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ASHGABAT, Oct 4 (Reuters) – Turkmenistan's economic growth stood at 6.3% in January-September, in line with the previous year, the Altyn Asyr state TV channel reported, citing a government meeting. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Asian Development Bank expect Turkmenistan's GDP to grow by 6.3% in 2025, as in 2024, while the IMF forecasts growth of 2.3%. (Reporting by Marat Gurt; writing by Marina Bobrova; editing by Alexandra Hudson)

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* 'Abenomics' proponent picked to lead ruling party * Investors wary of spending designed to win back voters * Nationalistic positions may rile neighbours like China * Takaichi, 64, defeated moderate Koizumi, a political scion * Read Reuters Live coverage here (Adds South Korea comment in paragraph 16, supporter quote in paragraphs 22-23, background on Takaichi's policies in paragraphs 24-26, Sanseito comment in paragraph 27) By Tim Kelly, John Geddie and Satoshi Sugiyama TOKYO, Oct 4 (Reuters) – Japan's ruling party picked hardline conservative Sanae Takaichi as its head on Saturday, putting her on course to become the country's first female prime minister in a move set to jolt investors and neighbours. The Liberal Democratic Party, which has ruled Japan for almost all of the postwar era, elected Takaichi, 64, to regain trust from a public angered by rising prices and drawn to opposition groups promising stimulus and clampdowns on migrants. A vote in parliament to choose a replacement for outgoing Shigeru Ishiba is expected on October 15. Takaichi is favoured as the ruling coalition has the largest number of seats. INHERITS PARTY IN CRISIS Takaichi, the only woman among the five LDP candidates, beat a challenge from the more moderate Shinjiro Koizumi, 44, who was bidding to become the youngest modern leader. A former economic security and internal affairs minister with an expansionary fiscal agenda for the world's fourth-largest economy, Takaichi takes over a party in crisis. Various other parties, including the expansionist Democratic Party for the People and the anti-immigration Sanseito, have been steadily luring voters, especially younger ones, away from the LDP. The LDP and its coalition partner lost their majorities in both houses under Ishiba over the past year, triggering his resignation. "Recently, I have heard harsh voices from across the country saying we don’t know what the LDP stands for anymore," Takaichi said in a speech before the second-round vote. "That sense of urgency drove me. I wanted to turn people’s anxieties about their daily lives and the future into hope." Takaichi, who says her hero is Margaret Thatcher, Britain's first female prime minister, offers a starker vision for change than Koizumi and is potentially more disruptive. An advocate of late premier Shinzo Abe's "Abenomics" strategy to boost the economy with aggressive spending and easy monetary policy, she has previously criticised the Bank of Japan's interest rate increases. Such a spending shift could spook investors worried about one of the world's biggest debt loads. Naoya Hasegawa, chief bond strategist at Okasan Securities in Tokyo, said Takaichi's election had weakened the chances of the BOJ raising rates this month, which markets had priced at around a 60% chance before the vote. DISCUSSED REDOING TRUMP TRADE DEAL Takaichi has also raised the possibility of redoing an investment deal with U.S. President Donald Trump that lowered his punishing tariffs in return for Japanese taxpayer-backed investment. The U.S. ambassador to Japan, George Glass, congratulated Takaichi, posting on X that he looked forward to strengthening the Japan-U.S. partnership "on every front". But her nationalistic positions – such as her regular visits to the Yasukuni shrine to Japan's war dead, viewed by some Asian countries as a symbol of its past militarism – may rile neighbours like South Korea and China. South Korea will seek to "cooperate to maintain the positive momentum in South Korea-Japan relations", President Lee Jae Myung's office said in a statement. Takaichi also favours revising Japan's pacifist postwar constitution and suggested this year that Japan could form a "quasi-security alliance" with Taiwan, the democratically governed island claimed by China. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te welcomed her election, saying she was a "steadfast friend of Taiwan". "It is hoped that under the leadership of the new (LDP) President Takaichi, Taiwan and Japan can deepen their partnership in areas such as economic trade, security, and technological cooperation," he said in a statement. If elected prime minister, Takaichi said she would travel overseas more regularly than her predecessor to spread the word that "Japan is Back!" "I have thrown away my own work-life balance and I will work, work, work," Takaichi said in her victory speech. WARNINGS FOR FOREIGNERS Some of her supporters viewed her selection as a watershed in Japan's male-dominated politics, though opinion polls suggest her socially conservative positions are favoured more by men than women. "The fact that a woman was chosen might be seen positively. I think it shows that Japan is truly starting to change and that message is getting across," 30-year-old company worker Misato Kikuchi said outside Tokyo's Shimbashi station. Takaichi must also seek to blunt the rise of Sanseito, which broke into the political mainstream in a July election, appealing to conservative voters disillusioned with the LDP. Echoing Sanseito's warnings about foreigners, she kicked off her first official campaign speech with an anecdote about tourists reportedly kicking sacred deer in her hometown of Nara. Takaichi, whose mother was a police officer, promised to clamp down on rule-breaking visitors and immigrants, who have come to Japan in record numbers in recent years. "We hope she will … steer Japanese politics in an 'anti-globalism' direction to protect national interests and help the people regain prosperity and hope," Sanseito said in a statement. (Reporting by Tim Kelly, John Geddie, Chang-Ran Kim, Satoshi Sugiyama, Makiko Yamazaki and Joseph Campbell; Editing by William Mallard)

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Oct 4 (OPTA) – Standings for the La Liga on Saturday P W D L F A Pts 1 Barcelona 7 6 1 0 21 5 19 2 Real Madrid 7 6 0 1 16 8 18 3 Villarreal 7 5 1 1 13 5 16 4 Elche 7 3 4 0 10 6 13 …………………………………… 5 Atlético 7 3 3 1 14 9 12 …………………………………… 6 Betis 7 3 3 1 11 7 12 …………………………………… 7 Espanyol 7 3 3 1 10 9 12 …………………………………… 8 Getafe 8 3 2 3 9 11 11 9 Sevilla 7 3 1 3 11 10 10 10 Athletic 7 3 1 3 7 8 10 11 Osasuna 8 3 1 4 7 8 10 12 Alavés 7 2 2 3 6 7 8 13 Valencia 7 2 2 3 9 12 8 14 Oviedo 7 2 0 5 4 12 6 15 Levante 7 1 2 4 11 14 5 16 Rayo 7 1 2 4 7 10 5 17 Celta 7 0 5 2 6 9 5 18 Real Sociedad 7 1 2 4 7 11 5 …………………………………… 19 Mallorca 7 1 2 4 6 11 5 20 Girona 7 0 3 4 3 16 3 1-4: Champions League 5: Europa League 6: Europa League preliminary round 7: Europa League depending on domestic cup 18-20: Relegation

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Oct 4 (Reuters) – Argentina have been forced into a late change for their Rugby Championship test against South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday as prop Joel Sclavi has withdrawn and will be replaced in the starting XV by Francisco Coria Marchetti. Sclavi was injured in Friday’s captain’s run, and Tomas Rapetti is now in line to make his Argentina debut off the replacements' bench. Argentina are out of the running for the Rugby Championship title but South Africa will retain the trophy with a bonus-point victory, while a win without a bonus-point would also likely make the Springboks champions again. The match kicks off at 1300 GMT. Updated Argentina team: 15-Santiago Carreras, 14-Bautista Delguy, 13-Justo Piccardo, 12-Santiago Chocobares, 11-Juan Cruz Mallia, 10-Geronimo Prisciantelli, 9-Simon Benitez Cruz, 8-Santiago Grondona, 7-Marcos Kremer, 6-Pablo Matera, 5-Pedro Rubiolo, 4-Guido Petti, 3-Francisco Coria Marchetti, 2-Julian Montoya (captain), 1-Mayco Vivas. Replacements: 16-Ignacio Ruiz, 17-Boris Wenger, 18-Tomas Rapetti, 19-Franco Molina, 20-Juan Martin Gonzalez, 21-Joaquin Oviedo 22-Agustin Moyano, 23-Rodrigo Isgro. (Reporting by Nick Said, editging by Ed Osmond)

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Oct 4 (OPTA) – Scoreboard at close of play on the third day of 1st test between India and West Indies on Saturday at Ahmedabad, India India win by an innings and 140 runs West Indies 1st innings John Campbell c Dhruv Jurel b Jasprit Bumrah 8 Tagenarine Chanderpaul c Dhruv Jurel b Mohammed Siraj 0 Alick Athanaze c Lokesh Rahul b Mohammed Siraj 12 Brandon King b Mohammed Siraj 13 Roston Chase c Dhruv Jurel b Mohammed Siraj 24 Shai Hope b Kuldeep Yadav 26 Justin Greaves b Jasprit Bumrah 32 Khary Pierre lbw Washington Sundar 11 Jomel Warrican c Dhruv Jurel b Kuldeep Yadav 8 Johann Layne b Jasprit Bumrah 1 Jayden Seales Not Out 6 Extras 9b 6lb 1nb 0pen 5w 21 Total (44.1 overs) 162 all out Fall of Wickets : 1-12 Chanderpaul, 2-20 Campbell, 3-39 King, 4-42 Athanaze, 5-90 Hope, 6-105 Chase, 7-144 Pierre, 8-150 Greaves, 9-153 Layne, 10-162 Warrican Bowling Ov Md Rn Wk Econ Ex Jasprit Bumrah 14 3 42 3 3.00 1nb Mohammed Siraj 14 3 40 4 2.86 1w Nitish Kumar Reddy 4 1 16 0 4.00 Ravindra Jadeja 3 0 15 0 5.00 Kuldeep Yadav 6.1 0 25 2 4.05 Washington Sundar 3 0 9 1 3.00 …………………………………………………….. India 1st innings Yashasvi Jaiswal c Shai Hope b Jayden Seales 36 Lokesh Rahul c Justin Greaves b Jomel Warrican 100 Sai Sudharsan lbw Roston Chase 7 Shubman Gill c Justin Greaves b Roston Chase 50 Dhruv Jurel c Shai Hope b Khary Pierre 125 Ravindra Jadeja Not Out 104 Washington Sundar Not Out 9 Extras 12b 3lb 1nb 0pen 1w 17 Total (128.0 overs) 448 decl Fall of Wickets : 1-68 Jaiswal, 2-90 Sudharsan, 3-188 Gill, 4-218 Rahul, 5-424 Jurel Did Not Bat : Reddy, Yadav, Bumrah, Siraj Bowling Ov Md Rn Wk Econ Ex Jayden Seales 19 2 53 1 2.79 Johann Layne 15 0 38 0 2.53 1w Justin Greaves 12 4 59 0 4.92 1nb Jomel Warrican 29 5 102 1 3.52 Khary Pierre 29 1 91 1 3.14 Roston Chase 24 3 90 2 3.75 ……………………………………………………………….. West Indies 2nd innings John Campbell c Sai Sudharsan b Ravindra Jadeja 14 Tagenarine Chanderpaul c Nitish Kumar Reddy b Mohammed Siraj 8 Alick Athanaze c&b Washington Sundar 38 Brandon King c Lokesh Rahul b Ravindra Jadeja 5 Roston Chase b Kuldeep Yadav 1 Shai Hope c Yashasvi Jaiswal b Ravindra Jadeja 1 Justin Greaves lbw Mohammed Siraj 25 Khary Pierre Not Out 13 Jomel Warrican c Shubman Gill b Mohammed Siraj 0 Johann Layne c Mohammed Siraj b Ravindra Jadeja 14 Jayden Seales c&b Kuldeep Yadav 22 Extras 4b 0lb 1nb 0pen 0w 5 Total (45.1 overs) 146 all out Fall of Wickets : 1-12 Chanderpaul, 2-24 Campbell, 3-34 King, 4-35 Chase, 5-46 Hope, 6-92 Athanaze, 7-98 Greaves, 8-98 Warrican, 9-122 Layne, 10-146 Seales Bowling Ov Md Rn Wk Econ Ex Jasprit Bumrah 6 1 16 0 2.67 Mohammed Siraj 11 2 31 3 2.82 Ravindra Jadeja 13 3 54 4 4.15 1nb Kuldeep Yadav 8.1 3 23 2 2.82 Washington Sundar 7 1 18 1 2.57 ……………………………. Umpire Alexander Wharf Umpire Richard Illingworth Video Paul Reiffel Match Referee Andrew Pycroft

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PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT ABBAS WELCOMES HAMAS RESPONSE, CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE -STATEMENT

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(Updates after India win) Oct 4 (Reuters) – India cruised to victory over West Indies by an innings and 140 runs within three days of the opening test in Ahmedabad on Saturday, taking a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. The hosts were on the ascendancy after bundling out West Indies for 162 in the tourists' first innings at the Narendra Modi Stadium. India racked up 448-5 before declaring their first innings, riding hundreds by opener KL Rahul and middle order batters Dhruv Jurel and Ravindra Jadeja. Jadeja (4-54) then led India's superb bowling, aided by a catching masterclass, as they skittled out West Indies for 146 to secure a comfortable win ahead of the second and final test in New Delhi from October 10. Earlier, India decided a lead of 286 was good enough and declared their innings on their overnight score before the start of the third day's play. For the second time in the match, the West Indies top order wilted almost on cue against India's incisive bowling backed by their sharp catching. Nitish Kumar Reddy, manning square leg, flew to his left to take a stunning catch after Tagnarine Chanderpaul had pulled Mohammed Siraj. Jadeja dealt back-to-back blows to rattle the tourists. John Campbell lunged forward and guided a Jadeja delivery into Sai Sudharsan's waiting hands at short leg, while Brandon King perished in the slip where KL Rahul took a smart, low catch. Left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav uprooted rival captain Roston Chase's off-stump to reduce West Indies to 35-4. Jadeja picked up his third wicket when Yashasvi Jaiswal dived forward at backward point to take a smart catch and send back Shai Hope. Jayden Seales (22) produced an entertaining cameo but it was not enough for West Indies to avoid an innings defeat. (Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)

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(Adds Germany, France, Jordan, Ireland, UK, Netherlands, changes media identifier) Oct 4 (Reuters) – Donald Trump has called for Israel to halt its bombing of Gaza after Hamas said it was ready to release hostages and agreed to some aspects of the U.S. president's plan to end the war, although Israeli strikes still killed several people on Saturday. Here are some reactions from around the world to Hamas' comments and Trump's reaction: EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT URSULA VON DER LEYEN "Hamas’ stated readiness to release hostages and engage on the basis of the recent @POTUS proposal is encouraging. This moment must be seized. An immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages are within reach." FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON "The release of all hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza are within reach! Hamas' commitment must be followed up without delay. We now have the opportunity to make decisive progress towards peace … I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump and his team for their commitment to peace." GERMAN CHANCELLOR FRIEDRICH MERZ "The hostages must be released. Hamas must disarm. The fighting must cease immediately. All of this must happen very fast. After almost two years, this is the best chance for peace. Germany will continue to engage." BRITISH PRIME MINISTER KEIR STARMER "Hamas’ acceptance of the U.S. peace plan is a significant step forwards. We strongly support President Trump’s efforts, which have brought us closer to peace than ever before. There is now an opportunity to end the fighting, for the hostages to return home, and for humanitarian aid to reach those who so desperately need it." IRISH FOREIGN MINISTER SIMON HARRIS "This moment to end the unconscionable human suffering must be grasped by all. Stop the bombing, silence the guns, end the famine and allow a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza," he said in a statement on X. INDIAN PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI "We welcome President Trump’s leadership as peace efforts in Gaza make decisive progress. Indications of the release of hostages mark a significant step forward. India will continue to strongly support all efforts towards a durable and just peace," he wrote on X. JORDANIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY Jordan welcomed Hamas' positive response to Trump's plan, calling it an important step to end the Gaza war, a ministry statement said. Amman also praised Egypt and Qatar's mediation, highlighted U.S. efforts including opposition to West Bank annexation, and called for an immediate halt to Israel's offensive, the opening of crossings for aid, and a peace process based on a two-state solution. CANADA PRIME MINISTER MARK CARNEY "Canada welcomes commitments from Hamas to relinquish power and release all remaining hostages, living and deceased. We encourage all parties to immediately work to turn commitments into reality, and to advance peace and security in the region." AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER ANTHONY ALBANESE "Australia welcomes progress on President Trump's plan to bring peace to Gaza," he wrote on X. "Together with our partners, Australia will continue to support efforts to end the war and work towards a just and sustainable two-state solution." DUTCH PRIME MINISTER DICK SCHOOF "Important steps toward a ceasefire in Gaza thanks to President Trump's peace plan. Hamas's stated willingness to release the hostages and its willingness to enter direct negotiations on the peace plan is a positive sign. "An end to this terrible war is within reach." (Editing by Alexandra Hudson, William Maclean)

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