: 900 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-FRANCE ELECTIONS — French voters queued up in polling stations across the nation to choose all their mayors and other local leaders. But others decided not to go amid concerns over how public gatherings spread the new coronavirus. SENT: 650 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-BRITAIN — The United Kingdom plans to escalate virus-fighting measures, its top health official says, indicating the country is edging closer to tactics adopted by its European neighbors that it has resisted. SENT: 480 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-PREPPERS — Curt La Haise has put up with plenty of razzing from friends over the years who have called him paranoid for stockpiling an eight-month supply of food in his basement and having enough fuel to power his generator for almost an entire winter. They're not laughing anymore amid panic buying that has cleared store shelves across the U.S. and growing fears that the new coronavirus will force many Americans to self-quarantine for weeks in their homes. SENT: 580 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-ITALY-COPING-PHOTO GALLERY — Italians are cooped up at home by a government decree to combat the spread of coronavirus. They are coping creatively. SENT: 810 words photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-INTREPID TRAVELERS — With the coronavirus pandemic escalating in the U.S. and overseas, Dylcia McBlackwell couldn't justify taking a single spring vacation. Air fares were so cheap, she decided to book three. SENT: 830 words, photos.

-------------———————————————-

WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT

—————————————————————-

NIGERIA-EXPLOSION — An explosion hit Nigeria's commercial capital Lagos, killing at least 15 people as rescue efforts continued to save people still trapped in collapsed buildings. SENT: 230 words.

MAINE-BICENTENNIAL — Maine is celebrates the bicentennial of its liberation from Massachusetts, but the coronavirus zaps the party. SENT: 740 words, photos.

—————————————————- WASHINGTON/POLITICS —————————————————

VIRUS OUTBREAK-TRUMP'S MEANDERING MESSAGE — In the course of few weeks, President Trump went from confidently assuring Americans his administration had the coronavirus “very well under control” to declaring a national emergency that has upended every facet of American life. Trump meandered from denial to grudging acceptance about the pandemic, and in his words and tweets, he seeded conflicting, inaccurate, and eyebrow-raising commentary to a country desperate for unvarnished, even shock-to-the-system guidance. By Aamer Madhani. UPCOMING: 900 words, photos by 4 p.m.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-WASHINGTON — The government’s top infectious disease expert says he would like to see aggressive measures such as a 14-day national shutdown that would require Americans to hunker down more to help slow spread of the new coronavirus. Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health says travel restrictions within the U.S., such as to and from Washington state and California, won't likely be needed anytime soon. By Hope Yen and Aamer Madhani. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos by 2:30 p.m. White House briefing scheduled for 5 p.m.

-------------—————— INTERNATIONAL -------------——————

ISRAEL-NETANYAHU — Israel's president summoned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his challenger, Benny Gantz, to an emergency meeting in hopes of breaking the deadlock that has paralyzed the political system for the past year and could threaten the country's response to the coronavirus crisis. SENT: 850 words, photos.

NEW ZEALAND-MOSQUE SHOOTING — People in the New Zealand city of Christchurch honored the 51 worshipers who were killed in a mass shooting a year ago in small but poignant ways Sunday, after a planned national memorial event was canceled due to fears it might spread the new coronavirus. SENT: 300 words, photos.

———————— NATIONAL ————————

MILITARY-TRANSGENDER BAN — Some transgender people who hoped to enlist in the military have moved on to other pursuits, but one of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit refuses to give up on a career aspiration that dates to his childhood. For almost a year, a Trump administration policy has been in place barring transgender Americans from enlisting. But 26-year-old Nic Talbott of Ohio says he believes military service is the ideal career for him. He keeps busy as a substitute teacher while pursing a graduate degree at Kent State University. He is part of a pending lawsuit seeking to overturn the ban. SENT: 790 words, photos.

———————————- BUSINESS/TECH ———————————-

SAUDI-ARABIA-OIL — Oil giant Saudi Aramco says its profits dropped 20% in 2019 to $88.2 billion, a sharp decline coming as the kingdom stands ready to flood an already-weakened global energy market amid the new coronavirus pandemic.. SENT 710 words, photo.

BLENDED MEATS — Meat companies are making it easier for you to eat your vegetables by blending them into burgers, meatballs and sausages. SENT: 680 words, photos.

————————————- ENTERTAINMENT ————————————-

FILM-BOX OFFICE — Ticket sales plunged to their lowest levels in at least 20 years at North American movie theaters as the coronavirus pandemic led to one of Hollywood's worst weekends at the box office. SENT: 450 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-MEXICO-MUSIC FESTIVAL — The coronavirus pandemic may have led authorities around the globe to cancel concerts and sporting events, and even shut down daily activities in some places. But Mexico City has gone ahead with the two-day Vive Latino — one of the most important music festivals in the country. SENT: 580 words, photos.

----------—- SPORTS -----------—

MARCH SADNESS — For all those who dreamed the impossible — making it a whole month without getting a single game wrong in the bracket — this is your year. Everything else about the NCAA Tournament that won't happen this season — from Selection Sunday, to the jaw-dropping bracket busters and buzzer beaters, to the Sweet 16 to the Final Four. Call it March Sadness. By Eddie Pells. SENT: 1,050 words, photos.

NFL-LABOR — NFL players have approved a new labor agreement with the league that features a 17-game regular season, higher salaries, increased roster sizes and larger pensions for current and former players. The deal, which runs through the 2030 season, was accepted by the 32 team owners last month. The NFL Players Association's membership spent the last week voting on the 439-page document after its executive board narrowly rejected it by a 6-5 vote, and the player representatives voted 17-14 in favor, with one abstention. By Barry Wilner. SENT: 800 words, photos.

----------—————————

HOW TO REACH US

-------------————————

At The Nerve Center, Dave Clark 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 http://newsroom.ap.org. For access to AP Newsroom and other technical issues, contact apcustomersupport(at)ap.org or call 877-836-9477.