Main News of October 29

WORLD

* Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych praised Sunday’s parliamentary elections in the country

* International observers slammed Ukraine’s parliamentary elections as “a step backward” for democracy and said the vote was marred by fraud, intimidation and other abuses

* With Hurricane Sandy bearing down on the northeast United States, President Barack Obama and Republican contender Mitt Romney were forced to alter campaign plans ahead of the storm

* Ukraine’s jailed former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko has declared a hunger strike in protest at what she calls vote-rigging in the parliamentary election, her lawyer told Ukrainian media

RUSSIA

* Negotiations to end the 19-month civil war in Syria should continue, despite the failure of a United Nations-brokered ceasefire over the Eid al-Adha holiday, UN and Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said

BUSINESS

* Russia has signed a contract with the International Seabed Authority to explore for polymetallic sulphides in the Atlantic Ocean, the Natural Resources Ministry said

POLITICS

* The ruling Party of Regions, headed by Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, is leading in the parliamentary elections after 50 percent of ballots were counted, the country’s Central Election Committee said