REUTERS NEWS SCHEDULE AT 11 a.m. GMT/6 a.m. ET

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro proposed early parliamentary elections on Saturday, seeking to shore up his crumbling rule after a senior general defected to the opposition and tens of thousands thronged the streets in protest at his government.

MIDEAST-CRISIS-SYRIA/ Syrian media cites source saying U.S.-led jets attacked army

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian state media, citing a military source, said U.S.-led jets attacked a Syrian army position near the battle front against the last Islamic State pocket east of the Euphrates late on Saturday, causing damage and injuries. U.S.

VIRGINIA-POLITICS/ Virginia governor denies being in racist yearbook photo

(REUTERS) - Virginia Governor Ralph Northam on Saturday resisted mounting pressure from his Democratic party that he resign, denying that he appeared in a racist yearbook photo while admitting he once wore blackface in a dance contest. NEW-YORK-PRISON/

Inmates shiver in frigid cells at New York jail, lawmakers say NEW YORK (Reuters) - Inmates at a federal jail in Brooklyn have suffered for days without heat or power during a wintry cold snap, according to lawyers and U.S. lawmakers who rallied outside the jail on Saturday demanding the problems be fixed and ill inmates moved.

BUSINESS BRAZIL-AUTOS/

General motors says in talks to invest $2.73 billion in brazil till 2024 SAO PAULO (Reuters) - General Motors Co said on Saturday it is negotiating "feasibility conditions" to invest 10 billion reais ($2.73 billion) in Brazil from 2020 to 2024, after having warned last month that new investments would depend on returning to profit.

CHINA-ECONOMY-PMI-SERVICES-CAIXIN/ China's services sector moderates in January but still solid: Caixin PMI

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's sprawling services sector maintained a solid pace of expansion in January even though growth moderated slightly, a private survey showed on Sunday, offering continued support for the world's second-largest economy as manufacturing cools. ENTERTAINMENT

AWARDS-DGA/ Alfonso Cuaron wins at Directors Guild for 'Roma,' Cooper empty-handed

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Alfonso Cuaron was named best director by his peers on Saturday for his semi-autobiographical film "Roma," cementing his front-runner status ahead of the Oscars in three weeks time. SOUTHKOREA-EDUCATION-DRAMA/

Box set: TV drama stirs debate over South Korea's cutthroat education culture SEOUL (Reuters) - It was created as a biting satire of South Korea's notoriously competitive education system, but the country's most popular cable TV drama has inspired some fans to ignore its warnings and instead double down on their pursuit of success.

SPORTS FOOTBALL-NFL-SUPERBOWL-PATRIOTS-FATIG/

When it comes to the Patriots not everyone loves a winner ATLANTA (Reuters) - There is a saying that "everyone loves a winner" but not when it comes to the New England Patriots.

BASKETBALL-NBA-SAC-PHI/ After 8 late lead changes, Kings stop Sixers

Buddy Hield capped a 34-point performance with a pair of late 3-pointers Saturday night, enabling the Sacramento Kings to out-finish the visiting Philadelphia 76ers for a back-and-forth, 115-108 victory. UPCOMING

POLITICS / INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS VENEZUELA-POLITICS/POLICE (PIX) (GRAPHIC)

Inside a raid in Maduro's crackdown on critics in Venezuela's slums On Jan. 24, the day after mass protests against President Nicolas Maduro, a team of elite police officers stormed into a Caracas slum and killed as many as 10 people. Reuters takes a close look at the raid and how the government has used the feared FAES police unit to punish poor areas that have turned against Maduro.

3 Feb 06:00 ET / 11:00 GMT EU-ARABS/

EU uneasy about looming Arab talks The European Union is uneasy about what is meant to be its first ever top-level talks with the League of Arab States in February, with sources involved in preparing the summit from the European side speaking of an "awkward" and "unlucky" initiative that would sit EU leaders at one table with rulers of Syria, Sudan and Said Arabia they ostracise for grave violations of human rights.

4 Feb GERMANY-EGYPT/ (PIX)

German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier visits Egypt German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier visits Egypt and meets Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Altmaier will sign economic and energy policy agreements there.

4 Feb NORWAY-EU/SNOWCRAB (PIX)

Expected this week: Norway Supreme Court to deliver verdict in snow crab case with implication for oil Expected this week: Norway's Supreme Court to deliver verdict in case on whether EU ships can fish for snow crab off Arctic islands north of Norway without permission from Oslo, a case that could decide who has the right to explore for oil in the region.

4 Feb NORTHKOREA-USA/SOUTHKOREA (PIX) (TV)

U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun meets his South Korean counterpart in Seoul U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun meets his South Korean counterpart Lee Do-hoon in Seoul.

4 Feb BRITAIN-EU/

Brexit: UK seeks a Irish border concessions Britain seeks concessions on the Irish backstop.

4 Feb NORTHKOREA-USA/ (PIX) (TV)

U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun meets with his North Korean counterpart Kim Hyok Chol U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun meets with his North Korean counterpart Kim Hyok Chol to discuss the next steps to advance the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and progress on commitments from the Singapore summit, between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

4 Feb CONFLICTS / WAR / PEACE

LIBYA-NAVY/ (PIX) (TV) In new anthem, Libya's navy mocks 19th-century U.S.sunk frigate

The Libyan navy, which has relied on inflatables after most of its fleet got destroyed in 2011, launched a new anthem, mocking a U.S. navy frigate sunk at Tripoli's coast early in the 19th century. 4 Feb

IRAQ-MOSUL/ (PIX) (TV) No plan for Mosul: chaos and neglect slow Iraqi city's recovery

The demolition of a wrecked building in where Islamic State used to execute gay men is already in its third month. Homeless boys who loot it for scrap work quicker some days than the lone digger perched on its carcass. Mismanagement and corruption of Mosul's reconstruction is making recovery slow and haphazard. 4 Feb

CRIME / LAW / JUSTICE THAILAND-BAHRAIN/REFUGEE (TV)

Bahraini footballer to appear at Thai court for his extradition case Jailed Bahraini footballer Hakeem Al Araibi to appear at Thailand's Criminal Court to submit his evidence to fight his extradition after a local prosecutor submitted Bahrain's extradition request for him.

4 Feb 20:30 ET / 01:30 GMT BUSINESS / ECONOMICS

USA-FED/KASHKARI Fed's Kashkari speaks on the economy

Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis provides live stream of President Neel Kashkari's participation in a closed Town Hall Q&A in Long Lake, Minn. 3 Feb 10:40 ET / 15:40 GMT

EUROPE-OILSEEDS/CONSULTANCY Strategie Grains issues monthly EU oilseed report

French consultancy to update its estimates for 2018/19 oilseed production in the EU and its outlook for this summer's harvest. 4 Feb

AUSTRALIA-BANKS/INQUIRY (TV) Australia to publish landmark financial inquiry report

Australia will publish the findings of a year-long inquiry into the country's financial sector. The Royal Commission rocked the banking, wealth management and superannuation industries with revelations of systemic malpractice, and the report is expected to recommend tighter regulation. 4 Feb

ARTS / CULTURE / ENTERTAINMENT FOOTBALL-NFL-SUPERBOWL/HALFTIME

Football - NFL - Maroon 5 set to headline Super Bowl halftime show Maroon 5 are set to entertain fans in Atlanta and around the world during the Super Bowl halftime show.

3 Feb 17:00 ET / 22:00 GMT SPORTS

FOOTBALL-NFL-SUPERBOWL/ (PIX) (TV) Football - NFL - Super Bowl LIII - New England Patriots v Los Angeles Rams

The New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams compete in Super Bowl LIII, the 53rd National Football League (NFL) championship game. Maroon 5 are scheduled to perform the halftime show. 3 Feb 18:30 ET / 23:30 GMT

FOOTBALL-NFL-SUPERBOWL/GAMBLING (PIX) Super Bowl marks milestone for U.S. legal sports betting

This year, Americans will be able to bet on the Super Bowl for the first time ever outside of Nevada without technically running afoul of the law. Reuters talks with betters in New Jersey. 3 Feb 16:00 ET / 21:00 GMT

RELIGION POPE-EMIRATES/ (PIX) (TV)

Pope to visit United Arab Emirates Pope Francis visits the UAE's capital Abu Dhabi, the first trip by the head of the Catholic Church to the Arabian Peninsula. The Emirati crown prince's invitation follows a series of steps – including by his close ally and Saudi counterpart Mohamed bin Salman – to show more openness towards Christianity and promote a more tolerant image of Islam. While the UAE has allowed Christians freedom to worship at state-sanctioned churches for years, this kind of openness marks a sea change for Saudi Arabia, where churches are banned and hardline Muslim clerics remain influential. The visit includes an interreligious meeting, meetings with UAE political leaders and a papal mass, expected to draw hundreds of thousands of worshipers.

3 Feb 13:00 ET / 18:00 GMT

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)