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Business Standard
02-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Change is coming: Why RBI wants more Rs 100, Rs 200 notes in ATMs
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) earlier this week asked banks and White Label ATM (WTA) operators to load at least one cassette of Rs 100 / Rs 200 notes in 75 per cent of ATMs by September 30 and 90 per cent by March 31 next year. WLAs are automated teller machines managed and operated by non-banking entities, as mandated by RBI norms. 'By mandating regular dispensing of Rs 100 and Rs 200 notes, the RBI aims to smooth out the perennial chhutta [small change] crunch — but it also raises fresh questions around convenience and digital adoption,' says Vineet Kumar, senior associate at SKV Law Offices. The RBI's direction this should lead to: Help people have cash for small purchases and reduce the need for larger currency notes. Support micro-merchants who often struggle to provide change. Convenient but not always ''Small purchase' is a relative term,' Vineet notes. 'Carrying 150 or 200 of Rs 100 notes for a Rs 15,000 expense is unwieldy; carrying 30 or 40 of Rs 500 notes is far more manageable.' said Kumar. He highlighted the points mentioned below. Withdrawal frequency: You may have to visit ATMs more often to get small notes, potentially pushing you past your free‐withdrawal limit (three in metro cities, five in non-metros). Operational hurdles on the ground NPCI manages the network of ATMs in India and according to the date published by it there are more than 2.6 lakh ATMs. Reaching these targets nationwide entails: Cassette reconfiguration across tens of thousands of machines. Rapid logistics to replenish small-note supplies daily. 'As things stand, cash-outs happen regularly,' says Kumar. Temporary 'dry ATM' spells could spike if banks and operators don't coordinate closely. Balancing cash and digital Will easier access to small notes tempt you back to cash? Or will the convenience of digital payments still win out? Your choice will hinge on factors such as: transaction fees, bulk versus convenience, and personal preference. What you can do
Tatler Asia
30-04-2025
- General
- Tatler Asia
Malaysian powerhouses Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and Datuk Yvonne Chia on motherhood and raising daughters who lead
Of safe spaces and 'Steel magnolias' 'The golden rule in my family is 'If you hold dust, make sure it turns to gold. And don't hold gold and let it turn to dust'.' This guiding principle, shared by Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, encapsulates her life philosophyfrom cherishing family to prioritising boundaries. As a lawyer, the chairperson of two publicly listed companies, and Malaysia's Minister of Women, Family and Community Development for 11 years, she often travelled across the country for work. Yet, of all the sacrifices that came with being a career woman, missing out on important family functions was not one she was prepared to make. 'Family is important to me,' says the Penang-born politician. 'I'm a firm believer in starting small and setting a firm foundation. I read about some mothers who give their children big, grand dreams–Did I do that to my kids? No. I gave them roots and taught them respect. We gave our children a safe space to flourish, to fail, to love, laugh and achieve.' See also: Award-winning architect Katrine Cheong on designing a luxury confinement centre from a mother's perspective A fun-loving, family-oriented lady at heart ('I gave my mother palpitations growing up,' Shahrizat admits with wit), her approach to motherhood hinged on the strength of a support system in place–from a loving husband who never made his wife feel guilty about working long hours—to her mother, who lived with the family after Shahrizat's father passed away. Drawing inspiration from the 'steel magnolias' of her own family, women who commanded respect with quiet strength, Shahrizat encouraged her daughter, Izzana Salleh, to embrace her femininity, even as a woman in a man's world. 'Being feminine is powerful. When I tried to behave like a man, I failed miserably,' she says, emphasising that true leadership lies in authenticity, regardless of gender. 'In all honesty, I didn't have conversations with my sons or with Izzana about a woman's role in the world,' Shahrizat recalls. 'Coming from a patriarchal but loving family, I was unapologetically carrying the tradition of my parents—but never at Izzana's expense.' Today, Shahrizat's relationship with Izzana is a source of immense pride and comfort. 'I may have given her a safe space when she was growing up. But when she's around today, I feel safe.' Don't miss: Izzana Salleh shares 4 ways to foster courageous female leadership Izzana Salleh on her mother, Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil Above Tan Sri Shahrizat: Tiffany & Co. HardWear graduated link necklace with pavé diamonds, HardWear large link bracelet, HardWear small link rings with diamonds, Sara Rosa kaftan; Izzana: Tiffany & Co. HardWear graduated link necklace, HardWear large link bracelet with diamonds, Proenza Schouler White Label top available at Trade KL, Sandro jacket Measuring success through care 'Every time I talk to someone, they're like, 'Oh, your mum's quite…' and they taper off at 'quite',' laughs Izzana Salleh. Quite what? To the outside world, Izzana's mother, Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, is quite formidable. Quite gregarious. Quite loud. Quite something else. But seen through her daughter Izzana's eyes, there is no 'quite' about it, only a fully-formed larger-than-life personality that holds her family together. 'As a kid, you know, my mum, for me, was just as normal as everyone else's,' says Izzana. 'She was the kind of working mum that brought me around to election campaigns and political meetings. So, I've been witnessing her work for years. I grew up with a highly energetic mum who always woke up with a purpose for people and also for herself. It's not really a surprise that I ended up in impact work. It's just how we grew up.' Read more: From boss to leader: How to master the skills of leadership, learning and growth After all, Izzana Salleh herself is quite a personality. The co-founder and president of Girls for Girls is a committed, caring leader who pursues fair and equal opportunities for girls to develop into leaders. While her achievements are her own, Izzana credits her drive, spirit, and capacity for compassion to her mother. 'I wasn't raised in a place where I was told to be submissive. I was not told to cower. I didn't see a woman cowering. Not my grandma, not my mum, not my aunties.' It's not hubris. It's a quiet confidence that Izzana has grown into because she was assured of her place in the world by a mother who visibly demonstrated from day one that a woman not only belongs in the workplace—she belongs in leadership, and she is capable of enacting change on a national level. 'And one thing she's quite unmatched in—she's a damn good manager,' Izzana tells us. 'She runs a tight ship, not just in her workplace, but also at home. I remember when I was younger, my mum was at the peak of her political and government work. A lot of people always said, 'Oh, do you feel like you don't get to see your mum?' I'm like, 'I see my mum all the time!'' By Izzana's account, her mother never missed a concert, a sports day, a report card day, or anything. 'Her time management skills are par none,' Izzana says. 'She met her goals; she did the big things, she did the small things. I'm still trying to figure out how she did that.' And through it all, the one thing that stands out: a consistent thread of compassion and care, even in the smallest moments. 'She has a daily practice where she sits and thinks: 'Okay, what have I done to help people today?' It's a practice she's now embedded in me also. Datuk Yvonne Chia on her daughter, Francesca Chia Above Francesca: Tiffany & Co jewellery, Max Mara blouse and trousers; Datuk Yvonne: Tiffany & Co. jewellery, Max Mara dress I don't think Francesca ever realised that there is a glass ceiling as a woman. She simply did what she saw me do. - Datuk Yvonne Chia - Forging independence, mother and daughter Datuk Yvonne Chia's definition of happiness may surprise you. 'It's the fulfilment that comes from being resilient and adaptable,' says the veteran banker. As an independent non-executive chairman of a global bank in Malaysia and several listed companies, as well as a mentor to future entrepreneurs at Teach for Malaysia and the Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers, Chia's influence is undeniable. But beneath the formidable exterior lies a woman whose journey has shaped her into the resilient matriarch she is today—even if it came at a price. 'I found joy along the way. I had robust conversations with many people—including my children,' Chia adds. 'Francesca is a critical thinker, and she suffers no fools. I didn't have a lot of time to spend with her. I may not have hugged her as much as I wanted to because I wasn't around to do that,' she candidly admits, acknowledging the sacrifices inherent in balancing a demanding career with raising a child. Did she regret missing out on crucial moments in her daughter's life? Of course, she did. Motherhood isn't a perfect journey, but it must be said that Chia is–and always has been–a fast learner. 'I took for granted that she was very capable and at the top of her class. I thought she could handle everything,' she says. 'I found a note she wrote about her mother not being there at her school events. At the next school event, I made sure I was there. After the second and third time I went, she said, 'Mum, you don't need to go.'' When Francesca was leaving for university, Chia was there to see her off and celebrate with her at her graduation. 'I may not have been around that much. But my actions, my behaviour, my movement—my kids observed it, and it was a kind of lesson for them.' Chia challenges the idea that career and motherhood are mutually exclusive. 'Put them together, but of course, it won't be perfect. Something has to give,' she says. In her case, the 'outcome' of this balancing act was the resilience it fostered in Francesca, who is a successful entrepreneur and founder today. 'I don't think Francesca ever realised that there is a glass ceiling as a woman. She simply did what she saw me do, like any man would—giving her best to realise her potential and pursue the roles she believed she could lead.' Francesca Chia on her mother, Datuk Yvonne Chia Above Francesca: Tiffany & Co. HardWear link earrings, HardWear graduated link necklace, HardWear large link bracelet, Ulla Johnson dress available at Trade KL; Datuk Yvonne: Tiffany & Co. HardWear large link earrings with pavé diamonds, HardWear graduated link necklace with pavé diamonds, HardWear small link ring with diamonds, Personality's own dress and shoes Real-life leadership 'When I was around eight, I remember many people asking: what does your dad do? What does your mum do? I would just be like, 'My dad runs a business. My mum is the CEO of a bank.' And I remember the facial reactions they would give me,' Francesca Chia says. 'I thought I'd answered very directly. But then I started to think, 'Wait a second. Maybe this isn't normal.'' Because truly there is nothing normal about Datuk Yvonne Chia, a powerhouse in the corporate sector and the first Malaysian woman CEO of a bank. But by the same token, neither is Francesca Chia 'normal'—she is the founder and CEO of GoGet, the on-demand work platform that is changing the status quo of what employment looks like for a new generation of workers. That passion and vision didn't come from nowhere. 'I was fully exposed to this very involved mother in the economy and a very active figure in employment,' Francesca tells us. 'I did not think that was odd. I thought that was ordinary, that's what women do.' See also: GoGet Founder Francesca Chia on Entrepreneurship and Leadership It's certainly what Chia did. A core memory stands out for Francesca: the day her mother was invited to be the keynote speaker for a Shell initiative aimed at retaining female middle management employees and ensuring they had the incentive and opportunities to work towards leadership positions. 'I was invited as a panel speaker, completely separately,' says Francesca. 'I was waiting to go on stage for my session, and [Chia] went first. Her session was titled, 'How to have it all', or something like that. And the first thing she said was, 'You can't. You can't have it all.'' Above Francesca on stage as her mother Datuk Yvonne Chia receives the Diamond Award at Tatler Ball 2023 It was the first time she had heard her mother express this out loud. 'She carried on, 'You have to have hard trade-offs. And you need to be okay with that. For me, I knew I couldn't be there for everything. But I chose three important things: Health. Education. Values.' And I realised that's true. Every time I was sick my mum was there. Out of everything, she made sure I got into school and made sure I applied to university. And I remember she always said, 'You should find a guy with drive, not a rich guy.' Those moments really sit with me.' Then, a woman in the audience raised her hand. 'She said, 'I can't help but feel that I will feel guilty if I work, and my child is at home.' At that moment, I realised: I can tell you the perspective of your child, because I was that person. So I jumped in and said, 'I need you to be fully aware—the only reason why I can sit on this panel, and I'm invited to speak is purely because of my mum and what she did. Whatever her lack of presence with me was still an important presence somewhere else. And as a child, I saw it. I have this immense strength to be who I am, because of what she showed me from afar.' Credits Photography: Micky Wong Styling: Mughni Che Din Jewellery: Tiffany & Co. Hair: Kiki Qabuki and Mandy Leigh Make-Up: Kiki Qabuki and Mandy Leigh Stylist's Assistant: Surya Ammari Location: Vitra Malaysia
Syyaha
30-04-2025
- Business
- Syyaha
Global Hotel Alliance partners with ExploreTECH to streamline hospitality technology procurement for its 850+ hotels in 100 countries
Global Hotel Alliance is the first enterprise partner to deploy ExploreTECH's White Label Solution Dubai, 30 April 2025: Today, ExploreTECH and Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the world's largest alliance of independent hotel brands, announced that they have signed an agreement to make ExploreTECH's White Label Solution available to its 45 brands around the world to help streamline and simplify hospitality tech search. ExploreTECH's new White Label Solution offers hotel groups and global hospitality brands a customised digitalmarketplace that empowers them to harness the full power of its robust B2B SaaS platform — customised under their own brand. This turnkey and first of its kind solution integrates a brand's operating tech alongside approved and preferred suppliers, delivering a personalised tech discovery and procurement experience. Mona Faraj, CEO of ExploreTECH commented: 'Over the past 12 months we have built what arguably solves the biggest pain point for hotel brands and groups in hospitality technology procurement, which is to digitally manage their bespoke hotel tech stacks based on their brand standards, in one place. Our White Label Solution gives hotel teams access to the latest brand-approved tech solutions while enabling corporate IT departments to track the uptake of technologies at property level in real time. In addition, brand-approved vendors can distribute their news and product updates easily across a group's full hotel portfolio, keeping all stakeholders up to date on the latest features and technologies available.' By adopting this solution, hotel brands can offer their hotel portfolio, franchisees, and partners a streamlined path to explore, evaluate, and procure technology — all without the complexity, cost, or resource investment required to build and maintain their own platform or marketplace. 'Partnering with ExploreTECH and being selected as a launch brand for their new platform is a significant step for Global Hotel Alliance,' said Folker Heim, COO of Global Hotel Alliance. 'We look forward to leveraging this platform to further enhance and streamline communication with our member brands, particularly in relation to approved technology vendors and preferential pricing. It will play a key role in optimising our internal processes and ensuring our brands and hotels can seamlessly access top-tier solutions at competitive rates.' The highly customisable White Label Solution, created with input from a Think Tank comprising industry buyers and sellers of hospitality tech, is specifically developed for global hospitality brands and larger hotel chains. The customised digitalmarketplace can be tailored to the bespoke tech strategy and operational structure of each operator, from strict lists of proprietary solutions and approved vendors to recommended prequalified technologies. 'We are very excited to partner with the Global Hotel Alliance as our first enterprise partner for the White Label Solution, which exemplifies our Vision for ExploreTECH, which is to become the omnichannel for all things hospitality tech. Through this partnership, GHA will be able to extend support to its 850 member hotels with easy access to its tech stack used across the portfolio and generate valuable data on negotiated tech solutions for member brand consideration. 'The launch of the White Label Solution marks a critical milestone for ExploreTECH, allowing us to scale even quicker and empower hotel brands and groups with a customised digital marketplace, becoming their omnichannel for all things brand tech,' concluded Faraj.
The Onion
22-04-2025
- Politics
- The Onion
Unpopular Pete Hegseth Forced To Drink Lunch Alone
WASHINGTON—Looking around with despair as he searched for an open seat in the Pentagon cafeteria, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was reportedly forced to drink his lunch alone Wednesday. According to witnesses, the 44-year-old former Fox News host wandered through the lunchroom and took slow, deliberate steps past tables filled with jovial military officers who quickly turned away from him to avoid making eye contact. After locating an empty table in an isolated corner, Hegseth is said to have sat down and begun slowly unloading a brown paper sack that concealed a 750-milliliter bottle of Dewar's White Label blended scotch, a 12-ounce Miller Lite, and an airplane-sized nip of Fireball for dessert. 'Well, I guess I'm on my own today,' said Hegseth, standing out in stark contrast to the rest of the cafeteria's occupants, who sat packed around tables chatting enthusiastically with their colleagues. 'I was really hoping to be able to hang out with all my awesome friends at the Department of Defense today, but there was only one seat left, and they told me they were saving it for someone else.' 'It's no big deal, though. I actually wanted to sit alone,' Hegseth added. 'But if anyone needs a seat, these chairs are totally open.' Several reports indicated this was the third day in a row Hegseth had been shunned by personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines, leaving him no choice but to drink lunch by himself. Witnesses confirmed that when Hegseth walked by several tables with open seats, his fellow Pentagon employees moved hastily to cover empty chairs with their bags and coats as he passed. A wide-eyed, grinning Hegseth was reportedly even so bold as to approach a table of prominent, highly decorated U.S. Navy officers and—undeterred by their icy body language—pull up a chair to sit down. A slurring Hegseth then attempted to engage in small talk until the members of the group rolled their eyes, picked up their trays all at once, and told the defense secretary to 'fuck off.' 'No way is that loser Hegseth sitting with us,' said Adm. Christopher Grady, vice chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, who looked over his shoulder and scoffed at the sight of Hegseth hunched over his bottle and muttering to himself. 'That guy is so weird. I don't care how pathetic he looks over there moping all by himself. He smells like shit, it looks like he hasn't changed clothes in a week, and he needs to take a shower.' 'Yesterday he came up to my table carrying a bottle of Aquafina that I'm pretty sure he had emptied out and refilled with vodka,' Grady continued. 'His breath reeked so bad I thought I was going to puke.' On Wednesday, Hegseth was seen trying to sit down with a pair of bespectacled cybersecurity officials as a last resort, but they immediately moved their laptops and turned their backs to him. He stood up from their table only to bump into a tall, muscular four-star Army general and spill whiskey all over himself, at which point the entire Pentagon cafeteria burst out in raucous laughter. 'Aw, no, no, no!' said Hegseth, who looked down, noticed the Dewar's dripping down the front of his pants, and hastily attempted to cover it with his hands. 'I swear I didn't piss myself. I just spilled whiskey on my suit. See?' 'Everyone stop laughing,' the defense secretary screamed before running off in tears to hide in the Pentagon bathroom. 'Stop it!' At press time, a concerned Pentagon custodian had reportedly discovered Hegseth fast asleep on the restroom floor.
The Onion
22-04-2025
- Politics
- The Onion
Unpopular Pete Hegseth Forced To Drink Lunch Alone
WASHINGTON—Looking around with despair as he searched for an open seat in the Pentagon cafeteria, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was reportedly forced to drink his lunch alone Wednesday. According to witnesses, the 44-year-old former Fox News host wandered through the lunchroom and took slow, deliberate steps past tables filled with jovial military officers who quickly turned away from him to avoid making eye contact. After locating an empty table in an isolated corner, Hegseth is said to have sat down and begun slowly unloading a brown paper sack that concealed a 750-milliliter bottle of Dewar's White Label blended scotch, a 12-ounce Miller Lite, and an airplane-sized nip of Fireball for dessert. 'Well, I guess I'm on my own today,' said Hegseth, standing out in stark contrast to the rest of the cafeteria's occupants, who sat packed around tables chatting enthusiastically with their colleagues. 'I was really hoping to be able to hang out with all my awesome friends at the Department of Defense today, but there was only one seat left, and they told me they were saving it for someone else.' 'It's no big deal, though. I actually wanted to sit alone,' Hegseth added. 'But if anyone needs a seat, these chairs are totally open.' Several reports indicated this was the third day in a row Hegseth had been shunned by personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines, leaving him no choice but to drink lunch by himself. Witnesses confirmed that when Hegseth walked by several tables with open seats, his fellow Pentagon employees moved hastily to cover empty chairs with their bags and coats as he passed. A wide-eyed, grinning Hegseth was reportedly even so bold as to approach a table of prominent, highly decorated U.S. Navy officers and—undeterred by their icy body language—pull up a chair to sit down. A slurring Hegseth then attempted to engage in small talk until the members of the group rolled their eyes, picked up their trays all at once, and told the defense secretary to 'fuck off.' 'No way is that loser Hegseth sitting with us,' said Adm. Christopher Grady, vice chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, who looked over his shoulder and scoffed at the sight of Hegseth hunched over his bottle and muttering to himself. 'That guy is so weird. I don't care how pathetic he looks over there moping all by himself. He smells like shit, it looks like he hasn't changed clothes in a week, and he needs to take a shower.' 'Yesterday he came up to my table carrying a bottle of Aquafina that I'm pretty sure he had emptied out and refilled with vodka,' Grady continued. 'His breath reeked so bad I thought I was going to puke.' On Wednesday, Hegseth was seen trying to sit down with a pair of bespectacled cybersecurity officials as a last resort, but they immediately moved their laptops and turned their backs to him. He stood up from their table only to bump into a tall, muscular four-star Army general and spill whiskey all over himself, at which point the entire Pentagon cafeteria burst out in raucous laughter. 'Aw, no, no, no!' said Hegseth, who looked down, noticed the Dewar's dripping down the front of his pants, and hastily attempted to cover it with his hands. 'I swear I didn't piss myself. I just spilled whiskey on my suit. See?' 'Everyone stop laughing,' the defense secretary screamed before running off in tears to hide in the Pentagon bathroom. 'Stop it!' At press time, a concerned Pentagon custodian had reportedly discovered Hegseth fast asleep on the restroom floor.
