Daily Archives: 19 August 2026

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ed: Just to make absolutely clear, this is about going to the pub and nothing to do with gingernuts

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Iran labels California its ‘new territory’ after Trump’s Hormuz claim

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This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi. [@Gharibabadi/X]

An official Iranian social media account labeled California a “new territory” of Iran on Tuesday in response to US President Donald Trump posting an image portraying the Strait of Hormuz as “NEW U.S. Territory,” Anadolu reports.

Trump shared the image on his Truth Social account Tuesday, showing a map of the Strait of Hormuz with the strategic waterway circled beneath the words “NEW U.S. Territory,” following up on his earlier remarks saying the strait would be made US territory after the war ends.

The White House later reposted Trump’s post on its official account on US social media platform X.

In response, the official Iran in Hyderabad account on X posted a map of the US showing California highlighted in blue, with the words: “NEW TERRITORY OF ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN.”

Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, also hit back at Trump’s post, writing on X: “His delusion regarding the Strait of Hormuz will soon either be corrected, or we will correct the delusions of this delusional man.”

READ: Trump says no talks with Iran underway or scheduled

California, particularly the Los Angeles area, is home to the largest concentration of people of Iranian descent outside Iran. An estimated 141,000 Iranian Americans live in Los Angeles County, according to the Iranian Diaspora Dashboard hosted by UCLA’s Center for Near Eastern Studies.

The Iranian community in Southern California expanded significantly following Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, with the Westwood area of Los Angeles becoming a major center of Iranian diaspora life, commonly known as “Tehrangeles.”

The exchange comes amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington following months of conflict.

Iran and the US signed a memorandum of understanding in June aimed at ending the war and paving the way for a broader agreement, but talks have since stalled amid disputes over its implementation and navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Negotiations involving Iran and Oman over arrangements for navigation through the strategic waterway, meanwhile, have continued without a breakthrough.

OPINION: Iran’s supreme leader is back in control. That may be why diplomacy with Washington just collapsed

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Donald Trump calls for help from NATO allies in securing the Strait of Hormuz despite saying on 7 March 2026 that they don't need people to join wars after they've already won. He's challenged with the claim that he lies as much as the IDF.
Donald Trump calls for help from NATO allies in securing the Strait of Hormuz despite saying on 7 March 2026 that they don’t need people to join wars after they’ve already won. He’s challenged with the claim that he lies as much as the IDF.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham admits to blatently lying and engaging in deception to become leader of the UK Labour Party and Prime Minister.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham admits to blatently lying and engaging in deception to become leader of the UK Labour Party and Prime Minister.
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up

Continue ReadingIran labels California its ‘new territory’ after Trump’s Hormuz claim

ICC rejects new US sanctions, calls them ‘flagrant attack’ on judicial independence

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This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

A general view of the International Criminal Court (ICC) building in The Hague, Netherlands on April 30, 2024 [Selman Aksünger/Anadolu Agency]

The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Wednesday strongly rejected new US sanctions targeting the court’s president and a senior lawyer in its prosecutor’s office, describing the measures as a “flagrant attack” on judicial independence, Anadolu reports.

The latest designations target ICC President Tomoko Akane of Japan and Abdoulaye Seye of Senegal, a senior trial lawyer at the Office of the Prosecutor, the Hague-based court said in a statement.

The ICC said nine of its 18 judges, both deputy prosecutors, a former prosecutor and one staff member are now under US sanctions.

“These sanctions are a flagrant attack against the independence of an impartial judicial institution which operates pursuant to the mandate conferred by its States Parties from across regions,” the court said.

READ: US sanctions International Criminal Court’s president, official

Measures targeting judges, prosecutors and other court personnel for carrying out the ICC’s mandate undermine the rule of law and put the international legal order at risk, it added.

The court also warned that threats and coercive measures affect victims’ ability to seek justice, particularly when they turn to the ICC after exhausting all other avenues.

“The court will continue to fully discharge its mandate with independence and impartiality, in full accordance with the Rome Statute and in the interest of victims of international crimes,” it said.

It also welcomed expressions of support from member states, civil society organizations and others backing international justice and the rule of law.

READ: Netanyahu flight through Europe raises questions over ICC obligations of Rome Statute states

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Donald Trump calls for help from NATO allies in securing the Strait of Hormuz despite saying on 7 March 2026 that they don't need people to join wars after they've already won. He's challenged with the claim that he lies as much as the IDF.
Donald Trump calls for help from NATO allies in securing the Strait of Hormuz despite saying on 7 March 2026 that they don’t need people to join wars after they’ve already won. He’s challenged with the claim that he lies as much as the IDF.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham admits to blatently lying and engaging in deception to become leader of the UK Labour Party and Prime Minister.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham admits to blatently lying and engaging in deception to become leader of the UK Labour Party and Prime Minister.
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up

Continue ReadingICC rejects new US sanctions, calls them ‘flagrant attack’ on judicial independence

Israeli police arrest Palestinian minister of Jerusalem affairs

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Israeli police take security measures in Haifa, Israel on November 15, 2024 [Mostafa Alkharouf – Anadolu Agency]

Israeli police arrested Palestinian Minister of Jerusalem Affairs Ashraf al-Awar at his home in the Silwan neighborhood of occupied East Jerusalem on Wednesday, according to an official from his office.

The official, who requested anonymity, told Anadolu Agency that Israeli police detained al-Awar without providing a reason.

Israeli police did not immediately comment on the reason for the arrest.

Last year, Israeli authorities issued an order barring al-Awar from entering the occupied West Bank for six months, which was later extended.

READ: Israel bars Arab lawmaker from visiting detained Palestinian doctor Abu Safiya

The Palestinian Ministry of Jerusalem Affairs is based in the town of Al-Ram in the occupied West Bank, while Palestinian government meetings are held in Ramallah.

Since Oct. 7, 2023, Israeli authorities have intensified restrictions on Palestinian sporting, social, political, and economic activities in occupied East Jerusalem.

Israeli authorities have also stepped up settlement activity and demolitions of Palestinian homes, while facilitating settler incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and barring worshippers and preachers from the site.

Palestinians insist that occupied East Jerusalem is the capital of their future state, while Israel claims the entire city as its capital, a claim widely rejected by the international community.

READ: 9 Palestinians killed, 15 injured by Israeli strike on Gaza police station

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Donald Trump calls for help from NATO allies in securing the Strait of Hormuz despite saying on 7 March 2026 that they don't need people to join wars after they've already won. He's challenged with the claim that he lies as much as the IDF.
Donald Trump calls for help from NATO allies in securing the Strait of Hormuz despite saying on 7 March 2026 that they don’t need people to join wars after they’ve already won. He’s challenged with the claim that he lies as much as the IDF.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham admits to blatently lying and engaging in deception to become leader of the UK Labour Party and Prime Minister.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham admits to blatently lying and engaging in deception to become leader of the UK Labour Party and Prime Minister.
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up

Continue ReadingIsraeli police arrest Palestinian minister of Jerusalem affairs

Scientists ‘stunned’ by children’s lung recovery in ultra low emission zone

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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1l1r1zne1ro#

Children had lung function tests every year

Scientists say they have been “stunned” by how quickly young children’s lungs began to recover and grow after pollution restrictions were brought in where they lived.

Researchers found that children in London whose lung growth had been stunted by pollution showed impressive improvements after the introduction of an Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) in 2019 reduced emissions.

The study followed more than 3,400 primary school children in London and Luton and provides what scientists believe is the strongest evidence yet that local clean air zones could help reduce some of the harm caused by pollution during childhood.

…

“I was absolutely stunned when I first saw the results,” Prof Chris Griffiths, a senior author on the study, at Queen Mary University of London, told the BBC.

“The speed of catch up in lung capacity in the London group was surprising and impressive.

“This shows an ambitious clean air zone can drive pollution levels down, rapidly restoring children’s stunted lung growth.”

…

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1l1r1zne1ro

Sadiq Khan: Introducing Ulez was my hardest decision as mayor of London – but now we know its astonishing impact

Continue ReadingScientists ‘stunned’ by children’s lung recovery in ultra low emission zone