Podcasts about ifn

Nick Edmondes, managing partner at Trowers & Hamlins Kuala Lumpur, discusses the trends in the Islamic finance industry, including tokenization widening access to Sukuk and the legal and regulatory hurdles facing the digital space, with IFN's Nessreen Tamano.

In this episode, IFN journalist Radhika Das speaks with Fadlul Imansyah, the CEO of Badan Pengelola Keuangan Haji (BPKH), or the Hajj Financial Management Agency, about the management and investment of Indonesia's Hajj funds, including BPKH's Sukuk strategy, portfolio diversification, investment opportunities within the Hajj and Umrah ecosystem in Saudi Arabia and the role of technology in Hajj fund management.

Hejaz Group's co-founder and executive director Muzzammil Dhedhy discusses with IFN's Nessreen Tamano the mindset behind the group's evolution, its new investment offerings, and its ambitious Wahda superapp as it looks beyond financial products.

Mikkiongelmat jatkuu, mutta yritys kova. Tunnelataus ei välity uudesta mikistä tai sitten väsymys. Ihan helvetin sama. Kaikkea silti puhutaan YLEISESTI ottaen. Ota kalja lapaseen ja nauti. Väliaikainen paluu.(00:28) Alkuhöpinät(15:08) Urheiluosio: Urheilucast, IFN, Alisa Vainion rakkauselämä + Liigaennakko(37:35) Mediakatsaus (52:12) Lappeenranta lätinä

Hamed Afzal, partner and regional head of capital markets at Norton Rose Fulbright (Middle East), talks to IFN's Nessreen Tamano about the growing opportunities in the Saudi Sukuk market for mid-sized issuers and the potential for asset-backed and securitization structures to drive its next phase of growth.

In this episode, IFN journalist Radhika Das speaks with Sue Lee, the APAC head of index investment strategy at S&P Dow Jones Indices, about the performance of Islamic capital markets during the first half of 2026, including the role of technology in Islamic equity returns, emerging market performance, Sukuk and the evolving demand for Islamic index products.

This week on I'm Fun Now, Sazan is opening the floor to the besties for an Ask Me Anything where no question was off limits. From beauty secrets and skincare routines to marriage, motherhood, faith, career, and the baby #4 question everyone keeps asking… Reminders: vote.online or @vote on Instagram for more information. Check Your Registration - https://tools.vote.online/embeds/check-your-registration?partnerId=c688ee5d fashionpass.com enjoy code SAZAN to get your first month of FashionPass for JUST $55! This is THE best discount out there so run to start renting! ✨GIVEAWAY DEETS✨ As a thank you for being a supporter of this show, I'm going to give away THREE $100 giftcards to some lucky listeners! All you have to do is: 1.) make sure you're following the @imfunnow.podcast page on Instagram! 2.) share your favorite IFN episode to your IG stories tagging @imfunnow.podcast and @Sazan!  ***giveaway winners will be dm'ed directly on 8/16/26. Good luck!!   MORE FUN THINGS

HEALTH NEWS   Melatonin may safely reduce chronic musculoskeletal pain, study finds Study: Nordic Walking Reduces Depression Symptoms Within Weeks Connection or compulsion: How smartphones can deepen depression in older adults This Popular Workout Supplement May Give Cancer Immunotherapy a Big Boost Probiotic metabolite found to suppress melanoma tumor growth in mice   Melatonin may safely reduce chronic musculoskeletal pain, study finds University of Sydney, June 30 2026 (News-Medical) A sleep supplement widely used to treat insomnia could help reduce reliance on some of the most common and potentially harmful pain medications, new research from the University of Sydney suggests.  Published in PAIN, the study found melatonin can reduce chronic musculoskeletal pain with effects in a similar range to medications such as opioids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and paracetamol.  The study analyzed data from 2028 adults across 23 randomised controlled trials conducted in countries including the United States, Russia, Brazil, Egypt and China. Participants included people with conditions such as low back pain, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia, as well as those recovering from surgeries including joint replacements and spinal procedures.  On average, the study found that melatonin reduced pain by around nine points on a 0-100 scale, with the most rigorous trials showing reductions closer to 10 points, a similar magnitude to widely used pain medications. Across the trials, the dose and timing of melatonin varied depending on the condition and setting. For chronic musculoskeletal pain, doses typically ranged from 3 to 10 mg, with 3 mg per day the most commonly used. For postoperative pain, doses ranged from 1 to 10 mg, with 5 to 6 mg most common. Melatonin was generally taken at bedtime or up to one hour before sleep.     Study: Nordic Walking Reduces Depression Symptoms Within Weeks Université Grenoble Alpes (France), July 1 2026 (Natural News)   A randomized controlled trial published in the Journal of Affective Disorders found that supervised Nordic walking significantly reduced depression symptoms in adults with moderate to severe depression. The most pronounced improvements occurred within the first five weeks of the 10-week program, according to researchers. The study enrolled 64 adults, with 48 assigned to Nordic walking and 16 to a non-active control group.   The findings challenge the commonly cited three-month timeframe for exercise benefits on depression. A secondary analysis examined whether participants with severe depression responded differently than those with moderate symptoms. According to the study, Nordic walking is a low-impact activity that engages the upper and lower body using poles, similar to cross-country skiing. The Nordic walking group showed significantly greater reductions in depression symptoms compared to the control group over the full 10 weeks. The largest reduction occurred from baseline to week five, with a large effect size; improvements from week five to week ten were smaller and not statistically significant. Participants with severe depression at baseline experienced even larger and faster improvements in the first five weeks, according to the secondary analysis.   Connection or compulsion: How smartphones can deepen depression in older adults Rutgers University, July 1 2026 (Eurekalert)   Compulsive smartphone habits in older adults can be linked to a higher risk of depression, according to a study led by a Rutgers researcher.  Researchers said their findings raised concerns that technology widely promoted to build connections can instead deepen late-life isolation: While mobile devices can be invaluable lifelines, their impact on mental health depends heavily on the way people use them. A critical distinction, the researchers said, is whether someone uses technology to actively engage with the world or to withdraw. The study, published in JMIR Aging, drew on survey responses from 2,585 adults ages 60 and older living in 87 communities. Researchers collected health and demographic information, including age, gender, marital status, education and income, and measured depressive symptoms with a screening tool commonly used with older adults. Limited social participation emerged as the strongest predictor of depression, followed closely by smartphone addiction, defined as compulsive or excessive use that disrupts daily functioning. Problematic phone reliance appeared in nearly all cases of clinical depression, with older adults who rarely used interactive communication features facing the greatest risk. Another high-risk pattern emerged among older adults of both sexes: Those with higher incomes and education levels who suffered from smartphone addiction were more prone to clinical depression. This finding suggests that wealth, education, and technology access fail to protect against loneliness when screen time replaces real-world connections.   This Popular Workout Supplement May Give Cancer Immunotherapy a Big Boost University of California at Los Angeles, July 1, 2026 (SciTech Daily) Creatine, a supplement widely used by athletes and bodybuilders, may also strengthen the immune system's ability to fight cancer, according to new research from UCLA. Previous findings from the same research team show that creatine boosts the activity of killer T cells, which destroy cancer cells. The new research found that creatine also supports dendritic cells, the immune cells responsible for detecting tumor material and activating killer T cells to launch an attack. Although many approved cancer immunotherapies target killer T cells, only about 20% to 40% of patients benefit from these treatments. Enhancing dendritic cells, which prepare and activate T cells, could improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy for more people. The researchers found that dendritic cells inside tumors produced much higher levels of the gene responsible for the creatine transporter, the protein that moves creatine into cells, than dendritic cells found in healthy tissue. They investigated whether increasing creatine could improve dendritic cell performance. Daily creatine injections in mouse models of melanoma slowed tumor growth while increasing both the number and activity of dendritic cells within tumors. The treated dendritic cells also released more chemical signals that attracted additional immune cells to the tumor.     Probiotic metabolite found to suppress melanoma tumor growth in mice Southern Medical University (China), June 30 2026 (News-Medical)   Immune checkpoint inhibitors like anti-PD-1 have transformed melanoma treatment, yet more than half of patients fail to respond or eventually develop resistance. The tumor microenvironment and the gut microbiome are increasingly recognized as critical determinants of immunotherapy outcomes. Melanoma patients often show reduced levels of beneficial gut bacteria, including Bifidobacterium, and lower microbial diversity. Researchers have discovered that Bifidobacterium animalis—a probiotic commonly found in fermented dairy products—produces mannose, which activates CD8⁺ T cells and suppresses melanoma progression in mouse models. The study reveals a novel gut-microbiome-immune axis that could lead to new adjuvant strategies for melanoma immunotherapy.   When given orally to mice with melanoma tumors, the bacterium significantly reduced tumor volume and weight—without ever colonizing the tumor tissue itself, indicating that its effects were mediated entirely through secreted metabolites. Using size fractionation and metabolomics, the team identified mannose as the key bioactive molecule—a small, non-protein compound under 3 kilodaltons. In mice, drinking water supplemented with 1% mannose replicated the anti-tumor effects of the live probiotic, increasing tumor-infiltrating CD8⁺ T cells and boosting their production of killer molecules like granzyme B (GZMB), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α).

In this episode, IFN journalist Radhika Das speaks with John Gartchie Gatsi, adviser to the governor on non-interest banking at the Bank of Ghana, about the implementation of Ghana's non-interest banking guidelines, prospects for Sukuk and Takaful and the progress toward licensing the country's first Islamic banking institutions.

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Ahmed Jan, General Manager of Treasury at the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation, on trade finance priorities, resource mobilization, strategic partnerships and advancing regional integration across OIC markets 

 Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Aymen Kasem, Division Manager of Trade Development at the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation, on intra-OIC trade, SME participation, digitalization and trade development as a driver of regional integration 

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Madina Yerzhanova, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Export Credit Agency of Kazakhstan, on cooperation with ICIEC, export development, regional integration and expanding trade across OIC markets

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Sujithav Sarangi, Executive Director at Standard Chartered, on the award-winning commodity Murabahah facility for Agrobank, Islamic finance development in Uzbekistan, Shariah compliant liquidity solutions and regional integration

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Mohamud Hussein Khalif, Director of the Underwriting Operations Department at the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit, on geopolitical risks, underwriting trends, political risk insurance and the outlook for global trade and investment

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Ahmed Samir, Group Treasury Manager at Elsewedy Electric, on infrastructure exports, risk mitigation, trade finance and the role of insurance solutions in supporting expansion into developing markets

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Boubacar Correa, Board Director and Aminata Faye Seck, CEO of Banque Islamique du Senegal, on financial inclusion, SME financing, growth strategy and supporting regional development in West Africa

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Ousseni Ilboudo, Group Head of Islamic Finance at Coris Holding, on Islamic finance growth in West Africa, financial inclusion, SME financing and regional economic integration

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Azim Rali, Assistant Vice President, Marketing & Corporate Communications at Amana Bank and Secretary at OrphanCare Trust, on Islamic social finance, child welfare initiatives, Waqf and sustainable social impact

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Nurym Ayazbayev, Executive Director of the Directorate of Lending to Financial Institutions at the Eurasian Development Bank, on Islamic finance in Central Asia, the bank's Islamic window and Sukuk plans

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Mohamad Safri Hamid, CEO of the International Islamic Liquidity Management Corporation, on diversifying the IILM's asset base, expanding its Sukuk program and supporting global Islamic liquidity management

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Eralp Delikkaya, Financial Institutions Director at Destek Bank, on participation banking opportunities in Turkiye, funding diversification, international partnerships and Islamic finance

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Mary Kamel, Executive Director of the Foreign Trade Training Centre, on the STEP program, SME export development, capacity building and strengthening intra-OIC trade

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Zishan Iqbal, Manager for Asia Region in the Business Development Department at the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit, on trade and investment opportunities in Asia, risk mitigation and strengthening connectivity between Asian and OIC markets

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Affendi Rashdi, Director General of Labuan Financial Services Authority, on the Awqaf Free Zones initiative, the modernization of Waqf assets, Labuan's role in Islamic finance and sustainable development financing

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Anar Yusufzada, Member of the Board of the Alternative Banking Council (ABC); Nariman Imranov, Business Development Manager at ABC; and Gorkhmaz Aghayev, Chairman of the ABC, on Azerbaijan's Islamic finance development, SME financing, Sukuk opportunities and regional integration

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Yasser Madani Alaki, Director of the Business Development Department at the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC), on ICIEC's growth strategy, infrastructure financing opportunities, partnerships and future initiatives

State Senator Kevin Parker , New York State Senate

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Dr Moutaz Abojeib, CEO of IFAAS, on emerging Islamic finance markets, regulatory development, Islamic climate finance and opportunities for industry growth

Professor M Kabir Hassan, Professor of Finance, Department of Economics and Finance, University of New Orleans

From a high-level perspective, we assess the state of Shariah-compliant investment management in North America and how it is adapting to the needs of a digital-first Muslim investor base. Discussion will focus on how ETFs, SMAs, model portfolios, and fintech platforms are shaping product design, distribution, and investor education. Panellists will assess how Islamic strategies are being positioned within the broader values-based investing landscape, where innovation is happening, and what gaps still limit scaling across RIAs, family offices, and wealth-tech channels.Moderator:Dr Ehab Elsonbaty, Partner, DLA PiperPanelists:Junaid Wahedna, Founder and Chairman, Wahed InvestKamal Solaiman, CEO and Managing Partner, Sinbad CapitalProfessor M Kabir Hassan, Professor of Finance, Department of Economics and Finance, University of New OrleansMonem Salam, Executive Vice President, Director, and Portfolio Manager, Saturna CapitalZeshan Gondal, Senior Vice President, Stearns Salaam Bank

Patrick Drum, Fixed Income Lead and Portfolio Manager, Saturna Capital

This session explores the opportunities and constraints for Shariah-compliant investing across US private markets, including private credit, venture, growth equity, real assets, and real estate. Speakers will consider structuring approaches, liquidity expectations, governance issues, and how managers are adapting Shariah requirements to modern private-market practices. The panel will also examine where genuine deal flow exists, the current presence of US-domiciled Islamic private-market vehicles, and how tokenisation may broaden investor access to alternatives.Moderator:Mushfique Shams Billah, Chair of Private Credit Team & Partner, Barnes & Thornburg LLPPanelists:Aamir Rehman, Chair, Innate Capital PartnersDr Amjad Hammad, Founder and Managing Partner, Baraka Prosperity PartnersCharles Stackhouse, Senior Vice President, JA Mitsui Capital CorporationShakeel Adli, Founder and CEO, ZunikhThomas Polson, General Partner, Polson Real Assets

Irshad Rasheed, President, Stearns Salaam Bank

Michael McMillen, Partner, Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP

Moderator:Irshad Rasheed, President, Stearns Salaam BankPanelists:Aamir Rehman, Chair, Innate Capital PartnersAijaz Hussain, Executive Vice President of Sales & Director, UIF CorporationAhmad Quqa, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Crescent Private WealthMonem Salam, Executive Vice President, Director, and Portfolio Manager, Saturna CapitalMushfique Shams Billah, Chair of Private Credit Team & Partner, Barnes & Thornburg LLP

We examine how fintech, digital RIAs, and wealth-tech apps are reshaping access to Shariah-compliant investments in North America. Panellists will address the practical state of tokenisation in real estate, private credit, and fund structures, as well as the evolving role of P2P and crowdfunding platforms. The conversation will address investor-protection and Shariah-governance considerations, and outline regulatory developments that could support responsible, scalable digital Islamic investing across the US and Canada.Moderator:Ishmam Ahmed, Managing Director, Hoya AdvisoryPanelists:Fahad Siddiqui, Founder & CEO, MabrookLawrence Oliver, Executive Director, Deputy CEO, DDCAP Group/ETHOS AFPMichal Selbka, Director – DeFi, Digital Assets & Tokenization North America, S&P Global RatingsSouhayl Maronesy, Founder and CEO, EdificeX

A concise assessment of the Shariah-compliant investment and wealth management solutions available to North American investors: ETFs, mutual funds, REITs, SMAs and model portfolios. The panel will evaluate where products meet investor needs on performance, diversification and cost, and where under-served areas remain, including income, alternatives and thematic exposures. Discussion will highlight the evolving role of wealth managers and advisers, alongside growing demand for broader financial solutions, including savings and home financing.Moderator:Tariq Al Rifai, Advisor, Economic PolicyPanelists:Ahmad Quqa, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Crescent Private WealthAijaz Hussain, Executive Vice President of Sales & Director, UIF CorporationElias Scheker Da Silva, Portfolio Manager – Global Fixed Income, WafraDr Mohamad Sawwaf, Founder and CEO, ManzilSaad Malik, CEO & Co-founder, Zoya Finance

In this episode, IFN journalist Radhika Das speaks with Mohamud Hussein Khalif, director of the underwriting operations department at the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC), about the impact of geopolitical uncertainty on political risk and export credit insurance demand, evolving underwriting practices and the outlook for global trade and investment across ICIEC member countries

Irshad Rasheed, a founding board member of Islamic Finance Trade Association of North America, gives IFN an exclusive first look into the country's first industry-wide trade association, which already has a healthy pipeline of initiatives including the launching of Sukuk and a Shariah compliant education savings plan.

In this week's episode, Blood editor Dr. James Griffin interviews Drs. Johnny Mahlangu and Joseph Rocco on their articles published in volume 147 issue 9 of Blood.  Dr. Mahlangu discusses study details and next steps from "Efficacy and safety of marstacimab prophylaxis in hemophilia A/B with inhibitors: results from the phase 3 BASIS trial" which shows that bleeding was reduced by 93% with subcutaneous marstacimab. Dr. Rocco shares the development behind "CXCL9 as a novel prognostic marker to identify high-risk adults with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis", and the insights gained from measuring a new surrogate marker of IFN-γ activity predicting severity and mortality.

Risa E Rustam, Director, Indonesia Stock Exchange

Henry Rialdi, Head of Department of Capital Market Regulation and Development, Financial Services Authority (OJK)

Mufti Faraz Adam, Shariah Advisor – Digital Assets, Tokenisation & Web3, Fasset

Dr Nabil Hani Qaddumi, Chairman of the Board of Directors, TaawonDr Tareq Emtairah, Director General, Taawon

We explore how Indonesia can evolve its investment sector beyond existing models to become a regional hub for Shariah-compliant funds and private equity. We discuss the need for product innovation, including new fund structures, private market strategies and diversified asset classes, to attract global Islamic capital. We also examine how technology, regulatory support, collaboration and ESG integration can strengthen market access, transparency and competitiveness.Moderator:Kautsar Primadi Nurahmad, Vice Director, Corporate Secretary, Indonesia Stock ExchangePanelists:Abdulhaq Mohammed, Singapore Managing Partner and Head of Asia, Trowers & HamlinsArief Subekti, Executive Vice President, Head of Shariah Business, PT Sarana Multi Infrastruktur (Persero)Dr Bilal Ilhan, County Advisor – Investment and Finance Office, Presidency of the Republic of TürkiyeDarius Nass, Associate Director, Global Equity Indices, S&P Dow Jones IndicesDr Indra Gunawan, Chief Investment Officer and Member of Executive Board, Badan Pengelola Keuangan Haji

Irvan Susandy, Director of Trading and Membership, Indonesia Stock Exchange

Saibjan Khudayberdiyev, Head of Capital Market Development Department, National Agency for Prospective Projects of the Republic of Uzbekistan

We examine the next phase of Uzbekistan's Islamic finance agenda, including regulator-driven ecosystem development, the integration of international Shariah and prudential standards, capacity-building priorities, and the active role of state-owned enterprises and corporates in establishing a sustainable industry foundation.Moderator:Alisher Djumanov, Managing Partner, AD WealthPanelists:Bakhrom Numonov, Council Chairman, Association of Islamic Finance & TakafulBashar Al-Natoor, Managing Director and Global Head of Islamic Finance, Fitch RatingsBekhruzbek Ochilov, Investment Banking Director, ALKESAssociate Professor Dr Gapur Oziev, Managing Director, IKIACADMYMukhtar Umarov, Chairman, Assembly of Economy of Uzbekistan

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing. Learn more about our programs at www.fxnursing.com In this episode of the Functional Nurse Podcast, Brigitte Sager welcomes Samantha Hamilton, MSN-Ed, RN, a functional nurse educator, entrepreneur, and the Director of Growth and Partnerships at the Institute for Functional Nursing (IFN). Together, they pull back the curtain on what functional nursing education actually looks like, how nurses can integrate functional medicine into practice, and why nursing-specific training is so different from traditional functional medicine programs. This conversation explores the foundations of IFN's signature Functional Nursing Program™, including how it teaches to IFM's published clinical competencies, leans heavily into case-study learning, offers holistic nursing certification pathways, supports students interested in entrepreneurship, and how nurses can apply functional medicine principles in real-world clinical settings. Brigitte and Sam also discuss the growing demand for root-cause nursing care, the importance of community and mentorship in nursing education, and why nurses are uniquely positioned to lead the future of preventative and integrative healthcare. If you're curious about functional nursing, holistic nursing certification, or starting your own wellness-focused practice, this episode offers an inside look at what's possible. Connect with Samantha Hamilton: Director of Growth & Partnerships at the Institute for Functional Nursing Registered Nurse & Functional Nurse Educator Website: https://www.fxnursing.com Attend a Q & A webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_zNGnUGlaRzqrJlWzaA6AXw#/registration Schedule a 1 on 1 call: https://calendly.com/samantha-fxnursing/30min

The U.S. dollar is flexing its muscles as the world's ultimate safe haven, surging against major currencies as global uncertainty drives flight-to-quality flows. Meanwhile, the Euro is struggling as European economies face the double whammy of energy price shocks and growth concerns, reshaping currency markets worldwide.Today's Stocks & Topics: Synchrony Financial (SYF), Market Wrap, Diageo plc (DEO), Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM), Aberdeen India Fund, Inc. (IFN), Is Currency Market Volatility Creating New Investment Opportunities?, Jackson Financial Inc. (JXN), Vanguard Materials ETF (VAW), KPP Management of ETFs, Mueller Water Products, Inc. (MWA), Large Language Models (LLMs) and AI.Introducing our Third Annual InvestTalk Market Madness! Join the mayhem before May 18th at 11:59 pm PST for the chance to win $1,500! Fill out your bracket below: https://kppfinancial.com/investtalk-madnessOur Sponsors:* Check out Anthropic: https://claude.ai/invest* Check out Pebl: https://hipebl.ai* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/invest* Check out TruDiagnostic and use my code INVEST20 for a great deal: https://www.trudiagnostic.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands