Main News of October 26

A roundup of what has happened in the past 24 hours

WORLD

* Three strong weather systems are on an ominous collision course for the eastern United States next week that could create the worst storm to hit the region in 100 years

* A Milan court convicted former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of tax fraud and sentenced him to four years in prison in connection with the media magnate's Mediaset television company, Sky TG24 television reported

* Georgia is not ready to restore diplomatic relations with Russia while it continues to "occupy" Georgian territory, Georgian Foreign Minister Maya Pandzhikidze said

RUSSIA

* Russian protest leader Sergei Udaltsov was charged with plotting mass disorder and could face up to 10 years behind bars if found guilty

BUSINESS

* State-owned oil giant Rosneft's acquisition of TNK-BP does not signify an increase in state control of the Russian oil sector, and no one in Russia is building state capitalism, First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov said

* By joining the World Trade Organization (WTO), Russia has reaffirmed its course on the modernization of its economy and liberalization of its trade with other countries