REUTERS NEWS SCHEDULE AT 10 p.m. GMT/6 a.m. SGT

The United States said on Wednesday that it was removing Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet program, a move that had been long threatened and expected after Ankara began accepting delivery of an advanced Russian missile defense system last week.

LATAM-ECONOMY-IADB-VENEZUELA/ Venezuela's debts to China, Russia would be restructured through Paris Club: Guaido advisor

GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador (Reuters) - Loans to Venezuela from President Nicolas Maduro's allies Russia and China would be renegotiated though the Paris Club if Maduro leaves power, an advisor to the opposition said on Wednesday, responding to concerns about favorable treatment for the two countries. U.S.

USA-LEAD-CALIFORNIA/ California settles decades-long lawsuit over lead paint, but outcome is bittersweet

OAKLAND, Calif. (Reuters) - When Californian counties and cities first sued paint makers in 2000, they wanted the companies to pay billions to remove dangerous old lead paint from hundreds of thousands of homes. USA-POLICE-GARNER/

New York mayor says he regrets trusting U.S. Justice Department on Garner chokehold case NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Wednesday that he regrets trusting the U.S. Department of Justice after federal prosecutors declined to charge a city policeman who used a fatal chokehold on Eric Garner, an unarmed black man, five years ago.

BUSINESS FACEBOOK-CRYPTOCURRENCY-SENATE/

U.S. lawmakers challenge Facebook over Libra cryptocurrency plan WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers bashed Facebook on Wednesday over its planned cryptocurrency, saying the company had not shown it could be trusted to safeguard the world financial system and consumers' data.

EU-QUALCOMM-ANTITRUST/ Qualcomm set to face second EU antitrust fine shortly: sources

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Qualcomm, the world's no.1 chipmaker, could be hit with a second EU antitrust fine as soon as Thursday for blocking a rival from the market more than a decade ago, people familiar with the matter said. ENTERTAINMENT

PEOPLE-KEVINSPACEY/ Massachusetts prosecutors drop Kevin Spacey sex assault case

BOSTON (Reuters) - Massachusetts prosecutors on Wednesday dropped a criminal case accusing former "House of Cards" star Kevin Spacey of sexually assaulting an 18-year-old man at a Nantucket bar in 2016 after the alleged victim refused to testify. TELEVISION-GOSSIP-GIRL/

Pop culture hit 'Gossip Girl' gets a makeover for HBO Max LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "Gossip Girl," the show that became a youth culture phenomenon with its trend-setting fashion and chronicling of the romantic lives of elite New York teens, is on its way back to television, this time in a new series for upcoming streaming service HBO Max.

SPORTS GOLF-OPEN-BRITISH-WOMEN/

Women's Open needs sustainable business model to grow purse - R&A PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland (Reuters) - The R&A sees a bright future for the Women's British Open but chief executive Martin Slumbers on Wednesday offered no promises that the championship's purse would be boosted any time soon to match the men's Open.

FOOTBALL-NCAA-ALA-TAGOVAILOA/ Alabama's Tagovailoa trying to learn from title-game loss

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting last season and set an NCAA record for passing efficiency. UPCOMING

POLITICS / INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS USA-TRUMP/ (PIX) (TV)

Unbowed, Trump forecasts more attacks on four Democratic congresswomen President Donald Trump may not have planned it this way, but his attacks on four liberal lawmakers as un-American emerge as major strategy of his 2020 re-election campaign, and more thunder from him Is expected at rally in Greenville, N.C.

17 Jul 19:00 ET / 23:00 GMT TURKEY-POLITICS/TRIAL (PIX)

Turkish court tries opposition CHP official over insults to Erdogan A Turkish court holds a second hearing in the trial of Canan Kaftancioglu, a prominent figure in the Turkish opposition CHP party whose candidate defeated President Tayyip Erdogan's AKP in the Istanbul mayor election.

18 Jul 02:00 ET / 06:00 GMT CENTRALASIA-CHINA/CAMPS (PIX) (TV)

For some Chinese Muslims, fleeing doesn't end trouble Sairagul Sauytbai, an ethnic Kazakh who fled China last year after working in a so-called re-education camp for ethnic minorities, wanted to tell others about the beatings and torture she said she had witnessed there.

Jul 18 UKRAINE-ELECTION/VAKARCHUK (PIX) (TV)

Rock star seeks to upstage comedian president in Ukraine vote Ukraine's most famous rock star Sviatoslav Vakarchuk is running for parliament in the July 21 snap election. Vakarchuk is trying to tap into a growing anti-establishment mood in Ukraine - the same mood that brought TV comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy into the presidency in April with a landslide.

18 Jul 04:00 ET / 08:00 GMT THAILAND-USA/

Senior US diplomat visits Thailand U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, David R. Stilwell, visits Thailand during a regional tour.

Jul 18 GEORGIA-TV/

Europe's human right court's verdict on Rustavi 2, Georgia's biggest pro-opposition TV Europe's human rights court is expected to announce its verdict on Rustavi 2, Georgia's biggest pro-opposition television channel.

Jul 18 ZIMBABWE-ECONOMY/ (PIX)

In Zimbabwe, risk perception trumps orthodoxy as inflation soars Zimbabwe's Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube seems to be doing everything by the book as he pursues orthodox economic policy often prescribed by the global "Bretton Woods" lending institutions to try and turn around a sickly economy.

18 Jul 00:00 ET / 04:00 GMT CANADA-POLITICS/

Separatists in Canada's Quebec are potential spoiler to Trudeau re-election bid Separatists in the Canadian province of Quebec are recovering after years in the doldrums and could regain enough strength to endanger Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's hopes of retaining power in a federal election this October.

Jul 18 SPAIN-POLITICS/

Spain's far left Podemos to announce results of members' vote on Socialist government proposal Spain's far left Podemos party has put Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez's proposal on forming a government to its base for a vote and will announce the results on Thursday.

Jul 18 USA-ELECTION/DEBATE

CNN broadcasts drawing for Democratic debate in Detroit CNN broadcasts a live drawing to decide which of two nights the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates will debate in Detroit. The next round of debate is July 30-31.

Jul 18 CLIMATE-CHANGE/ARCTIC-ICEBREAKER

Climate scientists cross Northwest Passage in Arctic icebreaker From July 18 to August 4, US and Canadian scientists, supported by 25 post-secondary students, will share with the public in real time observations and findings about conditions in the Arctic Ocean in unprecedented interactive broadcasts from the Northwest Passage, conducted from the Swedish Icebreaker Oden.

Jul 18 POLAND-POLITICS/OPPOSITION (PIX)

Polish opposition announces coalition ahead of parliamentary elections Poland's Civic Coalition is expected on Thursday to announce the results of ongoing coalition negotiations with other opposition parties as it seeks to compete with the ruling right-wing Law and Justice party in parliamentary elections in October or November.

Jul 18 USA-TRUMP/COHEN (PIX) (TV)

Documents in Michael Cohen case to be unsealed A judge ordered that additional docs related to the prosecution of former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen be released.

18 Jul 11:00 ET / 15:00 GMT UKRAINE-ELECTION/CANDIDATE (PIX) (TV)

Open audition: Ukraine's comedian president invites citizens to run in July poll Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has invited members of the public to run on his party's ticket in the snap parliamentary election on July 21. One of them, Roman Hryshchuk, is a young comedian and entrepreneur running in a student district in west Kiev.

18 Jul 04:00 ET / 08:00 GMT EUROPE-MIGRANTS/ITALY-CAPTAIN (PIX) (TV)

German NGO captain faces questioning for bringing migrants to Italy Carola Rackete, the German captain of a migrant rescue ship, is due to be questioned by magistrates over allegations she aided people-smugglers and ignored official instructions by bringing migrants to shore last month.

Jul 18 UKRAINE-ELECTION/ (TV)

Zelenskiy's second act: Ukraine leader set to win snap parliamentary election The party of Ukraine's new president looks set to win Sunday's snap parliamentary election, repeating Volodymyr Zelenskiy's shock victory in the April presidential race that has upended politics in the war-scarred nation.

18 Jul 03:00 ET / 07:00 GMT DISASTERS / ACCIDENTS

ASIA-STORM/TAIWAN (TV) Taiwan battens down for Typhoon Danas

Typhoon Danas, categorised at the weakest typhoon level, is expected to sweep through eastern Taiwan on Thursday as the island braces for its first typhoon this year with thousands moved to safety, domestic flights cancelled. Jul 18

CONGO-EBOLA/ (PIX) (TV) Ebola vaccination to be administered in Goma

Following the death of the a Congolese priest who contracted Ebola virus in Butembo, WHO and Congolese Health Ministry is set to give ebola vaccinations to people in the eastern Congo town of Goma. Jul 18

CRIME / LAW / JUSTICE USA-POLICE/GARNER (PIX) (TV)

NY protesters mark 5-year anniversary of Eric Garner death New York protesters march and rally on the fifth anniversary of the death of Eric Garner, a day after federal prosecutors announce their decision not to prosecute NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo or other officers for charges related to his death.

17 Jul 18:00 ET / 22:00 GMT PHILIPPINES-DRUGS/ (TV)

Philippine govt holds "real numbers" briefing, challenges drug war death toll seen by UN Officials from the Philippines' police, drug, communication and Presidential human rights agencies hold a news briefing to present what they say is the only accurate data for President Rodrigo Duterte's fierce war on drugs, a week after the approval of a U.N. Human Rights Council resolution to investigate the deadly crackdown, which Manila says was based on lies and a death toll distorted by biased human rights groups and media.

Jul 18 TURKEY-SECURITY/GEZI (PIX) (TV)

Turkish court tries 16 civil society figures over 2013 protests A Turkish court holds hearings in the case of prominent Turkish businessman Osman Kavala and 15 other civil society figures who went on trial last month, accused of trying to overthrow then-Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's government by organising nationwide protests six years ago.

Jul 18 SOUTHEASTASIA-DRUGS/ (TV)

UNODC to announce report on transnational organised crime in Southeast Asia The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) holds a news conference in Bangkok to release a new report on "Transnational Organised Crime in Southeast Asia: Evolution, Growth and Impact". The announcement will be joined by Senator Prajin Juntong, Ambassador of Australia Allan McKinnon, Chargé d'Affaires of the United States Peter Haymond and UNODC Regional Representative Jeremy Douglas.

18 Jul 07:00 ET / 11:00 GMT BUSINESS / ECONOMICS

USA-TRADE/CHINA-RVS (PIX) The all-American RV Industry isn't immune to Trump's tariffs

One of America's least globalized industries—recreational vehicles—hasn't escaped President Donald Trump's relentless trade wars. Although they are assembled and manufactured in the United States, their parts come from around the world. 18 Jul 06:00 ET / 10:00 GMT

UNITEDHEALTH-RESULTS/ UnitedHealth Group reports second-quarter earnings

UnitedHealth Group is set to report second-quarter earnings on Thursday, when the health insurer is expected to comment on prospects for its business after the Trump government killed a proposed rule aimed at ending Medicare drug rebates. 18 Jul 08:30 ET / 12:30 GMT

VERIZON-MEDIA/ (PIX) (GRAPHIC) Verizon resurrects media business as safe haven on the internet

After Verizon Communications Inc, which owns media brands Yahoo, AOL and social media site Tumblr, declared its media properties nearly worthless last year with a $4.6 billion write down, the division of the U.S. telecoms giant is resurrecting the businesses as an antidote to the cesspool of the internet. 18 Jul 06:00 ET / 10:00 GMT

USA-FED/BOSTIC Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank President Bostic participates in armchair chat

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Raphael Bostic participates in an armchair chat before the Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce Power Breakfast, in Clarksville, Tenn. 18 Jul 09:30 ET / 13:30 GMT

AUSTRALIA-ECONOMY/EMPLOYMENT Australia employment for June

ABS data on employment for June 18 Jul 21:30 ET / 01:30 GMT

FANNIE-FREDDIE/REFORM U.S. housing finance regulator signals Fannie, Freddie reform timeline slipping

The head of the U.S. housing finance regulator on Wednesday signaled the administration's timeline for overhauling mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is slipping and could take as long as four to five years. 18 Jul 07:30 ET / 11:30 GMT

SANTOS-OUTPUT/ Australia's Santos' Q2 production

Australia's No 2 independent gas producer Santos Ltd reports its Q2 production data on July 18. Jul 18

CZECH-UNESCO/HORSEFARM (PIX) (TV) Horse breeders welcome UNESCO heritage status for Czech stud farm

Horse breeders at the more than 400-year-old Kladruby breeding and training farm in the Czech Republic share their experiences of working with their four-legged charges. Jul 18

MADAGASCAR-VANILLA/ (PIX) (TV) Madagascar's vanilla crop drops in quality amid violence between vigilantes and vanilla villains

Rocketing vanilla prices bought Madagascan farmer Berlin Ramary a hot pink sofa-set, a motorbike - and a double-barrelled shotgun to protect his crop. Thieves have stolen almost 20kg out of his 200kg harvest this year as a crime wave washes over the East African island nation of Madagascar. Jul 18

SCIENCE / TECHNOLOGY SPACE-EXPLORATION/MOON-AUSTRALIA (PIX) (TV)

Australian town that broadcast moon walk to world celebrates 50th anniversary Fifty years on, Australian icon 'The Dish' celebrates its role in Apollo 11, as David Cooke, senior receiver engineer at the Parkes Radio Telescope during the Apollo mission in 1969 and current 'dish master' John Sarkissian, talk about that eventful day and the search for the missing Apollo 11 tapes recorded at Parkes that would show the moonwalk in far superior quality than the world has ever seen.

Jul 18 ASIA-WASTE/CAMBODIA-CAFE (PIX) (TV)

Cambodian builds cafe out of discarded bottles, plastic caps Cambodian Ouk Vanday hopes to put piles of discarded rubbish, usually an eyesore, to good use. He has built a cafe using stacks of beer bottles to make up a wall, and dead leaves spell out the coffee shop's name -- 'Rubbish Cafe'.

18 Jul 21:00 ET / 01:00 GMT ARTS / CULTURE / ENTERTAINMENT

HUNGARY-GARDENER/ (PIX) (TV) Hungary's favourite gardener turns 100 but keeps working, gives advice online

Hungary's favourite garden expert, Gyorgy Balint, is 100 years old this month, but he has not stopped working. He gives advice online, as his website has around 420,000 visitors, helps people create community gardens and believes that modern society must stay close to nature and fight climate change. Jul 18

SPORTS SOCCER-NATIONS/CHEERS (PIX)

Soccer-The highs and lows of emotion of fans watching their teams during the Africa Cup of Nations AFCON as the goals are scored As a preview to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations a visually led story of fans in cities and villages around Africa reacting as their team scores or concedes a goal. From screams of joy, nail biting penalty shoot out stress to tears of dejection the fans faces say it all as they watch the games in small crowded hot bars to organised fan zones.

18 Jul 05:00 ET / 09:00 GMT

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