REUTERS AMERICA NEWS PLAN FOR TUESDAY AUGUST 9/WEDNESDAY AUGUST 10

08/09/2016 17:39

REUTERS AMERICA EVENING NEWS PLAN FOR TUESDAY AUGUST 9/WEDNESDAY AUGUST 10

LATEST AND PLANNED U.S. NEWS COVERAGE (ALL TIMES ET)

TOP STORIES

Trump stirs controversy with remarks on gun rights

WILMINGTON, North Carolina - Republican Donald Trump suggested in a speech on Tuesday that gun rights activists could stop his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton from nominating liberal justices to the Supreme Court, stirring another round of backlash during a week his U.S. presidential campaign had hoped to steer clear of controversy. (USA-ELECTION/ (PIX, TV, GRAPHIC), by Steve Holland, moved, 264 words). See also: USA-ELECTION/POLL (POLL, PIX, TV, GRAPHIC), by Grant Smith, 380 words

Delta cancels more than 500 flights worldwide on Tuesday

Delta Air Lines Inc said it was canceling more than 500 flights worldwide on Tuesday as the carrier worked to restore operations after a power outage hit its computer systems on Monday. (DELTA AIR-OUTAGES/ (UPDATE 4, PIX), moving shortly, 305 words)

U.S. productivity slump another reason for Fed to keep rates low

SAN FRANCISCO/WASHINGTON - An unexpected drop in productivity may confirm the Federal Reserve's worst fears of a U.S. economy slipping into an extended period of slow growth with little it can do about it. (USA-FED/PRODUCTIVITY (GRAPHIC), moved at 1:47 p.m., by Ann Saphir and Howard Schneider, 605 words) SEE ALSO: USA-ECONOMY/ (WRAPUP 3), moved at 4:21 p.m., by Lucia Mutikani, 661 words

Grief, anger after 74 Pakistanis killed in hospital bomb

QUETTA/ISLAMABAD - Pakistani mourners flocked to funerals on Tuesday for 74 victims, most of them lawyers, of the bombing of a hospital in the southwestern city of Quetta, and legal organizations staged a nationwide strike in protest. (PAKISTAN-BLAST/ (UPDATE 3, PIX, TV), moved at 3:57 p.m., by Asad Hashim, 736 words)

OLYMPICS

Drug rows, finger-pointing, Cold War echoes mar Rio mood

RIO DE JANEIRO - Russia's swimming chief says hostile atmosphere surrounding his team reminds him of the Cold War as sport, drugs and politics form a toxic Olympic mixture and sour the mood of the Games. (OLYMPICS-RIO/ (WRAPUP 1, PIX, TV), by Mark Trevelyan and Jack Stubbs, expect by 6:30 p.m., 700 words)

Chubby Ethiopian swimmer makes a splash in the pool (PIX)

If top swimmers consider second place to be first of the losers, spare a thought for Ethiopian Olympic debutant Robel Habte. By the time the chubby 24-year-old had emerged for air from his opening dive off the blocks in the 100 meters freestyle heats, he was already almost a body length behind and it did not get any better. (OLYMPICS-RIO-SWIMMING/HABTE (PIX), Alan Baldwin, moving shortly, 403 words)

Diving pool goes green, surprising athletes and spectators (PIX)

RIO DE JANEIRO - The water in the Olympic diving pool turned bright green on Tuesday, causing puzzlement among divers and audiences as the women's 10 meter platform final progressed. Seeking comment from Olympics organizers and FINA to understand the cause. (OLYMPICS-RIO-DIVING/, (UPDATE 1) by Brenda Goh, moving shortly, 300 words)

South Korean women's success eases coach Yang's Olympic regret

RIO DE JANEIRO - The success of South Korea's archery queens has helped ease head coach's pain of missing out on Olympic selection during his own career (OLYMPICS-RIO-ARCHERY/KOREA-YANG, expect by 7:00 p.m., (INTERVIEW, PIX), by Ian Ransom, 500 words)

Boos, taunts and jeers: Russia under siege at Rio Games

RIO DE JANEIRO - Weakened and bruised by sport's biggest doping scandal in decades, Russia is under siege at the Rio Games. The Russian team, tarnished and reduced in number following allegations of state-backed cheating, is keeping tight-lipped after being jeered by hostile crowds at multiple venues. (OLYMPICS-RIO/RUSSIA (PIX), moved at 2 p.m., By Jack Stubbs and Mark Trevelyan, 647 words)

Swimming-Russian great Salnikov says atmosphere like Cold War

RIO DE JANEIRO - Russian swimming chief Vladimir Salnikov said on Tuesday the atmosphere surrounding his team at the Olympics reminded him of the Cold War, and criticized American breaststroke champion Lilly King for attacking the integrity of her Russian rival. (OLYMPICS-RIO-SWIMMING/RUSSIA (PIX, TV), moved at 2:52 p.m. by Mark Trevelyan, 629 words)

Brazil judo champ stirs hope in slum where she grew up

RIO DE JANEIRO - The gold, they shouted, was for all of them. Residents of Rio's City of God slum, where judoka Rafaela Silva was born and raised before winning Brazil's first gold medal at these Games, spoke of their pride and hope that her triumph would help break the stigma that sticks to shantytown residents. (OLYMPICS-RIO/SILVA-FAVELA (PIX, TV), moved at 3:51 p.m., by Brad Brooks, 636 words) See also: OLYMPICS-RIO/POLITICS (UPDATE 1), moved at 12:29 p.m., by Daniel Flynn and Anthony Boadle, 424 words

Los Angeles vows "risk-free" Games if awarded 2024

RIO DE JANEIRO - One of the highest-stakes races in any Olympic Games is the mad dash to finish building the venues before hundreds of thousands of visitors arrive but 2024 bid city Los Angeles said on Tuesday it had an eight year head-start on the field. (OLYMPICS-RIO-USA/ (CORRECTED, PIX), moved at 2 p.m., by Scott Malone and Liana B. Baker, 418 words). See also: OLYMPICS-RIO/HIGHLIGHTS (PIX), will be updated through the day, 1621 words)

CAMPAIGN

Trump underspends Clinton on TV ads, relying on social media -NBC

Republican Donald Trump, a former reality TV star, has yet to spend a dime on television advertising for his White House campaign against Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, who has spent $52 million, NBC News said on Tuesday. (USA-ELECTION/ADVERTISING, moved at 4:23 p.m., by Ruthy Munoz, 293 words): See also: USA-ELECTION/TECH (PIX, GRAPHIC, TV), moved, 1,240 words and

Icahn praises Trump economic plan, says candidate will get blue-collar vote

NEW YORK - Billionaire activist investor Carl Icahn said on CNBC on Tuesday that Donald Trump is "right on about the economy" and said "the Archie Bunker of the world" will vote for the Republican presidential candidate. (FUNDS-ICAHN/TRUMP (UPDATE 2), moved at 2:30 p.m., 459 words)

WASHINGTON

US approves $1.15 bln sale of tanks, other equipment to Saudi Arabia

WASHINGTON - The U.S. State Department has approved the potential sale of more than 130 Abrams battle tanks, 20 armored recovery vehicles and other equipment, worth about $1.15 billion, to Saudi Arabia, the Pentagon said on Tuesday. (USA-SAUDI/DEFENSE (UPDATE 2), moved at 11:59 a.m., 304 words)

U.S. recovers data recorder from sunken cargo ship El Faro

WASHINGTON - The data recorder from the cargo ship El Faro, which sank near the Bahamas during a Caribbean hurricane last October, has been recovered, offering possible answers about why the vessel went down, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board said on Tuesday. (SHIP-ELFARO/(UPDATE 1, TV, PIX), moved at 1:35 p.m., 237 words)

OTHER U.S. NEWS

Florida says four new locally transmitted Zika cases, Congress must act on funds

Florida has four new cases of people likely infected with Zika through mosquito bites in Miami, Governor Rick Scott said on Tuesday, as he urged Congress to reconvene and approve additional money to combat the virus. (HEALTH-ZIKA/FLORIDA (URGENT), moved at 3:23 p.m., 113 words) See also: HEALTH-ZIKA/TEXAS (UPDATE 1), moved at 10:41 a.m., 244 words and HEALTH-ZIKA/CLINTON (UPDATE 1), moved at 3:53 p.m., 281 words

MIT, NYU, Yale sued over fees for employee retirement plans

BOSTON - Three well-known U.S. universities, MIT, New York University and Yale, have been accused of charging millions of dollars in excessive fees to participants in their retirement plans, according to federal civil lawsuits filed on Tuesday. (FUNDS-PENSIONS/UNIVERSITY (UPDATE 2), moved at 4:41 p.m., 325 words)

New Jersey sports betting law struck down by U.S. appeals court

A federal appeals court on Tuesday said New Jersey cannot legalize sports betting, in a big defeat for supporters of the years-long effort to allow such wagers in the state. (USA-GAMBLING/NEW JERSEY (UPDATE 4), moved at 4:45 p.m., by Jonathan Stempel, 489 words)

US judge upholds 14-year prison sentence of former Illinois governor

CHICAGO - A federal judge on Tuesday upheld the 14-year prison sentence for former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich despite his emotional plea for leniency after an appeals court had set aside part of his public corruption conviction. (USA-ILLINOIS/BLAGOJEVICH (UPDATE 2, PIX), moved at 2:53 p.m., by Dave McKinney and Justin Madden, 409 words)

N.Y. teen charged in Islamic State probe gets 20 months in prison

NEW YORK - A New York City teenager accused last year of conspiring to provide support to Islamic State was sentenced on Tuesday to 20 months in prison after pleading guilty to a non-terrorism charge. (NEW YORK-SECURITY/, moved at 12:54 p.m., by Nate Raymond, 397 words)

Out-of-control California wildfire grows, forces schools to close

LOS ANGELES - A wildfire burning out of control in mountains and foothills east of Los Angeles mushroomed more than 50 percent overnight, forcing authorities to order three school districts to cancel classes due to heavy smoke and dangerous conditions. (CALIFORNIA-FIRE/ (PIX, TV), moved at 2:02 p.m. 397 words)

Texas man sentenced to 25 years for abusing orphan boys in Malawi

AUSTIN, Texas - A Texas man who managed an orphanage in Malawi was sentenced on Tuesday in federal court to 25 years in prison for sexually abusing children in his care, U.S. prosecutors said. (TEXAS-CRIME/MALAWI, moved at 11:20 a.m., 173 words)

Penn. attorney general sought revenge in illegal leak -prosecutor

NORRISTOWN - Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane illegally leaked grand jury information to a reporter in an effort to secure political payback against a rival, a prosecutor told jurors on Tuesday as Kane's criminal trial began. (PENNSYLVANIA-ATTORNEYGENERAL (PIX), moved at 1:16 p.m., by David DeKok, 403 words)

MIDDLE EAST

Putin and Erdogan move towards repairing ties amid tension with West

ST PETERSBURG/ISTANBUL - Russia and Turkey took a big step towards normalizing relations on Tuesday, with their leaders announcing an acceleration in trade and energy ties at a time when both countries have troubled economies and strains with the West. (RUSSIA-TURKEY/ (WRAPUP 3, TV, PIX), by Olesya Astakhova and Nick Tattersall, 1086 words).

Syria talks should not rest on halt in Aleppo fighting -Russia

UNITED NATIONS - Russia warned on Tuesday that the next round of Syria peace talks should not be contingent on a halt to fighting in Aleppo after U.N. Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura told the U.N. Security Council he aims to reconvene negotiations in late August. (MIDEAST-CRISIS/SYRIA-TALKS (PIX), moved at 3:00 p.m., By Michelle Nichols, 389 words). See also: MIDEAST-CRISIS/SYRIA-ALEPPO (UPDATE 2), moved at 2:51 p.m., 353 words and MIDEAST-CRISIS/SYRIA-UN (UPDATE 2, TV), moved, 473 words)

Executed Iranian nuclear scientist unfairly tried, said he was innocent - mother

DUBAI/WASHINGTON - Iranian security forces may have pressured nuclear scientist Shahram Amiri, hanged last week for spying for the United States, to admit to crimes he did not commit, his mother said in an interview this week. (IRAN-NUCLEAR/SCIENTIST (INTERVIEW, PIX, TV), moved at 2:19 p.m.. by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin and Yeganeh Torbati, 696 words)

Saudi-led attacks on Yemeni capital resume, 13 killed, residents say

ADEN - At least 13 people were killed on Tuesday in the first air strikes by a Saudi-led coalition on the Yemeni capital in five months, residents said, as the head of the U.N. expressed concern about the escalation in the fighting. (YEMEN-SECURITY/ (UPDATE 2, PIX, TV), moved at 11:59 a.m., 529 words)

WORLD

China's unease over THAAD thwarts U.N. censure of North Korea missile

UNITED NATIONS - The United Nations Security Council has been unable to condemn the launch of a missile by North Korea that landed near Japan because China wanted the statement to oppose the planned deployment of a U.S. anti-missile defense system in South Korea. (NORTHKOREA-MISSILE/UN-CHINA, moved at 4:51 p.m., by Michelle Nichols, 399 words)

Scotland's Sturgeon makes surprise visit to Germany

BERLIN/EDINBURGH - Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon met the deputy foreign minister of Germany on Tuesday, seeking to strengthen her ties with Europe's economic powerhouse in the wake of Britain's vote to leave the EU - a move Scotland overwhelmingly rejected. (BRITAIN-EU/GERMANY, moved at 12:54 p.m., by Erik Kirschbaum and Elisabeth O'Leary, 482 words)

Venezuela timeline for Maduro recall makes 2016 vote unlikely

CARACAS - Venezuela on Tuesday presented a timeline for a potential recall vote against President Nicolas Maduro that appeared to make a vote unlikely this year, a move slammed by the opposition as an effort to favor the ruling Socialist Party. (VENEZUELA-POLITICS/ (UPDATE 2), moved at 3:50 p.m., by Brian Ellsworth, 399 words)

Afghan officials raise alarm as Taliban gain in Helmand province

LASHKAR GAH - The Taliban are tightening their noose around the capital of disputed Helmand province in southern Afghanistan which has seen sustained fighting, residents and local officials say. (AFGHANISTAN-HELMAND/, moved at 12:56 p.m., by Mohammad Stanekzai, 449 words) SEE ALSO: (AFGHANISTAN-USA/ISLAMICSTATE (UPDATE 1), moved at 11:55 a.m., by Josh Smith, 296 words)

HEALTH AND SCIENCE

Toxic chemicals in drinking water for six million Americans

Drinking water supplies for more than six million Americans contain unsafe levels of industrial chemicals that have been linked to cancer and other serious health problems, a U.S. study suggests. (HEALTH-POLLUTION/WATER, moved at 1:01 p.m., by Lisa Rapaport, 675 words)

Why some kids need hearing tests with ear tube surgery

Children with hearing loss who get ear tube surgery to address chronic ear infections may need tests before and after the procedure to see if their hearing improves, a U.S. study suggests. (HEALTH-KIDS/EARTUBES-HEARING, moved at 2:39 p.m., by Lisa Rapaport, 616 words)

ENTERTAINMENT AND LIFESTYLE

A Minute With: Robert Redford on magical childhood stories

LOS ANGELES - Hollywood veteran Robert Redford returns to his childhood love of fantasy stories in "Pete's Dragon," a new Disney film about an orphaned boy living in a forest and his friendship with one such creature. (FILM-PETESDRAGON/ (TV), moved, 400 words)

LeAnn Rimes returns with new "soul-based" album

LONDON - Country music singer LeAnn Rimes says her forthcoming studio album is more spontaneous and organic than her last offering "Spitfire," describing her new work as "soul-based." (MUSIC-LEANNRIMES/ (TV), moved at 12:38 p.m., 311 words)

BUSINESS AND MARKETS

Nasdaq hits record high, other indexes hover near highs

The Nasdaq composite rose to a record high close on Tuesday while other major indexes hovered near their own recent all-time highs in a session with thin trading volume.(USA-STOCKS/ (UPDATE 6), by Noel Randewich, 360 words) See also: GLOBAL-MARKETS/ (WRAPUP 8, PIX), by Lewis Krauskopf, 492 words)

Valeant looks to sell billions in assets to cut debt, stock soars

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc will sell billions of dollars of non-core assets and could accept offers for its main businesses, its chief executive said on Tuesday, as the drugmaker worked to restore investor trust after a year of bad news. (VALEANT-RESULTS/ (UPDATE 6, PIX), moved at 4:18 p.m., by Rod Nickel and Caroline Humer, 587 words)

Several U.S. states unprepared for a recession -S&P

NEW YORK, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Several U.S. states studied by S&P Global Ratings are ill-equipped to deal with an economic recession, hampered by the slow rebound in U.S. economic growth after the damage wrought by the Great Recession. (USA-MUNICIPALS/STRENGTH, moved at 4:40 p.m., By Stephanie Kelly, 359 words)

Puerto Rico readies fiscal plan, awaits oversight board -governor

NEW YORK - Puerto Rico's governor said on Tuesday he expected to present an updated fiscal plan for the debt-laden U.S. territory shortly after the White House appoints members of a federal oversight board with authority to renegotiate its $70 billion of debt. (PUERTORICO-DEBT/, moved at 4:21 p.m., by Daniel Bases, 348 words)

Pokemon Go eludes cloning attempts by big game studios -execs

SAN FRANCISCO - Top video game companies, caught off-guard by runaway success of Pokemon Go, are wrestling with how to play catch-up to augmented reality app that becomes worldwide phenomenon. (NINTENDO-POKEMON/RIVALS (PIX), moved, by Jeffrey Dastin, 734 words)

Florida jury to decide if auditor should have caught crisis-era fraud

MIAMI - A state court jury in Florida heard opening statements on Tuesday in a civil trial in which it will have to decide whether auditing firm PricewaterhouseCoopers is partially liable for the collapse of a U.S. mortgage lender in 2009. (PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS-TRIAL/, moved at 3:24 p.m., by Zachary Fagenson, 376 words)

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08/09/2016 17:39