Chinese toy company Pop Mart is one of the hottest stocks this year thanks to the wild popularity of its Labubu dolls and other blind box toys.

On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, host K. Oanh Ha talks to Bloomberg Opinion’s Shuli Ren about how the company’s business model could help it ride out the trade-war storm.


Read more: China’s ‘Blind Box’ Magic Breeds Millions of Peter Pans

Further listening: How China’s BYD Became King of the Affordable EV

Chinese toy company Pop Mart is one of the hottest stocks this year thanks to the wild popularity of its Labubu dolls and other blind box toys.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take Asia podcast, host K. Oanh Ha talks to Bloomberg Opinion&rsquo;s Shuli Ren about how the company&rsquo;s business model could help it ride out the trade-war storm.
 Read more: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2024-10-28/china-s-blind-box-magic-breeds-millions-of-peter-pans">China&rsquo;s &lsquo;Blind Box&rsquo; Magic Breeds Millions of Peter Pans </a>Further listening: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-chinas-byd-became-king-of-the-affordable-ev/id1746141911?i=1000674054576">How China&rsquo;s BYD Became King of the Affordable EV</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

The Chinese Toy Company Defying the Trade War

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/3268aa64-f01b-4cc4-b860-b2c70140d762/transcript

From soaring fuel prices in Pakistan to a shortage of cooking gas in India, Asia is bearing the brunt of the energy crunch sparked by the Iran War.

On today’s Big Take Asia podcast we look at how war in the Middle East has pushed Asia to the forefront of a global crisis. Host K. Oanh Ha speaks with Bloomberg’s Faseeh Mangi about the impact of soaring fuel prices in Pakistan and Clara Ferreira Marques about how the least economically resilient countries are feeling the most pain. 

Hosted by K. Oanh Ha; Produced by Yang Yang, Naomi Ng;  Reported by Faseeh Mangi, Clara Ferreira Marques;  Edited by Paddy Hirsch.

Fact-checking by Naomi Ng, Eleanor Harrison-Dengate;  Engineering by Taka Yasuzawa.

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

From soaring fuel prices in Pakistan to a shortage of cooking gas in India, Asia is bearing the brunt of the energy crunch sparked by the Iran War.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take Asia podcast we look at how war in the Middle East has pushed Asia to the forefront of a global crisis. Host K. Oanh Ha speaks with Bloomberg&rsquo;s Faseeh Mangi about the impact of soaring fuel prices in Pakistan and Clara Ferreira Marques about how the least economically resilient countries are feeling the most pain.&nbsp;
Hosted by K. Oanh Ha; Produced by Yang Yang, Naomi Ng;&nbsp; Reported by Faseeh Mangi, Clara Ferreira Marques;&nbsp; Edited by Paddy Hirsch.
Fact-checking by Naomi Ng, Eleanor Harrison-Dengate;&nbsp; Engineering by Taka Yasuzawa.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver; Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

How Asia Became the Frontline of the Global Energy Crisis

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/c1bed506-227f-42bc-9e5c-b410014fd8d7/transcript

As the war in Iran draws in more countries, it’s had unlikely benefits for one of Iran’s key allies: Russia.

President Trump has eased some sanctions on Russian oil in his efforts to alleviate the oil squeeze created by the conflict. Meanwhile, the allyship between Russia and Iran has deepened as both countries have shared battlefield intelligence.

On today’s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder talks with US defense and intelligence reporter Natalia Drozdiak about how Russia could benefit from the Iran War — and what it could ultimately mean for Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Read more: Putin’s ‘Hidden Hand’ Guides Iran’s Strikes in Widening War

Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by David Fox; Reported by Natalia Drozdiak; Edited by Naomi Shavin.

Fact-checking by Eleanor Harrison-Dengate; Engineering by Katie McMurran.

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

As the war in Iran draws in more countries, it&rsquo;s had unlikely benefits for one of Iran&rsquo;s key allies: Russia.
President Trump has eased some sanctions on Russian oil in his efforts to alleviate the oil squeeze created by the conflict. Meanwhile, the allyship between Russia and Iran has deepened as both countries have shared battlefield intelligence.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder talks with US defense and intelligence reporter Natalia Drozdiak about how Russia could benefit from the Iran War &mdash; and what it could ultimately mean for Russia&rsquo;s war in Ukraine.
Read more: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-12/putin-s-hidden-hand-guides-iran-s-strikes-in-widening-conflict?srnd=undefined">Putin&rsquo;s &lsquo;Hidden Hand&rsquo; Guides Iran&rsquo;s Strikes in Widening War</a>
Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by David Fox; Reported by Natalia Drozdiak; Edited by Naomi Shavin.
Fact-checking by Eleanor Harrison-Dengate; Engineering by Katie McMurran.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

Russia Could Be the Biggest Winner of the Iran War

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/fa15f24b-1443-4847-abd4-b40f01541e2f/transcript

By any account, Chen Zhi's ascent was meteoric. At a young age he founded a real estate company in Cambodia, which quickly became the sprawling Prince Group conglomerate. But beneath this legitimate facade, Chen allegedly ran a vast criminal network, building an empire on scams, human trafficking and high-level political protection.

On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, Host K. Oanh Ha and Bloomberg’s David Ramli look into the rapid rise and sudden downfall of an alleged criminal mastermind.

Never miss an episode. Follow The Big Take Asia podcast today

Read more: The Tycoon Who Had a Secret Life as an Alleged Scam Kingpin

Further listening: Inside Southeast Asia’s Most Notorious Crime Hub

By any account, Chen Zhi's ascent was meteoric. At a young age he founded a real estate company in Cambodia, which quickly became the sprawling Prince Group conglomerate. But beneath this legitimate facade, Chen allegedly ran a vast criminal network, building an empire on scams, human trafficking and high-level political protection.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take Asia podcast, Host K. Oanh Ha and Bloomberg&rsquo;s David Ramli look into the rapid rise and sudden downfall of an alleged criminal mastermind.
Never miss an episode. Follow <a href="https://link.podtrac.com/jw5umzee">The Big Take Asia podcast</a> today
Read more: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-03-10/how-cambodia-s-alleged-scam-kingpin-chen-zhi-made-billions-built-global-empire">The Tycoon Who Had a Secret Life as an Alleged Scam Kingpin</a>
Further listening:&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-southeast-asias-most-notorious-crime-hub/id1746141911?i=1000665940390">Inside Southeast Asia&rsquo;s Most Notorious Crime Hub</a>

Weekend Listen: The Rise and Fall of an Alleged Scam Boss

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/e38640f7-5a0b-4582-9c83-b40b01850e62/transcript

The Chinese Toy Company Defying the Trade War

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