A Chinese businessman persuaded officials to establish a special economic zone in a remote part of Laos. The gamblers arrived first. Then came the drug runners, human traffickers and scammers.

On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, host K. Oanh Ha speaks with Bloomberg Businessweek editor Matt Campbell about his investigation into the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone and how it became a criminal’s paradise.

Read more: Dodge City

A Chinese businessman persuaded officials to establish a special economic zone in a remote part of Laos. The gamblers arrived first. Then came the drug runners, human traffickers and scammers. On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, host K. Oanh Ha speaks with Bloomberg Businessweek editor Matt Campbell about his investigation into the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone and how it became a criminal’s paradise.
Read more: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2024-golden-triangle-special-economic-zone/?srnd=phx-businessweek">Dodge City</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

Inside Southeast Asia’s Most Notorious Crime Hub

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/adc3dd15-870d-41c9-bed7-b1d4013fef54/transcript

The Iran War is likely to take center stage when President Trump meets with Gulf leaders on the sidelines of this week's UN General Assembly. Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia and rising energy prices underscore the widening global toll of a war that has cost the US more than $43 billion, according to the Pentagon's latest estimate.

On today's Big Take podcast, Bloomberg Global Defense Editor Gerry Doyle and Bloomberg Economics Defense Lead Becca Wasser join Sarah Holder to break down the conflict’s latest costs – the rising tab for the US's six-month-long blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the drawdown of US munitions stockpiles and the deepening toll on military personnel – and how the war has changed the US's ability to defend itself in future conflicts.

Read more: Iran Blockade Costs Are Draining America’s Global Military Power

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

Hosted by Sarah Holder; Reported by Gerry Doyle and Becca Wasser;  Produced by Julia Press; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott; Engineering by Emma Munger.

The Iran War is likely to take center stage when President Trump meets with Gulf leaders on the sidelines of this week's UN General Assembly. Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia and rising energy prices underscore the widening global toll of a war that has cost the US more than $43 billion, according to the Pentagon's latest estimate.
On today's Big Take podcast, Bloomberg Global Defense Editor Gerry Doyle and Bloomberg Economics Defense Lead Becca Wasser join Sarah Holder to break down the conflict&rsquo;s latest costs &ndash; the rising tab for the US's six-month-long blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the drawdown of US munitions stockpiles and the deepening toll on military personnel &ndash; and how the war has changed the US's ability to defend itself in future conflicts.
Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2026-us-iran-war-blockade/?srnd=undefined">Iran Blockade Costs Are Draining America&rsquo;s Global Military Power</a>
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; Reported by Gerry Doyle and Becca Wasser;&nbsp; Produced by Julia Press; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott; Engineering by Emma Munger.

How Much Is the Hormuz Blockade Costing the US?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/55ce8a34-b94e-44fd-84ef-b4cc014839d7/transcript

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

On the 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 the 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

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/71bba0aa-d95f-4764-bc49-b4c90142c238/transcript

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

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/5121b7e2-3ff5-4192-9ed7-b4c9015a7a47/transcript

Inside Southeast Asia’s Most Notorious Crime Hub

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