Reuters news scheduled at 10 a.m. GMT/5 a.m. ET

Here are the top stories and upcoming coverage plans for Reuters text service as of 10 a.m. GMT/5 a.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

BRITAIN-EU/

Weakened May turns to Brussels for help on Brexit

A weakened Theresa May was set to ask European leaders for help on Thursday after a mutiny by more than a third of her MPs failed to unseat her but left parliament heading for deadlock over Brexit.

ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS-SHOOTING/

Palestinian gunman wounds four in West Bank: Israeli media

A Palestinian shot and wounded four people in the occupied West Bank on Thursday, Israeli media said.

U.S.

INSYS-OPIOIDS/

Opioid maker Insys paid kickbacks to physician assistant, jury hears

A former Insys Therapeutics Inc sales representative now married to the drugmaker’s ex-CEO said on Wednesday she arranged to have a physician assistant in New Hampshire receive kickbacks to prescribe patients its addictive fentanyl spray.

CALIFORNIA-WILDFIRES-INSURANCE/

Insurance claims for latest California wildfires top $9 billion

Insurance claims from the recent spate of California wildfires, including one ranked as the most deadly and destructive in state history, have topped $9 billion and are expected to grow, the state insurance commissioner reported on Wednesday.

BUSINESS

USA-CHINA-HUAWEI/

Chinese state media urges Canada to defy the U.S., free Huawei executive

Canada should distance itself from U.S. “hegemonism” and grant unconditional freedom to Meng Wanzhou, a top executive of China’s Huawei detained in Vancouver on Washington’s request, state-owned tabloid Global Times said in a Thursday editorial.

APPLE-EXPANSION/

Apple to build new $1 billion campuses in Texas

Apple Inc said on Thursday it would invest $1 billion to build a second campus in North Austin, Texas and another $10 billion for new data centres over the next five years, as it aims to create 20,000 jobs in the United States.

ENTERTAINMENT

FILM-MARYPOPPINSRETURNS/

'Mary Poppins' return brings the world some magic, cast say

The return of Mary Poppins to the big screen brings some much-needed magic to the world in uncertain times, the cast of the new film about the beloved nanny said on Wednesday as they premiered the highly anticipated movie in London.

AWARDS-SAG-NOMINATIONS/

Musical 'A Star is Born' leads film contenders for SAG awards

Musical drama remake “A Star is Born” led a wide range of contenders for the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Wednesday, landing four nominations, including best movie ensemble.

SPORTS

FOOTBALL-NFL-AFCEAST-NOTES-NOTEBOOK/

Bills QB Allen continues to receive praise

Buffalo Bills: Former Notre Dame and NFL quarterback Brady Quinn had lots of praise for rookie quarterback Josh Allen, from one first-round draft pick to another. Quinn, now an analyst for Fox Sports, will work the Buffalo-New York game on Sunday, and he told the Buffalo News: “Right now, Baker’s (Mayfield) playing the best, but I just feel like Josh Allen, he oozes so much potential. Have you seen what he’s doing? First off, he’s 3-5 as a starter with the Bills. ... They are so far removed from the team they were last year with things they’ve done and changed. He has given that team and city hope. He is so good. And he has so much upside. I would rank the rookie quarterbacks insofar as they’ve performed this year: Baker, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen.”

BASEBALL-MLB-TB-MORTON/

Reports: Morton agrees to two-year deal with Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays agreed to a two-year, $30 million deal with free agent right-hander Charlie Morton, according to multiple reports.

UPCOMING

POLITICS / INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

CLIMATE-CHANGE/USA (PIX)

More Americans view climate change as "imminent" threat -Reuters/Ipsos

A growing percentage of Americans see climate change as an "imminent" threat-driven mainly by human activity, and more than two-thirds want Washington to work with other nations to combat it, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll to be released on Thursday.

13 Dec 07:00 ET / 12:00 GMT

USA-ELECTION/DEMOCRATS

A flurry of Democrats expected to enter 2020 White House race in coming weeks

A rush of Democrats will likely announce U.S. presidential bids in January in an unusually early start to the 2020 election cycle, lining up for what is poised to be a crowded race to take on President Donald Trump.

13 Dec 06:00 ET / 11:00 GMT

NETHERLANDS-ASYLUM/ (PIX) (TV)

Dutch church holds weekslong sermon to shelter Armenian asylum seekers

A Protestant church in The Hague has been holding a nonstop, around-the-clock sermon since Oct 26, in an attempt to prevent the extradition of an Armenian family of political refugees. So far, the church has failed to convince Dutch authorities, who maintain the family has no future in the Netherlands and should return to Armenia.

13 Dec 08:30 ET / 13:30 GMT

USA-AFRICA/BOLTON

National security adviser John Bolton speaks on Trump's Africa strategy

U.S. national security adviser John Bolton makes remarks on President Donald Trump's administration's strategy on Africa.

13 Dec 09:30 ET / 14:30 GMT

SRI LANKA- POLITICS/ (PIX)

Sri Lanka's Supreme Court to deliver a key ruling on parliament dissolution

Sri Lanka's Supreme Court will rule if President Maithripala Sirisena's decree to dissolve parliament is unconstitutional, opening the way for a resolution of a weeks-old political crisis.

13 Dec 05:30 ET / 10:30 GMT

USA-RUSSIA/BUTINA (TV)

Accused Russian agent Butina to plead guilty

Maria Butina, who is accusing of acting as a Russian agent and trying to infiltrate the National Rifle Association and influence U.S. policy toward Russia is expected to plead guilty this week following a deal between her lawyers and U.S. prosecutors. Details of the plea are still unknown.

13 Dec 10:30 ET / 15:30 GMT

ZIMBABWE-POLITICS/ (PIX) (TV)

Mnangagwa officially opens the ruling ZANU-PF party annual conference

President Emmerson Mnangagwa leads his ruling ZANU-PF at an annual party conference taking stock of a year in which he won a disputed presidential vote but faces pressure over an economy grappling with unemployment and severe shortages of U.S. dollars.

14 Dec

CONFLICTS / WAR / PEACE

MIDEAST-CRISIS/SYRIA-TURKEY

Turkey's Erdogan may comment further on planned Syrian military operation

After saying Turkey would launch a military operation in northern Syria within days, President Tayyip Erdogan may comment further in response to the Pentagon saying unilateral military action there would be "unacceptable".

13 Dec 05:30 ET / 10:30 GMT

ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS/PROTESTS (PIX)

Palestinians continue protests along the border with Israel

Palestinians continued their weekly protests to demand an end to Israeli blockade and the right of return to the land from which they fled or were forced to flee in 1948 during Israel's founding.

14 Dec

CRIME / LAW / JUSTICE

FLORIDA-EXECUTION/ (PIX)

Florida set to execute a man convicted of killing a woman during a burglary

Florida inmate Jose Jimenez is scheduled to be executed for the 1992 stabbing murder of Miami resident Phyllis Minas.

13 Dec 07:00 ET / 12:00 GMT

USA-EXECUTION/

Death Penalty Information Center releases an annual report

The Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC) will release its annual report, “The Death Penalty in 2018: Year End Report,” on Friday morning, December 14.

14 Dec

BUSINESS / ECONOMICS

PORTUGAL-SCIENCE4YOU/IPO (PIX) (TV)

Interview with CEO of Science4You as the company launches IPO

Interview with CEO of Science4You, which makes educational toys, as the company launches initial public offering and bets on growth through Amazon.

13 Dec 09:00 ET / 14:00 GMT

FRANCE-EU/BUDGET

Temporary French deficit overshoot tolerable - EU's Moscovici

France's expected overshooting of the European Union's 3-per cent of GDP deficit limit next year could be tolerated if it is temporary, the EU's economic commissioner said on Thursday

13 Dec 05:00 ET / 10:00 GMT

COSTCO WHOLESALE-RESULTS/

Costco Wholesale Corp Q1 Earnings

The warehouse club operator is expected to report a rise in first-quarter sales and profit, boosted by an increase in membership fees and strong e-commerce sales. The company's profit margin for the latest quarter will be in focus as the members-only grocer faces stiff competition and as a result, has aggressively cut prices.

13 Dec 16:15 ET / 21:15 GMT

CHINA-POLLUTION/ (PIX)

ANALYSIS - Smog and a hard place: China regions caught between economic woes and pollution war

Amid a slowing economy and a slew of mixed signals from the environment ministry, China's embattled local governments are facing a dilemma: do they go all out to curb smog this winter, or do their best to keep factories humming?

14 Dec 18:00 ET / 23:00 GMT

GLOBAL-ECONOMY/WEEKAHEAD

Global Economy Weekahead

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

14 Dec

SCIENCE / TECHNOLOGY

VENEZUELA-HEALTH/ (PIX) (TV)

With no antiretrovirals, Venezuela HIV patients rely on tree-leaf remedy

Venezuelan HIV patients unable to find anti-retroviral medication in the collapsing socialist economy have started taking a herbal treatment made from the leaves of the Guazuma tree in hopes that it can ward off the arrival of AIDS. Doctors say there is little scientific evidence that it is effective, but acknowledge that patients have few alternatives amid product shortages and spiralling hyperinflation.

13 Dec 08:00 ET / 13:00 GMT

HEALTH-CANCER/CUBA-SCORPION (PIX) (TV)

Cuba's unique medicine: scorpion venom

Cuba has a unique solution to many ailments - scorpion venom. We speak to the company that produces and exports homoeopathic medicine from scorpion venom as well as to a farmer who swears by regularly provoking a pet scorpion to sting him in order to sooth his rheumatism.

14 Dec

ARTS / CULTURE / ENTERTAINMENT

THAILAND-ELEPHANT/MUSIC (PIX) (TV)

Classical piano music soothes elephants at a Thai sanctuary

British volunteer plays the piano for sick, abused, retired, and rescued elephants at a sanctuary along the Thailand-Myanmar border.

14 Dec

SPORTS

SOCCER-FIFA/ (PIX) (TV)

Soccer - FIFA President Infantino holds a news conference in Doha

FIFA President Gianni Infantino will hold a news conference following the FIFA Executive Football Summit in Doha.

13 Dec 09:30 ET / 14 Dec 02:30 GMT

(With inputs from agencies.)