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

Become a contributor

Bookmark Econotimes

Mon, Apr 28, 2025 05:14 PM All times are UTC

Follow Series

©Econometrics LLC 2025. All Rights Reserved.

Zahir Irani

Professor of Sustainable Operations Management and Founding Dean of College, Brunel University London

Zahir is Professor of Operations and Information Management in the Brunel Business School, which he joined in August 2006 as the Head of School. Prior to this, he was the Head of the Department of Information Systems and Computing (now, Department of Computer Science). He completed a BEng (Hons) at Salford University before then accepting a research position where he completed a MPhil. His has a PhD from Brunel University in the area of investment evaluation before undertaking his leadership development at the Harvard Business School.

During 2014, Professor Irani enjoyed a full time secondment to the Cabinet Office, where he was a Senior Policy advisor. He currently maintains strong links across several Government departments and often advises on matter.

Zahir’s research interests are multidisciplinary in nature, and developed from early work on the area of evaluating investments in Manufacturing Information Systems through to more recent works in Transformational Government. He has received significant levels of funding from across the world as Principal Investigator, including from the UK Research Councils (EPSRC, ESRC), European Commission, Qatar Foundation, Australian Research Council and QinetiQ. He also publishes in leading scholarly journals. Zahir manages to find time to write press and thought leadership pieces on higher education and graduate employability that have appeared in The Guardian, The Independent, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times (FT), Thomson Reuters, University Business, Research Foresight and Times Higher Education (THE).

Under his leadership, Brunel Business School received the 2013/14 Times Higher Award – Business School of the Year.

The Middle East needs help with its long game: education and jobs for the young

Aug 09, 2016 09:14 am UTC| Insights & Views Life

The future for many young people across the Middle East and North Africa looks bleak. The World Bank records that 54% of the working age population in the Middle East and North Africa is unemployed with little prospect of...

Economy

Japan and Vietnam Strengthen Trade Ties Amid U.S. Tariff Tensions

Japan and Vietnam agreed to deepen bilateral trade and uphold global trade rules as Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba met with Vietnamese leaders in Hanoi on Monday. The meeting comes as both nations negotiate with...

Gold Prices Dip as US-China Trade Hopes Weigh on Safe-Haven Demand

Gold prices slipped in Asian trading on Monday, retreating from record highs amid signs of easing U.S.-China trade tensions. Spot gold dropped 0.8% to $3,292.75 per ounce by 01:54 ET (05:54 GMT), while June gold futures...

Australia’s AAA Credit Rating Stable Despite Election Spending, Says Treasurer

Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers has dismissed concerns that election spending promises could jeopardize Australias coveted AAA credit rating. Earlier on Monday, SP Global Ratings warned that campaign pledges ahead of the...

Bank of Japan to Hold Rates Steady Amid U.S. Tariff Risks and Weak Yen Pressures

The Bank of Japan (BOJ) is expected to keep interest rates steady on Thursday, signaling caution as U.S. tariffs continue to threaten Japans fragile economic recovery. Governor Kazuo Ueda, after meetings in Washington...

ECB Faces Complex June Decision Amid U.S. Tariff Inflation Risks

The European Central Bank (ECB) faces a complicated decision at its upcoming June meeting, as policymakers weigh inflation risks stemming from U.S. tariffs, Dutch central bank governor Klaas Knot said in an interview with...

Politics

Ukraine and U.S. Near Minerals Deal, Excluding Past Aid

Ukraine has confirmed that previous U.S. aid will not be factored into a minerals deal it seeks to finalize with Washington, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced on Sunday. In a post on Telegram, Shmyhal...

Trump Urges Russia to Halt Ukraine Attacks Amid Stalled Peace Talks

President Donald Trump on Sunday called on Russia to stop its attacks in Ukraine, warning that the U.S. could abandon peace efforts if progress stalls. Speaking in New Jersey, Trump expressed disappointment over continued...

U.S. Urges Calm Amid Rising India-Pakistan Tensions Following Kashmir Attack

The U.S. State Department said Sunday it is engaging with India and Pakistan to encourage a responsible resolution after a deadly militant attack in Kashmir heightened tensions between the two nations. India blamed...

Trump’s Global Impact Boosts Albanese Ahead of Australia’s Election

In Sydneys affluent Bondi Junction, early voters said Donald Trump and the global economy influenced their choices ahead of Australias May 3 national election. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the ruling Labor Party are...

Bessent Says No Confirmation on Trump-Xi Talks as U.S.-China Trade Tensions Escalate

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Sunday he was unaware if President Donald Trump had spoken with Chinese President Xi Jinping, nor could he confirm whether formal trade negotiations were underway. Speaking...

Science

Kennedy Sets September Deadline to Uncover Autism Causes Amid Controversy

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a bold plan to identify the cause of autism by September 2025. Speaking at a cabinet meeting with President Donald Trump, Kennedy declared a global...

AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi Gets US Approval for Bladder Cancer Treatment

AstraZenecas drug Imfinzi (NASDAQ: AZN) has received U.S. approval to treat adult patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer, a significant advancement in cancer therapy. The approval allows Imfinzi to be used in...

Sanofi’s New Hemophilia Drug Qfitlia Gains FDA Approval with Breakthrough Bimonthly Dosing

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Qfitlia, a groundbreaking hemophilia treatment by French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi (NASDAQ: SNY). Designed for patients aged 12 and older with hemophilia A or B,...

FDA Vaccine Chief Peter Marks Resigns Amid Controversy Over Transparency

Peter Marks, the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) top vaccine official, has resigned after reportedly being forced out by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), according to The Wall Street Journal....

Museums have tons of data, and AI could make it more accessible − but standardizing and organizing it across fields won’t be easy

Ice cores in freezers, dinosaurs on display, fish in jars, birds in boxes, human remains and ancient artifacts from long gone civilizations that few people ever see museum collections are filled with all this and more....

Technology

Chinese AI App DeepSeek Resumes Downloads in South Korea After Privacy Update

Chinese artificial intelligence app DeepSeek has resumed availability in South Koreas app stores after a two-month suspension due to data protection concerns. Downloads were halted in February when South Koreas Personal...

Nvidia Shares Dip as Huawei Tests Rival AI Chip

Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA) slipped in after-hours trading on Sunday, following reports that Chinas Huawei is testing a powerful artificial intelligence chip aimed at challenging Nvidias dominance. NVDA shares fell...

Huawei Challenges Nvidia with New Ascend 910D AI Chip Amid U.S. Export Curbs

Huawei Technologies is preparing to launch its most advanced artificial intelligence processor yet, the Ascend 910D, aiming to compete with Nvidias high-end chips, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Sample batches...

China Accelerates AI Self-Reliance Amid Nvidia H20 Chip Ban

The U.S. move to tighten export controls on Nvidias H20 chips is adding pressure to Chinas AI sector, but immediate disruption appears limited as domestic firms rapidly pivot to local alternatives. Analysts at Bernstein...

Nintendo Unveils Switch 2 Amid Tariff Concerns and Soaring Demand

Nintendo offered fans an early hands-on experience with its new Switch 2 console at an event near Tokyo on Saturday, as concerns grow that tariffs could push prices higher. Since Mr. Trump became president, tariffs have...