Breaking News, Business, Financial and Economic News, World News from EconoTimes

Become a contributor

Bookmark Econotimes

Tue, Aug 04, 2026 05:09 AM All times are UTC

Follow Series

©Econometrics LLC . All Rights Reserved.

Azal Ashraf

Lecturer in School of Politics & International Relations, Loughborough University
Afzal Ashraf has broad experience of International Relations and security issues, both as a practitioner and as an academic. This includes service as a senior officer in the UK Armed Forces in operations ranging from famine relief in Africa to stabilisation operations in the South Atlantic, deterrence support in the Cold War and strategic aspects of conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has worked in support of diplomacy in the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office and in information fusion, analysis and communication in some of UK’s security related government departments. He has been Head of Training Management for the Royal Air Force where he had responsibility for physical fitness, combat survival and through life learning. He has run a private security consultancy covering areas such as cyber security and countering violent extremism and was a Consultant Fellow at the UK’s oldest Think Tank, the Royal United Services Institute.

Afzal Ashraf has been teaching undergraduates and post graduates a range of international relations and security modules, including designing new ones, at Russell Group Universities in recent years. Before coming to Loughborough University he was Assistant Professor of International Relations at the University of Nottingham where he is now a Visiting Fellow at the Centre for Conflict, Security and Terrorism. He is in demand as a commentator on current affairs, with over 200 television and radio appearances in less than a year on national and international channels and was nominated for University of Nottingham’s 2018 Impact Awards.

Ukraine war: Sweden and Finland eye the Nato option, but it's a security dilemma for the west

Apr 16, 2022 02:31 am UTC| Politics

The Kremlin has issued an ominous warning to Nato about the consequences for the Baltic if it allows Sweden and Finland to join the alliance, as has been widely reported. Dmitry Medvedev, a former president and a close...

Economy

India Plans Tax Reforms to Boost Foreign Investment and Manufacturing

Indias government is preparing a new package of tax reforms designed to attract foreign investment and strengthen the countrys manufacturing sector, according to a Bloomberg News report citing people familiar with the...

Japan Economy Minister Downplays Inflation Risks Despite BOJ Warning

Japans Economy Minister Minoru Kiuchi said consumer price increases remain moderate despite ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, suggesting that inflationary pressures are still under control even as the Bank...

Asian Currencies Mixed as Yen Retreats, Traders Eye U.S.-Iran Talks and Fed Data

Asian currencies traded in mixed fashion on Tuesday as investors remained cautious over conflicting signals surrounding potential U.S.-Iran negotiations, while attention shifted to a busy week of U.S. economic data that...

Asian Stocks Rise as AI Optimism Returns, Australia Hits Record High Ahead of RBI Decision

Asian stock markets traded mostly higher on Tuesday as investors cautiously returned to technology stocks after Julys AI-driven selloff, while Australias strong gains helped offset weakness in Japan and Hong Kong. Improved...

25 Democratic-Led States Sue Trump Administration Over New Global Tariffs

A coalition of 25 Democratic-led U.S. states has filed a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trumps latest round of global tariffs, arguing that the administration exceeded its legal authority by imposing broad import...

Politics

Trump Urges Exxon, Chevron to Cut Gas Prices After Record Oil Profits

U.S. President Donald Trump criticized ExxonMobil and Chevron for earning massive profits from elevated oil prices, urging the energy giants to lower fuel costs and return some of their gains to American consumers....

Brown University President Christina Paxson to Step Down After Clashes With Trump Administration

Brown University President Christina Paxson announced on Monday that she will step down at the end of the current academic year, concluding a tenure marked by major challenges, including a high-profile dispute with...

US Supreme Court Lets $655.5 Million Judgment Against Palestinian Authorities Stand During Appeal

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to temporarily block a $655.5 million judgment against the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), allowing the damages award to remain in effect while...

North Korea Rejects U.S. Cyber Threat Claims, Slams Allied Warning

North Korea has dismissed recent accusations by the United States and its allies over alleged cyber activities, calling them politically motivated and aimed at justifying pressure on sovereign nations. According to state...

US State Department Plans to Close Five Foreign Missions in Global Diplomatic Restructuring

The U.S. State Department has informed Congress that it intends to close five overseas diplomatic missions as part of a broader effort to streamline Americas diplomatic network under the Trump administration, according to...

Science

Blue Origin New Glenn Explosion Could Delay Launch Operations Until 2028

Blue Origin is facing a significant setback after a dramatic explosion involving its New Glenn rocket severely damaged a launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida. According to NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, repairs to the...

Blue Origin New Glenn Rocket Explodes During Launch Pad Test, Delaying Space Ambitions

Blue Origin suffered a major setback after its uncrewed New Glenn rocket exploded during a launch pad test in Florida on Thursday, raising new challenges for Jeff Bezos space company as it competes with Elon Musks SpaceX...

SpaceX Delays Starship V3 Launch Ahead of Potential Record IPO

SpaceX on Thursday postponed the highly anticipated launch of its 12th Starship rocket test from Texas after technical issues interrupted the final countdown. The company now plans to attempt the Starship V3 launch again...

Trump Administration Releases New UFO Files and Apollo Mission Records

The U.S. Defense Department has released dozens of previously classified UFO-related files following an order from President Donald Trump, sparking renewed debate over unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) and government...

China vs. NASA: The New Moon Race and What's at Stake by 2030

The space race is back and this time, its a direct competition between the United States and China for dominance on the lunar surface. NASAs Artemis II mission recently made history when four astronauts flew farther into...

Technology

Apple Restores Telegram to App Store After Content Policy Violation

Apple briefly removed Telegram from its App Store after a review found content that violated its App Store guidelines prohibiting child sexual abuse material (CSAM), the company confirmed on Monday. The messaging platform...

SK Hynix Bonus Dispute Deepens as Union Rejects Stock-Based Payout Proposal

SK Hynix and representatives of one of its South Korean labor unions resumed negotiations on Tuesday, holding a fifth round of talks over the semiconductor companys employee bonus structure at its Cheongju manufacturing...

Palantir Stock Soars as AI Demand Drives Strong Q2 Earnings and Higher 2026 Outlook

Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) surged in after-hours trading on Monday after reporting stronger-than-expected second-quarter earnings and raising its full-year 2026 guidance, fueled by accelerating demand for its...

Vast Eyes Hong Kong IPO as Chinese AI Unicorn Gains Momentum

Chinese artificial intelligence startup Vast is reportedly exploring a potential initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong, signaling growing investor interest in Chinas fast-expanding AI sector. According to a Bloomberg...

Telegram Restored on Apple App Store After Temporary Removal

Telegram has confirmed that its messaging app is once again available on Apples App Store after users briefly encountered an unexpected outage that removed the app listing. The company announced on Monday that the issue...