REUTERS AMERICA NEWS PLAN FOR TUESDAY AUGUST 2

08/02/2016 9:45

REUTERS AMERICA MORNING NEWS PLAN FOR TUESDAY AUGUST 2

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

TOP STORIES

Buffett rebukes Trump, questions his business skill, unveils voter turnout effort

OMAHA - Billionaire investor Warren Buffett on Monday campaigned alongside Hillary Clinton at a rowdy rally in his home state of Nebraska where he challenged Republican Donald Trump to release his tax returns and questioned Trump's business acumen. (USA-ELECTION/BUFFETT (UPDATE 4, PIX, TV), moved at 11:50 p.m., by Amada Becker, 636 words) see also: Donald Trump fires senior adviser Ed Brookover (USA-ELECTION/TRUMP-BROOKOVER (UPDATE 2), moved at 9:45 p.m., 124 words)

Trump campaign asks Capitol Hill to back him in Khan controversy

WASHINGTON - Donald Trump's presidential campaign appealed to Congressional Republicans on Monday for support after his attacks on Muslim parents of decorated American soldier killed in Iraq draw sharp rebukes from fellow party members. (USA-ELECTION/ (UPDATE 5, PIX, TV, GRAPHIC), moved at 9:30 p.m., by Richard Cowan and David Morgan, 1,200 words) See also: USA-ELECTION/GOLDSTAR (FACTBOX), moved, 461 words

Florida travel warning issued for pregnant women after more Zika cases

CHICAGO/NEW YORK - U.S. health officials warned pregnant women to avoid traveling to a neighborhood in Miami on Monday after Florida said it had 10 more cases of Zika caused by the bite of local mosquitoes, bringing the total to 14. At the request of Gov. Rick Scott, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is sending in a special emergency response team of eight disease experts to assist Florida in its investigation. (HEALTH-ZIKA/FLORIDA (UPDATE 3, PIX), moved at 7 p.m., 800 words)

Pope sets up group to study women deacons

ROME - Pope Francis has set up a commission to study the role of women deacons in early Christianity, the Vatican said on Tuesday, a move that might lead to changes in the role of women in the Roman Catholic Church. (POPE-WOMEN/ (UPDATE 1), moved at 9 a.m., by Philip Pullella, 358 words)

France buries priest slain by Islamic militants

ROUEN, France - Hundreds of mourners crammed into Rouen Cathedral in northern France on Tuesday for the funeral of the elderly Roman Catholic priest knifed to death at a church altar by two Islamist militants. Father Jacques Hamel was leading morning mass in the nearby industrial town of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray last Tuesday when the attackers stormed in, forced the 85-year-old to his knees and slit his throat while chanting in Arabic. (EUROPE-ATTACKS/FRANCE (UPDATE 1, TV, PIX), moving shortly, 542 words)

Hackers accessed Telegram messaging accounts in Iran -researchers

SAN FRANCISCO/WASHINGTON - Iranian hackers have compromised more than a dozen accounts on the Telegram instant messaging service and identified the phone numbers of 15 million Iranian users, the largest known breach of the encrypted communications system, cyber researchers told Reuters. (IRAN-CYBER/TELEGRAM (PIX), moved at 9 a.m., by Joseph Menn and Yeganeh Torbati, 900 words)

CAMPAIGN

Federal judge blocks North Dakota voter identification law

-- North Dakota on Monday became the latest state to have its voter identification law blocked by a federal court, adding to a string of recent rulings across the United States on the grounds that such measures disenfranchise poor and minority voters. (USA-ELECTION/NORTHDAKOTA, moved at 12:50 a.m., 388 words)

Colorado Governor says Trump doesn't understand fracking issue

DENVER - Democratic Governor John Hickenlooper of Colorado, a former geologist, on Monday criticized Donald Trump's comments about fracking, saying the Republican presidential candidate does not completely understand the issue, the Denver Post reported. (USA-ELECTION/TRUMP-FRACKING, moved at 9:47 p.m., 153 words)

Mexico may offer fix for some U.S. exporters in Trump bind

MEXICALI, Mexico - For Allied Tool & Die Company, Donald Trump's threats to tear up trade deals and impose steep tariffs if he becomes the next president means considering doubling down on Mexico as a base to manufacture for foreign markets. The Phoenix-based aerospace supplier, and a small but rising number of U.S. companies with plants in Mexican industrial hubs like the border city of Mexicali, say they may have to increase their capacity in the country's lower cost base to sell goods abroad if Trump wins. (USA-ELECTION/MEXICO (PIX, TV), moved at 7 a.m., by Dave Graham, 1,100 words)

Briton in Trump gun incident could die in U.S. prison, mother says

LONDON - A British man detained in the United States for allegedly trying to wrestle a gun from a police officer at a Donald Trump rally is suffering from severe mental illness and risks dying in prison, his mother said on Tuesday. (USA-ELECTION/TRUMP-BRITON (TV, PIX), moved at 7:15 a.m., 480 words)

WASHINGTON

U.S. weighs dangers, benefits of naming Russia in cyber hack

WASHINGTON - Wary of a global confrontation with Russia, President Barack Obama must carefully weigh how to respond to what security experts believe was Moscow's involvement in the hacking of Democratic Party organizations. Publicly blaming Vladimir Putin's intelligence services would bring instant pressure on Washington to divulge its evidence, which relies on highly classified sources and methods. Moscow's sophisticated cyber warriors could also potentially escalate cyber attacks - including power grids, financial systems and other critical infrastructure. (USA-CYBER/RUSSIA-POLICY (PIX), moved at 7 a.m., 700 words)

U.S. indicts ex-Venezuelan anti-narcotics agency leaders on drug charges

(VENEZUELA-USA/INDICTMENT (UPDATE 2, PIX), moved at 6:22 p.m., 390 words)

U.S., Israel narrow differences for new talks on defense aid

(USA-ISRAEL/DEFENSE (PIX), moved at 6:22 p.m., 642 words)

OTHER U.S. NEWS

Lawyers for Charleston church shooter argue federal death penalty unconstitutional

-- Attorneys for a white man accused of killing nine black parishioners in a racially motivated attack at a South Carolina church a year ago argued that their client should not face the death penalty, asserting the punishment is unconstitutional. (USA-SHOOTING-SOUTH-CAROLINA/ (PIX), moved at 6 a.m., 323 words)

After Orlando shooting, gay leaders train sights on guns

NEW YORK - Dozens of leading civil rights activists gathered earlier this summer at Congregation Beit Simchat Torah in New York, the largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender synagogue in the United States. (USA-GUNS/LGBT (PIX), moved at 6 a.m., by Joseph Ax, 812 words)

U.S. judge questions North Carolina transgender bathroom law

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - A U.S. judge weighing whether to halt a North Carolina law that restricts bathroom access for transgender people in government buildings and public schools questioned at a hearing on Monday what problem the measure fixed and how it would make restrooms safer. (USA-LGBT/NORTH CAROLINA (UPDATE 1, PIX, TV, GRAPHIC), moved at 5:30 p.m., 450 words)

U.S. slavery reparations sought in first Black Lives Matter agenda

SEATTLE - A coalition affiliated with the anti-racism Black Lives Matter movement called for criminal justice reforms and reparations for slavery in the United States among other demands in its first policy platform released on Monday. (USA-POLITICS/RACE (PIX), moved at 7:42 p.m., by Eric M. Johnson, 411 words)

Bergdahl lawyers ask for charges to be dropped over McCain comments

-- The legal team for U.S. Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl on Monday asked to have the charges against the former prisoner of war dismissed, arguing comments made by Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain violated his due process rights. (USA-DEFENSE/BERGDAHL (PIX), moved at 6:30 p.m., 365 words)

Criminal investigation underway into 2015 Colorado mine spill

DENVER - Federal investigators said on Monday they have opened a criminal probe into the 2015 spill of some 3 million gallons of toxic wastewater from a defunct Colorado gold mine that was triggered by a contractor with the Environmental Protection Agency. (USA-MINE/SPILL, moved at 6 p.m., 397 words)

Former L.A. county sheriff withdraws guilty plea in corruption probe

LOS ANGELES - Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca on Monday withdrew his guilty plea to a charge of lying to investigators, opting instead to face trial in a corruption case that clouded his final years as chief custodian of the nation's largest jail system. (CALIFORNIA-SHERIFF/ (UPDATE 2), moved at 6:14 p.m., 455 words)

California crews battle Big Sur blaze for 11th day

-- Crews battling a deadly wildfire that has gutted dozens of homes near California's Big Sur coast looked forward to cooler weather to help them slow the flames on Monday as the blaze raged for an 11th day, burning most heavily in rugged, inaccessible terrain. (CALIFORNIA-FIRE/ (UPDATE 1, PIX, TV), moved, 413 words)

MIDDLE EAST

Rescuers say toxic gas dropped on Syrian town where Russian helicopter shot down

-- A Syrian rescue service operating in rebel-held territory says a helicopter dropped containers of toxic gas on a town close to where a Russian military helicopter was shot down. (MIDEAST-CRISIS/SYRIA-IDLIB (UPDATE 1, TV), moved, 500 words)

Turkish PM says overhaul will boost military

ANKARA/ISTANBUL - An overhaul of Turkey's military in the wake of a failed coup will make it better equipped to ensure national security, the prime minister said on Tuesday, but a former chief of staff and the nationalist opposition warned it was being badly damaged (TURKEY-SECURITY/ (WRAPUP 1), moved, 500 words)

WORLD

Bodies found off coast of Libya as migrant toll climbs

GENEVA - The bodies of 120 migrants believed to have been trying to reach Italy by boat from Libya have been found off the Libyan coast over the past 10 days, the International Organization for Migration said on Tuesday. (EUROPE-MIGRANTS/ (UPDATE 1), moved at 8 a.m., 227 words)

UN says tens of thousands flee South Sudan violence

GENEVA/JUBA - Tens of thousands of people have fled a fresh outbreak of violence in South Sudan, reporting mass killings, looting and forced recruitment of child soldiers, U.N. agencies said on Tuesday. (SOUTHSUDAN-SECURITY/ (TV, PIX), moved at 8:24 a.m., 547 words)

Nepal's Maoist chief set to become prime minister

KATHMANDU - Nepal's former Maoist rebel chief Prachanda looked set to become prime minister after no other candidate emerged on Tuesday, raising hopes that his government, the 24th in 26 years, would be more stable than its predecessors. (NEPAL-POLITICS/, moved at 9 a.m., 358 words)

Militias wary of Islamic State Libya redoubt despite U.S. support

SIRTE, Libya - A day after the United States began a formal campaign of air strikes against Islamic State's stronghold in Libya, anti-IS fighters welcomed Washington's involvement but remained wary of advancing for fear of mines and snipers. (LIBYA-SECURITY/ (PIX, TV), moved at 9 a.m., 1,165 words)

Bangladesh officials visit Manila to seek recovery of bank heist money

MANILA - Officials from the Bangladesh central bank are visiting Manila this week to pressure the authorities in the Philippines to find ways to return the $63 million that is still missing out of the funds stolen from its account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York earlier this year, two people close to Bangladesh Bank say. (CYBER-HEIST/BANGLADESH-PHILIPPINES (PIX), moved, 905 words)

FEATURE

If the pope can retire, why can't Japan's elderly emperor?

TOKYO - Pope Benedict XVI did it. Dutch Queen Beatrix did it. So why is it so hard for Japan's elderly emperor to abdicate? (JAPAN-EMPEROR/ABDICATION (PIX), moved, by Linda Sieg, 628 words)

OLYMPICS

Guns, drugs and maybe Islamists: Brazil tightens border before Games

FOZ DO IGUAÇU, Brazil - On a chilly morning, with a breeze blowing in from Paraguay, customs officials occasionally stop and search vehicles crossing Brazil's busiest border point looking for contraband. (OLYMPICS-RIO/SECURITY (PIX, TV), expect by 3 p.m., 1,125 words)

Tears and joy: capturing Olympic history on camera

-- The Rio de Janeiro Olympics kick off on Friday for some two weeks of competitive games drawing athletes as well as audiences from around world. As they prepare to cover event, Reuters photographers look back on their favorite pictures from past Olympics where they capture action on ground as well as participants' tears and joy that followed. (OLYMPICS-RIO/HISTORY (PIX), moved, 129 words)

A crackdown on counterfeits at merchandise-happy Rio Games

RIO DE JANEIRO - Want an Olympic license plate, or a hand-embroidered Olympic handkerchief? How about Olympic cocaine? These and other products are among those being seized by Brazilian police in a crackdown on less-than-approved use of the five rings, mascots and other Olympic symbols ahead of the Games, which start in Rio de Janeiro on Friday. (OLYMPICS-RIO/COUNTERFEITS (PIX, TV), expect by noon, 747 words)

U.S. volleyballer Priddy pleased to see Russia in Rio for gold defense

RIO DE JANEIRO - Count Reid Priddy, the veteran of the U.S. men's volleyball team, among those happy to see Russia back to defend their gold medal at the Rio Olympics despite a doping scandal that sparked calls for a blanket ban. (OLYMPICS-RIO-VOLLEYBALL/USA-PRIDDY, moved, 460 words)

UK cyclist Laura Trott unfazed by Zika fears ahead of Rio

(OLYMPICS-RIO-CYCLING/TROTT, moved, 255 words)

HEALTH AND SCIENCE

China's 'mosquito factory' aims to wipe out Zika, other diseases

GUANGZHOU, China - Every week, scientists in southern China release 3 million bacteria-infected mosquitoes on a 3 km (two-mile) long island in a bid to wipe out diseases such as dengue, yellow fever and Zika. (CHINA-HEALTH/MOSQUITOES (PIX, TV), moved at 4 a.m., 490 words)

Regional coordination cuts time to heart attack treatment

(HEALTH-HEART/STEMI, moved, 615 words)

Fatty livers increase kids' risk of diabetes

(HEALTH-KIDS/FATTY-LIVERS, moved, 450 words)

Omega-3 fatty acids may aid heart attack healing

(HEALTH-HEARTATTACK/HEALING, moved, 730 words)

ENTERTAINMENT AND LIFESTYLE

Actor Ewan McGregor says children in Iraq at risk of death, sex abuse, traffickers

LONDON - Scottish actor Ewan McGregor called on Tuesday for greater efforts to help refugee children in Iraq, warning they are at serious risk of death, sexual violence, or recruitment into armed groups. (MIDEAST-CRISIS/CHILDREN-MCGREGOR, moved at 8 p.m., 317 words)

Star Trek actor's parents to file lawsuit after Jeep accident

LOS ANGELES - The parents of ``Star Trek'' actor Anton Yelchin, who died when he was pinned by a rollaway Jeep Grand Cherokee in the driveway of his Studio City home, plan to file a lawsuit against the automaker Fiat Chrysler alleging defects in the vehicle led to his death. (PEOPLE-YELCHIN (PIX, TV), expect by 3 p.m., 300 words)

Lego presents Olympic model of Rio city ahead of games

RIO DE JANEIRO - Lego, the world's biggest toymaker, has developed a large model of Rio de Janeiro city to celebrate the host of the 2016 Olympic Games, set to open in a few days. (OLYMPICS-RIO/LEGO (PIX, TV), moved, 216 words)

Drake holds off Gucci Mane for 12th week at top of Billboard 200

(MUSIC-CHARTS/DRAKE (TV), moved, 145 words)

Channing Tatum, Jillian Bell to Star in 'Splash' Remake for Disney

(VARIETY/ (ENTERTAINMENT-FILM/NEWS), moved, 200 words)

50 Cent Developing Superhero Drama with Starz After Extending Overall Deal

(VARIETY/ (ENTERTAINMENT-TV/NEWS), moved, 700 words)

CONSUMER TECH

Didi's dominance of Uber in China offers roadmap for ride-hailing rivals

SAN FRANCISCO - China ride-hailing service Didi Chuxing's dominance of Uber Technologies Inc in the China market may provide a play book for other regional rivals to fend off the biggest U.S. ride-hailing company, especially in other Asian countries. (UBERCHINA-M&A/DIDI (ANALYSIS, PIX), moved at 4:50 a.m., 850 words)

BREXIT

May resurrects industrial policy as Britain prepares for Brexit

LONDON - Prime Minister Theresa May outlines her bid to reshape the British economy for a post-Brexit world, reviving the once unfashionable concept of industrial policy 30 years after Margaret Thatcher killed it off. (BRITAIN-EU/INDUSTRY (UPDATE 1), moved, 661 words)

BUSINESS AND MARKETS

Pfizer's revenue, profit edge past estimates

-- Top U.S. drug maker Pfizer reported better-than-expected quarterly revenue and profit, driven by sales of newer drugs and the acquisition of hospital products company Hospira. (PFIZER-RESULTS/ (UPDATE 1), moved at 7:25 a.m., 200 words)

P&G sales and profit beat estimates, forecasts sales growth

-- Procter & Gamble, the maker of Tide detergent and Gillette shaving products, reported higher-than-expected quarterly sales and profit as demand rose for its baby care, feminine care and home care products. (PROCTER GAMBLE-RESULTS/ (UPDATE 2), moved at 9:10 a.m., 353 words)

July auto sales expected to be strong despite weakening trend

DETROIT - Major automakers in the U.S. market will report July sales on Tuesday with forecasters looking for strong results despite recent bearish predictions over the longer term. (USA-AUTOS/ (PIX, GRAPHIC), moved at 9 a.m., by Bernie Woodall, 218 words, will be led through the day)

Japan, South Korea block certain U.S. wheat varieties over GMO concerns

CHICAGO - Japan and South Korea both take steps to block certain imports of U.S. wheat after unapproved genetically-modified material from Monsanto seeds were found growing in Washington state. (USA-WHEAT/GMO (UPDATE 1), moved at 7 p.m., 376 words)

South Korea suspends sale of 32 Volkswagen, Audi, Bentley models in emissions probe

(VOLKSWAGEN-SOUTHKOREA/ (UPDATE 1), moved, 250 words)

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08/02/2016 9:45