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

Here are the top stories and upcoming coverage plans for Reuters text service as of 6 a.m. SGT/10 p.m. GMT. For a full schedule of news and events, go to our editorial calendar on Reuters Connect https://www.reutersconnect.com/planning.

TOP STORIES

GLOBAL

HEALTH–CORONAVIRUS/FRANCE-RECORD

France becomes first European country to top 2 million COVID-19 cases –Reuters tally

France on Tuesday became the first European country to surpass 2 million coronavirus cases despite an Oct. 30 nationwide lockdown that has led to a sharp decline in new infections, according to a Reuters tally.

THAILAND-PROTESTS

More than 40 hurt in Thailand's most violent protests since new movement emerged

At least 41 people were hurt, some with gunshot wounds, when demonstrators marching on the Thai parliament clashed with police and royalist counter-protesters, in the worst violence since a new youth-led protest movement emerged in July.

U.S.

USA-ELECTION

Biden names top White House aides, meets with national security advisers

President-elect Joe Biden on Tuesday named several top advisers from his election campaign and a Democratic congressman as senior White House aides, sticking with a tight inner circle as he transitions to the White House.

HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS/USA

Doctors and nurses urge Trump to share COVID-19 data with Biden as states tighten restrictions

U.S. doctors and nurses, in a letter published on Tuesday, urged the Trump administration to share critical COVID-19 data with President-elect Joe Biden's transition team to avoid unnecessary delays in tackling the pandemic as states crack down on skyrocketing infections.

BUSINESS

USA-ECONOMY

U.S. retail sales lose speed as pandemic, lack of fiscal stimulus weigh

U.S. retail sales increased less than expected in October and could slow further, restrained by spiraling new COVID-19 infections and declining household income as millions of unemployed Americans lose government financial support.

TESLA-STOCKS

Tesla surges as fund managers face big decision: How much to own

Love it or hate it, a much broader universe of portfolio managers will soon have to take a stance on Tesla's stock, which surged 8% on Tuesday following the announcement that it will join the S&P 500.

ENTERTAINMENT

MUSIC-LEANN RIMES

Country singer LeAnn Rimes turns to chants to relieve pandemic blues

After a nearly 25-year country music career, singer LeAnn Rimes is finding new ways to share her voice - through a podcast and her first chant record.

FILM-VIAGRA

Director Spike Lee changes direction with musical about Viagra

Director Spike Lee, best known for making movies about the experience of being Black in America, is switching course with his first ever musical - on the subject of Viagra.

SPORTS

SOCCER-UEFANATIONS-ENG-ICE/PREVIEW

Southgate backs 'courageous' Grealish to shine for England

England manager Gareth Southgate has backed midfielder Jack Grealish to thrive under the spotlight and forge a successful international career after his performance in Sunday's 2-0 defeat by Belgium in the Nations League.

RUGBY-UNION-AUTUMNCUP-FRA-FJI

Italy v Fiji Autumn Nations Cup game called off due to COVID-19

The Autumn Nations Cup game between Fiji and Italy on Saturday has been called off following 29 positive COVID-19 cases within the Fiji team, tournament organisers Six Nations Rugby said on Tuesday.

UPCOMING

DISASTERS / ACCIDENTS

STORM-IOTA/ (PIX) (TV)

"In the hands of God:" Central America bears brunt of powerful hurricane Iota

Hurricane Iota sent zinc roofing soaring into the streets, toppled an electricity pole and flayed palm trees as its eye approached the remote Central American coastal region of Miskito on Tuesday, with villagers saying they feared for their lives during the second giant storm to tear at the region this month - a historic first leaders blamed on climate change.

17 Nov 17:00 ET / 22:00 GMT

HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS/CANADA-HOSPITALS

'A catastrophic situation': how the virus is straining Canada's health system

In July, the Canadian province of Manitoba went two weeks without a single new case of COVID-19. Theaters and casinos reopened. Children soon returned to school. By October, the 1.4 million people living in a province only slightly smaller geographically than Texas had Canada's highest rate of active cases per capita - now 304 per 100,000 people - spreading through hospitals, care homes and family gatherings. Manitoba officials warned that intensive care beds were 96% full and re-imposed business restrictions while suspending many surgeries.

18 Nov 07:00 ET / 12:00 GMT

POLITICS / INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

SOUTHKOREA-JOBS/WOMEN (PIX) (TV)

Women handling the dead: More female morticians in South Korea as taboo fades

A growing number of South Korean women are training to be morticians, a field from which they had long been excluded, amid changing views on gender roles and a rising preference for women's bodies to be handled by women.

18 Nov 18:00 ET / 23:00 GMT

CLIMATE-CHANGE/ACCORD (PIX) (TV)

POSTPONED - Glasgow hosts UN Climate Change Conference

Glasgow hosts the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 26) where world leaders discuss how to tackle climate change on a global scale.

18 Nov

BRITAIN-POLITICS/JOHNSON (PIX) (TV)

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson takes questions in parliament

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson takes questions in parliament.

18 Nov

USA-POMPEO/ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS (PIX) (TV)

Palestinians protest at West Bank settlement as Pompeo begins Israel visit

Palestinians are expected to protest outside the Israeli settlement of Psagot in the occupied West Bank, amid reports that visiting U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is planning to make an unprecedented visit there. Pompeo is due to arrive in Israel on Wednesday.

18 Nov

ISRAEL-BAHRAIN/USA

Bahrain foreign minister to visit Israel in first official delegation, first commercial flight

Bahrain's foreign minister will travel to Israel on Wednesday in Manama's first official delegation there, and on the first direct commercial flight between the two countries. President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, Avi Berkowitz and a U.S. delegation to discuss economic opportunities will be on the flight.

18 Nov

HEALTH-EBOLA/CONGO (PIX) (TV)

Congo to declare Ebola outbreak over

Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo are expected to declare the Ebola outbreak in the northwest over after nearly six months and 55 deaths.

18 Nov

US-GEORGIA/ (PIX) (TV)

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to visit Georgia

18 Nov

USA-HUAWEI TECH/CANADA

Canada court hears witness testimony on 2nd branch of abuse of process in Meng extradition case

A Canadian court will hear further witness testimony regarding the second branch of abuse of process alleged by lawyers for Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou, specifically regarding abuses they claim took place during her investigation and arrest by Canadian border officials and police.

18 Nov

AUSTRIA-POLITICS/

Weekly Austrian cabinet meeting

18 Nov 02:00 ET / 07:00 GMT

BRITAIN-EU/IRELAND

Irish foreign minister speaks at Brexit webinar

18 Nov 05:30 ET / 10:30 GMT

IRAN-NUCLEAR/IAEA (PIX) (TV)

IAEA chief Grossi holds a news conference

U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi holds a news conference during a quarterly meeting of his International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation Board of Governors.

18 Nov 06:30 ET / 11:30 GMT

BUSINESS / ECONOMICS

GLOBAL-GRAINS/CONFERENCE

Global Grain conference Nov. 17-19

The annual Global Grain conference in Geneva is on Nov. 17-19, with an online format due to coronavirus

18 Nov

KENYA-MANUFACTURING/ (TV)

POSTPONED-Engineer gives Kenyan inventors and artisans tools to produce local solutions

The cost of materials, electronics and production machinery in Africa can be prohibitive for would-be inventors. In Nairobi, engineer Kamau Gichigi and his innovation incubator Gearbox offer "makers" access to training, a project implementation partner, and high-tech production equipment. Gichigi's goal is to gradually reduce the importation of goods from China and other countries by strengthening the region's manufacturing sector.

18 Nov

HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS/BRITAIN-CREDIT (PIX)

From 'haves' to 'have-nots': how COVID-19 is swelling UK's subprime ranks

One morning, after years of financial prudence and solid creditworthiness, you wake up and it's all gone. You're no longer worthy. You're a risk. In fact, you're sub-prime. That is the fate facing thousands of Britons who, often for no fault of their own, could begin 2021 as "sub-prime" borrowers if they have had more than six months' of relief from COVID-19 debt woes.

18 Nov 01:00 ET / 06:00 GMT

AIR FRANCE KLM-NETHERLANDS/GREENPEACE (TV)

Dutch court hears Greenpeace lawsuit against KLM state aid

Hearing in a lawsuit Greenpeace has started against a 3.4 billion euro bailout for Air France-KLM's Dutch subsidiary, which the environmentalist group says should be withdrawn as it lacks binding climate conditions.

18 Nov 03:30 ET / 08:30 GMT

GLOBAL-POY/2020 (PIX)

Reuters Pictures of the year

18 Nov 05:00 ET / 10:00 GMT

USA-ECONOMY/MANUFACTURING (PIX)

U.S. manufacturing is booming -- but not for these guys

Jim Kirsh initially thought his family-owned foundry in southeastern Wisconsin might stay busy during the pandemic.

18 Nov 06:00 ET / 11:00 GMT

USA-FED/EVANS

Chicago Federal Reserve Bank President Evans gives welcome to competitiveness summit

Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago President Charles Evans gives welcome remarks before virtual 7th Annual Summit on Competitiveness hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

18 Nov 10:00 ET / 15:00 GMT

CRIME / LAW / JUSTICE

MEXICO-CANNABIS/

Mexican Senate likely to vote on legalizing cannabis, in step to create the world's largest pot market

Senate discussion starts on Wednesday, law expected to then move to lower house with final approval before Dec. 15 Supreme court deadline.

18 Nov

HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS/GERMANY-PROTESTS (PIX) (TV)

Protests in Berlin against legislation to battle the coronavirus pandemic

Anti-government protest, as well as counter-protests, in Berlin against legislation giving the government powers to impose measures to battle the coronavirus pandemic.

18 Nov 02:30 ET / 07:30 GMT

SPORTS

BASKETBALL-NBA/DRAFT

NBA-League holds 'virtual' draft

The NBA holds a "virtual" draft, where LaMelo Ball is expected to be selected first overall and several promising international players are poised to join the league.

18 Nov

CONFLICTS / WAR / PEACE

SAUDI-SECURITY/

Saudi Arabia fights Islamist activism as Democrats take over in Washington

Saudi Arabia has launched a new campaign against the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood group, a political movement that took part in the 2011 uprisings, urging its people to report its members to authorities as Riyadh races against the clock before a less friendly U.S. administration takes over.

18 Nov