The Ultimate Business Blog

Signatories of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) have agreed to work towards a nuclear-weapons-free zone in the Middle East. The members, meeting at the UN in New York, called for a conference in 2012 attended by Middle Eastern states – including Iran – to establish the zone. The document also said Israel should sign the [...]

North Korea is to cut all relations with South Korea, Pyongyang’s official news agency reports. KCNA said the North was also expelling all South Korean workers from a jointly-run factory north of the border. The move comes after an international report blamed North Korea for sinking a South Korean warship. Pyongyang denies it torpedoed the [...]

The popularity rating of US President Obama has already touched an all time low, like the European markets last month. The financial industry overhauling legislation and the ongoing high unemployment rate are expected to pull down his popularity further in the coming months. As if these are not enough, the crude oil spill in Gulf [...]

The Iranians are always unpredictable and they have proved it again. The fundamentalist country has now thrown a surprise at US and Europe , by agreeing to swap low enriched uranium in Turkey. Just two weeks back, it was not ready for any swap outside of Iran, and that forced the US to initiate UN [...]

Thai officials have ruled out UN-backed mediation in an increasingly violent dispute with anti-government protesters on the streets of Bangkok. A protest leader suggested the talks, but a government spokesman was quick to rebuff the offer, saying outside groups should not interfere. At least 31 people have died since Thursday, when soldiers and police moved [...]

US President Barack Obama has revived a civilian nuclear energy pact with Moscow, which was shelved in the wake of Russia’s 2008 conflict with Georgia. Mr Obama resubmitted the pact to Congress, saying US-Russian co-operation over Iran justified the move. The agreement would allow the transfer of technology and equipment, including reactors. Mr Obama has [...]

Gordon Brown has announced he will step down as Labour leader by September – as his party opens formal talks with the Lib Dems about forming a government. The PM’s continued presence in Downing Street was seen as harming Labour’s chances of reaching a deal. Labour and the Tories are both trying to woo the [...]

Nigeria’s Senate has ordered an investigation into reports that one of its members has married a 13-year-old Egyptian girl. Ahmad Sani Yerima, 49, is alleged to have married her at the national mosque in Abuja several weeks ago. Senators called for the investigation after receiving a petition by protesting women’s groups, who believe Mr Sani [...]

The only man to have admitted his role in the killing of controversial US black leader Malcolm X has been released from prison on parole. Thomas Hagan, 69, was released from a New York jail 45 years after the assassination, officials confirmed. Hagan said he was one of three men who shot Malcolm X as [...]

India has arrested a woman working as a diplomat in its Islamabad embassy on charges of spying for Pakistan. Madhuri Gupta, 53, is a second secretary in the high commission in the press and information section. She was arrested on a work trip to Delhi. Officials say she is suspected of handing over classified documents [...]