HONG KONG, March 23 - Eighteen Ukrainian sailors were trapped underwater Sunday in their capsized tugboat after it collided with a cargo ship in Hong Kong waters.

KIEV, March 23 ??“ Ukraine will seek to dramatically reduce dependence on imported energy resources within the next 25 years by developing domestic coal mining and nuclear power sectors, President Viktor Yushchenko said Thursday.

WASHINGTON, March 23 ??“ President George W. Bush on Thursday signed legislation to open up trade with Ukraine, saying it marked the beginning of a new era in U.S. relations with the country, Reuters reported.

KIEV, March 23 ??“ President Viktor Yushchenko said Thursday his party, Our Ukraine, will probably play a key role in a future government coalition that will be formed after general election March 26.

KIEV, March 23 ??“ The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank may allocate up to $800 million annually to finance Ukrainian infrastructure projects, a newswire reported citing an EBRD official.

KIEV, March 23 ??“ Ukraine has been mulling construction of a $275 million railway line that would bypass Moldova on the way of sending exports to other European countries, Transportation Minister Viktor Bondar said.

KIEV, March 22 ??“ Foreign direct investment in Ukraine in 2005 is likely to hit $10 billion to $10.5 billion against $8.35 billion invested last year, representing a rise of between 19.7% and 25.7% over the year, according to Oleh Rybachuk, the deputy prime minister for European integration.

KIEV, March 22 ??“ President Viktor Yushchenko signed a detailed plan for complete withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Iraq this year, while in the meantime refocusing the troops on training Iraqi security forces.

KIEV, March 22 ??“ A Russian and a U.S. company may have been involved in a deal to transfer 18 nuclear capable cruise missiles from Ukraine to Iran and China in 2001, lawyers said Tuesday.

KIEV, March 22 ??“ Western Union, world??™s largest money transfer company, is facing hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars in fines from Ukraine??™s anti-cartel authority, which claims the company used its market dominance to overcharge clients.