Breakfast with Ryan Huang, Emaad Akhtar and Audrey Siek

In this morning's The Breakfast Brief, we discuss the effects of the Omicron Covid-19 strain on Asian markets, China crackdown on Macau gambling sector, countries shutting borders in response to Omicron, and more. 

From the US adding more Chinese companies to its restricted trade list, to China fining a large corporate donor to Taiwanese political election campaigns and their zero-Covid policy, Tan Dawn Wei, China Bureau Chief, The Straits Times gives an analysis of it all.

Washington Report Ep 25: How the US is dealing with Omicron Covid-19 variant 09:36 mins Synopsis: Every week, The Straits Times analyses the latest developments in the United States. Mr Steve Okun, senior advisor, McLarty Associates - standing in for The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh who is on leave - chats with Money FM 89.3's Elliot Danker and Bharati Jagdish. 00:00 Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 00:51 US' response to the Omicron Covid-19 variant and its challenges 02:30 State of emergency declared in New York and measures to counter potential surge during the holiday season 04:28 US and South Africa working together on the Omicron coronavirus variant and  vaccines 07:32 Biden administration's plans to revive the Iran nuclear deal Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh (nirmal@sph.com.sg), The Breakfast Huddle, Money FM 89.3, Ernest Luis & Fa'izah Sani Edited by: Dan Koh 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/Ju4h  Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read Nirmal Ghosh's stories. Asian Insider newsletter. --- Discover more ST podcast series: Green Pulse Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaf Health Check Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaN ST Sports Talk Podcast: https://str.sg/JWRE Life Weekend Picks Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa2 #PopVultures Podcast: https://str.sg/JWad Bookmark This! Podcast: https://str.sg/JWas Lunch With Sumiko Podcast: https://str.sg/J6hQ Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many SMEs and Start-ups have been reeling from turmoil to meet revenue expectations and regular payments. One possible solution? Revenue-Based Financing (RBF). Percy Hung, CEO & Co-Founder, Choco Up shares the advantages of RBF, how it differs from venture capital and equity dilution, along with the types of businesses that would be drawn to it.

A report by Talkwaker and HubSpot – tailored for markets worldwide – recently revealed the latest social media trends in seven languages. Benjamin Soubies, Managing Director, APAC & Japan, Talkwalker shares the key highlights from the report, along with how metaverses will be the next consumer connection in the marketing scene.

Brian Arcese, Portfolio Manager and Equity Analyst at Foord Asset Management discusses how a Dutch saying might help guide investors trying to figure out the market volatility triggered by concerns around the Omicron variant. 

In this morning's The Breakfast Brief, we discuss the fate of global markets that are now dependent at least in part on laboratories around the world probing the omicron Covid-19 strain, Bitcoin's entry into the bear market territory, and more. 

In this week's Washington Report, Steve Okun, Senior Advisor, McLarty Associates gives an analysis of the US's response to the Omicron coronavirus variant, how Russia and China are reacting to BIden's plan for a virtual summit of democratic countries, the revival of the Iran nuclear deal, and more. 

This week, DBS faced one of their worst disruptions in a decade and many customers were unable to access the banks' online services for hours. But what sort of implications can we expect DBS to experience from this disruption, especially with this incident catching MAS’ attention? Jan Ondrus, Associate Professor of Information Systems & Associate Dean of Faculty, ESSEC Asia Pacific joins us on The Breakfast Huddle to give his take on the issue. 

While it has not become uncommon for figures in the showbiz industry to transition into entrepreneurship, it takes more than just having your name in the public eye to succeed. And Trisno Ishak, Founder, Grey by Ortenhill, can certainly attest to that.  Singapore’s homegrown hip-hop and R&B musician joins us on The Breakfast Huddle to share his adventures in the business world.