Podcasts about Apac

US President Trump said they had a big day on Tuesday, knocking out targets, and said it will be a couple of weeks regarding Iran, not much longer, and that they are way ahead of schedule.Iran confirmed that its security chief Larijani was killed, according to Iranian media.Iran's Foreign Minister said Iran will target US forces wherever they assemble, including near urban areas, he understands neighbours' concerns and holds the US responsible for the conflict.APAC stocks were mostly higher following the positive handover from Wall Street and as oil prices retreated, while markets now await a flurry of upcoming central bank policy decisions, including from the FOMC later today.European equity futures indicate a higher cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures up 0.5% after the cash market closed with gains of 0.5% on Tuesday.Looking ahead, highlights include EZ CPI Final (Feb), US PPI (Feb), New Zealand GDP (Q4), BoC, Fed & BCB Policy Announcements. Speakers include BoC's Macklem & Rogers, Fed Chair Powell & NVIDIA (NVDA) CEO Huang. Supply from Germany. Earnings from Micron & HelloFresh.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

This week we chat with Kipp Bodnar!Kipp is the Chief Marketing Officer of HubSpot, the #1 CRM platform for scaling companies, where he leads the company's global marketing strategy—driving awareness, demand, and growth across one of the most influential software brands in the world.Before stepping into the CMO role, Kipp served as Vice President of Marketing at HubSpot, overseeing worldwide demand generation, building out the EMEA and APAC marketing teams, and managing field marketing, localization, strategic partnerships, and social media. He's helped shape how modern SaaS companies think about growth at scale.Beyond HubSpot, Kipp is a trusted advisor to leading SaaS companies like SimplyMeasured, InsightSquared, and Guidebook. He's also the co-author of The B2B Social Media Book, a playbook for marketers looking to generate real results through digital channels.An industry-leading speaker, blogger, and marketing strategist, Kipp combines storytelling with data-driven execution—and has been at the forefront of how B2B marketing has evolved over the past decade.This is going to be a masterclass in modern marketing.✨ This episode is presented by Brex.Brex: brex.com/trailblazerspodThis episode is supported by RocketReach, Gusto, OpenPhone & Athena.RocketReach: rocketreach.co/trailblazersGusto: gusto.com/trailblazersQuo: Quo.com/trailblazersAthena: athenago.me/Erica-WengerFollow Us!Kipp Bodnar: @kippbodnar@thetrailblazerspod: Instagram, YouTube, TikTokErica Wenger: @erica_wenger

US President Trump said Iran wants to make a deal and is talking with their people, but he does not know if Iran is ready yet.US Envoy Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi have reportedly been in contact over text messages in recent days; Iran denied these reports.US President Trump said regarding the potential Strait of Hormuz coalition that Secretary of State Rubio will announce the countries, while he added it takes a while to get to the Hormuz and that some countries are fairly local.The RBA hiked rates for a second consecutive meeting as expected, through a narrow majority of 5-4 votes, which dragged the currency lower. However, AUD later rebounded as RBA Governor Bullock provided a hawkish tone.APAC stocks eventually traded mixed, with the region initially following suit to the gains on Wall Street; European equity futures indicate a lower cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures down 0.6%.Looking ahead, highlights include Italian HICP Final (Feb), German/EZ ZEW Economic Sentiment Index (Mar), US ADP Employment Weekly, Japanese Trade Balance (Feb), Comments from ECB's Nagel, Supply from UK & US.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

AS the conflict in the Middle East continues, the full effects on global shipping markets are beginning to become clearer. This week's episode of the Lloyd's List Podcast once again come to you from our weekly briefing on the Middle East crisis, featuring our journalists and analysts. There's a focus on the container market and shadow fleet impact, as well as an update on the volume of traffic and operability of ports in the region. Featuring in this week's episode are: Richard Meade, editor-in-chief, Lloyd's Lis Bridget Diakun, senior risk and compliance analyst, Lloyd's List Cichen Shen, APAC editor, Lloyd's List Neil Dekker, senior analyst, Infospectrum Watch the full briefing here: https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/5273976/D81639300040BBFB6B5988BC9F28135E

US President Trump said he ordered a strike that wiped out every military target on Kharg Island, which is where Iran exports nearly all of its oil from, but left the oil infrastructure intact. US President Trump warned that NATO faces a very bad future if US allies fail to assist in opening up the Strait of Hormuz.Trump also said he was expecting China to help unblock the Strait of Hormuz before he travels to Beijing, while he stated that he may delay the trip but didn't say for how long, according to FT.US President Trump's administration plans as soon as this week to announce a coalition to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, although they are still discussing if such operations would begin before or after hostilities have ended, WSJ reported.APAC stocks mostly declined amid cautiousness at the start of a busy week of central bank activity and following the continued conflict; European equity futures indicate a positive cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures up 0.5%.Looking ahead, highlights include Canadian CPI (Feb), US Industrial/Manufacturing Output (Feb), Comments from NVIDIA (NVDA) CEO Huang.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

What does it take to transform from a technical legal expert into a strategic conductor of organisational change? Keiko Uchida, Head of Legal and Compliance at Roche Diagnostics Japan, shares her journey to leadership from playing the figurative “violin in an orchestra” to becoming “the conductor.”Discover what it means to move from solving one case with 100 pieces of evidence to solving 100 questions with almost none, and why doubling productivity in Japanese companies has become Keiko Uchida's driving purpose.If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we'd love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Head over to Apple Podcasts to leave a review and we'd love it if you would leave us a message here!In this episode you'll hear:The powerful conversation that shifted her entire career trajectoryWhy being a housewife became her greatest strength rather than a setbackHow Keiko is building a regional legal network across APAC Her favourite book and other fun facts About KeikoKeiko Uchida is the Head of Legal & Compliance at Roche Diagnostics K.K., where she sits on the leadership team as a direct report to the CEO and oversees legal affairs, compliance, data privacy, corporate governance, and risk management across the organisation.Since joining Roche in 2022, Keiko has played a pivotal regional leadership role, earning the “Change Maker of the Year 2024” award for APAC in recognition of her impact in building a high-performing, collaborative legal network across the region, as well as driving market-focused partnerships between legal, security, and commercial operations teams. One of her team members was also recognised as VIP of the Year 2024 within Roche Diagnostics Japan — a reflection of her strength as a people leader.Before Roche, Keiko served as Corporate Officer, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, and Data Privacy Officer at AXA General Insurance Co., Ltd., where she led legal and compliance transformation initiatives during a period of organisational change. She previously held senior legal and corporate secretary roles within AXA, and earlier in her career practiced as a lawyer in private practice after completing her legal training in Japan.Keiko's career is uniquely cross-sector, with earlier professional experience in financial institutions including J.P. Morgan and Shinsei Trust Bank, as well as academic work as an Assistant Professor at a research center of The University of Tokyo. She later returned to the University of Tokyo to complete her J.D., following a Master's degree in law from Kyoto University.Recognised on the Legal 500 GC Powerlist Japan 2023, a panelist at GC Summit 2024, and co-author of a practical legal handbook on contract law published in 2023, Keiko is known for blending deep legal expertise with organisational leadership and strategic thinking.Her professional passion lies in balancing opportunity and risk while building high-performing organizations, and outside of work she enjoys traveling and exploring new cultures.Connect with KeikoLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keiko-uchida-3bab7a30/ LinksHow to Win Friends and Influence People: https://amzn.asia/d/09azrBtm Connect with Catherine LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyeronair

Justin sits down with Allison Skidmore, Chief Customer Officer at Optimizely, the world's first operating system for marketing teams.Allison brings a rich perspective shaped by stints at Adobe, Stackla, Gigya, and SAP across Asia Pacific before landing in the US to lead customer success at Optimizely. This episode explores how AI is fundamentally reshaping the marketer's daily workflow, what great onboarding looks like in an AI-native world, and what the CCO role must become as organizations race to stay ahead.Episode Notes & Key Topics1. Allison's Career JourneyStarted in SEM at a Sydney agency later acquired by Adobe, rode the wave of digital marketing's early SaaS transition.Spent six years at Adobe running customer success across Asia Pacific, building offshore teams and subscription services models.Moved through Stackla and Gigya (acquired by SAP nine months in), then scaled the CS role across all SAP lines of business in APAC.Joined Optimizely two years ago after reconnecting with CEO Alex Atzberger, bringing global enterprise CS experience to a fast-growing martech platform.2. What Stays the Same in Customer SuccessThe sales-to-CS handover friction is timeless: it never goes away regardless of company size or stage.Digital-first customer engagement (email, offshore teams, automation) has been a constant scaling challenge for decades.The shift from time-and-materials professional services to subscription models remains a dominant trend.Tech advancements create the inflection points:  AI is today's example.3. AI and the Marketer's Day-in-the-LifeAllison paints a vivid picture: by 10 AM, an AI-enabled marketer has completed a full week's worth of work.Optimizely's Opal AI product is provisioned across the entire team, enabling agent building, workflow automation, and access to tools like Claude and Gemini.The opportunity is not just efficiency, it's the ability to pull forward backlogged work and shrink implementation timelines (e.g., from 12 months to 3).The companies moving fastest are the ones blocking calendar time to train their teams on prompting and agent-building, not just giving access.4. Reimagining Onboarding and the Customer JourneyAllison's framework: great onboarding is the seamless alignment of three channels, human-to-human touchpoints, email marketing, and in-product experience.Customers now expect to self-serve answers (just like asking AI instead of calling a mechanic), human-heavy onboarding alone no longer cuts it.Consistency is the key: the message the customer gets in the product, in their inbox, and from their CSM should be identical, no basic repeats, no skipped steps.5. The Evolving Role of the CCOThe C-suite fundamentals don't change: stay curious, solve problems, skate to where the puck is going.Today, the puck is AI.  If you can't build an agent, you can't expect your team to.Allison is actively realigning roles, KPIs, and commissions around AI-native execution.The CCO who can't leverage AI to scale themselves and reimagine their business will become extinct, just like Blockbuster.Lego is the positive model: reinvention again and again.6. What's Top of Mind for 2026AI continues to dominate, but the customer journey evolution is a close second.Consumers are shifting from Google to ChatGPT and similar tools, which means brands must optimize for GEO (Generative Engine Optimization), not just SEO.Personalization is entering a new era:  every touchpoint, not just the website.

This article is part of our new APAC coverage, which will ultimately require a separate subscription to view. For more info on this product, contact subscriptions@9fin.comA big change is coming for the Indian banking system. Starting 1 April, India's central bank will allow domestic banks to fund mergers and acquisitions. It's a change to long-held rules barring lenders from the Indian M&A market, which has so far been dominated by foreign lenders and private credit funds.As Indian banks prepare to lend more to domestic corporates, what does this mean for liquidity, access to funding, and for international lenders that have earned 20% yields so far?9fin's Mumbai-based reporter Rajhkumar Shaaw and Asia editor Richard Macauley answer these questions and walk listeners through the changes in this latest edition of our Cloud 9fin podcast.

APAC stocks were mostly subdued, with the region cautious amid headwinds from the recent double-digit surge in oil prices.US officials noted they said from the start the war would last 4-5 weeks and may end in 2 weeks, with the decision up to Trump.US Treasury Secretary Bessent told Sky News an international coalition could protect ships in the Strait of Hormuz.USTR announced to initiate 60 Section 301 investigations related to failures to act on forced labour.European equity futures indicate a mildly higher cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures up 0.2% after the cash market closed with losses of 0.8% on Thursday.Looking ahead, highlights include German Wholesale Prices (Feb), UK Trade Balance (Jan), GDP (Jan), French/Spanish HICP Final (Feb), Canadian Jobs Report (Feb), US Core PCE Price Index (Jan), Durable Goods Orders (Jan), Personal Spending (Jan), JOLTS (Jan), University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Prelim. (Mar), Atlanta Fed GDP. Rating updates include Scope Ratings on UK & Spain, S&P on Spain, Moody's on Greece & Germany, Fitch on Spain & Italy.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

APAC stocks declined as rising oil prices dampened sentiment and stoked inflationary concerns, while the announcement of a record joint emergency reserves release failed to drag energy prices lower, due to likely slow deliveries and with further disruptions in the Middle East from the ongoing hostilities.US President Trump said they knocked out Iran's navy and mine layers, and stated that they won't leave Iran early.The FBI warned police departments in California that Iran wants to retaliate by launching drones against the West Coast.Crude futures rallied some 7% despite the IEA announcement of a record 400mln-barrel emergency joint release, as the action could be seen as a mere band-aid on the supply shock.European equity futures indicate a lower cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures down 0.9% after the cash market closed with losses of 0.7% on Wednesday.Looking ahead, highlights include Swedish CPIF Final (Feb), Canadian Trade Balance (Jan), US Trade Balance (Jan), Initial Jobless Claims, Housing Starts, Atlanta Fed GDP, IEA OMR, and CBRT Policy Announcement. Speakers include BoE's Bailey & Fed's Bowman. Supply from Italy, UK & US, Earnings from Adobe.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

APAC stocks traded higher as the recent easing of oil prices helped the region shrug off the lacklustre lead from Wall Street and reports of Iran beginning to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz.US intelligence began to see indications that Iran is taking steps to deploy mines in the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane, according to CBS.US Energy Secretary Wright posted that the US Navy had escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz, although this post was later deleted, and a White House official clarified that this wasn't true.UKMTO received a report that a cargo vessel was hit by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, which has resulted in a fire on board, while the crew are evacuating the vessel.The IEA meeting on Tuesday ended with no decision on a crude stockpile release; WSJ reported that the IEA proposed the largest ever release of oil from strategic reserves (no figures mentioned), with countries to decide today on whether to release oil stocks.Looking ahead, highlights include German HICP Final (Feb), US CPI (Feb), OPEC MOMR. Speakers include ECB's de Guindos & Schnabel, BoE's Breeden & Fed's Bowman, Supply from Germany & the US.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

Bryan High joins the Streaming Income podcast to help put recent private credit headlines and market volatility into perspective. Episode Segments: (01:25) – An overview of Barings' Global Private Finance platform  (04:23) – Putting the recent period of AI-induced volatility into context  (07:45) – Underwriting AI risk in software investments  (10:41) – Could AI trigger the next credit cycle?  (13:21) – Building resilience into portfolios – including sectors to avoid  (17:28) – Why being global matters in direct lending  (19:50) – How retail flows are impacting the competitive landscape in North America (23:53) – The structural value in European direct lending  (26:25) – The opportunity in developed APAC (28:36) – Assessing value across the entire credit spectrum (public & private) (32:05) – Capital Solutions as a complement to direct lending strategies  (34:55) – Fundraising momentum  (38:00) – What investors should watch over the next 12 months  Make sure to follow our LinkedIn newsletter, Where Credit is Due to stay up-to-date on our latest public & private credit market insights. IMPORTANT INFORMATION Any forecasts in this podcast are based upon Barings' opinion of the market at the date of preparation and are subject to change without notice, dependent upon many factors. Any prediction, projection or forecast is not necessarily indicative of the future or likely performance. Investment involves risk. The value of any investments and any income generated may go down as well as up and is not guaranteed. PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS. Any examples set forth in this podcast are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not indicative of any future investment results or investments. The composition, size of, and risks associated with an investment may differ substantially from any examples set forth in this podcast. No representation is made that an investment will be profitable or will not incur losses.  Barings is the brand name for the worldwide asset management and associated businesses of Barings LLC and its global affiliates. Barings Securities LLC, Barings (U.K.) Limited, Barings Global Advisers Limited, Barings Australia Pty Ltd, Barings Japan Limited, Barings Real Estate Advisers Europe Finance LLP, BREAE AIFM LLP, Baring Asset Management Limited, Baring International Investment Limited, Baring Fund Managers Limited, Baring International Fund Managers (Ireland) Limited, Baring Asset Management (Asia) Limited, Baring SICE (Taiwan) Limited, Baring Asset Management Switzerland Sarl, and Baring Asset Management Korea Limited each are affiliated financial service companies owned by Barings LLC (each, individually, an “Affiliate”). NO OFFER: The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument or service in any jurisdiction. The material herein was prepared without any consideration of the investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of anyone who may receive it. This podcast is not, and must not be treated as, investment advice, an investment recommendation, investment research, or a recommendation about the suitability or appropriateness of any security, commodity, investment, or particular investment strategy. Unless otherwise mentioned, the views contained in this podcast are those of Barings and are subject to change without notice. Individual portfolio management teams may hold different views and may make different investment decisions for different clients. Parts of this podcast may be based on information received from sources we believe to be reliable. Although every effort is taken to ensure that the information contained in this podcast is accurate, Barings makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information Any service, security, investment or product outlined in this podcast may not be suitable for a prospective investor or available in their jurisdiction. Copyright in this podcast is owned by Barings. Information in this podcast may be used for your own personal use, but may not be altered, reproduced or distributed without Barings' consent. 26-5279988

US trade saw a late boost to sentiment after US President Trump said the war could be over soon and that he thinks the war is very complete, pretty much as Iran has no navy, no communications, and have no air force, while he added that the US is “very far” ahead of his initial 4-5 week estimated time frame."Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they will not allow a single litre of oil to be exported from the region if the US and Israeli attacks continue, while it added that they will determine how and when the war ends, and stated that US President Trump's comments about Iran were nonsense.APAC stocks rose with global risk sentiment underpinned after oil price pressures eased on a potential G7 joint release of emergency reserves, and with relief seen after US President Trump said the war in Iran could end very soon.European equity futures indicate a higher cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures up 1.3% after the cash market closed with losses of 0.6% on Monday.Crude futures declined and have completely retraced this week's opening surge, with pressure seen as the G7 mulls the release of emergency oil reserves, while further downside was seen after US President Trump suggested that the Iranian conflict is nearing an end.Looking ahead, highlights include Norwegian CPI (Feb), German/French Trade Balance (Jan), US NFIB (Feb), Weekly ADP, Existing Home Sales (Feb), EIA STEO, Supply from Germany & US, Earnings from Oracle.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

THE conflict in the Middle East is entering its second full week, and shipping continues to find itself on the frontlines. Vessels have been attacked and seafarers have paid with their lives, as missiles are exchanged back and forth over the Middle East Gulf. The Strait of Hormuz is at the very centre of this conflict's consequences. The narrow chokepoint is critical to global energy supply, and traffic through it has slowed to a trickle. So is the strait itself effectively closed to shipping? Will owners take the risk to secure huge charter rates? How is the insurance sector providing cover for those that do want to transit the strait? Listen to the episode and register for the webinar on demand to get the answers to these questions and many more. Joining Richard on this week's podcast are Bridget Diakun, senior risk and compliance analyst, Lloyd's List Cichen Shen, APAC editor, Lloyd's List Tomer Raanan, maritime risk analyst, Lloyd's List David Osler, law and marine insurance editor, Lloyd's List Register for Lloyd's List's briefing on the Strait of Hormuz here: https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/5264575/E998B50EC5FF87C27028010CCA885055 This episode of the Lloyd's List Podcast is brought to you by Veson. Find out more at www.veson.com/decarb-guide

APAC stocks sold off heavily with global markets rattled after the Iran war entered a second week with no signs of abating; US equity futures extended on their post-NFP declines.Oil prices surged some 30% at one point to just shy of USD 120/bbl as the continued Iran conflict forces producers to begin cutting output.Crude futures pulled back following FT reports that the G7 is to discuss a joint release of emergency oil reserves in an emergency meeting on Monday.European equity futures indicate a much lower cash market open, with Euro Stoxx 50 futures down 2.1% after the cash market closed with losses of 1.1% on Friday.Looking ahead, highlights include German Industrial Production (Jan), US NY Fed SCE, Australian Westpac Consumer Confidence (Mar), & Japanese GDP Final (Q4). Speakers include ECB's Elderson & Cipollone.US clocks moved forward an hour over the weekend to Daylight Saving Time, with the London-NY time difference at 4 hours.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

In this episode of Talking Trek Live, DJz and the crew welcome UltraVetika for a special content creator showcase, diving into his background in streaming, his APAC-based channel, and the Star Trek fandom that helped shape both his content and his connection to Star Trek Fleet Command. From community-driven gameplay and mid-ops progression talk to the wild charm of duck races, the first part of the show is a fun and personal look at one of the game's standout creators. In the second half, the panel breaks down the latest GM Conor roadmap update, including galactic anomalies, planetary bases, Starfleet Academy content, open armadas, dreadnoughts, alliance gameplay changes, quality-of-life improvements, and more. It's a lively mix of analysis, skepticism, optimism, and classic Talking Trek chaos as the crew explores what 2026 could mean for the future of STFC.   01:06 Opening intro, roadmap tease, and UltraVetika welcome 09:15 UltraVetika introduces himself, APAC life, and stream schedule 17:05 How content creators turn community knowledge into usable gameplay tips 24:05 Fresh Ops 70 life, staying put, and avoiding extra squishiness 32:10 Mid-ops nostalgia, MaCo experience, and why old content still hits 41:34 Speeding through ops, AI building buffs, and account catch-up talk 50:01 Field training, player learning curves, and creator influence in STFC 58:22 Raids, relationships, and why the Star Trek community keeps creators connected 01:03:17 Why UltraVetika's channel works so well as both learning and hangout content 01:06:35 Duck races, channel personality, and community engagement magic 01:12:24 Mid-show reset and pivot into Ultra's Star Trek fandom 01:13:01 Growing up on TNG in Australia and recording episodes on VHS 01:14:02 Finding Fleet Command through ads and never looking back 01:32:35 Roadmap segment begins with galactic anomalies 01:33:37 Planetary bases, customization, and social-space ambitions 01:35:15 Open armadas, alliance tournaments, and social gameplay focus 01:35:56 Dreadnoughts, creator programs, and bigger Trek holiday events 01:47:30 Roadmap reactions: cautious optimism on planetary bases 01:49:05 Maverick tasks, alliance teamwork, and Connor's team-oriented vision 01:58:28 Challenge track choices and playing the game on your own terms 02:03:03 Effort vs spending, legacy officers, and why game knowledge still matters 02:05:15 Galactic anomalies compared to hazards and deeper roadmap analysis 02:48:30 Final reflections, future arc hype, Ultra shoutout, and sign-off

APAC stocks traded somewhat mixed following the risk-averse mood in the US as geopolitics continued to dominate headlines, and with participants also cautious heading into key US jobs data.US and Israel have increased airstrikes on Iran's border with Iraq as US President Trump calls on the Kurdish minority there to rise up against Iran's government, according to the Washington Post.US Secretary of War Hegseth said the US has just begun to fight in Iran and that Iran is wrong in its calculations if it thinks the US can't continue the war, while he added that the firepower used in Iran is to increase significantly.European equity futures indicate a higher cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures up 1.0% after the cash market closed with losses of 1.5% on Thursday.Looking ahead, highlights include EZ GDP 3rd Est (Q4), US NFP (Feb), Retail Sales (Jan), Speakers including ECB President Lagarde, Cipollone & Schnabel, Fed's Daly, Collins & Hammack, RBA's Hauser, Credit Review including Fitch on France, DBRS on Greece.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

Retail is moving fast, and this episode breaks down five of the clearest signals shaping the high street right now.Alex and Simone Oloman, Co-Founder of Need It For Tonight, unpack Molly-Mae's International Women's Day activation, Marks & Spencer's new Putney store format, Greggs' vending machine move, the Dove x Bridgerton activation at Battersea Power Station, and EE's new Oxford Street experience store. The thread running through all of it is clear: physical retail is becoming more experiential, more community-led, and more intentional.The episode also opens with reflections from EuroShop and ITAB Group, then closes on personal shopping, colour analysis, and what confidence-led retail experiences could mean for men's fashion.00:00 Intro + EuroShop / ITAB Group opening00:01 EuroShop reflections and expo scale00:02 Alex and Simone introduction00:03 Molly-Mae pop-up for International Women's Day00:05 Marks & Spencer's new store format in Putney00:06 Greggs vending machine expansion00:07 Dove x Bridgerton at Battersea Power Station00:08 EE's Oxford Street experience store00:09 The shift from transaction to experience00:09 Men's personal shopping event recap00:10 Colour analysis and confidence in menswear00:11 Outro

APAC stocks rebounded from yesterday's sell-off as the region took impetus from the positive handover from Wall Street, where the Nasdaq led the advances on tech strength, while geopolitics remained in focus.US President Trump said they are in a very strong position, and that Iran's missiles and launchers are being wiped out, while he added that they will continue forward.Iranian Foreign Minister says Washington will regret targeting Iranian frigate in international waters, Sky News Arabia reported.China set its 2026 GDP growth target at 4.5%-5.0%, as expected (prev. ‘around 5%'), and CPI at around 2%, while it plans to issue CNY 800bln in new policy financing tools and aims to create more than 12mln urban jobs.European equity futures indicate a lower cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures down 0.9% after the cash market closed with gains of 1.7% on Wednesday.Looking ahead, highlights include Swedish CPIF prelim. (Feb), EZ Retail Sales (Jan), US Challenger Job Cuts (Feb), US Export/Import Prices (Jan), Jobless Claims, South Korean CPI (Feb), ECB Minutes (Feb) & BoE's DMP, Speakers including ECB President Lagarde, de Guindos & Fed's Bowman, Supply from Spain, France & UK, Earnings from Marvell, Costco, Kroger, JD.com & Victoria's Secret.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

In this episode of Great Women in Compliance, Lisa Fine talks with Trish Ashman, Senior Director of Ethics & Compliance (AMEA & APAC) at Cushman & Wakefield, about resilience, integrity, and knowing when it's time to move on. Trish shares her journey from private practice in London to Singapore and into the Ethics and Compliance space. Trish was at Wirecard and then at Twitter, both of which had her working through two major corporate crises – the fraud at Wirecard and the ownership change at Twitter. Trish candidly shares her experiences and lessons learned from both of those roles. At Wirecard, she stayed to support employees during the collapse, focused on fairness and doing what she could to make a difference. At Twitter, after the acquisition dramatically reshaped the company and its compliance function, she considered whether she could still meaningfully influence ethical decision-making and if this role aligned with her values. This episode is an honest conversation about ethics and compliance as a calling, resilience as a muscle, and how these experiences shaped Trish and helped her become resilient and find a role where she would thrive.

Dan Wiliams started his entrepreneurial journey at age 10 earning money as a paperboy and local lawnmower kid.The thrill of the enterprise always meant more to him than the money. He started building and selling computers at the age of 15 and became the go-to for all technology needs for all friends and family. He eventually had his first experience running and owning a business after joining a small IT business at the age of 21. He helped grow it to over $20M in revenue and replaced himself in it and exited. He has done about 5 mergers, sales and acquisitions throughout that time and started his own advisory in 2017 to share his experiences with other business owners. These days he is a director in a software company, a fulfillment company and has his own EOS practice.In this episode, Dan shares with me his journey to exit & how it's important to elevate those around you in order to really let go!The Formal BioDan is a Certified EOS® Implementer and has more than 20 years experience in the IT industry. He is the former CEO of Australian MSP and certified Great Place to Work, Powernet.He has facilitated hundreds of sessions globally on leadership, growth, and culture. Dan is driven by his passion for helping others and lifting the tide across the IT industry. Dan is a facilitator in the IT Nation Evolve program and former peer group member.Dan spends the majority of his time pursuing his purpose of connecting people with possibilities to unlock potential. As a lifelong entrepreneur himself, Dan now works with over 25 technology service providers across the APAC region as their EOS Implementer and Coach on their journey.

APAC stocks extended on losses with markets roiled by the widening conflict in the Middle East; KOSPI saw a double-digit percentage drop and had triggered a circuit breaker with declines led by shipbuilders and shipping firms.Iran hit more than 10 tankers that ignored warnings and warns ships against transiting the Strait of Hormuz, according to FARS.US President Trump said, "If necessary, the United States Navy will begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as soon as possible".US President Trump announced with immediate effect that the US is to provide political risk insurance and guarantees (at a very reasonable price) for the financial security of all maritime trade, especially energy, travelling through the Gulf.European equity futures indicate a slightly lower cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures down 0.4% after the cash market closed with losses of 3.6% on Tuesday.Looking ahead, highlights include Swiss CPI (Feb), Global Final Composite/Services PMIs (Feb), EZ Unemployment (Jan), PPI (Jan), US ISM Services PMI (Feb), NBP Policy Announcement. Speakers include ECB's Cipollone, de Guindos & BoC's Macklem. Supply from Germany, Earnings from Broadcom, Merck & Deutsche Post.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

US President Trump said the US continues to carry out large-scale combat operations in Iran, while he added that Iran could have missiles capable of reaching America soon and had refused to cease its pursuit of nuclear weapons.The US is said to be preparing for a 'pickup' in attacks in Iran during the next 24 hours, according to a senior unnamed official cited by CNN.US and China trade negotiators are to meet mid-March prior to the Trump-Xi summit, with Treasury Secretary Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng expected to convene in Paris at the end of next week to discuss bilateral matters.APAC stocks were pressured with risk appetite weighed down by geopolitics as the Iranian conflict entered a fourth day, and with US President Trump warning of larger strikes to come.European equity futures indicate a negative cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures down 1.0% after the cash market closed with losses of 2.5% on Monday.Looking highlights include EZ Flash HICP (Feb), US RCM/TIPP (Mar), New Zealand Export/Import Prices, Australian Composite PMI Final (Feb). Speakers include Fed's Williams & Kashkari, UK Spring Statement. Supply from the Netherlands & Germany, Earnings from CrowdStrike, Best Buy, Target, AutoZone, Bayer, Adidas, & Continental.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

US and Israel launched a large-scale joint military operation against Iran on Saturday, 28th February; Iranian state television officially confirmed the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.Iran launched immediate retaliatory missile and drone attacks against Israel, and multiple US military installations across the Gulf and multiple Gulf states, including the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain.Iran's IRGC declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to international navigation until further notice; IRGC also announced on Sunday that they hit 3 US and UK oil tankers with missiles in the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz.US President Trump suggested that the fighting with Iran could go on for four weeks; US Secretary of War Hegseth is to hold a press conference at 08:00EST/13:00GMT.Crude futures surged at the reopen but retreated from best levels, spot gold rallied on a haven bid but then mildly pulled back. APAC stocks were mostly pressured, while European equity futures indicate a drop at the cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures down 1.5%.Russia is said to consider a halt in peace talks unless Ukraine cedes land. Talks planned for the week ahead will be decisive on whether or not the sides can agree on terms to end the war.Looking ahead, highlights include German Retail Sales (Jan), EZ/UK/US Final Manufacturing PMIs (Feb), US ISM Manufacturing PMI (Feb), Japanese Unemployment Rate (Jan), Speakers including BoE's Taylor & Ramsden, BoC's Kozicki & Macklem, Earnings from Riot Platforms, Norwegian Cruise Line & ASM International.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

In this episode of the FocusCore Podcast, host David Sweet speaks with Brent Conkle (President and CEO) and Dan Ring of Global Leadership Solutions about the high cost of leadership mishires, especially their impact on morale, engagement, and turnover. They discuss Japan's tight talent market and introduce their Second Opinion Service (SOS), which uses the Garuda AS suite of assessments to measure universal leadership competencies, stress sensitivity, and role fit with reliable, evidence-based results that can be customized to company and local culture. The conversation covers common hiring biases (prestige, likability, referrals), the value of data to align local and HQ decisions, and how the same methodology can support selection for management programs, succession planning, and onboarding through transition coaching. They also discuss AI's role in hiring and share advice on making better critical hires.The 2026 FocusCore Salary Guide is here: 2026 Salary GuideIn this episode you will hear:The underestimated impact of leadership on team morale and engagementThe critical role of the Second Opinion Service in improving recruitment outcomesStrategies for successful onboarding and reducing turnoverThe relevance of stress sensitivity in high-pressure work environments like JapanThe future of strategic HR and how AI could reshape candidate assessmentAbout Brent:Brent Conkle is the President and CEO of Global Leadership Solutions Co., Ltd., bringing over 25 years of global experience in HR leadership, consulting, talent acquisition, and executive coaching across North America, Europe, and Asia. A certified HR professional and executive, leadership, and career coach, Brent is known for helping leaders cut through complexity, lead transformational change, and elevate performance with a strong focus on measurable ROI and long-term impact.Throughout his career, Brent has supported startups, corporate turnarounds, and major APAC transformation initiatives, consistently driving sustainable growth by enhancing employee engagement, retention, and organizational performance. His approach centers on developing stronger leaders and building highly engaged, high-performing workplaces.In addition to his role as CEO, Brent has served as a Regional Global Employment Advisor at the U.S. Department of State, where he supported foreign service officers and eligible family members with career strategy and professional development across international postings. He also works as a Transition & Executive Coach with Randstad RiseSmart, guiding professionals through strategic career transitions both within and beyond their organizations.Brent is the co-author of The Practical Leader: A Guide to Creating Highly-Engaged and High-Performing Organizations, offering practical tools and insights for workforce development. His mission is to coach global leaders to achieve outstanding results in their careers while creating organizations that are exceptional places to work.About Dan:Daniel Ring is an experienced Human Resources professional with over 12 years of expertise across Europe and Asia. He has a strong background in strategic HR initiatives, particularly in change management and talent development, and is passionate about leveraging technology to improve workplace practices and enhance employee experiences.In his role as a consultant with Global Leadership Solutions, Daniel works closely with organizations to support leadership development and address challenges such as organizational change and employee engagement. He focuses on equipping leaders with the tools and strategies needed to align people practices with business objectives.Daniel's career has included roles such as Senior HR Business Partner at Broadridge Financial Solutions and Head of HR at NatWest Markets Japan. In these positions, he helped implement global career frameworks, redesign leadership structures, and streamline HR operations. His regional experience has given him a broad understanding what it takes to deliver for diverse, international organizations.Daniel is committed to helping organizations and their leaders develop effective strategies for building strong teams and achieving sustainable success in today's evolving business landscape.Connect with Brent:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brentconkle/Global Leadership Solutions: https://getglsjapan.com/Connect with Dan:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danpring/Connect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejpFacebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/This podcast was proudly produced by Lisa Yasuda.“Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.

Industry leaders from Auros, GSR, and Selini take the stage Consensus Hong Kong to dismantle the "evil" market maker narrative and explain their role as a defense against catastrophic volatility. Leaders from market makers took the stage at Consensus Hong Kong to dismantle the "evil" market maker narrative that dominates social media. In this candid panel, Auros Chief Commercial Officer, Jason Atkins, GSR's Managing Director and Head of APAC and EMEA Sales, Chuan Jin, and Selini's CEO and Founder, Jordi Alexander, explain why market makers are the primary defense against catastrophic volatility rather than the cause of it.

The Asia-Pacific region is home to more than half the world's population - at 60% - with approximately 4.75 billion people. In recent years, India and Vietnam, to name just two, have enacted comprehensive data protection laws. Near the end of 2025, India finalized its highly anticipated regulations for the Digital Personal Data Protection Act and Vietnam's Personal Data Protection Law became effective on the first of January this year.    Hogan Lovells Partner Charmian Aw has long practiced in the region, specializing in APAC data protection, privacy, AI governance and cybersecurity law and offers developments of the region in the IAPP's Asia-Pacific Dashboard Digest. She also joined the IAPP Publications Advisory Board this year. While attending the UK Data Protection Intensive in London, IAPP Editorial Director Jedidiah Bracy sat down with Charmian Aw to discuss the latest developments in the region, specifically regarding India and Vietnam. Here's what she had to say. 

APAC stocks were ultimately higher heading into month-end but with price action choppy following the weak handover from the US, where sentiment was clouded by tech weakness, while participants also digested the recent US-Iran talks in Geneva - which ended in no deal.Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi said they entered serious talks about sanctions relief and the nuclear issue, while he added it was one of the most serious talks they have had with the US, and technical talks will start in Vienna from Monday.Ukrainian President Zelensky said the next trilateral talks will likely occur in the UAE in early March.PBoC announced it will cut the FX Risk Reserve Ratio for forward FX sales to 0% from 20%, effective March 2nd to promote FX market development and support corporate exchange rate risk management.European equity futures indicate an uneventful cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures flat after the cash market closed with losses of 0.2% on Thursday.Looking ahead, highlights include German Import Prices (Jan), French/Spanish/German CPI (Feb), German Unemployment Rate (Feb), Canadian GDP (Jan), US PPI (Jan), Comments from BoE's Pill, Earnings from Holcim & BASF.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

Brian Keenan leads international strategy and AI consultancy for WE Communications, a ~$200M integrated marketing firm. Brian counsels senior leaders from companies such as Adobe, HEINEKEN and Amazon to succeed in an AI-enabled future. Latest interest areas including AI search, agentic commerce, synthetic audiences, and autonomous workflows. He is a regular presenter at industry conferences such as ICCO, PRCA, WARC, and Mumbrella across EMEA & APAC. He brings a global and grounded mindset to his work from living in four countries and raising three children.

APAC stocks are mostly positive as the majority of the region took its cue from gains on Wall Street, where tech led the advances, and NVIDIA posted stronger-than-expected earnings.US equity futures initially saw support following NVIDIA's earnings results, as the world's most valuable company beat on top and bottom lines, although gains were pared as NVIDIA ultimately returned to flat territory after hours.BoJ's Governor Ueda said there is no change from January to the BoJ's projected timing for hitting its price target, and inflation is expected to re-accelerate from the current slowdown.US VP Vance said they see evidence that Iran is trying to build a nuclear weapon; US Secretary of State Rubio said Iran poses a grave threat and seeks nuclear capability.European equity futures indicate a slightly lower cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures down 0.2% after the cash market closed with gains of 0.9% on Wednesday.Looking ahead, highlights include EZ Consumer Confidence Final (Feb), US Jobless Claims, Japanese Tokyo CPI (Feb), Retail Sales (Jan). Speakers include ECB's Lagarde, BoE's Lombardelli & Fed's Bowman. Supply from Italy & US. Earnings from CoreWeave, Intuit, Vistra Energy, Autodesk, Dell, Baidu, Warner Bros Discovery, Munich Re, Schneider Electric, AXA, Engie & Saint-Gobain.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

In this era of "permacrisis" and constant disruption, adaptability and resilience are vital traits that require collaboration and an increasing focus on human-centric skills. That's the messaging to come out of the 2025 Global Talent Competitive Index (GTCI), an annual report that highlights the latest talent trends and offers insights into the current global talent landscape.For this episode of “The INSEAD Perspective: Spotlight on Asia” podcast series, Sameer Hasija, Dean of Asia at INSEAD, analyses the results and implications of the 11th edition of the GTCI through an APAC lens alongside two of its authors: L. Felipe Monteiro, Academic Director of the GTCI and Senior Affiliate Professor of Strategy, and Paul Evans, Emeritus Professor of Organisational Behaviour.   Perhaps the most notable theme from the 2025 report is the shifting value of human capabilities, where soft human-centric skills are becoming just as vital as hard digital or technical skills. As AI handles increasingly complex technical tasks, Monteiro and Evans suggest that "generalist adaptive skills" – including leadership, innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship – will increasingly take centre stage.Reflecting on the high ranking of certain countries such as Singapore, Switzerland and the Nordic nations, Evans points to the strength of their integrated ecosystems, where government, business, educational institutions and labour organisations work together to solve problems using a forward-looking approach. He warns that without this deep ecosystem collaboration and a long-term vision, even technologically advanced nations may struggle to implement the systemic changes required to thrive in today's disrupted global economy.That potential danger is highlighted in a concerning trend identified in the report, where several upper-middle-income countries, such as Malaysia, Brazil and Mexico, appear to have reached a "talent plateau" or “trap". Despite making good headway in the earlier stages of their development, these countries have seen their progress stall as they find themselves squeezed between high-innovating top-tier countries and lower-income countries with cost advantages.   Levels of optimism for the future were mixed among the three speakers.However, they agreed that greater collaboration, an increased emphasis on lifelong education and the ability of individuals to learn and adjust on the job will be vital if countries and companies hope to successfully navigate the uncertain waters of the next five years – and beyond.  

APAC stocks traded higher as the region took impetus from the rebound on Wall Street after Anthropic's presentation helped soothe some AI/software concerns, and with tech also bolstered by the USD 60bln Meta-AMD chip deal; Euro Stoxx 50 futures up 0.2% after the cash market closed flat on Tuesday.US President Trump talked up the economy in his State of the Union Address, saying that the nation is back, bigger, better and stronger than before, while he added that we've seen nothing yet.Regarding tariffs, Trump said the Supreme Court decision on tariffs is very unfortunate but added that tariffs will remain in place and nearly all countries want to keep the trade deals.Trump also commented on Iran, which he claimed is working on missiles that could soon reach the US, and noted Iran wants to make a deal but hasn't yet said that it won't pursue nuclear weapons.Antipodeans were firmer amid the positive risk appetite, and with AUD/USD leading the advances following firmer-than-expected monthly CPI data from Australia.Looking ahead, highlights include German GfK (Mar), GDP Final (Q4), Swiss Sentiment (Feb), EZ HICP Final (Jan). Speakers include RBA's Bullock, Fed's Musalem, Barkin & Schmid. Supply from Germany & US. Earnings from NVIDIA, Salesforce, Snowflake, TJX Companies, Lowe's, Synopsys & Bayer.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

Solana's Lu Yin discusses the shift to Internet Capital Markets and how the network is scaling to bridge global finance with the APAC region. Solana Foundation's Head of APAC, Lu Yin, joins CoinDesk Live at Consensus Hong Kong to break down why Solana is the emerging infrastructure for global finance. In this interview, Yin explores the transition toward Internet Capital Markets, where global assets and payments settle natively on-chain. From navigating Asia's complex regulatory landscape to scaling for 3,000+ builders, discover how Solana is bridging the gap between Wall Street and the APAC region. - This episode was hosted live by Jennifer Sanasie at Consensus Hong Kong 2026, presented by Hex Trust.

Stellar's Raja Chakravorti and Marketnode's Rehan Ahmed discuss how APAC's massive wealth and regulatory tailwinds are driving the commercialization of onchain assets. Raja Chakravorti, Chief Business Officer at Stellar Development Foundation, and Rehan Ahmed, CEO of Marketnode, joined CoinDesk Live at Consensus Hong Kong to discuss the shift from blockchain experimentation to full-scale commercialization in the Asia-Pacific region. With 7 million millionaires projected in the region by 2030 and $10 trillion in assets managed between Singapore and Hong Kong, the duo outlines how APAC is outperforming the West in the race for onchain settlement. - This episode was hosted live by Jennifer Sanasie at Consensus Hong Kong 2026, presented by Hex Trust.

APAC mostly firmer as China returned, somewhat shrugging off the weak Wall St. finish on AI disruption concerns.DXY marginally firmer, EUR/USD directionless, while USD/JPY edged higher and above 155.00.USTs pulled back from Monday's best, Bunds remained near highs, while JGBs saw choppy action after the long weekend.Crude remained tentative amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, XAU faded while copper rallied as China returned.Looking ahead, highlights include US ADP Weekly, House Prices (Dec), Consumer Confidence (Feb), Dallas/Richmond Fed (Feb), Atlanta Fed GDP, NBH Policy Announcement, Speakers including ECB's Lagarde, BoE's Bailey, Lombardelli, Greene, Taylor & Pill, Fed's Goolsbee, Collins, Bostic, Waller, Cook & Barkin, Supply from UK, Italy & US, Earnings from Home Depot & Keurig Dr Pepper.Click for the Newsquawk Week Ahead.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

APAC stocks were mixed amid trade uncertainty as the region digested the latest tariff developments after the US Supreme Court ruled against IEEPA tariffs on Friday, prompting President Trump to impose a global 10% flat-rate tariff, which he later raised to 15% over the weekend.US officials said that tariff deal partners should honour their agreements, while USTR Greer said he sought to separate the tariff agreements from the 15% global tariff that US President Trump announced.European Parliament's trade chief is to propose freezing the ratification of the EU's trade agreement with the US until they receive details from the Trump administration regarding its trade policy.Goldman Sachs analysts indicate that most Asian economies will experience slightly lower US tariffs after the Supreme Court ruling on IEEPA tariffs, with China expected to see the largest decline.US President Trump reportedly considers a targeted strike on Iran, followed by a larger attack and is open to deposing the Supreme Leader by force if Iran is stubborn, according to the NYT.Looking ahead, highlights include German Ifo (Feb), Chicago Fed National Activity Index (Dec/Jan). Speakers include BoE's Taylor & Fed's Waller. Supply from the EU, Earnings from Hims & Hers.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

APAC stocks followed suit to the predominantly negative mood on Wall Street, where risk appetite was subdued amid private credit fund concerns and geopolitical risks.Hang Seng retreated on return from the Lunar New Year holidays, with the big tech names leading the declines in the index, while mainland markets and the Stock Connect remained shut and won't open until next Tuesday.USD/JPY lingered near the prior day's best levels north of 155.00, with some mild support seen as the cooling of Japanese inflation essentially provides the BoJ additional policy space.US President Trump said 15 days is the maximum deadline to reach an agreement with Iran; otherwise, it will be very unfortunate for them, according to Al Jazeera; US President Trump reportedly weighs a limited strike to force Iran into a nuclear deal, WSJ reported.European equity futures indicate a positive cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures up 0.5% after the cash market closed with losses of 0.7% on Thursday.Looking ahead, highlights include ECB EZ Indicator of Negotiated Wages; UK Retail Sales (Jan), PSNB (Jan), German PPI (Jan), Global Flash PMIs (Feb), Canadian Retail Sales (Jan), US PCE/GDP (Dec/Q4). Speakers include Fed's Logan & Bostic, Earnings from Anglo American.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

APAC stocks traded higher following the positive handover from the US and with South Korea outperforming amid tech strength on return from the Lunar New Year holidays.FOMC's January meeting minutes showed a broad agreement to hold rates, but views diverged on the path ahead.US senior official told Axios that the round of talks with Iran in Geneva was "a hamburger stuffed with nothing" and is one of the reasons why Trump is close to making a decision on the issue of going to war with Iran, according to Axios's Ravid.US senior official stated that all US forces involved in the Middle East build-up should be in place by mid-March and that Secretary of State Rubio will travel to Israel to meet Israeli PM Netanyahu to discuss Iran on the weekend of February 28th.US President Trump is scheduled to deliver remarks on the economy at 16:00 EST/21:00 GMT on Thursday.Looking ahead, highlights include US Trade Balance (Dec), Weekly/Continuing Claims, Philadelphia Fed (Feb), Pending Home Sales (Jan), EZ Flash Consumer Confidence (Feb), New Zealand Trade Balance (Jan), Australian Flash PMIs (Feb), Japanese CPI (Jan). Speakers include ECB's Cipollone, ECB's de Guindos, Fed's Bostic, Kashkari, Goolsbee & Bowman. Supply from Spain, France & US. Earnings from Walmart, Deere, Wayfair, Klarna, Opendoor, Newmont Mining, Southern & Constellation Energy.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

Today's MadTech Daily covers Perplexity stopping ads to protect AI trust, Havas posting APAC gains in a ‘transformative' year, and Nvidia landing a multibillion-dollar deal with Meta.

Leaders don't need to be Hollywood-style hype machines to motivate people. In modern workplaces—especially in bilingual environments like Japan—effective motivation is more personal: diagnose what's really blocking performance, then respond with education, training, coaching, clarity, or genuine intrinsic motivation. Do I need to be a charismatic leader to motivate my team? No—charisma is optional; precision is essential. The myth of the rousing locker-room speech doesn't translate well to most modern organisations, especially across languages and cultures. In Japan-based teams where English and Japanese are both in play, persuasion often depends less on "big speeches" and more on consistent one-to-one conversations. In 2025-style hybrid work, people don't experience motivation as a group event; they experience it in the moments where their boss notices what's stuck, removes friction, and helps them win. Think of leadership more like a coach in elite sport: individual feedback, role clarity, and targeted support—not constant emotional theatre. Do now: Replace "pep talk leadership" with "diagnostic leadership": meet people individually, ask what's blocking them, then match the fix to the real issue.  When someone underperforms, is it always a motivation problem? Often it isn't motivation at all—it's confusion, missing skills, or low confidence. Leaders sometimes label non-performance as "they don't care," when the person actually doesn't know what to do, doesn't know how to do it, or doesn't believe they can do it. In fast-moving environments—post-pandemic, AI-accelerated work, constant tools and notifications—people can fall behind silently. The key is to stop guessing. Treat performance gaps like a troubleshooting process: identify whether the barrier is knowledge, skill, belief, clarity, or willingness. Only the last one is truly a motivation issue; the rest are leadership system issues. Do now: Before you "motivate," run a five-part check: Know what? Know how? Believe I can? Know why? Want to? What if my team member says, "I don't know what to do"? That's a knowledge gap—solve it with education and better onboarding. Many organisations do a perfunctory onboarding, then dump people into "figure it out" mode with thin on-the-job training. In a high-pressure Japan HQ or APAC regional role, that can create quiet failure: people look busy, but don't actually know what "good" looks like. Fixing this isn't about speeches—it's about auditing what they're missing. Map the role: key responsibilities, expected outputs, who approves what, which systems matter, and what "done" means. Then schedule consistent boss time to close those gaps. Do now: Do a simple onboarding audit: list the top 10 things they must know, then verify what they truly understand—don't assume.  What if they say, "I don't know how to do it"? That's a skills/process gap—solve it with training and clear steps. Even experienced hires struggle when your company's systems, compliance rules, customer expectations, and internal decision-making rhythms are different. In multinationals, the gap can be brutal: global standards plus local realities, especially in Japan where stakeholder alignment and risk sensitivity can slow execution. The leadership move here is to break the work into steps and teach the method. Training isn't a one-off event—it's guided repetition until the person can execute unassisted. If you want speed later, you invest time now. Do now: Write the "steps to succeed" as a checklist for the task, walk through it once together, then watch them do it and coach the gaps.  What if they say, "I don't believe I can"? That's a confidence gap—solve it with coaching and capability proof. Organisations change: mergers, restructures, new tech stacks, shifting customer demands. A person who was winning in 2019 may feel out of their depth now. When results drop, self-belief drops—and then performance drops further. Coaching means helping them rebuild belief through small wins: tighten the goal, shorten the feedback cycle, and show evidence of progress. Confidence is not "positive thinking"; it's earned through repeated success with support. Leaders who ignore this tend to get blame, fear, and avoidance. Do now: Create a 30-day confidence plan: one measurable goal, weekly check-ins, and a visible record of wins (even small ones).  What if they say, "I don't know why we're doing this"? That's a purpose/clarity gap—solve it by making the "why" explicit and local. Executives often assume the "why" is obvious, but it frequently doesn't travel past middle management. In 2024–2026 workplaces, employees want context: how does this task connect to customers, risk, revenue, brand trust, or team success? Your job isn't to deliver a slogan—it's to co-create meaning. Explain what changes if this doesn't get done. Show the trade-offs. Link the task to real-world outcomes: customer churn, quality failures, compliance exposure, lost market share, slower cycle times. Then repeat it. Clarity fades quickly in busy environments. Do now: In your next team conversation, answer: "What happens if we don't do this?" and "Who benefits if we do?"  What if they say, "I don't want to"? That's the true motivation issue—solve it by uncovering intrinsic drivers, not by assuming money or promotion.Many leaders default to "pay rises" or "career ladder" logic, but not everyone wants to be the boss. Some people value mastery, autonomy, stability, recognition, flexibility, or contribution more than title. Instead of projecting your motives onto them, ask questions until you understand what they genuinely want from work and life. Then design the work—where possible—to meet those drivers. Your role is to create an environment where people motivate themselves, because forced motivation is fragile and usually short-lived. Do now: Have a 1:1 built around three questions: "What do you want more of?", "What drains you?", and "What would make this role a win this year?"  Conclusion Motivating a team isn't about volume; it's about accuracy. Most performance issues aren't solved by "inspiration"—they're solved by education, training, coaching, clarity, and then (only then) true intrinsic motivation. The common thread is boss time: consistent attention to individuals. If leaders don't allocate time to understand and support people, they'll waste even more time dealing with avoidable underperformance later. 

APAC stocks traded higher in continued thin conditions as many regional bourses remained closed for holidays.RBNZ kept the OCR at 2.25%, as expected, and the central bank refrained from any hawkish surprises; NZD heavily underperforms.US VP Vance said in some ways Iran talks went well, while he added that Iranians are not yet willing to acknowledge some of President Trump's red lines.US Special Envoy Witkoff said the US facilitated the trilateral meeting between Ukraine and Russia, while he added that Ukraine and Russia agreed to update leaders and pursue an agreement.European equity futures indicate a positive cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures up 0.2% after the cash market finished with gains of 0.7% on Tuesday.Looking ahead, highlights include UK CPI (Jan), US Durable Goods, Industrial Production (Jan), Housing Starts (Nov/Dec), Atlanta Fed GDP, FOMC Minutes (Jan), US-Ukraine-Russia talks to take place (17-18 Feb). Speakers include ECB's Cipollone, Schnabel & Fed's Bowman. Supply from Germany & US. Earnings from Analog, Carvana, DoorDash, Booking Holdings, Moody's, Garmin, Glencore & Orange.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

In this episode, host Sandy Vance chats with Sophie Cheng, the Senior Vice President of Product Marketing at Sinch. They discuss the most common communication pitfalls and share a handful of remedies so you can start sending smarter messages. You'll walk away with tangible tips on how to: ✔️ switch from omnichannel to optimal channel✔️ leverage AI to fix your no-show problem✔️ build patient trust through advanced messagingIn this episode, they talk about:What Sinch does and how it uses AI to simplify and personalize communication for customersHow AI-driven communication is being applied in healthcare and what leaders need to understandWhy better communication leads to faster interactions, improved patient experiences, and higher conversion ratesHow omnichannel communication strategies streamline workflows for healthcare organizationsHow Sinch helps organizations identify the right channels and interfaces for their patient populationsWhat it means to operate at the speed of trust, and why transparency mattersHow AI can make patient interactions feel more empathetic and humanWhy organizations should never underestimate the impact of their communication strategyA Little About Sophie:Sophie Cheng is the Senior Vice President of Product Marketing at Sinch, the global leader in CPaaS and the company behind the Customer Communications Cloud. With more than 15 years of international marketing experience, Sophie has held strategic roles across Europe, Asia, and North America, partnering closely with Product, Growth, and M&A leaders to manage complex, global portfolios. At Sinch, she leads global product marketing, partner marketing, and analyst relations, helping organizations deliver seamless, trusted communication experiences across messaging, voice, and email.Before Sinch, Sophie served as VP of Global Product and Customer Marketing at ZoomInfo and led Product Marketing at Chorus.ai. A true global citizen, she has worked extensively across EMEA, APAC, and the U.S. Sophie holds advanced degrees from the University of St. Gallen and Singapore University and is an active member of the CMO Alliance.

Today's podcast is the fourth in our four part series in partnership with Enfinity Global.Enfinity is one of Europe's leading IPPs and the winner of inspiratia's 2025 Developer of the Year and Financial Structure of the Year awards. In our series together, we explore the challenges, opportunities, and key decisions that European developers are faced with today and take a deep dive into understanding Enfinity's approach to navigating - and shaping - the continent's energy future.  In this episode, Maya is joined by Enfinity's European leadership team, including Julio Fournier, CEO Europe, and Alessandro Ceschiat, General Manager for Italy, to unpack how the company has rapidly evolved from a “quiet” renewables player into a global IPP and partner of choice. They discuss what it means to build a 35 GW+ pipeline across multiple markets, how lessons from Latin America and APAC are being applied in Europe, and why Enfinity Global believes trust, repeat partnerships, and local community engagement are central to long‑term value creation.This episode is hosted by Maya Chavvakula, Head of News at inspiratia.    This episode edited by Leonard Müller, Reporter at inspiratia.  This episode is sponsored by Enfinity Global.Reach out to us at: podcasts@inspiratia.comFind all of our latest news and analysis by subscribing to inspiratia For tickets to our events email conferences@inspiratia.com or buy them directly on our website. Listen to all our episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other providers. Music credit: NDA/Show You instrumental/Tribe of Noise©2025 inspiratia. All rights reserved.This content is protected by copyright. Please respect the author's rights and do not copy or reproduce it without permission.

APAC stocks traded mixed amid the extremely thinned conditions due to the Lunar New Year holiday and in the absence of a lead from the US, where markets were closed for Washington's Birthday/Presidents Day.Nikkei 225 retreated shortly after the open with SoftBank and heavy industry stocks leading the declines, as the post-election euphoria petered out following the recent underwhelming GDP data. USD/JPY pulled back with pressure seen as risk sentiment in Japan deteriorated shortly after the open.US President Trump said he will be involved in the Iran talks indirectly and that Iran wants to make a deal, while he also stated that Iran "are bad negotiators" and he hopes they will be more reasonable in talks.European equity futures indicate a subdued cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures down 0.3% after the cash market closed with losses of 0.1% on Monday.Looking ahead, highlights include UK Unemployment/Wages (Dec), German/EZ ZEW (Feb), US ADP Weekly, NY Fed (Feb), Canadian CPI (Jan), Japanese Balance of Trade (Jan), US-Iran talks, US-Ukraine-Russia talks (Feb. 17th-18th). Speakers include Fed's Barr & Daly, Supply from Germany. Earnings from Medtronic, Leidos, Palo Alto, Cadence Design Systems, Republic Services, Vulcan Materials, Kenvue, Antofagasta. Holiday: Chinese Spring Festival Golden Week (17-24 Feb).Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

In this episode of The Venture Capital Podcast (VC.fm), hosts Peter Harris and Jon Bradshaw talk with Wally Wang, Founding Managing Partner at Scale Asia Ventures and a Business Insider Seed 100 (2025) investor, about identifying AI winners early — and scaling them across the U.S. and Asia (Japan, Korea, APAC).Wally brings a unique mix of experience as a machine learning scientist (NYU / CMU / Microsoft), a former operator (YC-backed Pebble, acquired by Fitbit), and an enterprise founder who helped grow DataVisor (raised $150M+). Today, he backs AI infrastructure, enterprise AI agents, cybersecurity, developer tools, and robotics, with a strong cross-border thesis that helps founders expand globally and access strategic distribution partners in Asia.We discuss:How to evaluate “real” AI founders vs hypeAI moats: why product-market fit isn't enough anymoreWhat actually creates defensibility in enterprise AI (data, trust, workflows, integrations)Build vs buy in AI: when enterprises DIY vs purchase softwareWhy vertical AI agents are safer than horizontal AI wrappersCross-border expansion strategy: U.S. → Asia vs Asia → U.S.Robotics + physical AI opportunities and Asia's hardware advantageWhy enterprise + government budgets are still under-targetedFollow the PodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/venturecapitalfm/Twitter: https://twitter.com/vcpodcastfmLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/venturecapitalfm/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7BQimY8NJ6cr617lqtRr7N?si=ftylo2qHQiCgmT9dfloD_g&nd=1&dlsi=7b868f1b72094351Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/venture-capital/id1575351789Website: https://www.venturecapital.fm/Follow Jon BradshawLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrbradshaw/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjonbradshaw/Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrjonbradshawFollow Peter HarrisLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterharris1Twitter: https://twitter.com/thevcstudentInstagram: https://instagram.com/shodanpeteYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@peterharris2812

In this episode of Make It Happen Mondays, John sits down with Saif Khan, Regional VP of EMEA and APAC at Semrush, one of the top SaaS platforms helping digital marketers drive visibility, traffic, and growth. But this episode isn't just about tools or tactics—it's about the real human side of sales leadership.From growing up in a council estate in West London to building elite sales teams across two continents, Saif shares how a single ride-along with his uncle sparked his lifelong passion for sales. He breaks down how five years in retail taught him more about buyer psychology than any formal sales training ever could—and why emotional intelligence, not just methodology, is the real differentiator in today's market.The conversation dives into:• How burnout creeps in even during “success”• Why Saif hit pause on his career for a solo journey through Southeast Asia• The coaching crisis in frontline management• The line between AI augmentation and AI dependency—and what it means for the future of leadership.Whether you're an SDR, a VP, or somewhere in between, this episode is packed with real stories, fresh takes, and valuable lessons for anyone navigating the evolving world of modern sales.Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today's AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let's Make It Happen together!Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1 Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletterConnect with Saif on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saif-khan-cism/Check out Saif's Website Semrush: https://www.semrush.com/Check out these additional links for SemrushEmployment Opportunities: https://careers.semrush.com/jobs/Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/es/podcast/technically-her/id1871241654?l=en-GBSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7nBfeFVia9d7ClK7CVOBcV?si=9ef5467e40644435Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/semrush_life/#Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SemrushLifeLinkedIn:

People in the corporate world are buzzing this week after LinkedIn released it's latest report introducing the latest buzzword "Talent Velocity." However, it's worth noting this is more than just buzz. The data reveals a much more sobering reality that shouldn't come as a surprise. 86% of companies are stuck in neutral or burned out the clutch while 14% of organizations are racing ahead. In summary, the vast majority are spinning their wheels "planning" transformation rather than executing it. While many are quick to claim it's a technology problem, it's clear we've got a crisis of organizational metabolism.  This week, I'm deconstructing the massive 2026 LinkedIn Talent Report, based on data from 1 billion members and 14 million jobs, not as a news update, but as a reality check. I explain why this report may not come as a "discovery" of new trends for many, but a validation of the things we've known for years but continue to fail to act on. I'm also stripping away the HR buzzwords to show you why "velocity" isn't about moving faster; it's about getting surgical about the friction that is currently burning out your workforce.  My goal is to move you out of "Planning" to "Progressing" by exposing the specific blind spots, from bad data to American complacency, that are keeping you in the 86%.​ The Validation Gap (No More Excuses): We've known for years that skills matter more than titles, yet most companies are still just "talking" about it. I break down why the "Leaders" aren't smarter than you—they just treat talent agility as a business imperative rather than an HR project, leading to massive gains in confidence around profitability.  ​ The "American" Blind Spot (Data Arrogance): We love to think we are leading the charge, but the data proves otherwise. I call out the uncomfortable truth that North America is lagging far behind APAC (22% vs. 41%) in skills-based planning, and why relying on static job descriptions means your AI strategy is effectively hallucinating.  ​ The "Human" Premium (S-Tier Change Management): You cannot add velocity to a system that is already at max capacity. I dive into my own contribution to the report regarding "S-Tier Change Management" and explain why the companies winning at AI are actually 5.5x more focused on "Building Trust" than their competitors.  By the end, I hope you see this data not as a reason to feel behind, but as a blueprint for subtraction. You cannot simply "add" AI to a broken system; you have to do the surgical work of removing the friction first.⸻If this conversation helps you think more clearly about the future we're building, make sure to like, share, and subscribe. You can also support the show by ⁠buying me a coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/christopherlindAnd if your organization is wrestling with how to lead responsibly in the AI era, balancing performance, technology, and people, that's the work I do every day through my consulting and coaching. Learn more at https://christopherlind.co⸻Chapters00:00 – The Hook: The 14% vs. The 86%04:00 – The Validation: Why "Nothing New" is the Real Problem07:00 – The 5 Accelerators: From Culture to Career Power14:00 – The Skills Blind Spot: Why the US is Falling Behind24:00 – The "Lind" Take: S-Tier Change Management & The Trust Multiplier33:00 – The "Now What": Auditing Your Data & Subtracting Friction#TalentVelocity #LinkedInReport #FutureOfWork #SkillsBasedHiring #ChangeManagement #AIStrategy #LeadershipDevelopment #ChristopherLind #FutureFocused #WorkforcePlanning

APAC stocks began the week in the green but with gains limited following a lack of major fresh catalysts from over the weekend and amid thinned conditions owing to holiday closures in the region and North America.Nikkei 225 traded indecisively, with the index constrained by disappointing Japanese preliminary Q4 GDP dataEuropean equity futures indicate a mildly positive cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures up 0.1%, after the cash market closed with losses of 0.4% on Friday.US President Trump said on Friday that Ukrainian President Zelensky is going to have to get moving and that Russia wants to get a deal.Looking ahead, highlights include Swedish Unemployment (Jan), EZ Industrial Production (Dec), and Japanese PM Takaichi is to meet with BoJ Governor Ueda. Speakers include Fed's Bowman.Holiday: US Holiday (Presidents Day); Chinese Spring Festival Golden Week.Desk: Newsquawk EU coverage will commence as normal on Monday, 16th February. Thereafter, the desk will shut at 18:00GMT/13:00ET and then re-open on the same day for APAC coverage at 22:00GMT/17:00ET.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

Leading multiple countries across Asia Pacific requires far more than operational excellence—it demands deep cultural understanding, intentional relationship-building, and the strategic ability to represent your region within a global enterprise. In this episode of UNSCRIPTED, host Sarah Nicastro sits down with Madhu Oza, Director of Global Technical and Service Excellence for APAC at Abbott Laboratories, to explore what it takes to build trust, bridge cultural divides, and amplify regional impact while maintaining alignment with global standards. Whether you're navigating the complexities of international leadership or looking to elevate your team's impact on the world stage, this conversation is packed with actionable insights to help you lead with cultural intelligence and authenticity.