The Philippines is no stranger to typhoons, but this year’s storms exposed something far uglier: a vast corruption scandal.

On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha speaks to Bloomberg’s Andreo Calonzo and Rosalind Mathieson about how billions of dollars earmarked for flood control vanished and what the crisis means for the country’s political and economic stability.

The Philippines is no stranger to typhoons, but this year&rsquo;s storms exposed something far uglier: a vast corruption scandal.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha speaks to Bloomberg&rsquo;s Andreo Calonzo and Rosalind Mathieson about how billions of dollars earmarked for flood control vanished and what the crisis means for the country&rsquo;s political and economic stability.

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

The $2 Billion Flood Control Scandal Rocking the Philippines

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/63d0a7ba-593a-455d-9184-b3b5016234dd/transcript

The Trump administration is ramping up pressure on Cuba’s regime. Just this month, it indicted former President Raúl Castro, announced the deployment of additional military assets to the region and released a video message — featuring Secretary of State Marco Rubio — blaming Cuba’s economic troubles on its government.

The push comes less than five months after the US captured one of Havana’s staunchest allies, Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro, which choked Cuba’s oil supplies and plunged the island into darkness.

On today’s Big Take podcast, host David Gura and Bloomberg State Department reporter Eric Martin discuss what’s next for Cuba’s regime, how President Trump’s Venezuela playbook is — and isn’t — playing out in Havana and the challenges both nations face as they adapt to Trump’s vision for the Western Hemisphere.

Read more: Can Cuba’s Regime Survive Rising US Pressure? 

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

Hosted by David Gura; Produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Reported by Eric Martin; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott.

Fact-checking by Laura Newcombe; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.

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

The Trump administration is ramping up pressure on Cuba&rsquo;s regime. Just this month, it indicted former President Ra&uacute;l Castro, announced the deployment of additional military assets to the region and released a video message &mdash; featuring Secretary of State Marco Rubio &mdash; blaming Cuba&rsquo;s economic troubles on its government.
The push comes less than five months after the US captured one of Havana&rsquo;s staunchest allies, Venezuela&rsquo;s Nicol&aacute;s Maduro, which choked Cuba&rsquo;s oil supplies and plunged the island into darkness.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, host David Gura and Bloomberg State Department reporter Eric Martin discuss what&rsquo;s next for Cuba&rsquo;s regime, how President Trump&rsquo;s Venezuela playbook is &mdash; and isn&rsquo;t &mdash; playing out in Havana and the challenges both nations face as they adapt to Trump&rsquo;s vision for the Western Hemisphere.
Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-22/can-cuba-s-regime-survive-rising-us-pressure">Can Cuba&rsquo;s Regime Survive Rising US Pressure?</a>&nbsp;
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 David Gura; Produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Reported by Eric Martin; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott.
Fact-checking by Laura Newcombe; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

US Ramps Up Threats to Cuba With Trump’s Venezuela Blueprint

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/d57b8aa8-a92c-42fa-9475-b456015651ee/transcript

The Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo may have been spreading for months, according to the World Health Organization.

On this week’s episode of the Next Africa Podcast, Jennifer Zabasajja is joined by healthcare reporter Janice Kew and Congo Country Director for the Danish Refugee Council, Caitlin Brady. They discuss the impact of aid cuts on the outbreak and how serious the crisis could get.

For more stories from the region, sign up for the Next Africa newsletter.

The Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo may have been spreading for months, according to the World Health Organization.
On this week&rsquo;s episode of the Next Africa Podcast, Jennifer Zabasajja is joined by healthcare reporter Janice Kew and Congo Country Director for the Danish Refugee Council, Caitlin Brady. They discuss the impact of aid cuts on the outbreak and how serious the crisis could get.
For more stories from the region, sign up for the <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/account/newsletters/next-africa">Next Africa newsletter.</a>

Next Africa: Did Aid Cuts Make The Ebola Outbreak Worse?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/7ab6e3db-7944-4ff7-b45d-b4550147064f/transcript

Beyond this month's talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump, there’s an epic tale that has been unfolding for decades. It’s a battle to be the world’s number one power and a much bigger story than the latest meeting of these two men.  

Kishore Mahbubani is a former Singaporean diplomat who served as president of the United Nations Security Council. For two decades, he has argued that the West fundamentally misunderstands the rise of China and its challenge to American supremacy.

Mahbubani, who eventually turned to academia, now specializes in governance and public policy. In this conversation with Mishal Husain, he traces the story behind the Xi-Trump talks, the handshakes and the social media posts–and what may lie ahead.

Mahbubani also reveals how his own successes were made possible by Singapore’s remarkable growth.

Beyond this month's talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump, there&rsquo;s an epic tale that has been unfolding for decades. It&rsquo;s a battle to be the world&rsquo;s number one power and a much bigger story than the latest meeting of these two men.&nbsp; Kishore Mahbubani is a former Singaporean diplomat who served as president of the United Nations Security Council. For two decades, he has argued that the West fundamentally misunderstands the rise of China and its challenge to American supremacy. Mahbubani, who eventually turned to academia, now specializes in governance and public policy. In this conversation with Mishal Husain, he traces the story behind the Xi-Trump talks, the handshakes and the social media posts&ndash;and what may lie ahead. Mahbubani also reveals how his own successes were made possible by Singapore&rsquo;s remarkable growth.

Weekend Listen: China vs the US: Kishore Mahbubani on a Zero-Sum Rivalry

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/bc8330f1-0c65-43ab-8f19-b451011c6adf/transcript

The $2 Billion Flood Control Scandal Rocking the Philippines

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