KIEV, April 26 – Ukraine on Sunday paid homage to victims of the Chernobyl catastrophe, 23 years after the worst nuclear accident in history.

"Today we remember with profound sadness those heroes who fought against the nuclear storm and sacrificed themselves for us and our children," President Viktor Yushchenko said.

KIEV, April 27 - Ukraine's economy is likely to shrink by 8-10% this year rather than post growth of 0.4% as forecast by the government, President Viktor Yushchenko's top adviser said, Reuters reported Monday.

LUXEMBOURG, April 27 - The European Union has "every reason to be worried" about Ukraine's political deadlock and economic crisis, EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg said Monday.

KIEV, April 27 - Ukraine will seek to avoid penalties caused by lower-than-expected imports of Russian natural gas this year, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said Monday.

KIEV, April 27 – The government, at an emergency meeting Monday, scrambled to adopt measures it believes would prevent cases of swine flu in Ukraine amid signs the epidemic has been spreading quickly around the world.

MOSCOW, April 26 - Lands surrounding the Chornobyl nuclear power plant will remain dangerous for thousands of years, Greens faction member Alexei Yablokov told Interfax. The Greens are a component of Russia??™s opposition Yabloko Party.

KIEV, April 26 ??“ United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged the international community to renew assistance, including sustained social and economic development aid, for the regions affected by the nuclear disaster at Chornobyl.

KIEV, April 26 - Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych on Thursday denounced Wednesday??™s decree from President Viktor Yushchenko that had used a new reason to dismiss Parliament and had set the new date for the early election.

KIEV, April 26 - President Viktor Yushchenko and dozens of mourners prayed and lit candles before dawn Thursday to mark the precise time the Chornobyl nuclear reactor exploded and caught fire 21 years ago in what became the world's worst nuclear accident.

KIEV, April 26 - President Viktor Yushchenko in a surprising move on Thursday re-installed Svyatoslav Piskun as the Prosecutor General apparently seeking to force implementation of his decree dismissing Parliament and calling for new election.