China’s decision to block Meta’s $2 billion acquisition of AI startup Manus stunned the global AI industry. 

On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, host K. Oanh Ha speaks with Bloomberg’s Newley Purnell and Lulu Chen about how the deal crumbled and what it signals for Chinese startups trying to go global.

Read more: China’s Meta Backlash Renders Manus Model ‘Officially Dead’

Hosted by K. Oanh Ha; Produced by Yang Yang and Naomi Ng; Reported by Newley Purnell and Lulu Chen; Edited by Paddy Hirsch.

Fact-checking by Eleanor Harrison-Dengate; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.

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

China&rsquo;s decision to block Meta&rsquo;s $2 billion acquisition of AI startup Manus stunned the global AI industry. 
On today&rsquo;s Big Take Asia podcast, host K. Oanh Ha speaks with Bloomberg&rsquo;s Newley Purnell and Lulu Chen about how the deal crumbled and what it signals for Chinese startups trying to go global.
Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-29/china-s-meta-backlash-renders-manus-model-officially-dead">China&rsquo;s Meta Backlash Renders Manus Model &lsquo;Officially Dead&rsquo;</a>
Hosted by K. Oanh Ha; Produced by Yang Yang and Naomi Ng; Reported by Newley Purnell and Lulu Chen; Edited by Paddy Hirsch.
Fact-checking by Eleanor Harrison-Dengate; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

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

Beijing’s Veto of Meta’s Manus Deal Signals Shift in the Global AI Race

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/5d173cc9-fd5e-47c1-9a90-b441014a6a05/transcript

For global airlines, this year was supposed to be a big one. The industry projected record profits — backed by more than 5 billion passengers — and a busy summer travel season ahead. But then came the war in Iran, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and major disruptions to global jet fuel supplies.

On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Global Aviation Editorial Leader Benedikt Kammel joins Sarah Holder to discuss the growing jet fuel crunch: how airlines are scrambling to absorb billions in unexpected expenses, which markets and routes are most affected by the squeeze and how disruptions stemming from the war could reshape the industry (and your summer travel plans).

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

Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by Julia Press; Reported by Benedikt Kammel; Edited by Tracey Samuelson.

Fact-checking by Editorial team; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.

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

For global airlines, this year was supposed to be a big one. The industry projected record profits &mdash; backed by more than 5 billion passengers &mdash; and a busy summer travel season ahead. But then came the war in Iran, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and major disruptions to global jet fuel supplies.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg&rsquo;s Global Aviation Editorial Leader Benedikt Kammel joins Sarah Holder to discuss the growing jet fuel crunch: how airlines are scrambling to absorb billions in unexpected expenses, which markets and routes are most affected by the squeeze and how disruptions stemming from the war could reshape the industry (and your summer travel plans).
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 Sarah Holder; Produced by Julia Press; Reported by Benedikt Kammel; Edited by Tracey Samuelson.
Fact-checking by Editorial team; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

The Jet Fuel Crunch Arriving Just in Time for Your Summer Vacation 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/e65db7ee-af85-414c-b2d3-b440015502c5/transcript

For more than 30 years, the Indian-born writer Amitav Ghosh has built a global following with novels that draw on deep historical research. 

But his latest offering, Ghost-Eye, is more esoteric. The plot moves back and forth between India and the US, using past lives to explore the ties between the personal and the political.

The plot centers on a psychiatrist treating a 3-year-old who shocks her family by insisting she remembers a past life in a fishing community.

In this conversation with Mishal Husain, Ghosh explains why he’s finding it harder to write nowadays, how the memories of his childhood came flooding back during the Covid pandemic, why he sees capitalism as an obstacle to protecting the environment and thinks India has lost its way diplomatically. 

Read this interview with Mishal’s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview

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

For more than 30 years, the Indian-born writer Amitav Ghosh has built a global following with novels that draw on deep historical research.&nbsp;
But his latest offering, Ghost-Eye, is more esoteric. The plot moves back and forth between India and the US, using past lives to explore the ties between the personal and the political.
The plot centers on a psychiatrist treating a 3-year-old who shocks her family by insisting she remembers a past life in a fishing community.
In this conversation with Mishal Husain, Ghosh explains why he&rsquo;s finding it harder to write nowadays, how the memories of his childhood came flooding back during the Covid pandemic, why he sees capitalism as an obstacle to protecting the environment and thinks India has lost its way diplomatically.&nbsp;
Read this interview with Mishal&rsquo;s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview">www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview</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>

Weekend Listen: Writer Amitav Ghosh on Why India Has Lost Its Way

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/7da966bf-576a-4182-a486-b43f00d16ecf/transcript

Game apps like High 5 Casino and Monopoly GO! are wildly popular. Players pay up for perks and the mobile game industry makes money – a lot of money. But scrutiny on these kinds of games and what some players call addictive, gambling-like qualities could challenge the way they do business.

On today’s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder and Bloomberg reporter Vernon Silver go inside the world of so-called “social casinos.” Who’s profiting the most from them? And could a slate of ongoing lawsuits change their business model?

Read more: The $11 Billion Casino-Style Economy Built on Players Who Can Never Cash Out

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

Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by David Fox; Reported by Vernon Silver and Peter Robison; Edited by Aaron Edwards.

Fact-checking by Eleanor Harrison-Dengate; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.

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

Game apps like High 5 Casino and Monopoly GO! are wildly popular. Players pay up for perks and the mobile game industry makes money &ndash; a lot of money. But scrutiny on these kinds of games and what some players call addictive, gambling-like qualities could challenge the way they do business.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder and Bloomberg reporter Vernon Silver go inside the world of so-called &ldquo;social casinos.&rdquo; Who&rsquo;s profiting the most from them? And could a slate of ongoing lawsuits change their business model?
Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2026-social-casino-apps-addiction/">The $11 Billion Casino-Style Economy Built on Players Who Can Never Cash Out</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; Produced by David Fox; Reported by Vernon Silver and Peter Robison; Edited by Aaron Edwards.
Fact-checking by Eleanor Harrison-Dengate; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

The Online Games Where the House Always Wins

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/dc5519cc-5f11-4c19-8e83-b43d0145dcc1/transcript

Beijing’s Veto of Meta’s Manus Deal Signals Shift in the Global AI Race

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