Mauritius and neighboring islands in the Indian Ocean are at the center of a great-power chess match involving the US, China and India. All want to use them as bases to protect shipping lanes and project military might in the region.

On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha is joined by Bloomberg correspondent Peter Martin to discuss the power struggle, and the implications of China’s growing clout in the region.

Further listening: The Shadowy Fleet of Tankers Moving Iranian Oil to China 

Watch, from Originals: China’s Power Play In the Indian Ocean

Mauritius and neighboring islands in the Indian Ocean are at the center of a great-power chess match involving the US, China and India. All want to use them as bases to protect shipping lanes and project military might in the region.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha is joined by Bloomberg correspondent Peter Martin to discuss the power struggle, and the implications of China&rsquo;s growing clout in the region.
Further listening: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-shadowy-fleet-of-tankers-moving-iranian-oil-to-china/id1746141911?i=1000677535431">The Shadowy Fleet of Tankers Moving Iranian Oil to China</a>&nbsp;
Watch, from Originals: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2025-06-05/china-s-power-play-in-the-indian-ocean-video">China&rsquo;s Power Play In the Indian Ocean</a>

The Big Take from Bloomberg News brings you inside what’s shaping the world's economies with the smartest and most informed business reporters around the world. The context you need on the stories that can move markets. Every afternoon.

The Big Take from Bloomberg News brings you inside what’s shaping the world's economies with the smartest and most informed business reporters around the world. The context you need on the stories that can move markets. Every afternoon.

Big Take

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

China’s Power Play In the Indian Ocean

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/53b41eb1-3153-4e04-bb25-b29d013c0abe/transcript

As AI-generated images ping pong around the internet, the Walt Disney Company has been mostly playing defense, using litigation to protect its intellectual property. But last week, Disney announced a $1 billion deal with OpenAI, licensing more than 200 of its iconic Disney characters for use on OpenAI’s video platform, Sora.

On today’s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder talks with Bloomberg tech reporter Shirin Ghaffary and entertainment reporter Thomas Buckley about the terms of the deal, the opportunities and risks for each side and whether it might spur other similar partnerships. 

Read more: OpenAI Deal to License Disney Characters Is Entirely in Stock

Hosted by: Sarah Holder; Produced by: Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Reported by: Shirin Ghaffary and Thomas Buckley; Edited by: Tracey Samuelson; Fact-checking by: Naomi Ng and Eleanor Harrison-Dengate. Engineering by: Katie McMurran.

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

As AI-generated images ping pong around the internet, the Walt Disney Company has been mostly playing defense, using litigation to protect its intellectual property. But last week, Disney announced a $1 billion deal with OpenAI, licensing more than 200 of its iconic Disney characters for use on OpenAI&rsquo;s video platform, Sora.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder talks with Bloomberg tech reporter Shirin Ghaffary and entertainment reporter Thomas Buckley about the terms of the deal, the opportunities and risks for each side and whether it might spur other similar partnerships.&nbsp;
Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-12-15/openai-deal-to-license-disney-characters-is-entirely-in-stock">OpenAI Deal to License Disney Characters Is Entirely in Stock</a>
Hosted by: Sarah Holder; Produced by: Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Reported by: Shirin Ghaffary and Thomas Buckley; Edited by: Tracey Samuelson; Fact-checking by: Naomi Ng and Eleanor Harrison-Dengate. Engineering by: Katie McMurran.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin. Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

Inside Disney and OpenAI’s Billion Dollar Deal

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/7fb068a8-855a-47a3-875a-b3b80173ac63/transcript

The trucking industry has long been dominated by older white men. But as those truckers steer toward retirement, who will replace them? 

On today’s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder hits the road with Bloomberg’s Jaewon Kang, who’s been exploring how one company is trying to transform its trucking workforce. And we hear from MIT’s Chris Caplice, DAT Freight and Analytics’ Dean Croke and two Walmart truckers about what’s working for the industry and the challenges it faces on the road ahead.

Read more: Walmart’s $115,000 Starting Pay and Better Rigs Draw Women to Trucking

Hosted by Sarah Holder Produced by Julia Press Reported by Jaewon Kang Edited by Tracey Samuelson Fact-checking by Rachael Lewis-Krisky Engineering by Katie McMurran

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

The trucking industry has long been dominated by older white men. But as those truckers steer toward retirement, who will replace them?&nbsp;
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder hits the road with Bloomberg&rsquo;s Jaewon Kang, who&rsquo;s been exploring how one company is trying to transform its trucking workforce. And we hear from MIT&rsquo;s Chris Caplice, DAT Freight and Analytics&rsquo; Dean Croke and two Walmart truckers about what&rsquo;s working for the industry and the challenges it faces on the road ahead.
Read more: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2025-12-18/us-trucking-shortage-spurs-walmart-to-raise-driver-truck-pay-to-115-000?srnd=undefined">Walmart&rsquo;s $115,000 Starting Pay and Better Rigs Draw Women to Trucking</a>
Hosted by Sarah Holder Produced by Julia Press Reported by Jaewon Kang Edited by Tracey Samuelson Fact-checking by Rachael Lewis-Krisky Engineering by Katie McMurran
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer

Truckers Are Aging Out. Who Will Replace Them?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/a288c8d8-e3ab-4ff5-b961-b3b70145b13f/transcript

Treating cancer is a massive business. In 2024 alone, cancer treatments generated at least $200 billion in worldwide sales for the pharmaceutical industry, more than the obesity drug rush. But a Bloomberg News analysis showed that fewer than half of treatments reviewed — some of which have painful side effects — have been shown to extend patients’ lives.

On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg senior healthcare reporter Robert Langreth takes host David Gura inside what some doctors call the “cancer-industrial complex” — from the regulatory landscape that ushered in a wave of lucrative new drugs to the damaging financial and health impacts some treatments can have on patients.

Read more:

Cancer Drugs Cost More Than Ever. They Often Don’t Extend Lives.

The Implants Were Supposed to Dissolve. They Didn’t.

Pharma Is Pushing $200,000 Cancer Drugs When Cheaper Doses May Work

Cancer Doctors Are Making a Fortune Off Drug-Trial Participants

One Generic Cancer Drug Costs $35. Or $134. Or $13,000.

Treating cancer is a massive business. In 2024 alone, cancer treatments generated at least $200 billion in worldwide sales for the pharmaceutical industry, more than the obesity drug rush. But a Bloomberg News analysis showed that fewer than half of treatments reviewed &mdash; some of which have painful side effects &mdash; have been shown to extend patients&rsquo; lives.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg senior healthcare reporter Robert Langreth takes host David Gura inside what some doctors call the &ldquo;cancer-industrial complex&rdquo; &mdash; from the regulatory landscape that ushered in a wave of lucrative new drugs to the damaging financial and health impacts some treatments can have on patients.
Read more:
<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2025-cancer-treatment-costs">Cancer Drugs Cost More Than Ever. They Often Don&rsquo;t Extend Lives.</a>
<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2025-biozorb-cancer-implant-recall">The Implants Were Supposed to Dissolve. They Didn&rsquo;t.</a>
<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2025-experimental-cheaper-treatments-cancer-capitalism">Pharma Is Pushing $200,000 Cancer Drugs When Cheaper Doses May Work</a>
<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2025-cancer-drug-trials-money/?sref=RTae6dyr">Cancer Doctors Are Making a Fortune Off Drug-Trial Participants</a>
<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2025-cancer-drug-markups/?srnd=undefined">One Generic Cancer Drug Costs $35. Or $134. Or $13,000.</a>

 Many Cancer Drugs Don’t Extend Life

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/96804cf7-0100-4d97-961f-b3b60173c0bd/transcript

China’s Power Play In the Indian Ocean

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