REUTERS NEWS SCHEDULE AT 10 a.m. GMT/6 a.m. ET

Three Iranian vessels tried to block the passage of a BP-operated tanker through the Strait of Hormuz but withdrew after warnings from a British warship, the British government said on Thursday.

HONGKONG-EXTRADITION-CHINA/ China's top official in Hong Kong says Beijing backs city's leader

HONG KONG (Reuters) - China’s top representative in Hong Kong said on Thursday the central government in Beijing maintained its support for Chief Executive Carrie Lam, who is grappling with the city’s greatest political crisis since it returned to Chinese rule in 1997. U.S.

SPACE-EXPLORATION/ NASA shake-up in new race to the moon

ORLANDO, Fla. (Reuters) - As NASA scrambles to meet U.S. President Donald Trump’s mandate to return humans to the moon by 2024, two longtime heads of NASA’s human exploration wing were demoted Wednesday in a slew of administrative shakeups, officials said in an internal memo. ALASKA-POLITICS/

Clash over deep spending cuts faces another round in Alaska ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) - Alaska’s governor won a showdown on Wednesday with lawmakers trying to reverse his bid to slash spending on higher education by 40%, but opponents vowed to keep fighting the unprecedented cut, which university officials have warned would wreak havoc.

BUSINESS USA-FED/

Powell testimony, Fed meeting highlight case for 'insurance' WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A confidence shock driven partly by the U.S. trade war is at the center of an increasingly persuasive argument for Federal Reserve policymakers seriously considering cutting rates for the first time in a decade.

USA-TRADE-CHINA-ANALYSIS/ Risks aside, Trump's team sees China trade stance as strength in 2020

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - As trade talks resume between China and the United States, President Donald Trump’s advisers are confident he can portray his stance against Beijing as a strength in the 2020 election, despite making concessions and having no deal in sight. ENTERTAINMENT

PEOPLE-CELEBRITY100/ Taylor Swift shakes off Kardashian clan as highest-paid celebrity

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Singer Taylor Swift was named the world’s highest-paid entertainer on Wednesday but was closely followed by two members of the wider Kardashian clan - reality star turned cosmetics queen Kylie Jenner and rapper Kanye West. NEW-YORK-LAWSUIT-TICKETS/

Ticket resellers settle New York charges over inflated concert ticket prices NEW YORK (Reuters) - Two companies in the ticket resale industry agreed to pay $1.55 million to settle a lawsuit by New York Attorney General Letitia James accusing them of tricking tens of thousands of people into buying tickets for concerts, shows and other live events that they never owned.

SPORTS SOCCER-ENGLAND-CHE/

Lampard's Chelsea reign begins with draw July 11 (Reuters) - New Chelsea manager Frank Lampard said he was pleased with the team's response to his "taxing" pre-season programme following a 1-1 draw at Irish side Bohemians in his first match in charge.

CRICKET-WORLDCUP-AUS-ENG/ Australia bat first against England in World Cup semi

BIRMINGHAM, England, July 11 (Reuters) - Australia captain Aaron Finch won the toss and elected to bat against England in the second semi-final of the Cricket World Cup at Edgbaston on Thursday. UPCOMING

POLITICS / INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS USA-ELECTION/BIDEN (PIX) (TV)

Democratic presidential candidate Biden to lay out foreign policy vision Former Vice President Joe Biden will lay out his foreign policy vision in a speech at the City University of New York.

11 Jul 06:00 ET / 10:00 GMT CZECH-POLITICS/

Czech PM Babis meets president to discuss row threatening coalition Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis to meet President Milos Zeman amid a cabinet crisis.

11 Jul 11:00 ET / 15:00 GMT GERMANY-DENMARK/ (PIX) (TV)

Merkel receives Denmark's new Social Democratic PM Mette Frederiksen German Chancellor Angela Merkel receives Denmark's new Social Democratic PM Mette Frederiksen with military honours before they speak to reporters, one day after the chancellor was seen shaking during military honours for Finland's new prime minister.

11 Jul 06:30 ET / 10:30 GMT BRITAIN-EU/LEADER-DEBATE (PIX) (TV)

Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt take part in Conservative Party leadership hustings Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt take part in Conservative Party leadership hustings in race to become Prime Minister. This debate will take place in Maidstone.

11 Jul 14:00 ET / 18:00 GMT USA-IMMIGRATION/SEPARATIONS (PIX)

When the U.S. puts a border between migrant kids and their caretakers On June 12, Gerardo, a 41-year-old indigenous bricklayer from Guatemala appeared before a U.S. immigration judge in El Paso, Texas. Since crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally two months earlier with his 14-year-old son, he had been separated from the boy and forced to wait in Mexico for his hearing. Now, he had only one question for the judge: “Can you help me get my son back?”

11 Jul 06:00 ET / 10:00 GMT PHILIPPINES-SOUTHCHINASEA/MEETING

Philippines holds forum on the legal conflicts in the South China Sea Philippines' former government officials, judges, lawyers and maritime experts join a forum on the South China Sea that coincides with the third anniversary of a landmark international arbitration ruling that critics say is an opportunity squandered by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in favour of a cosy relationship with China

12 Jul 20:30 ET / 00:30 GMT CRIME / LAW / JUSTICE

ITALY-MIGRANTS/COURT (PIX) (TV) Italian court due to rule on alleged trafficking kingpin

An Italian court is due to hand down its verdict in the case of a man who was extradited from Sudan in 2016 and is accused by prosecutors of being a people-smuggling kingpin. The defence say it is a shocking case of mistaken identity. Jul 12

BUSINESS / ECONOMICS USA-FED/BOSTIC

Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank President Bostic speaks on monetary policy Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Raphael Bostic speaks on monetary policy before the Volcker Alliance FY2020 State Fiscal Conference: "Truth and Integrity in State Budgeting – Looming Risks, Durable Solutions," in Atlanta, Ga.

11 Jul 13:00 ET / 17:00 GMT USA-FED/POWELL (PIX) (TV)

Federal Reserve Chairman Powell testifies on monetary policy before Senate Banking Committee Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell delivers Semiannnual Monetary Policy Report to Congress in testimony before the Senate Banking Committee, in Washington.

11 Jul 10:00 ET / 14:00 GMT IMF-EUROZONE/

IMF publishes annual report on euro zone The International Monetary Fund releases its annual report on the euro zone.

11 Jul 10:30 ET / 14:30 GMT SAFRICA-ECONOMY/ (PIX)

South Africa's finance minister Mboweni delivers budget vote speech South Africa's Finance Minister Tito Mboweni gives a speech in parliament to set out spending and revenue priorities for the year ahead.

11 Jul 12:30 ET / 16:30 GMT SERBIA-RATES/

Serbia's central bank annouces benchmark rate Serbia's central bank to annouce benchmark rate

11 Jul 06:00 ET / 10:00 GMT NEWZEALAND-ECONOMY/HOMESALES

REINZ releases New Zealand house prices for June Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) releases house prices data for June.

12 Jul 17:00 ET / 21:00 GMT USA-FED/WILLIAMS

New York Federal Reserve Bank President Williams speaks at University of Albany-SUNY Federal Reserve Bank of New York President John Williams speaks before event organized by the University of Albany-SUNY, in Albany, N.Y.

11 Jul 13:30 ET / 17:30 GMT EGYPT-CENBANK/

Egypt's central bank announces interest rates The Central Bank of Egypt's monetary policy committee is due to meet and decide if Egypt's interest rates will change or remain the same.

11 Jul 13:00 ET / 17:00 GMT USA-FED/BARKIN

Richmond Federal Reserve Bank President Barkin speaks before economic summit Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President Thomas Barkin speaks on "Confidence, Expectations and Implications for Monetary Policy" before the Global Interdependence Center Eleventh Annual Rocky Mountain Economic Summit, in Victor, Idaho.

11 Jul 12:30 ET / 16:30 GMT USA-FED/QUARLES

Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Quarles participates in "financial regulation and monetary policy" discussion Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Quarles participates in "financial regulation and monetary policy" discussion before the Bipartisan Policy Center, in Washington.

11 Jul 13:30 ET / 17:30 GMT ABINBEV-ASIA/IPO

Budweiser Asia to price IPO of up to $9.8 billion AB Inbev is due to price the spin-off of its Asia business, listing in Hong Kong. The deal is set to raise between $8.3 billion and $9.8 billion for the heavily indebted brewer.

Jul 12 HUAWEI TECH-CHAIRMAN/ (TV)

Huawei chairman Liang Hua hosts press conference on corporate sustainable development Huawei chairman Liang Hua and board member Kevin Tao host a press conference at its Shenzhen headquarters for the release of Huawei's annual corporate sustainable development report. There will be a Q&A session.

12 Jul 22:00 ET / 02:00 GMT GLOBAL-ECONOMY/WEEKAHEAD

Global Economy Weekahead A weekly look at key economic events for the global economy in the coming seven days.

Jul 12 ARTS / CULTURE / ENTERTAINMENT

PEOPLE-HARVEY WEINSTEIN/ (PIX) (TV) Hearing on Harvey Weinstein hiring new lawyers in rape case

A hearing is scheduled on film producer Harvey Weinstein's hiring of new lawyers in his rape case. Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to charges of assaulting two women, and could face life in prison if convicted. 11 Jul 09:30 ET / 13:30 GMT

FILM-HARRY MET SALLY/ 'Faking it' contest in New York deli 30 years after Harry Met Sally

It was the moan heard around the world. On the 30th anniversary of the release of "When Harry Met Sally," Katz's deli is running a fake orgasm contest for anyone who wants to sit at the same table on New York's Lower East Side where actor Meg Ryan feigned a very vocal sexual climax to humble an over-confident single man played by Billy Crystal, making movie history. Jul 12

SOUTHKOREA-DOG-MEAT/PROTEST (TV) Kim Basinger and South Korean protesters hold anti-dog meat rally

Around 200 South Korean protesters along with American actress Kim Basinger hold a rally against the practice of eating dog meat on Chobok Day, one of the three hottest days according to the Korean lunar calendar, and dog soup is believed to be one way to beat the heat. Jul 12