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London Stock Exchange issues first “masala” bond

The London Stock Exchange has become the first financial trading centre to issue a “masala” or rupee-denominated bond outside of India by an Indian company listed on the London Stock Exchange.

The landmark listing, by HDFC one of India’s biggest banks, was welcomed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond.


“I’m delighted that Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) has chosen to list this landmark bond in London. It represents a major vote of confidence in London as the leading global financial centre and is further proof that Britain is a great place to do business,” said Hammond.

The bond, which was more than four times oversubscribed, has raised raised 30 billion Indian Rupees, equivalent to 450 million US Dollars. It has attracted significant interest from Asian investors.

Alok Sharma, UK Minister for Asia said that the listing was a clear signal of London’s continued standing as a leading international financial centre and a strengthening of ties between UK and India. “I am confident that this will pave the way for many more Indian companies to raise capital in London to support India’s ambitious infrastructure plans,” said Sharma.

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What was the Tebbit Test and why was it controversial?

LORD NORMAN TEBBIT, the former cabinet minister who introduced the controversial “cricket test” to question the loyalty of migrants, has died at the age of 94. The test, later known as the “Tebbit Test,” suggested that immigrants who supported cricket teams from their countries of origin instead of England were not fully integrated into British society. His death was confirmed on Monday by his son, William, who asked for privacy for the family.

Tebbit first spoke about the test in 1990 as a Conservative MP. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, he said, “A large proportion of Britain's Asian population fail to pass the cricket test. Which side do they cheer for? It’s an interesting test. Are you still harking back to where you came from or where you are?”

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Air India crash probe finds fuel to engines was cut off before impact

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FUEL control switches to both engines of the Air India flight that crashed shortly after takeoff were moved from the "run" to the "cutoff" position seconds before the crash, according to a preliminary investigation report released early Saturday.

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Chinese vessel tracked in Bay of Bengal after disabling identification system

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Asian-inspired garden earns five awards at Hampton Court

BRITISH Asians are being encouraged to take up gardening by a couple who have won a record five medals at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival.

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Heat warnings in effect as UK braces for another hot weekend

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