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AP News Digest 7 a.m.

| April 7, 2020 4:27 AM

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 https://newsroom.ap.org.

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TOP STORIES

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VIRUS OUTBREAK — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is in intensive care fighting the coronavirus, while authorities in New York and elsewhere in Europe hope that an apparent plateau of deaths and new hospitalizations signal that key epicenters in the global pandemic have turned a corner. By Lori Hinnant and Danica Kirka. SENT: 1,090 words, photos. With VIRUS-OUTBREAK-BRITAIN — Johnson spends night in ICU; not on ventilator. VIRUS OUTBREAK-THE-LATEST.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-PREDICTING THE OUTCOME — A statistical model cited by the White House generates a slightly less grim figure for a first wave of deaths from the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S. — a projection designed to help officials plan for the worst, including having enough hospital staff, beds and ventilators. The only problem with this bit of relatively good news? It’s almost certainly wrong. All models are wrong. Some are just less wrong than others — and those are the ones that public health officials rely on. By Seth Borenstein and Carla K. Johnson. SENT: 880 words, photo.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-MIDEAST-DISRUPTED BURIALS — Ancient burial rituals common across the largely Muslim Middle East are being disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak. As the death toll from the pandemic surpasses 4,500, fear of contamination and government-mandated lockdowns have imposed traumatic restrictions on bereaved families from Egypt to Iran to Pakistan. By Qassim Abdul-Zahra and Samya Kullab. SENT: 940 words, photos. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-MIDEAST — Pakistan doctors jailed for virus protest demand protection.

VIRUS-OUTBREAK-VIDEO-CONFERENCE-HACKING — As businesses, schools, churches and others turn to video conference platforms to stay connected amid the global coronavirus pandemic, many have reported being attacked by uninvited guests. The disruptions, dubbed “Zoom-bombing,” have included racist, homophobic and anti-Semitic messages and have drawn the scrutiny of the FBI and other law enforcement agencies. By Regina Garcia Cano and Aaron Morrison. SENT: 1,050 words, photo. Also see MORE ON VIRUS OUTBREAK below.

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

ELECTION 2020-WISCONSIN — Wisconsin is asking hundreds of thousands of voters to defy a stay-at-home order in the midst of a pandemic to participate in Tuesday’s presidential primary election. The chaos underscores the lengths to which the coronavirus outbreak has upended politics. By Scott Bauer and Steve Peoples. SENT: 890 words, photos. UPCOMING: Updates expected throughout the day; polls open at 8 a.m.

Find more coverage on the 2020 U.S. Elections featured topic page on APNewsroom.

AUSTRALIA-CARDINAL-CHARGED — Cardinal George Pell welcomes Australia’s highest court clearing him of child sex crimes and says his trial had not been a referendum on the Catholic Church’s handling of the clergy abuse crisis. By Rod McGuirk. SENT: 1,240 words, photos. With AUSTRALIA-CARDINAL CHARGED-CHRONOLOGY.

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MORE ON VIRUS OUTBREAK

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VIRUS-OUTBREAK-ONLINE-GROCERIES — A pandemic forcing everyone to stay home could be the perfect moment for online grocery services, but they’ve been struggling to keep up with a surge in orders. By Business Writer Kelvin Chan. SENT: 1,050 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-COLLEGES IN TROUBLE — Colleges across the nation are scrambling to close deep budget holes and some have been pushed to the brink of collapse after the coronavirus outbreak triggered a series of financial losses. SENT: 1,080 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONGRESS — Congressional leaders push ahead with another coronavirus rescue package as President Donald Trump agrees that Americans will need more help. By Congressional Correspondent Lisa Mascaro. SENT: 930 words, photo.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-CHINA-STRUGGLING FARMERS — Chinese authorities are easing travel controls after declaring victory over the coronavirus, but flowers and some other crops that are deemed nonessential are withering while farmers wait for permission to move them to markets. SENT: 640 words, photos.

VIRUS-OUTBREAK-LIVES LOST-OPPOSITES ATTRACT — A mismatched pair’s love story ends on Long Island with deaths four days apart from the coronavirus. By National Writer Matt Sedensky. SENT: 840 words, photos.

VIRUS-OUTBREAK-JAPAN-STATE-OF-EMERGENCY — Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declares a month-long state of emergency for Tokyo and six other prefectures to ramp up defenses against the spread of the coronavirus as the number of infections surges. SENT: 700 words, photos.

VIRUS-OUTBREAK-APPEAL TO G20 — Many former global leaders and other VIPs urge the world’s 20 major industrialized nations to approve $8 billion in emergency funding to speed the search for a vaccine, cure and treatment for COVID-19 and prevent a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. SENT: 520 words, photo.

A separate wire advisory has been sent detailing AP's complete coronvirus coverage.

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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

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VIRUS OUTBREAK-LIVING ON THE MARGINS-PHOTO GALLERY — Virus haunts the destitute living on the margins in Morocco. SENT: 670 words, photos.

ELECTION 2020-TRUMP-BIDEN — Trump, Biden spoke by phone about coronavirus outbreak. SENT: 300 words, photos, video.

AUSTRALIA-SHARK DEATH — Shark kills Australian wildlife worker on Great Barrier Reef. SENT: 250 words.

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WASHINGTON/POLITICS

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ELECTION 2020-BIDEN-LEWIS — Civil rights icon and Georgia Rep. John Lewis is backing Joe Biden for president, giving the prospective Democratic nominee perhaps his biggest symbolic endorsement among the many veteran black lawmakers who back his candidacy. SENT: 890 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-AIRCRAFT CARRIER — Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly apologizes for saying the captain of the coronavirus-stricken aircraft carrier who was fired last week betrayed his service and may have been “too naive or too stupid” to be commanding officer of the ship. SENT: 990 words, photos.

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NATIONAL

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KENNEDY TOWNSEND-MISSING RELATIVES — The body of the daughter of former Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend was located in about 25 feet of water and recovered, authorities say, and they will keep searching for her son, after the two went missing following a canoeing accident last week. SENT: 510 words, photo.

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INTERNATIONAL

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RWANDA-GENOCIDE ANNIVERSARY — People across Rwanda are marking the anniversary of the 1994 genocide at home. SENT: 440 words.

SENEGAL-HABRE — Former Chadian dictator Hissene Habre is granted 60 days of home arrest by Senegal’s justice ministry because of the threat of COVID-19 in the prison where he is serving a life sentence. SENT: 360 words.

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BUSINESS/ECONOMY

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FINANCIAL-MARKETS — Global shares rose, fueled by hopes the peak of the coronavirus pandemic surge may come soon. By Business Writer Yuri Kageyama. SENT: 670 words, photos.

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ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT

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VIRUS-OUTBREAK-CELEBRITIES-UNVARNISHED — We’re learning a lot about each other these days and that’s especially true with our celebrities. By Entertainment Writer Mark Kennedy. SENT: 1,070 words, photos.

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SPORTS

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AP WAS THERE-1954 MASTERS — A panel of 15 golf writers were asked to vote on what they considered the best Masters in history. SENT: 970 words, photos.

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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, Courtney Dittmar (ext. 1900). For graphics and interactives, Phil Holm (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.