US, UK negotiate post-Brexit free trade deal; Iran tests 'defensive' missile

US-UK negotiate post-Brexit free trade agreement

US President Donald Trump. Photo: Reuters

US President Donald Trump said a bilateral deal with Britain after Brexit could grow "three to four, five times" compared to current bilateral trade turnover.

According to Mr. Trump, bilateral trade between the US and the UK was previously “impeded” by London’s membership in the European Union (EU), which prohibits member states from negotiating separate trade deals and requires agreements to be negotiated collectively within the bloc.

According to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, the US is the UK’s top trading partner. Total trade (exports and imports) between the US and the UK was worth $226.8 billion in 2017, accounting for 14.6% of the UK’s total trade.

Iran claims missile test is 'defensive'

Photo: AP/Fars News Agency

Iran's semi-official Fars news agency on July 27 quoted a domestic military source as saying that Iran announced the missile test was 'defensive'.

Fars stated: "A well-informed source in the armed forces' staff said that Iran's missile tests are defensive in nature. The missiles are not aimed at any country, but are only intended to respond to potential aggression... Iran does not need permission from any country in the world regarding its right to self-defense."

Clashes with Israeli soldiers, at least 56 Palestinians killed

At least 56 Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli troops in the eastern Gaza Strip, near the border with Israel, on July 26, according to the health ministry in the Gaza Strip. A spokesman for the Palestinian Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip said 38 of the wounded were injured by Israeli live fire.

Among the injured were 22 children and three women. The clashes took place as hundreds of protesters took part in a weekly march, known as the “Great March of Return,” in eastern Gaza.

President Trump gets to use money from the Department of Defense to build the border wall

Migrants cross the US-Mexico border wall near El Chaparral border crossing, Tijuana, Baja California state, Mexico. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

The US Supreme Court has overturned a lower court's previous ruling and agreed to let President Donald Trump's administration use the US Department of Defense budget to build a wall along the US-Mexico border.

With this decision, the Trump administration can use $2.5 billion in the Pentagon's drug counter-narcotics budget to pay for replacing existing barriers in Arizona, California and New Mexico with stronger barriers.

The project to build a wall on the US-Mexico border was an important pledge in President Trump's election campaign. However, the White House owner has not succeeded in convincing Congress to allocate billions of dollars for the wall.

Two Koreas celebrate 66 years since Armistice Agreement

Leaders of the two Koreas at the truce village of Panmunjom, May 26, 2018.

On July 27, North Korea marked the 66th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice Agreement that ended the 1950-1953 Korean War, with Pyongyang calling on the United States to provide security guarantees.

In the capital Pyongyang, slogans praising victory appeared in public places. Along the main streets of the capital Pyongyang, where many years ago there were posters or banners criticizing the US, there are no longer any, showing that North Korea still wants to continue negotiations with the US.

On the same day, activities were held in South Korea to mark the 66th anniversary of the Armistice Agreement that ended the Korean War. The United Nations Command in Korea also held a ceremony at the truce village of Panmunjom, on the inter-Korean border, where the agreement was signed in 1953.

Technically, South Korea and North Korea are still at war. The armistice signed on July 27, 1953 is still considered temporary until “peace is restored,” that is, until the two sides reach a peace treaty.