Hong Kong’s worst fire disaster in decades has stirred up public anger over negligence, safety standards and official accountability.

On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, host K. Oanh Ha talks to Bloomberg’s Shawna Kwan and Jenni Marsh about the devastation, the political fallout and how the public outcry is causing unease in Beijing.

Hong Kong&rsquo;s worst fire disaster in decades has stirred up public anger over negligence, safety standards and official accountability.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take Asia podcast, host K. Oanh Ha talks to Bloomberg&rsquo;s Shawna Kwan and Jenni Marsh about the devastation, the political fallout and how the public outcry is causing unease in Beijing.

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

Hong Kong's Catastrophic Fire Provokes Questions and Fury

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/316e667f-5776-423d-a610-b3a7014a690c/transcript

Excel. Ifyou work in corporate America, that word either inspires laser-focused productivity or pure dread. Over the last 40 years, the spreadsheet software has become synonymous with the best — and worst — of late-stage capitalism. It’s seeped into popular culture and, along the way, made Microsoft one of the world’s most valuable companies.

But in a world of AI and new competition, can it stay on top?On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Dina Bass and Businessweek’s Max Chafkin join host Sarah Holder to track the rise and challenges ahead for one of the most ubiquitous programs around.

Excel. If you work in corporate America, that word either inspires laser-focused productivity or pure dread. Over the last 40 years, the spreadsheet software has become synonymous with the best &mdash; and worst &mdash; of late-stage capitalism. It&rsquo;s seeped into popular culture and, along the way, made Microsoft one of the world&rsquo;s most valuable companies. But in a world of AI and new competition, can it stay on top? On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg&rsquo;s Dina Bass and Businessweek&rsquo;s Max Chafkin join host Sarah Holder to track the rise and challenges ahead for one of the most ubiquitous programs around.

How Microsoft Excel Conquered Corporate America

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/82c39cb8-19a0-48d7-89a0-b3a9015e2442/transcript

Back in October, Bitcoin reached a record high. Just a few weeks later, its price had plunged, taking out over $1 trillion dollars in assets along with it. On Tuesday, it rallied. But dips across the crypto market have left investors and analysts wondering what to make of the swings.

On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg executive editor stacy-marie ishmael and host David Gura take the temperature of crypto’s dramatic ebbs and flows over the past few months, from President Trump’s second-term moves to bolster the market to fears of another “crypto winter.”

Read more: 
Bitcoin Jumps Back Above $90,000 After Bruising Selloff
What Does Bitcoin’s Drop Mean? Depends on Who You Ask
The 26-Minute, 51% Wipeout That Deepened Trumps’ Crypto Woes

Back in October, Bitcoin reached a record high. Just a few weeks later, its price had plunged, taking out over $1 trillion dollars in assets along with it. On Tuesday, it rallied. But dips across the crypto market have left investors and analysts wondering what to make of the swings.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg executive editor stacy-marie ishmael and host David Gura take the temperature of crypto&rsquo;s dramatic ebbs and flows over the past few months, from President Trump&rsquo;s second-term moves to bolster the market to fears of another &ldquo;crypto winter.&rdquo;
Read more:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-12-02/crypto-markets-steady-as-indicators-point-to-weak-sentiment">Bitcoin Jumps Back Above $90,000 After Bruising Selloff</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2025-12-02/what-does-bitcoin-s-drop-mean-theories-include-risk-off-investing-trump-trade">What Does Bitcoin&rsquo;s Drop Mean? Depends on Who You Ask</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-12-03/down-90-or-more-trump-family-assets-are-outpacing-crypto-crash">The 26-Minute, 51% Wipeout That Deepened Trumps&rsquo; Crypto Woes</a></li>
</ul>

Are We Headed For Another ‘Crypto Winter’?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/d4d52f42-dcf9-4103-b3bd-b3a80160b8a3/transcript

On Monday, Trump envoy Steve Witkoff flew to Moscow, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy visited France. 

Witkoff is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to try and sell him on the latest version of a peace deal, which has Ukrainian input. But after a phone call between Witkoff and a Russian counterpart, Zelenskiy is trying to shore up support among European allies — both to increase pressure on Trump to align with Ukraine and to garner more military support.

On today’s Big Take podcast, national security team leader Nick Wadhams unpacks the state of play between Russia and Ukraine, the developments of the last few days  and whether an end to the war could be in sight. 

Read more:
US Says Ukraine Talks Productive as Witkoff Heads to Russia
Witkoff Advised Russia on How to Pitch Ukraine Plan to Trump
Witkoff Discusses Ukraine Plans With Key Putin Aide: Transcript

On Monday, Trump envoy Steve Witkoff flew to Moscow, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy visited France. Witkoff is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to try and sell him on the latest version of a peace deal, which has Ukrainian input. But after a phone call between Witkoff and a Russian counterpart, Zelenskiy is trying to shore up support among European allies &mdash; both to increase pressure on Trump to align with Ukraine and to garner more military support.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, national security team leader Nick Wadhams unpacks the state of play between Russia and Ukraine, the developments of the last few days&nbsp; and whether an end to the war could be in sight.&nbsp;
Read more:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-30/rubio-calls-ukraine-talks-productive-as-witkoff-heads-to-russia?srnd=phx-europe-politics">US Says Ukraine Talks Productive as Witkoff Heads to Russia</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-25/witkoff-advised-russia-on-how-to-pitch-ukraine-plan-to-trump">Witkoff Advised Russia on How to Pitch Ukraine Plan to Trump</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-25/witkoff-discusses-ukraine-plans-with-key-putin-aide-transcript?itm_source=record&amp;itm_campaign=War_in_Ukraine&amp;itm_content=Witkoff_Call_Transcript-2">Witkoff Discusses Ukraine Plans With Key Putin Aide: Transcript</a></li>
</ul>

Where US-Russia Talks Leave Ukraine

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/80b6b83b-b178-4a88-a928-b3a6017f9489/transcript

Hong Kong's Catastrophic Fire Provokes Questions and Fury

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