REUTERS NEWS SCHEDULE AT 6am SGT/5pm ET

Reuters

Here are the top stories and upcoming coverage plans for Reuters text service as of 6 a.m. SGT/5 p.m. ET. For a full schedule of news and events, go to our editorial calendar on Reuters Connect https://www.reutersconnect.com/planning or on Media Express http://mediaexpress.reuters.com/planning-tools/calendar.

TOP STORIES

GLOBAL

THAILAND-SAUDI

Saudi teen who fled family welcomed as 'brave new Canadian' in Toronto

TORONTO (Reuters) - An 18-year-old Saudi woman who fled her family this week saying she feared for her life arrived in Toronto’s international airport on Saturday after being granted asylum in Canada, where Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland welcomed her as a brave new Canadian.

FRANCE-BLAST

Gas blast kills three in Paris amid lockdown for yellow vest protests

PARIS (Reuters) - Two French firefighters and a Spanish woman died and nearly 50 people were injured in a massive gas explosion that gutted the ground floor of a building in a central Paris shopping district on Saturday, authorities said.

U.S.

USA-SHUTDOWN

Government shutdown breaks record, with no end in sight

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A partial U.S. government shutdown over President Donald Trump’s demand for $5.7 billion to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border entered its 22nd day on Saturday, making it the longest shuttering of federal agencies in U.S. history, with no end in sight.

USA-ELECTION-CASTRO

Democrat Julian Castro launches 2020 U.S. presidential bid

SAN ANTONIO, Texas/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Texas Democrat Julian Castro, a former San Antonio mayor and top U.S. housing official, formally launched his White House bid on Saturday, entering as a dark horse candidate in a likely crowded field vying to challenge President Donald Trump in the November 2020 election.

BUSINESS

APPLE-QUALCOMM-MOLLENKOPF

Apple demanded $1 billion for chance to win iPhone: Qualcomm CEO

SAN JOSE, California (Reuters) - Qualcomm sought to become the sole supplier of modem chips for Apple’s iPhone to recoup a $1-billion “incentive payment” that Apple insisted on, not to block rivals from the market, Qualcomm’s chief executive testified on Friday.

SPACEX-LAYOFFS

SpaceX to lay off 10 percent of workforce

(Reuters) - Elon Musk’s rocket company SpaceX will reduce its workforce by about 10 percent of the company’s more than 6,000 employees, it said on Friday.

ENTERTAINMENT

PEOPLE-RKELLY

R. Kelly's attorney denies abuse allegations in documentary

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - An attorney for R. Kelly on Friday called a new documentary series about the R&B singer a “for-profit hit piece,” and said the latest accusations of abuse by the Grammy-winning musician were a “complete fabrication.”

AWARDS-BRITS-NOMINATIONS

Anne-Marie, Dua Lipa and George Ezra among BRIT Awards nominees

LONDON (Reuters) - Singers Anne-Marie, Dua Lipa, Jess Glynne and George Ezra are among the nominees for next month’s BRIT Awards, Britain’s annual pop music honors, in a list dominated by young talent.

SPORTS

SPORT-DOPING-RUSSIA

WADA to make decision on Russia on January 22

(Reuters) - The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) executive committee will take up a recommendation on Jan. 22 regarding Russia’s failure to turn over data from a Moscow laboratory by a Dec. 31 deadline, it said on Saturday.

TENNIS-SYDNEY

Tennis: Battling Kvitova downs Barty to claim Sydney title

(Reuters) - Petra Kvitova warmed up for the year’s first Grand Slam by coming from behind to beat home favorite Ashleigh Barty 1-6 7-5 7-6(3) and win her second Sydney International title on Saturday.

UPCOMING

POLITICS / INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

SWEDEN-POLITICS/LIBERALS (PIX) (GRAPHIC)

Swedish Liberal Party decides on deal to support Soc Dems Lofven as PM

Sweden' Liberal Party will decide whether to support Soc Dem leader Lofven as PM in vote next week. LIberals are split on whether to support Lofven or center-right rival Kristersson of the Moderates

13 Jan 04:00 ET / 09:00 GMT

JORDAN-EGYPT/ (PIX) (TV)

Egypt's Sissi visits Jordan for talks with King Abdullah

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi expected in Amman to hold talks with Jordan's King Abdullah on latest developments in region.

13 Jan

GREECE-MACEDONIA/COALITION (PIX)

Greek PM meets conservative coalition partner

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras meets his conservative coalition ally to see if he will keep supporting the government, hoping to avert a snap election after the parties fell out over a deal on neighboring Macedonia's name.

13 Jan 03:30 ET / 08:30 GMT

JORDAN-FRANCE/ (PIX) (TV)

French foreign minister visits Jordan

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian holds talks in Amman with senior Jordanian officials over latest regional developments and Syria.

13 Jan

BUSINESS / ECONOMICS

AUTOSHOW-DETROIT/ (PIX) (TV)

The North American International Auto Show in Detroit Media events for the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

13 Jan

CONGO-ELECTION/INVESTMENT (PIX)

Congo poll outcome augers murky future for miners, investors

The shock outcome of Democratic Republic of Congo's presidential election - a vote meant to bring closure to years of turmoil under President Joseph Kabila appears set to erode executive authority in the vast, mineral-rich country, fueling further uncertainty for investors, miners and analysts say.

13 Jan

ARTS / CULTURE / ENTERTAINMENT

BULGARIA-CULTURE/PLOVDIV (PIX) (TV)

Bulgaria's Plovdiv celebrates as European Capital of Culture

Bulgaria's second largest city of Plovdiv kickstarts its year as a European Capital of Culture with a concert involving 1,500 people. The first Bulgarian city to hold the title, Plovdiv is also one of Europe's oldest cities and hopes to attract tourists with its well preserved 2nd century Roman theater and cobbled Old Town.

13 Jan