WORLD
* Ukraine’s ruling Party of Regions has gained 30 percent of the vote in the October 28 parliamentary elections as all ballots in the vote on party lists and over 99 percent of election protocols in single mandate constituencies have been counted, the Ukrainian Central Election Commission reported
* A California man whose anti-Muslim film outraged many and led to violent anti-American protests in the Middle East has been sentenced to a year in prison for probation violations in an unrelated case – but sent a final message to reporters that appears to uphold his controversial beliefs
* Russia can stop the bloodshed in Syria and bring peace to the Middle East, Israeli President Shimon Peres said
* Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will not leave his country and seek refuge elsewhere, the embattled leader told Russian Arab-language channel Russia al-Yaum
* A Ukrainian freelance reporter, who was abducted in Syria last month, has asked diplomats and the Syrian government to agree on terms of her release by kidnappers
* A 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Guatemala killed at least 48 people, the country’s president said
* The Greek parliament passed a highly unpopular austerity bill that ensures continued funding from the country’s international lenders
RUSSIA
* A total of 77 percent of Russians supported the reintroduction of compulsory school uniforms, according to an opinion poll by state-owned Russian pollster Vtsiom
* Investigators carried out a search at the eastern directorate of the Regional Development Ministry as part of an investigation into the alleged embezzlement of nearly $6 million, a source in local law enforcement said
DEFENSE
* Chemical weapons cannot be completely thrown out of the stockpiles of the world’s leading powers even though they are banned, the head of Russia’s Radiation, Chemical, and Biological Defense Forces, said
SPORTS
* Roger Federer advanced to the semifinals of the season-ending World Tour Finals with a straight-sets win over David Ferrer
CRIME
* A sixth person has died from wounds suffered after a Moscow man opened fire on Wednesday at a pharmaceutical company, a hospital spokesman said