Author: Steven Sahiounie

Investors may have a new way to generate income during economic declines. Innovator launched a one-of-a-kind suite of barrier ETFs this month that provides protection by purchasing U.S. Treasurys and selling equity options. “Advisors are realizing that bonds aren’t the safe haven that many thought they would be,” the firm’s CIO, Graham Day, told CNBC’s “ETF Edge” this week. “If you can pair [a barrier ETF] with the fixed income, it offers a tremendous amount of diversification benefits.” Innovator, an outcome-based ETF issuer, launched these products last week: Premium Income 10 Barrier ETF, Premium Income 20 Barrier ETF, Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF and Premium…

Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf were shot at close range late on Saturday. A former Indian member of parliament and his brother were killed by gunmen who posed as journalists while they were being escorted in handcuffs by police to the hospital, as per authorities. Atiq Ahmed, 61, who had been imprisoned since 2019 after being found guilty of kidnapping, and his brother Ashraf were shot at close range late on Saturday, according to television footage. “According to preliminary information, three persons posing as journalists approached them and opened fire… The attackers have been held and are being questioned,”…

Banners sporting the new brand name ‘MAAG’ already adorn storefronts in major shopping malls Former Zara stores in Russia are to reopen under a new name, MAAG, by June 1, news outlet Izvestia reported on Friday, citing Dmitry Tomilin, board member of the Russian Council of Shopping Centers. Tomilin told the news outlet that the deadline had been agreed between the new owner of the stores and Russia’s shopping centers, where many of the stores are located. According to its website, MAAG plans to open some 60 stores across Russia in the nearest future, including at Moscow’s largest shopping centers. Stores will…

In the city of Udine, eyewitnesses capture footage of military equipment making its way out of the Italian railway system heading to Ukraine. Italy is sending more than 20 M109L self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine, according to an Italian media report. The report was supplemented by footage shot by eyewitnesses present at a railway station in Udine in northeast Italy. The video shows upwards of 20 armored vehicles mounted on special transport wagons attached to a train, according to the Repubblica and Corriere della Sera newspaper. The newspaper identified the cargo as 155 mm M109L self-propelled howitzers with no insignia or identification numbers. Luca…

26 civilians were martyred in an attack carried out by the terrorist organization of Daesh on the locals in the eastern countryside of Hama. A source in Hama Police Command said that Daesh terrorists attacked group of citizens in Duizen village in the eastern countryside of Hama while they were collecting truffles, killing 26 of them. On the 17th of last February, 53 citizens were martyred while they were collecting truffles by Daesh terrorists southeast of al-Sukhna city in Homs countryside. Source: SANA

The Minister of Foreign Affairs is scheduled to meet with the top leadership of these states and talks with foreign ministers Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will visit several Latin American countries from April 17 through 21, the Russian foreign ministry said on Sunday. “From April 17 to 21, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will visit several Latin American countries, including Brazil, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba. The Russian foreign minister will have a rich program, which will include meetings with these countries’ leaders and talks with the foreign ministers,” it said. According to the ministry, the key goal of Lavrov’s tour is…

State-owned Fortum alleges Danish wind-power firm Vestas failed to return advance payments for project canceled due to sanctions Finland’s state-owned energy company Fortum Oyj has launched International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) arbitration proceedings against Danish wind-energy giant Vestas over the termination of contracts to deliver around 50 wind turbines to Russia. According to the Finnish utility, “sizeable advance payments” had been made to Vestas for wind turbines before Ukraine-related sanctions were introduced against Russia by the European Union last year. “Vestas did not deliver on its contractual obligations and yet refused to repay the advance payments and other project-related costs,” Fortum said in…

The Israeli occupation’s decision to restrict flights near Lebanon’s border comes after the entity received a historic multi-front attack last week. The Israeli occupation military extended flight restrictions near the Lebanese border for 24 hours until Monday after it was supposed to end Sunday noon, Israeli media reported earlier today. According to measures placed by the IOF, airspace up to 6km away from the Lebanese border was off-limits to civilian aircraft as the occupation entity feared the inability to respond quickly in case of any threat from Southern Lebanon or Syria. Israeli Kan news channel indicated that “the pesticide spraying planes were…

Media reports said that Egypt is still facing a crisis in saving the dollar, while anticipating the first review of its economic program with the IMF. A report by “Masrawy” website said that the pressure on the pound appears in its decline in futures contracts for a period of 12 months, in which the dollar rose to the level of 43 pounds, according to international press reports today, Thursday. According to the site, the pressures can also be seen in the trading of international depository certificates of the Commercial International Bank on the London Stock Exchange, at the largest discount…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Sudan’s capital Khartoum has turned into a war zone with a split in the military forces. The Sudanese army is battling the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) which is a paramilitary force, and the 10 million residents are taking cover to avoid the artillery exchanges, and air force operations against the RSF. Hospitals are reporting 80 injured, and three civilian deaths. Al Sharek TV, based in the UAE, reporting from Sudan, claimed that an Eqyptian soldier was killed in Murwey military airbase in Khartoum today, with raging battles continuing from yesterday. A large contingent from…