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Malay Mail
12-07-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
The hundred-year catch — Abbi Kanthasamy
JULY 12 — I've been rooted in Malaysia since '98. Long enough to understand that everyone here, absolutely everyone, carries an opinion about him. The man who, against every global financial pundit's dire warning, pegged the ringgit. The one who effectively told the IMF to take their austerity sermons and preach them to someone else. He built highways that snaked through the land, brought forth twin towers that seemed to slice the very clouds, and conjured an entire administrative capital from what was once just a stretch of plantation. Depending on who you ask, he was a grand visionary, a ruthless pragmatist, a nation-builder, or something far more complex. But today? Today wasn't about the grand narratives. July 10 marked his hundredth birthday. There's an old saw about meeting your heroes, or your villains. The moment you do, they shed their mythic armor. They stop being convenient symbols and become, simply, painfully human. Yet there I was, walking into what amounted to history's living room, a small offering tucked under my arm: my book, No Boundaries, a rumination on the peculiar beauty of cricket. I wasn't expecting a coronation or a drum roll. What truly disarmed me was this: as I stepped inside, the hundred-year-old man, this titan of Southeast Asian politics, slowly, deliberately, rose to his feet. He offered a handshake that was firm, not fragile, his eyes meeting mine with a surprising, genuine warmth. This was a man who once stood before the United Nations and frankly scolded the West for its double standards, who navigated decades of political intrigue with the precise cunning of a chess grandmaster. And he stood up for me. A quiet, utterly unpretentious gesture from a man who, by any measure, had long since earned the right to be entirely unbothered. It was, in a word, disorienting. Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali are seen during a meet and greet with the public at the Perdana Leadership Foundation, Putrajaya, in celebration of his 100th birthday July 10, 2025. — Picture by Raymond Manuel Before arriving, I'd cleared a small culinary detail with his son, a friend: would he be open to some appams for the celebration? 'Yes, please,' came the immediate, enthusiastic reply. 'They all adore the appams from Aliyaa.' And who wouldn't? Hot, sweet, fragrant with coconut, the kind that practically melt the moment they touch your tongue. We brought a small crew to prepare them fresh, because to serve an appam otherwise would be a minor culinary tragedy. After the exchange of the book, he flipped through its pages, his fingers tracing the images and words. Then, without a prompt, he began to spin a yarn. Not about statecraft or global economics, but about cricket. He recalled being a young man, out on the field, when a ball came hurtling towards him. Pure instinct took over. He simply extended his hand and caught it clean. The whole field, he recounted, erupted. They told him he was destined for cricket, that he possessed the reflexes of a natural athlete. He offered a light chuckle, a dry, knowing sound, noting he probably ended up a better politician in the end. He painted the scene with such vividness, I could almost conjure the echo of his teammates' laughter across the decades. I could practically feel the sun glinting off old bat handles, sense the raw, electric rush of youth coursing through veins that now pulsed slower, yes, but still thrummed with a century of memory, hard-won wisdom, and the immeasurable, often brutal, weight of leadership. In those few minutes, he managed to put me entirely at ease. Perhaps that's the quiet artistry of a formidable politician — the innate ability to forge an instant connection, to make you feel, for that fleeting moment, like you're the sole, most important person in the room. But this exchange didn't feel like a political manoeuvre. It felt, unvarnished and undeniable, human. I requested a portrait. He nodded, and again, rose, straightening slightly, a silent request to look his best. I didn't linger. Just two swift, quiet clicks of the camera. I had no desire to intrude further on his family's private moment, no wish to pierce the simple, profound peace that settled over that room — the soft murmur of conversation, the gentle clinking of plates, an old man settling back into his chair, my book about cricket resting in his hands. As I stepped back into the Kuala Lumpur night, I reflected on the man I'd just encountered. Over a century of life, he'd been branded with a multitude of labels: leader, statesman, visionary, sometimes even a controversial figure. But in that room, at that advanced age, he was none of those things. He was simply a man. A grandfather, a father, an elder. A man who, a lifetime ago, caught a cricket ball, and perhaps, in that singular, perfect second, truly believed anything was possible. And maybe, just maybe, that's the true measure of a life well-lived: not just the monumental achievements, but the enduring belief, even in the smallest of moments, that you can truly catch whatever life throws at you. And then, with quiet determination, spending a lifetime proving it. Not just to yourself, but to everyone watching. * This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
Forbes
06-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Nudging Gen Z To Make Sound Financial Decisions
A Walmart's staff member works on a display of the No Boundaries collection at a store in Secaucus, ... More New Jersey, Thursday, July 11, 2024. The Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer has revamped its 30-year-old mainstay store brand for young adults called No Boundaries, which generates annual sales of $2 billion. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez) The majority of members belonging to Generation Z are financially illiterate. A majority are in financial trouble because of their spending and borrowing behavior. The combination of financial illiteracy and problematic money management leads many to be unaware of the ticking time bombs which underlie their financial circumstances. At the same time, there is hope for Gen Z. This is because behavioral economics-based nudging techniques are helping some members of Gen Z to make wise decisions about saving for retirement and using Buy Now Pay Later plans. Low Financial Literacy And Problematic Behaviors The concept of financial literacy refers to consumers' understanding of basic financial principles. In this regard, economists Annamaria Lusardi and Olivia Mitchell study financial literacy by focusing on three specific dimensions: 1. compound interest; 2. inflation; and 3. stock market risk. Lusardi and Mitchell assess people's degree of financial literacy using multiple choice survey questions, such as the following: 1. If you invest $10 in an asset which pays 1% per day of interest for 72 days, how much will your investment be worth in 72 days? 2. Imagine that the interest rate on your savings account was 1% per year and inflation was 2% per year. After 1 year, how much would you be able to buy with the money in this account? 3. Does buying a single company's stock usually provide a safer return than buying a stock mutual fund? The answers to the three questions are, respectively, 1. $20; 2. less than today; and 3. No. Lusardi and Mitchell report that the percentages of those deemed to be financially literate on the three dimensions are respectively 67%, 75%, and 52%. The 2025 TIAA Institute-GFLEC Personal Finance Index consists of 28 survey questions on financial literacy. The findings from this survey indicate that members of Gen Z, who were born between 1997 and 2012, have an average financial literacy score of 38%, the lowest of any generation. In this regard, Gen Z scored lowest on every dimension, and scored especially poorly on issues related to insurance. Relative to others, Lusardi and Mitchell point out that people with lower scores on financial literacy engage less in retirement planning and accumulate less wealth to finance retirement. The two economists also note that those with lower scores do a worse job of managing debt and establishing 'rainy day funds' to deal with emergencies. Notably, a report appearing in Newsweek pointed out that Gen Z holds more personal debt than other generations. As a point of contrast, consider that the average financial literacy score for prior generation millennials is 46%, considerably higher than Gen Z's 38%. Newsweek reported that the average amount of debt for Gen Z is $94,101, while for millennials, it is considerably lower at $59,181. Significantly Gen Z carries more debt than millennials did when the latter were at Gen Z's stage of life. In addition, 41% of Gen Z report that they do not have a rainy day fund that would cover a $2,000 emergency. For millennials, the corresponding figure is 30%. Helpful Nudging Techniques Gen Z is the first generation of 'digital natives' in respect to the Internet, smartphones, and social media. The issue of whether technology is contributing to Gen Z's low financial literacy scores is unclear and in need of systematic study. What does seem clear is that behavioral economics and technology, together, provide Gen Z with options to make sound financial decisions. According to the New York Times, Gen Z is contributing more to 401(k) plans than millennials did at the same stage of life. The Times suggests a key reason why Gen Z is doing a better job at saving for retirement is an automatic enrollment provision in the Secure 2.0 Act that took effect in 2022. The default position is that potential participants are enrolled in the plan, but can opt out. Because of a psychological phenomenon known as 'status quo bias,' the setting of the default increases participation rates in 401(k) plans more than the alternative in which potential participants must choose to opt in. Economics Nobel laureate Richard Thaler and economist Shlomo Benartzi developed the automatic enrollment approach, which they called 'Save More Tomorrow.' SMT builds on a framework known as the 'Behavioral Life Cycle Hypothesis' which I developed with Thaler to explain why people have difficulty saving for retirement. SMT was the first example of an approach called 'nudging' which uses psychological insights in an effort to help people make better decisions than they otherwise might. The takeaway from this discussion is that in some circumstances, nudging techniques can overcome low financial literacy, a point that comes out of my research. That said, it is important to be aware that nudging techniques are no panacea. In this regard, SMT applies to choices in 401(k) plans, which are only available to some employees. In addition, nudging techniques need to be selected prudently, and tested empirically to ascertain what works in practice, and what does not. A second example of how nudging techniques can help Gen Z and others make better financial decisions involves the use of Buy Now, Pay Later plans. These plans offer consumers alternatives to obtain credit to pay for purchases: These alternatives are not available with regular credit cards. One option features a series of equal installments, to be paid within a matter of weeks, with the first installment due at the time of purchase. Typically, this option does not feature an interest charge to the consumer. Other options also involve equal installments over longer horizons such as six months and twelve months. These longer-term do levy interest charges, with BNPL interfaces making the amount of interest transparent to consumers. Typically, the default option for BNPL is the interest-free option. Consumers who choose to borrow for longer periods than a few weeks, will see exactly how much interest they will have to pay if they opt out of the default. Fair Isaac Corp. is the company that manages and communicates the widely used FICO credit score. FICO recently announced that it planned to add BNPL data to its credit score analysis. Notably, FICO conducted a study jointly with the BNPL company Affirm. The study found that on average, consumers benefitted by using BNPL instead of, or in addition to regular credit cards. I say on average, as BNPL is no panacea, and can create serious problems for consumers who are not careful using it. To conclude: Gen Z is registering the lowest financial literacy scores than any other generation, and experiencing higher levels of debt and lower levels of financial preparedness. At the same time, programs with nudging features, such as SMT and BNPL are helping members of Gen Z make better decisions about retirement saving and short-term credit. The last point is encouraging, and provides a rationale for developing new nudging techniques to help Gen Z and others make sound decisions across the financial spectrum.
Indian Express
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Nupur Sanon's brand faces backlash over overpriced clothing: ‘The ridiculous price points…'
Kriti Sanon's sister, actor Nupur Sanon has come under fire online for her clothing brand's steeply priced outfits. In June last year, Nupur launched her brand NOBO — No Boundaries, which Kriti Sanon wears on a lot of occasions. Now a Reddit user has shared a screenshot of her website and slammed her for selling basic clothes at 'ridiculous price points'. Sharing several screenshots from NOBO's website, a Reddit user wrote, 'The ridiculous price points of Nupur Sanon's clothing line called Label Nobo. Doesn't explain why such basic clothes are sold at such high price points. Is it money laundering of some sort (scamming buyers)?' The pictures shared showed the price vary from Rs 7,800 to 17,500 for basic jackets. This attracted the attention of other users, who flooded the post's comment section. A user wrote, 'I think her brand name is incomplete cause she clearly forgot to write Label NoboDY IS BUYING THIS OVERPRICED FAST FASHION SHIT FROM ME.' Another user wrote, 'I have been to Jaipur and jodhpur the past year and honestly, have found better patchwork jackets from local markets for less than 1500.' The ridiculous price points of Nupur Sanons ( Kritis sister) clothing line called Label Nobo. Doesn't explain why such basic cloths are sold and such high price it money laundering of some sort ( scamming buyers)? byu/Affectionate_Post592 inBollyBlindsNGossip Another user mocked her website and wrote, 'They didn't even bother to take professional pictures w models, randomly koi bhi shot hain walking out of the airport, being papped wale pictures koi apne website pe Laga ke exorbitant prices me bechne ke liye Alag level ka delulu hona padta hain, good job,N.' Others claimed she is simply misusing her celebrity sister's name, while another Reddit user advised everyone to stay away from brands introduced by celebrities. 'Anything which has celb tag, just run away from them , in US I use to buy from rare beauty which is selena gomez make up brand, but loreal or Elf gave me same result and are 50% cheaper,' read a comment. ALSO READ | Farah Khan says she regrets not marrying Jaaved Jaaferi after seeing his luxury Bandra apartment. See inside photos Nupur Sanon launched her label NOBO (No Boundaries) with her mother, Geeta Sanon, on June 7, 2024. The brand aims to create a one-stop shop for women looking for traditional wear as well as western wear.
Hindustan Times
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Reddit trolls Kriti Sanon's sister Nupur's brand NOBO for ‘ridiculous price' for basic clothing
Kriti Sanon's sister, Nupur Sanon, launched her fashion label - NOBO, No Boundaries - last year in June. Since its debut, Kriti has been seen wearing pieces from her sister's label on various occasions. Also Read | Janhvi Kapoor makes showing off bralette fashionable in chic black bodycon dress for Miu Miu store launch. Pics However, now the brand has come under fire for selling basic clothes at 'ridiculous price points'. On June 15, a Reddit user criticised NOBO on the community BollyBlindsNGossip, a go-to platform for Bollywood fans seeking the latest information and scoops about their favourite actors. A Reddit user posted several screenshots from NOBO's website on the Reddit community page with the caption, 'The ridiculous price points of Nupur Sanon's (Kriti's sister) clothing line called Label Nobo. Doesn't explain why such basic clothes are sold at such high price points. Is it money laundering of some sort (scamming buyers)?' The pictures show the price of different pieces of clothing being sold on the website, with the lowest cost being approximately ₹7.8k and the highest going up to ₹13.7k. The Reddit user further questioned whether people are even buying clothes from Nupur's brand, as the designs are ' basic and bad'. 'Are people even buying from her? The designs are all so basic and bad. Even Myntra sells better stuff at 1k. This is a pure case of scamming people, I think. Did anybody buy any of this stuff (can somebody say about the quality of the brand)?' they wrote. Reddit users agreed with the criticism. One user wrote, 'I think her brand name is incomplete cause she clearly forgot to write Label NoboDY IS BUYING THIS OVERPRICED FAST FASHION SHIT FROM ME.' Another commented, 'No Bo is short for 'Nobody Bought it'.' A comment read, 'I laughed so hard, what even is that?' Another said, 'Bhai yeh sab kapre Rajouri or chandni chowk mein dhakke khaa rhe hai (Bro, all these clothes are being hawked in Rajouri and Chandni Chowk). What even????' Nupur launched her label NOBO (No Boundaries) with her mother, Geeta Sanon, on June 7, 2024. The brand aims to create a one-stop shop for women looking for traditional wear as well as western wear clothing.
The Hindu
09-05-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
From corridor of uncertainty to stability: tracing the growth of women's cricket in India
Stars from three generations — Shantha Rangaswamy, Mithali Raj, and Shreyanka Patil — engaged in a lively discussion at The Hindu Huddle on Friday on the growth of women's cricket in India. Shantha, the first Indian women's team captain, spoke about her pioneering role. 'We laid the foundation. We may not have seen the likes of Mithali and Shreyanka if we had faltered in the initial stages. What drove us was the passion for the game,' Shantha said in a session titled 'No Boundaries: Growth of Women's Cricket in India', moderated by K.C. Vijaya Kumar, Sports Editor, The Hindu. In a glittering international career, which spanned over two decades, Mithali moved the needle in terms of popularising women's cricket. Mithali said the turning point for the sport came in 2006, when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) took control of women's cricket. 'In my early days, when the Women's Cricket Association of India (WCAI) ran the sport, the financial aspect was not great. It was a struggle to get investors and endorsements for us to have an international series. Coming under the BCCI was huge, because that opened access to better infrastructure, resources, equipment, and domestic structure,' Mithali said. Coming under the BCCI umbrella gave Mithali and others access to top-class facilities like the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. At the NCA, interactions between women cricketers and stalwarts like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid proved to be invaluable. 'When you have a dialogue with the likes of Sachin and Dravid, you learn a lot,' Mithali said. The 42-year-old recalled a time when she sought the help of Tendulkar. 'When I was a bit older, I had trouble picking fast bowlers. I asked Tendulkar for advice, and he told me to practice on 18-yard pitches instead of 22-yard strips. This helped me a great deal, as I went on to win the T20 'Player of the series' award in South Africa,' Mithali said. Shreyanka, the modern-day star, paid tribute to her predecessors. 'Shantha madam laid the foundation. They had to face challenges initially because not all families allowed girls to play. And then came Mithali. People talked about Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar as the big names. But in women's cricket, Mithali was the biggest name for us. Our generation cannot thank our seniors enough for what they have done for women's cricket. We are now in a stage where we get everything — infrastructure, facilities, exposure and much more,' Shreyanka said. The Hindu Huddle 2025 is presented by Sami-Sabinsa Group Co-powered by: Government of Karnataka, Government of Telangana; Associate Partners: ONGC, Presidency University, TAFE, Akshayakalpa Organic; Energy Partner : Indian Oil Corporation Limited; Realty partner: Casagrand; Knowledge partner: Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham; State partner: Meghalaya tourism and Haryana government; Luxury car partner: Toyota; Radio partner: Radio City; Gift partner: Anand Prakash; Broadcast partner: Times Now; Outdoor media partner: Signpost India
