Is Graham Out of His Mind? Imperial US Is an Ally No More!

Feb 19, 2026 | Silicon Bites Ep288 | 2026-02-18 | All the evidence points to the U.S. no longer being an ally of Europe. But it’s not a neutral or indifferent stance. It’s actively malicious, meddling, malignant and intentionally destabilising. The evidence is all around, and yet Rubio still got a standing ovation at the MSC. Could there be any greater show of craven weakness and appeasement to an increasingly tyrannical, capricious and imperial U.S.?!

This episode: the Munich Meltdown and the “Kremlin Vassal” Tour, of Hungary and Slovakia: Graham’s unseemly tantrum, Rubio’s weasel words, and the Geneva so-called ‘peace conference’ squeeze on Ukraine. The U.S. is being unfair to Ukraine, and to everyone, except Vladimir Putin and his client states. Isn’t this clear to everyone yet?

Iran Foreign Minister Accuses Israel of 'an Outrageous Act of Aggression' | BBC News

Jun 20, 2025 | Iran’s foreign minister has warned that Israel’s attack on his country is a "historic moment for human civilisation" in which countries must stand up for international law.

Speaking to the UN Human Rights Council, Abbas Araghchi said Israel attacked his country in the "midst of an ongoing diplomatic process" with the US about Iran’s nuclear capability - a process he said has been "promising".

He described Israel’s surprise attack as "an outrageous act of aggression", a "stark violation of the UN charter," which defied ‘the standards this council stands for.’

Israel has been hit by a new round of Iranian strikes this afternoon. It said its military had attacked dozens of targets, including what it called missile manufacturing sites in Tehran.

U.K.’s Richest Family Found Guilty of Exploitation but Is Acquitted of Trafficking

THE NEW YORK TIMES: A Swiss criminal court handed prison sentences to members of the Hinduja family for exploiting domestic workers at their villa in Geneva.

A Swiss court on Friday found members of Britain’s wealthiest family guilty of exploiting domestic workers at a luxury villa in Geneva, but acquitted them of the more serious charge of human trafficking.

Prosecutors had charged four members of the family — Prakash Hinduja; his wife, Kamal Hinduja; their son Ajay Hinduja; and their daughter-in-law Namrata Hinduja — with trafficking and exploiting several workers from India.

They were accused of confiscating the employees’ passports and forcing them to work 16 hours a day or longer without overtime pay in the villa. Lawyers representing the Hindujas had denied the allegations.

The court on Friday sentenced Prakash and Kamal Hinduja to four years and six months in prison, and Ajay and Namrata Hinduja to four years, according to news agencies. It also ordered them to pay about $950,000 in compensation, as well as about $300,000 in procedural fees. Najib Ziazi, a business adviser for the family who also faced charges, was found complicit in the exploitation. » | Isabella Kwai, Reporting from London | Friday, June 21, 2024

Related article here.

Geneva to Raise Minimum Wage to £3,500 a Month

THE GUARDIAN: Voters back increase amid reports of growing poverty linked to Covid-19 pandemic

Geneva is to raise its minimum wage to almost £3,500 a month, reported to be the highest in the world, after locals approved the measure in a surprise vote result sparked by reports of growing coronavirus-linked poverty in the Swiss city.

The canton’s 500,000 voters passed the increase proposed by local unions and leftwing parties, after twice rejecting it in 2011 and 2014.

The minimum hourly wage will rise to just under £19.50 an hour, more than twice the rate in neighbouring France, with a guaranteed minimum monthly salary of 4,086 Swiss francs (£3,457) based on a 41-hour working week, or 49,000 Swiss francs (£41,430) a year, in one of the world’s most expensive cities to live. » | Kim Willsher in Paris | Wednesday, September 30, 2020

ISIL: Force May Be Necessary Says Vatican Ambassador to Geneva

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Silvano Tomasi says armed response could [be] needed to protect minorities from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant

The Vatican's ambassador in Geneva has said the use of force will be necessary to protect minority groups from Islamic State aggression if a political solution cannot be achieved.

In an interview with U.S. Catholic website Crux, Archbishop Silvano Tomasi said the jihadists, who have declared a cross-border caliphate after seizing land in eastern Syria and northern Iraq, were committing "genocide" and must be stopped.

"What's needed is a coordinated and well-thought-out coalition to do everything possible to achieve a political settlement without violence," Crux quoted Tomasi as saying on Friday, "but if that's not possible, then the use of force will be necessary." » | Reuters | Sunday, March 15, 2015

Iranian Foreign Minster Warns Geneva Nuclear Deal Is 'Dead' If US Passes New Sanctions

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: "The entire deal is dead," Javad Zarif says as White House tries to rein in senators

Iran's foreign minister has warned that the historic nuclear deal agreed in Geneva will be "dead" if the US Congress moves ahead with threats to pass new sanctions.

Javad Zarif told Time that any new sanctions would show a "lack of seriousness" by the US, breaching the terms of last month's interim deal and scuppering hopes for a comprehensive agreement on Iran's nuclear deal.

His intervention comes as the White House fights to stop the Senate from passing fresh sanctions designed to kick in if no final deal is reached or Iran breaches the terms of the Geneva accord.

John Kerry, the US secretary of state, will appear before Congress on Tuesday and argue that any sanctions would undermine the delicate diplomatic progress made in recent months.

Mr Zarif, his Iranian counter-part, echoed that argument when asked how Tehran would respond to new American sanctions.

"The entire deal is dead," he said. "We do not like to negotiate under duress." » | Raf Sanchez, Washington | Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Nuclear Deal with Iran a 'Historic Mistake', Benjamin Netanyahu Says

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Israel's top politicians speak out as one to condemn the six powers' agreement with Iran over its nuclear programme


Israel's political establishment arose in unison on Sunday to denounce as inadequate an interim agreement hammered out with Iran to rein in its nuclear programme.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, led the chorus of indignation, calling the deal struck in Geneva between Iran and the so-called P5 plus one – the US, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany – "a historic mistake".

"What was achieved last night in Geneva is not a historic agreement; it is a historic mistake," he told Sunday's weekly cabinet meeting "Today the world has become a much more dangerous place because the most dangerous regime in the world has taken a significant step toward attaining the most dangerous weapon in the world.

Condemning the six powers for "ignoring the UN Security Council decisions that they themselves led", he added: "This agreement and what it means endanger many countries including, of course, Israel. Israel is not bound by this agreement. The Iranian regime is committed to the destruction of Israel and Israel has the right and the obligation to defend itself, by itself, against any threat.

Mr Netanyahu's comments came after a procession of ministers and senior officials had earlier taken aim at a "bad deal" which they said effectively left Iran as a nuclear threshold state.

In the most graphic criticism, Naftali Bennett, the trade and industry minister and leader of the far-Right Jewish Home party, warned that it could be the precursor to a nuclear "suitcase bomb" attack on a major Western city. » | Robert Tait, Jerusalem | Sunday, November 24, 2013

Iran Nuclear Deal Agreed at Geneva Talks

Iran's leaders celebrate the deal, described by America as a "dramatic" step to “roll back” Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The six world powers reached agreement after talks stretch past midnight and in to fifth day of negotiations

Read the Sunday Telegraph article here | David Blair, Chief Foreign Correspondent, Geneva | Sunday, November 24, 2013

Israel: FM Slams Deal with Iran: 'We're Entering New Era'

YNET NEWS: 'State of Israel will have to think things over,' FM Lieberman says of deal, claiming 'acceptance of right to enrichment opens arms race' with Iran. According to him, deal dangerous not only for Israel, but also for Egypt, Turkey, Gulf states. Lapid, Steinitz echo claims.

After weeks of an intensive campaign to dissuade Western powers from striking a deal with Iran failed to yield a result as world powers reached an agreement Sunday, Israel remains on the offensive.

Sunday morning, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said "there is no achievement in the is agreement. This is the biggest diplomatic victory Iran has known in recent years – since the Khameini regime (came to power)." When asked if the deal contains any positive aspect, Lieberman replied "no, there is no such thing."

The tone was echoed by a government spokesperson who said "This is a bad deal. It gives Iran exactly what it wanted – a significant reduction of sanctions while preserving the most significant part of its nuclear program," a official from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said.

"Israel does not see itself as bound by this bad, this very bad agreement that has been signed," Economy Minister Naftali Bennett added. » | Attila Somfalvi | Sunday, November 24, 2013

Accord Reached With Iran to Halt Nuclear Program

INTERNATIONAL NEW YORK TIMES: GENEVA — The United States and five other world powers announced a landmark accord Sunday morning that would temporarily freeze Iran’s nuclear program and lay the foundation for a more sweeping agreement.

It was the first time in nearly a decade, American officials said, that an international agreement had been reached to halt much of Iran’s nuclear program and roll some elements of it back.

The aim of the accord, which is to last six months, is to give international negotiators time to pursue a more comprehensive pact that would ratchet back much of Iran’s nuclear program and ensure that it could be used only for peaceful purposes.

Shortly after the agreement was signed at 3 a.m. in the Palace of Nations in Geneva, President Obama, speaking from the State Dining Room in the White House, hailed it as the most “significant and tangible” progress of a diplomatic campaign that began when he took office.

“Today, that diplomacy opened up a new path toward a world that is more secure,” he said, “a future in which we can verify that Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful and that it cannot build a nuclear weapon.” » | Michael R. Gordon | Saturday, November 23, 2013

Iran Impasse: French Reluctance Causes Nuclear Talks to Stall

Marathon talks on Iran's nuclear programme have failed to produce an agreement, but hope remains there'll be one in the future. While world powers tried to push ahead, France revealed itself to be the most skeptical in the Western camp, refusing to accept any short-term deal. RT's Tesa Arcilla reports on the meeting's stumbling blocks.

William Hague Pledges to "Seize the Moment" at Iran Nuclear Talks - But France Warns of "Sucker's Deal"

Fabius: French Foreign Minister | Hague: British Foreign Secretary

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Progress is made, but the British Foreign Secretary cautions that difficult issues remain unresolved - and his French counterpart takes tough line

William Hague praised Iran's representatives for adopting a "completely different" approach at the negotiations in Geneva, but cautioned against expecting an imminent deal.

Speaking on Saturday as the talks continued for an unplanned third day, the Foreign Secretary pledged to "seize the moment and seize the opportunity to reach a deal that has eluded the world".

He told journalists that "good progress" had been made - but there was no deadline for signing an agreement and it may not be possible on Saturday. If necessary, the six world powers who negotiate with Iran on the nuclear issue could reconvene at a later date.

Mr Hague acknowledged that a "wide number of issues have been satisfactorily addressed" and the "atmosphere is completely different".

Laurent Fabius, the French foreign minister, was more cautious than his British counterpart, telling a radio station there was "no certainty" of agreement and warning against a "sucker's deal". Mr Fabius added: "There is an initial draft that we do not accept." » | David Blair, Saturday, November 09, 2013

Iran Nuclear Talks: Benjamin Netanyahu Lashes Out Against Deal

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, warns that US and West are handing Iran the 'deal of the century'


Read the Daily Telegraph article here | Robert Tait, Peter Foster and David Blair | Friday, November 08, 2013

US Offers Short-term Nuclear Deal Allowing Iran to Continue Enriching Uranium

Catherine Ashton and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: American negotiators want a six month freeze to Iran's nuclear programme to create time for a final agreement, but the terms risk a backlash from both Israel and Congress

America has proposed a short-term nuclear agreement with Iran at a meeting in Geneva which would allow Tehran to continue enriching uranium at low levels, according to an aide briefed on the talks.

The goal is to freeze Iran’s nuclear programme for perhaps six months in order to create a breathing space for a comprehensive agreement to be negotiated.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, warned on Thursday that any deal which failed to stop Iran from enriching uranium would be a “mistake of historic proportions”.

Western diplomats and US officials have refused to disclose any details of a “first step agreement”. But a Senate aide, citing briefings from the White House, the State Department and sources in Geneva, said he understood that it would include four key points. » | Peter Foster in Washington, and David Blair | Thursday, November 07, 2013

Inside Story: Iran: Breaking the Nuclear Deadlock?

As Tehran has started fresh talks about its disputed nuclear programme, we ask if the US is ready to ease sanctions.

Iran and World Powers Begin Nuclear Talks

Two days of negotiations in Geneva over Tehran's disputed programme are the first since election of President Rouhani.

US and Russia Agree Syria Arms Deal in Geneva

BBC: Syria's chemical weapons must be destroyed or removed by mid-2014, under an agreement between the US and Russia.

US Secretary of State John Kerry outlined a six-point framework under which Syria must hand over a full list of its stockpile within a week.

If Syria fails to comply, the deal could be enforced by a UN resolution backed by the threat of sanctions or military force.

The US says the Syrian regime killed hundreds in a gas attack last month.

The government of Bashar al-Assad denies the allegations and has accused the rebels of carrying out the attack. (+ video) » | Saturday, September 14, 2013

Geneva Set for Syria Disarmament Talks

US Secretary of State to meet Russian counterpart to discuss how UN can secure and destroy Assad's chemical weapons.

Oppositionsführerin Suu Kyi in Genf
Burmas Oppositionsführerin Aung San Suu Kyi ist zum Auftakt ihrer Europareise in Genf eingetroffen. Die Friedensnobelträgerin wird am Abend mit Aussenminister Didier Burkhalter zusammentreffen und über die Lage in Burma sprechen.

Onze millions placés chez HSBC Genève par un proche du clan Ben Ali

TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: Malgré la loi sur le blanchiment d’argent, Belhassen Trabelsi, beau-frère du président déchu, détient 11 millions de francs sur un compte de la HSBC Private Bank à Genève.

Belhassen Trabelsi, le beau-frère du président déchu tunisien Ben Ali, dispose d'un compte à la HSBC Private Bank installée à Genève. La coquette somme de 11 millions de francs dort ainsi sur les bords du Léman, informe la TSR. Cela malgré la loi sur le blanchiment d'argent et l'ordonnance délivrée par le Conseil fédéral au lendemain de la chute de Ben Ali. Celle-ci a demandé aux banques de geler immédiatement les fonds de 40 personnalités tunisiennes, dont ceux de l'intéressé. » | Anne-Elisabeth Celton | Lundi 19 Septembre 2011