KIEV, Nov. 2 – The government overreacted to an outbreak of the swine flu in Ukraine to give competitive advantage to Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko at the next presidential election, a Tymoshenko rival charged Monday.

KIEV, Oct. 31 - The National Bank of Ukraine has instructed the nation's commercial banks to set their exchange rate no higher than UAH6.3 /$1.


"Given the level of the weighted-average U.S. dollar rate as a result of trading on the interbank currency exchange for Oct. 30, 2008, we believe it advisable to set the dollar sell rate for the public on the cash market at no higher then UAH 6.30. Bank managers bear personal responsibility for fulfilling this requirement.

KIEV, Oct. 31 - Ukraine's Parliament on Friday approved legislation clearing the way for a $16.5 billion International Monetary Fund crisis loan.

Some 243 deputies voted in favor, above the minimum 226 required to get the measure through.

On Thursday, Parliament had delayed the final vote to Friday because of political wrangling.

KIEV, Nov. 2 ??“ Parliament, led by pro-government and opposition groups, voted overwhelmingly Thursday to approve in the first reading seven bills that are required for Ukraine??™s accession to the World Trade Organization.

KIEV, Nov. 2 ??“ Internal Affairs Minister Yuriy Lutsenko, after consultations with President Viktor Yushchenko, on Thursday defied Parliament??™s resolution seeking to suspend him from duty for two months for an alleged corruption probe.

KIEV, Nov. 2 ??“ UkrTelekom, the national phone company, is scrambling to fend off a 800 mln hryvnia back tax bill from the Kiev tax authority, Heorhiy Dzekon, the board director, told lawmakers in a testimony Wednesday.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 ??“ It will be next to impossible for Ukraine to join the WTO if Russia joins the group faster, Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov told U.S. congressmen at a meeting. The comment is the sharpest ever quote made by a senior Ukrainian official, underscoring tough regional rivalry between two countries

KIEV, Nov. 2 ??“ Oleksandr Medvedko, the choice of President Viktor Yushchenko for prosecutor general, emerged optimistic Wednesday after meetings with Parliament group leaders ahead of a vote that may approve him on the post.

KYIV, Oct 2 – German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, before the start of an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Kyiv, said the future of Ukraine is in the EU, and it will soon expand from Lisbon to Luhansk.

WASHINGTON, Oct 2 - The Pentagon is warning Congress that it is running low on money to replace weapons the U.S. has sent to Ukraine and has already been forced to slow down resupplying some troops, according to a letter sent to congressional leaders.