Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi wants to put Japan back in the fast lane, with huge investments in everything from AI to space technology. But can she generate the growth to justify the spending without unsettling markets and voters?

On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, host K. Oanh Ha talks to Bloomberg’s Paul Jackson about Takaichi’s first-year scorecard and the economic and political pressures that could determine whether her agenda succeeds.

Read more: Japan Is Still Figuring Out How a Female Prime Minister Should Lead


Further listening: Japan Hikes Rates, Reshaping Carry Trade

We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.

Host: K. Oanh Ha; Guest: Paul Jackson; Produced by Naomi Ng; Edited by Crispina Robert and Julia Weaver; Engineering by Greg Tock.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi wants to put Japan back in the fast lane, with huge investments in everything from AI to space technology. But can she generate the growth to justify the spending without unsettling markets and voters?
On today&rsquo;s Big Take Asia podcast, host K. Oanh Ha talks to Bloomberg&rsquo;s Paul Jackson about Takaichi&rsquo;s first-year scorecard and the economic and political pressures that could determine whether her agenda succeeds.
Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-10-16/japan-pm-sanae-takaichi-s-record-on-women-and-gender-equality">Japan Is Still Figuring Out How a Female Prime Minister Should Lead </a>
Further listening:&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-hikes-rates-reshaping-carry-trade/id1746141911?i=1000790586480">Japan Hikes Rates, Reshaping Carry Trade</a>
We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/subscriptions/podcasts"> Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.</a>
Host: K. Oanh Ha; Guest: Paul Jackson; Produced by Naomi Ng; Edited by Crispina Robert and Julia Weaver; Engineering by Greg Tock.

Has Sanae Takaichi Made Japan Great Again?

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When millions of retail investors piled into India’s options market to get rich quick, losses mounted and regulators launched a sweeping crackdown. 

On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, guest host Rebecca Choong Wilkins and India equities reporter Savio Shetty break down how the world’s largest options market unraveled, why regulators are struggling to police the country’s latest craze and where traders are placing their bets now. 

Read more: How India Built (and Broke) the World’s Biggest Options Casino

Further listening: Inside Jane Street: The Enigmatic Firm That Rules Wall Street

Watch, from Originals: How India's Day Retail Traders Lost Billions

Host: Rebecca Choong Wilkins; Guest: Savio Shetty; Produced by Naomi Ng and Yang Yang; Edited by Crispina Robert and Julia Weaver. Engineering by Sean Carter II.

When millions of retail investors piled into India&rsquo;s options market to get rich quick, losses mounted and regulators launched a sweeping crackdown.&nbsp;
On today&rsquo;s Big Take Asia podcast, guest host Rebecca Choong Wilkins and India equities reporter Savio Shetty break down how the world&rsquo;s largest options market unraveled, why regulators are struggling to police the country&rsquo;s latest craze and where traders are placing their bets now.&nbsp;
Read more: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2026-india-options-market-boom-bust-sebi/">How India Built (and Broke) the World&rsquo;s Biggest Options Casino </a>Further listening: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-jane-street-the-enigmatic-firm-that-rules-wall/id1578096201?i=1000794526052">Inside Jane Street: The Enigmatic Firm That Rules Wall Street</a>
Watch, from Originals:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cndVRiZ9Pdc">How India's Day Retail Traders Lost Billions</a>
Host: Rebecca Choong Wilkins; Guest: Savio Shetty; Produced by Naomi Ng and Yang Yang; Edited by Crispina Robert and Julia Weaver.&nbsp;Engineering by Sean Carter II.

How India’s Day Traders Broke the World’s Biggest Options Market

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/02064fda-9c48-4a2a-bf95-b4e2015376e8/transcript

Beyond software and chips, the AI boom relies on good old-fashioned manufacturing of essential components – a skill that has made a new class of people very, very rich.

On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, host Oanh Ha talks with Bloomberg reporter Cindy Wang and Opinion columnist Catherine Thorbecke about how nimble producers—think toilet manufacturers and furniture makers—pivoted to this booming industry, and the risks of concentrating too much AI manufacturing in one part of the world.

Read more: ‘Like It’s Raining Gold’: The AI Boom’s Unexpected Billionaires

Bloomberg Billionaires Index: 500 of the World’s Richest People 

We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.

Hosted by K. Oanh Ha; Guests: Cindy Wang, Catherine Thorbecke; Produced by Naomi Ng and Yang Yang; Edited by Crispina Robert and Paddy Hirsch Engineering by Greg Tock.

Beyond software and chips, the AI boom relies on good old-fashioned manufacturing of essential components &ndash; a skill that has made a new class of people very, very rich.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take Asia podcast, host Oanh Ha talks with Bloomberg reporter Cindy Wang and Opinion columnist Catherine Thorbecke about how nimble producers&mdash;think toilet manufacturers and furniture makers&mdash;pivoted to this booming industry, and the risks of concentrating too much AI manufacturing in one part of the world.
Read more: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-09-15/how-the-ai-boom-is-minting-billionaires-rewarding-picks-and-shovels-sellers?srnd=undefined">&lsquo;Like It&rsquo;s Raining Gold&rsquo;: The AI Boom&rsquo;s Unexpected Billionaires</a>
<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/">Bloomberg Billionaires Index: 500 of the World&rsquo;s Richest People</a>&nbsp;
We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/subscriptions/podcasts"> Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.</a>
Hosted by K. Oanh Ha; Guests: Cindy Wang, Catherine Thorbecke; Produced by Naomi Ng and Yang Yang; Edited by Crispina Robert and Paddy Hirsch Engineering by Greg Tock.

The Surprising People Getting Very Rich Off AI 

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China is ramping up an ongoing effort to shore up local government budgets and fund AI data centers with tax revenue from its richest citizens. Billionaires across the country are seeing bills hit their doorstep, and one major deadline to pay up is just weeks away.

On today’s Big Take podcast, host David Gura talks to Bloomberg’s Lulu Chen about why Beijing is enforcing and rewriting its tax rules, and the measures some wealthy citizens are taking to pay up or fight back.

View profiles for each of the world’s 500 richest people, see the biggest movers, and compare fortunes or track returns on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Read more: China’s Tax Grab Squeezes Rich Elite Harder Than Ever


Further listening: China Tightens Its Grip on Billions in Offshore Wealth

Hosted by David Gura; Guest: Lulu Chen; Produced by Naomi Ng; Edited by Aaron Edwards, Engineering by Greg Tock

China is ramping up an ongoing effort to shore up local government budgets and fund AI data centers with tax revenue from its richest citizens. Billionaires across the country are seeing bills hit their doorstep, and one major deadline to pay up is just weeks away.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, host David Gura talks to Bloomberg&rsquo;s Lulu Chen about why Beijing is enforcing and rewriting its tax rules, and the measures some wealthy citizens are taking to pay up or fight back. View <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/profiles/elon-r-musk/">profiles</a> for each of the world&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/">500 richest people</a>, see the <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/movers/">biggest movers</a>, and compare <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/compare-individuals/">fortunes</a> or track <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/compare-groups/">returns</a> on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Read more: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-09-27/china-s-tax-crackdown-squeezes-billionaires-harder-than-ever">China&rsquo;s Tax Grab Squeezes Rich Elite Harder Than Ever </a>
Further listening:&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/big-take/id1578096201?i=1000771915528">China Tightens Its Grip on Billions in Offshore Wealth</a>
Hosted by David Gura; Guest: Lulu Chen; Produced by Naomi Ng; Edited by Aaron Edwards, Engineering by Greg Tock

China’s New Message to Its Billionaires: Pay Up

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As Chinese President Xi Jinping makes his first visit to Washington in over a decade, trade and the AI race will likely dominate talks with Donald Trump.

On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, host K. Oanh Ha and Bloomberg’s John Liu unpack what each leader hopes to gain and why they may have no choice but to cooperate on AI safety.

Read more: The Tough AI Questions Looming Over the Trump-Xi Summit

We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.

Hosted by K.Oanh Ha; Produced by Yang Yang and Naomi Ng; Edited by Crispina Robert and Paddy Hirsch Engineering by Alex Sugiura

As Chinese President Xi Jinping makes his first visit to Washington in over a decade, trade and the AI race will likely dominate talks with Donald Trump.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take Asia podcast, host K. Oanh Ha and Bloomberg&rsquo;s John Liu unpack what each leader hopes to gain and why they may have no choice but to cooperate on AI safety.
Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-09-21/trump-xi-meeting-china-us-ai-rivalry-poses-questions-for-summit">The Tough AI Questions Looming Over the Trump-Xi Summit</a>
We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/subscriptions/podcasts"> Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.</a>
Hosted by K. Oanh Ha; Produced by Yang Yang and Naomi Ng; Edited by Crispina Robert and Paddy Hirsch Engineering by Alex Sugiura

US-China AI Race to Take Center Stage at Trump-Xi Meeting

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It’s been a big week for central banks around the world. Yet among the flurry of rate decisions, the Bank of Japan’s move stands out. After decades of near-zero interest rates, policymakers are betting Japan’s economy is finally returning to something closer to normal.

On today’s Big Take Podcast, K. Oanh Ha and Bloomberg’s Paul Jackson explore why the Bank of Japan is hiking rates at its fastest pace in decades, what the shift means for the yen carry trade and how Japan’s policy moves could ripple across global markets.

Read more: BOJ Hikes at Fastest Pace Since 1990 After Bessent’s Calls

Hosted by K. Oanh Ha and David Gura; Guest: Paul Jackson; Produced by Naomi Ng, Julia Press and David Fox; Edited by Crispina Robert and Paddy Hirsch. Engineering by Sean Carter.

It&rsquo;s been a big week for central banks around the world. Yet among the flurry of rate decisions, the Bank of Japan&rsquo;s move stands out. After decades of near-zero interest rates, policymakers are betting Japan&rsquo;s economy is finally returning to something closer to normal.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take Podcast, K. Oanh Ha and Bloomberg&rsquo;s Paul Jackson explore why the Bank of Japan is hiking rates at its fastest pace in decades, what the shift means for the yen carry trade and how Japan&rsquo;s policy moves could ripple across global markets.
Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-09-18/boj-hikes-rates-at-fastest-pace-since-1990-as-inflation-persists">BOJ Hikes at Fastest Pace Since 1990 After Bessent&rsquo;s Calls</a>
Hosted by K. Oanh Ha and David Gura; Guest: Paul Jackson; Produced by Naomi Ng, Julia Press and David Fox; Edited by Crispina Robert and Paddy Hirsch. Engineering by Sean Carter.

Japan Hikes Rates, Reshaping Carry Trade

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American pharma giants are increasingly turning to Chinese labs to discover, test and develop cutting-edge drugs.

On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, Bloomberg’s Amber Tong and Robert Langreth join Oanh Ha to break down why global drugmakers are sourcing their next big breakthroughs from China — and what that means for US biotech dominance.

Read more: Big Pharma Is Hooked on Chinese Licensing Deals

Hosted by K. Oanh Ha; Produced by Naomi Ng and David Fox; Guests: Amber Tong and Robert Langreth; Edited by Paddy Hirsch and Crispina Robert.

Fact-checking by Brunella Tipismana Urbano; Engineering by Alex Suguira.

Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

American pharma giants are increasingly turning to Chinese labs to discover, test and develop cutting-edge drugs.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take Asia podcast, Bloomberg&rsquo;s Amber Tong and Robert Langreth join Oanh Ha to break down why global drugmakers are sourcing their next big breakthroughs from China &mdash; and what that means for US biotech dominance.
Read more: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-08-19/china-drug-deals-keep-luring-us-pharma-despite-pressure-in-washington?srnd=undefined">Big Pharma Is Hooked on Chinese Licensing Deals</a>
Hosted by K. Oanh Ha; Produced by Naomi Ng and David Fox; Guests: Amber Tong and Robert Langreth; Edited by Paddy Hirsch and Crispina Robert.
Fact-checking by Brunella Tipismana Urbano; Engineering by Alex Suguira.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

Big Pharma Needs New Drugs. China Has Them

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“The people building AI earnestly believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade.” An X post by a former employee of both OpenAI and Anthropic went viral this week and is prompting big questions. Among them: are the safety concerns in the US an opportunity for China?

On the Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder and Bloomberg’s Mike Shepard talk through what an AI safety reckoning could look like — and whether an industry in the midst of intense competition can slow down.  

Read more: 
Anthropic Worker Quits Over AI Firms ‘Gambling With Our Lives’
Anthropic Says Iran, Russia Used Claude for Weapons Research

We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.

Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Guest: Mike Shepard; Edited by Naomi Shavin and Aaron Edwards. Fact-checking by Brunella Tipismana Urbano; Engineering by Sean Carter Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

&ldquo;The people building AI earnestly believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade.&rdquo; An X post by a former employee of both OpenAI and Anthropic went viral this week and is prompting big questions. Among them: are the safety concerns in the US an opportunity for China?
On the Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder and Bloomberg&rsquo;s Mike Shepard talk through what an AI safety reckoning could look like &mdash; and whether an industry in the midst of intense competition can slow down.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Read more:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-09-09/anthropic-worker-quits-over-ai-firms-gambling-with-our-lives?srnd=undefined">Anthropic Worker Quits Over AI Firms &lsquo;Gambling With Our Lives&rsquo;</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-09-11/anthropic-says-us-adversaries-aimed-claude-at-weapons-research?srnd=homepage-americas">Anthropic Says Iran, Russia Used Claude for Weapons Research</a></li>
</ul>
We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/subscriptions/podcasts">Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.</a>
Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Guest: Mike Shepard; Edited by Naomi Shavin and Aaron Edwards. Fact-checking by Brunella Tipismana Urbano; Engineering by Sean Carter&nbsp;Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

Is the US AI Reckoning an Opportunity for China? 

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Tens of thousands of workers in India are wearing head-mounted cameras to record their every move, helping train humanoid robots to perform everyday human tasks.

On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, Bloomberg’s Asia AI reporter Saritha Rai joins host Rebecca Choong Wilkins for an inside look at how vast troves of data are gathered by the very people who may eventually be replaced and what it all means for the US-China race for AI dominance.

Read more: Workers Are Teaching AI-Powered Robots to Take Over Their Jobs

Hosted by Rebecca Choong Wilkins; Produced by Yang Yang; Reported by Saritha Rai; Edited by Crispina Robert, Patrick Hirsch.

Fact-checking by Brunella Tipismana Urbano; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.

Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver; Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

Tens of thousands of workers in India are wearing head-mounted cameras to record their every move, helping train humanoid robots to perform everyday human tasks.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take Asia podcast, Bloomberg&rsquo;s Asia AI reporter Saritha Rai joins host Rebecca Choong Wilkins for an inside look at how vast troves of data are gathered by the very people who may eventually be replaced and what it all means for the US-China race for AI dominance.
Read more: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-08-12/thousands-of-india-workers-are-helping-ai-firms-train-robots-to-replace-them">Workers Are Teaching AI-Powered Robots to Take Over Their Jobs</a> 
Hosted by Rebecca Choong Wilkins; Produced by Yang Yang; Reported by Saritha Rai; Edited by Crispina Robert, Patrick Hirsch.
Fact-checking by Brunella Tipismana Urbano; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver; Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

How India Is Training the Robots of the Future

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Hundreds of hydropower workers remain missing in Nepal after a glacial collapse caused catastrophic flooding. The disaster laid bare the rising climate risks across Asia and the danger of building in an increasingly volatile environment.

On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, guest host Rebecca Choong Wilkins sits down with Bloomberg’s Clara Ferreira Marques and Bloomberg Opinion’s David Fickling to talk about the human and economic toll of the disaster, why the catastrophe is a warning for the rest of the world and how Nepal’s big bet on clean energy may now be at risk.

We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.

Hosted by Rebecca Choong Wilkins; Produced by Yang Yang; Reported by Clara Ferreira Marques, David Fickling; Edited by Paddy Hirsch, Crispina Robert and Tracey Samuelson.

Fact-checking by Naomi Ng; Engineering by Alex Sugiura

Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver; Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

Hundreds of hydropower workers remain missing in Nepal after a glacial collapse caused catastrophic flooding. The disaster laid bare the rising climate risks across Asia and the danger of building in an increasingly volatile environment.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take Asia podcast, guest host Rebecca Choong Wilkins sits down with Bloomberg&rsquo;s Clara Ferreira Marques and Bloomberg Opinion&rsquo;s David Fickling to talk about the human and economic toll of the disaster, why the catastrophe is a warning for the rest of the world and how Nepal&rsquo;s big bet on clean energy may now be at risk.
We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/subscriptions/podcasts">Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.</a>
Hosted by Rebecca Choong Wilkins; Produced by Yang Yang; Reported by Clara Ferreira Marques, David Fickling; Edited by Paddy Hirsch, Crispina Robert and Tracey Samuelson.
Fact-checking by Naomi Ng; Engineering by Alex Sugiura
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver; Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

Deadly Flooding in Nepal Highlights Asia’s Climate Vulnerability

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We’re taking The Big Take to Asia. Each week, Bloomberg’s Oanh Ha tells a story from the home of the world's most dynamic economies - and the markets, tycoons and businesses that drive the ever-shifting region.

We’re taking The Big Take to Asia. Each week, Bloomberg’s Oanh Ha tells a story from the home of the world's most dynamic economies - and the markets, tycoons and businesses that drive the ever-shifting region.

Big Take Asia

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