Breakfast with Ryan Huang, Emaad Akhtar and Audrey Siek

Francis Tan, Senior Investment Strategist, UOB Private Bank discusses what to expect from China's "two sessions", reports that China is weighing an exit of its Zero-Covid strategy, and and how new capital flows could go to emerging markets.

Served in a neon yellow cup, Flash Coffee is a tech-enabled coffee chain that conveniently brings you award-winning coffee with a few taps on your phone. In fact, you need only use the Flash Coffee app when it comes to ordering and paying for your coffee. Sahil Arora, Managing Director, Flash Coffee Singapore shares how Flash Coffee managed to expand itself so rapidly in such a short time span and the rationale behind the launch of an In-App Delivery via their very own app at the most competitive prices. 

According to parents, therapists and special education teachers, support for students with special needs has grown in the past years. However, those that The Straits Times spoke to adds that while special needs education has received more focus over the years, there is a need for more work and education opportunities for adults with special needs. Lee Hui Lin, Assistant Director of Adult & Elderly Services, SPD shares more about the kind of support people with disabilities need and what more can be done to include diversity and inclusion for people with disabilities. 

In this morning's The Breakfast Brief, we discuss an agreement between Russia and Ukraine to set up humanitarian corridors and a possible ceasefire around them for fleeing civilians, Anonymous offer of £39k in Bitcoin to Russian soldiers, how China’s consumer and retail shares are reacting to Beijing's exit from its strict Covid-Zero policy, and more. 

Synopsis: The Straits Times' foreign editor Bhagyashree Garekar chats with ST’s correspondents in the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe every month. They talk about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises. In this episode, she chats with ST's Japan correspondent Walter Sim. Highlights (click/tap above): 01:26 Decline in the number of vending machines in Japan - is the lure fading? 03:24 Japan's history of vending machines and changes over the years 09:40 Popularity of vending machines on the rise due to the Covid-19 pandemic 12:01 Pros and cons of vending machines - in terms of a business deal 14:55 Weirdest product to come out of a vending machine Produced by: Bhagyashree Garekar (bhagya@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis and Fa'izah Sani Edited by: Fa'izah Sani Subscribe to our Asian Insider Podcast channel to follow our various shows each week and rate us on your favourite audio apps: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/wQsB Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read Walter Sim’s stories: https://str.sg/ws6J Read ST's Letters From The Bureau: https://str.sg/3xRd Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters --- Discover ST's special edition podcasts: Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2 Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn --- Discover more ST podcast series: Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m SG Extra: https://str.sg/wukR #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #STAsianInsider

Heng Koon How, Head of Markets Strategy, UOB discusses how sustainable the rally in oil prices will be and the implications for the global economy, as well as how it may feed into the Fed's rate hike policy. 

Australia has finally reopened its borders to all foreign travellers starting from February 21, ending a two-year closure that has been devastating for the nation's tourism sector. Brent Anderson, Regional General Manager of South & South East Asia, Tourism Australia discuss the role Australia's travel and tourism sector plays in the country's economy, and the efforts that have been done by Tourism Australia to boost the travel and tourism sector there, in line with the change of travellers' habits.

NewCampus, a modern learning school has recently introduced their newly formed Dean’s Council. And the aim of this council is to help design relevant curricula that prepare Asian managers for evolving challenges in the business world. Dr Susan P. Chen, Strategic Advisor & Dean's Council, NewCampus shares why businesses are facing issues with talent development in recent times and how companies in Asia can catch up and embark in their own learning evolution. 

Just this week, Genting Hong Kong's Asian-based cruise ship brand Dream Cruises announced that it will cease operations after it returns to Singapore shores on Wednesday. On the other hand, Genting Singapore said that it is ready to move forward with its plans to upgrade Resorts World Sentosa. Tay Wee Kuang, Senior Associate, CGS-CIMB Securities shares the rationale behind Genting Singapore extensive redevelopment and how much growth we are expecting from Genting Singapore performance this year. 

In this morning's The Breakfast Brief, we discuss the OPEC+'s decision to stick to their plan of gradual output despite Russia's invasion of Ukraine rattling markets, US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's affirmation of a March rate hike, what to expect from Apple's March 8 event, and more.