REUTERS NEWS SCHEDULE AT 6 a.m. GMT/2 p.m. SGT

Here are the top stories and upcoming coverage plans for Reuters text service as of 6 a.m. GMT/2 p.m. SGT. For a full schedule of news and events, go to our editorial calendar on Reuters Connect https://www.reutersconnect.com/planning.

TOP STORIES

GLOBAL

IRAN-USA-ARMS-EXCLUSIVE

Exclusive: Trump plans executive order to punish arms trade with Iran - sources

U.S. President Donald Trump plans to issue an executive order allowing him to impose U.S. sanctions on anyone who violates a conventional arms embargo against Iran, four sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

USA-TRUMP-UN

In bumpy U.N. dealings, Trump found backing on North Korea, isolation on Iran

Though famously skeptical of the United Nations, U.S. President Donald Trump harnessed its collective power to impose crushing sanctions on North Korea in a bid to start talks with Pyongyang, but faces frustration over a similar push on Iran.

U.S.

USA-ELECTION-POST-OFFICE

Judge blocks 'politically motivated' changes to U.S. Postal Service ahead of election

A federal judge on Thursday blocked controversial changes to the United States postal service, saying they were "a politically motivated attack" that had slowed the nation's mail and likely would slow the delivery of ballots in the upcoming presidential election.

USA-TRUMP-NEW-YORK-LAWSUIT

Trump's son agrees to sit for questioning in New York probe, after the election

President Donald Trump's son Eric is willing to be questioned in connection with a probe by New York's attorney general into whether his father and the Trump Organization overstated the value of assets to obtain loans and tax benefits - if it can wait until after the Nov. 3 election.

BUSINESS

HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS-USA-FARMERS

In Wisconsin, Trump announces $13 billion in farm aid

U.S. President Donald Trump announced a new round of pandemic assistance to farmers of about $13 billion at a campaign rally in Wisconsin on Thursday night, delivering aid to an important sector in a crucial battleground state.

USA-TIKTOK-CHINA

ByteDance plans TikTok IPO to win U.S. deal as deadline looms: sources

China's ByteDance is planning a U.S. initial public offering of TikTok Global, the new company that will operate the popular short video app, should its proposed deal be cleared by the U.S. government, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

ENTERTAINMENT

FACEBOOK-POLICY

Facebook announces curbs on internal debate of political issues

Facebook Inc on Thursday said it would update its internal discussion policies to impose restrictions on employees' ability to debate social and political issues.

USA-LGBTQ/CENSUS

Nearly 1 million same-sex couple households in 2019, U.S. Census Bureau says

The number of same-sex married and unmarried couple households in the United States reached nearly 1 million in 2019, according to a U.S. Census Bureau survey that broke out the statistic for the first time.

SPORTS

GOLF-USOPEN

Thomas grabs U.S. Open lead, Mickelson falters

World number three Justin Thomas fired his lowest opening score in a major and held a one-shot lead after the first round of the U.S. Open on Thursday, while Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods were among a slew of big-name players well off the pace.

TENNIS-ROME-MUSETTI

Italian teenager Musetti continues dream run in Rome

Teenager Lorenzo Musetti brandished his reputation as a next-generation star by taking down Japan's Kei Nishikori in straight sets at the Italian Open on Thursday for back-to-back wins against former top-five players.

UPCOMING

POLITICS / INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

BELARUS-ELECTION/UN-RIGHTS (TV)

UN rights council to hold urgent debate on Belarus

The Geneva-based council will hold a debate on the Belarussian crackdown on opposition following a disputed presidential election which the UN rights official has described as "alarming". The proposal was brought by Germany on behalf of EU members and has been vigorously opposed by Belarus. Belarus former presidential candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and a protester to address the forum.

18 Sep 04:00 ET / 08:00 GMT

BRITAIN-EU/LEGISLATION

What happens next with UK plan to breach Brexit divorce treaty?

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is pressing ahead with legislation on trade despite a warning from Brussels that it could wreck their future relationship and an acknowledgement by his government that it violates international law. What happens next?

18 Sep 04:00 ET / 08:00 GMT

GERMANY-EU/POLITICS (PIX) (TV)

Germany's Merkel receives EU commission head von der Leyen German Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomes Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, in Berlin.

18 Sep 05:00 ET / 09:00 GMT

HONGKONG-SECURITY/ (PIX) (TV)

Hong Kong activists to organize post card campaign for residents held in mainland China

Hong Kong activists will organize a street booth encouraging people to send post cards to twelve Hong Kong residents being held in the Chinese mainland after attempting to flee to Taiwan.

18 Sep 05:00 ET / 09:00 GMT

USA-ELECTION/HOUSE

FACTBOX-A seat-by-seat look at competitive races for the U.S. House of Representatives

While overall control of the House of Representatives is not thought to be in plan in November's elections -- forecasters expect Democrats to keep their majority -- there are still some 40 competitive races to watch. Here's a seat-by-seat look at the incumbent Republicans and Democrats that the three main nonpartisan political ratings houses see as competitive this year.

18 Sep 06:00 ET / 10:00 GMT

LEBANON-CRISIS/MIGRANTS-CYPRUS (PIX) (TV)

'They should have let us die in the water': desperate Lebanese migrants sent back by Cyprus

For years, small boats have left northern Lebanon's coast, packed with migrants hoping to reach European shores. Until recently, they've carried mostly Syrians and Palestinians. But in recent weeks, there has been a rise in the number of Lebanese attempting to cross the Mediterranean.

18 Sep 06:00 ET / 10:00 GMT

CANADA-POLITICS/

Green tech and childcare to be crux of Trudeau's recovery plan

Canada's recent COVID-19 surge is forcing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to scale back his plan to outline an ambitious green economic recovery package next week.

18 Sep 07:00 ET / 11:00 GMT

HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS/SAFRICA (PIX)

Government briefing on level 1 lockdown regulations in South Africa

Ministers from South Africa's National Coronavirus Command Council, led by Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, will brief the media on regulations under lockdown level 1.

18 Sep 08:00 ET / 12:00 GMT

BRAZIL-POLITICS/LULA (PIX) (TV)

Interview with former Brazilian president Lula

Brazil's former leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks to Reuters about his chances of annulling corruption sentences against him and running again for president, his role in Brazilian politics in the run-up to the 2020 election and opposition to the right-wing Bolsonaro government.

18 Sep 10:00 ET / 14:00 GMT

USA-ELECTION/EARLY VOTING (FACTBOX)

FACTBOX-A state-by-state guide to U.S. early voting

As Minnesota opens in-person early voting in the U.S. presidential election, a state-by-state look at when Americans will begin to cast ballots.

18 Sep 12:00 ET / 16:00 GMT

SCIENCE / TECHNOLOGY

HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS/NORDICS (PIX)

ANALYSIS - Tech savvy, flexible workers boost COVID-hit Nordic economies

Well-developed digital infrastructure has helped the Nordic economies weather the pandemic better than most of Europe. A high proportion of information technology-focused jobs that lend themselves to distance working has helped but businesses and individuals have been quick to make the digital leap.

18 Sep 05:00 ET / 09:00 GMT

CLIMATE-CHANGE/LIVESTOCK-SCIENCE (PIX) (TV)

Q&A-What is the science behind the moo-ve from cattle methane emissions?

Scientists have worked for years to reduce methane emissions from cattle burps by changing what cattle eat, or through research on vaccines, genetic modification of cattle and even forehead-mounted masks and backpacks to trap vapors. What is the problem? Why are livestock gassy?

18 Sep 06:00 ET / 10:00 GMT

HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS/WHO BRIEFING (TV)

WHO regular press briefing with DG on coronavirus pandemic

Top officials from the World Health Organization (WHO), including director-general Tedros Adnahom Ghebreyesus, give a press conference on the latest developments in the COVID-19 pandemic on the deadline day for wealthy countries to make binding commitments to the global COVAX vaccine facility.

18 Sep 11:00 ET / 15:00 GMT

ARTS / CULTURE / ENTERTAINMENT

FRANCE-LEATHER/SALMON (PIX) (TV)

From trash to treasure: French company turns throwaway salmon skin into leather

For French company Ictyos, one man's trash is another's treasure, as the enterprise based near Lyon goes door-to-door at local restaurants to gather salmon skin meant to go into the waste bin and recycle them into leather used to make handbags and other accessories.

18 Sep 05:30 ET / 09:30 GMT

FASHION-LONDON/MARK FAST (PIX) (TV)

Mark Fast showcases his autumn/winter knitwear collection

Mark Fast brings showcases his modern knitwear collection at London Fashion Week

18 Sep 11:00 ET / 15:00 GMT

BUSINESS / ECONOMICS

CLIMATE-CHANGE/LIVESTOCK (PIX) (TV)

Burps to burgers: global food companies wrangle cattle emissions problem

Looking to improve milk production, California dairy farmer John Verwey turned to a Swiss-made feed additive designed to make a cow more efficient while reducing methane emissions from cattle belches.

18 Sep 06:00 ET / 10:00 GMT

USA-FED/BULLARD

St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank President Bullard speaks on "The COVID Economic Recovery Challenge"

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard speaks on "The COVID Recovery Challenge" before the virtual Washington University in St. Louis and The Boeing Center Innovation Conference, "The Industrial Innovation Path to Economic Recovery from Covid-19."

18 Sep 10:00 ET / 14:00 GMT

USA-FED/KASHKARI

Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank President Kashkari speaks to investors group

Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis President Neel Kashkari speaks on "Too Big to Fail" before the Council of Institutional Investors Conference.

18 Sep 15:00 ET / 19:00 GMT