Big Take Asia

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What’s Driving The Rush to Invest in Gold Oct 17, 2025

Show notes

Gold always shines during uncertain times, but escalating tensions between the US and China and signals from the Federal Reserve that the US could see at least one more rate cut this year have propelled gold – and silver – to record highs.
This week on the Big Take, Bloomberg precious metals reporter Jack Ryan and host Sarah Holder talk about what’s pushing up gold’s value — and what history can teach us about how this gold rush could end.

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Having a Baby? This Company Will Give You $72,000 Oct 14, 2025

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South Korean companies are offering workers tens of thousands of dollars (tax free) to have babies. But are cash incentives enough to address the country’s record-low fertility rates? K. Oanh Ha and Bloomberg’s Hyonhee Shin explore on today’s Big Take Asia podcast.

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The Rise of Japan’s ‘Iron Lady’ and Its Political Shift to the Right Oct 07, 2025

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For the first time in history, Japan’s ruling party has elected a woman as its leader. Sanae Takaichi, 64, is an unconventional figure — and now she’s on track to become Japan’s first female prime minister.

On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha speaks with Bloomberg’s Paul Jackson about Takaichi’s path to power, why her politics aren’t resonating with some Japanese women and what her leadership could mean for Japan’s economy and its relationship with the United States.

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Trump’s H-1B Visa Fee Dashes Indian Workers’ American Dreams Oct 01, 2025

Show notes

President Donald Trump’s H-1B visa fee has sent shockwaves through India’s workforce, which makes up roughly 70% of recipients.

On today's Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha and Bloomberg’s Sankalp Phartiyal unpack how the policy could disrupt careers, reshape global talent flows and shatter the American dream for tens of thousands of workers.

Further listening: India Won’t Stop Buying Russian Oil. Now It’s Paying the Price.

Watch, from Originals: How an Army of Middlemen Game the US Work Visa System

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Breaking Down the Proposed US-China TikTok Deal Sep 23, 2025

Show notes

After months of negotiation, the US and China have reached a tentative agreement to secure TikTok’s future in the US.

On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha sits down with Bloomberg’s Josh Wingrove and Mark Anderson to unpack TikTok’s “America-First” era. They discuss what you need to know about potential changes to the platform, how a majority American-controlled board could impact the app’s future and what the deal tells us about China-US negotiations moving forward.

What We Do and Don’t Know About US TikTok Deal With China

Further listening:
Americans Flocked to RedNote as the TikTok Ban Loomed. Will the Party Last?

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The Gen Z Protestors Challenging Asia’s Ruling Elite Sep 16, 2025

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Across South Asia, Gen Z protestors are flooding the streets, demanding change. These protests have resulted in some of the worst violence Nepal and Indonesia have seen in years, presenting a challenge to the ruling elites.

On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, host K. Oanh Ha speaks with Bloomberg Opinion’s Karishma Vaswani about what’s driving this wave of youth-led uprisings and what it would take for lasting political change.

Further listening: After a Deadly Student Uprising, Bangladesh Starts Over, Again

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Xi’s Bromance Diplomacy Is Challenging Trump’s World Order Sep 09, 2025

Show notes

The leaders of China, Russia and India shared smiles and handshakes, putting on a surprising show of unity in a striking moment that went viral earlier this month.

On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha talks to Bloomberg’s Daniel Ten Kate about what’s driving their alignment and what the shift means for Trump and the US-led world order.

Further listening: India Won’t Stop Buying Russian Oil. Now It’s Paying the Price.
What Xi Jinping’s Military Purge Means for China and the World

Watch, from Originals: How Xi Unleashed China’s Biggest Military Purge Since Mao

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What Xi Jinping’s Military Purge Means for China and the World Sep 02, 2025

Show notes

Beijing is holding its first military parade since 2019, showcasing the strength of China’s armed forces. Underneath the show of power, a Bloomberg investigation has found President Xi Jinping is orchestrating the biggest purge of military leadership since Mao Zedong.

On today's Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha speaks with Bloomberg's John Liu about the dramatic restructuring of China’s military and what this sweeping shakeup could mean for the rest of the world.

Further listening:

The Shadowy Fleet of Tankers Moving Iranian Oil to China
Tensions Are Growing in the South China Sea

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Trump Has a Shipbuilding Dream. Can South Korea Make It a Reality? Aug 26, 2025

Show notes

South Korean shipyards are busier than they’ve been in years. Seoul and Washington are working to finalize a new trade deal that will include a $150 billion commitment to help stimulate the US shipbuilding industry.

On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha talks to Bloomberg’s Weilun Soon about whether the US-South Korea shipbuilding alliance could help President Trump achieve his US shipbuilding dreams, what South Korea stands to gain from the investment – and if it will be enough to disrupt China’s maritime dominance.

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From the Gobi Desert to Wall Street: a Conversation With Weijian Shan Aug 22, 2025

Show notes

From a life of hard labor in the Gobi Desert to becoming a prominent Hong Kong investor, Weijian Shan's story is one of incredible contrasts.

In an exclusive interview with Bloomberg's Mishal Husain, the Chinese economist and author opens up about his childhood during the Cultural Revolution, his thoughts on Hong Kong’s National Security law and President Trump’s trade war with China.

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