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Oct 10 (OPTA) – Results and fixtures for the Africa World Cup Qualifiers on Friday (start times are GMT) Group Stage ————————————————————— Seychelles (0) 0 Côte d'Ivoire (4) 7 Gambia (2) 3 Gabon (2) 4 South Sudan (0) 0 Senegal (1) 5 Togo (0) 0 Congo DR (1) 1 Sudan (0) 0 Mauritania (0) 0 São Tomé e Príncipe (0) 0 Tunisia (3) 6 Lesotho (0) 1 Nigeria (0) 2 Zimbabwe (0) 0 South Africa (0) 0 Rwanda v Benin in play Sunday, October 12 fixtures (GMT) Zambia v Niger (1300) Chad v Central African Republic (1600) Ghana v Comoros (1900) Mali v Madagascar (1900) Burkina Faso v Ethiopia (1900) Djibouti v Sierra Leone (1900) Egypt v Guinea-Bissau (1900) Monday, October 13 fixtures (GMT) Eritrea v Tanzania -cancelled Equatorial Guinea v Liberia (1300) São Tomé e Príncipe v Malawi (1300) Tunisia v Namibia (1300) South Sudan v Togo (1300) Cabo Verde v Eswatini (1600) Mauritius v Libya (1600) Cameroon v Angola (1600) Lesotho v Zimbabwe (1600) Tuesday, October 14 fixtures (GMT) Seychelles v Gambia (1300) Guinea v Botswana (1600) Somalia v Mozambique (1600) Algeria v Uganda (1600) South Africa v Rwanda (1600) Nigeria v Benin (1600) Gabon v Burundi (1900) Côte d'Ivoire v Kenya (1900) Morocco v Congo (1900) Congo DR v Sudan (1900) Senegal v Mauritania (1900)

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ASTRAZENECA PLANS TO INCREASE INVESTMENT AND SCOPE OF ITS VIRGINIA MANUFACTURING FACILITY TO $4.5 BILLION, CREATING 3,600 NEW JOBS

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(Adds context, central bank data in paragraphs 2-4) BRASILIA, Oct 10 (Reuters) – Brazil's government on Friday announced a new real estate funding framework that loosens rules on the mandatory allocation of bank resources to the sector, releasing 36.9 billion reais ($6.72 billion) for them to boost housing loans. The changes are based on easing the use of savings accounts as the main source of housing credit in Latin America's largest economy. Although exempt from income tax, savings accounts offer returns well below the benchmark interest rate, leading to significant outflows in recent years as Brazilians gain financial literacy and easier access to fixed-income alternatives through investment platforms. Under the model presented by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's administration, banks will no longer be required to meet central bank reserve requirements or earmark destinations when using savings account funds, in a phased transition. The central bank estimates this will unlock 111 billion reais in new loans in its first year, 52.4 billion reais more than the current framework. Of that, 36.9 billion reais will be made available for immediate lending, it said in a statement. The overhaul is expected to fuel borrowing ahead of the 2026 general election, even as the central bank maintains high interest rates to cool the economy and curb inflation. Until the end of next year, banks must still allocate 65% of savings deposits to housing loans, while 15% may be freely used. The share held as compulsory central bank deposits will fall to 15% from 20%, freeing up 5% for additional housing loans. From 2027, banks that raise market funding and fully allocate it to housing loans may use an equivalent amount from savings accounts, which are typically cheaper, for free allocation over a set period. The government expects the flexibility to improve banks' profitability and enable lower rates on housing loans funded through other sources. Under the new rules, 80% of housing loans must comply with the Housing Finance System, which caps interest at 12% annually. ($1 = 5.4878 reais) (Reporting by Marcela Ayres; Editing by Paul Simao, Kirsten Donovan)

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* Over 1 million consumers affected by power cuts in Ukraine * One child killed, 20 people hurt, officials say * Transport delays and blackouts disrupt life in Kyiv * Russia intensifies attacks on Ukraine's energy (Adds Zelenskiy's comments in paragraphs 8,9,11, 13) By Vladyslav Smilianets and Yuliia Dysa KYIV, Oct 10 (Reuters) – Large parts of Kyiv were plunged into darkness in the early hours of Friday after Russian drones and missiles struck Ukrainian energy facilities, cutting power and water to homes and halting a key metro link across the Dnipro river. In the latest mass attack targeting the energy system as winter approaches, electricity was interrupted in nine regions and over a million households and businesses were temporarily without power across the country. In southeastern Ukraine, a seven-year-old was killed when his home was hit and at least 20 people were injured. In Kyiv, an apartment block in the city centre was damaged by a projectile, while on the left bank of the Dnipro that divides the capital, crowds waited at bus stops with the metro out of action and people filled water bottles at distribution points. "We didn't sleep at all," said Liuba, a pensioner, as she collected water. "From 2:30 a.m. there was so much noise. By 3:30 we had no electricity, no gas, no water. Nothing." According to Ukraine's energy ministry, over 800,000 customers temporarily lost power in Kyiv. CALLS FOR AIR DEFENCES, SANCTIONS ENFORCEMENT Ukrainians are bracing for a tough winter, as the full-scale war nears its fourth anniversary. Russia has intensified attacks on the energy system in recent weeks, striking power plants and gas production facilities, and local authorities are struggling with the scale of repairs required. "They can't demonstrate anything real on the battlefield… so they will attack our energy sector," President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told reporters in Kyiv. Calling for more support from allies, he said that Ukraine's 203 main energy facilities needed air-defence protection. Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk met G7 ambassadors and representatives from some of Ukraine's biggest energy companies to discuss how allies could help protect the country against further attacks and repair the damage. "The blow is strong, but it is definitely not fatal," Zelenskiy told reporters in Kyiv. Ukraine's air force said it had downed 405 of 465 drones and 15 of 32 missiles in this attack. Ukraine's stretched air defences are no match for regular barrages on such a scale. According to Zelenskiy, Russia deliberately waited for bad weather to attack, and the inclement conditions reduced the efficiency of Ukraine's air defences by between 20% and 30%. Russia said its overnight strikes were in response to Ukraine's attacks on Russian civilian facilities. Ukraine regularly launches drone strikes against Russia's military and oil installations, although they are generally on a far smaller scale. Kyiv says it wants to force Moscow, which started the war, to negotiate a peace deal in good faith. COMMUTERS STRANDED AMID TRANSPORT DISRUPTIONS For many Kyiv residents, the day started with power cuts, disruptions in the water supply and transport delays Over 250,000 consumers in the capital were still disconnected from the grid late on Friday, according to authorities. "We had no power or water when I left my house. I can't get to work because subway is not operating and buses are overflowing," Anatoliy, a 23-year-old student, told Reuters. "I'm hoping for the best but I don't even know how to reach the other bank (of the Dnipro)," he said, after spending the night in his hallway because of loud explosions. Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said the assault was among the heaviest concentrated strikes on energy infrastructure and reported significant damage. Her deputy, Oleksiy Kuleba, said two million customers in Kyiv temporarily faced problems with water supplies. Ukrainian private energy firm DTEK said its thermal power plants had suffered significant damage but did not immediately provide further details. Hrynchuk said it was three years to the day since Russia launched its first large-scale attack on Ukraine's power grid. "Today, Russia continues to use cold and darkness as instruments of terror," she said on Facebook. (Reporting by Vladyslav Smilianets, Anastasiia Malenko, Yuliia Dysa, Gleb Garanich and Ron Popeski; Writing by Mike Collett-White; Editing by Kim Coghill, Michael Perry, Timothy Heritage, Aidan Lewis and Sharon Singleton)

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(Adds rig counts in the Permian and Texas) * Rig count down 7% from last year, Baker Hughes says * Permian Basin rig count lowest since September 2021 * EIA projects rise in crude and gas output By Scott DiSavino Oct 10 (Reuters) – U.S. energy firms this week cut the number of oil and natural gas rigs operating, the first reduction in six weeks, energy services firm Baker Hughes said in its closely followed report on Friday. The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, fell by two to 547 in the week to October 10. Baker Hughes said this week's decline puts the total rig count down 39 rigs, or 7% below this time last year. Baker Hughes said oil rigs fell by four to 418 this week, while gas rigs rose by two to 120, their highest since August. In the Permian Basin in West Texas and eastern New Mexico, the biggest U.S. oil-producing shale formation, the rig count fell by one this week to 250, the lowest since September 2021. In Texas, meanwhile, the rig count dropped by six this week to 238, also the lowest since September 2021. The oil and gas rig count declined by about 5% in 2024 and 20% in 2023 as lower U.S. oil and gas prices over the past couple of years prompted energy firms to focus more on boosting shareholder returns and paying down debt rather than increasing output. The independent exploration and production, or E&P, companies tracked by U.S. financial services firm TD Cowen said they planned to cut capital expenditures by around 4% in 2025 from levels seen in 2024. That compares with roughly flat year-over-year spending in 2024, increases of 27% in 2023, 40% in 2022, and 4% in 2021. Even though analysts forecast U.S. spot crude prices would decline for a third straight year in 2025, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projected crude output would rise from a record 13.2 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2024 to around 13.5 million bpd in 2025. On the gas side, EIA projected a 56% increase in spot gas prices in 2025 would prompt producers to boost drilling activity this year after a 14% price drop in 2024 caused several energy firms to cut output for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic reduced demand for the fuel in 2020. EIA projected gas output would rise to 107.1 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) in 2025, up from 103.2 bcfd in 2024 and a record 103.6 bcfd in 2023. (Reporting by Scott DiSavino; Editing by David Gregorio)

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Oct 10 (Reuters) – St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank President Alberto Musalem on Friday said that with interest rates now between modestly restrictive and neutral, there is possibly room for another interest-rate cut to shore up the labor market, but urged caution given too-high inflation. "I am open minded about a potential further reduction in interest rates to provide further insurance against labor market weakening," Musalem said. "I believe that we have to tread with caution because there's limited room for further easing before monetary policy could become overly accommodative, and I believe that monetary policy should continue to lean against persistence in inflation." (Reporting by Ann Saphir; Editing by Chris Reese)

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Cincinnati Bengals All-Pro wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase will be listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers due to an illness, head coach Zac Taylor announced Friday. Chase hopes to be in the lineup for the spiraling Bengals (2-3), who will turn to veteran quarterback Joe Flacco on Sunday. Flacco, 40, and a sixth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft were acquired by Cincinnati from the Cleveland Browns this week in exchange for a fifth-round selection in the same draft. Chase, 25, leads the team in catches (32), targets (45), receiving yards (374) and receiving touchdowns (three) in five games this season. A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Chase led the NFL in receptions (127), receiving yards (1,708) and touchdown grabs (17) as well as yards per game (100.5) in 17 games (16 starts) last season. Chase has 427 catches for 5,799 yards and 49 TDs in 67 regular-season games (66 starts) since being drafted with the fifth overall pick in 2021. –Field Level Media

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(Adds details throughout and background in paragraph 6) Oct 10 (Reuters) – Novo Nordisk has cut its cell therapy division, which has been trying to find a cure for type 1 diabetes, Bloomberg News reported on Friday. Nearly all of the division's 250 employees will be laid off, the report said, citing Danish newspaper Borsen. Novo Nordisk did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The move is part of CEO Mike Doustdar's plan to reduce headcount by 11% and reallocate resources to high-priority areas such as obesity and diabetes treatments, the Bloomberg report said. The Danish drugmaker is seeking partners to continue development of its cell therapy programs, the report added. On Thursday, Novo said it would buy U.S.-based Akero Therapeutics for up to $5.2 billion to gain access to a promising liver disease drug candidate, in the first major deal by the Danish drugmaker's new CEO to spur growth. (Reporting by Siddhi Mahatole in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber and Alan Barona)

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* FTSE 100 down 0.9%, FTSE 250 down 1.14% * Precious metal miners retreat after rally * Ibstock slides after profit drop warning (Updates after market close, adds lines on Trump's new tariff threats on China) Oct 10 (Reuters) – British stocks slumped on Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened a "massive increase" in tariffs on Chinese goods, setting off a broad equities selloff in the final minutes of trading. The FTSE 100 closed down 0.9% to 9,427.47 points. The pullback pushed the blue-chip index into the red for the week by 0.67%. The mid-cap index was down 1.14% on Friday and also recorded a weekly loss of 1.8%. Trump also threatened to cancel a planned meeting with China's President Xi Jinping over a rare earths dispute, escalating trade tensions between the world's two largest economies. The renewed trade friction raised concerns about global growth, sending the U.S. benchmark S&P 500 index down 1.8%. Hopes for easy U.S. monetary policy and easing trade worries have helped major equity bourses rally to all-time highs, including the UK's blue-chip index, which scaled a new peak on Wednesday. In the market, the oil and gas sector was the biggest drag, down 2.9% as oil prices declined to multi-month lows on Friday. Shell and BP were the biggest weights on the FTSE 100 with 2.9% and 2.8% declines, respectively. The aerospace and defence sector fell 1.6%. Rolls-Royce fell 1.4%, while BAE Systems and Melrose lost 1.6% and 2.6% respectively. Resource-linked sectors also took a hit, with precious and industrial metal miners down 1.8% and 2.3%, respectively, tracking a dip in gold and copper prices. Endeavour Mining and Glencore were among the worst performers on the FTSE 100, as investors booked some profits after a recent rally. Among other stocks, Ibstock lost 4%, hitting its lowest level in over nine years, after the bricks and concrete maker warned its annual profit would fall below expectations. The stock was among the worst performers on the domestically focussed FTSE 250 and weighed on the broader construction sector, which was down 0.6%. Conversely, consumer staples stocks saw gains, with beverages companies up moderately, and personal care, drug and grocery companies up 0.9%. (Reporting by Sanchayaita Roy, Avinash P and Purvi Agarwal; Editing by Shreya Biswas, Chris Reese and Vijay Kishore)

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* Kim lauds Workers' Party for leading 'mighty people' to global status * Evening military parade watched for new ICBM that can hit mainland US * Kim flanked by Vietnamese, Chinese, Russian leaders at celebrations (Adds Chinese news agency report, paragraph 2) By Jack Kim and Joyce Lee SEOUL, Oct 10 (Reuters) – North Korea appears to have staged a military parade in its capital Pyongyang to mark the 80th anniversary of the creation of its ruling Workers' Party, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported on Friday. Yonhap attributed its report of the widely expected nighttime parade to an unnamed informed source. A report on China's official news agency Xinhua said visiting Chinese Premier Li Qiang attended anniversary celebrations in Pyongyang on Thursday and Friday and watched "grand mass gymnastics, artistic performances and military parades." The reports did not elaborate. Nuclear-armed North Korea has used such parades, usually coinciding with key anniversaries and recently staged at night, as a glitzy showcase of growing military power, rolling out progressively advanced ballistic missiles and military hardware. 'BULWARK OF INDEPENDENCE' AGAINST WEST This week's parade is being watched by officials and analysts for a possible display of the latest intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) powered by solid fuel with a range that can hit the U.S. mainland. A South Korean military official said earlier that a military parade was likely on Friday evening, citing indications of ongoing rehearsals involving troops, missiles and military equipment. At a ceremony on Thursday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, flanked by leaders and officials of partner countries including China and Russia, declared that his country's global standing was rising by the day. Kim called North Korea a "faithful member of socialist forces" and "a bulwark for independence" against the threat of the West's global hegemony, state news agency KCNA reported on Friday. On the centre podium of the packed May Day stadium on Thursday, Kim was joined by China's Li Qiang, Vietnamese leader To Lam and Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev, with other foreign delegations and diplomats also in attendance. Kim honoured the legacy of the party that he said had made "not a single mistake or error" in its 80-year history, leading the country on a path of ascent riding on the wisdom and strength of the people, KCNA reported. "Today, we stand before the world as a mighty people with no obstacles we cannot overcome and no great achievement we cannot accomplish," he was quoted as saying. BUILDING TIES WITH VIETNAM The ceremonies in Pyongyang follow Kim's visit last month to Beijing for China's World War Two anniversary, which featured a massive military parade. KCNA said earlier that Kim received Vietnam's Communist Party chief To Lam, who is leading a large government delegation, with an honour-guard welcome and held talks on advancing cooperation to meet global challenges. Kim also held talks with China's Li, in which they said the visit marked a "new chapter" in advancing ties and pledged to expand strategic dialogue and high-level exchanges, KCNA said. Kim also met Medvedev, who expressed gratitude for North Korea's support for Russia's military campaign in Ukraine, Russian state-run news agencies reported on Friday. Khang Vu, a visiting scholar on East Asian politics at Boston College, said Vietnam and North Korea see each other as significant potential economic partners. While international sanctions against Pyongyang have limited cooperation, Lam's large entourage shows Hanoi wants to add a lot more substance to enduring Cold War connections, he said. "Vietnam can also be useful for North Korea to communicate with the West when Russia is being isolated while China has raised much skepticism," he said. (Reporting by Jack Kim, Josh Smith, Joyce Lee; Additional reporting by Doina Chiacu and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Chris Reese, Jamie Freed, Aidan Lewis)

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