Breakfast with Ryan Huang, Emaad Akhtar and Audrey Siek

Synopsis: Every second Friday of the month, join The Straits Times' associate editor Ravi Velloor, as he distills his experience from four decades of covering the continent. In this episode, he hosts Prof Ashutosh Varshney, Director of the Center for Contemporary South Asia and Sol Goldman Professor of International Studies and the Social Sciences at Brown University in the US. They talk about India’s democratic experience through 75 years of existence as an independent nation. They also discuss past, and recent challenges to democracy, and ask the question: Can India turn authoritarian, or worse? Highlights (click/tap above): 1:45 How appropriate is it to call India "the world’s biggest democracy"?  6:53 Caste and politics, and elite circulation 13:59 A Sri Lankan path for India? 15:45 Could India lose democracy? 21:25 Indian secularism is an indigenous concept Produced by: Ravi Velloor (velloor@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis and Teo Tong Kai Edited by: Teo Tong Kai Follow Speaking Of Asia Podcast every second Friday of the month on our Asian Insider Podcast channel here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/wQsB Websites: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Ravi Velloor's columns: https://str.sg/3xRP Ravi Velloor on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RaviVelloor 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 #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 at UOB discusses the implications of a stronger USD for Asia, as well as how a weaker Chinese RMB will affect the region. 

After operating for more than 50 years, Jurong Bird Park is set to cease operations after January 3 next year as it prepares to move to Mandai. Maggie Ang, Deputy Vice President, Park Operations, Mandai Wildlife Group shares her fondest memories of the attraction and Jurong Bird Park's closing campaign. 

From the UK getting a new prime minister, Liz Truss to Russia cutting off gas supplies to Europe indefinitely and Ukraine’s prime minister Denys Shmyhal urging the EU to stand firm against Russia. Chris Humphrey, Executive Director, EU-ASEAN Business Council gives us analysis of those headlines and more. 

Performance appraisals are two words most employees dread to hear from their managers, mainly because what follows is an inaccurate view of the type, amount of work, and effort that employees have put in. But what if AI tools can be used to strike a balance between technology and the human mind especially managers?  Projjal Ghatak, Founder & CEO, OnLoop shares more. 

Abhilash Narayan, Senior Investment Strategist, Standard Chartered Private Bank discusses what's driving the greenback's strength near term, and why he's bearish on the US dollar on a 6-12 month horizon, and more bullish on the Euro.

After two decades of pushing boundaries, Nic & Wes Builders has make themselves a reputable name in the design-and-build field. And now, its founder is grooming the next generation who has stepped on board, to continue their legacy in this family‐centric business. Brian Kow, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Nic & Wes Builders shares more about his experience building his business. 

As soaring inflation and rising interest rates prompt an exodus from growth towards value in 2022, the investing prowess of Buffett has come under increased spotlight in the media. And as we dive deeper into understanding Buffett’s investment approaches, will it work for everyone.  Christopher Ballard, Managing Director, Check Capital Management who tells us more about their investment strategies. 

Highlights from Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s visit to Malaysia, to former Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak seeking a royal pardon and UN's Myanmar special envoy vowing to not visit the country again unless she is allowed to meet ousted leader Ms Aung San Suu Kyi. We analyse these headlines and more with Dr. Felix Tan, Political Observer, Nanyang Technological University

In today's Breakfast Brief, we discuss Europe's biggest energy crisis in decades with natural gas supplies from Russia have now come to a complete halt. The European Union is racing to come up with ideas to keep its energy crisis from turning into an economic meltdown, as energy ministers prepare for an emergency meeting in Brussels on Friday.