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☆ Militant group blamed for 2002 Bali bombings to be disbanded, say senior leaders
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-05 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Senior members of Jemaah Islamiyah, the Southeast Asian militant network blamed for the deadly Bali bombings, have announced they are disbanding the group, according to a report by a Jakarta-based think tank on Thursday. The report from the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC) confirmed the authenticity of a June 30 video statement by 16 Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) leaders announcing they were dissolving the extremist network. The Al-Qaeda-linked militant group is accused of orchestrating some of the deadliest attacks in Indonesia, including the 2002 bombing of Bali nightclubs that killed more than 200 people. Indonesia’s National Counter Terrorism Agency (BNPT) declined to comment on the development, but said it planned to hold a press conference soon. Despite the clout of the figures involved, IPAC noted the group has a history of splinters and it was possible one could emerge in the future, although probably not immediately.

Persons: CNN —, Jemaah Islamiyah, Jemaah, ”, Sidney Jones, Jones, IPAC, ” Adhe Organizations: CNN, Institute for, JI, Counter Terrorism Agency, Radicalism, Deradicalization Locations: Jakarta, Indonesian, Islam, Indonesia, Bali

☆ Home in a box: Rethinking disaster relief, IKEA style
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Marianna Cerini | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Rather than sending tents, however, Indian nonprofit SEEDS partnered with Sweden’s Better Shelter to distribute over 100 of its IKEA-inspired temporary houses. Like IKEA furniture, Better Shelter’s homes come in flat packages that can be easily shipped and assembled in a matter of hours, without the need for tools or electricity. Each unit comprises a modular frame and is completed using local materials, such as bamboo or timber, before being equipped with a lockable door and solar-powered lamp. Sahiba Chawdhary/Better ShelterKarlsson began developing the concept for Better Shelter’s housing as a freelance designer in 2010, when a small aid project asked him to improve the design of its disaster relief tents. Sahiba Chawdhary/Better ShelterScalable, adaptable and localIn 2021, Better Shelter introduced its latest modular design: Structure.

Persons: CNN —, Gita Kumari Bhumik, ” Bhumik, Kumari Bhumik, Chawdhary Bhumik, It’s, ”, Johan Karlsson, “, Karlsson, you’re, we’ve, ” Karlsson, Sahiba, Geeta Bhumik, it’s Organizations: CNN, IKEA, IKEA Foundation, UN, decarbonization, UNHCR, for Economics & Peace, Better Locations: India’s, Assam, Indian, Assam's Kalain, Swedish, Ethiopia, Iran, Kenya, Afghanistan, Rwanda, Ecuador, Netherlands, Sydney

☆ Don't waste money on turmeric supplements—unless they contain up to 95% of this key ingredient
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Renée Onque | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Other health benefits people attribute to turmeric include: Improvement in moodBetter skin when applied topicallyReduced allergy symptomsAid for high cholesterol Turmeric supplements will cost you anywhere between $14 and $30, but are they actually beneficial for health? Should you have a choice between turmeric and curcumin, I would opt for the curcumin. Dr. Elizabeth Ko InternistA systematic review published in 2021 that analyzed more than 10 randomized controlled trials found that curcumin supplements may be helpful for managing osteoarthritis. And earlier this year, the Arthritis Foundation updated its guidance, stating that turmeric supplements likely won't help reduce symptoms of arthritis but curcumin supplements might. "Should you have a choice between turmeric and curcumin, I would opt for the curcumin," says Ko.

Persons: Elizabeth Ko, Elizabeth Ko Internist, Bhakti Shah, Shah, curcumin Organizations: UCLA, Integrative Medicine, Arthritis Foundation, Research Locations: Asia, New York

☆ Indian private credit funds rush to fill gap left by banks
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Bhakti Tambe | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MUMBAI, Aug 8 (Reuters) - A growing number of Indian alternative investment funds are expanding their private credit business, filling a void left by banks and non-bank lenders and mirroring a pick-up in activity across Asia. Private credit funds typically invest in debt or hybrid securities of unrated and lower-rated companies. Edelweiss Alternatives has invested 359 billion rupees in private credit and is looking to launch its next real estate credit fund. Vivriti Asset aims to add 15 billion rupees to the roughly 35 billion rupees it already manages in private credit, managing director Vineet Sukumar said. Private credit funds lend to these companies at 12%-18%, splitting transactions into tranches.

Persons: Lakshmi Iyer, Vineet Sukumar, Goswami Infratech, Amit Agarwal, Ankur Jain, Bhakti Tambe, Savio D'Souza Organizations: Advisors, Investments, Vivriti, Management, Edelweiss, Thomson Locations: MUMBAI, Asia, Edelweiss

MUMBAI, June 27 (Reuters) - Goswami Infratech, a Shapoorji Pallonji group entity, closed India's largest debt issue from a low-rated company on Tuesday, signalling growing interest in high-yielding debt from local and global private credit funds, bankers and fund managers said. Goswami Infratech accepted bids worth 143 billion rupees ($1.74 billion), including from Edelweiss Special Opportunities Fund, Davidson Kempner, Ares Capital Management, Varde Partners and Cerberus Capital Management, the bankers said. "We are seeing money coming in from global asset managers, international development financial institutions and large pension funds in Indian private credit funds," said Vineet Sukumar, founder of Vivriti Asset Management, which also manages a private credit fund. Two recent changes in regulation have also provided a boost to private credit funds. The tweaks have led to more funds from high net worth individuals and family offices flowing into private credit funds, while elevated yields are further leading to attractive investment opportunities.

Persons: Goswami Infratech, Davidson Kempner, Sukumar, Ajay Manglunia, Saurabh Jhalaria, Karthik Athreya, Sundaram, Dharamraj Dhutia, Bhakti, Sohini Goswami Organizations: Edelweiss, Fund, Ares Capital Management, Varde Partners, Cerberus Capital Management, Deutsche Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Ares, Vivriti Asset Management, JM Financial, EY, Asset Management, Thomson Locations: MUMBAI, India

In the fiscal year 2022 through 2023, HDFC raised 784.15 billion from the debt market, higher than the 500 billion rupees a year before. It has raised 460.62 billion rupees since April this year. Mutual funds hold around 270 billion rupees of HDFC's bonds as of May 31, data from information service provider Prime Database showed. Rival LIC Housing Finance may be the biggest beneficiary of HDFC exiting the market, fund managers said. Other competitors such as ICICI Home Finance, Bajaj Housing Finance, Tata Capital Housing Finance and Shriram Housing Finance could also see an increase in demand for their debt issuances, they said.

Persons: HDFC, Raju Sharma, HFCs, Ajay Manglunia, Laukik Bagwe, Bagwe, IDBI Mutual Fund's Sharma, Dharamraj Dhutia, Dhanya Ann Thoppil Organizations: Housing Development Finance Corp, HDFC Bank, Reuters, IDBI Mutual Fund, Securities and Exchange Board of India, JM Financial, AAA, Mutual, LIC, Finance, ICICI Home Finance, Bajaj Housing Finance, Tata Capital Housing Finance, Shriram Housing Finance, Mutual Fund, IDBI Mutual, Thomson Locations: MUMBAI, India, HDFC

☆ Adani Group likely to repay short-term commercial paper borrowings - bankers
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Bhakti Tambe | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Adani Enterprises and Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSE.NS) regularly raise funds by issuing CPs – short-term debt instruments issued to meet working capital requirements. "All payments are being made as per schedule," an Adani group spokesperson said in an e-mail, but did not respond to queries on whether investors are seeking early redemption. Adani Ports has CPs worth 35 billion rupees due to mature through end March, data from information service provider Prime Database showed. So, we may see them (Adani Group) staying away from the market for some time," said one banker, who regularly arranges debt issuances for the group. The Adani Group spokesperson denied media reports that these bond issues have been scrapped, saying this is "speculation" and "not true" in a reply to Reuters' mail.

☆ India New Issue IIFL Finance to raise funds via public issue
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MUMBAI, Jan 2 (Reuters) - India's IIFL Finance (IIFL.NS) plans to raise at least 1 billion rupees ($12.10 million) through public issue of non-convertible debentures, according to a product note. The issue, which also has a greenshoe option to retain an oversubscription of 9 billion rupees, will open for subscription on Friday and close on Jan. 18. Equirus Capital, Edelweiss, Trust Investment Advisors, IIFL Securities are the lead managers for the bond issue, which is rated AA by CRISIL and ICRA. Fundraising through public issues is expected to see an uptick in 2023 as retail investors bet on attractive interest rates and companies look to diversify their funding portfolio under tightening liquidity conditions. ($1 = 82.6600 Indian rupees)Reporting by Bhakti Tambe; Editing by Sohini GoswamiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Indian companies raised around 5.38 trillion rupees ($64.95 billion) through private placements in 2022, largely aided by the banking system's massive cash surplus, data showed. Public issues were only to the tune of around 80 billion rupees. Indian companies raised 127.1 billion rupees and 175.3 billion rupees through public issues in 2020 and 2021 respectively, SEBI data showed. Fundraising through private placement stood at 8 trillion rupees and 6.31 trillion rupees respectively. "I think public issues are rising because the repricing of bank fixed deposits was very gradual, while public issues are realigning to market realities much faster," said Sudhir Agrawal, executive vice president and fixed income fund manager at UTI Mutual Fund.

The private lender raised 150 billion rupees ($1.85 billion) through 10-year Tier-II bonds at an annual coupon of 7.86%, for which it had received bids worth 240.80 billion rupees, according to merchant bankers. A large state-run insurance company and a big provident fund house invested an aggregate of 90 billion rupees in this issue, merchant bankers said. HDFC Bank completes its debt sale a day ahead of State Bank of India's bond issue. HDFC Bank is set to be merged with parent Housing Development Finance Corp (HDFC.NS) in the coming months, and both entities have been on a fundraising spree this financial year. While HDFC Bank has raised 30 billion rupees, excluding the latest issue, HDFC has raised around 550 billion rupees through bond issuance.

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