News Round up: UK, EU brexit deal; Obama-Hilary target; Saudi expect 2.5 pct growth

The United Kingdom and the European Union are close to agreeing on a Brexit deal, Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab said on Thursday.

CIA director Gina Haspel heard an audio recording of the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi during her visit to Turkey this week, two sources told Reuters on Thursday.

BRITAIN-EU-RAAB/

UK and EU close to agreeing on a Brexit deal, UK's Raab says

LONDON: The United Kingdom and the European Union are close to agreeing on a Brexit deal, Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab said on Thursday.

The U.S.

USA-POLITICIANS-PACKAGES/

Obama, Clinton among targets of suspected bombs ahead of U.S. election

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former U.S. President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were among the targets of suspected package bombs delivered to several high-profile Democrats and CNN, which the FBI said it was investigating as an act of terrorism.

KENTUCKY-SHOOTING/

Two dead in Kentucky supermarket shooting: police

A gunman walked into a Kentucky supermarket on Wednesday and shot a man dead then left the store and killed a woman in the parking lot, police said.

BUSINESS

CATHAY-PACIFIC-CYBER/

Cathay Pacific shares slide to a nine-year low as data leak rattles investors

HONG KONG - Shares of Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd slid nearly 7 per cent to a nine-year low on Thursday after it said data of about 9.4 million passengers of Cathay and its unit, Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Ltd, had been accessed without authorization.

PERSHING-SQUARE-STAKE-HILTON-WORLDWIDE/

Bill Ackman's Pershing Square buys Hilton stake

Activist investor William Ackman's Pershing Square Capital Management has acquired a 3.7 per cent stake in hotel operator Hilton Worldwide Holdings, the fund said on Thursday.

ENTERTAINMENT

USA-LOTTERY/

U.S. Powerball lottery leaps to $750 million after the massive Mega Millions jackpot

No tickets matched the six numbers drawn in the Powerball lottery on Wednesday, sending the jackpot to $750 million, the fourth largest in U.S. history and the second astronomical jackpot this week.

BRITAIN-ROYALS/TONGA

Tongan princess greets Harry and Meghan in South Pacific nation

SYDNEY, Oct 25 (Reuters) - A Tongan princess welcomed Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan on Thursday when they arrived in the tiny South Pacific nation, before driving into the capital as thousands of schoolchildren cheered and waved flags along the way.

SPORTS

SPORTS-DOPING-ARMSTRONG/

Former Armstrong team manager, doctor get lifetime cycling bans

Lance Armstrong's former cycling team manager Johan Bruyneel was banned from cycling for life on Wednesday after a successful appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

BASEBALL-MLB-BOS-LAD/

Red Sox dump Dodgers to take control of World Series

The Boston Red Sox, riding another strong outing from starter David Price and a clutch hit from J.D. Martinez, seized command of the World Series with a 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday.

UPCOMING

POLITICS / INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

USA-PACKAGES/ (PIX) (TV)

U.S. politicians call for unity after makeshift bombs target Democrats

U.S. politicians across both parties called for national unity on Thursday after at least five makeshift bombs targeting high-profile Democrats were intercepted by police two weeks before an election.

25 Oct 06:00 ET / 10:00 GMT

BRAZIL-ELECTION/CHINA-NIOBIUm (PIX)

Hands off Brazil's niobium: Bolsonaro sees China as a threat to utopian vision

Jair Bolsonaro, the far-right candidate favoured to win Brazil's presidential election this Sunday, has a vision for his nation's economy: niobium.

25 Oct 06:00 ET / 10:00 GMT

IRAQ-POLITICS/ (PIX)

Iraq PM's first hurdle: getting a government

New Iraqi premier Adel Abdul Mahdi got his first taste of the challenges that lie ahead, even before his term began. At a marathon parliament session, MPs rejected key nominations to his cabinet, leaking documents accusing candidates of being Saddam stalwarts corrupt.

25 Oct 11:00 ET / 15:00 GMT

USA-TRUMP/TRUMP FOUNDATION

Trump foundation in court to argue for dismissal of New York lawsuit

Lawyers for U.S. President Donald Trump and his namesake foundation will be in a New York state court on Thursday to argue for a dismissal of a lawsuit by New York's attorney general over the nonprofit's activities on the grounds that it was a politically motivated attack.

25 Oct 10:30 ET / 14:30 GMT

USA-ELECTION/WOMEN (PIX) (TV)

A record number of women are running for political office

A record number of women are running for political office this year and not just for the governor's mansion or as a member of Congress.

25 Oct 06:00 ET / 10:00 GMT

TURKEY-GERMANY/ (PIX) (TV)

Germany's Economy Minister Peter Altmaier holds a news conference with finance minister in Turkey

German economy minister Peter Altmaier visits Turkey. He will meet Finance Minister Berat Albayrak and they will hold a joint news conference (1030 GMT).

25 Oct 06:30 ET / 10:30 GMT

SPAIN-POLITICS/POLL

Spain's Sociological Research Center to deliver opinion poll

Spain's Center for Sociological Research (CIS) publishes a comprehensive opinion poll on Spanish politics. This survey releases Spanish citizens` October 2018 voting intention along with input on political leaders.

25 Oct 06:30 ET / 10:30 GMT

HUNGARY-SOROS/CEU (PIX) (TV)

Central European University to hold a news conference

Billionaire financier George Soros' Central European University is holding a press conference about the current situation of the university.

25 Oct 08:00 ET / 12:00 GMT

GERMANY-POLITICS/HESSE (PIX) (TV)

Germany´s Merkel campaigns for Hessian election

Chancellor Angela Merkel supports her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party at the last rally prior to the state election in Hesse.

25 Oct 09:00 ET / 13:00 GMT

BRITAIN-ComicCon/ (PIX)

London Comic Con kicks off

From popular superheroes to nasty villains, comics, movies and games fans dress up for London Comic Con

26 Oct

PHILIPPINES-ENVIRONMENT/BORACAY (PIX) (TV) (GRAPHIC)

The Philippines re-opens Boracay island after a six-month clean-up

The Philippines has a soft re-opening of its top tourist lure, the island of Boracay, following a six-month closure and clean-up to overhaul its overwhelmed road, waste and water systems and saving it from environmental ruin.

26 Oct

CHINA-JAPAN/ (PIX) (TV)

China, Japan seek warmer ties against the backdrop of U.S. trade friction

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attends a welcome ceremony, holds bilateral talks followed by a signing ceremony, news conference and China-Japan business cooperation forum with his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang at the Great Hall of the People.

26 Oct 22:00 ET / 02:00 GMT

VENEZUELA-STORES/ (PIX) (TV)

New Venezuela stores are flush with products - if you have greenbacks

Raging hyperinflation and a recent change to foreign exchange laws in Venezuela have given rise to stores that sell an ample array of products but require payment in greenbacks or the equivalent amount in local bolivar currency.

26 Oct

CONFLICTS / WAR / PEACE

MIDEAST-CRISIS/JAPAN-HOSTAGE (PIX) (TV)

Japan hostage returns home after three years in Syrian "hell"

A 44-year-old Japanese freelance journalist arrived home on Thursday to an uncertain welcome more than three years after militants in Syria captured and held him in what he described as a physical and mental "hell". Update 1 has moved.

25 Oct 06:00 ET / 10:00 GMT

CRIME / LAW / JUSTICE

FOREX-TRIAL/

Closing arguments in U.S. trial of London forex traders

Closing arguments are scheduled in the trial of three former London-based traders accused of conspiring to rig foreign exchange rates in Manhattan federal court.

25 Oct 09:15 ET / 13:15 GMT

BUSINESS / ECONOMICS

USA-FED/MESTER

Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank President Mester speaks before Money Marketeers of New York University

Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Loretta Mester speaks on the economic outlook and monetary policy before the Money Marketeers of New York University, in New York.

25 Oct 19:00 ET / 23:00 GMT

AMERICAN AIRLINE-RESULTS/ (PIX)

Q3 2018 American Airlines Group Inc Earnings Call

American Airlines Group Inc reports third-quarter results on Thursday with investor focus on how well the largest U.S. airline has managed to pass rising fuel costs onto passengers in the form of higher fares and fees.

25 Oct 08:30 ET / 12:30 GMT

ALPHABET-RESULTS/ (PIX)

Q3 2018 Alphabet Inc Earnings Release

Google parent Alphabet Inc, is expected to post a rise in third-quarter revenue and profit, driven by healthy mobile search traffic, soaring ad sales and higher contributions from its non-search businesses such as YouTube, Play, Cloud and its hardware initiatives.

25 Oct 16:00 ET / 20:00 GMT

SNAP-RESULTS/ (PIX)

Q3 2018 Snap Inc Earnings Release

The Snapchat-parent is expected to report a rise in third-quarter revenue as advertising sales surge. The loss is expected to narrow. Investors will be on the lookout for colour on profitability and a return to user growth as Snap shifts strategies to woo users.

25 Oct 16:00 ET / 20:00 GMT

SOUTHWEST-RESULTS/ (PIX)

Q3 2018 Southwest Airlines Co Earnings Release

Southwest Airlines results will be wrapped with American, Spirit, and Alaska.

25 Oct 06:30 ET / 10:30 GMT

UNION PACIFIC-RESULTS/ (PIX)

Q3 2018 Union Pacific Corp Earnings Release

Union Pacific Corp's pricing and operating ratio will be under a microscope as the biggest U.S. railroad operator works to reduce service problems and congestion on its rail network.

25 Oct 08:30 ET / 12:30 GMT

COLUMN-MILLER/LONGEVITY (PIX)

What the numbers really tell us about living longer in retirement

Covering the retirement beat, I often hear this claim: "We're all living longer." It usually precedes arguments for various strategies to help build retirement security in an age of boundless longevity - such as persuading people to save more money or delay filing for Social Security.

25 Oct 06:00 ET / 10:00 GMT

TRADE-NAFTA/DAIRY (PIX) (TV)

INSIGHT/WIDER IMAGE - U.S. dairy farmers get little help from Canada's NAFTA concessions

While U.S. dairy farmers are praising the Trump administration's revised trade deal with Canada and Mexico, the estimated $70 million of additional market access is not expected to reverse the fortunes of their troubled industry.

25 Oct 08:00 ET / 12:00 GMT

SAUDI-INVESTMENT/ECONOMY (UPDATE 1)

Saudi crown prince expects economic growth of 2.5 pct in 2018

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said on Wednesday the kingdom will continue with reforms and spending on infrastructure, predicting the economy will grow by 2.5 per cent this year.

25 Oct 11:48 ET / 15:48 GMT

MERCK & CO-RESULTS/ (PIX)

Merck & Co reports third quarter results

Merck and Co is expected to report a higher third-quarter profit on Thursday as demand for a blockbuster cancer drug, Keytruda, strengthens.

25 Oct 08:30 ET / 12:30 GMT

CELGENE-RESULTS/

Celgene posts third-quarter results

Celgene is set to report third-quarter results on Thursday when the drugmaker is likely to provide updates on its experimental treatments for multiple sclerosis and bone marrow cancer.

25 Oct 08:30 ET / 12:30 GMT

TWITTER-RESULTS/ (PIX)

Twitter reports third quarter results

Twitter is expected to report a rise in quarterly revenue, helped by higher ad sales following its efforts to make the service a friendlier place to interact with other users.

25 Oct 08:30 ET / 12:30 GMT

USA-COAL/MURRAY (PIX)

Injury rates jump at coal giant Murray's West Virginia mines

Injury rates have doubled at five West Virginia coal mines acquired by Murray Energy Corp. in 2013, according to a Reuters review of federal data, as the firm sharply increased the amount of coal produced per worker.

25 Oct 07:00 ET / 11:00 GMT

AMAZON.COM-RESULTS/ (PIX) (TV)

Q3 2018 Amazon.com Inc Earnings Release

World's largest online retailer Amazon.com Inc is likely to report a rise in third-quarter sales as the company is expected to benefit from growth in its cloud computing, retail businesses and also get a boost from a successful Prime Day sales event. Investors will be keeping an eye on the company's forecast.

25 Oct 16:00 ET / 20:00 GMT

GLOBAL-ECONOMY/WEEKAHEAD

Global Economy Weekahead

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

26 Oct

SRI LANKA-INDIA/INFRASTRUCTURE

Sri Lanka's action on Indian infrastructure projects after meeting between leaders

Sri Lanka is expected to speed up Indian infrastructure projects and an enhanced free trade agreement after the meeting between Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and his counterpart Narendra Modi, who complained of long delays by Colombo authorities.

26 Oct

COLOMBIA-RATES/

Colombia central bank board votes on interest rate

Colombia's seven-member central bank board will meet to decide on the benchmark interest rate, which analysts predict will remain unchanged at 4.25 percent.

26 Oct

ARTS / CULTURE / ENTERTAINMENT

BRITAIN-SPIDERMAN/ (PIX) (TV)

French "Spiderman" attempt to free climb a London building

French so-called "Spiderman", Alain Robert, will attempt to free climb a London building - location currently not announced.

25 Oct 11:00 ET / 15:00 GMT

TELEVISION-LBGT/ (PIX)

LGBT advocacy group releases report on diversity in U.S. television

LGBT advocacy group GLAAD releases its annual report on diversity in U.S. television programming . Embargoed for 11 am ET

25 Oct 11:00 ET / 15:00 GMT

BRITAIN-ROYALS/ (PIX) (TV)

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visit the Pacific countries

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, attend an exhibition of Tongan crafts and products with local Princess Angelika, and later present awards at the Australian Geographic Society Awards in Sydney.