BRUSSELS, July 17 - EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson is confident that Ukraine's accession to the World Trade Organization will open new opportunities in relations between Kiev and Brussels.

ASTANA, July 18 - Kazakh Emergency Ministry head Viktor Khrapunov has offered Ukraine Kazakhstan's assistance in the cleanup operation after the railway accident in Lviv region.

WARSAW, July 18 - Poland is loosening its visa restrictions on workers from Ukraine, Belarus and Russia in order to ease a labor shortage in the farming and construction sectors, The Associated Press reported, citing the Labor Ministry.

BRUSSELS, July 18 - EU external relations commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said there was a 'good progress' in negotiations on closer EU-Ukraine relations.

KIEV, July 18 - Scores of people sought medical help on Wednesday after a poisonous chemical spill in Ukraine, Greenpeace said, warning of dangers to health and the environment from the toxic fumes, Reuters reported.

The environmental campaign group said 16 people were taken to hospitals on Tuesday and another 55 sought treatment on Wednesday. Neighboring countries also expressed concern.

KIEV, July 18 ??“ Capital of Ukrainian banks that issue loans to individuals will grow at least 30% annually during the next five years as economic growth will stimulate demand, Ukrsotsbank reported in a research report.

KIEV, July 18 ??“ A sharp three-week standoff in Parliament between pro-Western and pro-Russian groups ended on Tuesday after lawmakers had voted to approve resolution distributing top positions in standing committees.

KIEV, July 18 - Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov on Tuesday denied reports that the government may have been seeking to sell shares or let foreign company manage the country??™s natural gas pipelines.

KIEV, July 18 ??“ President Viktor Yushchenko??™s Our Ukraine party on Tuesday declared it will join parliamentary opposition as the pro-Russian coalition had pushed for nominating its leader Viktor Yanukovych as the prime minister.

KIEV, July 18 ??“ Rinat Akhmetov, Ukraine??™s wealthiest businessman, on Monday failed to show up for questioning by the criminal police amid reports that he had been traveling overseas, according to the Internal Affairs Ministry.