Main news of October 30

RUSSIA

* Russian President Dmitry Medvedev dismissed Murat Zyazikov as president of the North Caucasus republic of Ingushetia, the Kremlin's press service said

* Russia's PM Vladimir Putin urged the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to boost cooperation with observer countries and international organizations

* Russian energy giant Gazprom will meet all its contractual obligations to supply Europe with gas despite difficulties caused by the global crisis, the Russian foreign ministe

 * Trade between Russia and Australia will grow 30%, year-on-year, in 2008, reaching around $1 billion, Russian Agriculture Minister Alexei Gordeyev said

 * Russia will soon respond to Dutch evidence alleging that a TV cameraman was killed by a Russian cluster bomb during the August war over South Ossetia, the Russian foreign minister said

 * The prosecution in the trial of former banker Alexei Frenkel, found guilty this week of organizing the murder of a top banking regulator, demanded that he serve a life sentence

 * The head of Russia's Deposit Insurance Agency forecast that around 20 to 40 national banks could require bailing out amid the global financial crisis, the Kommersant business daily said

  * Russians gathered at ceremonies across the country to remember the victims of the political repression, including the Great Purge of 1937-1938

*  Russia is greatly concerned by the recent surge in violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Foreign Ministry said

WORLD

* Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, comprising Russia, China, and four Central Asian states, must serve the interests of both its smaller and larger members

* An international online survey has found that 44% of Russians want Democratic candidate Barack Obama to win the U.S. presidential election, while only 9% support Republican John McCain

 * At least 215 people have died since a 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck southwestern Pakistan early on October 29, national media reported

 * Japan plans to discuss the signing of a World War II peace treaty with Russia when the Russian foreign minister visits the country in early November, a Japanese diplomat said

 * Hamas has released 17 political prisoners in the Gaza Strip ahead of Palestinian unity talks, a local police chief said

 * At least 56 people were killed and over 300 wounded  in a series of 13 bomb blasts that ripped through India's northeastern state of Assam, local television reported

 * The Quartet of mediators in the Middle East peace process will meet in the Egyptian resort of Sharm El-Sheikh on November 9, President Hosni Mubarak's official spokesman said

 * Chinese companies say sales of eggs have declined up to 10% since officials in Hong Kong detected melamine in the product at the weekend, national media reported

 * A Jewish leader said that Pope Benedict XVI could put on hold the sainthood process of the Nazi-era Pope Pius XII until Vatican archives into his papacy can be made public

BUSINESS

* Kazakhstan's president told Russia's prime minister that under current plans, two-way investment between the countries will rise to $40 billion

 *  Gazprom, Italian electricity company Eni, and oil and gas giant Enel have agreed to develop Italian assets in Russia, the Russian energy giant said

* Russia's anti-monopoly watchdog said  that oil companies Rosneft and LUKoil had abused their dominant positions on the oil market

 * The construction cost of a branch of the East Siberia-Pacific Ocean (ESPO) pipeline to pump oil to China is estimated at $600 million in current prices, the pipeline operator Transneft said

 * Russia's largest mobile phone operator MTS and Britain's Vodafone announced  a strategic non-equity partnership to offer high quality communications services in Russia and other post-Soviet countries

 * Russia's stock exchanges, the RTS and MICEX, showed strong growth, with their benchmark indices climbing almost 18% and over 19%, respectively

 * Italy's Alenia Aeronautica could conclude its deal to buy a 25%-plus-one-share stake in Sukhoi Civil Aircraft by yearend, the Russian industry and trade minister said in Italy