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WHITE HOUSE : TRUMP HOSTED A TRILATERAL PHONE CALL WITH NETANYAHU AND PRIME MINISTER MOHAMMED BIN ABDULRAHMAN BIN JASSIM AL THANI OF QATAR

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(Updates throughout with details) By Nivedita Balu TORONTO, Sept 29 (Reuters) – TD Bank on Monday reinstated its medium-term growth target which it suspended in December, as it recovered from a $3 billion fine in the U.S. for anti-money laundering failures and laid out a strategy to focus on fee-based businesses. CEO Raymond Chun outlined a growth plan at the bank's investor day, his first since he took charge in February and the bank's first since it pleaded guilty to multiple U.S. money laundering charges. The plan included a focus on high-fee businesses such as wholesale banking and wealth management, as well as the addition of more wealth management advisers, U.S retail financial advisers and investment specialists. It also plans to cut costs and achieve up to C$2.5 billion ($1.80 billion) in annual savings through restructuring programs, AI and technology. The money laundering case hurt growth at the bank, which has been competing with peers for a share of the U.S. and domestic markets. Chun acknowledged the bank's underperformance on growth. "That's unacceptable. And that's changing," he told shareholders. Chun has prioritized restructuring TD's balance sheet, including by selling its stake in Charles Schwab and deploying C$8 billion toward a share buyback program. TD announced on Monday that it plans to initiate a new buyback of about C$6 billion to C$7 billion. Chun said the branch network, a big part of TD's strength, will continue to be a strong competitive advantage. "But we need to reshape the role of a branch in the digital era. We're transforming branches from transaction hubs to high-value advice centers," he said. That will include leaner and advice-driven staff and more self-service for everyday activities. In the U.S., the bank still has room to grow despite an asset cap, he said. "We've restructured our U.S. balance sheet to build capacity for growth." TD's shares have risen 44% so far this year, surpassing all of its Canadian peers and recovering from a 10% slump in 2024. They were down about 1% in Toronto in mid-day trading. ($1 = 1.3913 Canadian dollars) (Reporting by Nivedita Balu in Toronto; Editing by Caroline Stauffer and Edmund Klamann)

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(Adds comment by US Commerce Department, comment by legal expert, background, paragraphs 6, 10, 12 and 15-19) * US restricts exports to companies on its 'Entity List' * The new rule also captures subsidiaries of the named companies * Ownership stakes of 50% trigger the restrictions * China slams rule, says it undermines global supply chains * Rule may affect Huawei, DJI, Hikvision By Karen Freifeld Sept 29 (Reuters) – The U.S. on Monday cracked down on companies in China and other countries that use subsidiaries or other foreign affiliates to circumvent export curbs on chipmaking equipment and other goods and technology. The Commerce Department issued a new rule expanding its restricted export list, known as the Entity List, to automatically include subsidiaries owned 50% or more by a company on the list, according to the U.S. Federal Register. The action greatly increases the number of companies that require licenses to receive American goods and services. The rule is likely to disrupt supply chains. It will also make it more difficult for companies to determine whether exports to a customer or supplier are restricted. According to the rule, certain transactions may be allowed for 60 days. China's Commerce Ministry strongly criticized the rule. "This move by the U.S. is extremely egregious in nature," the ministry said in a statement. "It seriously infringes upon the legitimate rights and interests of the affected enterprises, severely disrupts international economic and trade order and gravely undermines the security and stability of global industrial and supply chains." The Commerce Department said the rule "closes a significant loophole." The timing of the rule's release is somewhat surprising, given that the U.S. and China are in the midst of trade talks. The action strengthens export controls on China, a contrast to Washington's recent loosening of controls on AI chips to China like Nvidia's H20. If a company is at least 50% owned by an entity on the list, licenses will be required for U.S. exporters to ship goods or technology to the subsidiary, as is the case with listed entities, with many licenses likely to be denied. The affiliates rule is similar to the "50% rule" for entities sanctioned by the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control. AIRCRAFT, CHIP, MEDICAL EQUIPMENT SECTORS MAY BE AFFECTED Though companies around the world are on the Entity List, the change will most significantly impact Chinese entities, experts said. Factories that produce legacy chips may be affected, as well as other sectors, including aircraft and medical equipment, they said. Chinese tech giant Huawei, video surveillance company Hikvision and drone manufacturer DJI are three examples of companies that may be impacted, one expert said. Many Huawei subsidiaries are already on the list, but not all. The companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment. An analysis by Kharon, a Los Angeles-based data and analytics company, found the expected rule could pull thousands of hidden subsidiaries in nearly 100 destinations around the world into "export-control crosshairs." "While Russia and China account for the majority of subsidiaries tied to already-listed entities, Kharon's analysis uncovered that hundreds more are located in major trade and finance hubs – including the EU, the United States, the UK, Singapore, Switzerland, Japan, Canada, Australia and India," the company said in a June brief in anticipation of the rule. The U.S. puts companies on the Entity List that it has determined pose risks to U.S. national security or foreign policy. There are now about 1,100 Chinese entities on the list, according to think tank the Center for a New American Security. Overall, there are about 3,400 parties on the list, according to Kharon. Since the Entity List was first published in 1997, restrictions applied only to the company or organization named. The Commerce Department "is concerned that the old approach can enable diversionary schemes, such as the creation of new foreign companies to evade Entity List restrictions," the rule said. It will also apply to the Military End-User list. The change is not a "wonder drug that cures all ills," said Dan Fisher-Owens, a California-based trade lawyer. Entity List companies that are captured may restructure, just as OFAC targets have done, he said. "The game of whack-a-mole will continue." (Reporting by Karen Freifeld in New York; Additional reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Doina Chiacu, Chris Sanders, William Maclean and Matthew Lewis)

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* Total to sell 50% of US solar portfolio for $950 million * Buys 49% of upstream US gas assets for undisclosed sum * CEO under pressure to lower 18% net debt-to-equity ratio * Will cut capex by $1 billion annually through 2030 (Adds details on power sales, CEO comment in paragraph 7, detail on Nigeria in 10, CEO on gearing in 13) By America Hernandez Sept 29 (Reuters) – TotalEnergies' plan to cut annual capital spending by $1 billion and sell more power assets failed to ease market concerns over its recent rise in debt, with shares falling 2% after CEO Patrick Pouyanne hosted an investor day on Monday. The capex cut, to $15–17 billion a year for 2027 to 2030, is part of a drive to save $7.5 billion, the oil major said in a statement. The group also said last week it planned to reduce quarterly share buybacks as it adapts to lower oil prices. "We can do the same growth but with less capex and opex (operating expenditure)," Pouyanne told investors. However, analysts at RBC called the changes "modest" and said the company could struggle to keep debt under current levels, given lower commodity prices. SOLAR SALE IS ONE OF SEVERAL Earlier on Monday, TotalEnergies said it would raise $950 million from the sale of a 50% stake in a 1.4 gigawatt U.S. solar portfolio to investment company KKR. Pouyanne has said the sale is one of several meant to raise $3.5 billion by year-end to offset more than $3 billion in acquisitions that have contributed to a more than doubling of TotalEnergies' debt in the first six months of 2025. The group also plans to exit all power holdings outside of its strategic U.S., European, British and Brazilian markets, Stephane Michel, president of Gas, Power and Renewables, told analysts, including in India, home to 25% of its operational renewables assets in partnership with Adani Group. "On renewables, I consider we have most of what we need," Pouyanne said, though added he was still on the hunt for lucrative gas power plants which work as backup power to intermittent wind and solar energy. TotalEnergies also said on Monday it would purchase a 49% stake in Continental Resources' upstream gas fields in the U.S. state of Oklahoma, for an undisclosed sum. STRUGGLE TO SELL ASSETS Last week, the French company sold an oilfield stake to Shell for $510 million, but two other deals are in jeopardy. An $860 million sale of Nigerian oil assets fell through last week as buyer Chappal Energies failed to raise enough money. Pouyanne said he was in talks with another buyer. In July, the sale of TotalEnergies' West of Shetland gas assets in Britain also fell apart, after would-be buyer Prax Group went bankrupt. TotalEnergies' gearing – a measure of net debt to equity – has leapt to 18% from about 8% in the first six months of this year. That figure rises to 28% when including $8.9 billion in leases and 9.75 billion euros ($11.37 billion) of hybrid debt. Quarterly earnings hit a four-year low this summer. Pouyanne said gearing would drop to 15% by year-end, though he was comfortable with a level under 20%. (Reporting by Alessandro Parodi and Alban Kacher in Gdansk, America Hernandez in Paris and Shadia Nasralla in London. Writing by Dominique Patton; Editing by Matt Scuffham, Barbara Lewis and Mark Potter)

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MADAGASCAR PRESIDENT ANDRY RAJOELINA SAYS HE DISSOLVES GOVERNMENT FOLLOWING PROTESTS AGAINST WATER AND POWER CUTS

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(Recasts with comment from ship operator, background) LONDON, Sept 29 (Reuters) – The Dutch-flagged cargo ship Minervagracht sustained substantial damage after being hit by an explosive device in the Gulf of Aden, the vessel's operator said on Monday. It was not immediately clear whether the attack was carried out by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis, who have launched numerous attacks on vessels in the Red Sea since 2023 that they deem to be linked with Israel in what they say is solidarity with Palestinians in Israel's war on Gaza. "Earlier today its general cargo vessel Minervagracht that was on passage in the Gulf of Aden, in international waters, has come under attack of an unidentified explosive device, inflicting substantial damage to the ship," the vessel's Amsterdam-based operator Spliethoff said in a statement. "Following the attack, Minervagracht is suffering from a fire. As a result, two of the crew of Minervagracht have sustained injuries. Currently the crew of 19 are being evacuated to nearby vessels by helicopter." The extent of the crew's injuries was not yet known, Spliethoff said. If confirmed, this would be the first attack by the Houthis on a commercial ship since September 1, when they targeted the Israeli-owned tanker Scarlet Ray near Saudi Arabia's Red Sea port city of Yanbu. In July, the Houthis attacked and sank the Magic Seas bulk carrier and Eternity C cargo ship in the Red Sea. The British Royal Navy agency, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, said on Monday that military authorities reported that a vessel, 128 nautical miles off Aden, had been hit by an unknown projectile and was reported to be on fire. The UKMTO and British maritime security firm Ambrey said they received reports of smoke in the vicinity of the unnamed vessel, with the UKMTO saying the ship's master reported witnessing a splash in the distance. The vessel was previously targeted on September 23 on its way to Djibouti, according to Ambrey. (Reporting by Jonathan Saul, Jaidaa Taha and Menna Alaa ElDin and Tala Ramadan; Editing by Toby Chopra and Daniel Wallis)

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Sept 29 (Reuters) – OFF THE HOOK YS INC: * OFF THE HOOK YS INC: APPLIED TO LIST COMMON STOCK ON NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE AMERICAN EXCHANGE UNDER SYMBOL “OTH”

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Sept 29 (Reuters) – Rezolve AI PLC: * REZOLVE AI PLC: REJECTS FUZZY PANDA'S REPORT Source text: Further company coverage:

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Sept 29 (Reuters) – Reliance Global Group Inc: * RELIANCE GLOBAL GROUP INC – COMPLETES FIRST BITCOIN PURCHASE UNDER DAT INITIATIVE Source text: Further company coverage:

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Sept 29 (Reuters) – FACTORY DIRECT PARTY: * FACTORY DIRECT PARTY: HAS ACQUIRED PARTY CITY'S ENTIRE REMAINING INVENTORY VALUED AT $200 MILLION

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