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BRUSSELS (Reuters) - EU foreign ministers approved on Monday measures to allow Ukraine to export more industrial and agricultural products free of tariffs to the bloc in recognition of reforms undertaken by Kiev and the country's fragile economy.

By the end of September, Ukraine will be able to export greater tonnage of farm products, including grains, honey and processed tomatoes for three years.

The EU will also remove for the same period import duties on fertilisers, dyes, footwear, copper, aluminum, televisions and sound recording equipment.

The measures add to a free-trade agreement provisionally in place since January 2016 that has opened both markets for goods and services.

"It is our duty to support Ukraine and strengthen our economic and political ties, also in the face of the ongoing conflict on its soil," said Estonia Foreign Minster Sven Mikser, whose country holds the six-month rotating presidency of the European Union.

Trade has been at the heart of a dispute between Russia and the European Union over relations with Ukraine, with Moscow and Brussels both competing to bring Kiev closer to their side through offers of greater economic integration.

While Kiev has moved westward, Russia has sought to destabilize Ukraine, EU governments and NATO say, by annexing Crimea and providing separatists with weapons and troops in Ukraine's industrial east.

Reporting By Philip Blenkinsop, editing by Robin Emmott

Excerpt from:
EU agrees to allow in more Ukraine exports for three years - Reuters

White House spokesman Sean Spicer repeated allegations that a Democratic operative had met with Ukrainian embassy officials during the campaign, turning the tables on its accusers amid an all-engulfing scandal over Trump's contacts with Russia.

Spicer referred to several recent reports by conservative media outlets, alleging the Democratic operative sought dirt on then Trump campaign director Paul Manafort.

The allegations first came to light in a Politico story in January.

"Obviously, there's been a lot more interest in recent days with respect to what the DNC did in coordination with the Ukrainian government to try to collude," Spicer said.

The White House spokesman alleged that the Democratic National Committee collusion took place to "achieve a goal of having someone removed, which ultimately did happen."

Manafort left his post in August 2016, as Trump's general election prospects looked dim and details of his own business dealings with pro-Kremlin leaders in Ukraine emerged.

Spicer was asked by a pro-Trump media representative whether the issue was raised when Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko visited the White House in June.

Spicer said he did not know, but claimed that "the DNC's collusion with the Ukrainian government has definitely gotten a lot more attention since that meeting."

Adrienne Watson of the DNC accused the White House of deflecting.

"The White House has been pushing this narrative to distract from the Trump campaign's willingness to work with a hostile foreign government to interfere in our election. No one is buying it."

The comments come as the White House reeled from Donald Trump Jr.'s confession that he and two other Trump senior aides knowingly met Kremlin-connected operatives to get incriminating information on rival presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

That admission, after months of denials, has prompted some Republicans to openly criticize the White House and venture that Donald Jr. may have broken the law.

US intelligence agencies believe that President Vladimir Putin ordered a vast influence operation to tilt the 2016 election in Trump's favor.

Trump himself has responded by describing his son's meeting as business as usual.

"Most politicians would have gone to a meeting like the one Don jr attended in order to get info on an opponent.

That's politics!" he tweeted on Monday.

Spicer seemed to contradict his boss, by saying the meeting was actually about adoption.

In a statement, the Ukrainian embassy in Washington denied allegations it had "colluded" with Democrats against the Trump campaign.

The embassy "neither coordinated with the DNC on opposition research nor taken any actions to undermine campaign efforts," the statement read.

"While some politicians who are not part of the Ukrainian government might have taken sides or made comments during last year's election, the Embassy and the government of Ukraine did not."

"We highly appreciate US administration support to Ukraine and the progress achieved in recent months in our bilateral relations."

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White House accuses Democrats, Ukraine of 'collusion' - SBS

Members of the Oklahoma National Guardin Ukraine earned the gratitude and respect of many civilians thereas they went above and beyond the call of duty.

Five soldiers with the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team's (IBCT) 1st Battalion, 279th Regiment, ran into a burning apartment building in L'viv Sunday, helping to evacuate residents from the building's top floor.

The Guard members were in L'viv, a 60-minute drive from the training compound where they live, to sight-see and relax, as many do on Sundays. While walking through the city's historic old town, the men noticed smoke coming from a building nearby.

"So, my first instinct, being infantry, is to run toward the fire," said Sgt. Nelson Deese of Alpha Company.

Deese says, when they got to the building, he noticed no firefighters had arrived yet, and everyone else seemed to just be watching and not doing anything to help.

"Everyone was kind of, like, looking and kept going about their business, like it wasn't a big deal," Deese recalled, in an interview with 45th IBCT Public Affairs staff."So, I'm like, 'Hey, let's get in there.'"

"Instinctively, we all just ran inside and started helping people out," added Spc. Kellar Jackson.

Jackson and Deese were joined by Spc. Vincent Humerickhouse, Pfc. Kevin Polk, and Spc. Aaron Moore. They dodged people running out and ran straight to the third floor.

"And you could see the fire," Deese stated."It was just...blazin'!"

In his hometown of Crowder, Oklahoma, in Pittsburg County, Deese is a volunteer firefighter, so he knew they had to move quickly and get people out.

"We just started knocking on doors, banging on windows, trying to get people's attention," Deese explained."[Because] they were definitely not aware of the fire."

"We could barely breathe, and it was kind of chaotic," Jackson noted. "We had one lady that didn't want to come out, because she didn't want to leave her dogs."

The Oklahoma soldiers don't speak Ukrainian, but Deese says it wasn't hard to get the message across.

"They realized what was going on," Deese said."So they ran back inside and tried to grab whatever they could, and their other family members."

L'viv firefighters soon showed up and took over, but it was the quick response of the Oklahoma Guard members that truly saved the day.

"I was really worried for the people inside," Deese said."I wanted to make sure they got out."

"I am proud of what we did," said Jackson."I'm glad we did that."

The 45th IBCT is scheduled to be in Western Ukraine, carrying out its training mission, through the end of 2017.

Read more here:
Oklahoma National Guard Soldiers Save Residents In Ukraine Apartment Fire - news9.com KWTV

Facing the Highlanders yet again is something to get excited about, Crusaders assistant coach Leon MacDonald says.

The sides have met four times already this season - two friendlies and two competition games - and the Crusaders have won three of the matches.

MacDonald told media in Christchurch yesterday the familiarity of the opponent did have some advantages.

``It helps the coaches as we do not have to come up with a thousand new clips,'' he joked.

``But we know the players, we knows their traits. We know about getting ready for the battle, what to expect.

``I'm not sure knowing them helps; we know it is going to be tough.

``We just have to prepare accordingly The small things matter, the scrum, the lineout accuracy matters, the backline defence and attack matters. It is about getting it right.

``We have won two from two [the two competitions games] so we know we are good enough. It is a knockout game so it is important to us. It is just about delivering now.

``We didn't do it right last time out so we have got to get it right.''

Macdonald said the side was excited to be playing a playoff match back at home and the game would go up to another level.

``We are excited to be home again and going up against the Highlanders.

``Any game is going to be hard at this stage of the season.

``We know their game, we know our game. It is about who executes better.

`In the end it might come down to a special play.''

The Crusaders were on the wrong end of referee Glen Jackson against the Hurricanes last Saturday night and MacDonald said that came from a lack of accuracy. That had to improve this week.

``You can't do that in a big game. That just shows how important discipline is.''

See more here:
It's about delivering now: MacDonald - Otago Daily Times

ICC WOMEN'S WORLD CUP 2017

Cricbuzz StaffLast updated on Mon, 17 Jul, 2017, 02:16 PM

"Given that they've played well [against New Zealand] they'll come in with a bit of momentum and I expect them to be really tough" - Perry Getty

Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry, who is having a stunning ICC Women's World Cup, having scored five consecutive fifties and also excelling with the ball, feels that India will be a different team when Australia face them in the semifinal in Derby. India are coming into the big game after crushing New Zealand by 186 runs - in a virtual quarterfinal knockout game - on the same ground in Derby.

India started their campaign with a 35-run win over England and have won all their four games they have played in Derby. While Australia is yet to play at the County ground. On the back of that winning run and with momentum behind them, Perry believes India will be tough to beat.

"Given that they've played well [against New Zealand] they'll come in with a bit of momentum and I expect them to be really tough," Perry said on Monday (July 17).

"They probably left a few things unattended against us the other day that we know they're really dangerous, they've got a great couple of batters and some really dangerous bowlers. They'll be good," she noted.

Though Australia comfortably beat the Asian nation in Bristol in the league phase, with Perry shining with the bat, she feels that India may be peaking at the right time.

"We maybe didn't come up against them at their strongest on the day," she said. "I'm sure they'll be really keen to rectify that. It's a great test for us and we are really looking forward to it."

Even though Perry has scored five successive fifties in the ongoing tournament, she hasn't still compiled her maiden ODI ton - which continues to remain out of her reach - but that isn't bothering her one bit.

"It's got no consequence for me at the minute," she observed. "We've got an important match in the semi-final and I think that all of us are really keen to contribute and win that game and give us a chance to play in the final.

"Whatever role I play is important. If that means that I need to go on and score big then ... I'd like to do that. But [a maiden century] is no consequence at the moment," she added.

Perry's brilliant form with the bat has seen her rise to third place in the latest ICC player rankings for batters. She also went to the top of the rankings for all-rounders, replacing Windies' Stafanie Taylor.

Meanwhile, Perry is placed ninth in the bowling rankings - a list headed by Marizanne Kapp of South Africa.

Cricbuzz

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Perry expecting 'stiff test' in semifinal - Cricbuzz