Every Saturday, we revisit a story that’s in the news again. As Iran and Pakistan trade military strikes, we look at one side of their shared border: the Pakistani province of Balochistan. This originally aired on May 24, 2019. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed.  It seemed like a recipe for conflict: Take the Iran nuclear deal, add a dash of John Bolton and some US warships, and top it off with a mysterious sabotage of oil tankers near one of the most sensitive stretches of water in the world. We take you there to examine just how close the US and Iran have come to the edge of war. In this episode:  Zein Basravi (@virtualzein) Al Jazeera Correspondent Kimberley Halkett (@KimberleyHalkett) Al Jazeera White House Correspondent   Episode credits: This episode was updated by Amy Walters. The original production team was Alexandra Locke, Morgan Waters, Priyanka Tilve, Dina Kesbeh, Ney Alvarez, Amy Walters, Natalia, Aldana, Graelyn Grashear, Seth Samuel was the sound designer.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.

Nayib Bukele, El Salvador’s millennial president, governs with an "iron fist." Under his leadership, 74,000 people have been imprisoned since 2022 as part of a massive crackdown on crime. Rights groups say he’s suspended civil liberties in the process. But polls show voters approve, putting Bukele on track for a landslide reelection victory. So, at what cost? In this episode:  Manuel Rapalo (@Manuel_Rapalo), Al Jazeera Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra and Sarí el-Khalili with our host, Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan and Chloe K. Li fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Are “stand your ground” laws helping people get away with murder? Thirty-eight US states have laws allowing people the right to use deadly force if they claim to be in fear of their lives. Critics call them "shoot first" laws. Al Jazeera’s documentary program Fault Lines joins us to explore two homicide cases and two families’ fights for answers. In this episode:  Amina Waheed, Producer, Al Jazeera’s Fault Lines (@AJFaultLines)  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Zaina Badr, Khaled Soltan, and our host, Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

After more than 100 days of war, Palestinians in Gaza are exhausted. But hopes for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas rest on talks mediated by the US, Egypt, and Qatar. From leaked audio with criticism of the negotiations to public statements of progress, the likelihood of a deal and relief for Gaza’s residents remains uncertain. In this episode:  Hoda Abdel-Hamid (@HodaAH), Al Jazeera Senior Correspondent Maram Humaid (@MaramGaza), Al Jazeera Journalist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili with Khaled Soltan, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and our host Malika Bilal. Chloe K. Li and Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Joe Plourde mixed this episode. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Planning a flight? Boeing’s 737 Max-9 is back in rotation, weeks after the US company came under fire for a near-catastrophic incident aboard one of its planes. Alaska Airlines 1282 was forced to make an emergency landing when part of its wall blew off mid-flight. It’s not the first time a 737 Max has had problems. So what’s being done? In this episode:  Alex Macheras (@AlexInAir), Aviation Analyst, Host, On-Air with Dan and Alex Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra and Fahrinisa Campana with our host Malika Bilal. Chloe K. Li fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

The US and the UK have launched airstrikes in Yemen, in the name of stopping Houthi actions in the Red Sea. But the Houthis have continued their attacks on ships off Yemen’s coast, in the name of ending Israel’s war on Gaza. So as strikes shake Sana’a and the potential for escalation looms, where does that leave the Yemeni people? In this episode:  Sama’a Al-Hamdani (@Yemeniaty), Yemen Analyst and Media Commentator Hakim Almasmari (@HakimAlmasmari), Yemen Political Mediator and Former Yemen Post Editor in Chief  Hussain Al-Bukhaiti, Houthi Affairs Analyst Episode credits: This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li and Fahrinisa Campana with our host Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Joe Plourde mixed this episode. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

We are coming to you on Sundays with weekly roundups as Israel's war on Gaza continues. The International Criminal Court issued a ruling in a case brought against Israel last month as further allegations of war crimes by Israeli soldiers in Gaza emerged. Hamas's ability to fight still appears significant. And more than half a dozen countries cut off funding for UNRWA. In this episode: Hoda Abdel Hamid, Al Jazeera Correspondent  Stephanie Dekker, Al Jazeera Correspondent @StefanieDekker Tareq Abu Azzoum, Al Jazeera Correspondent @hodaAH Akram al Satarri, Freelance Journalist in Gaza Episode credits: This episode was produced and mixed by David Enders, in for Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube    

Every Saturday, we revisit a story that’s in the news again.  This originally aired on June 6, 2022. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed.  Mass shooting after mass shooting, Americans cry out for gun control, but more often than not, nothing is done. Why? Many Americans, including President Joe Biden, blame the gun lobby. We hear how America’s most influential lobbying organization changed tactics in the 1970’s and secret recordings that throw back the curtain on how they get business done. Ryan Busse (@ryandbusse) Author of Gunfight and Senior adviser to Giffords @giffordscourage  Peter Charley: Manager of Investigative Journalism at Al Jazeera Episode credits: This episode was updated by Amy Walters. The original production team was Amy Walters, Ruby Zaman, Alexandra Locke, Ney Alvarez, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. A special thanks to Frank Smyth for his help. And Tim Mack at NPR, who put out those secret post-Columbine NRA tapes.

Tourism is down, many businesses are empty, and the economic costs of Israel’s war on Gaza are mounting. With a $15bn increased war budget and military spending reaching new heights under Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, how long can Israel’s economy withstand the fight? In this episode:  Nimrod Flaschenberg (@Nimrod_Flash), Writer and Activist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili, Ashish Malhotra and Negin Owliaei with our host Malika Bilal. Fahrinisa Campana fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Joe Plourde mixed this episode. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

When two major earthquakes hit the Turkey-Syria border region on February 6, 2023, there was some hope that the catastrophe would bring renewed attention and aid to war-torn northwestern Syria. But almost a year later, those on the ground say the situation has only grown more dire and they feel more alone and desperate than ever.  In this episode:  Ahmad Hallak (@ahmadkhallak), Aid Worker in Northwest Syria Hiba Ezzideen (@EzzideenHiba), Equity and Empowerment CEO  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Miranda Lin with our host Kevin Hirten. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. This episode was mixed by Joe Plourde. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

The US presidential primary season is underway and a once crowded Republican party field has narrowed in New Hampshire. That's left former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley to go head-to-head with her former boss, Donald Trump. But when the dust settles, will voters have déjà vu? In this episode:  Niambi Carter (@dr_nmcarter), Political Scientist; Associate Professor of Public Policy, University of Maryland Alan Fisher (@AlanFisher), Al Jazeera Senior Correspondent  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sonia Bhagat and Sarí el-Khalili with our host Malika Bilal. David Enders and Ashish Malhotra fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Joe Plourde mixed this episode. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

One of India’s most contested holy sites became a place of celebration on Monday. In the city of Ayodhya, at the site of a former mosque torn down by a mob, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a Hindu temple. What does it say about the extent to which Hindu nationalism has taken root in India under Modi? In this episode:  Charu Kasturi (@CharuKasturi), Senior Editor, Al Jazeera English Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra and Chloe K. Li with our host Malika Bilal. Chloe K. Li and Alexandra Locke fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Joe Plourde mixed this episode. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

More than one hundred journalists have been killed in Israel’s war on Gaza. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate says 96 were targeted by Israel. Inside Gaza, journalists feel abandoned by the world they are informing. What’s happening to Gaza’s journalists and why? In this episode:  Anan Quzmar (@QuzmarAnan), Volunteer at the Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate Ismael al Dahdouh, Journalist Akram al Satarri, Journalist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters with our host Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

We are coming to you on Sundays with weekly updates as Israel's war on Gaza continues.  The death toll rose above 25,000 as evidence has emerged of further Israeli war crimes in Gaza. The Israeli Prime Minister rejected a Palestinian state. And Israeli troops killed a 17 year old Palestinian American in the West Bank. In this episode: Akram al Satarri, Freelance Journalist in Gaza Catherine Soi, Al Jazeera Correspondent in Uganda Episode credits: This episode was produced and mixed by David Enders, in for Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube  

Every Saturday, we revisit a story that’s in the news again. As Iran and Pakistan trade military strikes, we look at one side of their shared border: the Pakistani province of Balochistan. This originally aired on May 4, 2022. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed.  Enforced disappearances have been happening across Pakistan for the last 20 years. And in the southwest province of Balochistan, in particular, some human rights groups say thousands of people are missing. In this episode, The Take talks to the family member of a victim about how her life has been affected. In this episode:  Mahrang Baloch, (@MahrangBaloch_), Political activist and doctor Osama Bin Javaid (@osamabinjavaid), Al Jazeera English correspondent Anwar Ul Haq Kakar (@anwaar_kakar), Senator of Balochistan Episode credits: This episode was updated by Negin Owliaei. The original production team was Ruby Zaman, Alexandra Locke, Ney Alvarez, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Germany says it will intervene in the genocide case against Israel, its longtime ally, in front of the International Court of Justice. Some Germans say the country’s defense of Israel goes hand in hand with repression of pro-Palestine voices at home. So what’s behind Germany’s unwavering support of Israel?   In this episode:  Lucas Febraro (@lfebraro), Communications Director, DiEM25  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sonia Bhagat and Ashish Malhotra with our host Malika Bilal. Sarí el-Khalili fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

The Palestinian national football team is at the AFC Asian Cup happening right now in Qatar. They play the United Arab Emirates today and played Iran on Sunday, where Palestinian pride echoed throughout the stadium. We head to the pitch for a look at the team’s challenges and achievements as the cup goes on.  In this episode:  Abdullah Al-Arian, Georgetown University Associate Professor of History, School of Foreign Service in Qatar Episode credits: This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan and Chloe K. Li with our host Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Ecuador is experiencing unprecedented levels of violence. The most visible attack was on a TV station during a live broadcast last week. President Daniel Noboa says the country is in a state of war with gangs. But is it one that he can win? In this episode:  Alessandro Rampietti (@rampietti), Al Jazeera English Andes Correspondent Marcel Mettelsiefen (@marcelmettelsiefen), Director, Ecuador: A Narco State Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra, David Enders and Sonia Bhagat with our host Malika Bilal. Sarí el-Khalili and Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Why did life happen on Earth? And how did it begin? Even the world’s most advanced space scientists still don’t fully understand these questions, but a mission by NASA called OSIRIS-REx hopes to fill in the missing chapters from Earth’s origin story. The spacecraft traveled billions of kilometers to the asteroid Bennu, which researchers describe as a time capsule from the earliest days of the solar system.  In this episode:  Colin Baker (@airlockben), Al Jazeera News Editor  Zack Gainsforth (@zgainsforth), Space Scientist, UC Berkeley Pierre Haenecour (@stardustpierre), Cosmochemist, University of Arizona Ashley King (@ashleyjking85), Planetary Scientist, Natural History Museum Episode credits: This episode was produced by Miranda Lin and our host Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Shrijan Pandey, Zaina Badr and Kara Dauletkanova fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

US President Joe Biden is facing dissent from all corners as Israel’s war on Gaza rages on and regional tensions escalate. As the 2024 election season gets into gear, protesters are targeting both the president and his cabinet members. The Take goes behind the scenes of the Biden administration, where diplomatic staff privately say their expertise is being ignored, while a feud between two of the team’s most public faces is bubbling to the surface.  In this episode:  Kimberly Halkett (@KimberlyHalkett), Al Jazeera White House Correspondent Akbar Shahid Ahmed (@AkbarSAhmed), HuffPost Senior Diplomatic Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei with our host Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

We are coming to you on Sundays as Israel's war on Gaza continues.  As Gaza marks 100 days of war, Israeli bombing brought the death toll near 24, 000 Palestinians. And there was another communications blackout. Demonstrators worldwide called again for a ceasefire. In this episode:  Hani Mahmoud, Al Jazeera Correspondent in Gaza Mansour Shuman, Khan Younis Resident Stephanie Dekker (@StefanieDekker), Al Jazeera Correspondent in Occupied East Jerusalem Paul Brennan, Al Jazeera Correspondent in London Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube  

Every Saturday, we revisit a story that’s in the news again. This originally aired on February 17, 2021. Designating Yemen’s Houthi rebels as a “foreign terrorist organization” was one of the last foreign policy decisions of the Trump administration. It was a move that many aid agencies feared would push the worst humanitarian crisis in the world into further chaos. Now, weeks later, the new administration under President Joe Biden has walked it back. So just how big a shift is this for US policy towards Yemen, and what does it mean for Yemen’s war? In this episode:  Abubakr Al-Shamahi (@abubakrabdullah), journalist Sultana Begum (@sultanabegums), Norwegian Refugee Council Episode credits: This episode was updated by Amy Walters. The original production team was Alexandra Locke, Dina Kesbeh, Amy Walters, Ney Alvarez, Stacey Samuel, Natalia Aldana, Negin Owliaei, and Malika Bilal.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.

The International Court of Justice is now hearing a case brought by South Africa, accusing Israel of genocide. Rulings by the ICJ are legally binding, but the court has no way of enforcing them. So, will it make a difference as the Israeli war on Gaza goes on? In this episode:  Thamsanqa Malusi (@MalusiThami), South African Lawyer James Bays (@baysontheroad), Al Jazeera Diplomatic Editor Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra, Sarí el-Khalili, and Fahrinisa Campana with our host Malika Bilal. Sonia Bhagat fact-checked this episode. Special thanks to Anade Situma. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

As the world sees the largest pro-Palestine protests on record, the interest in owning a keffiyeh is skyrocketing. Hirbawi is the last known factory making keffiyehs in Palestine. So how is that changing Hirbawi and the meaning behind the keffiyeh? In this episode: Wafa Ghnaim (@tatreezandtea), Palestinian Dress Historian  Azar Aghayev (@hirbawiusa), US Distributor for Hirbawi  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li with our host Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan and Zaina Badr fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Joe Plourde mixed this episode. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have shown no sign of backing down with their attacks in the southern Red Sea on ships they say are linked to Israel. Despite warnings from the US, UK, and other countries, the Houthis vowed to continue attacks in solidarity with Palestine and against Israel’s military assault on Gaza. So, how much of an impact does this have on the global and Israeli economy?  In this episode:  Laleh Khalili (@LalehKhalili), Professor of Gulf Studies at University of Exeter Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili, Fahrinisa Campana, and our host Malika Bilal. Ashish Malhotra and Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik, and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Sheikh Hasina has won a fourth straight term as Bangladesh’s prime minister. The daughter of the country’s founding father earned her own reputation as a pro-democracy leader. But in recent years she has been accused of cracking down on critics, with the opposition boycotting this year’s elections and calling them a sham. In this episode:  Tanvir Chowdhury (@tanvirbengal) Al Jazeera Bangladesh Correspondent/Producer Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra and Miranda Lin with David Enders and our host Malika Bilal. Fahrinisa Campana, Amy Walters and Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Are we entering a new space race? Later this month, Japan aims to land a probe on the moon’s south pole. If it’s successful, it would be the fifth nation ever to have a successful moon landing. Just months earlier, India became fourth. Is the next generation of the space race heating up, and what will it mean for democratic access to space?  For more:  Listen to Necessary Tomorrows, a new podcast from Al Jazeera and Doha Debates. In this episode:  Namrata Goswami (@namygoswami), Professor, Thunderbird School of Global Management, Arizona State University Episode credits: This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei and our host Malika Bilal. Zaina Badr and Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

We are coming to you on Sundays as Israel's war on Gaza continues. An Israeli strike in has killed Al Jazeera journalist Hamza Dahdouh.  Palestinians in Gaza are going hungry. Israel's wounded soldiers are overwhelming its veterans care facilities. And residents of Gaza City say Israeli soldiers desecrated a cemetery. In this episode:  Hind Khoudary (@Hind_Gaza), Al Jazeera Correspondent in Gaza Anas Al Sharif, Al Jazeera Correspondent in Gaza Hani Mahmoud, Al Jazeera Correspondent in Gaza Sara Khairat (@sarakhairat), Al Jazeera Correspondent in Occupied West Bank 

This Saturday, we’re revisiting a story that’s in the news again.  This episode was originally published on January 8, 2021. Much of the United States, and the world, is shocked over the storming of the US Capitol in Washington, DC on January 6. In this episode, journalists and activists describe their experience covering and witnessing the insurrection.  In this episode:  Journalists reporting from the US Capitol – Patty Culhane and John Hendren for Al Jazeera, and Tia Mitchell from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution; Washington, DC-based activist Cirilo Manego; attorney general for the District of Columbia, Karl Racine; Andre Perry, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution; anthropologist Steve Gardiner; former CIA officer Glenn Carle. Episode credits: This episode was updated by Negin Owliaei and Sarí el-Khalili with our host Malika Bilal. The original production team was Priyanka Tilve, Alexandra Locke, Dina Kesbeh, Amy Walters, Ney Alvarez, Stacey Samuel, Negin Owliaei, and Malika Bilal.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

With the assassination of a top Hamas leader in Lebanon, twin blasts in Iran, and Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza, 2024 is already off to a turbulent start in the Middle East. So what’s the state of play in the region? In this episode:  Rami Khouri (@RamiKhouri), Distinguished Public Policy Fellow at American University of Beirut Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili, Ashish Malhotra, and our host Malika Bilal. Chloe K. Li and Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik, and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

In the US, the history of the boycott as a protest movement dates back at least as far as the Boston Tea Party. Yet today, many states have legislation designed to penalize those boycotting. What does Israel have to do with the right to protest in the United States? In this episode:  Julia Bacha (@juliabacha), Filmmaker and Creative Director at Just Vision (@JustVisionMedia) Episode credits: This episode was produced by Fahrinisa Campana and our host Malika Bilal. Sarí el-Khalili and Negin Owliaei fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik, and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Artificial intelligence is no longer a fantasy of the future, especially in the music world. Music professionals are already calling it the next tech revolution. But how will the industry and the artists adapt?  In this episode: Ben Camp (@BenCampMusic), Associate Professor of Songwriting, Berklee College of Music Episode credits: This episode was produced by Shrijan Pandey, Sarí el-Khalili and our host Malika Bilal. Ashish Malhotra and Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Joe Plourde mixed this episode. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik, and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

There’s been a regular exchange of fire between Hezbollah and the Israeli army for more than two months. Now, the fight is intensifying, with Israel carrying out ‘wide-scale’ airstrikes into South Lebanon, pushing both sides closer to an all-out war. So what does the future look like as tensions escalate?  In this episode:  Ali Hashem (@alihashem_tv), Al Jazeera Correspondent  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan, with our host Malika Bilal. Miranda Lynn fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik, and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Ready or not, a new year is underway, and Al Jazeera's correspondents around the world are prepping for the news to come. In this episode:  Tony Cheng (@TLCBkk), Al Jazeera Correspondent Kimberly Halkett (@KimberlyHalkett), Al Jazeera White House Correspondent Nicolas Haque (@nicolashaque), Al Jazeera West Africa Correspondent Sara Khairat (@sarakhairat), Al Jazeera Correspondent Lucia Newman (@lucianewman), Al Jazeera Latin America Editor Anealla Safdar (@anealla), Al Jazeera Online Europe Editor Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra with Miranda Lin and our host Malika Bilal.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Joe Plourde mixed this episode. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

We are bringing you updates on Saturday and Sunday as the war on Gaza continues. Israel's Prime Minister has called again for his military to take control of a corridor between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. The ongoing bombardment of Gaza has destroyed more than 70 percent of homes there. And in 2023, Israel killed more children in the occupied West Bank of any year on record. In this episode:  Alan Fisher (@AlanFisher) Al Jazeera Correspondent in Occupied East Jerusalem Hind Al Khoudary (@Hind_Gaza), Al Jazeera Correspondent in Gaza Nida Ibrahim (@nida_journo), Al Jazeera Correspondent in Occupied West Bank Episode credits: This episode was produced and mixed by David Enders. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

We are bringing you updates on Saturday and Sunday as the war on Gaza continues. Palestinians in Gaza were refusing further displacement despite Israeli military orders. The US approved further weapons sales to Israel. A report on what it's like to give birth in Gaza, and a record number of Palestinian homes in the West Bank have been demolished. In this episode:  Akram Al Satarri, Freelance Journalist in Khan Younis, Gaza Patty Culhane (@PattyCulhane), Al Jazeera Correspondent in Washington, DC Hind Al Khoudary (@Hind_Gaza), Al Jazeera Correspondent in Gaza Bernard Smith (@JazeeraBernard), Al Jazeera Correspondent in Occupied West Bank Episode credits: This episode was produced and mixed by David Enders. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

As the year wraps up, we're looking back at ten of the episodes that defined our year at The Take. This originally aired on November 8. We’ve been receiving voice notes from our journalists in Gaza for just over a month, since Israel’s war on Gaza began following Hamas’s attack on October 7. They’ve endured a shortage of water, fuel, electricity, and food during constant Israeli bombardment. Today, what it means to report from Gaza one month into the war.  In this episode:  Youmna ElSayed (@YoumnaElSayed17) Al Jazeera Correspondent Safwat al Kahlout (@safwatkahlout) Al Jazeera Journalist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters and our host Malika Bilal. Fahrinisa Campana fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

As the year wraps up, we're looking back at ten of the episodes that defined our year at The Take. This originally aired on September 5. Protests in Niger are bigger than they’ve ever been. Only a month after overthrowing the president, protesters are now focusing their anger on their former colonial power, France. And it’s not just the protesters – Niger’s top court also approved the expulsion of France’s ambassador. France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, insists the ambassador will stay. So what’s next for Niger and for France’s slippery hold on Francophone Africa? In this episode:  Ahmed Idris, Al Jazeera correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by David Enders, Amy Walters and our host Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera AlDosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

As the year wraps up, we're looking back at ten of the episodes that defined our year at The Take. This originally aired on July 28. Israel’s ruling coalition has pushed through the first part of their controversial judicial overhaul plan, despite months of protests. It was a major victory for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while critics are calling the move a judicial coup. Members of the opposition walked out of the vote, and protestors took to the streets again this week. The question now is, how far will the judicial overhaul go? In this episode:  Amjad Iraqi (@aj_iraqi), Senior Editor at +972 magazine Episode credits: This episode was produced by Fahrinisa Campana and our host Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan and Zaina Badr fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

As the year wraps up, we're looking back at ten of the episodes that defined our year at The Take. This originally aired on June 28. Off the Portuguese coast in the Strait of Gibraltar, a pod of orca whales has been ramming commuter boats and ripping off boat rudders. At least three sailboats have sunk in the past year. Now, it’s happened again off the Shetland Islands, the first ever in that area. There’ve been more than 200 reports of these types of encounters since 2020. And if you’ve been scrolling through your social media feed you might be on “team orca” or “team yacht.” The possible explanations for why, though, aren’t as clear cut as orcas wanting to take down billionaire boats.  In this episode:  Philip Hoare (@philipwhale), author and filmmaker Jeroen Hoekendijk (jeroen_hoekendijk), marine biologist, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research  Monika Wieland Shields, co-founder and director, Orca Behavior Institute Episode credits: This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li with Sonia Bhagat and our host Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik.  Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

As the year wraps up, we're looking back at ten of the episodes that defined our year at The Take. This originally aired on June 27. After the events of the last few days, there seems to be no place for Wagner anymore in President Vladimir Putin’s Russia. This weekend, the mercenaries began a shocking new march, not towards Ukraine, but to Moscow. While an apparent compromise has been reached, questions remain about how this happened as quickly as it did, what it means for Russia's leadership, and how it could reshape the war in Ukraine. In this episode:   Niko Vorobyov (@Narco_Polo420), freelance journalist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Miranda Lin, David Enders and our host Kevin Hirten. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

We are bringing you updates on Saturday and Sunday as the war on Gaza continues. Palestinian Christians began holding subdued Christmas celebrations as Israeli strikes in Gaza killed hundreds. The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire despite a UN resolution calling for more aid, and Christians in southern Lebanon prepared to celebrate elsewhere as fighting continued. In this episode:  Nida Ibrahim (@nida_journo), Al Jazeera Correspondent in Occupied West Bank  Anas Al Sharif, Al Jazeera Correspondent in Gaza Hani Mahmoud, Al Jazeera Correspondent in Gaza Zeina Khodr (@ZeinakhodrAljaz), Al Jazeera Correspondent in Lebanon  Episode credits: This episode was produced, mixed and hosted by David Enders, in for Malika Bilal.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

We are bringing you updates on Saturday and Sunday as the war on Gaza continues. Palestinians in Gaza have little hope in a UN resolution as Israeli strikes on areas once deemed safe and a communications blackout continue.  In this episode:  Akram Al Satarri, freelance journalist in Khan Younis, Gaza Lana Nuseibeh, UAE representative to the UN  Gabriel Elizondo, (@elizondogabriel) Al Jazeera correspondent in New York Episode credits: This episode was produced, mixed and hosted by David Enders, in for Malika Bilal.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

As the year wraps up, we're looking back at ten of the episodes that defined our year at The Take. This originally aired on May 18. It’s a new era for US migration. The controversial policy known as Title 42 expired last week after three years. It allowed border authorities to reject people looking to seek asylum in the US on the spot and turn them back, on the grounds that they might be carrying COVID-19. The end of Title 42 has many expecting an increase in migration in the next few months, under the belief that it will now be easier for people to seek asylum in the US. But others believe the policy replacing Title 42 will actually be stricter.  So what does the end of Title 42 actually mean for people trying to get asylum in the United States? In this episode:  John Holman (@johnholman100), Al Jazeera Mexico correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra and our host, Natasha Del Toro, in for Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

As the year wraps up, we're looking back at ten of the episodes that defined our year at The Take. This originally aired on April 19. Al Jazeera is on the ground in Sudan as days of fighting have consumed the capital, Khartoum. The violence is between the country’s army and a powerful paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The two forces’ uneasy alliance broke down during negotiations involving the transition from a military government to civilian rule. Will that transition ever happen – or is Sudan about to break out into civil war? In this episode:  Hiba Morgan (@hiba_morgan), Al Jazeera Sudan Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra with Negin Owliaei and our host, Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.  Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

As the year wraps up, we're looking back at ten of the episodes that defined our year at The Take. This originally aired on February 17. What happens when you can’t go home? The city of Antakya, one of Turkey’s cultural centers, was destroyed after the February 6 earthquake. Thousands were killed, and the city is no longer recognizable to many who called it home. Turkey’s government says rebuilding in the region is about to begin – but many residents are still trying to understand what they’ve lost. In this episode:  Emre Rende (@emrerende) Journalist and Photographer Bernard Smith (@JazeeraBernard), Al Jazeera Correspondent Belit Tasdemir (@AKUTASSOCIATION), Coordinator for AKUT Search and Rescue Association Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters and Chloe K. Li with our host, Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Andy Greiner and Adam Abou Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

As the year wraps up, we're looking back at ten of the episodes that defined our year at The Take. This originally aired on February 1. ChatGPT is taking the world by storm with AI-generated text that rivals actual literature – but there’s a price. For its parent company, OpenAI, to get this quality product, human beings are paid to help teach it to identify the bad stuff: hate speech and violence of all kinds. We hear about the good, the bad, and the ugly of ChatGPT, including from one person who did the job and has real questions about whether it’s worth the price. Note: This episode contains elements that were generated using ChatGPT. In this episode:  Nanjala Nyabola (@Nanjala1), author of Digital Democracy, Analogue Politics: How the Internet Era Is Transforming Politics in Kenya Michael Kearns (@mkearnsupenn), author of "The Ethical Algorithm" Mophat Ochieng, former AI content moderator  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters with our host, Malika Bilal. Ashish Malhotra, Chloe K. Li, Miranda Lin and Alexandra Locke fact-checked this episode. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Miranda Lin, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, and Amy Walters.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

As the year wraps up, we're looking back at ten of the episodes that defined our year at The Take. This originally aired on January 13. In Russia's war in Ukraine, the use of drones – for surveillance, correcting artillery fire and dropping weapons on the enemy – has become increasingly important, especially for the Ukrainian army. The drones used so far are believed to have all been controlled by humans but experts say the technology for fully autonomous weapons exists. Are so-called ‘killer robots’ that take to the battlefield inevitable? In this episode:  Alex Gatopoulos (@AlexGatopoulos), Al Jazeera Defense Editor Toby Walsh (@TobyWalsh), Professor of Artificial Intelligence, University of New South Wales Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra with Chloe K. Li and our host, Halla Mohieddeen. Amy Walters, Alexandra Locke and Chloe K. Li fact-checked this episode. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Miranda Lin, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, and Amy Walters.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Thousands across New Zealand are protesting in opposition to the new right-leaning government, and policies they say reverse gains made on Indigenous rights. So what’s at stake for New Zealand’s Maori community? In this episode:  Claire Charters, Professor of Law, University of Auckland Episode credits: This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan, Sonia Bhagat and our host Natasha Del Toro in for Malika Bilal. Ashish Malhotra fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

We are bringing you updates on Saturday and Sunday as the war on Gaza continues. An Al Jazeera cameraman was killed in an Israeli attack in the southern Gaza Strip.  In this episode: Hani Mahmoud, Al Jazeera English Gaza Correspondent  Wael Dahdouh, Al Jazeera Arabic's Bureau Chief in Gaza Episode credits: This episode was produced by Zaina Badr and mixed and hosted by David Enders, in for Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.  Connect with us: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

It’s more than two months into the war on Gaza and Israelis have shown overwhelming support. But not everyone feels that way, and some Israelis who oppose the war are feeling ostracized or even endangered. Where is Israeli public opinion on the war on Gaza – and what will that mean as the war goes on? In this episode:  Gaia Dan, Anti-war Activist Nils Adler (@nilsadler1), Freelance Journalist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters, Fahrinisa Campana and our host Malika Bilal.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Diplomats at the United Nations are reaching deep into their toolbox in an effort to broker a lasting ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza. As they invoke various articles and resolutions, The Take asks whether any of them are capable of bringing an end to the war, and if not, what will that mean for the UN’s credibility going forward? In this episode:  Gabriel Elizondo (@elizondogabriel), Al Jazeera Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei, Fahrinisa Campana and our host Malika Bilal. David Enders fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Is there a cure for the loneliness epidemic? Loneliness is as harmful to a person’s health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. The World Health Organization has even declared it a ‘global public health concern,’ echoing a warning by the top US health authority. But despite the alarm, experts say there are ways to cultivate a new culture of connection.  In this episode:  Niobe Way (@niobe_way), New York University Professor of Developmental Psychology Episode credits: This episode was produced by Miranda Lin and host Natasha Del Toro, in for Malika Bilal. Zaina Badr and Sarí el-Khalili fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Heads of state, royalty and activists gathered at COP28 to make deals and discuss the state of the climate crisis. But what did COP28 look like from the inside – and the outside? In this episode:  Ndileka Mandela (@mandela_ndileka), Founder, Thembekile Mandela Foundation Disha Ravi (@disharavii), Founder, Fridays For Future India Jesús Vázquez, General Coordinator, Organización Boricuá of Ecological Agriculture of Puerto Rico  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Miranda Lin, Chloe K. Li and our host Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan and Shrijan Pandey fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Javier Milei, Argentina’s new president, won an election for his far-right policies – and his eccentricities. As he takes office, how will his decisions affect one of the largest economies in Latin America, and the people dependent on it? In this episode:  Teresa Bo (@TeresaBo), Senior Correspondent, Al Jazeera English Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters, Fahrinisa Campana and our host Malika Bilal. Chloe K. Li fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

We are bringing you updates on Saturday and Sunday as the war on Gaza continues. World leaders meet in Qatar, and videos of Palestinians taken prisoner by Israel emerge.  In this episode: Alan Fisher, Al Jazeera Senior Correspondent Akram Al Satarri, Freelance Journalist  Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General Yasser Abou Assi, Displaced Palestinian in Gaza Episode credits: This episode was produced by Zaina Badr and mixed and hosted by David Enders, in for Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.  Connect with us: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

We are bringing you updates on Saturday and Sunday as the truce has come to an end. Israel has killed more than 17,400 Palestinians in Gaza so far as the United States vetoed a United Nations resolution calling for a ceasefire. In this episode: Hani Mahmoud, Al Jazeera Gaza Correspondent Akram Al Satarri, Freelance journalist Nida Ibrahim, Al Jazeera Correspondent Karl Skau, World Food Program Deputy Director Episode credits: This episode was produced by Zaina Badr and hosted and mixed by David Enders, in for Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.  Connect with us: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube    

Thousands of asylum seekers in the UK may soon find themselves expelled to Rwanda. It’s a plan that has been tied up in court since June 2022, but Rishi Sunak’s government has signed a new treaty with Rwanda and is pursuing legislation in the UK to make the deportations happen. What are the chances this latest move will materialize? In this episode:  Qays Sadiqi (@QaysSediqi), Human Rights Lawyer Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili, Sonia Bhagat, and our host Malika Bilal. Chloe K. Li fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik, and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Venezuela’s referendum to annex oil-rich territory in Guyana has created tension in Latin America not seen this century. But does the referendum signal possible annexation? Or is it political posturing by Nicolas Maduro, the country’s president, ahead of elections next year?  In this episode:  Alessandro Rampietti (@rampietti), Al Jazeera Reporter Orin Gordon (@oringordon), Analyst Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters and our host Malika Bilal. Fahrinisa Campana fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Israel is reportedly using artificial intelligence technology to select and expand potential bombing targets in Gaza – and new reporting reveals an apparent loosening of military policies as well.  In this episode:  Meron Rapoport (@MeronRapoport) Journalist and Editor, Local Call Marc Owen Jones (@marcowenjones), Associate Professor of Middle East Studies at Hamad bin Khalifa University Episode credits: This episode was produced by Fahrinisa Campana, Sonia Baghat and our host Malika Bilal. Chloe K. Li fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

As officials, activists, and scientists meet in Dubai to tackle the climate crisis, the war on Gaza has seen some of its bloodiest days. So, how is Gaza affecting COP28 and how is COP28 affecting Gaza?   In this episode:  Karim Elgendy (@NomadandSettler), Urban Sustainability and Climate Expert  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li, Sarí el-Khalili, Fahrinisa Campana, and our host Malika Bilal. David Enders fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

The shooting of three Palestinian students in the US state of Vermont is the latest incident in a surge of attacks against supporters of Palestine since October 7. How are communities coping with what they say is a post–September 11th climate of fear? In this episode:  Abed A. Ayoub (@aayoub), National Executive Director, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (@ADC) Wafic Faour (@VTJP1948), Member, Vermonters for Justice in Palestine  Beshara Doumani, Professor of Palestinian Studies, Brown University Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sonia Bhagat, Chloe K. Li and our host Malika Bilal. Fahrinisa Campana fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

We are bringing you updates on Saturday and Sunday as the truce has come to an end - the Israeli bombardment on Gaza continues. More Palestinians in Gaza are being displaced each day, and the lack of aid will lead to disease outbreaks. In the occupied West Bank, raids continue and many are arrested. And the United States’ Vice President Kamala Harris laid out her government’s expectations for Gaza.  We have updates from Khan Younis, Gaza and Hebron, occupied West bank. In this episode: Akram Al Satarri, freelance journalist in Gaza James Elder, UNICEF spokesperson @UNICEF Hoda Abdel-Hamid, Al Jazeera Correspondent @HodaAH Episode credits: This episode was produced by Zaina Badr and hosted and mixed by David Enders, in for Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.  Connect with us: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

We are bringing you updates on Saturday and Sunday as the truce has come to an end - the Israeli bombardment on Gaza continues, and fighting between Hezbollah and Israel resumes. We have updates from Khan Younis, Gaza and Marjayoun, Lebanon. In this episode: Akram Al Satari, freelance journalist in Gaza Hind Al Khoudary, freelance journalist in Gaza @Hind_Gaza Zeina Khodr, Al Jazeera Lebanon correspondent @ZeinakhodrAljaz Episode credits: This episode was produced by Zaina Badr and hosted and mixed by David Enders, in for Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.  Connect with us: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Henry Kissinger was a giant of our world order for half a century. The former US secretary of state died at the age of 100 on Wednesday. He left a mark on every region – often not for the better of those left in the wake of his controversial policies. We look at the legacy that many fear could be forgotten. In this episode:  Spencer Ackerman (@attackerman), Journalist and Author Sophal Ear (@sophal_ear), Associate Professor, Thunderbird School of Global Management  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters, Miranda Lin, Negin Owliaei and our host Malika Bilal. Fahrinisa Campana and David Enders fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

OpenAI opened the door to ChatGPT one year ago and it’s been a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows. So what does this year of ChatGPT tell us about the risks and the benefits of artificial intelligence? In this episode:  Rob Pegoraro (@robpegoraro), Technology Journalist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili, Amy Walters, and our host Malika Bilal. Fahrinisa Campana fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik, and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Palestinians have seen over a hundred releases from Israeli prisons during Israel and Hamas’s temporary ceasefire deal. But thousands more remain in detention, and Israel continues to arrest more people. So, why were they detained in the first place? In this episode:  Nida Ibrahim (@nida_journo), Al Jazeera Correspondent in the Occupied West Bank Episode credits: This episode was produced by Fahrinisa Campana and Chloe K. Li and our host Malika Bilal. Ashish Malhotra fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

There will be no bombs or drones over Gaza for another two days. Israel and Hamas have largely followed the terms of their ceasefire deal since it came into effect on Friday morning, including prisoner exchanges and the entry of humanitarian aid. But a return to violence and the end of talks remain a constant threat. In this episode:  Youmna ElSayed (@YoumnaElSayed17), Al Jazeera Gaza Correspondent Rory Challands (@RoryChallands), Al Jazeera Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Miranda Lin, David Enders and our host Malika Bilal. Ashish Malhotra fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Ukraine’s female soldiers say they’re battling multiple enemies: Russia, sexism, and ill-fitting uniforms and protective gear. Attitudes towards women serving in the military in Ukraine are changing. Still, many wonder if progress is happening fast enough and if this progress will endure after the war with Russia is over. In this episode:  Jessica Trisko Darden @triskodarden, Assistant professor at Virginia Commonwealth University & Director of the Security and Foreign Policy Initiative at William & Mary’s Global Research Institute Dzvenyslava Rymar, architect and combat medic Episode credits: This episode was produced by Fahrinisa Campana and our host Malika Bilal. Amy Walters fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

We are bringing you updates on Saturday and Sunday as the Israel-Hamas truce holds. Today, more Palestinian prisoners and Israeli captives are expected to be released.  We have updates from Gaza, Ramallah, Occupied East Jerusalem, and Jenin.  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan and hosted and mixed by David Enders, in for Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.  Connect with us: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

We are bringing you updates on Saturday and Sunday as the Israel-Hamas truce holds. Today, more Palestinian prisoners and Israeli captives are expected to be released.  We have updates from Gaza, Ramallah, and Tel Aviv. Episode credits: This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan and hosted and mixed by David Enders in for Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.  Connect with us: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier has been in a United States maximum security prison for nearly 50 years. The US government says he aided in the murder of two FBI agents. But since his trial, allegations of false evidence and coerced testimony have come up. Over the years, the United Nations, activists, and Amnesty International have all called for his release.  In this episode:  Nick Tilsen (@NickTilsen), President of NDN Collective Episode credits: This episode was produced by David Enders, with Amy Walters, Chloe K. Li, and our host Malika Bilal. Sonia Bhagat, Ashish Malhotra and Chloe K. Li fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement for the first time since the war in Gaza began 47 days ago. In a deal mediated by Qatar, the sides agreed to a four-day truce, as well as the release of Israeli captives, Palestinian prisoners, and the resumption of humanitarian convoys. But as Israel’s deadly military strikes on Gaza continue, how will this deal change realities on the ground? In this episode:  James Bays (@baysontheroad), Al Jazeera Diplomatic Editor Sara Khairat (@sarakhairat), Al Jazeera Correspondent  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Miranda Lin, Khaled Soltan, David Enders and our host Malika Bilal. Chloe K. Li fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Guatemalans have elected Bernardo Arévalo as their next president. His promise is to fight poverty, corruption and to improve governance in the country. But now, his supporters say Guatemala’s ruling class is trying to prevent Arévalo from taking office in January. So, why has the tide turned on newly elected Arévalo, and will his presidency be over before it even begins? In this episode:  John Holman (@johnholman100), Al Jazeera Correspondent Jose Carlos Zamora (@jczamora), Journalist - Son of Jose Ruben Zamora Episode credits: This episode was produced by Fahrinisa Campana, Sarí el-Khalili, and our host Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

A lawsuit against US President Joe Biden and other top officials accuses them of complicity in genocide in Gaza. What will it mean for the US government and Palestinians? In this episode:  Laila el-Haddad (@gazamom), Palestinian Journalist and Author  Astha Sharma Pokharel (@AsthaSPokharel), Center for Constitutional Rights Attorney  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters, Chloe K. Li and our host Malika Bilal. Fahrinisa Campana fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

'Darkest days' in history, says a doctor who once worked at al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza. Patients, medical staff, and displaced people were evacuated from the complex following an Israeli military order, according to Palestinian officials. Besieged and raided by Israeli forces for days with no water, food, fuel or medical supplies - Gaza’s largest hospital has turned into a mass grave. In this episode:  Dr. Mads Gilbert, (@DrGilbert), Emergency Physician and Activist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili, Miranda Lin, and our host Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Tim St Clair mixed this episode. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik, and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

We are bringing you updates on Saturday and Sunday as Israel's ground invasion of Gaza continues. Updates on Khan Younis in southern Gaza, al-Shifa Hospital’s refugees, raids in the occupied West Bank, and rumors of a deal for Israeli captives. In this episode: Akram al-Sattari, Gaza Journalist Zein Basravi (@VirtualZein) Al Jazeera Ramallah Correspondent Rory Challands (@rorychallands) Al Jazeera Occupied East Jerusalem Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Miranda Lin, and hosted and mixed by David Enders, in for Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.  Connect with us: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

We are bringing you updates on Saturday and Sunday as Israel's ground invasion of Gaza continues. Updates from al-Shifa Hospital and Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza and the occupied West Bank. In this episode: Youmna El Sayed (@YoumnaElSayed17) Al Jazeera Gaza Correspondent Tareq Abu Azzoum, Al Jazeera Gaza Correspondent Zein Basravi (@VirtualZein) Al Jazeera Ramallah Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Miranda Lin, and hosted and mixed by David Enders, in for Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.  Connect with us: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

The Sudanese Armed Forces have set up base in east Sudan - with the opposing Rapid Support Forces setting up in the west. With the war escalating, will Sudan be formally divided? And what does that mean for those living in the country already pushed to the brink of disaster?  In this episode:  Kholood Khair (@KholoodKhair), Founding Director at Confluence Advisory Episode credits: This episode was produced by David Enders, Chloe K. Li and our host Malika Bilal. Fahrinisa Campana fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

While hundreds of sick and wounded Palestinians are actively seeking shelter at al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, Israeli forces have launched a full-scale military raid. We ask what, if anything, is under the hospital, and as global outcry for a ceasefire grows louder, what will it take for the fighting to end?  In this episode:  Zoran Kusovac (@zkusovac), Military Analyst Episode credits: This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan, Zaina Badr and Amy Walters with our host Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Fahrinisa Campana fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Following the events of October 7, thousands of Palestinians who were from Gaza and working in Israel were suddenly labeled illegal and detained without charge. They’ve relayed stories of abuse and beatings. In two cases, the workers died in prison. Many of them have now been released back into Gaza but are left wondering what lies ahead. In this episode:  Tania Hary (@taniahary), Executive Director of Gisha - Legal Center for Freedom of Movement This story was suggested to us by a listener to our Instagram account. If you have your own ideas for stories, let us know on X, Facebook or Instagram at @AJEPodcasts. Or send us a voice memo with your name, location and story idea through WhatsApp. Episode credits: This episode was produced by Miranda Lin, Sarí el-Khalili and our host Malika Bilal. Fahrinisa Campana fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Activists in the United States got a tip that a US military cargo ship was transporting arms to Israel and tried to stop it. As US President Joe Biden proposes $14.3 billion to Israel we hear from protesters putting their lives on the line trying to block the military assistance. In this episode:  Mohamed Shehk (@AROCBayArea), Organizer with AROC and National Campaigns Director for Critical Resistance  Sarah Yager (@YagerSarahH), Washington Director at Human Rights Watch Episode credits: This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li, Fahrinisa Campana and our host Malika Bilal. David Enders fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Four million Afghans seeking refuge in Pakistan have been caught up in a government crackdown on immigration. What choices are left for those being forced to leave? In this episode:  Abid Hussain (@abidhussayn), Al Jazeera Digital Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters, Sonia Bhagat and our host Malika Bilal. David Enders fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

We are bringing you updates on Saturday and Sunday as Israel's ground invasion of Gaza continues. In this episode: Updates from Al Shifa Hospital and Gaza City, the Occupied West Bank, Lebanon, the US and Tel Aviv. Episode credits: This episode was produced and mixed by David Enders, with our host Kevin Hirten in for Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.  Connect with us: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

We are bringing you updates on Saturday and Sunday as Israel's ground invasion of Gaza continues. In this episode: Updates from Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City and Khan Younis in southern Gaza. Episode credits: This episode was produced and mixed by David Enders, with our host Kevin Hirten in for Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.  Connect with us: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Prominent Palestinians in Israel were arrested on Thursday for planning a small anti-war protest. For the last month, people have grappled with rising threats, harassment, and restrictions. Where does the post-October 7 world leave Palestinians? In this episode:  Amjad Iraqi (@aj_iraqi), +972 Magazine Senior Editor Episode credits: This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan, Miranda Lin and our host Malika Bilal. Fahrinisa Campana fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

As Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip shows no signs of abating, humanitarian organizations warn of an imminent and total collapse of Gaza’s healthcare system.  In this episode:  Dr. Tanya Haj-Hassan (@tee_haj), Pediatric Intensive Care and Humanitarian Doctor, Médecins Sans Frontières Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sonia Bhagat, Chloe K. Li and our host Natasha Del Toro, in for Malika Bilal. Fahrinisa Campana fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

We’ve been receiving voice notes from our journalists in Gaza for just over a month, since Israel’s war on Gaza began following Hamas’s attack on October 7. They’ve endured a shortage of water, fuel, electricity, and food during constant Israeli bombardment. Today, what it means to report from Gaza one month into the war.  In this episode:  Youmna ElSayed (@YoumnaElSayed17) Al Jazeera Correspondent Safwat al Kahlout (@safwatkahlout) Al Jazeera Journalist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters and our host Malika Bilal. Fahrinisa Campana fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube  

US President Joe Biden’s support for Israel’s war on Gaza has prompted the biggest protests in support of Palestine in US history, all while support in the polls for Biden appears to have dropped. But will US support for the war change? In this episode:  Ali Harb (@Harbpeace), Al Jazeera Senior Producer   Episode credits: This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan, David Enders and our host, Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Fahranisa Campana fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.  Connect with us: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

On the coast of the Mediterranean Sea lies Gaza, a land that insists on living. Gaza is currently facing a war like nothing its people have seen before, but its history stretches far longer. Today, a brief history of Gaza and its people, on its worst and best days. For more: The Past, Present and Future of Hamas.  In this episode:  Jehad Abusalim (@JehadAbusalim), The Jerusalem Fund for Education and Community Development Executive Director  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li and David Enders, with our host Natasha Del Toro in for Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin and Sari el Khalili fact-checked this episode.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.  Connect with us: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

We are bringing you updates on Saturday and Sunday as Israel's ground invasion of Gaza evolves. In this episode: Updates from Gaza, the Occupied West Bank, Washington, D.C. and Tel Aviv. Episode credits: This episode was produced and mixed by David Enders, with our host Kevin Hirten in for Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.  Connect with us: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube    

We are bringing you updates on Saturday and Sunday as Israel's ground invasion of Gaza evolves. In this episode: Updates from Gaza, the Occupied West Bank, Lebanon and Jordan. Episode credits: This episode was produced and mixed by David Enders, with our host Kevin Hirten in for Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.  Connect with us: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube    

‘Wait for the Great Nakba’ – a warning of forced mass displacement that vigilante settlers have been spreading, as Israeli violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank reaches levels not seen in decades. The Take speaks to Palestinian activist Issa Amro, who was kidnapped, tortured, and assaulted by armed settlers and soldiers in the city of Hebron.  In this episode:  Issa Amro (@Issaamro), Activist and Human Rights Defender  Nida Ibrahim (nida_journo), Al Jazeera Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili, Sonia Bhagat, and our host Natasha Del Toro in for Malika Bilal. Fahrinisa Campana and Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik, and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Russia and China have staked a careful position in the war between Israel and Hamas. Both have complex relationships with Israel and Palestine and their own foreign policy to consider. So, how does Israel’s war on Gaza impact them, and what do they stand to gain from it?  In this episode:  Niko Vorobyov (@Narco_Polo420), Russian-British Freelance Journalist  Einar Tangen, Senior Fellow Taihe Institute and Chairman Asia Narrative Episode credits: This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan and Zaina Badr with our host Kevin Hirten in for Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Since Hamas rebels launched a surprise assault against Israel on October 7th, Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia and Israel have been regularly exchanging fire across the border. So, could mounting tensions between them start yet another war, and what might that mean for Lebanon? In this episode:  Zeina Khodr (@ZeinakhodrAljaz), Al Jazeera Senior Correspondent  Episode credits: This episode was produced by David Enders, Sonia Bhagat and our host Natasha Del Toro. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

There are two objectives in phase two of Israel’s war on Gaza, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: the destruction of the military and governmental capabilities of Hamas, as well as the release of the captives, some of which were seen in a Hamas video on Monday. But how will the hostages affect Israel's calculus, and how much of a priority are they? In this episode:  Haggai Matar (@Ha_Matar), +972 Executive Director Oren Ziv (@OrenZiv_), +972 News Journalist and Photographer Episode credits: This episode was produced by Fahrinisa Campana, Miranda Lin and our host Natasha del Toro, in for Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Israel’s war on Gaza is entering its second phase, and a new level of fear is descending. After more than a day of communications blackout, Palestinians assess the damage and loss. In this episode: Sara Khairat (@sarakhairat), Al Jazeera Reporter Taghreed El-Khodary (@Taghreed1), Journalist  For more:  'Hearing her voice was like having my soul returned to me again' – Joy and horror as communications come back on in the Gaza Strip Episode credits: This episode was produced by Fahrinisa Campana, Zaina Badr, and guest host Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: YouTube, Instagram, Threads, Twitter, Facebook 

It was after 7pm local time in Gaza on Friday when we heard that most people there lost contact with the world. Internet and phone services went down as bombardment intensified. Then, Israel's military said it was “expanding” ground operations. Despite the internet blackout, Al Jazeera is still able to broadcast to the world. So what do we know so far? In this episode:  Tareq Abu Azzoum, Al Jazeera Correspondent Safwat al Kahlout (@safwatkahlout), Al Jazeera Journalist Marwan Bishara (@MarwanBishara), Al Jazeera Senior Analyst  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li, Amy Walters and our host Natasha del Toro, in for Malika Bilal.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Al Jazeera bureau chief Wael Dahdouh was reporting live in Gaza when he discovered an Israeli air raid had killed his wife, son, daughter, grandson, and at least eight other relatives. Today, we tell Wael’s story through the eyes of his colleagues, about facing death to report through war. In this episode:  Wajd Waqfi (@Wajdwaqfi), Al Jazeera Correspondent Youmna ElSayed (@YoumnaElSayed17), Al Jazeera Correspondent  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters, Sarí el-Khalili and our host Malika Bilal. Chloe K. Li fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

The US and EU have assisted Ukraine in defending itself from invasion and occupation. But what does the war on Gaza mean for the war on Ukraine? In this episode:  Rob McBride, Al Jazeera Correspondent  Zein Basravi (@virtualzein), Al Jazeera Correspondent  Episode credits: This episode was produced by David Enders, Sonia Bhagat and our host Malika Bilal. Chloe K. Li and Sonia Bhagat fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

An Israeli ground invasion seemed imminent almost as soon as Hamas attacked. Hundreds of thousands of Israeli troops have been mobilized. So why hasn’t it happened yet, and where does that leave the people of Gaza? In this episode:  Youmna ElSayed (@YoumnaElSayed17), Al Jazeera Gaza Correspondent  Teresa Bo (@TeresaBo), Al Jazeera Senior Correspondent Zoran Kusovac (@zkusovac), Military Analyst Episode credits: This episode was produced by Miranda Lin, Sarí el-Khalili and our host Malika Bilal. Fahrinisa Campana and Chloe K. Li fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Hundreds of activists filled the domed hall of the US Capitol last week to call for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the Israeli bombardment of Gaza. In this roundtable discussion, we look at how activists are challenging mainstream narratives surrounding Palestine and Israel – both online and on the streets. What does solidarity look like for them?  You can find this on YouTube here. In this episode:  Iman Abid (@imanabid_), Director of Advocacy, US Campaign for Palestinian Rights Beth Miller (@bethavemiller), Political Director, Jewish Voice for Peace Jamiee Swift (@JaimeeSwift), Executive Director and Founder, Black Women Radicals Episode credits: This episode was produced by Fahrinisa Campana, Sonia Bhagat and our host Malika Bilal. Amy Walters and David Enders fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Social media has been one of the very few available ways for Palestinians to tell their stories, first hand, under the Israeli occupation. But, censorship and account suspensions threaten that venue. As the war on Gaza escalates, social media companies have tightened their grip further. This is mixed with rapid spread of disinformation and conflicting narratives, like those about the Al-Ahli hospital deadly blast in Gaza. So, how far is disinformation and censorship steering the conflict?  In this episode:  Abdallah Ahmed, Al Jazeera Senior Investigation Producer  Marwa Fatafta (@marwasf), MENA Policy Manager at Access Now Marc Owen Jones (@marcowenjones), Associate Professor of Middle East Studies at Hamad bin Khalifa University You can watch Al Jazeera’s investigative report on the hospital blast in Gaza here. Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili and our host Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Tim St Clair mixed this episode. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik, and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Introducing 'Another Take' – joining you now every Saturday and Sunday, revisiting stories we’ve done that are in the news again. Today’s Another Take is from Gaza, but it’s a side we rarely see.  This episode was originally published on February 14, 2020. When the so-called deal of the century normalized relations between Israel and Bahrain and the UAE – in Gaza, all that felt a world away. But back in 2020, there was a moment of relief – an understanding between Israel and Hamas, the group that's run Gaza since 2007 – that gave Gazans a bit of relief. And the signs were in the strawberries. Today, we’re revisiting a story from Gaza that doesn’t usually make headlines. In this episode:  Stefanie Dekker (@StefanieDekker), Al Jazeera senior correspondent Safwat al Kahlout, Al Jazeera Gaza producer Episode credits: This episode was updated by Alexandra Locke. The original production team was Priyanka Tilve, Alexandra Locke, Dina Kesbeh, Amy Walters, Ney Alvarez, Stacey Samuel, Negin Owliaei, Tom Fenton, and Malika Bilal.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. Connect with us:@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Every Saturday and Sunday, we revisit stories we’ve done that are in the news again.  This episode was originally published on June 14, 2021 The number of Israelis who openly refuse military service due to the occupation is low; earlier this year, four teenagers refusing together was notable. The low numbers persist despite multiple international human rights groups recognizing Israel’s treatment of Palestinians as apartheid. Now, army violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank is at a high not seen in years, Israel’s most far-right government yet is on the verge of taking power, and draft refuser organizations say there’s been increased interest in what’s seen by most Israelis as a radical step. We hear from two men about why they did it, and why their decision is so rare. In this episode:  Evyatar Rubin, conscientious objector Haggai Matar (@Ha_Matar), Executive Director of +972 Magazine and former conscientious objector Episode credits: This episode was produced by Alexandra Locke with Chloe K. Li, and Halla Mohieddeen in for Malika Bilal. It was fact-checked by Ruby Zaman. Our production team includes Ashish Malhotra, Khaled Soltan, Zaina Badr, David Enders, Amy Walters, Sonia Bhagat, Fahrinisa Campana, Sari el-Khalili, and Malika Bilal.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. This episode was mixed by Tim St Clair. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. Connect with us:@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

For those protesting against Israel’s war in Gaza, free speech is becoming more and more dangerous. The backlash is hitting students at Harvard University, protestors in France, and Palestinians in Israel. Now, with the murder of a six-year-old in the United States, there are fears of increased violence. Racism toward Arabs and Muslims is nothing new. But will the war in Gaza make things worse?  In this episode:  Moustafa Bayoumi (@BayoumiMoustafa), author of “How Does It Feel to Be a Problem?: Being Young and Arab in America and This Muslim American Life: Dispatches from the War on Terror” Episode credits: This episode was produced by David Enders, Amy Walters and our host Malika Bilal. Sonia Bhagat and Chloe K. Li fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Tim St Clair mixed this episode. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us:@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

From the streets to world leaders, there’s been widespread outrage over the deadly attack on the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza. Nearly 500 people were killed in the strike, making it the deadliest single incident since the start of Israel’s war. It came just hours before US President Joe Biden arrived in Tel Aviv for meetings with top Israeli officials. While Biden once again affirmed Washington’s support for Israel, others are distancing themselves from the unprecedented violence. Jordan’s king called off a summit between the US, Egypt, and the Palestinian Authority. The UN chief, for the first time, called for an immediate ceasefire. And popular momentum is building around the world against Israel’s brutal siege on Gaza.  In this episode:  James Bays (@baysontheroad), Al Jazeera diplomatic editor Ali Hashem (@alihashem_tv), Al Jazeera correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Miranda Lin, Khaled Soltan and our host Malika Bilal. Sonia Bhagat and Fahrinisa Campana fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Tim St Clair mixed this episode. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

An Israeli air strike hit Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City on Tuesday night, according to officials there. The Israeli military denies responsibility, but Gaza’s health ministry puts the blame squarely on them, saying at least 500 people are dead. The Palestinian Civil Defense said the attack was unprecedented. The hospital is in the area where the Israeli military had ordered all Palestinian residents to leave – prompting discussions of war crimes even before the air strike. So as Israel’s siege on Gaza continues, we ask the question: where is international law? In this episode:  Taghreed El-Khodary (@Taghreed1), journalist Giulia Marini, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights Episode credits: This episode was produced by Fahrinisa Campana, Amy Walters and our host Malika Bilal. Sonia Bhagat and David Enders fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

While Israel’s attacks have been concentrated on Gaza, violence has also increased in the occupied West Bank. Dozens of Palestinians have been killed since October 7, with Israel clamping down security restrictions even more and Israeli settlers arming themselves and opening fire on Palestinians. Although Gaza and the West Bank have been divided by distance and politics in the past, the past ten days have galvanized Palestinians in both places to unite their voices and resist. In this episode:  Rania Zabaneh (@RZabaneh), Al Jazeera producer in occupied West Bank Imran Khan (@ajimran), Al Jazeera senior correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by David Enders, Miranda Lin and our host Malika Bilal. Sonia Bhagat and Chloe K. Li fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Gaza’s hospitals are under immense stress as patients and doctors grapple with the unprecedented Israeli order for 1.1 million people to leave Northern Gaza, all during massive bombardment. The scale of carnage would put any health system in the world under stress, but the situation is even more dire for Gaza’s hospitals, which have been deprived for over a decade of basic supplies, staff and maintenance due to years of Israeli blockade. Now with the electricity grid shut down and fuel and water supplies dwindling, hospitals are on the verge of total collapse.  In this episode:  Meinie Nicolai, Director General of Doctors Without Borders (@MSF) Ghassan Abu Sittah (@GhassanAbuSitt1), surgeon at Al Shifa hospital Belal Aldabbour (@Belalmd12), neurologist Mahmoud Shalabi, Medical Aid for Palestinians program manager in Gaza (@MedicalAidPal) Episode credits: This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan, Miranda Lin, Sarí el-Khalili, and Sonia Bhagat, with our host Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Introducing 'Another Take' – joining you now every Saturday and Sunday, revisiting stories we’ve done that are in the news again.  This episode was originally published on June 14, 2021. The Palestinian group Hamas doesn't fit neatly into the labels some try to fit them into — terrorist, freedom fighter, armed group, political party. On the anniversary of Hamas’s takeover of the Gaza Strip, we're looking at the past, present, and future of the group, and most importantly, its impact on people living in the territory. In this episode:  Khaled Al Hroub, Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at Northwestern University Qatar and author of two books about Hamas Mohammad Alsaafin (@malsaafin), Senior Producer at AJ+ Episode credits: This episode was updated by Amy Walters. The original production team was Priyanka Tilve, Alexandra Locke, Dina Kesbeh, Amy Walters, Ney Alvarez, Stacey Samuel, Negin Owliaei, Tom Fenton, and Malika Bilal.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

An Israeli ground invasion of Gaza appears all but set to begin. It’s an invasion that the military has been preparing for since October 7, when Hamas launched an unprecedented attack. That attack was described as a massive failure for a country touted to have some of the best intelligence in the world. So where was that Israeli intelligence? And how did that same intelligence inform Israel's decision to invade Gaza now? In this episode:  Youmna ElSayed (@YoumnaElSayed17), Al Jazeera Gaza correspondent Oren Ziv (@OrenZiv_), Journalist and photographer for +972 Magazine Hugh Lovatt (@h_lovatt), Senior Policy Fellow, European Council on Foreign Relations Mohannad Sabri (@mmsabry), Journalist and Author of “Sinai: Egypt's Linchpin, Gaza's Lifeline, Israel's Nightmare” Antony Loewenstein (@antloewenstein), Author of ‘The Palestine Laboratory’ Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters with David Enders, Ashish Malhotra, and Kevin Hirten, in for our host Malika Bilal. Farhinisa Campana fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

As the war on Gaza rages, we’re looking at how the media covers it, in conversation with three people in the US, UK and Canada, all with media experience in those countries. We discuss the struggles they’ve faced when it comes to accurate information and narratives on Palestine and Israel, and what has and has not changed in this latest escalation of violence. You can find this on YouTube here. In this episode: Omar Baddar (@OmarBaddar), Political analyst Ash Sarkar (@AyoCaesar), Contributing Editor, Novara Media Pacinthe Mattar (@Pacinthe), Asper Fellow in Media at Western University, former CBC journalist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra, Fahrinisa Campana, Sonia Bhagat and our host Malika Bilal. Sonia Bhagat fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

The new Israeli unity government is the clearest sign yet of how the Hamas offensive has brought together a fractured political scene. It put a stop to weekly anti-government protests that threatened to topple a government among the most radical in its history, and for Israelis, it's prompted grief, outrage, and an unrestrained military response. Now, Israel’s military is preparing a record 300,000 army reservists for a ground war in Gaza. But anger over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's failure to protect its citizens remains. So as the country prepares for more conflict, where will that anger go? In this episode:  Oren Ziv (@OrenZiv_), Photojournalist, 972 Magazine Mairav Zonszein (@MairavZ), Senior Israel analyst, International Crisis Group Dror Sadot (@dror_sadot), Spokesperson, B’Tselem  Episode credits: This episode was produced by David Enders, Khaled Soltan and our host Malika Bilal. Sonia Bhagat and Sarí el-Khalili fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

US President Joe Biden has declared ‘rock-solid’ support for Israel and its right to self-defense, American military ships and aircraft have been sent to Israel, and US positions in the region are also being bolstered. But Hamas has its own allies, and the regional shockwaves of the attack are still transmitting. In Lebanon, Hezbollah has fired rockets across the border into Israel, while Iran has denied allegations of its involvement in Hamas’s attack. So how likely is the escalating violence to set off a regional tinderbox? In this episode:  Rami Khouri (@RamiKhouri), Distinguished Public Policy Fellow at the American University of Beirut Episode credits: This episode was produced by Fahrinisa Campana, Miranda Lin and our host Malika Bilal. Ashish Malhotra, Sarí el-Khalili and Sonia Bhagat fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

Maram Humaid, is an Al Jazeera journalist in Gaza. Her home was hit in an Israeli airstrike on Saturday.  She lived in an apartment building with her husband, her eight-year-old daughter, and their infant son. When Hamas fighters broke through Israel's fence, everything changed for them. As Israel's assault on the Gaza Strip ramps up and the death toll rises, Maram shares what it's like to live in Gaza today. In this episode:  Maram Humaid (@MaramGaza), Al Jazeera journalist in Gaza Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili, Sonia Bhagat, and our host Malika Bilal. Ashish Malhotra fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik, and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

It’s a date that is now history. Saturday’s Hamas attack sent shockwaves through Israel, Palestine, and the world, 50 years and one day after a war that is etched in memory across the Middle East. Thousands of rockets, followed by an assault by Hamas fighters from land, air, and sea, caught Israel almost completely by surprise. We hear from Al Jazeera journalists in both Gaza and southern Israel about these unprecedented events. We’ll be back with more this week.  In this episode:  Hoda Abdel Hamid (@HodaAH), Al Jazeera senior correspondent  Safwat al Kahlout (@safwatkahlout), Al Jazeera producer  Rob Reynolds (@RobReynoldsAJE), Al Jazeera senior correspondent  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Alexandra Locke and Khaled Soltan, with Sari el Khalili,  Zaina Badr, Ashish Malhotra, Fahrinisa Campana, Chloe K. Li, Amy Walters, David Enders, Miranda Lin, Sonia Bhagat and Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

A new wave of conscription is affecting Ukrainian women, going into effect for women with a medical or pharmaceutical education. When this new law was first proposed last year, it was postponed because of the public outcry. But with Ukraine’s soldiers, volunteers and conscripts alike, going through months of grueling war, there’s a growing awareness in Ukraine that the country is in for the long haul. The optimism that the war could end this year is ebbing away. So, what does this law say about Ukraine's position in the war, and is it a sign of the changing role of women in Ukrainian society? In this episode:  Kateryna Malofieieva (@KatyaMalofeyeva), journalist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Fahrinisa Campana and Khaled Soltan, with host Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Sarí el-Khalili fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

It took fifteen rounds of voting for the US House of Representatives to elect Republican Congressman Kevin McCarthy as its leader in January. It was the longest vote for Speaker of the House since the US Civil War and it was fraught with political divisions. Nine months later, McCarthy’s tenuous leadership came crashing down this week, as he became the first Speaker of the House to be voted out. The move was led by members of his own party. So how did things get to this point, and what does it mean for American politics? In this episode:  Ali Velshi (@AliVelshi), MSNBC Chief Correspondent and host of “Velshi” Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sonia Bhagat, Ashish Malhotra, Chloe K. Li and our host Malika Bilal. Sarí el-Khalili and Amy Walters fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

Since last year, Haiti’s government has been asking the international community for help to restore peace and security. This week, the United Nations Security Council approved sending an international police force led by Kenya to Haiti. Kenya signed on to send 1,000 police officers, with Washington pledging $100 million and logistical support. The Caribbean country has been gripped by spiraling gang violence as well as poverty and food insecurity. And if assistance does succeed in pushing back the gangs, there’s still a need to address Haiti’s lack of governance and political power vacuum. The last UN mission there lasted from 2004-2017 and faced accusations of rights abuses, sexual violence, and starting a cholera outbreak that killed more than 9,000 people; so, can this foreign intervention avoid repeating those mistakes? In this episode:  Harold Isaac (@HaroldIsaac), journalist in Haiti Episode credits: This episode was produced by Miranda Lin and host Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Sarí el-Khalili and Amy Walters fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

Shelters are filled to the brim on both sides of the US-Mexico border with people seeking asylum in the United States. The US government says there have been at least 230,000 encounters with migrants since August. Families and other groups have waded through the Rio Grande to eventually get across. They are part of a wave of people making the dangerous trek through Central America. So, what do their journeys look like and why are they happening now?  In this episode:  John Holman (@johnholman100), Al Jazeera correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra, Sonia Bhagat and our host Malika Bilal. Sarí el-Khalili and Amy Walters fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

Leaders from both Saudi Arabia and Israel have been working toward normalising relations. The Saudi kingdom, which supports Palestinian statehood, says it hopes normalisation would ease Palestinians' lives. But during an address at the United Nations General Assembly, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said peace can only prevail in the Middle East when Palestinians have full, legitimate and national rights. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right wing coalition has been adamant in making no concessions to the Palestinians. So where do Palestinians fit as Arab-Israeli relationships change? In this episode:  Mustafa Barghouti (@MustafaBarghouti), General Secretary of the Palestinian National Initiative Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili, Sonia Bhagat, and our host Malika Bilal. David Enders fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik, and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

A fire broke out during a wedding in Nineveh governorate, Northern Iraq, in al-Hamdaniya’s Christian community. Within hours, the death toll had risen above 100 people, and over 150 have been injured. Fire extinguishing and rescue operations began soon after the blaze erupted, with victims being transferred to hospitals nationwide to be treated. Authorities expect the death toll to continue rising. Could this latest fire in Iraq have been prevented? And what does it mean for a community that’s only now returning from years of devastation? In this episode:  Julian Bechocha (@JBechocha), English Desk Reporter for Rudaw Episode credits: This episode was produced by Fahrinisa Campana and Khaled Soltan, with our host Kevin Hirten in for Malika Bilal. Amy Walters, Ashish Malhotra, and David Enders fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

Want to hear your voice on The Take? Record a voice message for International Podcast Day about why you listen and it could be featured on the show. The fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh, recognized internationally as part of Azerbaijan, goes back decades. But last week, after a battle that lasted less than 24 hours, Azerbaijan declared victory over the territory and invited the ethnic Armenians who weren’t involved in the fighting to stay. Now, tens of thousands of them are leaving their homeland without any hope of returning. So how did this happen, and what does this mean for the people most affected as an era comes to an end?   In this episode:  Alison Tahmizian Meuse, Strategic Advisor, DeepStrat Osama Bin Javaid (@osamabinjavaid), Al Jazeera English correspondent Bernard Smith (@JazeeraBernard), Al Jazeera English correspondent  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra with Amy Walters and our host Malika Bilal. David Enders fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik, and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. For more, listen to our 2020 episode, "The long story between Armenia and Azerbaijan" Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Want to hear your voice on The Take? Record a voice message for International Podcast Day about why you listen and it could be featured on the show. An estimated four million children in Turkey were affected by the earthquakes in February. The disaster forced them to see death and tragedy up close - many for the first time. As the new school year begins, there’s hope that the classroom will bring back a sense of routine and normalcy. But the trauma of the past eight months has not gone away, with children continuing to deal with displacement, grief, and anxiety. Experts warn that if the mental health of these children is not handled carefully, there could be long-term consequences. In this episode:  Ceyda Yelkalan (@SaveChildrenTR), Save the Children Advocacy and Communications Manager Episode credits: This episode was produced by Miranda Lin and our host Malika Bilal, with contributions from Stefania D’Ignoti. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Want to hear your voice on The Take? Record a voice message for International Podcast Day about why you listen and it could be featured on the show. A US federal court has indicted New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez and his wife Nadine on corruption-related charges. The couple have reportedly accepted gold bars and hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash in exchange for providing sensitive information about US foreign policy and other favors for Egyptian officials. It’s not the first time Menendez, who heads the Senate’s foreign relations committee, has been accused of corruption — but the detailed nature of the charges this time could be much more damning.  In this episode:  Ali Harb (@Harbpeace), Al Jazeera English journalist in Washington Episode credits: This episode was produced by David Enders, with Khaled Soltan and our host Kevin Hirten. Sarí el-Khalili and Sonia Baghat fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Want to hear your voice on The Take? Record a voice message for International Podcast Day about why you listen and it could be featured on the show. The archipelago of Kinmen in the Strait of Taiwan is small, barely visible on a map. Despite being under Taiwanese governance, it’s actually closer to the shores of mainland China, only a 30-minute ferry ride away. It’s been dealing with a garbage problem, with tons of trash washing up on its shores. But Kinmen has long been dealing with the consequences of Beijing and Taipei’s conflict, including recent military activity. So, where does this geopolitical dispute leave the Kinmenese? In this episode:  Frederik Kelter (@FrederikKelter), Journalist based in Taiwan Chieh-Ting Yeh (@chiehtingyeh), Director of US Taiwan Watch  You can find more of Frederick’s reporting from Kinmen, including pictures from the islands, here. Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili, Chloe K. Li, and our host Malika Bilal. David Enders fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik, and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

From ‘The Great Fracture’ to Ukraine to migration, a look at the ins and outs of the UN General Assembly. Want to hear your voice on The Take? Record a voice message for International Podcast Day about why you listen and it could be featured on the show. In this episode:  Mike Hanna (@mjahanna), Al Jazeera senior correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sonia Bhagat, Miranda Lin and our host Malika Bilal. Ashish Malhotra and David Enders fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

A bank account can be everything in an increasingly cashless society. In the UK, banks closed more than 343,000 accounts in the last financial year. The practice is known as ‘debanking,’ and clients are given no notice or recourse after they’re flagged as potential risks. Muslim groups have complained for years that they are unfairly targeted. Their cause recently got an unexpected boost from far-right politician Nigel Farage after he uncovered that his account had also been shut down over his political beliefs. This week, the Financial Conduct Authority says a preliminary review has found "no evidence" that banks have shut or denied accounts over customers' political beliefs. But while Farage’s case drew widespread attention and condemnation, many in the Muslim community say they are still suffering the consequences. In this episode:  Anas Altikriti (@anasaltikriti), founder and CEO of the Cordoba Foundation Episode credits: This episode was produced by Miranda Lin and our host Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Fahrinisa Campana and David Enders fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Want to hear your voice on The Take? Record a voice message for International Podcast Day about why you listen and it could be featured on the show. Five Iranian citizens and five US citizens were released on Monday in the highest-level diplomatic efforts between the two countries in years. What does this mean for Iran-US relations? And what could it mean for geopolitics in the Middle East? In this episode:  Dorsa Jabbari (@DorsaJabbari), Al Jazeera correspondent in Tehran Imran Khan (@ajimran), Al Jazeera senior correspondent in Doha Heidi Zhou-Castro (@HeidiZhouCastro), Al Jazeera correspondent in Washington Episode credits: This episode was produced by David Enders and Fahrinisa Campana and host Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Andrew Tate is a self-proclaimed sexist and disgraced social media influencer currently facing criminal charges in Romania. He currently has 7.8 million followers on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, and had billions of views on TikTok. Tate and his brother face charges of organized crime, human trafficking, and rape, but his young fans continue to support and buy into his brand of toxic masculinity. So what does Andrew Tate’s appeal in Romania say about where the phenomenon could lead next? In this episode:  Radu Stochita (@stochita_radu), freelance journalist in Romania  For more: As he awaits trial, Andrew Tate continues to influence Romanian boys Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sonia Bhagat, with Chloe K. Li and our host Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebooko

Offers of help have poured into Morocco from across the world after a deadly earthquake killed thousands. But so far, Rabat has only accepted aid from four countries, Spain, Qatar, Britain, and the United Arab Emirates, leaving offers from many others without a response. Moroccan officials say their goal is to ensure coordination, but critics and some survivors say help is desperately needed, especially in more remote areas, regardless of the source. So, is this just politics or a matter of organization? And what will the impact be on those in need? In this episode:  Stefanie Dekker (@StefanieDekker, Instagram: @stefaniejazeera), Al Jazeera senior correspondent William Lawrence (@WillLawrence111), Political Science and International Affairs professor at American University’s School of International Service. Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili, Amy Walters, and our host Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

This week marks the one-year anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death while in police custody, which sparked mass protests across Iran. The government has since quashed street demonstrations through deadly crackdowns and the threat of executions. But the slogan ‘Woman, life, freedom’ has become ingrained in Iranian culture and other pushbacks against the strict Islamic laws have been achieved. So one year on, where does the fight for change in Iran stand? In this episode:  Dorsa Jabbari (@DorsaJabbari), Al Jazeera correspondent in Tehran Episode credits: This episode was produced by Fahrinisa Campana and our host Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Flooding in eastern Libya centered around the city of Derna has left about 6,000 dead and thousands more missing. With deep divisions between Libya’s two rival governments, questions are being asked about how prepared Libya was for such a disaster. We speak to Libyans and a climate change expert to get the latest on the disaster. In this episode:  Ayat Mneina (@AMneina), Libyan writer and researcher Malik Traina (@libyanmind), Al Jazeera Libya correspondent Ahmed Tarabolsi, doctor from Benghazi  Tarek Megerisi (@Tmegrisi), EFCR Senior Policy Fellow Karim Elgendy (@NomadandSettler), Chatham House Senior Fellow Episode credits: This episode was produced by David Enders, Ashish Malhotra, Zaina Badr and our host Malika Bilal. Chloe K Li, Amy Walters and Sonia Bhagat fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Rare anti-government protests are taking over Syria’s southern city of Sweida, home to the country’s Druze minority. Four weeks ago, the failing economy and falling wages brought protesters onto the streets. Now, they’re calling for regime change more than a decade after Syria’s uprising in 2011. Could this new movement against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad spread? Or will it be violently extinguished, like the protests more than a decade ago? In this episode:  Shadi Abou Karam (@shadi_abo_karam), political activist and researcher Episode credits: This episode was produced by David Enders with Fahrinisa Campana and our host Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Spain won a historic victory at the Women’s World Cup, marking the country’s first ever win. But in the weeks since, there’s been nothing but controversy. On Sunday, that culminated in a highly-publicized resignation from head of the Spanish football federation, Luis Rubiales. Calls for him to resign first started after he gave an unwanted kiss to player Jenni Hermoso at the World Cup. Now, with all eyes on Spanish football, how much further can Spain’s women football players get to scoring proper treatment?  In this episode:  Gemma Soler (@gemma_soler), sports journalist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li, with Ashish Malhotra and our host Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

When a deadly earthquake struck Morocco, Mosa'ab Elshamy, a photographer for the Associated Press, was shaken out of bed. Moments later, he was taking pictures. A few hours after that, he was in the High Atlas Mountains, near the epicenter of the quake. He described survivors lifting toppled buildings by hand, trying to rescue who they could. So what else happened in those first 24 crucial hours after the quake, and what will happen next? In this episode:  Mosa'ab Elshamy (@mosaabelshamy/ @mosaaberizing), photographer for the Associated Press Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters, Zeina Badr and our host Malika Bilal. Zeina Badr fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

With two major no-shows, the G20 summit theme of "One Earth, One Family, One Future" is on the rocks. Leaders and representatives from the world's largest economies are getting together this weekend in New Delhi, India. But Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are not attending. With division among members and the unifying message seeming to fray, what can we expect from this year's G20? In this episode:  James Bays (@baysontheroad), Al Jazeera English Diplomatic Editor  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan and our host Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

French students returned to class facing yet another battle over what some Muslim girls are choosing to wear. This time it’s the abaya, a long loose-fitting dress. Dozens of students were sent home after nearly 300 showed up to the first day of classes in abayas. French women have been here for a while now: head coverings, including the hijab, were first banned in public schools back in 2004. So how will this latest ban impact Muslim students and communities today?  In this episode:  Loubna Reguig (@loubnasays), national president of the Muslim Students of France Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sonia Bhagat, Chloe K. Li and our host Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera AlDosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Libya and Israel have no formal diplomatic relations – in fact, under Libyan law it’s illegal to hold any unauthorized discussions with Israeli officials. Yet in August, Libyan Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush met with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen in Rome, in what she thought was a secret meeting. Then the news got out. Protests erupted in several cities across Libya, Mangoush was fired, and she fled the country, stating security reasons. So what does what happened in Libya say about the next wave of normalization with Israel? In this episode:  Malik Traina (@libyanmind), Al Jazeera English reporter Episode credits: This episode was produced by Fahrinisa Campana and Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera AlDosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Protests in Niger are bigger than they’ve ever been. Only a month after overthrowing the president, protesters are now focusing their anger on their former colonial power, France. And it’s not just the protesters – Niger’s top court also approved the expulsion of France’s ambassador. France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, insists the ambassador will stay. So what’s next for Niger and for France’s slippery hold on Francophone Africa? In this episode:  Ahmed Idris, Al Jazeera correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by David Enders, Amy Walters and our host Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera AlDosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

"I'd rather hit than be hit" – the age-old mentality of a bully, and South Korea is tackling it head on. The country is undergoing a national reckoning on school bullying. Studies show that nearly one in three students suffered bullying from peers at school. And there has been an alarming rise in suicides by school-aged children. Some of the country’s best-known celebrities were also accused of bullying when they were teenagers. The ongoing series of scandals is shedding new light on what seems to be a rampant problem in the Asian nation. In this episode:  Yé-Rinne Park, journalist and independent filmmaker  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan and our host Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Amy Walters and Sonia Bhagat fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera AlDosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

A coup in Gabon: what does it mean for the Central African country, the region, and its former colonizer, France? In this episode:  Leonard Mbulle-Nziege (@LennyMbulle), Cameroon-born, US-raised and South Africa-based academic, writer, political economist and Afro-optimist Nabila Ramdani (@NabilaRamdani), French-Algerian journalist and author of Fixing France: How to Repair a Broken Republic Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters, David Enders and our host Malika Bilal.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

In Russia, Yevgeny Prigozhin is a polarizing figure. On Tuesday, the leader of the Wagner mercenary group was quietly buried in a private cemetery on the outskirts of St Petersburg. The plane crash north of Moscow last week means Prigozhin and much of the leadership of the Wagner Group are gone, though theories about what might have happened abound. So what do Russians think about Prigozhin now, and what does it mean for Putin's hold on power? In this episode:  Niko Vorobyov (@Narco_Polo420), freelance journalist and author Episode credits: This episode was produced by Fahrinisa Campana and Amy Walters, with Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan and Zaina Badr fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera AlDosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

It’s a busy week for Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan as his legal fortunes hang in the balance again. On Tuesday, one conviction was suspended – but he wasn’t released from prison, because on Wednesday, he’s due in another court – a special court, in a case with national security implications. So, with everything up in the air, does the suspension signal a change in Khan’s political fate – or how long he’ll be in jail? In this episode:  Abid Hussain (@abidhussayn), Al Jazeera English digital correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sonia Bhagat with Chloe K. Li and our host Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera AlDosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Protesters around the Pacific have been out in force against the release of wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean. On August 24, Japan began the disposal of water used for cooling in the years since the meltdown of three power plant reactors. It has been 12 years since an earthquake triggered a devastating tsunami that killed thousands and set off the meltdown. Now, critics say this latest plan is making it even harder to heal old wounds. So how will this wastewater release impact the people who rely on the Pacific? In this episode:  Hanako Montgomery (@HanakoMontgome1), freelance reporter Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sonia Bhagat with Chloe K. Li and our host Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera AlDosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

On March 4th, Donald Trump will be heading to Washington, DC, and soon he and his supporters will also be returning to a court in Georgia. Heather Shaner has represented more than 30 Trump supporters charged with crimes related to the storming of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. She tells The Take a bit about her clients, their motivations, and what she expects to see in the coming trials of the former president of the United States. In this episode:  Heather Shaner, Court Appointed Defense Attorney, Washington DC Federal District Court Episode credits: This episode was produced by David Enders, Ashish Malhotra and our host Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Tim St Clair mixed this episode. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

It’s a story that brings together two powerful families in the Middle East. Musa al-Sadr, a revered figure in Lebanon’s Shia community, met with then-Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi on August 31, 1978. He was never seen again. His mysterious disappearance has sparked decades of theories and accusations. In the hopes of finally forcing an answer, Lebanon has held Gaddafi’s youngest son, Hannibal, in prison since 2015 – though he’s never been tried. He’s now gone on a hunger strike, but Sadr’s family and devoted followers say there should be no concessions until they find out what happened to the ‘vanished Imam’. In this episode:  Ali Hashem (@alihashem_tv), Al Jazeera correspondent  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan, David Enders and our host Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. This episode was mixed by Tim St. Clair. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

As Yevgeny Prigozhin captures global headlines, tensions are already high at Poland’s border with Belarus, which marks the edge of the European Union. On the other side, Belarus has been furthering its alliance with Russia as the invasion in Ukraine continues. Now, fighters from the Wagner mercenary group have camped out in Belarus, leaving those in border villages in uncertainty and fear. In Poland, border guards and soldiers are growing in number, and the Polish government has cracked down on people who they say are illegally crossing the border. So, how has all the tension been affecting the locals?  In this episode:  Dawid Krawczyk (@DJKrawczyk), producer for Al Jazeera  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Fahrinisa Campana and Chloe K. Li, with our host Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera AlDosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

It’s known as one of the largest sexual abuse scandals in US history. Over 82,000 men came forward, all claiming to have faced abuse during their time in The Boy Scouts of America. In April, the Boy Scouts of America exited bankruptcy, meaning it is meant to begin distributing compensation to abuse survivors. Al Jazeera investigated one of the worst cases of abuses, in the state of Arkansas, with a charismatic scout master who eventually went to prison for life. In this episode:  Josh Rushing (@joshrushing), Senior Correspondent, Fault Lines Watch the Fault Lines documentary Scout Master: One of the largest sex abuse scandals in US history here. Episode credits: This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan and our host Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera AlDosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Ecuador’s elections were like nothing in its history. The assassination of a presidential hopeful left many asking if the increasing gang violence had passed the point of devolving into a narco-state. But every Ecuadorian is required to vote by law, and the result was a run-off that will be decided in October. Can Ecuador recover from this recent plague of violence by electing a new president, or is it too late? In this episode:  Lucia Newman (@lucianewman), Latin America editor, Al Jazeera Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters and our host Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin and Zaina Badr fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera AlDosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

The situation in Niger continues to simmer after its coup in July, but Niger's fate is not only up to its new military leaders. Regional bloc ECOWAS held a summit in Ghana on Thursday and Friday to discuss next steps. Now, a majority of its member states are ready to take up arms, but ECOWAS is still pushing for a peaceful return to civilian rule. So, with potential peace or full blown war hanging in the balance, what’s next for Niger?  In this episode:  Adolphus Mawolo (@adolphmawolo), Al Jazeera producer  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li with Sonia Bhagat and our host Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

The Women’s World Cup final is this Sunday with England and Spain facing off for the trophy. The month-long competition has seen the end of several storied careers, but it’s also introduced the world to emerging stars that could inspire a new generation of fans. With the growth of viewership and enthusiasm, the women’s game has reached another turning point. How will the end of WWC 2023 shape the future of women’s football?  In this episode:  Faye Carruthers (@FayeCarruthers), host of women’s football podcasts for The Guardian and talkSPORT Episode credits: This episode was produced by Miranda Lin, David Enders and our host Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

They’re the deadliest wildfires the United States has seen in over a century. Cutting through the Hawaiian island of Maui, the fires started on August 8 and have killed over 100 people. But with some 1,000 people still missing, the death toll is expected to rise. Among the destroyed areas is Lahaina, a historic city that served as the Kingdom of Hawaii’s capital in the 1800s. Wildfire experts and ecologists say factors related to climate change – high winds and drought – and other man-made changes to Hawaii’s landscape caused the fires. Such conditions could lead to similar disasters – so how will Hawaii protect its heritage for the future?  In this episode:  Kaniela Ing (@KanielaIng), National Director of Green New Deal Network and Co-Founder of Our Hawaii  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra, Chloe K. Li and our host Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan and Zaina Badr fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera AlDosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

A grand jury in the US state of Georgia has indicted former President Donald Trump and 18 others for trying to overturn the 2020 election. The 41 counts range from election fraud to racketeering, a charge usually reserved for organized crime. So, what's behind this latest indictment, and what does it mean for Trump? In this episode:  John Hendren (@johnhendren), Al Jazeera correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters, with Fahrinisa Campana and our host Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook  

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has been arrested for a second time, on a second charge, and is barred from running in the next elections. Khan has blamed a US-led conspiracy for his fall from power, and a new report of a leaked diplomatic cable from the US news outlet The Intercept suggests the US State Department did encourage Pakistani officials to move on from Khan. This political drama adds to Pakistan’s troubles as it faces growing economic and security challenges under an interim government and a meddling military establishment.  In this episode:  Abid Hussain (@AbidHussayn), Al Jazeera digital correspondent in Pakistan Murtaza Hussain (@MazMHussain), national security reporter for The Intercept Episode credits: This episode was produced by Miranda Lin and our host Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera AlDosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

The Barbie movie has dominated the box office in China, in a year when many other US movies haven’t performed well in the world’s second-largest film market. It outperformed movies like Mission Impossible and the films from the Marvel franchise. It’s been eagerly received for its message, raising a question of whether it flew under the radar of the country’s media censors. So what’s behind Barbie’s success in China?  In this episode:  Yifan Yu (@YifanYuNews), tech reporter for Nikkei Asia  Marrian Zhou (@ZhouMarrian), US-China relations reporter for Nikkei Asia  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li and our host Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera AlDosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Special thanks to Ben Li. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Top ten women’s football teams US, Canada, Germany and Brazil have all been eliminated from the 2023 Women’s World Cup before the quarter-finals, and underdogs Jamaica and Morocco won big early on. In a landmark deal in February 2022, the US women’s team finally received pay parity after a year’s long battle with the US Soccer Federation. In contrast, a Jamaica team member’s mother had to start a GoFundMe campaign in order for the Jamaican team to be able to prepare for this year’s World Cup. Now, the big question is: what’s behind these wins and losses, and does funding make a difference? In this episode:  Shireen Ahmed (@_shireenahmed_), Senior Contributor for CBC Sports Aziza Nait Sibaha (@AzizaNaitSibaha), TV presenter & journalist for France24 Chinyelu Asher (@ChinyeluAsher), Jamaican footballer Episode credits: This episode was produced by Fahrinisa Campana with Amy Waters and our host Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan and Zaina Badr fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Near India’s capital, in Haryana state, demolitions of more than 1,200 homes and shops in a Muslim-majority area have followed clashes that killed six people. The demolitions have been halted for now, but this week, a local High Court raised the idea that the ones that took place might be an act of “ethnic cleansing” by the state. The clashes and demolitions are seen by many Muslims as the latest in a trend of violence in India during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s nine years in power. So what space exists for Muslims in India? In this episode: Mohammad Ali (@hindureporter), journalist  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra, David Enders and our host Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan and Zaina Badr fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera AlDosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

The Israeli military-industrial complex has turned the Occupied Palestinian Territories into a testing ground for advanced weaponry and surveillance technology, which it exports worldwide. From powerful tools like the Pegasus software used to hack the phones of high-profile individuals such as Jeff Bezos and Jamal Khashoggi, to selling drones to the EU to monitor people seeking to cross the Mediterranean, Israel’s technology has become a global leader in conflicts around the world. In this episode:  Antony Loewenstein (@antloewenstein), author of The Palestine Laboratory: How Israel Exports the Technology of Occupation Around the World Episode credits: This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan and host Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin and Zaina Badr fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera AlDosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

It’s harvest season in Turkey, six months after massive earthquakes hit southeastern Turkey. It’s a major agricultural region, known as the Turkish Fertile Crescent. Now, seasons have passed, but the land and people remain deeply traumatized. Even efforts to clear away rubble and rebuild have created environmental concerns, leaving many survivors fearing not only the end of their farming and food traditions, but also their communities’ futures. In this episode:  Anna Maria Beylunioğlu (@annabeylunioglu), food studies lecturer and chef Ayşegül Selışık (@aselisik), UN Food and Agriculture Organization Assistant Representative in Turkey Gonca Tokyol (@goncatokyol), freelance journalist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Miranda Lin and our host Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan and Zaina Badr fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera AlDosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Fentanyl use and overdose deaths have long plagued the United States, but now Mexico is seeing a spike in overdoses from this potent opioid, with communities along the US-Mexico border being hit particularly hard. While the Mexican government still denies opioid use as a problem, those who suffer from addiction are facing stigma and a lack of public health support. The big question is: what’s being done to tackle the issue in Mexico? In this episode:  Alicia Fàbregas (@fabregasalicia), journalist based in Tijuana, Mexico Jaime Arredondo Sanchez Lira (@jaimeasl), Research associate with Prevencasa Episode credits: This episode was produced by Fahrinisa Campana with Chloe K. Li, and our host Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera AlDosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Despite the objections of lawmakers and some allied countries, the United States government is providing Ukraine with cluster bombs that the US itself hasn’t used since 2003. The US says it’s a necessary measure to help Ukraine protect itself — but the bombs, which are known to cause civilian deaths often, are banned by more than 100 countries. The Ukrainian government has promised that the weapons will not be used in populated areas, but there are already reports to the contrary. So has the US crossed an ethical line by sending these weapons to Ukraine? In this episode: Nancy Youssef (@nancyayoussef), National Security Correspondent, The Wall Street Journal Episode credits: This episode was produced by David Enders, Ashish Malhotra and our host Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan and Zaina Badr fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera AlDosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

In a Texas maximum security prison, Dennis Wayne Hope has served 27 years in solitary confinement – more than half his life. On any given night in the US, more than 120,000 prisoners are isolated just like him. United Nations experts have strongly urged a global ban on solitary confinement that lasts more than 15 days, denouncing it as a form of psychological torture. Today, the story of how Dennis set out to change that and what it says about prison in the United States. In this episode:  Rhana Natour (@RNatourious), correspondent for Al Jazeera's Fault Lines. Episode credits: This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan and our host, Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera AlDosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Resource companies and island nations are scouring the Pacific Ocean for untapped minerals. Trillions of rocks on the seabed contain metals that could power electric cars and green energy making us less reliant on fossil fuels. The Cook Islands believes deep-sea mining could contribute to the fight against climate change and end the country’s economic dependence on tourism. But environmentalists say extracting minerals beneath the ocean’s surface could be catastrophic for fragile marine ecosystems the scientific world knows little about. In this episode:  Lucy Murray (@lucymurraynews), journalist, SBS News Australia Episode credits: This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan and our host Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal.  Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

West African nations have imposed sanctions on Niger’s new military leaders following a coup to overthrow President Mohamed Bazoum last week. Coup leaders have warned against any foreign attempts to extract the democratically elected Bazoum, and they’ve accused former colonial ruler France of plotting a military intervention - which France denies. And now there are growing concerns of an escalation on the ground, which could have broader implications for peace and security in the region. So what’s driving this power struggle in Niger, and what happens next? In this episode:  Ahmed Idris (@Ahmedtj66), Al Jazeera Correspondent in Nigeria Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sonia Bhagat and Chloe K. Li with Miranda Lin and our host Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera AlDosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Russia has bombed grain stores in Ukraine, and pulled out of a deal that had allowed safe passage of food exports through the Black Sea. Ukraine is a major exporter of grain and corn, and the deal, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey last year, kept people fed all over the world. The International Rescue Committee called the initiative a “lifeline for the 79 countries and 349 million people on the frontline of food insecurity.” So how will the end of the deal affect them? In this episode: James Bays (@baysontheroad), Al Jazeera diplomatic editor Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra, David Enders and our host Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera AlDosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Israel’s ruling coalition has pushed through the first part of their controversial judicial overhaul plan, despite months of protests. It was a major victory for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while critics are calling the move a judicial coup. Members of the opposition walked out of the vote, and protestors took to the streets again this week. The question now is, how far will the judicial overhaul go? In this episode:  Amjad Iraqi (@aj_iraqi), Senior Editor at +972 magazine Episode credits: This episode was produced by Fahrinisa Campana and our host Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan and Zaina Badr fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Rap artist Tupac Shakur died in 1996, after being shot in the chest on the Las Vegas Strip. For almost 30 years, the case has gone cold; police said there were no witnesses willing to come forward. Now, police are set to present evidence to a grand jury, after raiding a house belonging to Duane Keith Davis, known as Keefe D. Tupac’s lyrics criticizing police and his family’s background in the Black Panther Party may be reasons why the investigation stalled. But why revisit the case now? In this episode:  Santi Elijah Holley (@SantiHolley), author of An Amerikan Family: The Shakurs and the Nation They Created  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li and our host Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Project Cheetah, an Indian government initiative, began last year with eight cheetahs arriving in India to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday. And this year, twelve more arrived from South Africa. Many conservationists warned against the relocation, saying the project was rushed, and the cheetahs would have a hard time adapting to the National Park they now live in. And their fears have come true. Five of the 20 adult cheetahs, as well as three cubs, have died in the past few months. So what can be done to stop more deaths? In this episode:  Ravi Chellam (@RaviChellam3), wildlife biologist and conservation scientist  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra with Sonia Bhagat and our host Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera AlDosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Peter Kalmus is a US climate scientist who’s fed up with inaction. In April 2022, he chained himself to a bank in protest with a group called Scientist Rebellion. Now, during yet another hot summer, with Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ensuing global energy crisis, are growing protests like Peter’s the future? We hear from people demanding – and taking – radical action from around the globe. In this episode:  Peter Kalmus (@ClimateHuman), climate scientist at NASA Anote Tong, former president of Kiribati Lucia Newman (@lucianewman), Latin America editor for Al Jazeera English   ​​Monica Villamizar (@monica_vv), journalist with Al Jazeera’s Fault Lines Karim Elgendy (@NomadandSettler), fellow at Chatham House Saleemul Huq (@SaleemulHuq), Director of the International Centre for Climate Change and Development Nisar Majid, research associate at the London School of Economics To hear more from the people in this episode, check out our climate playlist on Spotify. Episode credits: This episode was updated by Alexandra Locke, who produced this episode in August 2022 with Chloe K. Li, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, Ruby Zaman, Ney Alvarez, and Malika Bilal. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera AlDosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take's executive producer and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Protestors have taken to the streets in Kenya to decry the end of subsidies and rising taxes, as the country’s debt crisis looms. These protests were called for by the opposition parties, including former presidential candidate Raila Odinga. Odinga’s followers believe last year’s election was rigged against him, furthering mistrust in the current government led by President William Ruto. The police response to the protests has been harsh, killing at least 20 protestors this month and injuring hundreds.  In this episode:  Immaculate Akello (@iakello), Freelance Journalist  Episode credits: This episode was produced by David Enders with Chloe K. Li and our host Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera AlDosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

The Taliban sent out a text message in early July to beauty salon owners across Afghanistan, stating that they had one month to close shop. Salons are one of the few remaining public spaces where women can safely socialize, and a source of income for women to support not only themselves but often also their families. This latest mandate is yet another blow to women since the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan in August 2021. The question on everyone’s mind now is, what does the ban on beauty salons mean for Afghan women going forward?  In this episode:  Mina Sharif (@minasharif), television and radio producer Alison Davidian (@davidianali), UN Women representative in Afghanistan Episode credits: This episode was produced by Fahrinisa Campana, Amy Walters and our host Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Will Spain’s upcoming elections result in a setback of progressive policies? Spain has been a bright spot for liberal democracy and minority rights, but elections on July 23 could end up with a far-right party entering the national government for the first time since Spain returned to democracy. Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is facing an uphill battle against his opponent, conservative leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo. His party’s unusual potential alliance with far-right party Vox will likely land him the votes needed to win. A host of missteps surrounding the passage of progressive policies and a poor performance in local and regional polls have pushed Sanchez to call for a snap election, but will his gamble pay off? In this episode:  Begoña Gómez Urzaiz (@begogomezurzaiz), journalist and writer Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sonia Bhagat with Ashish Malhotra and our host Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

It’s been a 40-year fight in the United States over affirmative action, or taking race into consideration for university admissions. Now, students and schools are adjusting to a new reality after the US Supreme Court reversed the precedent. The ruling is the culmination of a concerted legal campaign by conservative activist Edward Blum and his organization Students for Fair Admissions. Some US universities have stopped using affirmative action, in the past, and the results show fewer minority students enrolled at their institutions. So how will this nationwide decision change demographics – and how will that change students’ futures? In this episode:  Sumun Pendakur (@SumunLPendakur), Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strategist  Episode credits: This episode was produced by David Enders, with Chloe K. Li and our host Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Nestor Peña was last seen leaving his construction job in the Colombian city of Tuluá to meet some friends for lunch. He left behind all of his personal belongings, and no one has seen him since. Since 2015, over 1,500 Venezuelans have vanished just like Nestor did, with only a fraction of the cases being resolved. The lack of access to justice compounds the challenges the families left in anguish face.  In this episode:  Christina Noriega (@c_mnoriega), freelance journalist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan with our host, Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

In early July, Tunisian authorities forcibly expelled hundreds of Black migrants and refugees from Sfax, Tunisia’s second-largest city. Al Jazeera found many of them days later without food or water, wandering through the desert ‘no man’s land’ on the border between Tunisia and Libya. Earlier this year, President Kais Sayed accused this vulnerable population of criminal behavior and warned of a conspiracy to replace Tunisian citizens. So what’s being done to help these people, or is it getting worse? In this episode:  Simon Speakman Cordall (@IgnitionUK), freelance journalist based in Tunisia Malik Traina (@libyanmind), Al Jazeera reporter based in Libya Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters with Sonia Bhagat and our host Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan and Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Cricket has 2.5 billion fans worldwide, but it has struggled to win over the United States. But a new professional league is trying to change that: Major League Cricket. Featuring six teams and some heavy-hitting investors, its inaugural season starts this week. Immigrants from cricket-loving countries might already be on board, and MLC is looking to convert fans from American football, basketball and baseball.  In this episode:  Tabish Talib (@Tabish_Talib), AJ+ senior producer Episode credits: This episode was produced by Fahrinisa Campana with Miranda Lin and our host Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

In the aftermath of Israel’s attack on Jenin last week that killed 12 people, Palestinians are furious not just at their occupiers but also frustrated with the Palestinian Authority. On Wednesday, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas visited the city and held talks to rebuild. So what are the obstacles to rebuilding Palestinians’ faith in the PA? In this episode:   Nour Odeh (@nour_odeh), Palestinian political analyst and commentator  Episode credits: This episode was produced by David Enders, with Chloe K. Li and our host Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Where exactly is Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin – and what’s happening to Wagner fighters scattered around the globe? The Wagner Group has fighters far beyond the war in Ukraine, from Syria to Libya to the Central African Republic. While much of the world was focused on Moscow, the shockwaves from Prigozhin’s brief mutiny had global reverberations. In this episode:  Anchal Vohra (@anchalvohra), columnist, Foreign Policy Bernard Smith (@JazeeraBernard), Al Jazeera English correspondent  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters with Sonia Bhagat and our host Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera AlDosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

When Bola Tinubu was elected as Nigeria’s president in May, many expected little would change. But from the first minutes of his inauguration speech, the 71-year-old has brought big changes to Africa’s largest economy. He says the moves, including scrapping a key fuel subsidy, are needed to save the country from debt and poverty. But for average citizens already facing soaring inflation and a cost of living crisis, the reforms could add even more pressure to their struggles. In this episode:  Eromo Egbejule (@EromoEgbejule), Al Jazeera Africa news editor Pelumi Salako (@SalakoBabaa), freelance journalist  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Miranda Lin with Fahrinisa Campana and our host Malika Bilal. Sonia Bhagat and Fahrinisa Campana fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera AlDosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Captagon, a stimulant mainly produced in Syria that has become particularly popular with users in Gulf countries, has received a lot of press. While it seems clear that the trade is now one of the Syrian government’s main sources of income, less understood is its effects on users. Ever-larger seizures by authorities from Beirut to Abu Dhabi are daily occurrences. Now Captagon is part of the discussion as part of normalization talks following Syria’s readmission to the Arab League. How severe is the captagon problem in Syria and the Middle East? And will stopping the trade speed peace with Syria?   In this episode:  Caroline Rose (@CarolineRose8), director of Strategic Blind Spots Portfolio at the New Lines Institute  Elie Aaraj (@eaaraj), director of the Middle East and North Africa Harm Reduction Association Episode credits: This episode was produced by David Enders, with Chloe K. Li and our host Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera AlDosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Darfur’s years of systematic violence left the international community outraged – along with a few celebrities. And many of them tried to do something. They tried to save Darfur. At its peak, the Save Darfur movement would be an alliance of more than 190 faith-based organizations from many countries, a reported one million activists, and hundreds of community groups. But by 2016, the movement shut down. So, why did the movement fail – and what does it mean for the violence unleashed in Darfur today? This is the second of a two-part series on the crisis happening in Darfur. Listen to part one here. In this episode: Rebecca Hamilton (@bechamilton), law professor at American University Niemat, women’s rights activist from Darfur Nathaniel Raymond (@nattyray11), human rights investigator Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters, David Enders and our host Natasha Del Toro, in for Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan and Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

In Darfur, Sudan's conflict has reawakened old wounds, the divisions drawn along ethnic lines that led to systematic killings a generation ago. Back then, governments worldwide accused government-backed militias of carrying out genocide. Since April this year, a power struggle between two military leaders tore apart Khartoum, the capital, and the country. So, where did those militias come from, and why do they have so many people in Darfur running for their lives again? This is the first of a two-part series on the crisis happening in Darfur. Listen to part two here. In this episode: Niemat, women’s rights activist from Darfur Mat Nashed (@matnashed), freelance journalist covering Sudan Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters, David Enders and our host Natasha del Toro, in for Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan and Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

There are now fewer giraffes in Africa than elephants or gorillas. The world’s tallest mammal has been listed as a vulnerable species since 2016. It’s already extinct in seven countries. Yet few people realize that this beloved staple of the savannah is in peril. Wildlife conservation has been gaining momentum, with celebrity advocates and global campaigns. But the giraffe’s struggles have failed to stand out and attract the world’s attention.  In this episode:  Steph Fennessy (@sfennessy), executive director, Giraffe Conservation Foundation (@Save_Giraffe) Arthur Muneza, East Africa coordinator, Giraffe Conservation Foundation Episode credits: This episode was produced by Miranda Lin with our host Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook Find out more about the Giraffe Conservation Foundation here.

In the Paris suburb of Nanterre, thousands of people have taken to the streets to remember a 17-year-old boy killed by police during a traffic stop. Nahel M. was shot at close range in the chest and the incident was caught on video, sparking unrest across France and a police crackdown. Thousands of people have been arrested, and cars and buildings across the country are burning. As protests rage, will the police be held accountable, and will there be justice for Nahel? In this episode:  Yasser Louati (@yasserlouati), Head, The Justice & Liberties For All Committee Natacha Butler (@natachabut), Paris Correspondent, Al Jazeera English  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sonia Bhagat with David Enders and our host Natasha Del Toro. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

What would you do if you picked up the phone and heard the voice of a relative begging you for help while kidnappers held them ransom? As AI technology becomes more sophisticated, more people around the world are falling prey to such scams. In the United States alone, $2.6 billion was lost in imposter scams last year. As AI technology continues to develop, experts warn such scams are getting easier to produce. So what can be done to stop them? In this episode:  Wasim Khaled, (@wasimkhal) CEO and co-founder, Blackbird.AI Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra and Fahrinisa Campana with our host Natasha Del Toro, in for Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Syria’s war continues, but if you watched the video blog of travel influencers, you wouldn’t know it. In recent years, a wave of travel vloggers have gone on trips to Syria, organized and facilitated by the Syrian government. Many of the influencers say they are apolitical, but critics say they help the Syrian government whitewash war crimes and present a picture that Syria is fully moved on from the war. So are travel influencers in Syria breaching an ethical line? In this episode:  Mohammad Al Abdallah, (@mohammad_syria) Executive Director, Syria Justice and Accountability Centre  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra with our host Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

A freight train derailed in the US state of Ohio on February 3, spilling toxic chemicals into the small town of East Palestine. Fire on the train sent a large, dark plume of smoke and chemicals into the air for days. Residents reported various health issues, and scientists have warned that one of the chemicals on the train, a known carcinogen, could have long-term impacts due to air, water, and soil contamination. Both federal regulators and railroad employees have said that derailments like this could have been avoided – so have railroad industries weakened safety regulations to prioritize profits?  In this episode:  Josh Rushing (@joshrushing), Senior Correspondent for Al Jazeera’s Fault Lines (@AJFaultLines) Episode credits: This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan and host Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Off the Portuguese coast in the Strait of Gibraltar, a pod of orca whales has been ramming commuter boats and ripping off boat rudders. At least three sailboats have sunk in the past year. Now, it’s happened again off the Shetland Islands, the first ever in that area. There’ve been more than 200 reports of these types of encounters since 2020. And if you’ve been scrolling through your social media feed you might be on “team orca” or “team yacht.” The possible explanations for why, though, aren’t as clear cut as orcas wanting to take down billionaire boats.  In this episode:  Philip Hoare (@philipwhale), author and filmmaker Jeroen Hoekendijk (jeroen_hoekendijk), marine biologist, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research  Monika Wieland Shields, co-founder and director, Orca Behavior Institute Episode credits: This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li with Sonia Bhagat and our host Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik.  Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

After the events of the last few days, there seems to be no place for Wagner anymore in President Vladimir Putin’s Russia. This weekend, the mercenaries began a shocking new march, not towards Ukraine, but to Moscow. While an apparent compromise has been reached, questions remain about how this happened as quickly as it did, what it means for Russia's leadership, and how it could reshape the war in Ukraine. In this episode:   Niko Vorobyov (@Narco_Polo420), freelance journalist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Miranda Lin, David Enders and our host Kevin Hirten. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook Listen here to our guest host Kevin on the Al Jazeera Investigates podcast.

Whether the motive is politics or profit, Cairo is in the midst of a construction boom that threatens what was already a commodity in short supply in Egypt — public and green spaces. Megaprojects such as a new capital city set to open this year have also severely strained the country’s budget and created the possibility Egypt will default on its foreign debt. When Omar Etman went to stay with his grandmother in Cairo in 2021, he was surprised by the changes he found — some small, some massive.  In this episode:  Omar Etman (@thedigradio), producer of The Dig Presents: A Garden in Cairo Timothy Kaldas (@tekaldas), Deputy Director, Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy Episode credits: This episode was produced by David Enders, Negin Owliaei and Malika Bilal. Alexandra Locke and Negin Owliaei fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Violence in the occupied West Bank has reached a level not seen in a generation, during an Israeli military raid in the Jenin refugee camp that became an hours-long armed confrontation inside the city. Seven Palestinians were killed, more than 100 others wounded, and the violence has only continued to escalate. It’s all in a year in which more than 160 Palestinians have been killed already this year, including 26 children.  In this episode:  Nida Ibrahim (@nida_journo), Al Jazeera correspondent in the Occupied West Bank Episode credits: This episode was produced by David Enders and Khaled Soltan, and our host Kevin Hirten. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook Listen here to our guest host Kevin on the Al Jazeera Investigates podcast.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is joining the ranks of Benjamin Netanyahu, Nelson Mandela, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Winston Churchill, and Yitzhak Rabin – the only other world leaders to have addressed the US Congress twice. It’s part of his state visit to the US, which is being hailed as a major moment for the India-US relationship, with key defense and technology deals expected. Though the relationship is often framed as one between two major democracies, rights groups and activists point out that India under Modi has seen a shrinking space for minorities, civil society, press freedom and dissent. So, what exactly is driving the relationship between the US and India? In this episode:  Milan Vaishnav (@MilanV), Director of Carnegie Endowment for National Peace South Asia  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra, with Chloe K. Li and Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

It may be the worst-ever shipwreck for refugees crossing the Mediterranean. Around 750 people seeking refuge in Europe were packed onto a boat that left from eastern Libya. The trouble started 120 kilometers from the Greek shore. Questions remain over the role of the Greek coastguard in the incident and why those onboard were not rescued sooner. In the past, there have been accusations of Greek authorities pushing back boats at sea. Now, this tragedy follows a year when more refugees died on Middle East and North African migration routes than at any other time in the past five years. But is the world prepared to do anything about it? In this episode:  John Psaropoulos (@JTPsaropoulos), independent journalist based in Athens Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters and David Enders with our host, Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

The upcoming Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand will be the largest-ever showcase for women’s football. Record audiences are expected to watch as 32 teams compete for glory. But incidents over the past year have shown how far the women’s game still has to go. From player strikes, coaching controversies, and a rash of injuries, female footballers at even the highest levels continue to struggle for equality on and off the pitch.  In this episode:  Steph Yang (@thrace), Women’s Football Staff Writer for The Athletic Episode credits: This episode was produced by Miranda Lin and Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

How did four indigenous children survive the Amazon jungle for 40 days after a deadly plane crash? On May 1st, a propeller plane carrying the children and three adults fell off the radar after engine failure. Two weeks later, the adults were found dead at the crash site, but the children were missing. A five-week-long search and rescue mission by the Colombian army alongside the Indigenous Guard ensued before rescuers finally found the children alive. Colombian government officials hailed their survival as nothing short of a miracle. The eldest of the children, who are of the Huitoto people, has been credited for their survival, using her indigenous knowledge of the rainforest to survive on fruits, seeds, and rainwater. And according to the indigenous people of the Amazon, the rainforest herself had a hand in helping the children survive. In this episode:  Alessandro Rampietti (@rampietti), Al Jazeera reporter in Colombia Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sonia Bhagat with Chloe K. Li and Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

As the number of indictments against former US President Donald Trump grows, so do the questions from the United States and around the world about how Trump is managing these cases along with his 2024 election campaign. If he is elected president, he could claim immunity or pardon himself. But if he loses the campaign and the case, he could face prison for life. And in the meantime, what does this unprecedented legal battle mean for the United States and how it’s seen by the world? In this episode:  Mike Hanna (@mjahanna), Al Jazeera Washington DC Correspondent  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters and David Enders with Sonia Bhagat, Chloe K. Li, Ashish Malhotra, Khaled Soltan, and Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin and Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Some young North Korean defectors have taken to social media to challenge misguided prejudices in South Korea, their new home. They are producing ‘vlogs’ for YouTube aimed at educating locals about the realities of life in North Korea. They’ve proven popular. Over the last two decades, around 30 thousand North Koreans have defected to South Korea for a better life. In this episode, The Take asks if the defectors’ YouTube videos are enough to change mindsets. In this episode:  Johanna Hoes, (@JohannaHoes), producer/reporter, The Listening Post at Al Jazeera English Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ruby Zaman with Amy Walters and Alexandra Locke. The team also includes Chloe K. Li, Miranda Lin, Sonia Bhagat, David Enders, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Ney Alvarez, and Khaled Soltan. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

For the first time, the James Beard Awards has made space for immigrants at the culinary table. This year over half of the finalists were either born in another country or are the children of immigrants to the United States. But despite their overdue formal recognition, the chefs and restaurateurs who power the industry remain unrecognized and stigmatized outside this awards ceremony and many say there is still much more work to do to make America a more inclusive place to eat.  In this episode:  Yara Elmjouie (@yaraelmjouie) Host of Eat This with Yara on AJ+  Marissa Tapia Gencarelli (@marissagencarelli) Owner of Yoli Tortilleria  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li, Miranda Lin, and Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

It’s been over a year since El Salvador declared a state of emergency as part of President Nayib Bukele’s vow to crack down on gangs. Since March 2022, the country’s murder rate has dropped by over half. But, in the process, the government arrested almost 70,000 people while suspending every citizen’s constitutional right to legal defense and allowing indefinite pre-trial detention. Despite El Salvador’s repressive new reality, Bukele and his policy remain extremely popular. Raising the question, is El Salvador becoming a police state? In this episode:  Monica Villamizar (@monica_vv), freelance correspondent  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan and Miranda Lin and host Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. This episode was mixed by Tim St. Clair. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

As water from the decimated Kakhovka Dam floods the areas surrounding the Dnipro river, both Russia and Ukraine blame each other for the destruction. For months now, we’ve been hearing news about Ukraine’s pending counteroffensive to push back against Russia’s invasion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been trying to fortify the response by asking for weapons training and financing from NATO members in preparation. Now, Zelenskyy has announced the counteroffensive has begun. The dam has broken, but will this get either side closer to the end of the war? In this episode:  Charles Stratford (@stratfordch) Al Jazeera English senior correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters and Sonia Bhagat, with David Enders, Chloe K. Li, Negin Owliaei, Ashish Malhotra and Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan and Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Korean “sea women,” or the Haenyeo, have made a living freediving off Jeju Island for centuries. Many of them supported entire families with their harvest and became part of an ancient tradition of female breadwinners in Korea since the 17th century. They played a vital role in the island’s recovery through colonialism and the Cold War. But now, with rising sea temperatures and decreasing harvests, will we see this tradition disappear?  In this episode:  Anna Kook, (@annakook), AJ+ field reporter  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan with Miranda Lin and host Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Adam Abou-Gad and Munera Al Dosari are our engagement producers.  Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

What does Jose Ruben Zamora’s arrest signify for Guatemala’s crackdown on dissent? Journalist Jose Ruben Zamora, the president of Guatemalan newspaper El Periódico, was arrested almost a year ago. He’s reported on 144 investigative pieces about corruption in the Guatemalan government, led by President Alejandro Giammatei. Now he’s potentially facing 40 years in prison for what Guatemala’s government says is money laundering. The Committee to Protect Journalists has called Zamora’s detention “unwarranted.” And many government critics are saying this is part of a broader crackdown on anyone working to uncover corruption. In this episode:  Jose Carlos Zamora (@jczamora), son of Jose Ruben Zamora and Guatemalan journalist  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra with Chloe K. Li and our host, Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Clashes erupted in Senegal after opposition figure Ousmane Sonko was sentenced to two years in prison on June 1. He was accused of raping a woman who worked in a massage parlor; the court cleared Sonko of rape but found him guilty of a separate offense, immoral behavior towards individuals younger than 21. Sonko’s supporters have reacted with violent protests in the streets and at least 15 people have died. They claim charges against Sonko are a ploy to prevent him from running in the 2024 presidential elections. In this episode:  Nicolas Haque (@nicolashaque), Al Jazeera correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters with Sonia Bhagat and our host, Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Stand-up comedy only recently emerged in China, but one bad joke is threatening to wipe it out. Last month, the comedian Li Haoshi, better known as ‘House’, used a Chinese military slogan as his punchline. Li was placed under investigation and the event’s production company was fined $2 million. Other standup performances were immediately suspended. Critics say it’s part of a wider crackdown on all forms of cultural entertainment that could challenge the Chinese government’s own narrative.  In this episode:  Katrina Yu (@Katmyu), Al Jazeera China correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Miranda Lin with Ashish Malhotra and host Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. This episode was mixed by Tim St. Clair. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

In Iran’s Kasra Hospital, the parents of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini embraced in a hallway, grieving their daughter who died after being detained by the country’s morality police. Journalist Niloofar Hamedi captured the moment in a photo and tweeted it out. Within the week, she was arrested. A week later, journalist Elahe Mohammadi was also arrested after reporting from Amini’s funeral. Iran erupted in protests after Amini’s death, and demonstrators were met with a swift crackdown. Thousands of people were detained, including Hamedi and Mohammadi, who remain imprisoned to this day. On May 29 and 30, their trials finally began behind closed doors. What will happen to these journalists whose reporting helped spark an uprising? In this episode:  Dorsa Jabbari (@DorsaJabbari), Al Jazeera correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by David Enders with Negin Owliaei, Chloe K. Li, and our host, Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

There’s a clear winner in Thailand’s election – the Move Forward party came through with three times the vote of the leading government party. That was two weeks ago. The people of Thailand, led by the youth, came out in a move against the ruling elite. But to claim power, Move Forward also needs to win a vote in Thailand’s senate, appointed by the military. Now that Thailand has voted for change, will the country have the opportunity to see it through? In this episode:  Tony Cheng (@TLCBkk), Al Jazeera Bangkok correspondent  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters with Chloe K. Li and our host, Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Tina Turner, whose music career spanned five decades, died last week at the age of 83. With her dynamic stage presence, powerful vocals, and electrifying energy, she consistently delivered unforgettable live performances that captivated audiences around the world. Though she was American, Turner said she felt she was a bigger star outside the United States. There’s been an outpouring of tributes to her from her fans around the world, from Australia to Albania. So what’s behind her international appeal?  In this episode:  Taro Gold (@TaroGold), author and singer Chelsi West Ohueri (@AnthroBalkans), assistant professor of Slavic and Eurasian studies, University of Texas Eileen Shenkmann, Tina Turner fan Andrew Thomas (@and_thomasComms), Al Jazeera correspondent  Jadey O'Regan (@hellodrjadey), lecturer of contemporary music, University of Sydney Scott Dawkins (@dawkins_scott), Tina Turner fan Andrew Coombes, (@andrewcoombes), Al Jazeera producer  Stefanie Batten Bland, assistant professor of theater and dance, Montclair State University  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sonia Bhagat and Ashish Malhotra, and our host, Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. This episode was mixed by Tim St. Clair. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Are we on the verge of another workplace revolution? It’s possible to work fewer hours and keep the same level of pay and productivity, according to results of the largest-ever trial of a four-day workweek held in the United Kingdom. Traditional work routines were upended by the COVID-19 pandemic, and there’s increased demand for more flexible schedules. But in many parts of the world, even a five-day week is a luxury. So can a four-day workweek work for everyone? In this episode:  Juliet Schor (@JulietSchor) Sociology Professor at Boston College and Lead Researcher, 4-Day Week Global Wen Fan, Associate Professor at Boston College and Researcher, 4-Day Week Global Kıvanç Eliaçık (@Diskinsesi) International Director for the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DISK) Ignacia López, Chilean Labor Lawyer Jaya Dass (@Randstad_SG) Managing Director of Permanent Recruitment in Asia Pacific at Randstad Episode credits: This episode was produced by Miranda Lin and our host, Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. This episode was mixed by Tim St. Clair. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.  Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group, has rocked Sudan for six weeks now. The doctors expected to treat the wounded are dealing with crisis after crisis. Supplies are limited and many hospitals that have survived gunfire and shelling are reported to have become military outposts. Doctors also say they face harassment campaigns based on their past political activity. Only a handful of hospitals remain open across the country. The Take hears how medical staff in Sudan are organizing themselves and keeping people alive through the chaos.  In this episode:  Dr. Ahmed Omer, emergency medicine specialist Mat Nashed (@matnashed), journalist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei, David Enders and our host, Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Will the war in Ukraine hinge on Bakhmut? It’s been almost one year since the fight for the town began. Now, Russia state media is finally claiming victory in the battle, but Ukrainian military officials say the war may soon turn. Newly supplied by NATO countries, Ukraine is preparing for a counteroffensive that might strike a territory at the heart of Russia’s interests. As for Bakhmut, which was largely captured by Russian mercenaries with the Wagner Group, they will be withdrawing – leaving the Russian military to take their place. So what’s next for Ukraine? In this episode:  Mansur Mirovalev (@mirovalev), journalist covering Ukraine for Al Jazeera  Charles Stratford (@stratfordch), Al Jazeera correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters, with Chloe K. Li and our host, Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Vinicius Junior, a star footballer for Real Madrid, says Spain’s top league “now belongs to racists.” The Afro-Brazilian player’s declaration comes after a match in which opposing fans from Valencia were filmed chanting the racial epithet “monkey” at him after an altercation on the pitch. This isn’t the first time Vinicius has been targeted by racial abuse this season, and he’s called out Spain’s La Liga for being complicit. Will this latest incident prompt the league to act?  In this episode:  Moha Gerehou (@MohaGerehou) Journalist and anti-racism activist Tim Vickery (@Tim_Vickery) Football journalist based in Brazil Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sonia Bhagat with Ashish Malhotra and our host, Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

English rivers are polluted. Could giving them legal rights clean them up? In the town of Lewes, the answer to that question was yes. In February, the town’s council voted yes to a rights of river motion, the first in the UK. This motion is the first step in a two-year long journey to give the River Ouse legal representation and rights. The UK is facing heavy river pollution: most of them are not swimmable, and all failed a quality test in 2019. Since then, government testing of rivers has only plummeted. Lewes’ council now takes on the task of figuring out what exactly rights of a river should be.  In this episode:  Matthew Bird (@mjbirdy), mayor and former councillor of Lewes  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li and our host, Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

The battle for the 2024 US election is heating up – and the biggest challenger to former president Donald Trump seems to be Ron DeSantis. He’s the current governor of Florida, a key battleground in nationwide elections. Time and time again, he has promised to bring the blueprint of what he’s accomplished in Florida to a national scale. He gained notice when he lifted COVID-19 regulations earlier than most other US states. As governor, he’s also made sweeping changes to education and immigration, as well as feuded with the Disney Corporation. With a formal campaign announcement expected this week, does he have a chance against former President Trump? In this episode:  Michael Kruse (@michaelkruse), senior staff writer at Politico  Mansoor Adayfi (@mansooradayfi), author and former Guantanamo prisoner  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li with Amy Walters, and our host Natasha Del Toro, in for Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

It’s not just the southern US border that’s changed policy this year – it’s also happening at the border with Canada. For decades, border crossings like Roxham Road near Quebec have allowed migrants to enter Canada from the United States to seek asylum. In March, the two countries extended a deal known as the Safe Third Country Agreement, which allows Canada to send asylum seekers back to the United States. The deal had previously only applied to official border points. So what will a harder border mean for Canada, and for the people trying to get there? In this episode:  Naqib Sarwary (@SarwaryNaqib), Philanthropy Officer, Amnesty International Canada, and Afghan refugee Alex Neve (@AlexNeve24), Former secretary-general, Amnesty International Canada Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra with Sonia Bhagat and our host, Natasha Del Toro, in for Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

It’s the first union of its kind on the continent for African content moderators. Moderation is a crucial but thankless job that requires being exposed to the worst parts of the internet. While AI is rapidly developing, it still relies on an army of humans to fine-tune the technology. But especially at outsourcing centers abroad, workers say their Big Tech employers aren’t doing enough to safeguard and support their mental health. The moderators' union was created after a former Facebook moderator in Kenya, Daniel Motaung, sued the social media giant and its subcontractor, saying his work in their Nairobi office caused him to suffer long-term mental trauma.  In this episode:  Martha Dark (@martha__dark), co-founder and director of Foxglove John Kamara (@jjkamara), co-founder of AI Center of Excellence Africa  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Miranda Lin and our host, Natasha Del Toro, in for Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Leaders from seven of the world’s industrial powers – the Group of Seven – are meeting in Hiroshima, Japan. It’s a sobering stage – 77 years ago, the United States dropped the first of two atomic bombs in Hiroshima, and today, the threat of nuclear war is at its highest in years. This year’s G7 agenda will be focused on continued financial support for Ukraine and creating a joint message against Russia. But will there be time or money at the summit in Hiroshima to get the world closer to peace?  In this episode:  James Bays (@baysontheroad), Al Jazeera diplomatic editor Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters, with Chloe K. Li and our host, Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

It’s a new era for US migration. The controversial policy known as Title 42 expired last week after three years. It allowed border authorities to reject people looking to seek asylum in the US on the spot and turn them back, on the grounds that they might be carrying COVID-19. The end of Title 42 has many expecting an increase in migration in the next few months, under the belief that it will now be easier for people to seek asylum in the US. But others believe the policy replacing Title 42 will actually be stricter.  So what does the end of Title 42 actually mean for people trying to get asylum in the United States? In this episode:  John Holman (@johnholman100), Al Jazeera Mexico correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra and our host, Natasha Del Toro, in for Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Greece is gearing up for a vote on May 21, but several major scandals could pave the way for other political parties to gain ground from the ruling New Democracy party. From a tragic train collision to a government wiretapping, some argue this may be the most unpredictable election in over a decade. To make things more uncertain, an estimated 440,000 young people are set to vote for the first time. How decisive will their vote be? In this episode:  Moira Lavelle (@Alohamoira), Athens-based journalist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sonia Bhagat with Negin Owliaei and our host Natasha Del Toro, in for Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

The last week has been a whirlwind in Pakistan. On May 9, former Prime Minister Imran Khan – one of the most popular leaders in the nation’s history – was arrested. The video of the arrest went viral, showing military forces barging into a courtroom where Khan was sitting. Khan has now been released on bail, but he has called for his supporters to protest across the country. So what exactly happened last week in Pakistan? And what does Imran Khan’s relationship with the military have to do with it?  In this episode:  Abid Hussain (@abidhussayn), Al Jazeera journalist in Pakistan  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters, with Chloe K. Li and Natasha Del Toro, in for Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan.  Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

May 15th is when Palestinians mark ‘the catastrophe’, or their forced expulsion from the land that became the state of Israel. Those living in Gaza say every day is an ongoing catastrophe. About 70% of Gazans are Palestinian refugees. For the last 16 years, Israel and Egypt have imposed a blockade on Gaza. Travel is heavily controlled, jobs are scarce and the threat of escalation of violence is constant. While the older generations still dream of a return to their homeland, the younger generations say their futures have been stolen.  In this episode:  Maram Humaid (@MaramGaza) Al Jazeera journalist in Gaza Episode credits: This episode was produced by Miranda Lin and our host, Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.  Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Recep Tayyip Erdogan has spent nearly two decades at the top of Turkey’s democracy – first as prime minister, now as president. On May 14, Turkey will head to the polls in the first round of the country’s presidential elections, and it’s highly contested after the last few years. As for his main challenger, opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, he once won an award as Turkey’s “bureaucrat of the year.” Now, he is the face of a broad coalition, representing everyone from right to left – all with the goal of turning the page on Erdogan’s presidency. Will they succeed?  In this episode:  Sandra Gathmann (@sandragathmann) Presenter, Start Here For more:  Why the Turkish elections are a big test for Erdoğan – Start Here Episode credits: This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei with Sonia Bhagat and our host, Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.  Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

It’s been one year since Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was killed by Israeli forces while doing her job. Independent investigations into the killing have found it was Israeli forces who shot her. After Israeli and US investigations found the killing was unintentional, Shireen’s family and colleagues continued to call for an independent investigation. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation announced an investigation in November, but it’s unclear where the probe stands. So what happened to that investigation, and will there ever be justice for Shireen Abu Akleh’s killing? In this episode:  Ali Harb, (@harbpeace) Al Jazeera English journalist Rania Zabaneh (@RZabaneh), Al Jazeera English journalist, Occupied West Bank Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters with Ashish Malhotra and our host, Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.  Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

There's an island in the Indian Ocean that's part of France. It's called Mayotte, and it's become a front line in the story of those seeking asylum in the European Union. Mayotte was part of neighboring Comoros until 1975. Now, Comorians and others are fleeing to Mayotte by boat seeking asylum or a better life. About 1,800 security officers have been deployed from mainland France as part of Operation Wuambushu, which means “take back” in Mayotte’s local language. The government says that the shantytowns full of people are becoming economy, safety, and health concerns. The move has sparked demonstrations for and against the operation. In this episode:  Dawud Bumaye (@dawudbumaye), Afro-feminist and Comoran activist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li and our host, Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan.  Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

TV and film writers in the US – 11,500 of them – have walked off the job for the first time in 15 years. On May 2, their negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers broke down. One of the bargaining points: the role of AI in writing a script. The Writers Guild wants to put regulations on artificial intelligence into their contract, and they say the studios have turned them down – leading to the question of how studios envision future writers’ rooms. The Take explores the balance of power between writers and studios.  In this episode:  John August (@johnaugust), Screenwriter and member, Writers Guild of America negotiating committee Episode credits: This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei with Sonia Bhagat and our host, Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Special thanks to the Scriptnotes podcast and Drew Marquardt. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan.  Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Iran has looked abandoned for years. It was stormed by Iranian protesters back in 2016, and it closed – an extreme low point in the two countries’ relations. A dramatic breakthrough in March led to a landmark agreement to restore ties, brokered in China. Now, both countries’ embassies are set to reopen, turning a page on seven frosty years. So what does restoring relations mean for these two powerful neighbors whose historically fractious relationship has defined the region – and, at times, the globe? In this episode:  Dorsa Jabbari (@DorsaJabbari), Al Jazeera correspondent Aziz Alghashian (@AzizAlghashian), Fellow, Project SEPAD Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters with Ashish Malhotra and our host, Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.  Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

The caste system: it’s a social hierarchy common in South Asian communities, but it’s now also become a flashpoint in the United States. Earlier this year, Seattle became the first city in the US to explicitly ban caste discrimination. The new law has been celebrated by many, and the state of California is considering passing a similar bill. But such moves are not without controversy. South Asians make up just about 2% of the US population, leading some to allege the new law unfairly singles out a minority community and perpetuates stereotypes.  In this episode:  Kshama Sawant (@cmkshama), Member, Seattle City Council  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra and our host, Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.  Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

The coronation is a moment the UK has been waiting for ever since the death of Queen Elizabeth II. On May 6th, Charles III will be crowned during a ceremony that the Crown is aiming to make the most diverse and inclusive event in British history. Reports of multi-faith representation and choir performances featuring refugee and LGBTQ singers will make this coronation distinctly different from those in the past. But the UK’s ongoing economic turmoil, controversial immigration policy, and race-related scandals within the royal family have all kept some Britons from feeling the inclusion. So will Charles III fulfill his desire to be seen as the “people’s king”? Or will the coronation’s attempt to shine a light on diversity fall flat?  In this episode:  Ash Sarkar (@AyoCaesar) Contributing Editor, Novara Media (@novaramedia) Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sonia Bhagat with Negin Owliaei and our host, Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.  Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

In a shocking discovery on a ranch hidden in Kenya’s Shakahola Forest, over 100 people – including children – have been found dead in mass graves. Hundreds more are still missing. Pastor Paul Mackenzie convinced followers of his Good News International Church that the world was ending, though he denies telling them to starve themselves to death. Now, the country is reeling, and Kenyan President William Ruto has called the mass deaths “akin to terrorism.” But it wasn’t the pastor’s first brush with the authorities. Could this have been stopped? And how did one man get hundreds of people to follow him down this path? In this episode:  Hussein Khalid (@husskhalid), executive director of HAKI Africa  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra with Chloe K. Li and our host, Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.  Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

The way out of Sudan right now is long and dangerous, and hundreds of thousands of people are on the journey. Nisrin Elamin and her family, including her father, who’s approaching 90, were among those escaping the violence after two weeks of fighting between the Sudanese armed forces and the powerful paramilitary known as the Rapid Support Forces. The situation at Sudan’s borders is dire, but inside the country, there are widespread shortages and the violence threatens to increase. Nisrin tells us her story of leaving Sudan, and her worries for the family she left behind.  In this episode:  Nisrin Elamin (@minlayla77), assistant professor of anthropology at the University of Toronto Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters with Chloe K. Li and our host, Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.  Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

The Take is now a daily show. Catch our conversations on the global headlines Monday to Friday, and be sure to hit the subscribe button to get us in your feed.  What does Russia’s digital draft mean for war? A spring offensive is looming in the war in Ukraine. Russia has already set in place greater restrictions on draft dodgers – suggesting that Russia may be preparing to launch another mass conscription order if it is not able to find enough volunteers. Before, conscripts had to be approached in person in order to be drafted, leading to videos of attempted draft dodgers being dragged unwillingly to enlistment. Now, the only thing standing between potential Russian military conscripts and war is an electronic message on a portal that’s become a major part of Russia’s digital infrastructure.  In this episode:  Maria Kuznetsova (@maria_de_forest) Spokesperson, OVDInfo (@OvdInfo_en) Episode credits: This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei, Sonia Bhagat, and Khaled Soltan with our host, Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.  Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Water in the western United States is at a dangerously low level, and the electricity supply for 40 million people could be at risk. It's all because of the region’s worst drought in more than 1,000 years. This summer, the US government is set to make some big decisions on who gets rights to the little water that remains – the states of the Colorado River basin and tribal nations. Many Native tribes have never shared the same rights as the states, and many reservations lack sufficient running water. Now, tribes are trying to change that, but they are afraid they may be left behind again. So what happens next in the West? In this episode:  Jillian Kestler-D’Amours (@jkdamours), reporter and editor for Al Jazeera Stephen Roe Lewis, Governor of the Gila River Indian Community Nora McDowell, former chairwoman of the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe For more: Crisis on the Colorado: The Indigenous fight for water rights Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters, with Sonia Bhagat and Natasha Del Toro, in for Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.  Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

In New Zealand, thousands of animals died after two ships transporting them sank. All export of live animals was banned, and now the ban is becoming a symbol of urban-rural divide. In one sinking in 2020, 41 crew members and 6,000 cattle on board the ship Gulf Livestock 1 all died. Now, animal rights activists are celebrating the ban, but farmers and rural communities are concerned over the economic impact. The opposition National Party argues it could reduce GDP by up to $472 million. Now, it’s becoming an issue ahead of this year’s elections. In this episode:  Adrian Brown, Al Jazeera correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan with Miranda Lin and host Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Adam Abou-Gad and Munera Al Dosari are our engagement producers.  Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Chile is one of Latin America’s safest countries, but its residents are becoming more worried after an uptick in violent crime and a spate of police killings. This month, the government passed a series of laws and allotted an additional $1.5bn to its police force. One of those laws, called the “quick trigger” law, allows police to use force when they feel their lives are under threat. Many Chileans are still haunted by riot police actions during 2019 protests, and human rights advocates say the new law could lead to impunity for police abuses. In this episode:  Charis McGowan (@charis_mcgowan), journalist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li with Negin Owliaei and Natasha Del Toro, in for Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.  Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

QAnon seemed to go dormant after former US President Donald Trump lost his reelection. But a reporter who’s covered the conspiracy movement ever since it emerged in 2017 says that the phenomenon isn’t a relic of the past – it’s more like a portal into the future. So what happens when a portion of the US buys into a mass delusion? In this episode:  Will Sommer (@willsommer), author of “Trust the Plan” Episode credits: This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei and our host, Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.  Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Al Jazeera is on the ground in Sudan as days of fighting have consumed the capital, Khartoum. The violence is between the country’s army and a powerful paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The two forces’ uneasy alliance broke down during negotiations involving the transition from a military government to civilian rule. Will that transition ever happen – or is Sudan about to break out into civil war? In this episode:  Hiba Morgan (@hiba_morgan), Al Jazeera Sudan Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra with Negin Owliaei and our host, Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.  Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Some survivors of the natural disaster are finding new meaning in Ramadan. During this special time of the year, Muslims are encouraged to give to charity, strengthen their relationship with God, and show kindness and patience. That's taken on greater importance as Turkey recovers from February's disaster that has now killed more than 50,000 people and forced many to leave their homes.  In this episode:  Emad Nasher, Syrian NGO worker living in Gaziantep Emre Rende, (@emrerende) Journalist and Photographer Ammar Sammour, Earthquake survivor living in London Episode credits: This episode was produced by Miranda Lin with Khaled Soltan and Kevin Hirten, in for our host Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.  Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Lara Bitar, a Lebanese journalist, has been reporting on the toxic waste that’s been in Lebanon since the country’s civil war – reporting that took on a new meaning in the wake of Beirut’s 2020 port explosion. This March, she and another journalist were summoned by the government over stories they had written. What does Lara’s story mean for the future of journalism in Lebanon? In this episode:  Lara Bitar (@LaraJBitar), editor-in-chief of The Public Source Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters with Chloe K. Li and host, Kevin Hirten. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.  Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

The de facto leader of India's opposition, Rahul Gandhi, has been stripped of his seat in parliament and is facing two years in prison for allegedly defaming Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Gandhi has lodged an appeal, and is out on bail until a hearing on April 13. Fourteen opposition parties have banded together to petition the Supreme Court over the issue, arguing opposition politicians are being selectively targeted by federal investigative agencies. But does a jail sentence for the face of the country’s largest opposition party mark a new level of government control? In this episode:  Pavni Mittal (@pavnimittal), Al Jazeera India correspondent  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra with Chloe K. Li and our host, Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.  Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

25 years after the Good Friday Agreement, Northern Ireland lives in an imperfect peace. There has been a dramatic reduction in violence since the worst of the Troubles, which claimed more than 3,600 lives. But Northern Ireland continues to struggle with political stalemates, economic despair, and paramilitary threats. Can the Good Friday Agreement continue to keep the peace? In this episode:  Leona O’Neill (@LeonaONeill1), Head of Undergraduate Journalism at Ulster University Joshua Murray, Journalist Zachary Hutchinson, Programme Manager at Centre for Democracy and Peace Building Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters with Miranda Lin and our host, Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.  Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Ukraine might not look like a good financial investment after a year at war with no end in sight, but Harvard, Saudi Arabia, a handful of oligarchs, and Vanguard Group see it differently. They are just a few of the investors who have been buying up Ukrainian land – and its rich, fertile soil – en masse, while many Ukrainian farmers argue it should stay in Ukrainian hands. In this episode:  Frederic Mousseau, Policy Director, Oakland Institute  Anuradha Mittal (@Mittaloak), Founder, Oakland Institute Lorina Fedorova, expert on sustainable agriculture, Ekodiya Roman Gryshyna, CEO of Travelite MICE&Travel Ukraine  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters and our host, Malika Bilal. Chloe K. Li, Miranda Lin and Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Munera al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.  Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Donald Trump has been indicted by a grand jury in New York, making him the first former or sitting president of the United States to face criminal charges. His arrest is related to hush money payments to keep alleged extramarital affairs out of the public eye during the 2016 presidential campaign. The news has unsurprisingly dominated headlines in the United States – but what’s the global reaction? We speak to Al Jazeera journalists to find out. In this episode:  Abderrahim Foukara (@afoukara), Al Jazeera Washington Bureau Chief Gabriel Elizondo (@elizondogabriel), Al Jazeera New York correspondent Lucia Newman (@lucianewman), Al Jazeera Latin America editor Nicolas Haque (@nicolashaque), Al Jazeera West Africa correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra with Negin Owliaei and our host, Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.  Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Protests have rocked Israel for weeks — some of the biggest in its history. But Israel’s government, its farthest right yet, is also testing relationships outside its borders. So what do the rest of the Middle East, and even Israel’s closest ally, the United States, have to say about Israel’s right-wing government? In this episode:  Khalil Jahshan (@KhalilEJahshan), Executive Director of The Arab Center Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters with Chloe K. Li and our host, Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.  Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

What’s behind the TikTok panic? The social media app has more than a billion users in 150 countries, but lawmakers are looking at the app with a more cautious eye as its popularity grows. The US and other countries have already banned TikTok from government phones, while India and Afghanistan have instituted outright bans. But in a congressional hearing last week, US lawmakers suggested to TikTok CEO Shou Chew that an outright ban on the app could be in the cards in the US as well. In this episode:  Evan Greer, (@evan_greer), Director, Fight For The Future Episode credits: This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei with Ashish Malhotra and our host, Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Adam Abou-Gad and Munera Al Dosari are our engagement producers.  Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

‘Lab meat’ is popping up all over the world. Singapore was the first to introduce it to the public. The United States is now following suit with the Food and Drug Administration’s recent approval for lab-grown chicken. Governments and big companies are investing in and pushing laboratory-grown meat as the next big thing. Predictions are that if adopted, it could reduce methane, water and land use – all problems with industrial meat production. So how accurate are those predictions? In this episode: Julia Ranney, research associate at the Center for Food Safety (@CFSTrueFood) Phil Howard, community sustainability professor at Michigan State University  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li with Miranda Lin and our host, Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Adam Abou-Gad and Munera al Dosari are our engagement producers.  Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Transgender people in the US say they’re fighting for their rights – and their survival. Already this year, a record number of bills have been introduced by state lawmakers. They include everything from gender-affirming care for youth and access to public spaces to drag performances. Advocates worry that this could lead to wider attacks on the LGBTQ+ community and personal freedoms. In this episode:  Chase Strangio (@ChaseStrangio), Deputy Director for Transgender Justice, American Civil Liberties Union Eureka O’Hara (@EurekaOhara), drag queen and host of HBO’s ‘We’re Here’ Alex Petrovnia (@AlexPetrovnia), founder, Trans Formations Project  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Miranda Lin and Chloe K. Li with our host, Malika Bilal. Amy Walters and Alexandra Locke fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Adam Abou-Gad and Munera Al Dosari are our engagement producers.  Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Former US President Donald Trump has never faced criminal charges, despite battling legal issues for most of his life. That could be about to change. Many, including the former president himself, believe he is on the verge of being indicted. The possible indictment is related to hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels by his former lawyer Michael Cohen, allegedly to conceal an affair. So how did the situation get to this point? And what would a Trump indictment mean for the 2024 election? In this episode:  Kimberly Halkett (@KimberlyHalkett), Al Jazeera White House correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra with Chloe K. Li and our host, Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Adam Abou-Gad and Munera Al Dosari are our engagement producers.  Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Woolly mammoths went extinct several thousand years ago. But if a new company gets its way, something like the woolly mammoth could walk the Earth again within the decade. The company Colossal Biosciences announced in 2021 that it had raised $15m to genetically modify an Asian elephant so that it has the cold-tolerant traits of a woolly mammoth. Since then, they’ve gotten even more money and attention, from sources as varied as socialite Paris Hilton to the US Central Intelligence Agency. Their plan has been received with a mix of skepticism, excitement and controversy. In this episode:  Ben Lamm (@federallamm), co-founder and CEO of Colossal (@ItIsColossal) Dr. Tori Herridge (@ToriHerridge), evolutionary biologist at the London Natural History Museum (@NHM_London) Dr. Joe Bennett (@Joe_Ecology), professor at Carleton University Episode credits: This episode was updated by Negin Owliaei. The original production team included Negin Owliaei, Tom Fenton, Ruby Zaman, Amy Walters, Alexandra Locke, Priyanka Tilve, Ney Alvarez, Stacey Samuel, and our host, Malika Bilal. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.  Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

In Iraq, some scars of the US-led invasion remain hidden, even as the 20th anniversary is marked this week. The US military for years disposed of waste in burn pits: wide swathes of land, constantly smoking. Some were the size of a football field. In them were plastics, electronics, and military and medical waste. The environmental impacts of the invasion – including those burn pits – continue to plague Iraqis to this day. After years of lobbying, the US government approved legislation to address the health impacts on US soldiers, but there has been no discussion of compensation for the Iraqi civilians. In this episode:  Kali Rubaii (@KaliRubaii), assistant professor of anthropology at Purdue University Episode credits: This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei and Amy Walters with Chloe K. Li and our host, Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Adam Abou-Gad and Munera Al Dosari are our engagement producers.  Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

It was the deadliest attack on a house of worship in Canada's history. Six people lost their lives when a gunman opened fire on a mosque in Quebec City in 2017. And the hate incidents haven't stopped in the years since. Some of them have been deadly. And it's led to questions about how Canada treats its Muslim population. In January of 2023, the country announced its first special representative on Islamophobia. So what’s behind the need for the position in the first place?  In this episode: Jillian Kestler-D’Amours (@jkdamours), Al Jazeera online editor Jasmin Zine (@JasminZine), professor in sociology, religion and culture at Wilfrid Laurier University Episode credits: This episode was updated by Negin Owliaei and Ashish Malhotra, and our host, Malika Bilal. The original production team included Negin Owliaei, Tom Fenton, Ruby Zaman, Amy Walters, Alexandra Locke, Priyanka Tilve, Ney Alvarez, Stacey Samuel, and Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

The UK government is clamping down on asylum seekers, potentially illegally. Nearly 46,000 refugees and migrants arrived in the United Kingdom last year on small boats across the English Channel, a major increase from the year before. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says stopping the boats is a priority for the British people. But both the United Nations and the European Union have called the plan illegal for the way it would treat people fleeing war and persecution. Even Sunak’s Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, has acknowledged the plan may not be compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. So why is the government pushing it forward? In this episode:  Charlie Angela (@CharlieAJ), Al Jazeera correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra with Chloe K. Li and our host, Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

The wave of racist violence sweeping Tunisia is unlike anything in recent memory. The attacks follow a speech by Tunisia’s President Kais Saied accusing African migrants of conspiring to make Tunisia more African and less Arab. This is the latest in a string of authoritarian moves by the President, and it has protesters back out in the street. But what will happen to the victims of this racism in the meantime? In this episode:  Alpha Turay, a refugee from Sierra Leone living in Tunisia Fadil Aliriza (@FadilAliriza), founder and editor-in-chief of @meshkaltn Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters with Chloe K. Li and our host, Malika Bilal. MIranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Andy Greiner and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.  Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

China has been Russia’s ‘rock solid’ partner throughout the conflict in Ukraine. It has refused to condemn the fighting and, according to the US, is in negotiations to send weapons to the front lines. And the Chinese president seems to share a close friendship with Vladimir Putin. But at the same time, China is emerging from its zero-COVID lockdowns and trying to reach out again to the rest of the world. How will the world’s second-largest economy balance its competing interests, and what role can it play in bringing peace to Ukraine? In this episode:  Katrina Yu (@katmyu), Al Jazeera’s China Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Miranda Lin, with Ashish Malhotra and Khaled Soltan, and our host, Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.  Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

A wave of poisonings is taking place in classrooms around Iran. The first documented incident took place back in November at one school in the city of Qom. But the attacks have ramped up recently, with reports of thousands of girls being affected at hundreds of schools nationwide. The poison attacks come on the heels of a protest movement that took off last year in the country under the banner of “woman, life, freedom.” Between the protests and the poisonings, what does the future look like for girls in Iran? In this episode:  Dorsa Jabbari (@DorsaJabbari), Al Jazeera correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei, with Ashish Malhotra, and our host, Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Andy Greiner and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.  Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

New York City is the wealthiest city in the United States – by some counts, the world. But after three years of pandemic, it has yet to build back better: rents are skyrocketing, concern about crime is at an all-time high, and the focus has landed on people living on the streets and the subways. There's been a high-profile effort by the city's mayor, Eric Adams, to clear the streets, including controversial sweeps of encampments and hospitalizations by police, even when people don't want to go. So how can the city protect the most vulnerable New Yorkers? In this episode: Peter Malvan, Homeless Advocate, Urban Justice Center Max Rivlin-Nadler (@MaxRivlinNadler), Co-publisher of @HellGateNY Episode credits: This episode was produced by Alexandra Locke with Chloe K. Li and our host, Halla Mohieddeen, in for Malika Bilal. Ashish Malhotra fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Andy Greiner and Adam Abou Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take's executive producer and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

2022 saw the highest number of Mexican journalists ever killed in a year. The murders of Lourdes Maldonado Lopez and Margarito Martínez last January sparked an outcry in a string of murders that have largely gone unsolved. We’re revisiting our episode with Mexican journalists about how safe they feel while covering the news there, why there are so many murders of journalists in Mexico, and what's being done to protect them. In this episode:  León Krauze (@LeonKrauze), Univision Anchor Alejandra Guerra (@alisguerra8), Journalist in Tijuana, Mexico Rocío Galván (@RocioGalvanZ), Journalist in Tijuana, Mexico Andalusia Knoll Soloff (@Andalalucha), Journalist in Mexico City Natalie Southwick, Program Coordinator at the Committee to Protect Journalists (@pressfreedom) Episode credits: This episode was updated by Amy Walters with our host Malika Bilal. The original production team was Ney Alvarez, Priyanka Tilve, Ruby Zaman, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, Alexandra Locke, Tom Fenton, and Stacey Samuel. Special thanks to Lorena Arroyo and Inger Diaz Barriga. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Andy Greiner and Adam Abou-Gad. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s Executive Producer and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

More than 300 Nicaraguans have been stripped of their citizenship. They’re considered political opponents of the president, Daniel Ortega. Some were already out of the country, but 222 were recently deported from Nicaragua to the United States and forced into exile. It’s the latest move by President Ortega to crack down on political dissidents. But will it succeed in silencing them? In this episode:  Felix Maradiaga (@maradiaga), Nicaraguan activist and former presidential candidate Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra with Chloe K. Li and our host, Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin and Khaled Soltan fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Andy Greiner and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Why have the people of the Chagos Islands not been allowed to go home? The archipelago in the Indian Ocean was home to Chagossians until the 1960s. As decolonisation swept the globe, the United Kingdom created one last African colony. Slowly and then all at once, it forced people to leave their homes, then leased the land to the United States for a military base. Chagossians have been fighting – and sometimes winning – in court to return to their home islands, and now, Human Rights Watch says what the UK and the US did amounts to crimes against humanity. In this episode:  Clive Baldwin (@cliveabaldwin), senior legal advisor, Human Rights Watch Episode credits: This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei and our host, Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Andy Greiner and Adam Abou Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Photographers have been the entire world’s lens into the Russia-Ukraine conflict for the past year. They’ve captured shocking scenes – from refugees and frontline battles, to portraits of bravery and resilience. But the photographers behind these images have also found themselves in the middle of an information war – to establish what’s really happening on the ground, and how this war will be seen in the future.  In this episode:  Serhii Korovayny (@SerhiiKorovayny), Ukrainian photojournalist Natalie Keyssar (@NatalieKeyssar), freelance documentary photographer Episode credits: This episode was produced by Miranda Lin and Chloe K. Li with our host, Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan, Chloe K. Li and Ashish Malhotra fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Andy Greiner and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Pakistan is still reeling from last year’s deadly floods, which put a third of the country underwater. Though the country has barely contributed to climate change, its people are still paying the price. Six months on from the worst of the devastation, people across the country are still displaced and they’re facing knock-on effects of the floods on their health. The international community pledged $9 billion to aid Pakistan in rebuilding at the beginning of this year, but experts on the ground say it will be of little use if it doesn’t arrive soon. So is the international community doing enough to help?  In this episode:  Zuha Siddiqui (@SiddiquiZuha), journalist Taimur Khan Jhagra (@Jhagra), former health and finance minister, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ed Taylor, emergency response coordinator, Doctors Without Borders (@MSF) Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra and Amy Walters with our host, Halla Mohieddeen. Chloe K. Li, Amy Walters and Ashish Malhotra fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Andy Greiner and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Nigerian politics might be on the verge of total upheaval. As Africa’s largest democracy heads to the polls on February 25, a third presidential candidate is disrupting what has in recent years been a two-horse race. Peter Obi, of the tiny Labour Party, is leading most polls ahead of more established candidates Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, and Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress. But in a country where polling data is a new phenomenon, will he actually win? In this episode:  Mark Amaza (@amasonic), Senior Communications Officer, Yiaga Africa Preston Ideh (@TimeyinPI), Co-founder, Stears Data Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra with Negin Owliaei, Miranda Lin and our host, Malika Bilal. Amy Walters, Alexandra Locke and Negin Owliaei fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Andy Greiner and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

What happens when you can’t go home? The city of Antakya, one of Turkey’s cultural centres, was levelled in the February 6 earthquakes. Thousands of people were killed, and the city is no longer recognisable to many who called it home. The government says rebuilding in the region is about to begin, but many residents are still trying to understand what they’ve lost. In this episode:  Emre Rende (@emrerende), Journalist and photographer Bernard Smith (@JazeeraBernard), Al Jazeera correspondent Belit Tasdemir (@AKUTAssociation), Coordinator for AKUT Search and Rescue Association Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters and Chloe K. Li with our host, Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Andy Greiner and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Polish leaders were not taken seriously about a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine, though they were concerned long before the first air raid sirens rang out in Kyiv in 2022. Ever since, Poland has played a leadership role, pushing the European Union for more aid to Ukraine and hosting both foreign militaries and millions of refugees as a front-line country. But Poland has its own longstanding conflict with the EU, and it has been pushed to the back burner. How has the war in Ukraine changed Poland, and how has Poland changed the EU? In this episode:  Bartosz Węglarczyk (@bweglarczyk) editor-in-chief, Onet Maciej Konieczny (@_mkonieczny), member of Polish Parliament  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei with Miranda Lin and our host, Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Andy Greiner and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

The National Football League is the richest professional sports league in the world, but it has been accused of leaving its Black players behind. For years, the NFL fought claims from its own players that the sport could cause long-term brain damage, including a disease known as CTE. The league has since paid a settlement out to players, but it has also been accused of using race-based tests to deny Black players compensation. As the sport continues to gain larger audiences worldwide through mega-events like the Superbowl, what is the NFL doing to protect and care for its players? In this episode:  Isaac Solotaroff (@Isaac_Solotarof), producer of the Al Jazeera Fault Lines documentary ‘Bloodsport’ Watch the Al Jazeera Fault Lines documentary 'Bloodsport' here. Episode credits: This episode was produced by Miranda Lin and Ney Alvarez with our host, Halla Mohieddeen. Chloe K. Li and Ashish Malhotra fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Emergency aid is pouring into southeastern Turkey after Monday’s earthquakes, but why is it so much harder for aid to reach northern Syria? Both sides of the border have been devastated by the disaster, which struck after years of conflict and displacement. With the death toll rising every day, will Syrians get the international spotlight they need? In this episode:  Ammar, NGO worker living in Gaziantep, Turkey Emad, NGO worker living in Gaziantep Alper Ilki (@AlperIlki), president of the Turkish Earthquake Foundation and professor at Istanbul Technical University Dr. Zaher Sahloul (@Sahloul), president and co-founder of MedGlobal Find ways to donate to the earthquake disaster response here. Episode credits: This episode was produced by Miranda Lin with Amy Walters and our host, Malika Bilal. Chloe K. Li, Ashish Malhotra, Amy Walters and Alexandra Locke fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Andy Greiner and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

There’s been no accountability in the massive explosion at the Port of Beirut for more than two years. But a new hope suddenly emerged late last month for families of the victims, when Judge Tarek Bitar reopened his dormant investigation into the blast, and into the leaders accused of letting it happen. Two days later, Lebanon’s Prosecutor General Ghassan Oweidat – one of those accused – issued his own charges against Bitar. Is this now the nail in the coffin for the blast investigation, or can the victims’ families still get justice? In this episode:  Kareem Chehayeb (@chehayebk), reporter, Associated Press Mariana Fodoulian, sister of Beirut port blast victim Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra with Amy Walters, Chloe K. Li and our host, Malika Bilal. Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke and Negin Owliaei fact-checked this episode. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Andy Greiner and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

What does Prevent prevent? The UK government says the programme is key to counterterrorism and protecting vulnerable people. However, human rights organisations and Muslim groups say it is surveillance and counterproductive. The government has not released an independent review of Prevent – but during the review process, it was boycotted by hundreds of organisations. Instead, many participated in a "people’s review" of Prevent. So what does a tale of two reviews tell us about the future of Prevent? In this episode:  Layla Aitlhadj, (@LaylaAtweet), Director of Prevent Watch John Holmwood, author, “Countering Extremism in British Schools?: The Truth about the Birmingham Trojan Horse Affair”   Episode credits: This episode was updated by Negin Owliaei. The original production team was Alexandra Locke, Negin Owliaei, Ney Alvarez, Ruby Zaman, Amy Walters, and our host, Halla Mohieddeen. Our production team also includes Chloe K. Li, Miranda Lin, and Ashish Malhotra. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou Gad. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.  Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

It’s been the deadliest month for Palestinians in years in the Occupied West Bank, just as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met the new Israeli Prime Minister. Benjamin Netanyahu is back in power after his far-right government was sworn in the month before, and leaders are seeking a range of new punitive measures for Palestinians following an attack in Jerusalem by a Palestinian gunman. So what might Palestinians expect from the new Israeli government, and from the US government's relationship with it? In this episode:  Diana Buttu, (@DianaButtu), human rights lawyer and analyst Episode credits: This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei and Miranda Lin with our host, Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin and Chloe K. Li fact-checked this episode. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Miranda Lin, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, and Amy Walters.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Andy Greiner and Adam Abou Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

ChatGPT is taking the world by storm with AI-generated text that rivals actual literature – but there’s a price. For its parent company, OpenAI, to get this quality product, human beings are paid to help teach it to identify the bad stuff: hate speech and violence of all kinds. We hear about the good, the bad, and the ugly of ChatGPT, including from one person who did the job and has real questions about whether it’s worth the price. Note: This episode contains elements that were generated using ChatGPT. In this episode:  Nanjala Nyabola (@Nanjala1), author of Digital Democracy, Analogue Politics: How the Internet Era Is Transforming Politics in Kenya Michael Kearns (@mkearnsupenn), author of "The Ethical Algorithm" Mophat Ochieng, former AI content moderator  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters with our host, Malika Bilal. Ashish Malhotra, Chloe K. Li, Miranda Lin and Alexandra Locke fact-checked this episode. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Miranda Lin, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, and Amy Walters.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

When Russia invaded Ukraine, it expected a quick victory. But almost a year later, Moscow continues to spend huge sums to send more soldiers and equipment to the front lines. Meanwhile, international sanctions are also targeting its primary source of revenue: oil and gas exports. And yet, even as these costs of war climb and jeopardise Russia’s long-term economic growth, there are few signs Vladimir Putin will back down, no matter the long-term consequences. In this episode:  Sergey Aleksashenko (@Saleksashenko), former deputy minister of finance and first deputy chairman of the central bank of Russia Polina Ivanova (@polinaivanovva), Financial Times correspondent covering Russia Episode credits: This episode was produced by Miranda Lin with Chloe K. Li and our host, Malika Bilal. Chloe K. Li, Ashish Malhotra, and Negin Owliaei fact-checked this episode. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Miranda Lin, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, and Amy Walters.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. This episode was mixed by Tim St. Clair. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

More than a million people have protested France’s controversial pension reform plan, which was formally presented on Monday. The majority of people – along with all of France’s biggest unions – oppose the reforms, which would raise the retirement age and the threshold of years worked to get a full pension. President Emmanuel Macron says the reforms are essential to erase deficits in the system by 2030, but even though the increases are slight, many protesters see it as a standoff over the future of work. With more demonstrations planned, is Macron risking civil unrest to get his plan through?  In this episode:  Bernard Smith (@JazeeraBernard), Al Jazeera correspondent Axel Persson, General Secretary, CGT Railway Workers Union, Trappes Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra with Negin Owliaei and our host, Halla Mohieddeen. Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke and Ney Alvarez fact-checked this episode. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Miranda Lin, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, and Amy Walters. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Global consulting firm McKinsey works all over the world, but in South Africa, it faces criminal charges for corruption. The case centers on its role in the country’s biggest post-apartheid scandal, known as state capture. The firm has also consulted on everything from looking at privatizing the UK National Health Service to researching Saudi Arabian dissidents. So what exactly does McKinsey do, and why? In this episode:  Walt Bogdanich, investigative reporter at the New York Times and co-author of ‘When McKinsey Comes to Town’ Episode credits: This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei with our host, Halla Mohieddeen. Ruby Zaman fact-checked this episode. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Miranda Lin, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, and Amy Walters.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

When it comes to the media, Nobel Peace Prize-winning journalist Maria Ressa has dealt with it all: attacks on the freedom of the press in the Philippines, audiences turning to social media, and misinformation. We spoke with her in Manila on January 17th, ahead of an acquittal in some of the legal cases against her. But these problems aren’t only in the Philippines. For our 500th episode, we’re looking at how we get our news and why. Spoiler alert: the state of the media isn’t great. So at a time when many say journalism is more important than ever, what can be done to turn around that distrust and disinterest? In this episode:  Maria Ressa (@mariaressa), founder of Rappler and Nobel Peace Prize winner Nic Newman (@nicnewman), founding member of the BBC’s internet services and Senior Research Associate at Reuters Institute Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters with Chloe K. Li and our host, Halla Mohieddeen. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Miranda Lin, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, and Amy Walters.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

The World Economic Forum is known for glitzy parties, exclusivity, and dealmaking – in addition to panels on topics ranging from climate change to ‘stakeholder capitalism’. The theme of this year’s annual meeting in Davos is “cooperation in a fragmented world,” and Davos mainstays are the world’s most powerful networkers. They wield an enormous amount of economic and political power. So who are they? What actually happens at Davos, and what do the people left off the invite list need to know about it? In this episode:  Peter S. Goodman (@petersgoodman), global economics reporter at The New York Times and author of Davos Man: How the Billionaires Devoured the World Max Lawson (@maxlawsontin), Head of Inequality Policy, Oxfam Episode credits: This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei with Ashish Malhotra and our host, Halla Mohieddeen. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Miranda Lin, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, and Amy Walters.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Texas is the largest US state with a near-total ban on abortion. Legislators and activists want to make 2023 the year of closing the loopholes that remain, whether that’s travel to nearby states for the procedure or targeting abortion medication by mail. The state is also where the Roe v Wade legal case was first filed. It had made abortion legal across the United States after the US Supreme Court ruled on the case 50 years ago this week. We hear from one former abortion provider about life in a post-Roe world. In this episode:  Dr Jessica Rubino, abortion provider Amina Waheed (@atwaheed), producer for Al Jazeera’s Fault Lines Mary Tuma (@TumaTime), journalist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan and Alexandra Locke with our host, Halla Mohieddeen. Amy Walters and Chloe K. Li fact-checked this episode. Our production team also includes Chloe K. Li, Miranda Lin, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, and Amy Walters. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. For more: Watch the Fault Lines documentary, ‘The End of Roe: Living without abortion rights’ Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

What happens when you fall victim to a cyber scam? And who's really at fault? In Cambodia, an entire economy of these scams is operating, and the scammers Al Jazeera found in a city called Sihanoukville are often held against their will. Tens of thousands of people are being trafficked, and authorities are alleged to be complicit. In this episode:  Mary Ann Jolley (@jolleyma), senior reporter at Al Jazeera’s 101 East Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters with our host Halla Mohieddeen. Ruby Zaman fact-checked this episode.  Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Miranda Lin, Ashish Malhotra, and Negin Owliaei.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

In Russia's war in Ukraine, the use of drones – for surveillance, correcting artillery fire and dropping weapons on the enemy – has become increasingly important, especially for the Ukrainian army. The drones used so far are believed to have all been controlled by humans but experts say the technology for fully autonomous weapons exists. Are so-called ‘killer robots’ that take to the battlefield inevitable? In this episode:  Alex Gatopoulos (@AlexGatopoulos), Al Jazeera's defence editor Toby Walsh (@TobyWalsh), professor of artificial intelligence, University of New South Wales Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra with Chloe K. Li and our host, Halla Mohieddeen. Amy Walters, Alexandra Locke and Chloe K. Li fact-checked this episode. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Miranda Lin, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, and Amy Walters.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Tigray was cut off from the rest of Ethiopia and the outside world for nearly two years. As a civil war raged on, the region was under a de facto blockade that impacted everything from food to phone lines. The war resulted in one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters, and widespread human rights abuses, including sexual violence. But a peace agreement signed between the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces in November means the region is beginning to open up again. So what does that mean for the people in Tigray?  In this episode:  Lucy Kassa (@berhe_lucy), investigative journalist Jude Fuhnwi (@FuhnwiJ), ICRC spokesperson in Ethiopia Episode credits: This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei with Chloe K. Li, Miranda Lin, and our host, Halla Mohieddeen.  Miranda Lin, Alexandra Locke, and Amy Walters fact-checked this episode. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Miranda Lin, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, and Amy Walters.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

There are more strikes in the United Kingdom today than in more than a decade. Inflation is at a 41-year high, and economists are predicting that UK households are looking forward to a miserable 2023. But rather than offering concessions, the government is trying to make it harder to strike. In this episode:  Rachel Ambrose, NHS mental health nurse and lecturer Lord John Hendy (@JohnHendyQC), Trade union barrister and House of Lords peer Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters with Miranda Lin and our host, Halla Mohieddeen. Miranda Lin, Chloe K. Li and Alexandra Locke fact-checked this episode. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Miranda Lin, Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, and Amy Walters.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

What makes a community special? Al Jazeera’s series, A Sense of Community, has travelled to four unique parts of the globe to explore the concept. We visited islanders in remote Scotland facing depopulation, explored the fight against crime and search for safety in the most dangerous neighbourhood in Mexico City, spoke with female runners in Kenya pushing back against gender-based violence, and delved into why Tibetans in Toronto are battling gentrification. All four communities face challenges in holding onto their culture and identity. While communities worldwide reckon with changes due to the pandemic, they also offer lessons about what makes a community worth preserving. In this episode:  Drew Ambrose (@drewambrose), Al Jazeera correspondent  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra and our host, Halla Mohieddeen. It was fact-checked by Ruby Zaman. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and Ruby Zaman.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Mo Gawdat, author and former chief business officer at Google X, predicts that AI will become a billion times smarter than humans. The time is now, he says, to influence it with the right ethics to have humanity's best interests in mind. Artificial intelligence is becoming unavoidable with smart devices in every aspect of our lives, and AI image and text generation reaching new heights. So, is it time to make friends with AI? In this episode:  Mo Gawdat (@MGawdat), author and former chief business officer of Google X Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ruby Zaman with our host, Halla Mohieddeen. Alexandra Locke fact-checked this episode. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and Ruby Zaman. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

The United States space agency NASA launched the James Webb Space Telescope, the largest telescope ever put into space, just over a year ago. Since then, we have been given a whole new picture of the universe – image after image of stars, planets and galaxies, farther into the universe than humans have ever seen. We talk to those who helped put together the telescope about what they have learned and find out how close it really is to detecting signs of life on other planets. In this episode:  Stuart Clark (@DrStuClark), astronomer and consultant at New Scientist Knicole Colón (@super_knova), deputy project scientist for exoplanet science at NASA James Webb Space Telescope Chris Gunn (@ChrisGunnPhoto), photographer at NASA Episode credits: This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li with Negin Owliaei, Ruby Zaman, Alexandra Locke, Amy Walters, Ashish Malhotra and Halla Mohieddeen. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Americans waste about $408bn in food every year but the most significant consequence of food waste is not financial. Pollution from methane gas generated at landfills accounts for about 8 to 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Today, we are re-exploring food waste – how to avoid it and what steps local and national governments in the United States are taking to solve the problem. In this episode:  Madeline Keating, city strategist, Healthy People and Thriving Communities Program at NRDC (@NRDC) Kristyn Oldendorf, chief of the Office of Waste Diversion for the Department of Public Works, Baltimore (@BaltimoreDPW) Marvin Hayes, youth program manager, Baltimore Compost Collective (@bmorecompost) Episode credits: This episode was updated by Ney Alvarez. The original production team was Alexandra Locke, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, Ney Alvarez, Priyanka Tilve, Ruby Zaman, Tom Fenton, Stacey Samuel and our host, Malika Bilal. Our production team also includes Chloe K Li and Ashish Malhotra. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.  Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook  

Unmarked graves, lost family members, and a reckoning long overdue – it is a story familiar to Indigenous peoples in Canada and the United States, where residential schools for native children ripped apart tribal nations. The US boarding school system was even more extensive than Canada’s, but much less is known about it, and its history is often surrounded by a culture of silence. Today, we’re revisiting this story and still wondering what will it take for a reckoning in the US. In this episode:  Kavitha Chekuru (@KaviChek), producer for Al Jazeera’s Fault Lines (@AJFaultLines) Denise Lajimodiere (@DLajimodiere), author and academic Eleanor Hadden, descendant of boarding school students Episode credits: This episode was updated by Alexandra Locke. The original production team was Alexandra Locke, Dina Kesbeh, Amy Walters, Ney Alvarez, Priyanka Tilve, Natalia Aldana, Stacey Samuel, Graelyn Brashear, and our host, Malika Bilal. Our production team also includes Chloe K. Li, Ruby Zaman, and Ashish Malhotra. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.  Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

The people of Gaza experience frequent violence, even war, but in 2020, there was a moment of relief – an understanding between Israel and Hamas, the group that's run Gaza since 2007. A sign of that temporary peace was strawberries. Today, we’ll tell you why as we revisit a story from Gaza that doesn’t usually make headlines. In this episode:  Stefanie Dekker (@StefanieDekker), Al Jazeera senior correspondent Safwat al Kahlout, Al Jazeera Gaza producer Episode credits: This episode was updated by Alexandra Locke. The original production team was Alexandra Locke, Dina Kesbeh, Amy Walters, Ney Alvarez, Priyanka Tilve, Natalia Aldana, Stacey Samuel, Graelyn Brashear and our host Malika Bilal. Our production team also includes Chloe K. Li, Negin Owliaei, Ruby Zaman and Ashish Malhotra. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.  Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook    

Any fan of mob movies is likely familiar with one of their central lessons: Don’t be a snitch. Informants have been fuel for Hollywood for decades. In reality, the use of snitches has become a key feature of the US criminal system. In this episode, we hear from a legal scholar who suggests the problems with snitching go far beyond the tattle-tale accusations you see in the movies. In this episode:  Alexandra Natapoff (@ANatapoff), Harvard Law professor and the author of Snitching: Criminal Informants and the Erosion of Justice Episode credits: This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei with Chloe K Li, Amy Walters and our host Halla Mohieddeen. Ruby Zaman fact-checked this episode. Our production team includes Chloe K Li, Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters and Ruby Zaman. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook  

The number of Israelis who openly refuse military service due to the occupation is low; earlier this year, four teenagers refusing together was notable. The low numbers persist despite multiple international human rights groups recognising Israel’s treatment of Palestinians as apartheid. Now, army violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank is at a high not seen in years, Israel’s most far-right government yet is on the verge of taking power, and draft refuser organisations say there has been increased interest in what is seen by most Israelis as a radical step. We hear from two men about why they did it, and why their decision is so rare. In this episode:  Evyatar Rubin, conscientious objector Haggai Matar (@Ha_Matar), Executive director of +972 Magazine and former conscientious objector Episode credits: This episode was produced by Alexandra Locke with Chloe K. Li and our host, Halla Mohieddeen. It was fact-checked by Ruby Zaman. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and Ruby Zaman. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Peru’s government is now trying to regain balance after Pedro Castillo, its fifth president in six years, has been impeached. Now, the country is grappling with a new president, and the public is feeling displeased about their government system. Protests have erupted over the country demanding new elections and a new constitution. In this episode:  Lucia Newman (@lucianewman), Al Jazeera Latin America editor Mariana Sanchez, Al Jazeera Peru correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Chloe K Li with Amy Walters, Ashish Malhotra, and our host, Halla Mohieddeen. Ruby Zaman fact-checked this episode. Our production team includes Chloe K Li, Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and Ruby Zaman. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Over the last month, we’ve watched 62 World Cup matches, some full of surprises and unexpected outcomes. When Morocco advanced to the semifinals, we even saw history made. Now, with two matches left until a world champion is crowned, we hear from some of the fans who watched it all play out on the pitch. In this episode:  Tony Karon (@TonyKaron), editorial lead at AJ+ Sandra Gathmann (@SandraGathmann), Presenter, Start Here on Al Jazeera Gemma Soler (@gemma_soler), Sports journalist Ishaan Tharoor (@ishaantharoor), Washington Post foreign affairs columnist Abubakr Al-Shamahi (@ShamahiAbubakr), Al Jazeera Digital Middle East and North Africa editor Nicolas Haque (@nicolashaque), Al Jazeera correspondent Vinicius Valente Bayma, Brazil fan Adam Abou-Gad, Al Jazeera engagement producer Jasmine Garsd (@JasGarsd), Host, The Last Cup Episode credits: This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei, Ashish Malhotra, and Chloe K Li with our host, Halla Mohieddeen. Ruby Zaman fact-checked this episode. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and Ruby Zaman. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

As winter sets in, Russia is targeting Ukraine’s power grid. Homes are without heat and light while multi-storey apartment buildings no longer have functioning elevators. Families are relying on camping stoves to do their cooking. What does a weaponised winter mean for Ukrainians now and what will that mean as the cold continues? In this episode:  Rory Challands (@rorychallands), Al Jazeera correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters with our host, Halla Mohieddeen. Ruby Zaman fact-checked this episode. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and Ruby Zaman. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Lionel Messi - considered by many to be the greatest football player of all time - is two wins away from finally winning a World Cup. And though much of his native Argentina is behind him - they are not the only ones. Continents away, in parts of India and Bangladesh, Argentina and Messi superfans also hope to see him lift the cup. So what’s behind the Messi mania in South Asia, and what does it say about the soft power of ‘the beautiful game?’ In this episode:  Somdutta Bhattacharyya, Argentina superfan in India Tamjidul Hoque (@TamjidulH24v2), Argentina superfan in Bangladesh Jasmine Garsd (@JasGarsd), Host, The Last Cup Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra with Chloe K. Li, and our host, Halla Mohieddeen. It was fact-checked by Ruby Zaman. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and Ruby Zaman. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

China’s zero-COVID bubble has officially burst, after years of some of the world’s strongest restrictions aimed at preventing its spread. After protests in more than 20 cities last month, people have shown they were ready for restrictions to be lifted. So, what are the challenges facing the loosening of tight restrictions, and are people ready for what comes next? In this episode:  Katrina Yu (@Katmyu), Al Jazeera China correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Alexandra Locke with Ruby Zaman, Chloe K. Li, and our host, Halla Mohieddeen. It was fact-checked by Ruby Zaman. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and Ruby Zaman. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

For more than a decade, football fans have been wondering what the first Middle Eastern World Cup would look like. Now that the tournament has passed its halfway mark, we can finally see it in practice. Morocco’s now the last Arab and African team standing. After their win against Spain, players posed with the Palestinian flag, highlighting an issue that’s become central to fans at the tournament. In this episode, we see how the 2022 Qatar World Cup has panned out so far, from upsets to football culture to geopolitics.  In this episode:  Tony Karon (@TonyKaron), editorial lead at AJ+ Abubakr Al-Shamahi (@ShamahiAbubakr), Al Jazeera digital editor for the Middle East and North Africa  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei with Chloe K. Li and our host, Halla Moheiddeen. Ruby Zaman fact-checked this episode. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and Ruby Zaman. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

After Russian forces occupied most of Mariupol, members of the Azov Battalion and other Ukrainian fighting forces were holed up in the Azovstal steel plant – their last stand in the besieged city. For their own safety, Ukraine’s government encouraged them to surrender to Russian forces. They were imprisoned for months but recently many were part of a prisoner exchange and now have stories to tell. We hear one of those stories. In this episode:  Krzysztof Dzieciolowski, award-winning freelance journalist for Al Jazeera Alina Panina, Ukrainian border guard and former prisoner of war Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters with Chloe K. Li and our host, Halla Mohieddeen. Ruby Zaman fact-checked this episode. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and Ruby Zaman. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

As wealthy nations try to find new ways to cut their carbon emissions, electric vehicles have been getting a lot of attention. From incentives for electric cars in the US to all-out bans on future gas and petrol cars in the UK and European Union, leaders are pushing their populations away from the gas guzzlers. But electric cars aren’t an environmental silver bullet. Their batteries require specific types of metals, like cobalt and nickel. One potential – and controversial – source for those metals is the deep sea. In this episode, we look at the minerals on the bottom of the ocean floor and the environmental costs of mining them. In this episode:  Diva Amon (@DivaAmon), marine biologist  Daniel Ackerman (@DAckermanNews), independent climate journalist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei with our host, Halla Mohieddeen. Ruby Zaman fact-checked this episode. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and Ruby Zaman. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode. Our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad. Al Jazeera’s head of audio is Ney Alvarez. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

In 2023, Canadians will be able to apply for a medically assisted death, also known in the country as medical assistance in dying (MAID), if they are suffering from mental health problems as their sole condition. Years after assisted dying legislation was first approved, it has been expanded to include those who do not have a “reasonably foreseeable” death. The recent changes have caused concerns for rights groups and mental health advocates in Canada, one of just a few countries where euthanasia is legal. The Take asks what is at stake and looks at the taboos that still remain around conversations about death. In this episode:  Bill Kaufmann (@BillKaufmannjrn), Reporter, Calgary Herald and Calgary Sun Lori Weber, Children's book author, “The Ribbon Leaf” Cheryl Romaire (@CherylRomaire), healthcare and MAID advocate Mark Henick (@markhenick), Author, “So-Called Normal: A Memoir of Family, Depression and Resilience” Episode credits:  This episode was produced by Ruby Zaman with our host, Halla Mohieddeen It was fact-checked by Chloe K. Li. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and Ruby Zaman. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

The last time Iran faced the United States at the World Cup, back in 1998, the streets of Tehran erupted in celebration after Iran won. This time around, feelings are much more complicated. Iranians are entering a third month of protests after 22-year-old Mahsa Jina Amini died in police custody in September. Since then, foreign-based rights groups say hundreds have been killed by security forces and thousands arrested. In this episode, we look at the role athletes are playing in Iran’s protests. In this episode:  Reza H. Akbari (@rezahakbari), PhD candidate and program manager at Institute for War and Peace Reporting Episode credits: This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei with Chloe K. Li and our host, Halla Mohieddeen. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and Ruby Zaman.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Shein is one of the most successful start-ups in the world, and the fast fashion company’s rise parallels the global spread of the shopping holiday Black Friday. It has reportedly been valued at $100bn and it has been ranked the top shopping app in dozens of countries. But Shein is still full of unknowns, including big questions about its working conditions and its materials. So what we know about its success – and what we don’t – tell us about the future of fast fashion. In this episode:  Terry Nguyen (@terrygtnguyen), journalist at Dirt Newsletter Sheng Lu (@shenglu27), professor at the University of Delaware Episode credits: This episode was produced by Alexandra Locke with Chloe K. Li, Ruby Zaman, Amy Walters, Negin Owliaei, Ashish Malhotra, and Halla Mohieddeen. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

The Russia-Ukraine war risked being escalated further on November 15, when a missile killed two people in Poland. As world leaders scrambled to figure out where it came from, many were concerned that the conflict had moved to the brink of World War III. NATO leaders said they did not believe the missile was a Russian attack, but rather a Ukrainian missile accidentally shot into Polish territory. But should more countries be worried about the war spilling over onto their soil? In this episode:  James Bays (@baysontheroad), Al Jazeera diplomatic editor Bartosz Weglarczyk (@bweglarczyk), Editor-in-chief of Onet.pl Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra with Chloe K. Li. Ruby Zaman fact-checked this episode. Our production team includes Amy Walters, Alexandra Locke, Chloe K. Li, Negin Owliaei, Ashish Malhotra, and our host, Halla Mohieddeen. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Qatar 2022 marks the first time in World Cup history that African coaches will lead all five African nations in the competition. Many are hailing it as a watershed moment after years of African countries relying heavily on foreign, white and Western coaches while many qualified African candidates were denied opportunities. So how significant is this for the African teams, fans and players at the World Cup? And will this lead to more opportunities for African coaches, both on the continent and overseas? In this episode:  Sean Jacobs (_@seanjacobs), founder, Africa Is a Country Mas-Ud Didi Dramani, assistant coach, Ghana national team (@GhanaBlackStars) Radhi Jaidi (@RadhijaidiOff), former Tunisian national team player, former head coach, Esperance Sportive de Tunis Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra with Chloe K. Li and Negin Owliaei. Ruby Zaman fact-checked this episode. Our production team includes Amy Walters, Alexandra Locke, Chloe K. Li, Negin Owliaei, and our host, Halla Mohieddeen. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

The Wagner Group is shadowy and illegal, but it has been tracked to Ukraine, Syria, Libya, the Central African Republic, Mali, and elsewhere. It is known as a deadly fighting force of mercenaries with a goal of furthering Russia’s military interests around the world. One Wagner fighter is now speaking out about what life is like as a soldier for hire. In this episode:  Niko Vorobyov, British and Russian journalist for Al Jazeera Marat Gabidullin, Former member of The Wagner Group in Ukraine and Syria Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters with Alexandra Locke and our host Halla Mohieddeen. It was fact-checked by Ruby Zaman. The production team includes Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and Ruby Zaman. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

If you’re not already familiar with VAR, or video assistant referee, during the 2022 World Cup you’re about to become very familiar with it. Refereeing with video replay can mean overturning goals, ejecting players, and plenty of moans and cheers. This time, VAR is back with semi-automation to determine if players are offside, with cameras and sensors tracking every limb on the pitch. When it was introduced for the first time at a World Cup in 2018, it changed the tournament – with passionate disagreement about whether that was for better or for worse. So what does VAR have in store for this World Cup? In this episode:  Tony Karon (@TonyKaron), editorial lead at AJ+ Abdulla al-Marri (@Referee_Qtr), World Cup video assistant referee  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Alexandra Locke with Negin Owliaei and our host Halla Mohieddeen. It was fact-checked by Ruby Zaman. The production team includes Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and Ruby Zaman. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Fossil fuels are a time bomb, and humans are entitled to stop them. That is the argument of How to Blow Up a Pipeline, a book by Andreas Malm calling for activist groups like Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion to adopt radical tactics against the fossil fuel industry, including property damage. As COP27 enters its second week, greenwashing is rife, protest is limited, and fossil fuel emissions are still rising. After over a quarter-century of UN-sponsored talking, Malm argues it is time for people to take action into their own hands. In this episode:  Andreas Malm, author of How to Blow Up a Pipeline and professor at Lund University Episode credits: This episode was produced by Alexandra Locke with Negin Owliaei, Chloe K. Li, and our host Halla Mohieddeen. It was fact-checked by Ruby Zaman. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

With days before the opening of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, players and teams are still changing countries. Some are even being questioned if the country they are playing for is the country they are from. What is the history of nationality in football and can it keep up with the global world of today? In this episode:  Maher Mezahi (@MezahiMaher), African football journalist Jay Harris (@jaydmharris), football journalist at TheAthletic.com Luis Vidal (​​@LucVidal), football journalist at The 18th.com Mas-Ud Didi Dramani, assistant coach for The Black Stars, Ghana’s national team Enock Muchinjo (@eno_muchinjo), Zimbabwean football journalist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters with Chloe K. Li with our host, Halla Mohieddeen. Ruby Zaman fact-checked this episode. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and Ruby Zaman. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

The world’s eyes are on Egypt this week, with the United Nations Climate Change Conference – COP27 – taking place in the resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh. But while Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi positions himself as an environmental leader, one of his country’s leading activists could be about to die. Alaa Abd el-Fattah has been on hunger strike for more than 200 days, in a protest over his imprisonment. But on Sunday – the first day of COP27 – he stopped drinking water as well. Will the international community do anything to save him? In this episode:  Mona Seif (@monasosh), human rights activist and sister of Alaa Abd el-Fattah Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra, Alexandra Locke, and Negin Owliaei. Ruby Zaman fact-checked this episode. Our production team includes Amy Walters, Alexandra Locke, Chloe K. Li, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, and our host, Halla Mohieddeen. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Conservative talk radio, a medium full of large personalities and strong opinions, is popular among much of the United States population. In 2016, it drove many Republican voters to pick one of the country’s most right-wing candidates running. Now, with an upcoming midterm election that will decide the political makeup of the US Congress, The Take looks at what the power of conservative talk radio looks like now. In this episode:  Flo Phillips (@phillipsflo), senior producer and reporter for Al Jazeera’s The Listening Post  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li, and our host, Halla Mohieddeen.  Ruby Zaman fact-checked this episode. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and Ruby Zaman.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

The dust has settled on China’s Communist Party Congress. The party holds the gathering every five years and it is the political event to watch. This is also the case in the United States, where politicians from both major parties are bringing up China ahead of the country’s midterm elections. In this episode, we look at what the outcomes from the latest Congress could mean for China's people and the country’s relationship with the US. In this episode:  Yangyang Cheng, (@yangyang_cheng), research scholar at Yale Law School Paul Tsai China Center Isaac Stone Fish (@isaacstonefish) CEO, Strategy Risks Episode credits: This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei and our host, Halla Mohieddeen. Ruby Zaman fact-checked this episode. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and Ruby Zaman.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

After winning the Brazilian election, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will once again become the country’s President in January, more than 10 years after he last held the position. But his victory was narrow and current President Jair Bolsonaro still won more than 49 percent of the vote. Lula, as he is known, will now attempt to roll back many of Bolsonaro’s right-wing policies - including the loosening of Brazil's gun-control measures, which led to the number of guns in private hands doubling since 2018. But how easy will that be? In this episode: Azade Pesmen (@azadethunda), freelance journalist Melina Risso (@melinarisso), research director, The Igarape Institute Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra with Chloe K. Li and Negin Owliaei. Ruby Zaman fact-checked this episode. Our production team includes Amy Walters, Alexandra Locke, Chloe K. Li, Negin Owliaei and our host, Halla Mohieddeen. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

The World Cup is around the corner. Hundreds of the best football players across the planet will have the honour of competing for their country. But to become one of those players requires a huge amount of dedication, hard work and luck. Today, we’re sharing the story of one man trying to reach the top tiers of his sport. In this episode:  Benjamin Chevallier, co-director of Diaby: The Away Game Episode credits: This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei with our host, Malika Bilal. It was fact-checked by Ruby Zaman. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters and Ruby Zaman. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

When a war is forgotten, the problems do not go away. In Syria, a cholera outbreak could threaten the whole region, just as the World Health Organization is investigating complaints of corruption from within its ranks. Meanwhile, the ways in which the world has adapted to the Syrian government's survival are coming into the spotlight, as Syria's neighbours are starting to return leader Bashar al-Assad to the fold. In this episode:  Zeina Khodr (@ZeinakhodrAljaz), Al Jazeera English correspondent Maria Cheng (@mylcheng), Associated Press medical writer Bassam Barabandi (@BASSAMVA), co-founder of People Demand Change Episode credits: This episode was produced by Alexandra Locke with Chloe K. Li and our host, Halla Mohieddeen. Chloe K. Li and Negin Owliaei fact-checked this episode. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and Ruby Zaman. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook  

When former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte left office earlier this year, it marked a change in the government’s antagonistic relationship with the media. But new President Ferdinand Marcos Jr is the son of a former dictator who led a crackdown on the media decades ago. So when radio commentator Percy Lapid was shot dead near Manila on October 3, it left journalists wondering what this government’s response might show about how safe they will be in this next chapter. In this episode:  Roy Mabasa (@roymabasa), journalist and brother of Percy Lapid Jonathan de Santos (@desamting), chair of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines Carlos Conde (@condeHRW), senior Philippines researcher, Human Rights Watch Episode credits: This episode was produced by Alexandra Locke with Chloe K. Li and our host, Halla Mohieddeen. It was fact-checked by Ruby Zaman. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and Ruby Zaman. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

The World Cup is about to head to the Middle East for the first time. Ever since it was announced back in 2010 that the tournament would be held in Qatar, the country has been getting ready to host the world’s biggest sporting event. In this episode, the first in The Take’s coverage of the World Cup, we look at some of the preparations for the tournament, their associated controversies, and a preview of what we might expect after kickoff.  In this episode:  Tony Karon (@TonyKaron), editorial lead at AJ+ Sohail Malik (@SohailAJE), sports reporter, Al Jazeera Episode credits: This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei with Chloe K. Li and our host, Malika Bilal. Ruby Zaman fact checked this episode.  Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and Ruby Zaman. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

With Vladimir Putin’s recent warning that Russia will use “all available means” at his disposal to defend his country, there has been increased chatter about the Russian president going to use nuclear weapons. But just how likely is that, and what does it mean to start a nuclear war in 2022? In this episode:  Alex Gatopoulos (@alexgatopoulos), Al Jazeera defence editor Gerhard Mangott (@gerhard_mangott), professor of International Relations, University of Innsbruck Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra (lead producer) with Chloe K. Li, Ruby Zaman, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, Alexandra Locke, and our host, Halla Mohieddeen. Ruby Zaman fact-checked this episode.  Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and Ruby Zaman. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook  

In the last month, protests in Iran have been bolder than any time since the 1979 revolution, but now, teenage girls are taking the lead. Gen Z is using their TikTok and Instagram skills to call the world’s attention to their need for freedom. But with almost three hundred hashtags, #MahsaAmini, their movement, is also being co-opted for others' needs. So how do you know which is which? In this episode:  Holly Dagres (@HDagres), nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and Editor, MENASource and IranSource Marc Owen Jones (@MarcOwenJones), assistant professor of Middle East Studies at Hamad bin Khalifa University Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters (Lead Prod) with Negin Owliaei, Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Ruby Zaman, Ashish Malhotra, and our host, Halla Mohieddeen. Ruby Zaman fact-checked this episode. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and Ruby Zaman. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

The United States redeployed its ground troops in small numbers to Somalia in May 2022, but its air war has been going on for much longer. For 12 years, the US denied any civilian casualties from air attacks, admitting just five deaths so far. In this episode, we hear from three people who uncovered the reality of the civilian death toll and laid the disconnect bare. In this episode: Mohamed Osman Abdi (@mohamedosma4), Somali journalist Abdullahi Hassan (@abdullahisom1), Amnesty International researcher Chris Woods (@chrisjwoods), founder of Airwars Episode credits: This episode was updated by Alexandra Locke. The original production team was Alexandra Locke, Amy Walters, Priyanka Tilve, Ney Alvarez, Dina Kesbeh, Natalia Aldana, Stacey Samuel, Graelyn Brashear, and Kevin Hirten in for Malika Bilal. Alex Roldan is the sound designer. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook  

An Indonesian football match led to the deaths of more than a hundred people after police fired tear gas. People ran into locked gates while trying to flee the stadium. Now, the government is investigating why the police used tear gas and other forms of excessive force at the game. Indonesians are also reflecting back on the history and might of the country’s police force and how it all culminated in this tragedy. In this episode:  Jessica Washington (@JesWashington), Al Jazeera correspondent   Andreas Harsono (@andreasharsono), Indonesia researcher for Human Rights Watch.  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li with Negin Owliaei and our host, Halla Mohieddeen. Ruby Zaman fact-checked this episode. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and Ruby Zaman. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

On September 30, Captain Ibrahim Traore led a coup to become Burkina Faso’s new leader, deposing Paul Henri-Damiba, who had only come to power in January through his own coup. So, what are the conditions that allowed for the West African nation to face two coups in just eight months? In this episode:  Nicolas Haque, (@nicolashaque), Al Jazeera’s West Africa correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra with Amy Walters, Negin Owliaei, Ruby Zaman, Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, and Halla Mohieddeen. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

A new round of protests, a water shortage and now a cholera outbreak are taking Haiti from bad to worse. Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, the country has not held elections. Many Haitians hold current Prime Minister Ariel Henry responsible for the delay. The country seems to be at a boiling point. Could it boil over? In this episode:  Harold Isaac (@haroldisaac), Journalist in Haiti Lauren Wilfong, Justice Catalyst Fellow at Justice Action Center (@jactioncenter) Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters and Ashish Malhotra with our host, Halla Mohieddeen. Ruby Zaman fact-checked this episode. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and Ruby Zaman. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook  

Formula 1 is having a moment, and it’s attracting a new generation of fans to the speed, danger, and lifestyles of its rich and famous drivers. More countries now want the status that a Formula 1 race brings, too. After this weekend’s Grand Prix in Japan, drivers will set off to the US, Mexico, and Brazil before the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi. In this episode, we look at how a sport that was considered esoteric, elitist, and European is going global. In this episode:  Simon Chadwick (@Prof_Chadwick), professor of sport and the geopolitical economy at SKEMA Business School Episode credits: This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei with Ruby Zaman, and our host, Kevin Hirten. Ruby Zaman fact-checked this episode. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and Ruby Zaman. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

There are tough questions about rebuilding in the United States after Hurricane Ian in Florida and Hurricane Fiona in Puerto Rico. In Florida, the damage is in the tens of billions of dollars, and a crisis for insurance companies means that recovery will only be more difficult. So how do you decide when it is better not to rebuild, but to start again somewhere else? In this episode:  Jesse M. Keenan (@Jesse_M_Keenan), associate professor of sustainable real estate, Tulane University Fernando Rivera (@Prof_Rivera), professor of sociology, University of Central Florida Episode credits: This episode was produced by Alexandra Locke with Chloe K. Li and our host, Halla Moheiddeen. Chloe K. Li and Ashish Malhotra fact-checked this episode. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and Ruby Zaman. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to call up 300,000 military reservists to join the war in Ukraine has created chaos in the country. While men are being summoned to the front lines to fight in the war on short notice, others are fleeing the country to escape the draft. We talk to some of them. In this episode: Albert, draft resister Andrey, draft resister Hoelun, draft resister Bernard Smith (@JazeeraBernard), Al Jazeera Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra with Negin Owliaei, Ruby Zaman, Chloe K. Li, Amy Walters, Alexandra Locke, and our host Halla Mohieddeen. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.  Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Brazil is about to vote in a general election on October 2. The country will pick between two candidates surrounded by controversies, former President Luiz Ignacio Lula da Silva and current President Jair Bolsonaro. And with this, Brazilians are at a crossroads looking towards the past to choose the best option for their future. Today, a look into this weekend’s election. In this episode:  Lucia Newman (@lucianewman), Al Jazeera Latin America editor and senior correspondent  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li with Ney Alvarez, and our host, Halla Moheiddeen. Ruby Zaman fact-checked this episode. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and Ruby Zaman. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

For nearly two weeks now, protests in Iran have been gaining momentum. The spark was the death of Mahsa Amini, also known as Jina, a young Kurdish woman who died after being detained by Iran’s morality police for “improper hijab”. But the fuel for the demonstrations is something many women across Iran have been feeling for decades. Today, a look into the protests rocking the country. In this episode:  Dorsa Jabbari (@DorsaJabbari), Al Jazeera correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei and Ruby Zaman with our host, Halla Mohieddeen. Ruby Zaman fact-checked this episode. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and Ruby Zaman. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Hundreds of climbers arrive at the Everest base camp on the Khumbu glacier every year, but higher temperatures are melting the ice in the Himalayan region. Local guides who are members of the Sherpa community help visitors reach the 8.8km peak, but Nepal's government is considering moving the camp for safety reasons. So, how dangerous is climate change making the journey to the top of the world's highest mountain? In this episode:  Dr. Pasang Yangjee Sherpa, (@PasangYangjee), anthropologist Dawa Yangzum Sherpa, professional mountain guide Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ruby Zaman with our host, Halla Mohieddeen. Chloe K. Li fact-checked this episode. Our production team includes Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and Ruby Zaman. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Special thanks to Rizza Alee. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Italy, the country that first coined the term "fascismo" more than a century ago, is poised on Sunday to elect a prime minister whose party descended from fascism. The failure of Italy's current governing party to maintain a coalition has left Giorgia Meloni and her far-right Brothers of Italy party in the lead. Why would Italy choose to return to its fascist past? In this episode:  Michele Barbero (@MicheleBarbero), AFPTV Live deputy editor-in-chief and writer for Foreign Policy Barbara Serra (@BarbaraGSerra), Italian-born journalist and producer of Fascism in the Family: Al Jazeera Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters and Ashish Malhotra with our host, Halla Mohieddeen. Ruby Zaman fact-checked this episode. Our production team includes Chloe K Li, Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and Ruby Zaman. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Black farmers have lost 98 percent of their land over the past century due to factors that include discrimination from the United States Department of Agriculture. Now, with a growing food crisis that disproportionately affects them, a new generation of farmers and organisers are acquiring back that lost land to provide a reliable food source for their communities. In this episode: Kofi Boone (@KBbop), professor of landscape architecture at North Carolina State University Kenya Crumel, director of Black Land & Power Initiative at the National Black Food & Justice Alliance Cam Terry, owner and farmer with Garden Variety Harvests Episode credits: This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li, with Alexandra Locke, Ashish Malhotra, Ruby Zaman, Amy Walters, Negin Owliaei, and Halla Mohieddeen. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Bollywood has lost its sparkle - some 20 films that have come out this year have lost money, including movies from big names like Aamir Khan. That's said to be double the pre-pandemic failure rate. And other Indian films, particularly from the south, are coming to the fore. So what will it take to revive Bollywood fever? In this episode: Pavni Mittal (@pavnimittal), Al Jazeera correspondent Aseem Chhabra (@chhabs), director of New York Indian Film Festival  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Alexandra Locke with Ashish Malhotra, Ruby Zaman, Chloe K. Li, Amy Walters, Negin Owliaei, and Halla Mohieddeen. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. We'll be back on Wednesday. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Europe is just weeks out of a record-setting heatwave, but panic is already setting in about how the continent will cope come winter. Russian gas imports into the EU have slowed to a trickle in response to sanctions over the war in Ukraine. That has exposed other faultlines in energy markets, causing electricity prices to soar. So what will Europeans do to manage through the winter? In this episode:  Henning Gloystein (@hgloystein), director of energy, climate, and resources at Eurasia Group (@EurasiaGroup)  Simon Francis, coordinator, End Fuel Poverty Coalition (@EndFuelPoverty) Maria Timon Samra, chief executive, Tŷ Hafan (@tyhafan) Episode credits: This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei with Chloe K. Li, Amy Walters, Alexandra Locke, Ruby Zaman, Ashish Malhotra, and Halla Mohieddeen. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Months of torrential downpours and flooding have hounded Pakistan, and much of the blame is falling on climate change. But Pakistan’s contribution to greenhouse gasses is less than 1 percent. So how is the world coming to Pakistan’s aid to make up for the damage done? In this episode:  Zein Basravi (@virtualzein), international correspondent, Al Jazeera English Afia Salam (@afiasalam), freelance journalist on environment, climate change, gender issues and media ethics Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters with Chloe K. Li, Ruby Zaman, Alexandra Locke, Negin Owliaei, Ashish Malhotra and Halla Mohieddeen. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

What has changed in Afghanistan, 21 years after 9/11? Afghanistan is back in the hands of the Taliban, but high-ranking members of Al Qaeda like Ayman al Zawahiri are still being hunted down in Kabul by the US. Al Jazeera correspondent Osama Bin Javaid spoke to Afghans, including the Taliban, about where the country is today. In this episode:  Osama Bin Javaid (@osamabinjavaid), Al Jazeera correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters with Ruby Zaman, Chloe K. Li, Negin Owliaei, Alexandra Locke and Halla Mohieddeen. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Special thanks to Tabish Talib. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

With the passing of Elizabeth II, an era has come to an end. Heartbroken supporters continue to grieve, but many members of the Commonwealth have signaled they are ready for a new relationship with the United Kingdom. Could new leadership in Britain usher in that change? In this episode: Rosalea Hamilton (@rosaleahamilton), economist and Chair at the Caribbean Philanthropic Alliance Ed Owens (@DrEdOwens), royal historian, commentator, author: The Family Firm Episode credits: Host: Malika Bilal This episode was produced by Amy Walters and Ruby Zaman with Alexandra Locke, Negin Owliaei, and Chloe K. Li. Alex Roldan is our Sound Designer, and Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our Engagement Producers. Ney Alvarez is our Head of Audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

It looked to many Iraqis like the beginning of a civil war, but the fighting that broke out last week was over almost as quickly as it started. But there's a difference between stable and stuck, and Iraq is still in the same political stalemate that sparked the violence. And at the center of it all is Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr and his unexpected retirement from politics. Is Iraq in the calm before the storm, or will cooler heads prevail once again?  In this episode: Imran Khan (@ajimran), Al Jazeera senior correspondent Ali Hashem (@alihashem_tv), Al Jazeera senior journalist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Alexandra Locke with Chloe K. Li, Ruby Zaman, Amy Walters, Negin Owliaei and Halla Mohieddeen. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera English’s head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Last May, Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was killed by Israeli forces. Since then, her family has pushed the United States government for one thing: an independent investigation into her killing that leads to real accountability. The Take looks into the push for justice in the US and why it has been so difficult to achieve.   In this episode: Lina Abu Akleh (@LinaAbuAkleh), niece of Shireen Abu Akleh Katherine Gallagher (@katherga1), Human Rights Attorney, Center for Constitutional Rights (@theCCR) Said Arikat (@SMArikat), journalist Episode credits: Host: Halla Mohieddeen This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei and Amy Walters with Ruby Zaman, Chloe K. Li, and Alexandra Locke. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad. Ney Alvarez is our Head of Audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Shireen Abu Akleh was killed close to over four months ago. More than seven separate investigations by media, human rights organizations, the Palestinian government, and the UN say it was Israeli forces who shot and killed her. The United States says she was ‘likely’ killed by Israeli forces. Israel does not. We hear from Palestinian journalists who were there when Shireen was killed and from people who know how Israel runs their investigations. In this episode: Shatha Hanaysha, freelance journalist, Middle East Eye Mujahed AlSa’di, freelance journalist Dror Sadot (@Dror_Sadot), a spokeswoman for the Israeli rights group B'Tselem Dan Owen, researcher at Yesh Din and the author of the position paper “Investigating Themselves” Episode credits: Host: Halla Mohieddeen This episode was produced by Amy Walters and Negin Owliaei with Ruby Zaman, Chloe K. Li, and Alexandra Locke. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad. Ney Alvarez is our Head of Audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

We've been busy behind the scenes during August, working on a slate of exciting shows for the months ahead. Now, our summer hiatus is ending, and The Take will be back in your podcast feed with new episodes beginning Friday, September 2nd. Until then, stay in touch with us @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

We’ll be on hiatus for a few weeks, busy behind the scenes working on some really exciting episodes for the coming months, including our coverage of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Stay tuned for new episodes in September! Meanwhile, stay in touch with us @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Note: The Take is on hiatus for August, so this is our last episode until September. We’ll send out an update ahead of our first episode back. Peter Kalmus is a US climate scientist who’s fed up with inaction. Back in April, he chained himself to a bank in protest with a group called Scientist Rebellion. Now, during yet another hot summer, with Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ensuing global energy crisis, are growing protests like Peter’s the future? We hear from people demanding – and taking – radical action from around the globe. In this episode:  Peter Kalmus (@ClimateHuman), climate scientist at NASA Anote Tong, former president of Kiribati Lucia Newman (@lucianewman), Latin America editor for Al Jazeera English   ​​Monica Villamizar (@monica_vv), journalist with Al Jazeera’s Fault Lines Karim Elgendy (@NomadandSettler), fellow at Chatham House Saleemul Huq (@SaleemulHuq), Director of the International Centre for Climate Change and Development Nisar Majid, research associate at the London School of Economics To hear more from the people in this episode, check out our climate playlist on Spotify while we are on hiatus. Episode credits: This episode was produced by Alexandra Locke with Chloe K. Li, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, Ruby Zaman, Ney Alvarez, and Malika Bilal. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Tim St. Clair mixed this episode. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

On July 16, US President Joe Biden and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed met in Saudi Arabia. The meeting was part of Biden’s much-publicized trip to the Middle East. And as it ended, reporters had a question for the two leaders that went unanswered: why was the UAE detaining an American lawyer who once represented the slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi? The Take looks into the case of the US civil rights lawyer Asim Ghafoor.   In this episode:  Nihad Awad, Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations Episode credits: This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei with Amy Walters, Alexandra Locke, Ney Alvarez, Ruby Zaman, Chloe K. Li and Malika Bilal. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Adam Abou-Gad and Aya Elmileik are our engagement producers.

During the Trump administration, large numbers of militia members and vigilantes flocked to the southern border of the United States. They pledged to stop undocumented border crossings and started patrols with that in mind. But the residents of the small border town of Arivaca, Arizona had seen these groups before and had no interest in handling them again. Author and journalist Patrick Strickland spent a year reporting there and tells us what he found. In this episode: Patrick Strickland (@P_Strickland_) Author, The Marauders: Conspiracy Theories, Militias and Violence on the US Border Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters with Alexandra Locke, Ruby Zaman, Chloe K. Li, Negin Owliaei, Ney Alvarez, and Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Five months ago, Russia invaded Ukraine. Since then, we have heard President Vladimir Putin’s claim on the country and his pledge to fight Nazis there but what do Russians think? We hear from some voices you may not have heard from before: one Russian "Super Putin" fan and creator and another who is wholly against the war. In this episode:  Niko Vorobyov (@Narco_Polo420), freelance journalist covering Russia Sergey Kalenik (@SergeyKalenik), public relations specialist in Russia Ilya Matveev (@IlyaMatveev_), anti-war political scientist formerly based in St Petersburg, Russia Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters, Chloe K Li, Alexandra Locke, Negin Owliaei, Ney Alvarez, and Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

One in seven people worldwide live with some form of disability and many of them face daily challenges that include just getting around. Al Jazeera’s innovation studio, AJ Contrast, tells the story of three women with different disabilities in Mumbai, Lagos, and New York City. In this episode, we speak with AJ Contrast Senior Producer Viktorija Mickute to learn more about these women and what can be done to make the world more accessible for all members of society. In this episode:  Viktorija Moquette (@VikVicariously), senior producer, AJ Contrast Nidhi Goyal (@saysnidhigoyal), activist and comedian Rebecca Lamorte (@RebeccaLamorte), former New York City Council candidate Olajumuke Olajide, athlete Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ruby Zaman with Amy Walters, Alexandra Locke, Ney Alvarez, Negin Owliaei, Chloe K Li and Malika Bilal. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Adam Abou-Gad and Aya Elmileik are our engagement producers. Click here for the episode transcript.

In Sri Lanka, it has been one shock to the system after another, and the latest was a victory for anti-government protesters: On July 13, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country. For the protesters, it is a moment of great victory. But it is what happens next that will determine if people’s lives will actually change. In this episode: Indrajit Samarajiva (@indica), writer Minelle Fernandez, Al Jazeera English correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Alexandra Locke with Chloe K. Li, Ney Alvarez, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, and Malika Bilal. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Previously on The Take: Protesters, power cuts and Sri Lanka’s persistent president  Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

It’s been almost 100 years since Indigenous tribes in the north of Argentina were violently attacked. Hundreds were killed in the Napalpí Massacre, as it has come to be known. In a unique trial for the South American country, prosecutors now say that the state committed crimes against humanity. This week marks the anniversary of the events, and the trial’s verdict is seen as a first step for the country to reflect on racism and violence against Indigenous people. In this episode:  Teresa Bo (@TeresaBo), Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Argentina Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ney Alvarez, with Ruby Zaman, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, Alexandra Locke, Chloe K. Li, and Natasha Del Toro, in for Malika Bilal. The Take’s sound designer is Alex Roldan. The Take’s engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Climate scientists are warning that rising temperatures will continue to worsen food insecurity and hunger cycles in southern Madagascar. In 2021, the World Food Program said that years of extreme weather events could push the country into the "world's first climate-induced famine." This year, the situation remains dire, with 61% of the Grand Sud affected by drought and high food insecurity. In this episode, we explore the region and hear from locals about how they struggle to survive. In this episode:  Joe Stepansky (@Joe_Stepansky), Producer for Al Jazeera English Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ney Alvarez, with Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, Ruby Zaman, Alexandra Locke, Chloe K. Li, and Malika Bilal. The Take’s sound designer is Alex Roldan. The Take’s engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

US President Joe Biden has been to the Middle East many times, but never as head of state. Now he’s packing his bag to visit Saudi Arabia, a nation he once called a “pariah” after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. But with US gas prices through the roof and low poll numbers, some analysts say trading human rights for economics could bring risks but also political rewards.   In this episode:  Ali Harb (@Harbpeace), Senior producer for Al Jazeera.com, Washington, DC Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters with Alexandra Locke, Ruby Zaman, Chloe Li, Ney Alvarez, Negin Owliaei, and Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

In the shadow of Serengeti National Park, some 70,000 people may soon lose the land that is their home. They’re Maasai, an indigenous semi-nomadic people living alongside safari tours and game hunters. The Tanzanian government says an area where they live, Loliondo, is overpopulated and that it is threatening a precious ecosystem famed for its wild animals. It looks like a classic case of human vs animal – but the animals are also attractive to trophy hunters, and for the Maasai, the story goes much deeper. In this episode:  Joseph Oleshangay (@Oleshangay), human rights lawyer Anuradha Mittal (@Mittaloak), Executive Director, Oakland Institute  Parselelo Kantai, journalist and writer Episode credits: This episode was produced by Alexandra Locke with Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, Ruby Zaman, Ney Alvarez, and Malika Bilal. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

This week, we’re bringing you a series from the Al Jazeera Investigates podcast. Desperate to do a deal, Christopher Samuelson enlists the help of a former cop who’s prepared to push the limits of the law. This ‘dirty trickster’ claims he can get us phone records, private emails and even a new identity – all in the name of deceiving the football authorities and getting a deal done. Episode credits: This episode was produced by Kevin Hirten with help from David Harrison and Jason Gwynne. Craig Pennington is the audio editor. Clean Cuts did the final sound mix. Jo de Frias is the Al Jazeera Investigates podcast’s Executive Producer and Phil Rees is Al Jazeera’s Director of Investigative Journalism. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

This week, we’re bringing you a series from the Al Jazeera Investigates podcast. In this episode, master dealmaker Christopher Samuelson schools our undercover reporters in the dark arts of offshore finance. The I-Unit digs into his past as a money manager to some of Russia’s most powerful oligarchs. Episode credits: This episode was produced by Kevin Hirten with help from David Harrison and Jason Gwynne. Craig Pennington is the audio editor. Clean Cuts did the final sound mix. Jo de Frias is the Al Jazeera Investigates podcast’s Executive Producer and Phil Rees is Al Jazeera’s Director of Investigative Journalism. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

All this week, we’re bringing you a series from the Al Jazeera Investigates podcast. In The Men Who Sell Football, Al Jazeera’s I-Unit goes undercover to buy an English football club. But there’s a catch. The fictional buyer is a criminal and wants to use the club to launder his dirty money. That’s against the rules but that won’t stop The Men Who Sell Football from trying to close the deal. Episode credits: This episode was produced by Kevin Hirten with help from David Harrison and Jason Gwynne. Craig Pennington is the audio editor. Clean Cuts did the final sound mix. Jo de Frias is the Al Jazeera Investigates podcast’s Executive Producer and Phil Rees is Al Jazeera’s Director of Investigative Journalism. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

In El Salvador, the most densely populated country in Central America, more than 600,000 people do not have access to drinking water or sanitation service. 78% of the country’s river waters are polluted, and people in rural areas - especially women - are risking their lives traveling by foot to collect water from rivers because the State is not providing them with water service. The government has passed a new water law promising to improve water access, but many activists say the law is really about privatizing the service. In this episode:  Sally Jabiel (@sallyjabiel), freelance journalist for Planeta Futuro/El País Miguel Gutiérrez (@WorldVisionSV), Global Water, Sanitation, & Hygiene Coordinator for World Vision in El Salvador  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ney Alvarez, with Ruby Zaman, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, Alexandra Locke, and Malika Bilal. Jessica Weiss translated this episode. The Take’s sound designer is Alex Roldan. Cheryl Ottenritter mixed this episode. The Take’s engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad. Special thanks to Manuel Rapalo, and Imaeyen Ibanga. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

It’s the end of the 50-year chapter known as Roe v Wade – the Supreme Court decision that was the only national legal underpinning for abortion in the country. In this episode, we hear from the front lines of the US abortion fight about why this battle doesn’t end for anyone with one legal ruling and what could be next. In this episode:  Dr. Richard Manning, obstetrician-gynecologist Jessica Williams, lawyer Jollene Levid (@jollenelevid), labor organizer and founding chairperson of AF3IRM Kristen Day (@ProLifeDem), executive director, Democrats For Life of America Anar Virji (@anarvirji), field producer for Al Jazeera English Deb Sica, librarian Episode credits: This episode was produced by Alexandra Locke, with Amy Walters, Ney Alvarez, Ruby Zaman, Negin Owliaei, and Malika Bilal. Special thanks to Amina Waheed and Emily Drabinski. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. This episode was mixed by Cheryl Ottenritter. Our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou Gad.  Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook  

Ukraine’s grain, 10% of the global supply, is stopped at Ukraine’s ports. The EU’s chief of foreign affairs is calling it a war crime by Russia but Russia says Ukraine is to blame.  What is causing the stoppage?  We hear from farmers harvesting the grain and the people trying to feed the world about what happened to Ukrainian grain and what can be done about it. In this episode: Dr. Oleg Nivievskyi (@oniviev1), Vice-president for economics education at Kyiv School of Economics Tamara Demuria (@Tamara_shuka), Chief Humanitarian Officer @Corus Int.  Raj Patel (@_RajPatel), Research Prof @TheLBJSchool, author of "Stuffed and Starved," co-director of "The Ants & The Grasshopper" (http://antsandgrasshopper.org), co-author "Inflamed" Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters, Alexandra Locke, Ruby Zaman, Ney Alvarez, Negin Owliaei, and Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Famine is a slow-moving disaster and when it is declared, people are typically dying of starvation already. It is too late to save every life. Much of Somalia is facing its third dry season which is killing crops, animals and people. The Take talks to Somalis trying to get the word out about what is happening in their country and what they hope will be done to save lives. In this episode:  Aydrus Daar (@Aydrusdaar1), executive director at WADSA, a Somali aid group working in the horn of Africa. Nisar Majid, research associate at the London School of Economics where he was recently research director on the Conflict Research Programme (Somalia portfolio). He is a fellow of the Rift Valley Institute and has worked in the Horn of Africa in various capacities for more than 20 years. Guhad Adan, research associate at the London School of Economics. He is a freelance consultant based in Nairobi and has been working as an aid practitioner and researcher in the Horn of Africa for more than 20 years. Florence Mangwende, humanitarian and resilience programme manager at Oxfam Novib. Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters with Alexandra Locke, Ney Alvarez, Negin Owliaei, Ruby Zaman, and Malika Bilal. The story editor was Tom Fenton. It was updated by Amy Walters. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook  

On June 15, the friends and families of Bruno Pereira and Dom Phillips had their worst fears realized. The men had gone missing ten days earlier. After days of searching, police announced that a local fisherman had confessed to killing the two men. But there are still so many unanswered questions about why this happened. The Take looks into the push for justice in their case. In this episode: Monica Yanakiew (@MonikaKiev), reporter for Al Jazeera English in Brazil Episode credits: This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei with Ruby Zaman, Ney Alvarez, Amy Walters, Alexandra Locke, and Natasha Del Toro, in for Malika Bilal. The Take’s sound designer is Alex Roldan. The Take’s engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Today, we’re featuring the Al Jazeera Investigates podcast’s episode, ‘The Truth Illusion’. It explores one of the most profound questions that philosophers through the ages have tried to answer. What can we prove to be the truth? In today’s deeply divided society, is it even possible for people to agree on a common ‘reality’? Al Jazeera investigates how those deepening divisions began and how they have eroded faith in authority – creating conspiracy theories and ‘alternative facts’. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Colombians are going back to the polls this Sunday for a runoff election. Gustavo Petro, a left-winger and former guerrilla member, and Rodolfo Hernandez, a businessman, are the candidates. They both represent a sharp departure from the country's political establishment that has been in power for more than two decades. So, what are they offering Colombians who have been clamouring for change in the last few years? In this episode:  Alessandro Rampietti (@rampietti) Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Colombia Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ney Alvarez, with Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, Alexandra Locke, Ruby Zaman, and Natasha del Toro in for Malika Bilal. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.  Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook  

Hamza Muktareq Tejani travelled thousands of kilometres and spent all his resources trying to escape the conditions in Darfur. Six years later, he found himself in the United Kingdom, the place he wanted to call home. Then, he received some shocking news, official documents from the government that said he would be relocated to Rwanda. He could be one of thousands of refugees the UK could be sending away. In this episode: Hamza Moukhtar Tejani, refugee from Darfur Qays Sadiqi (@QaysSediqi), former Sudanese refugee, now immigration, public law and civil liberties solicitor (@bhdsolicitors) in London Bashir Mohammed (@bashir_caato), freelance journalist for Al Jazeera based in London Michela Wrong (@michelawrong), journalist and author of four non-fiction books and a novel on Africa Episode Credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters, Ruby Zaman, Ney Alvarez, Negin Owliaei, Alexandra Locke and Natasha Del Toro. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook  

In the Gulf, normalisation with Israel is paying off: there’s a major free trade deal, Israeli tourism to the United Arab Emirates is booming, and the prospect is brewing of normalisation with Saudi Arabia, the largest Arab economy. The occupation is still center stage to Palestinians, and for decades, Israel’s relationship with the Arab world has been at most a cold peace. What does it mean for that to change? In this episode:  Gregg Carlstrom (@glcarlstrom), Middle East correspondent, The Economist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Alexandra Locke with Ney Alvarez, Negin Owliaei, Ruby Zaman, Amy Walters, and Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

In November, Russia joined the small club of nations that have conducted anti-satellite missile tests. That test created a huge cloud of space debris. Ever since, the issue of trash in space has been inching its way into the headlines, and figuring out what to do about it is surprisingly political.  In this episode: Moriba Jah (@moribajah), Associate Professor, University of Texas at Austin Alice Gorman (@drspacejunk), Associate Professor, Flinders University Episode credits: This episode was updated by Negin Owliaei. The interviews for this episode were produced by Al Jazeera's Start Here team. The original production team was Negin Owliaei, Priyanka Tilve, Ruby Zaman, Alexandra Locke, Ney Alvarez, Amy Walters, Tom Fenton, Stacey Samuel, and Malika Bilal. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Connect with us at: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

This week, the United States is hosting the biggest political gathering in the Western Hemisphere. The Summit of Americas, held every 3 or so years, is an opportunity for heads of state from all of the Americas to come together and discuss common issues, from migration to climate change. It’s always been a complicated affair, but this year there was even more drama than usual after the governments of Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua were kept off the guest list. In this episode, we break down the controversy and look at how their absence might change the substance of the gathering.  In this episode:  Lucia Newman (@lucianewman), Al Jazeera senior correspondent and editor for Latin America Episode credits: This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei with Ney Alvarez, Ruby Zaman, Amy Walters, Alexandra Locke, and Malika Bilal. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Adam Abou-Gad and Aya Elmileik are The Take's engagement producers. Connect with us at: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Mass shooting after mass shooting Americans cry out for gun control but more often than not, nothing is done. Why? Many Americans including President Joe Biden blame the gun lobby. We hear how America’s most influential lobbying organization changed tactics in the 1970’s and secret recordings that throw back the curtain on how they get business done. In this episode:  Ryan Busse (@ryandbusse), author of Gunfight, senior advisor to Giffords @giffordscourage Peter Charley, manager of investigative journalism at Al Jazeera Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters, with Ruby Zaman, Negin Owliaei, Ney Alvarez, Alexandra Locke, and Malika Bilal. Alex Roldan is the sound designer. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are The Take’s engagement producers. Connect with us at: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Kenya is famous for some of the fastest runners in the world, but recently, with the murder of Damaris Muthee Mutua and Agnes Tirop, that reputation’s been tarnished. Their partners are the main suspects in each case. Now, a fellow female athlete is trying to bring attention to gender violence amongst Kenya’s running elite. But is Kenya ready to hear what she has to say? In this episode:  Joan Chelimo (@joan_chelimo), Kenyan mother, wife, and athlete Malcolm Webb (@MalcolmWebb), Senior Correspondent for Al Jazeera English TV, based in Nairobi, Kenya Ruth Bosibori, Kenyan gold medal runner Credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters, with Negin Owliaei, Ruby Zaman, Ney Alvarez, Alexandra Locke, and Malika Bilal. Alex Roldan is the sound designer and Seth Samuel helped with this episode. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Connect with us at: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Last week, 19 children and two teachers died during a mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. But since then, at least another 17 mass shootings have already happened in the United States. In the aftermath of these incidents, the narrative always goes around gun control, mental health, and lots of thoughts and prayers from politicians, but little to no action. So, why is it so hard for the US government to put an end to this? In this episode:  Dr James Densley, professor of criminal justice, and co-founder of The Violence Project (@theviolencepro) Credits: This episode was produced by Ney Alvarez, with Negin Owliaei, Ruby Zaman, Amy Walters, Alexandra Locke, and Halla Mohieddeen in for Malika Bilal. Alex Roldan is the sound designer. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are the engagement producers. Connect with us at: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

What does ‘Prevent’ prevent? The UK government says the program is key to counterterrorism and protecting vulnerable people. Human rights organizations and Muslim groups say it’s surveillance and counterproductive. After years, the government will release an independent review of Prevent – but it's been boycotted by hundreds of organizations. Instead, many participated in a ‘people’s review’ of Prevent. So what does a tale of two reviews tell us about the future of Prevent? In this episode:  Layla Aitlhadj, Director of Prevent Watch John Holmwood, author, “Countering Extremism in British Schools?: The Truth about the Birmingham Trojan Horse Affair” Credits: This episode was produced by Alexandra Locke and Negin Owliaei, with Ney Alvarez, Ruby Zaman, Amy Walters, and Halla Mohieddeen, in for Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan and our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad.  Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Julian Assange has waged a long fight against extradition from the UK to the US, and after years, a final decision is imminent. But when UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Nils Melzer was asked to look into his case in 2018, he found himself surprisingly uninterested. One allegation after another had come to cloud the narrative of Assange, liberator of state secrets. But Melzer has since investigated them all – and he discovered that the level of deception is staggering. In this episode:  Nils Melzer (@NilsMelzer), author of “The Trial of Julian Assange” This episode first ran in January 2022 and was updated by Alexandra Locke. The original production team was Alexandra Locke, Amy Walters, Negin Owliaei, Priyanka Tilve, Ruby Zaman, Ney Alvarez, Tom Fenton, Stacey Samuel, and Malika Bilal. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Connect with us @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

The Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, calls itself the “largest and most influential gathering of conservatives in the world.” In recent years, the US-based conference has gone global, holding meetings in several countries, including Japan and Australia. Last week, it held its first European gathering in Hungary. The keynote speaker was the country’s controversial Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who recently secured his fourth consecutive term in office. In this episode, we look at why the group of American conservatives went to Budapest.  In this episode: Flora Garamvolgyi (@floragaramvolgy), journalist This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei with Ruby Zaman, Alexandra Locke, Amy Walters, Ney Alvarez, and Malika Bilal. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Connect with us at @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. 

Away from the battlefield, the world is grappling with the war in Ukraine. In 90 days, the conflict has boosted inflation, spiking food and oil prices. Western alliances have provided billions of dollars in military and humanitarian aid to the country, but will the tap keep flowing, or are we getting close to an end? In this episode:  James Bays (@baysontheroad), Al Jazeera Diplomatic Editor Credits: This episode was produced by Ney Alvarez, with Alexandra Locke, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, Ruby Zaman, and Malika Bilal. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Connect with us at: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

In Mexico, American guns are a fact of life. The Mexican government estimates nearly 70% of guns trafficked into the country come from the US. Meanwhile, in the US, the same patchwork of weak gun laws affects Mexico: gun trafficking is not a federal crime. The Mexican government is taking an unusual tack to try to stop the flow of arms: they’ve filed a lawsuit. With no sign of the cartel violence slowing, can a lawsuit stem the flow of guns to Mexico? In this episode:  John Holman, Al Jazeera correspondent (@johnholman100)  Eugenio Weigend Vargas, Center for American Progress (@eugenioweigend)  This episode was updated by Ney Alvarez. The original production team was Alexandra Locke, Ney Alvarez, Negin Owliaei, Dina Kesbeh, Amy Walters, Priyanka Tilve, Tom Fenton, Stacey Samuel, and Malika Bilal. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.  Connect with us at @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. 

In Northern Ireland, it's gotten very complicated very quickly, after a historic election. The top party was Sinn Fein, a party that wants Northern Ireland out of the UK. Brexit has left the territory on a knife edge for years, and it all comes down to the Irish border. The election brought those issues to the forefront, and then paralyzed the Northern Irish government. As the UK tries to break the deadlock, it risks unraveling two decades of peace. In this episode: Leona O’Neill, Journalism Lecturer at Ulster University (@LeonaONeill1) Damian McGenity, Border Communities Against Brexit (@damian_mcgenity) This episode was produced by Alexandra Locke with Ney Alvarez, Ruby Zaman, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters and Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad.  Connect with us at @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

For decades, the Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was a mainstay on the TV screens of Arabic-speaking households around the world. Shireen worked for Al Jazeera for 26 years, as one of the network’s first field reporters. And she was a pioneer – she set a path for women journalists in Arab media. She was killed by Israeli forces on May 11, and in the days since, there’s been an outpouring of grief. In this episode, we hear from people who loved Shireen about her life and legacy. In this episode:  Dalia Hatuqa, independent journalist specializing in Palestinian-Israeli affairs (@DaliaHatuqa) This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei, Ney Alvarez, Amy Walters, Alexandra Locke, Ruby Zaman, and Malika Bilal. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Connect with us at @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.   

When Al Jazeera's I-Unit released its investigation into sexual misconduct against women at British Universities in late 2021, it created a storm on social media. But after the revelations, has anything changed? In the last episode of the series, we find out what’s happened to the four male academics accused of abuse. We also hear from women in each case about how it felt to finally hear the names made public and what kind of response they've received. *Please note some listeners may find these accounts upsetting.  Connect with us at @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Last week, the world got a glimpse of what is likely the end of Roe v Wade, the United States Supreme Court decision that's protected women's right to an abortion across the country for almost half a century. What will it all mean for women and democracy in the US? That’s this episode of The Take. In this episode:  Amanda Becker (@AmandaBecker), Washington Correspondent for @The19thNews Amber Gavin, VP of Advocacy and Operations at A Woman's Choice, Inc. (@womanschoiceinc) This episode was produced by Amy Walters with Negin Owliaei, Ruby Zaman, Ney Alvarez, Alexandra Locke, and Halla Mohieddeen. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Ben Swire helped with this episode. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Connect with us at @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. 

While the rest of the world is trying to manage how to live with the coronavirus, China continues with its ‘zero COVID’ policy, forcing people into strict lockdowns. But why is the country keeping itself isolated from the world, and how are people there reacting to the measures? In this episode:  Katrina YU, Al Jazeera’s China correspondent (@Katmyu) Christian Petersen-Clausen, documentary filmmaker in Shanghai (@chris__pc) This episode was produced by Ney Alvarez, with Amy Walters, Negin Owliaei, Ruby Zaman, Alexandra Locke, and Halla Mohiedden. Alex Roldan is our sound designer, this episode was mixed by Seth Samuel. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Connect with us at @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. 

Every Friday, we're bringing you one episode of the series ‘Degrees of Abuse’ produced by Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit. More incredible revelations about how a Ph.D. student at Glasgow University lied about his dead wife and falsely accused innocent people of killing her. The question is, why has it taken almost four years for Glasgow University to investigate multiple complaints about him? *Please note some listeners may find these accounts upsetting. Connect with us at @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Enforced disappearances have been happening across Pakistan for the last twenty years. And in the southwest province of Balochistan, in particular, some human rights groups say thousands of people are missing. The province was annexed by Pakistan in 1948, soon after partition from India, and there has been a separatist movement ever since. Many Baloch people say they feel subjected to state repression. In this episode, The Take asks why disappearances are still happening, and talks to the family member of a victim about how her life has been affected. In this episode:  Mahrang Baloch, (@MahrangBaloch_), Political Activist and Doctor Osama Bin Javaid (@osamabinjavaid), Al Jazeera English Correspondent Anwar Ul Haq Karkar (@anwaar_kakar), Senator of Balochistan This episode was produced by Ruby Zaman, with Ney Alvarez, Amy Walters, Negin Owliaei, Alexandra Locke, and Malika Bilal. Alex Roldan is our sound designer, this episode was mixed by Seth Samuel. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.  Connect with us at @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

As Muslims around the world celebrate Eid, we speak with one Muslim who many believe has even more reasons to celebrate. Zack Tahhan is a New Jerseyan, a Syrian-American and a New York hero, not necessarily in that order. He made a name for himself when he identified the suspect behind a recent subway train shooting in Brooklyn, proving that heroes don't always wear capes. And they may be fasting. In this episode:  Zack Tahhan (@zacktahhan2022), security camera expert This episode was produced by Amy Walters, with Negin Owliaei, Ruby Zaman, Ney Alvarez, Alexandra Locke, and Malika Bilal. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Connect with us at @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Every Friday, we're bringing you one episode of the series ‘Degrees of Abuse’ produced by Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit. The PhD student at Glasgow University was charismatic and charming and part of his appeal was his tragic past. But his relationships with several women became abusive and controlling.  As our investigation dug deeper into his history in his home country, we uncovered his lies and the real story of his murdered wife. *Please note some listeners may find these accounts upsetting.  Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Elon Musk has more money than anyone else in the world. Sometimes it seems like the SpaceX and Tesla CEO has the most disruptive, influential companies, too. And this week, Musk reached a $44 billion deal to bring something even more iconic under his ownership: Twitter. What could a billionaire want with a social media platform – and what could that mean for the rest of us? In this episode:  Alex Shephard (@alex_shephard), staff writer at The New Republic This episode was produced by Negin Owliaei with Ruby Zaman, Amy Walters, Ney Alvarez, Alexandra Locke, and Malika Bilal. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Connect with us at @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  

Ramadan is a time of reflection, but in Jerusalem, the month is often accompanied by violence. This year, overlapping holidays for Christians, Jews and Muslims have shone a light on Israel and Palestine’s fault lines, particularly at holy sites in Jerusalem where Palestinian Christians and Muslims have fought Israeli restrictions on access. In this episode, we look at one month in the holy land through Palestinian eyes. In this episode:  Diana Buttu (@dianabuttu), analyst and former legal adviser to Palestinian negotiators Dr. Samah Jabr (@drsamahjabr), Head of the Mental Health Unit, Palestine Ministry of Health  This episode was produced by Alexandra Locke with Amy Walters, Negin Owliaei, Ruby Zaman, Ney Alvarez, and Malika Bilal. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.  Connect with us at @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Every Friday, we're bringing you one episode of the series ‘Degrees of Abuse’ produced by Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit. Four women delivered separate complaints to Glasgow University about the behaviour of the same lecturer.  Their experiences were strikingly similar but the University found the only person to have done anything wrong, wasn’t the accused, but the accuser. *Please note some listeners may find these accounts upsetting.  Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Denials, investigations, apologies, and fines have all been part of the ‘Partygate’ scandal in the UK after allegations that Prime Minister Boris Johnson and members of his staff had alcohol-fuelled parties at his offices and residence while COVID-19 lockdown rules were in force. This week, MPs will vote on whether Johnson should be investigated for knowingly misleading Parliament over breaching pandemic laws. In this episode:  Paul Brennan, Al Jazeera correspondent in London (@paulrbrennan) Connect with us at @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Imran Khan is the kind of politician who inspires strong feelings; whether they're of love or hate depends on who you ask. He's had a pretty storied career: he led Pakistan’s cricket team to World Cup glory in 1992, and went on to become a philanthropist and political activist. And in 2018, his political party won the most seats in the country’s election, propelling him to the role of prime minister of Pakistan. But his tenure came to a dramatic end earlier this month. Despite dissolving the parliament and alleging a foreign plot, Imran Khan was ousted in a no-confidence vote. Will that vote be enough to end the career of Pakistan's celebrity prime minister? In this episode: Osama Bin Javaid, Al Jazeera correspondent (@osamabinjavaid) Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Every Friday, we're bringing you one episode of the series ‘Degrees of Abuse’ produced by Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit. Students started off admiring this lecturer at the University of Glasgow. They thought he cared about their academic careers. But when his comments and messages became more intimate and personal, they say he crossed boundaries and started grooming. *Please note some listeners may find these accounts upsetting.  Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Empty shelves, rising food and fuel costs along with power cuts are unifying much of Sri Lanka against its president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa. And now, the economic crisis may be even worse. Rajapaksa’s government is announcing the country is no longer able to repay billions in loans. How did this happen? And what is in store for the people of Sri Lanka as the country continues to struggle with this new economic reality?  In this episode: Marisa DeSilva, Activist Dr. Ahilan Kadirgamar, Senior Lecturer at the University of Jaffna Dr. Vasan Ratnasingam, Media representative, Government Medical Officers’ Association Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

The first-ever union to win a vote at Amazon did it on a shoestring budget, throwing out much of the organized labor rulebook and relying on workers’ inside knowledge. It was the kind of victory that organized labor hasn’t seen in a generation or more. Amazon is the second-largest employer in the United States and the fight cost it millions. So how did the Amazon Labor Union do it? And what’s next?  In this episode: Jordan Flowers, Amazon Labor Union organizer (@JayyTCOEW) Kim Kelly, labor journalist and author of "Fight Like Hell: The Untold History of American Labor" (@GrimKim) Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Every Friday, we're bringing you one episode of the series ‘Degrees of Abuse’ produced by Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit. He’s a leading academic at the University of Oxford. His expertise is in times gone by.  Both students and other lecturers say his drunken and abusive behaviour is also a throwback and has no place in the modern world. *Please note some listeners may find these accounts upsetting.  Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

On April 10th, France undergoes the first round of its presidential election. This vote, taking place in the shadow of war in Europe, is shaping up to be a contest between institutionalists and populists. The energy is on the fringes, but with the European Union largely united against Russia, the question going into election day is whether the left of center will be able to hold its ground. In this episode of The Take, we look at the most popular candidates and what their policies say about France’s political center of gravity. In this episode:  Natacha Butler (@natachabut), Al Jazeera correspondent Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Less than three weeks after he finished his presidency, Juan Orlando Hernandez was arrested. United States prosecutors accused the former president of Honduras of being involved in a drug-trafficking ring with his younger brother, Tony. So how did Hernandez and his family become entangled in a cocaine and weapons trafficking scandal that may lead to his extradition to the US? In this episode:  Manuel Rapalo, Al Jazeera correspondent in Mexico (@Manuel_Rapalo) Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Starting this week, every Friday, we’ll be bringing you one episode of the series ‘Degrees of Abuse’ produced by Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit. The series explores how some of the world’s most elite universities are failing to protect their students when it comes to sexual misconduct. He’s a famous professor at Oxford in the UK, one of the world’s most prestigious universities. But across three decades and three institutions, women have described him as a sexual predator. During a two-year investigation, Al Jazeera’s I-Unit uncovers systematic failures inside the walls of academia that have only served to protect their lecturers. We hear from women who are fighting to shift the balance of power.  *Please note some listeners may find these accounts upsetting.  Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

The siege of Mariupol may be remembered as the bloodiest battle in this war between Russia and Ukraine. Thousands are reported dead and Ukrainian officials say 90% of the city is destroyed. It is without power, water, gas, internet and cell service, and according to the mayor 160,000 people are still stuck there trying to survive. We hear about what happened to Mariupol from two people who were lucky enough to make it out alive. In this episode:  Olga Pikula, Deputy at Mariupol City Council Maryna Holovnova, Mariupol Tour Guide Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

The Taliban had promised teenage girls in Afghanistan would get to return to school for the first time since August. But on March 23, schools had only been open for a few hours before the Taliban shut them down indefinitely — plunging Afghan girls' futures back into limbo. In this episode:  Pashtana Durrani, Executive Director of LEARN Afghanistan (@BarakPashtana) Heather Barr, Associate Women’s Rights Director, Human Rights Watch (@heatherbarr1) Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

It’s about to be the biggest sale the football world has ever seen. Sanctioned Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich is selling his club, Chelsea FC. He was the first billionaire to get into England’s Premier League back in 2003 and his unlimited spending unleashed the transformation of the world’s most popular game into a big-money sport. What could Chelsea’s sale tell us about where football is going next? In this episode:  James Montague, author of "The Billionaires Club: The Unstoppable Rise of Football’s Super-rich Owners" (@JamesPiotr) Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)  

For the last eight months, Tunisian President Kais Saied has initiated several political changes in the North African country: sacking his prime minister, suspending parliament, announcing rule by decree, and dissolving the Supreme Judicial Council. His opponents have accused him of a coup, while the country deals with a deep economic crisis and food shortages.  This week, a national consultation process to help frame a new constitution ended. Still, many are left wondering whether the country will continue down a democratic path. In this episode:  Fadil Aliriza @FadilAliriza, journalist and editor in chief of Meshkal.org Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Kateryna Malofieieva is no stranger to war. She was raised in Ukraine's Donbas region, from one of the territories that was claimed by Russian-backed separatists in 2014. Now, she's covering her second war in her home country, and coping with a loss of her own. In this episode:  Kateryna Malofieieva @KatyaMalofeyeva, Al Jazeera producer  Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

The holiday Nowruz is meant to be a fresh start for those who celebrate, both in Iran and around the world. But it also includes an upsetting tradition that the Collective for Black Iranians is working to expose and eliminate. In this episode: Priscillia Kounkou-Hoveyda (@priscillia_pkh), founder of the Collective for Black Iranians (@BlackIranians) Pegah Bahadori (@pegahbhd), resident storyteller for the Collective of Black Iranians Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Gas prices around the world have soared in the weeks since Russia invaded Ukraine. But the fuel supply in many places hasn’t actually changed yet, so what’s causing the rise in prices? In this episode:  Kareem Chehayeb (@chehayebk), Beirut correspondent for Al Jazeera Amy Westervelt (@amywestervelt), a climate reporter Nelson Bocaranda (@bocaranda20), journalist in Caracas Maziar Motamedi (@MotamediMaziar), Tehran correspondent for Al Jazeera Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

What can 11 years of war in Syria tell us about Ukraine? This week marks the anniversary of Syria’s uprising and there still seems to be no end to conflict in sight. There’s also another date that resonates: September 30, 2015, when Russia intervened on behalf of President Bashar al-Assad’s government. Russia has said it’s tested at least 320 new types of weapons in Syria, some of which are now in use in the war in Ukraine, and Russia is using tactics that seem to come from what’s been called “the Syria playbook.” We look at how the people all too familiar with that playbook see Syria’s story in Ukraine.  In this episode:  Natasha Hall (@NatashaHallDC), Senior Fellow with the Middle East Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies Alex Gatopoulos (@AlexGatopoulos), Defense analyst for Al Jazeera English Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

With the recent changes to the Gates Foundation’s board in the wake of Bill and Melinda Gates’ divorce, many people are asking questions about the its future. But this is not the first time questions about the foundation have been raised. One development expert we spoke with claims AGRA, Bill Gates’ 20-year-old program to feed Africa through agriculture, failed in its goals. On this episode of The Take we look at the Gates Foundation, and at AGRA and what went wrong. In this episode:  Timothy Schwab (@TimothyWSchwab), investigative journalist and author of the upcoming book, The Good Billionaire on Bill Gates and The Gates Foundation Timothy Wise (@TimothyAWise), researcher and international development expert, also author of “Eating Tomorrow” David Otieno Ciddi, small scale farmer, leader of Kenya’s peasants’ league and member of Via Campesina Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

It's been two weeks since Russia launched its invasion in Ukraine. People within Russia are finding themselves more isolated with every passing day, whether that's thanks to actions from foreign countries and companies, or from their own leaders. Independent Russian media outlets are shutting down, and a human rights monitor says more than 10,000 people have been arrested in anti-war protests across the country. Meanwhile, foreign governments are also trying to cut Russia off from the rest of the world financially. So what can Russians expect as the country’s war on Ukraine continues? In this episode:  Dorsa Jabbari (@DorsaJabbari), Al Jazeera correspondent Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

It’s hard to convey just how fast and how much Europe has changed, including at its borders. More than a million people fled from Ukraine to the EU in just over a week. But in Ukraine, residents from Africa and Asia have reported racism as they fled. On the EU side of the border, Ukrainian refugees have been granted an unprecedented legal status. After years of hardening its borders, EU migration had become largely a story of limbo. Is what we’re seeing now a new chapter – or is there fine print?  In this episode:  Franck Duvell (@fduvell), Senior Researcher, Institute for Migration Research and Intercultural Studies, Osnabrück University  Alexander Somto Orah (@nzekiev), student at State University of Telecommunications Kyiv Erik Edman (@edmantweet), Political Director, DiEM25 (@DiEM_25)  Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

A debate around the headscarf has sparked protests in India after a group of Muslim students in the southern state of Karnataka were barred from entering their school and asked to remove their hijab. While end-of-year exams are underway, some girls say they are facing the possibility of choosing between their hijab and their education. So what does the hijab ban row mean for religious freedoms in India? In this episode:  Muskhan Khan, Karnataka Student Sania Farooqui (@SaniaFarooqui), Journalist  Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Nigeria is facing an epidemic: Thousands of people have escaped from Nigerian correctional facilities, also known as prisons, jails, or custodial centers, since 2010. And the problem only seems to be growing. So what's behind the spate of prison breaks? And what do those jailbreaks say about the state of the country’s prison system as a whole?  In this episode:  Eromo Egbejule (@EromoEgbejule), Al Jazeera Africa editor Dr. Uju Agomoh (@DrUjuAgomoh), Executive Director, Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

A restored nuclear deal with Iran was “closer than ever,” according to negotiators, when war broke out in Ukraine. Now, stung from the US reneging on the last deal, many Iranians are holding back their hopes of freedom from stifling sanctions. What are the main sticking points? As war rages in Europe, could there be a thaw in relations with Iran? In this episode:  Maziar Motamedi (@MotamediMaziar) Iran correspondent for @AJEnglish Digital Asal Alizade (@asal_alizade) Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Researcher Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

There's been speculation for weeks now whether or not residents of Ukraine's capital of Kyiv might hear air raid sirens. On Thursday, February 24, that prediction finally came to pass. After months of an increased military buildup along the Russian-Ukrainian border, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched what he called a "special military operation” in Ukraine. Soon after, explosions were heard around the country, including the capital. Russian troops are outside the city, and people are waiting to see what's next. In this episode, The Take shares one woman's view from Kyiv. In this episode:  Katharine Quinn-Judge (@kquinnjudge), conflict analyst Dorsa Jabbari (@DorsaJabbari), Al Jazeera journalist Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Where is the nearest bomb shelter? Does it have water and supplies, or has it been turned into a restaurant? Before this week, many Ukrainians did not know the answers to these kinds of questions – and they still may not. Most Ukrainians have never thought a full scale invasion by Russia was coming. Now that Russian President Vladimir Putin has recognized two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent entities, we’re looking at how prepared they might be if it is. In this episode:  Liz Cookman (@liz_cookman), journalist with Al Jazeera  Michael Colborne (@ColborneMichael), journalist at Bellingcat  Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

A diplomatic boycott led by the US. Strict COVID-19 pandemic measures. And athletes caught in the middle of political fights between nations. The 2022 Winter Olympics has ended in Beijing, China, but the biggest headlines weren’t about the games. American-born athletes with Chinese roots who competed for Team China found themselves at the center of a war of words between the two countries. So are the Games still about sports, or do they represent a geopolitical rivalry under the guise of sportsmanship? In this episode:  Jules Boykoff, (@JulesBoykoff) political scientist, author of NOlympians and Power Games: A Political History of the Olympics. Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Ninety-seven percent of Afghans could be living in poverty this year. After the Taliban takeover in August, the United States renewed sanctions and froze Afghan funds, leaving the banking system in shambles. In February, US President Joe Biden signed an executive order to release $7bn of Afghan funds held in US banks but he also directed half of that money to the family members of September 11th victims. What happens will be decided by a judge. Biden wants the other half to go into a trust fund to aid Afghans. Hear why the founder of one Afghan charity thinks these are both bad ideas and where he hopes the money will go instead. In this episode:  Obaidullah Baheer (@ObaidullaBaheer), lecturer at American University Afghanistan, visiting Scholar at The New School and founder of “Save Afghans from Hunger” Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Ever since Mark Zuckerberg launched Facebook from his Harvard dorm room, he's been focused on growth — more users in more places, until the entire world is connected. But in February, Meta, the social media platform’s parent company, reported some concerning news: for the first time in its 18-year history, Facebook had a drop in daily users. After that, Meta’s stock plummeted by more than $200 billion dollars — the largest single-day drop in Wall Street’s history. Facebook has weathered scandal after scandal, but its user numbers haven't taken a hit until now. So what does that mean for one of Big Tech's biggest companies? In this episode:  Alex Heath (@alexeheath), senior reporter at The Verge Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

For social equity applicants in Illinois, obtaining a licence to become a vendor of recreational cannabis is a long and expensive journey. The state's point system to award its licences has been heavily criticised because of its lack of transparency. Multiple lawsuits have stalled the process. Today, many people in communities affected by the so-called war on drugs are waiting to see if they will get a chance to create generational wealth in an industry they say was “built on the backs of Black people”. In this episode:  Imaeyen Ibanga (@iiwrites), Presenter with AJ+ Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Journalist Fahad Shah's arrest is the latest in a string of attacks on press freedom in Indian-administered Kashmir. Reporters there say the government is actively trying to shut down any independent media. In this episode: Rifat Fareed, Al Jazeera journalist in Srinagar Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Canadian tolerance for Ottawa's 'Freedom Convoy" is dropping dramatically. The capital’s downtown has been occupied for over a week by protesters opposed to vaccine mandates for cross-border truckers and other pandemic restrictions. Officials and residents say it's getting out of control. So what's at the root of the protest, and what could it mean for anti-vaccine protests worldwide?  In this episode:  Justin Ling (@Justin_Ling), investigative journalist  Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod) Read more: Angus Reid Institute survey on pandemic restrictions 

Burkina Faso just experienced the latest in a series of coups across West Africa. Frustration with the lavish lifestyle of aging heads of state, sustained security problems along the Sahel and an anti-colonial sentiment are all breeding discontent. But why so many countries and why now? Al Jazeera’s West Africa correspondent Nicolas Haque takes us to the centre of Burkina Faso’s coup and introduces us to some of the people driving this change. In this episode:  Nicolas Haque (@nicolashaque), Al Jazeera's West Africa Correspondent Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Over the last few weeks, Yemeni residents have gone online to report hearing the sounds of airstrikes. After seven years of war between the country’s Houthi rebels on one side, and a Saudi-led coalition on the other, the sound of aerial bombardment is well known in Yemen. But this year, that war is intensifying, and has even reached a new front in the United Arab Emirates. And, as Houthi rebels and the Saudi-led coalition trade fire, Yemeni civilians are trapped in the middle. In this episode:  Sama’a Al-Hamdani (@Yemeniaty), Yemen analyst Osamah Alfakih (@osamahfakih), advocacy director, Mwatana for Human Rights (@MwatanaEn) Muheeb Ghallab (@Muheeb_Ghallab), vice president, Internet Society Yemen Chapter (@ISOC_Yemen) Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Just in the first month of 2022, four journalists were killed and two were attacked in Mexico. Since 1992, 142 journalists and media workers have been killed in the country, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. But why are there so many murders of journalists in Mexico, and what is being done to protect them? In this episode:  León Krauze (@LeonKrauze), Univision anchor Alejandra Guerra (@alisguerra8), Journalist in Tijuana, Mexico  Rocío Galván (@RocioGalvanZ), Journalist in Tijuana, Mexico  Andalusia Knoll Soloff (@Andalalucha), Journalist in Mexico City  Natalie Southwick, Program Coordinator at the Committee to Protect Journalists (@pressfreedom) Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

In the year since Myanmar’s coup, resistance movements have emerged across the country, and the military has cracked down hard – on both armed fighters and civilians. It’s a form of total war that has killed more than 1,000 people. And the rural areas of the country have seen the worst of it. In this episode:  Nu Nu Lusan (@NuNuLusan), freelance journalist Emily Fishbein (@EmilyFishbein11), freelance journalist Salai Za Uk Ling, Deputy Director of Chin Human Rights Organization (@ChinHumanRights) Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Uganda’s schools are back in session after the longest COVID-related closure of any country, close to two years. We speak with one journalist who is a mother and says it is hard to trust anyone else with her child’s health while a deadly virus is still circulating. But the United Nations says these school closures are already affecting children’s learning around the world. In this episode:  Halima Athumani (@Navilani) Freelance reporter Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Julian Assange’s legal cards are running out. And when UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Nils Melzer was asked to take on the WikiLeaks founder’s case in 2018, he found himself surprisingly uninterested. One allegation after another had come to cloud the narrative of Assange, liberator of state secrets. But Melzer has since investigated them all and discovered just how far reality is from the narratives. In this episode: Nils Melzer (@NilsMelzer), author of “The Trial of Julian Assange”  This episode was produced by Alexandra Locke with Amy Walters, Negin Owliaei, Priyanka Tilve, Ruby Zaman, Ney Alvarez and Malika Bilal. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Tom Fenton is our editor. Aya Elmileik is our engagement producer and Stacey Samuel is our executive producer. Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

It was the deadliest attack on a house of worship in Canada’s history. Six people lost their lives when a gunman opened fire on a mosque in Quebec City in 2017. In the five years since, hate incidents have not stopped. Some of them have been deadly. And it has led to questions about how Canada treats its Muslim population. In this episode:  Jillian Kestler-D’Amours (@jkdamours), Al Jazeera online editor Jasmin Zine (@JasminZine), professor in sociology and religion and culture at Wilfrid Laurier University Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Last November, residents of Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam military housing started to smell fuel coming out of their pipes. The US Navy said a leak from a fuel storage facility called Red Hill contaminated their well in O’ahu, leaving approximately 93,000 residents without drinking water. But this is something activists have been fearing for years. The fuel storage facility sits above the island’s aquifer. If a significant leak happens, the consequences could change life as we know it in places like Honolulu and Waikiki. So, what is the Navy doing to clean the water, and what is at risk for the more than 900,000 people living on the island? In this episode:  Scott Kim, News Editor at Hawaii Public Radio (@wearehpr) Wayne Tanaka, Sierra Club Chapter Director (@sierraclubhi) Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

The media has packed up from the hotel where Novak Djokovic was detained in Australia, but after the tennis player’s deportation, more than 30 asylum seekers are still at the Park Hotel in the middle of Melbourne. The Australian Open brought the men’s years of indefinite immigration detention into the spotlight. We look at two stories from the Park Hotel: one man deported from Australia, another still there. In this episode:  Jamal, asylum seeker at the Park Hotel Allison Battisson, founder and director, Human Rights for All (@HumanRights4A) Kate Walton, writer for Al Jazeera (@waltonkate) Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Famine is a slow-moving disaster and when it is declared, people are typically dying of starvation already. It is too late to save every life. Much of Somalia is facing its third dry season which is bad news for crops, animals, and people. Famine could arrive as soon as March. The Take talks to Somalis trying to get the word out about what is happening in their country and what they hope will be done to save lives. In this episode:  Aydrus Daar, Executive Director at WASDA, a Somali aid group working in the horn of Africa Nisar Majid, Research Associate at the London School of Economics where he was recently Research Director on the Conflict Research Programme (Somalia portfolio) Guhad Adan, a Research Associate at the London School of Economics who has been a freelance consultant based in Nairobi and has been working as an aid practitioner and researcher in the Horn of Africa for over 20 years Florence Mangwende, Humanitarian and Resilience Program Manager at Oxfam Novib (@oxfamnovib) Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Russian-led forces are leaving the Central Asian country after days of unrest over the rise of gas prices, corruption, and inequality. 160 people have been killed and about 12,000 have been arrested, according to authorities. Many don't know the whereabouts of their loved ones.  President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev claimed the unrest was an attempted coup d’etat performed by foreign-trained “bandits and terrorists.” This week, he named a new prime minister and promised to unveil a political reform package by September of this year, but will that be enough for protesters? In this episode:  Torokul Doorov (@Torokul), Kazakh Service Director at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty  Darkhan Umirbekov, Digital Editor at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Kazakh Service Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

On January 9, Africa began its biggest biennial football tournament: The Africa Cup of Nations. Postponed a year because of the pandemic, the tournament will pit 24 of the continent's top teams against each other over the course of one month in Cameroon. But despite the celebratory fervor in Cameroon, there's some concern about how the tournament has been portrayed. In this episode:  Usher Komugisha (@UsherKomugisha), African football journalist Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

In 2001, while doing research in Afghanistan, Mansoor Adayfi says he was captured and turned over to the CIA. He turned 19 in a black site and weeks later found himself hooded and shackled at the newly opened American military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Hundreds of prisoners arrived in the first years; now dozens remain. Mansoor tells us his own story and how he and other detainees are trying to bring an end to a seemingly endless emblem of American injustice, the prison at Guantanamo Bay. In this episode: Mansoor Adayfi (@MansoorAdayfi ), former Guantanamo detainee #441, author of, "Don't Forget Us Here, and @UK_CAGE Guantánamo Project Coordinator For more: Listen to Biden, Guantanamo and Mohammed al-Qahtani Listen to The Course of the Forever Wars: After 9/11 This episode was produced by Alexandra Locke with Amy Walters, Negin Owliaei, Priyanka Tilve, Ruby Zaman, Ney Alvarez and Malika Bilal. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Tom Fenton is our editor. Aya Elmileik is our engagement producer and Stacey Samuel is our executive producer. Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

This week we have been revisiting and updating some of our favorite episodes on The Take. This is the last episode of the series. Egypt’s low-tech, high-energy mahraganat music blasted out of the shantytowns to top the global charts on SoundCloud and rack up hundreds of millions of views on YouTube. But it’s been dogged by controversy, throwing the entire genre’s future into question. In this episode: Mina Girgis (@minagirgis), an Egyptian ethnomusicologist based in the United States For more: Listen to Bent el Geran / ‘The Neighbors’ Daughter' Listen to the "Mahraganat" playlist on Spotify Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

This week, we continue revisiting and updating some of our favorite episodes on The Take. Emmett Till was beaten, shot, and drowned in a river in Mississippi on August 28, 1955. He was 14 years old. Now that the US Department of Justice has closed its investigation into his killing, we look back at Emmett’s life and death, and his family's 66-year-long push for justice. In this episode: Deborah Watts, Emmett Till’s cousin, and co-founder of the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

This week, we continue revisiting and updating some of our favorite episodes on The Take. The year 2021 was the deadliest year to be a Palestinian child since 2014. As many as 86 children were killed, and Defense for Children International Palestine (DCIP) documented each of them. One of them was Obaida Jawabra. This week, we tell Obaida’s story, one of our most memorable on The Take, and hear about why it is getting harder for DCIP to do their job. In this episode: Farah Bayadsi, Human Rights Attorney (@DCIPalestine) Ayed Abu Qtaish, Accountability programme director for Defense for Children International Yuval Abraham, Journalist at 972 Magazine (@yuval_abraham) Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

This week and next, we're revisiting and updating some of our favorite episodes on The Take. In August, the UN climate panel issued a “code red for humanity.” The latest IPCC report warned of a catastrophic planetary future if global emissions don’t reach net-zero within the next few decades. But in Bangladesh, there’s no code red needed. The country’s residents have been watching the seas rise and the glaciers melt, right in front of their eyes. And they have lessons — and warnings — for the rest of the world. In this episode: Saleemul Huq (@SaleemulHuq), director of the International Center for Climate Change and Development Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

This week and next, we're revisiting and updating some of our favorite episodes on The Take. Where the global space race was once decided by the wealth of nations, now its future is increasingly determined by ultra-wealthy individuals worth more than many countries. Their pursuit of space could put new resources in reach, and it is reshaping the laws of outer space – at least, the ones made by humans. In this episode:  Lucianne Walkowicz (@RocketToLulu), an astronomer at the Adler Planetarium and co-founder of Just Space Alliance (@JustSpaceOrg) Lisa Ruth Rand (@orbital_decay), assistant Professor at the California Institute of Technology Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

This week and next, we're revisiting and updating some of our favorite episodes on The Take. Every August, in a small town called San Cibrao, in the northern region of Galicia, Spain, people gather to celebrate an annual festival: A Maruxaina. Finding a toilet during the event, which brings together thousands of people, can be challenging – forcing many to relieve themselves in discreet alleys instead. But in 2019, a group of women was secretly recorded, with the videos ending up on pornography websites. These women are now seeking justice. In this episode:  Sonia Visozo, El País’ correspondent in Galicia Paloma Maseda and Alba Álvarez, victims Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Americans are wasting about $408bn in food every year, but the biggest consequence of food waste is not financial. Pollution from methane gas generated at landfills accounts for about 8 to 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Today, we explore food waste — how to avoid it, and what steps local and national governments in the United States are taking to solve the problem. In this episode:  Madeline Keating, City Strategist, Healthy People and Thriving Communities Program at NRDC (@NRDC) Kristyn Oldendorf, Chief of the Office of Waste Diversion for the Department of Public Works, Baltimore (@BaltimoreDPW) Marvin Hayes, Youth Program Manager, Baltimore Compost Collective (@bmorecompost) Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Where did humans go wrong? It might feel like the question of our species as another year passes into history. But ‘The Dawn of Everything,’ by David Wengrow and David Graeber, says we’re asking the wrong questions. The bestselling book is a blitz on Big History, a loaded subject: it’s a time period that’s both 300,000 years long and 99% before the invention of writing. But the book upends everything we think we know about the past, the present, and maybe even the future. In this episode:  David Wengrow (@davidwengrow), co-author of ‘The Dawn of Everything’ If you haven't listened to our conversation with co-author David Graeber about essential work in the age of the pandemic, check it out: In a pandemic, are most jobs bull****? Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Woolly mammoths went extinct several thousand years ago. But if a new company gets its way, something like the woolly mammoth could walk the Earth again within the decade. Colossal Biosciences, a new biotechnology company, announced in September that it had raised $15m to genetically modify an Asian elephant so that it has the cold-tolerant traits of a woolly mammoth. Their plan has been received with a mix of scepticism, excitement and controversy. In this episode:  Ben Lamm (@federallamm), co-founder and CEO of Colossal (@ItIsColossal) Dr. Tori Herridge (@ToriHerridge), evolutionary biologist at the London Natural History Museum (@NHM_London) Dr. Joe Bennett (@Joe_Ecology), professor at Carleton University Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

A buildup of troops on the border of Ukraine and Russia is worrying the world. The fear is war, but parts of Ukraine are already caught in the crossfire. Pro-Russia separatists are battling Ukrainian soldiers and have been for almost eight years. We go to Donbas, Eastern Ukraine with Al Jazeera correspondent, Charles Stratford to hear what people there are living through now and their thoughts on what may happen in the days ahead. In this episode:  Charles Stratford (@stratfordch), Al Jazeera correspondent covering Eastern Ukraine Mansur Mirovalev (@mirovalev), a freelance correspondent based in Kyiv, Ukraine Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Unmarked graves, lost family members, and a reckoning long overdue – it’s a story familiar to Indigenous peoples in both Canada and the United States, where residential schools for native children ripped apart tribal nations. The US boarding school system was even more extensive than Canada’s, but much less is known about it, and its history is often surrounded by a culture of silence. So what will it take for a reckoning in the US? In this episode:  Kavitha Chekuru (@KaviChek), producer for Al Jazeera’s Fault Lines (@AJFaultLines) Denise Lajimodiere (@DLajimodiere), author and academic  Eleanor Hadden, descendant of boarding school students Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Mehray Mezensof's husband is one of an estimated million Uighurs being detained in China.  Several countries accuse China of committing crimes against humanity, including genocide, and on December 9, a people's tribunal in the UK ruled that to be true. In this episode: Mehray Mezensof (@Mehray_T), wife of a detained Uighur man Sir Geoffrey Nice, chairman of the Uyghur Tribunal (@TribunalUyghur) Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Radwan Fouad Jomaa lives in Denmark with his wife and three kids. He moved there from Syria, where he was born and raised. After opposing the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, he fled, fearing the worst. Denmark says his hometown, Damascus, is safe, though, and Syrian refugees must return. What will happen to the Syrians in Denmark? In this episode:  Radwan Fouad Jomaa, Syrian in Denmark Florian Elabidi (@FlorianElabdi), a Danish journalist who reports about politics, conflicts, and migration in Europe, the Middle East and Africa Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Today we’re assessing the global reaction to the Omicron variant and the allegations of injustice that surround it.  In this episode: Fahmida Miller (@FahmidaMiller), Al Jazeera’s correspondent in South Africa Carol Bouwer (@bouwercarol), South African businesswoman and TV personality Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Barbados is now the world’s newest republic, bucking the British queen for its first Barbadian president. Now that the festivities are over, we look back at the history of slavery England imposed on Barbados, and ask questions about reparations. And we speak to several Barbadians about what kind of republic Barbados hopes to be. In this episode:  Suleiman Bulbulia, a Barbadian Businessman David Denny, activist and General Secretary for the Caribbean Movement for Peace and Integration Ronnie Yearwood, lecturer in law at the University for the West Indies  Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

For weeks after the military took over Sudan on October 25, an internet shutdown made it hard to speak with people inside the country. But even as a communications blackout meant news was only trickling out of Sudan, the situation on the ground was rapidly changing. After weeks of pressure from the streets of Sudan, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok was removed from house arrest and reinstated on November 21. The internet is back, but protests have continued. Is the political crisis in Sudan over? In this episode:  Hiba Morgan (@hiba_morgan), Al Jazeera correspondent Samahir El Mubarak, spokesperson for the Sudanese Professionals Association Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

In 1981, the first case of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) was diagnosed. The virus that causes AIDS, became a thing to be feared for people in the LGBTQ+ community, who also became a scapegoat for its existence. On World AIDS Day, we remember that even when things have changed since then in the treatment and prevention of HIV and AIDS, activists around the world have learned that this epidemic is also a battle for access to sexual and reproductive healthcare, and it’s still a fight against stigma. In this episode:  Dázon Dixon Diallo (@DazonDiallo), Founder of SisterLove, Inc., a women's HIV/AIDS & Reproductive Justice organization in Atlanta and South Africa  Justin C. Smith, Director of the Campaign to End AIDS at Positive Impact Health Centers (@PIHC_Atlanta) Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Videos of the mysterious migrating herd of elephants in China became an internet sensation earlier this year, but their very existence points to a deeper environmental problem, one that we're seeing escalate wherever elephants roam.  In this episode: Dr. Josh Plotnik (@CCCAnimals), assistant professor of psychology at Hunter College of City University of New York (CUNY) Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

The tide of fast fashion pulls in a way that can feel difficult to escape, even as supply chain problems spread around the globe. Love it or hate it, many feel they can’t live without quick and cheap clothes from brands like H&M or Zara. We’re revisiting the work of activist Hoda Katebi and a collective of garment workers in the US city of Chicago who have a radical vision for a world without fast fashion, and they’re taking it on with their own worker-owned factory: Blue Tin Productions. In this episode: Hoda Katebi (@hodakatebi), activist Mercy, member of Blue Tin Production Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

From 1904 to 1908, German colonizers waged a brutal extermination campaign against the Herero and Nama people in present-day Namibia. Now, more than a century later, the German government has officially recognized the genocide and has offered Namibia an aid package. But many Herero and Nama people say Germany’s announcement doesn’t come close to providing justice.  In this episode:  Nandiuasora "Nandi" Mazeingo, Chairperson of the Ovaherero Genocide Foundation (@OGF_Namibia)  Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Venezuela has just held regional elections amid a deep economic and humanitarian crisis - and now an alleged international money-laundering scheme has emerged involving a close ally of President Nicolas Maduro. The elections are the first in 15 years to include international observers. However, general apathy towards politics from voters is making it hard for the opposition to bring people to the polls. In this episode:  Nelson Eduardo Bocaranda (@bocaranda20), Editor-in-chief of Runrun.es Phil Gunson (@philgunson), Senior analyst, The International Crisis Group (@CrisisGroup) Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

This week, Russia joined a small club of nations that have conducted anti-satellite missile tests, shooting down a Soviet-era satellite and creating a field of debris in space. The missile test brought attention to the issue of space waste — all of the old bits of machinery that humans have left in space. And as humans send more and more objects beyond the sky, the debris could make parts of Earth’s orbit unusable. In this episode:  Moriba Jah (@moribajah), Associate Professor at the University of Texas at Austin Alice Gorman, Associate Professor at Flinders University Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

People seeking to migrate through Belarus and Poland are stuck at the border, and neither country wants them. EU officials have called it “weaponization of migrants” by Belarus, but for the people at the border, the geopolitical dispute is about to get worse – winter is coming. Why has this group of migrants become the center of a standoff and what will happen as temperatures drop? In this episode:  Anna Alboth, Minority Rights Group International (@MinorityRights) Aryan, a migrant in Belarus Hanna Liubakova (@HannaLiubakova), journalist and non-resident fellow at Atlantic Council Joanna Hosa (@joannahosa), European Council on Foreign Relations  Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

In October, Haiti’s problem with gangs got international attention when 16 Americans and 1 Canadian were kidnapped. They are still captive, but Haitians have long faced kidnappings and gang violence. Al Jazeera’s Rob Reynolds examines this chronic wave and talks to Jimmy 'Barbecue' Cherizier, one of the most notorious gang leaders in the country. In this episode:  Rob Reynolds (@RobReynoldsAJE), Senior Correspondent at Al Jazeera English Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik is taking steps that international leaders warn are “tantamount to secession” and there are fears his threats could dismantle the delicate agreement holding the country together. The war in Bosnia from 1992-1995 was the bloodiest one in Europe since World War II, and for many Bosnians, the trauma still lingers. In this episode: Majda Ruge (@majda_ruge), Senior Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations (@ECFRBerlin) Mersiha Gadzo (@MersihaGadzo), Producer for Al Jazeera Digital (@AJEnglish) Riada Asimovic Akyol (@riadaaa), Contributing Editor, News Lines Magazine (@NewsLinesMag) Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

As world leaders meet in Glasgow for the COP26 climate talks, one of the biggest topics of conversation is money. There’s a lot to discuss: who has money versus who doesn’t, and what’s been promised compared to what’s actually been delivered. Rich nations pledged back in 2009 that they’d commit $100 billion a year by 2020 to help support climate initiatives in developing countries. But that deadline came and went, and the wealthy countries failed to deliver. So what will that mean for the countries on the front lines of the climate crisis? In this episode:  Anote Tong, former president of Kiribati Clémence Abbès, climate justice officer at Oxfam (@Oxfam) Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Do you remember a world without climate crisis? The answer to that question may define a generation. The UN climate change conference, or COP, has been going on since 1995, well before some of today’s most vocal climate activists were born. Numbers show young people around the world are facing a wave of ‘climate anxiety’ – so today, we’re turning over the mic to four activists who were all born after emissions levels had passed the threshold for normal life on Earth. In this episode:  Blanche Verlie (@BlancheVerlie), Sydney Environment Institute  Evelyn Acham (@eve_chantel), Climate activist, Uganda  Atlas Sarrafoğlu (@AtlasSarrafoglu), Climate activist, Turkey  Line Niedeggen (@lineniedeggen), Climate justice activist based in Germany  Jennifer Uchendu (@Dzennypha), Founder of SustyVibes, Nigeria  Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

After six months, a Brazilian Senate investigative committee has recommended for President Jair Bolsonaro to be indicted for nine crimes related to his handling of the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 600,000 people in the South American country. But who decides the president’s fate, and will he be impeached or even jailed like his predecessors? In this episode:  Monica Yanakiew (@MonikaKiev), reporter for Al Jazeera English in Brazil Claudio Couto (@claudio_couto), political scientist and professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation in Sao Paulo  Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Over 100 world leaders are gathered in Glasgow, Scotland for COP26 to plan a better future for the planet and one of the first decisions they made is to reduce deforestation by 2030. Scientists say that two-thirds of the biggest rainforest in Mexico, the Lancandon Jungle, has been lost and environmental groups and indigenous people are fighting to curb deforestation, illegal logging, and trade with protected species. We talk to Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Mexico, Manuel Rapalo, about his excursion to the jungle, deforestation and the protected species he met there. In this episode:  Manuel Rapalo (@Manuel_Rapalo), Al Jazeera correspondent in Mexico Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Thousands of employees across the US are on strikes demanding change, and they're hoping that a worker-friendly Congress and arguably the most pro-union president in decades will help them get it.  In this episode: Marlena Pellegrino, nurse striking from St. Vincent Hospital (@SaintVincentMA) and Co-Chair of the Massachusetts Nurses Association (@MassNurses) Bargaining Unit Nafisah Ula, Organizing Director of Jobs With Justice National (@jwjnational) Thomas Kochan, Professor at MIT Sloan School of Management Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

In the early hours of October 25, reports started to emerge from Sudan that Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok had been arrested. As the hours passed, it became clear what had unfolded: a coup was taking place, two years after Sudan's revolution, and just weeks before a transitional government was to be handed over to civilians. We talk to people in Sudan and the diaspora about what the military takeover could mean for the country’s path to civilian governance.  In this episode:  Isma’il Kushkush (@ikushkush), journalist Marine Alneel (@MarineAlneel), protester  Nisrin Elamin (@minlayla77), Assistant Professor of international studies at Bryn Mawr  Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

All around the world, supplies of energy cannot keep up with soaring demand. That means higher energy prices. But more expensive natural gas, oil and other fossil fuels means staying warm this winter will cost consumers a lot more money. Today we explain what triggered this energy crisis, who will it hurt the most, and how the fossil fuel crunch  could impact the climate crisis? In this episode:  Henning Gloystein (@hgloystein), Director of Energy, Climate & Resources at Eurasia Group Justin Schott, Project Manager of Energy Equity Project, Urban Energy Justice Lab (@JustUrbanEnergy) at the University of Michigan School for Environment & Sustainability  Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Many Afghans are still trying to escape their country after the Taliban took over in August but few are as threatened as women judges. In 2009 the Elimination of Violence Against women was signed by then President Hamid Karzai and in the years that followed, courts led by female judges opened in provinces around the country, enforcing laws protecting women from violence and abuse. Since the Taliban opened the prisons, many of those jailed are now free and threatening the lives of the women who locked them up. Now, the chaos that followed the Western exit from Afghanistan has made it that much more difficult for the women to escape.  Today on the Take we hear their stories and the plight of the international legal community trying to get them out.

As fighting erupts across an old frontline in Beirut, Al Jazeera’s senior correspondent Lebanon Zeina Khodr shares her experiences reporting on a country mired in multiple crisis. In this episode: Zeina Khodr (@ZeinaKhodrAljaz), Al Jazeera’s senior correspondent in Lebanon Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Muammar Gaddafi’s death shocked the world – and 10 years later, the instability the former leader’s death unleashed in Libya has yet to end. Many thought the family’s hold over Libya was done, but one of Gaddafi’s sons is trying to overcome his past – and his ICC charges – to maneuver for power. He could even be a contender in December’s upcoming elections. So what are the chances that Libya could see the rise of another Gaddafi? In this episode:  Malik Traina (@libyanmind),  Al Jazeera producer in Libya  Tarek Megerisi (@tmegrisi), Senior Policy Fellow, European Council on Foreign Relations  Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Increasingly, droughts, floods, and hurricanes are becoming a reason for people to leave their homes and even their countries. Last year, nearly half of the population in Honduras was affected by hurricanes. But the concept of climate refugees is not yet legally recognized by international law. So what’s left for migrants who are losing their jobs and homes to do in the face of climate change? Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

With close to half a million deaths from Malaria in 2019 --most in Sub-Saharan Africa-- scientists have spent decades working toward a vaccine, and last week, the World Health Organization approved the first. But, with only 30 to 40 percent efficacy some are also asking, is it worth it? And, there are other questions about how quickly it can be deployed.  We talk to one Kenyan scientist who grew up in one of the world’s most malaria ridden regions and hear about how he’s helping to stop this dogged and deadly disease.

For six hours on October 4, Facebook, Instagram, and Whatsapp, all owned by the same parent company, were inaccessible to the 3.5 billion people who use them. The outage exposed just how extensive Facebook’s communications empire is, and left people wondering if it’s a monopoly that needs to be broken up.

Tunisia has a new prime minister, the first woman in the Arab world to hold the job. She’s replacing the prime minister that President Kais Saied sacked in July, when he suspended parliament. Many Tunisians, fed up with political parties and an economic crisis, thought that was the right move – but others called it a coup, and the question has lingered. As Saied continues to consolidate power, are these steps off the road to democracy, or will they make Tunisia’s democracy stronger? In this episode:  Bernard Smith (@JazeeraBernard), Al Jazeera correspondent  Rabeb Aloui (@rababalouii), Tunis-based journalist  Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

After dealing with an 11-year war and the Ebola epidemic, Sierra Leoneans are now - like the rest of us - facing the COVID-19 pandemic. But for many, this can be particularly triggering. So what happens to people faced with generations of untreated collective trauma, and what can be done to help Sierra Leoneans heal? In this episode:  Rawya Rageh (@RawyaRageh), Senior Crisis Adviser for Amnesty International Yusuf Kabba, President of the Sierra Leone Association of Ebola Survivors Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)  

China’s slowing birth rate has long been a concern for the government. It’s led to a slew of new policies meant to encourage a baby boom. But some new developments — like the mention of reducing abortions for "non-medical purposes" in new women’s health guidelines — have left some people worried about the role of the state in family planning. So what’s China doing to boost its population numbers, and how will it affect what happens in the bedroom? In this episode:  Katrina Yu (@Katmyu), Al Jazeera's China correspondent  Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Iraqis are heading to the ballot box in less than a week, and it's a direct result of activists' efforts. But as the parliamentary election inches closer, a lot of Iraqis are wondering whether it can withstand influence from the US and Iran, and actually deliver on the changes they're asking for.  In this episode:  Imran Khan (@ajimran), Al Jazeera senior correspondent  Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Sixteen years of Angela Merkel in Germany have ended in an election with a three-way split, and nothing yet is settled – including the legacy of Merkel, whose stability helped reshape a continent. The possible next chancellor, Olaf Scholz, is famously boring, but still has a scandal percolating around him. As the parties haggle it out, it’s left Germany and the world with one question – what’s next? In this episode: Ruairi Casey (@Ruairi_Casey), reports on Germany for aljazeera.com Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

US officials are saying upwards of 4,000 Haitians were sent back from the Texas border over the past few weeks, but what happened next? Daniel left Haiti for Chile four years ago. Last week, he finally made it to Texas. He says he was shackled, beaten and sent back to Haiti again. Today on The Take, what Daniel was hoping for and what happened in the end. In this episode:  Santcha Etienne, Organizer for The Black Alliance for Just Immigration in Florida (@BAJItweet) John Holman (@johnholman100), Al Jazeera correspondent - Mexico City  Kerry Kennedy (@KerryKennedyRFK), President of RFK Human Rights (@RFKHumanRights), lawyer and activist  Translation: Charles Jean-Pierre (@cjpgallery) and Roberto Massillon (@PAPCuisineDC) Voiceover: Bechir Slyvain (@bechirsylvain) Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

It was supposed to be an announcement of a pact, not the start of a foreign relations crisis between allies. But as Australia announced a new security partnership with the UK and the US, dubbed AUKUS, it also canceled a multi-billion dollar contract to buy submarines from France. So how did an abandoned deal for a dozen submarines turn into the diplomatic version of a lover's quarrel? In this episode:  Natacha Butler (@natachabut), Al Jazeera Paris correspondent  David Brophy (@Dave_Brophy), Senior Lecturer in Modern Chinese History at the University of Sydney Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

A lot of Canadians are frustrated with the 600-million-dollar pandemic election that took place earlier this week and resulted in an almost identical parliament. But the five weeks of electioneering did raise a lot of issues and highlight some trends that could define Canada’s future. In this episode:  Fatima Syed (@fatimabsyed), host of BackBench podcast (@backbenchcast) and reporter at The Narwhal (@thenarwhalca). Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Lebanon has had a few bright spots of news in its long running economic collapse. On Monday, a new government was confirmed for the first time in 13 months, and fuel is coming in to fill a dire need for electricity. But it was brought from Iran by Hezbollah, which could pose its own set of geopolitical problems. So could Lebanon finally be turning a corner? Or is optimism still out of sight? In this episode:  Kareem Chehayeb (@chehayebk), Lebanon-based reporter  Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

This September, El Salvador rolled out Bitcoin as official legal tender. Nayib Bukele, the youngest president in the history of the country, wanted to adopt cryptocurrency to improve the economy. But his critics say this might be a distraction from the measures Bukele has taken to dismantle democratic institutions and criticize the press. In this episode:  John Holman (@johnholman100), Al Jazeera Correspondent  Roman Olivier Gressier (@romangressier), Reporter for El Faro (@_elfaro_) Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Forty million Afghans still in the country live under the fear of their hospitals and healthcare system falling apart. Without international aid, medical supplies are running short. Since the Taliban took control of the country, the United States has led the way for many other countries, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, to stop necessary assistance from flowing into Afghanistan. As a result, doctors are left in the heartbreaking situation of doing their best to keep patients alive without proper resources. In this episode, we hear from those doctors who implore the international community to help heal Afghans rather than leaving them to die. In this episode:  Dr Najmussama Shefajo: Ob/Gyn specialist, founder of Shefajo Group of Laboratories, and president of the Afghanistan Society of Obstetricians & Gynecologists Dr Tankred Stoebe, MSF doctor Dr Ashuq Urrahman, physician in Kabul Dr Muhammad Mustafa Sahibzada, physician in Kabul Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

This is the final episode of a three-part series looking at the past, present, and future of the so-called ‘war on terror’.  For an idea of the next phase of the US’s war on terror, we look to East Africa, where a different version of the war has been unfolding for the past 20 years. American soldiers may not patrolling the streets of Kenya, but the US’s counterterrorism presence is very much there. In this episode: Fauziya Hussein (@diamamyn4zi1), Sister of disappeared Kenyan man Samar Al-Bulushi (@samar42), Political Anthropologist at University of California Irvine Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

This is the second episode of a three-part series looking at the past, present, and future of the so-called ‘war on terror’.  Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison was once a front-page headline in the "war on terror". Today, public knowledge of the torture that made it infamous is starting to fade – but 17 years later, one US lawsuit for its victims is still going on. It centers on private contractors: companies that became an integral part of the US military efforts post-9/11 attacks, which changed the way war is fought – and accountability is sought. In this episode:  Rafael Shimunov (@rafaelshimunov), human rights activist  Katherine Gallagher (@katherga1), Senior Staff Attorney at the Center for Constitutional Rights  Majid, Abu Ghraib plaintiffs' legal team member in Iraq Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

September 11, 2001, marked a milestone in a new chapter of warfare: after the 9/11 attacks, the US began not only the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, but a so-called “global war on terror". That meant building a new war infrastructure that is fully global in nature, massively profitable in scale, and now, after 20 years, part of the fabric of our lives. So how did we get here? In the first episode of our three-part series looking at the past, present, and future of the so-called 'war on terror'  - we look at the US political climate after 9/11 and walk through the sweeping policy changes that would come to define the forever wars. In this episode:  Kevin Harrington, former MTA train operator Hina Shamsi (@HinaShamsi), Director of the National Security Project at the American Civil Liberties Union (@ACLU) Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

For most people, climate change boils down to the simple fact that it’s just a lot hotter than it used to be. And for people in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), those temperatures have been rising too fast. Today, the Levant allows us to take a look at what the future might look like with global warming. In the Jordan Valley, farmers struggle with water scarcity. While in other parts of MENA outdoor air conditioner is the new normal. In this episode:  Karim Elgendy (@NomadandSettler), Associate Fellow at Chatham House and Founder of Carboun Cities (@CarbounCities) Anwar AlAdwan, farmer in the Jordan Valley Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

As the world tries to keep global temperatures from rising above 1.5 or even 2 degrees celsius, one of the biggest resources to slow global warming may be changing sides.  The Amazon rainforest has always been hailed for its ability to absorb the world’s carbon. Now, a new study is showing fires and deforestation are causing parts of the rainforest to expel more carbon than they absorb. This is changing the global warming equation and making it that much easier for the planet to heat up. In this episode: Dr John Miller, Scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)  Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

In August, the UN climate panel issued a “code red for humanity”. The latest IPCC report warned of a catastrophic planetary future if global emissions don’t reach net-zero within the next few decades. But in Bangladesh, there’s no code red needed. The country’s residents have been watching the seas rise and the glaciers melt, right in front of their eyes. And they have lessons - and warnings - for the rest of the world. In this episode:  Saleemul Huq (@SaleemulHuq), Director of the International Center for Climate Change and Development (@ICCCAD) Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Chicago community organiser and artist Rami Nashashibi started writing the song Mama Please in tribute to the memory of George Floyd. Over time, and with the help of musicians Drea d’Nur and Jecorey Arthur it evolved into a song about injustice in the United States and abroad. This song is dedicated to a former New York State police officer who was fired when she intervened to stop another officer’s chokehold. We're bringing you an update on that former officer, Cariol Horne, and her fight for justice. In this episode: Singer and music producer, Drea d’Nur; artist and executive director of Inner-City Muslim Action Network, Rami Nashashibi; and former police officer and current activist, Cariol Horne. Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

The number of cases from the Delta variant of COVID-19 continue to rise, even in countries like Israel that vaccinated most of their populations. In the US, more children are coming down with the virus and the number of cases for adults under 50 is the highest it’s ever been. Now, the US is announcing it plans to offer booster shots, but the World Health Organization (WHO) is arguing the rest of the world needs those vaccines first. In this episode, we’re bringing you an update and a reminder of what the Delta variant is and why it’s so concerning, particularly for the unvaccinated. In this episode:  Dr Syra Madad (@syramadad), Epidemiologist, Senior Director for Special Pathogens with the New York City Health System and a member of the Federation of American Scientists COVID task force Dr Salam Gueye (@SalamGueye), Director of Regional Emergencies in Africa for the World Health Organization Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Chile is in the midst of rewriting its constitution, a process that will affect every aspect of Chilean life - even down to its water. The country has been battling a mega drought for over a decade, and rivers and reservoirs in Chile have dried to dust. This year could match 2019 for the driest year on record. With the current constitution, access to water goes to the highest bidder. But all that could be changing this year. In this episode, we’re updating a story from May 2020, about the man-made roots of Chile’s water crisis. In this episode: Lucia Newman (@lucianewman), Al Jazeera correspondent for Latin America Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

For many of us, morning doesn’t begin until we’ve had that first cup of caffeine. But the spoonful of sugar some Americans are pouring into their coffee or tea could be making communities in Palm Beach County, Florida sick. In a lawsuit filed in 2019, the plaintiffs claim the smoke and ash that fills the air during harvest season may be linked to several serious health problems, including respiratory issues. A group of journalists and scientists teamed up for a one-year investigation into the consequences of sugar cane burning. In this episode we hear from one of them.  In this episode:  Lulu Ramadan (@luluramadan), Investigative reporter at the Palm Beach Post (@pbpost) Robert Mitchell and Christine Louis-Jeune, Palm Beach County residents Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Every August, in a small town called San Cibrao, in the northern region of Galicia, Spain, people gather to celebrate a local yearly festival: the A Maruxaina. Finding a bathroom during the event, which brings together thousands of people, can be challenging - forcing many to go to discreet alleys instead. In 2019, a group of women were secretly recorded while doing it. The videos were posted on porn websites. Now, the women are seeking justice. In this episode:  Sonia Visozo, El País’ correspondent in Galicia Paloma Maseda and Alba Álvarez, victims Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

After two decades, Taliban rule is starting to look like the new normal in Afghanistan again. It’s a reality that has tens of thousands of Afghans running for their lives. But the new leadership is assuring Afghans that they are safe in Afghanistan. Will this be a softer, gentler version Taliban rule? Or are the end of women’s rights and public executions ahead? To find out, we talk to one of our correspondents who has followed the Taliban for twenty years and watched them enter the room where deals were signed. In this episode:  Ali Latifi (@alibomaye), Al Jazeera Digital's Kabul correspondent  Osama Bin Javaid (@osamabinjavaid), Al Jazeera correspondent  Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

On August 15, the Taliban took over the Afghan capital of Kabul, entered the presidential palace, and declared an end to the 20-year war. But before that declaration, as the armed group rapidly advanced throughout the country, we spoke with Pashtana Durrani. She's an Afghan activist who was witnessing it all first-hand. In this episode of The Take, we hear her story. In this episode:  Pashtana Durrani (@BarakPashtana), founder and executive director of LEARN Afghanistan (@LEARNAfg) Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Eswatini security forces have killed 70 protesters and arrested more than 600 in the past few months, but it’s likely you’ve heard little to nothing about it. The internet in the small, Southern African country has been regularly shut down over the past few weeks, and journalists intimidated, arrested, and beaten. In this episode, we talk to one of them. In this episode: Cebelihle Mbuyisa (@CebelihleM), reporter at New Frame Vito Laterza (@vitolaterza09), associate professor of development studies at the University of Agder Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

In Mexico, American guns are a fact of life. The Mexican government estimates nearly 70 percent of guns trafficked into the country come from the United States. And in the US, gun trafficking is not a federal crime. Now, the Mexican government is taking an unusual tack to try to stop the flow of arms: it's filed a lawsuit. With no sign of the cartel violence slowing, can a lawsuit stem the flow of guns to Mexico? In this episode:  John Holman (@johnholman100), Al Jazeera correspondent Eugenio Weigend Vargas (@eugenioweigend), Center for American Progress (@amprog) Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

One year after a contested election and many protests, the movement to free Belarus from President Alexander Lukashenko has boiled over its borders into neighboring states. This also means Belarusians around the world might fear the long arm of Lukashenko’s rule. Olympic sprinter, Krystsina Tsimanouskaya was quick to escape but others faced a tragic end. What is happening in Belarus and how much power does Lukashenko hold in Belarus and beyond its borders?  In this episode:  Krystsina Tsimanouskaya, Belarusian Olympic sprinter Step Vassen, Al Jazeera correspondent Hanna Liubakova (@HannaLiubakova), freelance journalist, non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council (@AtlanticCouncil) Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Another Olympics has come and gone. And as the athletes and sponsors leave town, Tokyo could be left to deal with the debt, gentrification, and displacement that can come from hosting the games. In this episode, we look at the social cost of hosting sporting events and the activists fighting to keep the Olympics out of their hometowns.  In this episode:  Christopher Gaffney (@geostadia), associate professor at New York University Theresa Williamson (@greencities), executive director of Catalytic Communities (@CatComm) Jonny Coleman of @NOlympicsLA Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Since the American-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, the US has trained thousands of Afghan security forces. Among them are militias that were backed by the US Central Intelligence Agency. For years, activists and journalists have documented civilian killings that took place by their hand. How will that legacy affect the current fight ahead for the country? In this episode: Emran Feroz (@Emran_Feroz), journalist Patricia Gossman (@pagossman), Associate Asia Director for Human Rights Watch Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

What is left in Lebanon, after 12 months of almost indescribable crisis, is the fight to hold someone – anyone – accountable. There has been a yearlong fight to do just that, but with the economic freefall only getting worse, the paralysis seems to be deepening. Lebanon is no stranger to proxy conflicts, and now the investigation into the blast has become a surrogate fight for the future of Lebanon itself.In this episode: Timour Azhari (@timourazhari), Lebanon correspondent at Thomson Reuters FoundationConnect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Last week, one more name was added to the list of Donald Trump advisors indicted after serving the former president of the United States. Thomas Barrack is charged with facilitating illegal influence by the United Arab Emirates on the US. How much influence did the UAE have and what is the US doing about it?  In this episode:  Ben Freeman (@BenFreemanDC), Director of the Foreign Influence Transparency Initiative (@InfluenceWatch) at the Center for International Policy (@CIPolicy) and author of The Foreign Policy Auction Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Tunisia’s president is on a firing spree. Kais Saied sacked the prime minister, froze parliament, and dismissed several senior officials in the span of a week, all in the name of anti-corruption. The political turmoil has many Tunisians wondering — should they view these latest developments with hope? Or skepticism?In this episode: Ouiem Chettaoui (@ouiemch), a Tunisian public policy specialistConnect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With the recent announcement of Bill and Melinda Gates’ divorce, many people are asking questions about the Foundation's future. But this is not the first time questions about the foundation have been asked. One development expert we spoke with claims AGRA, Bill Gates’ two decade old program to feed Africa through agriculture, failed in its goals. On this episode of The Take we look at the Gates Foundation, and at AGRA and what went wrong. In this episode:  Timothy Schwab (@TimothyWSchwab), investigative journalist and author of the upcoming book, The Good Billionaire on Bill Gates and The Gates Foundation Timothy Wise (@TimothyAWise), researcher and international development expert, also author of “Eating Tomorrow” David Otieno Ciddi, small scale farmer, leader of Kenya’s peasants’ league and member of Via Campesina Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The biggest threat to China’s future prosperity may not come from the US, but from within as it wrestles with falling birthrates and rising inequality. How concerned is China about the widening gap between the country’s haves and have nots? Look no further than its billionaires, who’ve suddenly become very generous. In this episode:  Michael Standaert (@mstandaert), journalist  Einar Tangen (@ehtangen), commentator on economics and political affairs Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

COVID-19, racism, anti-semitism and a crackdown on protest — all dark clouds hanging over this year’s Olympic games in Tokyo. The International Olympic Committee made a huge gamble in postponing the event to 2021. Has it paid off?In this episode: Jules Boykoff (@julesboykoff), political scientist, former Olympian, and author of ‘Activism and the Olympics’Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As many as 75% of young South Africans are unemployed. In any other country that would be cause for a revolution according to one South African economist. Why did rioting and looting sweep the country last week? And could violence erupt again? This week The Take explores the vast inequality and economic hardships behind South Africa’s latest unrest. In this episode:  Bonginkosi Mchunu, 24 year old resident of Gretown Township in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, Influencer for Youth Capital South Africa and Corporate Specialist  Duma Gqubule (@DumaGqubule), South African economist and financial journalist Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The world’s richest man, Jeff Bezos, is heading to space on his own spaceship on July 20th – though he’s already been upstaged by another billionaire space tour. Where the global space race was once decided by the wealth of nations, now its future is increasingly determined by ultra-wealthy individuals worth more than many countries. Their pursuit of space could put new resources in reach, and it’s reshaping the laws of outer space – at least, the ones made by humans. In this episode:  Lucianne Walkowicz (@RocketToLulu), astronomer at the Adler Planetarium and co-founder of Just Space Alliance (@JustSpaceOrg) Lisa Ruth Rand (@orbital_decay), assistant Professor at the California Institute of Technology Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Samuel Luiz, a 24-year-old nursing assistant, was beaten to death in early July in A Coruña, a city in northwest Spain. Witnesses say his aggressors reportedly used homophobic slurs while attacking him. But the police have not deemed it a hate crime yet.  The killing has shocked the LGBTQ community, and many have started a conversation online about their own experiences with attacks. Others are questioning how progressive the European country really is. In this episode:  Begoña Gómez Urzaiz (@begogomezurzaiz), freelance journalist in Barcelona Mateo Sancho (@mateosancho), journalist and sociologist Enrique Aparicio (@esnorquel), journalist Rubén Serrano (@RubenSerranoM), journalist and author Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jovenel Moise's assassination has thrown Haiti into a fog of political confusion. But with gangs running the streets, and extreme poverty across the country, Haiti was in a state of crisis long before his killing. In this episode:  Jetry Dumont (@_jetry_), director of the Haitian media company Ayibopost Monique Clesca (@moniclesca), democracy activist Johnny Celestin (@johnnycelestin), Haitian-American  Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After 20 years the United States is ending its occupation of Afghanistan. A lot has changed but many Afghans like journalist Ali Latifi are concerned about how many things are still the same. Roads remain unpaved, the electricity is spotty and a newly energized Taliban is threatening to take back the Afghan state. Many Afghans are now left wondering what happened to the US promises and why the Afghan people have been left behind. In this episode:  Ali Laitifi (@alibomaye), Afghan journalist covering Afghanistan Osama Bin Javaid (@osamabinjavaid), Al Jazeera correspondent covering the Taliban Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For the last few weeks, people around the world have been tuning in to Euro 2020, one of the biggest sporting events since the start of the pandemic. And like most international tournaments, there's a conversation to be had about nationalism, whether it's teams butting heads, or the ethnic and racial makeup of those teams. So what can Euro 2020, and this sport, tell us about the politics of Europe? In this episode:  Tony Karon (@tonykaron), editorial lead at AJ+ (@ajplus) Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Since June, at least 27 people have been detained in the Central American country. Among them are presidential hopefuls, journalists, opposition leaders, farmer activists, student leaders, businessmen and even figureheads of the Sandinista revolution that once freed Daniel Ortega from jail. The crackdown has sparked international outrage, with the country’s opposition saying President Daniel Ortega is trying to eliminate any possible challengers ahead of the November presidential election. In this episode:  Lucia Newman (@lucianewman), Al Jazeera's Latin America editor Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Videos of the mysterious migrating herd of elephants in China have become an internet sensation. But no one knows why they're on the move. The fact that they are points to a deeper environmental problem. Human-elephant conflict is on the rise pretty much everywhere the gentle giants live, and without concrete action, the problem will only get worse. In this episode:  Dr Josh Plotnik (@CCCAnimals), assistant professor of psychology at Hunter College of City University of New York (CUNY) Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod) Privacy Policy and California Privacy Notice.

There was an unusual target for protests in the Occupied West Bank this week: the Palestinian Authority. Protesters were angry after the death of a well-known critic named Nizar Banat, who was killed in a violent arrest. With elections called off earlier this year and a crackdown on the protests, the demands for accountability in Palestine are growing louder. In this episode:  Nida Ibrahim (@nida_journo), Al Jazeera correspondent in the West Bank Stefanie Dekker (@StefanieDekker), Al Jazeera correspondent Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod) Privacy Policy and California Privacy Notice.

We’ve been hearing concerns about COVID variants since the outbreak began but none are as worrying as the Delta strain. At least, so far. From Asia to Africa to South America the vaccinated, under vaccinated and unvaccinated are all reaching for their masks. Why does this variant seem so much more alarming than the rest? Could it disrupt Euro 2020? And how does vaccine inequality play a role? That’s this episode of The Take.   In this episode:  Dr Syra Madad (@syramadad), Epidemiologist, Senior Director for Special Pathogens with the New York City Health System and a member of the Federation of American Scientists COVID task force Dr Salam Gueye (@SalamGueye), World Health Organization Africa’s regional emergencies director Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

For the past few weeks, protesters along the Western coast of North America have been attempting to block ships operated by the Israeli company ZIM from unloading cargo. They’re trying to pressure Israel into ending its military occupation and complying with international law. In this episode, we talk to a blockade organizer and an historian about why targeting ships is an activist tactic.  In this episode:  Lara Kiswani, Executive Director of the Arab Resource and Organizing Center (@AROCBayArea) Peter Cole (@ProfPeterCole), professor of history and author of Dockworker Power: Race and Activism in Durban and the San Francisco Bay Area. Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod) Privacy Policy and California Privacy Notice.

For over a century, Indigenous children were forcibly taken away from their families to residential schools created by the Canadian government and administered by churches. Survivors have reported that all kinds of abuse happened there. Last May, the first mass burial site was discovered with the remains of 215 children on the grounds of a former residential school. This week, less than a month later, a First Nations official announced the discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves at the site of another former residential school. Even when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has publicly apologized for Canada's history with its Indigenous people, many say his government’s actions when it comes to reparations do not reflect his words. In this episode:  Josie Nepinak, residential school survivor Brandi Morin (@Songstress28), Cree/Iroquois/French Journalist Cindy Blackstock (@cblackst), Executive Director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod) Privacy Policy and California Privacy Notice.

It’s been just about one year since Beijing’s National Security Law for Hong Kong took effect. It criminalizes secession, sedition and collusion with foreign forces. Dozens of activists and journalists have been arrested under the decree, and now, changes in the schools mean teachers’ jobs and students’ learning are also at risk. In this episode:  “Steve,” a secondary school teacher in Hong Kong Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod) Privacy Policy and California Privacy Notice.

Scientists say that two-thirds of the biggest rainforest in Mexico, the Lancandon Jungle, has been lost. With only 10% of virgin territory to protect, environmental groups and indigenous people are fighting to curb deforestation, illegal logging, and trade with protected species.To help us celebrate World Rainforest Day, we talked to Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Mexico, Manuel Rapalo, about his excursion to the jungle and the protected species he met there. In this episode:  Manuel Rapalo (@Manuel_Rapalo), Al Jazeera correspondent in Mexico Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

It’s election day in Iran and for many, the question is not who to vote for, but whether to vote at all. Strong candidates were disqualified from running, and conservative Ebrahim Raisi is a clear frontrunner. The stakes are high: the winner of this election will lead Iran through a pandemic, intense economic sanctions, runaway inflation, and the ongoing negotiations to restore the nuclear deal. So how much does this election mean for the future of Iran? In this episode:  Maziar Motamedi (@MotamediMaziar), Al Jazeera Iran correspondent  Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

All eyes are on Geneva for a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden. It’s just the latest in a long line of high-profile meetings between US and Russian leaders. And while it’s the first time the two are meeting since Biden took office, they have a history of their own. In this episode, we take a look at the past, present, and future of US-Russian relations.  In this episode:  Mansur Mirovalev (@mirovalev), Journalist Alicia Sanders-Zakre (@azakre), Policy and Research Coordinator at the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (@nuclearban)  Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

The Palestinian group Hamas doesn’t fit neatly into the labels some try to fit it into — terrorist, freedom fighter, armed group, political party. On the anniversary of Hamas’s takeover of the Gaza Strip, we’re looking at the context that made the group what it is, and most importantly, how it has affected Palestinians living in Gaza. In this episode: Khaled Al Hroub, Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at Northwestern University Qatar and author of two books about Hamas Mohammad Alsaafin (@malsaafin), Senior Producer at AJ+ Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Ousting Benjamin Netanyahu would take a political earthquake and the alliance of parties who’ve banded against him is unprecedented. After four elections in two years, the end of his 12 years in office may have arrived.  As internal tensions rise, how likely is a new political era for Israel? In this episode:  Haggai Matar ( (@Ha_Matar), journalist and executive director for +972 Magazine (@972mag) Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

The highest-paid female athlete in the world, tennis superstar Naomi Osaka, decided to leave the French Open at the end of May citing her battle with depression and anxiety. Her withdrawal from the tournament created a media frenzy, and divided journalists and fans. But it has also started a conversation about athletes and mental health that for many is long overdue. In this episode:  Rennae Stubbs (@rennaestubbs), former world #1 in doubles, host of @racqetmagazine podcast, and ESPN commentator  Caitlin Thompson (@caitlin_thomps), journalist, publisher and co-founder of @racqetmagazine  Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

From 1904 to 1908, German colonisers waged a brutal extermination campaign against the Herero and Nama people in present-day Namibia. Now, more than a century later, the German government has officially recognised the genocide and has offered Namibia an aid package. But many Herero and Nama people say Germany’s announcement doesn’t come close to providing justice. In this episode: Nandiuasora "Nandi" Mazeingo, Chairperson of the Ovaherero Genocide Foundation (@OGF_Namibia)Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Ireland is the first EU country to condemn “de facto annexation” of Palestinian land. The two-state solution has been conventional wisdom for a generation. As the Israeli political landscape shifts, does Ireland’s move show that reality is intruding on the international consensus?In this episode: Shelley Deane (@shelleydeane), Irish political analyst; Omar Baddar (@OmarBaddar), Palestinian American political analyst Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Mehray Mezensof's husband is one of an estimated million Uighurs being detained in China.  Several countries accuse China of committing crimes against humanity, including genocide. Starting Friday, a people's tribunal in the UK will meet to decide if that's true.In this episode: Mehray Mezensof (@Mehray_T), wife of a detained Uighur man; Sir Geoffrey Nice, chairman of the Uyghur Tribunal (@TribunalUyghur)Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

New research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics estimates that as many as 43,000 children have lost a parent to COVID-19 in the United States. And, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Native Americans, Black Americans, and Latino Americans have been disproportionately affected by coronavirus deaths in the country. With the US so far ahead in its vaccination rollout, many are looking toward getting back to normal. But, for the families of those affected by the almost 600,000 coronavirus deaths in the country, there’s no way back to normal without their loved ones. They’re struggling with grief, but also financial burdens.In this episode: Kaelyn Forde, @kaelynfordeRachel Kidman, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Stony Brook Medicine.You can read Kaelyn's reporting here.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

What began as a strike against a tax proposal in Colombia has now escalated into a nationwide protest movement over some of Colombia’s most deep-seated issues. Protesters are demanding structural changes to ease inequality and end police violence. After a month of demonstrations, President Ivan Duque’s popularity has hit record lows, and protesters are staying out in the streets. So what’s behind Colombia’s month of unrest?In this episode: Al Jazeera correspondent Alessandro Rampietti @Rampietti; Cam Aaron Lopez Duarte @depresssioncherry of @TembloresONG.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Obaida Akram Jawabra grew up outside of Hebron in the occupied West Bank and dreamed of becoming a chef. When he was 14, his dreams were put on pause for the first time when he was arrested and imprisoned by the Israeli military. He was later acquitted, but spent two months in jail. On May 17th, as many Palestinians were protesting Israeli air strikes on Gaza and Israeli settlers taking over Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem, Obaida, at 17 years old, was shot and killed by Israeli forces. More than 60 other Palestinian children were also killed by Israeli forces in the past month. Today, we take a look at the life of one Palestinian child. In this episode:  Farah Bayadsi, Human Rights Attorney @DCIPalestine Connect with The Take:  Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)  

Outreach between Black Lives Matter activists and Palestinians has become more widespread. But the foundation of solidarity between them dates long before Black Lives Matter became a movement. Today, we examine how the Black-Palestinian solidarity came to be and what parallels each side draws from the other.In this episode: Khury Peterson-Smith (@kpYES), co-founder of Black for Palestine and the Michael Ratner Middle East fellow at the Institute for Policy StudiesSandra Tamari (@SandraTamari1), Executive Director for the Adalah Justice ProjectConnect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Los Angeles, California is home to more than 60,000 homeless people — the second largest unhoused population in the United States. As an end to the pandemic and eviction moratoriums draw nearer, we’re asking: what will it take to resolve LA’s crisis of homelessness?In this episode: Amina Waheed (@atwaheed), Producer at Al Jazeera’s award-winning documentary show Faultlines; Sammy Sumpter, LA resident; Joe Buscaino (@JoeBuscaino), LA councilman; Martha Escudero (@ReclaimingHomes), Activist with Reclaiming our HomesConnect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Israeli air strikes in Gaza have killed more than 200 people over the past ten days. Many of us have watched this crisis unfold on our screens, as rockets fire, bombs detonate and buildings collapse.  Today we’re going closer to the ground to speak to the people living in this war zone each and every day.In this episode: Nada Nabil (@NadaNabilHRD), a Gazan human rights activist; Noureddine Abusamra, Gazan resident; Matthias Schmale (@matzschmale) , Gaza Director of UNRWA; Midhat Abbas, Consultant to the Gaza Health MinistryConnect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

When new statues popped up in a busy intersection in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) no one really said much. A few years later those statues were part of a major investigation led by George Clooney’s The Sentry, an NGO uncovering financial crime. The reason? They were built by a team from North Korea, a country with a long history of statue building and a long list of sanctions against it. Now, the United Nations is trying to enforce statue sanctions but in Central Africa - it can be tough.In this episode: John Dell'Osso: (@j_dellosso) Financial Crime Investigator, The Sentry (@TheSentry_Org)Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

On May 5, the US government decided to throw its weight behind an increasingly-popular WTO measure: waiving intellectual property protections for COVID vaccines. But what is this waiver? And what could it actually mean for people looking to get inoculated? We explain how seemingly-arcane trade negotiations came to mean life and death for the billions of people waiting on a vaccine. In this episode:Public health activists Achal Prabhala of accessibsa and Priti Krishtel @pritikrishtel of I-MAK @IMAKglobal.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

What started out as protests against forced expulsions in a Palestinian neighborhood has turned into an Israeli crackdown that’s engulfed much of Occupied East Jerusalem, including holy sites like Al Aqsa mosque. But Sheikh Jarrah is just one neighborhood, and displacements are unfolding across the Occupied Territories. As the reverberations in Sheikh Jarrah spread beyond the neighborhood, how will it impact the future of Palestinians in Jerusalem?In this episode: Rasha, Sheikh Jarrah residentLinah Alsaafin (@LinahAlsaafin), Al Jazeera journalistConnect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Feminist groups and activists in Mexico have taken it upon themselves to help women gain access to abortion, in a country where it’s largely illegal. At great risk to their safety, they use social networks to inform women on how to perform “at home” abortions. They’ve taken to the streets and to their cellphones to push back against the law, while helping women find the support they seek. The local efforts come as Mexico’s Supreme Court prepares to discuss the legal merits of cases surrounding abortion in June.In this episode: Andalusia Knoll Soloff, multimedia journalist in Mexico https://twitter.com/AndalaluchaConnect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Massacres, gang rapes, forced famine — the list of atrocities being reported in Tigray, Ethiopia is long and growing. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed declared the military intervention officially over in November, but the situation on the ground clearly doesn’t reflect that. And there are concerns that the situation is starting to resemble a campaign of ethnic cleansing. In this episode: Zecharias Zelalem, Ethiopian journalist (@zekuzelalem); Madiha Raza, Senior Global Communications Officer for Africa and Yemen at the International Rescue Committee (@madz_raza)Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Radwan Fouad Jomaa lives in Denmark with wife and three kids. He moved there from Syria where he was born and raised. After opposing the government of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad, he fled, fearing the worst. Now Denmark is saying his hometown, Damascus, is safe again and he and his family must go home.What will he and hundreds of others like him do? That’s today on The Take.In this episode: Radwan Fouad Jomaa, Syrian in DenmarkFlorian Elabidi (@FlorianElabdi) A Danish journalist. He reports about politics, conflicts and migration in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

On World Press Freedom Day, the focus is often the heroics of gathering and delivering information in the face of violence. But during a pandemic, it's the online threats that are hitting harder, and women journalists are being hacked, doxxed, deepfaked and threatened all over the world. We're hearing from our own colleagues who’ve faced these threats head on, to ask what we all lose when women journalists are silenced. In this episode: Kimberly Halkett (@KimberlyHalkett) White House correspondent, Al Jazeera English Ghada Oueiss (@ghadaoueiss), Presenter, Al Jazeera ArabicJulie Posetti (@julieposetti), Global Director of Research, The International Center for Journalists Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Innocent until proven guilty is a bedrock of the US legal system. But right now, hundreds of thousands of people are sitting in jail, waiting for trial. For many of them, the only thing that’s keeping them behind bars during a deadly pandemic is a lack of money to pay bail. So how are organizers campaigning to end cash bail while freeing the people it keeps incarcerated?In this episode: Nabihah Maqbool @nabihah, civil rights lawyer and organizer with @BelieverBailOut.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Two new reports - one commissioned by the French government and one by Rwanda's government - have underscored the role France played in the 1994 Rwandan genocide. But one critic says Rwanda’s President, Paul Kagame’s response to the reports may have more to do with his grip on power than it does on justice. That critic was once part of Kagame’s government but now, he’s gone into hiding. That's this week's episode of The Take.In this episode: David Himbara (@DavidHimbara), educator, political economist, & development strategist

Skyrocketing numbers, new variants, and shortages of every kind. India’s healthcare system is overwhelmed by a devastating second wave of the covid-19 crisis, and there’s no end in sight. Today, we take stock of how India’s doctors and patients are surviving this brutal health crisis. And what comes next.In this episode: Giridhar Babu (@epigiri), Professor of Epidemiology who works with the Public Health Foundation of India; Shraddha Subramanian (@doctorwithoutboundaries), resident doctor at Sassoon General Hospital in Pune; Ravi Mehta (@drravindramehta), chief of pulmonary and critical care medicine at Apollo Hospitals in Bangalore; Ankita Singh (@ankitajessy88), a doctor in Haryana; Anuj Tiwari (@anujtiwari11), a doctor at R. N. Cooper Hospital in Mumbai; and Tanmay Goyal (@tanmaygoyal9), resident of Indore.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Elected president one day, declared dead the next. The people of Chad were stunned after the army announced President Idriss Deby died while visiting soldiers fighting a rebel group in the country’s north. Now, a transitional military council has dissolved the constitution and his son has been named interim president. So what happened to Idriss Deby, and what comes next for Chad? In this episode:Al Jazeera correspondents Hiba Morgan @hiba_morgan and Nicolas Haque @nicolashaque.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

What do dugongs and whale sharks reveal about the pandemic? This mostly unexplored wildlife has been hidden off Qatar’s shores throughout years of development. While the pandemic brought most of Qatar to a halt, that wildlife was thriving. This Earth Day, we’re bringing you a story of natural beauty that had been waiting to be told for years, from a correspondent who was grounded in Doha.In this episode:Stefanie Dekker (@StefanieDekker), Al Jazeera correspondentConnect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

The border region between Russia and Ukraine has been in a long-simmering conflict since 2014. But over the past few weeks, there have been signs things might be escalating. Russia's military has been moving thousands of troops towards the border, while Ukrainian forces prepare for potential action. Could the buildup at the border lead to a full-fledged war?In this episode: Journalist Mansur Mirovalev (@mirovalev)Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

For the first time in six decades, Cuba is set to be governed without a Castro at the helm. Raul Castro, the brother of the late Fidel Castro, is expected to step down from his position as First Secretary of the Communist Party this weekend. However, the change comes in the middle of a devastating economic crisis and unprecedented anti-government protests.In this episode: Lucia Newman (@lucianewman), Aljazeera English Latin American. Editor/Sr CorrespondentRosa María Payá (@RosaMariaPaya), Human Rights Activist and Executive Director of Fundación para la Democracia PanamericanaConnect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

As people in wealthy countries look toward a vaccinated future, shopping is on the rise, and for many, the tide of fast fashion is pulling in a way that can feel difficult to escape. Love it or hate it, many feel they can’t live without quick and cheap clothes from brands like H&M or Zara. But activist Hoda Katebi and a collective of garment workers in the US city of Chicago have a radical vision for a world without fast fashion, and they’re taking it on with their own worker-owned factory: Blue Tin Productions.In this episode:Hoda Katebi (@hodakatebi), activist Mercy, member of Blue Tin ProductionConnect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

US President Joe Biden has promised every American adult they will be eligible for a COVID vaccination by April 19th. But what about the rest of the world? Only 0.01% of all vaccines distributed have gone to the developing world and now Kenya is being a hit by its 3rd wave of the virus. Many complain COVAX, the vaccine program run by the WHO, isn’t distributing the vaccine quick enough and AstraZeneca has been peppered with problems. Meanwhile, hospitals are running out of oxygen, beds are filling up and people are dying without the vaccine.In this episode:Catherine Soi (@C_SOI), Al Jazeera correspondentDr. Tom Kenyon (@TomKenyonMD), Chief Health Officer, Project HOPE and former Director of Global Health, US Centers for Disease ControlConnect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Jordan’s King Abdullah II has tried to put to rest a week of royal scandal after his half-brother, former crown Prince Hamzah Bin Hussein, was accused of conspiring to destabilise the country. What does an internal fight reveal about a nation known for its stability?We speak to Al Jazeera’s Hoda Abdel-Hamid to get to the bottom of what sparked the unprecedented royal feud.

Threatened aid workers, an empty hospital, and questionable COVID testing. An exclusive investigation by The New Humanitarian and Al Jazeera has uncovered multiple allegations of corruption in South Sudan’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.In this episode: Sam Mednick, journalist (@sammednick), and Edmund Yakani, civil society activist and head of the Community Empowerment for Progress OrganizationConnect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Kenya has hosted Dadaab refugee camp since the 1990s. And those camps have hosted hundreds of thousands of refugees, mainly from Somalia. Dadaab was meant to be temporary, and Kenya’s government is very aware of that. The government called for Dadaab to be shut down last month — something it’s asked for before. What does this mean for the refugees who call Dadaab home?In this episode: Humanitarian journalist Moulid Hujale (@MoulidHujale); Catherine Soi (@C_SOI), Al Jazeera correspondent covering East and Central Africa; Deck Abdullahi AliConnect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

The United States Border Patrol estimates that up to 22,000 children could cross the border with Mexico in April. President Joe Biden promised a more humane treatment of migrants than his predecessor, but images of a crowded migrant processing center in Donna, Texas with thousands of children crammed in small spaces have many questioning his approach.In this episode:Damià S. Bonmatí (@damiabonmati), national correspondent with Telemundo/NBC Universal.For more of Damià's reporting:'My dream is to meet my dad': They crossed the border alone to reunite with parentsEn Donna, Texas, las instalaciones de la Patrulla Fronteriza no dan abasto | Noticias TelemundoLa angustiosa espera de los migrantes con MPP pese al fin del programaConnect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Australia is facing a reckoning on sexual violence, specifically within the field of politics. One woman says she was raped inside Parliament House. In a separate case, the now-former Attorney General has been accused of assault. And many Australians say the government isn’t doing enough to address a culture of toxicity for women in political spaces. The growing protest movement calls for change — in all communities, and for all women.In this episode:Kate Walton (@waltonkate), feminist activist and writer; Priyanka Tilve (@ptilve), The Take producer Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

When France's President Emmanuel Macron announced a controversial bill on “Islamist separatism” last year, members of the country’s Muslim population worried about what would happen next. Now, the bill has reached the Senate. As France's politicians try to outmaneuver each other from the right, what impact will their politicking have on a community that's found itself at the heart of this debate?In this episode: Yasser Louati (@yasserlouati), human rights and civil liberties activist at the Justice and Liberties For All Committee (@justicelibertes) and host of Le Breakdown; historian Christelle Rabier (@ChRabier)Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Alexey Navalny is a man with many titles: Russian dissident, opposition leader, activist, investigator, lawyer. Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly refuses to say his name. But this larger-than-life persona leaves out a crucial part of Navalny’s past — his history of nationalism.In this episode:Journalists Mansur Mirovalev (@mirovalev) and Natalia Antonova (@NataliaAntonova)Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

After nearly 20 years at Guantanamo Bay with no charges against him, Mohammed al-Qahtani has what some attorneys describe as ‘generations’ of lawyers defending him. Last year, he was the closest he’d ever been to going home. But Donald Trump’s administration changed that and this week, President Joe Biden will have a chance to reverse that decision. What this administration does will send a signal about their resolve to close the US military prison for good.In this episode:Ramzi Kassem, a Professor of Law at the City University of New York; Shezza Abboushi Dallal (@ShezzaADallal) and Dana Jabri (@d_jabri), student attorneys at CLEAR.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Americans have some of the highest rates of student debt in the world, and 92 percent of it belongs to the US government. That means President Joe Biden could erase the debt with the stroke of a pen, and some activists are going on a ‘debt strike’ to urge him to do so. As Biden takes a victory lap from passing a massive economic stimulus bill, activists and some politicians are ready for the next fight: cancelling student debt.In this episode:Thomas Gokey, co-founder of The Debt CollectiveConnect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Sarah Everard was a 33-year-old marketing executive. She went missing while walking home from a friend’s house on the evening of March 3rd in South London. A London Metropolitan Police officer has been charged with her kidnap and murder. Sarah's killing, her alleged murderer, and the events that followed have spawned an outcry in the UK about violence against women, police brutality, and the right to protest.In this episode:Jamie Klingler (@jamieklingler), organizer of Reclaim These Streets; Ash Sarkar, (@AyoCaesar), contributing editor for Novara Media (@novaramedia).Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Bitcoin is having a moment. The cyber currency broke through its own record this past weekend with each bitcoin valued at over $60,000 USD. That’s more than two times Bitcoin’s value at the start of the year. If FOMO is getting the best of you, consider this: Bitcoin may be making some investors fabulously rich, right now at least, but at what cost to people, and the planet?In this episode:Guest host Patricia Sabga, managing business editor for Al Jazeera Digital; Ben Piven (@benpiven), journalist covering economics and the environment for Al JazeeraConnect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

The first trial of crimes against humanity in Syria is taking place — but not at the International Criminal Court. 10 years after the first protests in Syria, a tiny spark of accountability has been lit, with the trial of two Syrians who first came to Germany seeking asylum. On the anniversary of Syria’s uprising, we hear from a reporter who’s been inside the courthouse nearly every day of a harrowing trial, and from a woman who’s staged her own vigil outside of it.In this episode:Wafa Mustafa (@WafaMustafa9), Syrian activist; Hannah El-Hitami (@hannahel711), journalist in Berlin, Germany.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

More than 70 protesters have been killed and nearly 2,000 detained since early February when the protest against the military coup began in Myanmar. Amnesty International says many of the killings documented amount to “extrajudicial execution” by military security forces. Still, some say the coup has not succeeded yet. Today, we talk to a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist living in Yangon about how protesters are fighting back, and what the military is doing to silence them.In this episode:Aye Min Thant (@the_ayeminthant), blogger and journalist in Myanmar.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

A year ago this week, the coronavirus outbreak was officially declared a pandemic. Now, Pfizer, a leading vaccine manufacturer, is being accused of bullying governments with negotiation tactics so harsh that deals have been delayed or flat out refused. On the anniversary of the pandemic, we’re discussing the Pfizer controversy, and taking stock of the global inequities from COVID-19.In this episode:Madlen Davies (@madlendavies), global health correspondent at The Bureau of Investigative JournalismConnect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

International Women’s Day is inextricable from women’s labor, but the pandemic has pushed unprecedented numbers of women out of the workforce around the globe. For women still working, the pandemic has divided those who work at home from those who don’t. We hear from women in different parts of the world, from a psychiatrist for new mothers, a sex workers’ advocate, and one of Al Jazeera’s own journalists.In this episode:Dr. Zainab Imam, perinatal psychiatrist; Phelister Abdalla, the National Coordinator of the Kenya Sex Workers Alliance (KESWA); Xanthe Scharff (@XantheScharff), CEO & Cofounder @FullerProject; Rania Zabaneh (@RZabaneh), Al Jazeera producer in the occupied West Bank.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

The streets of Armenia are hot with protest, as several military generals and hundreds of protesters are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan over his handling of last year’s deadly conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. After accusing the military of a coup attempt, Pashinyan is calling for early elections and proposing a referendum to adopt a new constitution. But will that be enough to calm the opposition and keep himself in office?In this episode:Richard Giragosian (@Richard_RSC), director of the Regional Studies Center, an independent think tank in Armenia's capital.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Two and a half years after the killing of Saudi critic and Washington Post columnist, Jamal Khashoggi, the United States has released its official report. The report states that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman approved the operation that led to his killing. But in the days since the report, the Biden administration has resisted sanctioning the Saudi leader. We hear from the author of a 2019 United Nations investigation on Khashoggi’s killing on what she found in the US report, and what she thinks is missing in order to serve justice for Khashoggi.In this episode:Agnes Callamard (@AgnesCallamard), UN Special Rapporteur on extra-judicial executions.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Somalia is weeks overdue for a presidential election. The president’s term has expired without a successor in place. At the center of the crisis is President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, better known as Farmaajo, a former US dual citizen whose previous job was as a local bureaucrat. Four years ago, he was a new hope for the Somali people. This election was supposed to be a triumphant milestone for Somalia, a sign of stability. But instead, there’s a power vacuum that risks spiraling into conflict.In this episode:Hamza Mohamed (@Hamza_Africa), Al Jazeera journalist.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Days before a US airstrike hit “Iranian-backed targets” in Syria, Iran and the US were trying to get back to the negotiating table. This week is the closest the two nations have come to returning to the nuclear deal. It’s also the closest Iran has been to seeing an end to the latest round of US sanctions — sanctions that began with Donald Trump after he withdrew the US from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. But it has not been an easy start.  This episode has been updated to incorporate recent news events. In this episode:Maziar Motamedi (@MotamediMaziar), Iran correspondent for @AJEnglish Digital;Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

More than 5 million Venezuelans have fled the country — and almost half of them are in Colombia. Nearly 2 million people are living in the neighboring country without stability or visas. Now, the Colombian government is offering an alternative to Venezuelans living there. Colombian President Iván Duque hopes this measure will get the country international help for one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world. We hear about this possible path to legal residency from an Al Jazeera correspondent, and from Venezuelans currently in Colombia.In this episode:Alessandro Rampietti (@rampietti), Al Jazeera journalist in Bogotá, Colombia.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Two viruses, two vaccines, one unequal system: Guinean health officials declared an Ebola epidemic after reporting the first cases of the virus since West Africa’s deadly outbreak ended in 2016. One thing that’s changed since that last outbreak: the availability of a vaccine. But like we’ve seen with the coronavirus pandemic, the existence of a vaccine doesn’t necessarily mean access to one.In this episode:Nicolas Haque (@nicolashaque), Al Jazeera journalist; Gladys Archange, Guinea country representative for Catholic Relief Services.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Blackouts and power outages are happening in Texas just as climate activists in the United States celebrate the country’s re-entry into the Paris Climate Accord. After a year of grounded flights and limited travel, global emissions are barely lower than before the COVID-19 pandemic. And the disastrous effects are clear, not just in the US, but around the world. In today’s episode we’re asking, is the Paris Agreement doing enough to protect the planet?In this episode:Dr. Richard Munang (@RichardMunang), UN African regional climate change coordinator; Kofi Mawuli Klu, joint chief coordinator for the Extinction Rebellion International Solidarity Network (@XRIntSol); Dina Kesbeh (@dinakesbeh), The Take producerConnect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Designating Yemen’s Houthi rebels as a "foreign terrorist organization" was one of the last foreign policy decisions of the Trump administration. It was a move that many aid agencies feared would push the worst humanitarian crisis in the world into further chaos. Now, weeks later, the new administration under President Joe Biden has walked it back. So just how big a shift is this for US policy toward Yemen, and what does it mean for Yemen’s war?In this episode:Abubakr Al-Shamahi (@abubakrabdullah), journalist; Sultana Begum (@sultanabegums), Norwegian Refugee CouncilConnect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Forty-four transgender or gender non-conforming people were fatally shot or killed in the US in 2020. Six of those people were killed in Puerto Rico alone. This January, the island's governor Pedro Pierluisi declared a state of emergency and signed an executive order to address the killings. Today we are talking to activists in Puerto Rico and a journalist who has covered the gruesome crimes.In this episode:Pedro Julio Serrano (@PedroJulio), founder of Puerto Rico Para Tod@s; Ivana Fred Millán, activist; David Cordero Mercado (@David_cmercado), investigative journalistConnect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Between anti-vaxxers, Covid-truthers, and QAnon, conspiracy theorists seem to be having a moment. But having productive conversations about these theories is easier said than done. In this episode, social psychologist Jovan Byford explains why conspiracy theories spread during moments of upheaval, and shares his advice for talking to people who believe in them.In this episode:Dr. Jovan Byford, senior lecturer in psychology, Open UniversityConnect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

For people outside the US, QAnon seemed like a uniquely American threat — up until it wasn’t. The digital cult was born on the corners of the internet in 2017, but its adherents have taken offline action in several countries. So how does a baseless conspiracy theory that says Donald Trump is battling a cabal of child-trafficking elites find its way around the world?In this episode:Aoife Gallagher (@aoifegall), analyst at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue; Rudy Bouma (@rudybouma), journalist at NieuwsuurConnect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Social media was how many of us consumed the 2011 Arab uprisings. Technology was putting power in the hands of the people. To use social media in 2021, especially in the Middle East, is to navigate a maze of internet laws, surveillance, censorship, fake news, and bots. With Facebook now looking for ways to make political content less visible, we’re asking: what changed?In this episode:Mohamad Najam (@monajem), executive director of SMEX, a digital rights organization in Beirut, Lebanon; Jillian C. York (@jilliancyork), director for International Freedom of Expression at the Electronic Frontier Foundation.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

An explosive investigation reveals how a criminal gang is colluding with the security forces of Bangladesh and has links to the country’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina. All the Prime Minister’s Men is a gripping, true-crime podcast series about a high-level cover-up happening right now in Bangladesh. We hear Malika Bilal talk to the host of Al Jazeera Investigates, Kevin Hirten, on how the AJ I-unit exposed the corrupt and ongoing relationship between a criminal gang of brothers and the country’s leader.In this episode:Kevin Hirten (@kdhirten), host of Al Jazeera Investigates podcast.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

In the early hours of Monday morning, Myanmar’s military detained de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and several other members of the National League of Democracy party, taking control of the country’s government. This means Myanmar is under military rule again, just as it was from 1962 until 2011. What might the future look like for the people of Myanmar, many of whom have lived under military rule before? We speak with a Rohingya activist who has seen first-hand what Myanmar’s military is capable of.In this episode:Wai Wai Nu (@waiwainu), Rohingya human rights activist, founder of Women's Peace Network (@WomensPeaceNW).Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

As Black History Month kicks off in the US, we’re turning our focus to one subset of the community: black female entrepreneurs. They face some of the highest hurdles when trying to start their own businesses, and when the COVID-19 pandemic derailed thousands of firms around the US, they received some of the least support from the US government. Today, we’re talking about why that was the case, and what some women are doing to change the system.In this episode:Anna Gifty Opoku Agyeman (@itsafronomics), economist and co-founder of the Sadie Collective; Nikki Porcher, founder of the non-profit Buy From A Black Woman (@BFABWInfo); Shanae Jones, founder of Ivy’s TeaConnect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

In the final episode of our series on Operation Desert Storm, we’re telling the story of the war in Baghdad, and where this military operation has left the region 30 years later. Has it all gone to ashes, or are there a few things that have survived? We speak with the people we’ve met through this series to hear what they saw and felt during those tumultuous weeks of war, how it's affected their lives today, and impacted the region and the world.In this episode:Odai Al Najjar, Al Jazeera news editor; Salah Nasrawi, former Baghdad correspondent for Associated Press ; Nasser Al Hussainan, Retired Vice Admiral of the Kuwaiti Navy; Abdulwahab Al Qassab, Retired Major General, Iraqi Armed Forces; Eric T Olson, Retired Admiral, US Special Operations Command; Kate Adie, former BBC chief correspondentConnect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Operation Desert Storm seemed like a quick victory for the United States. But looking back, it may have had very different consequences. In part one of our three-part series, we told you the story of how Iraq invaded Kuwait. In our second episode, we head to Baghdad and hear from the people who lived through the war, and how they tried to make it to the other side.In this episode:Odai Al Najjar, Al Jazeera news editor; Salah Nasrawi, former Baghdad correspondent for Associated Press ; Nasser Al Hussainan, Retired Vice Admiral of the Kuwaiti Navy; Abdulwahab Al Qassab, Retired Major General, Iraqi Armed Forces; Eric T Olson, Retired Admiral, US Special Operations Command; Kate Adie, former BBC chief correspondentConnect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Thirty-one years ago, Iraq invaded Kuwait on a hot August morning. A few months later on January 16, 1991, the United States military launched its first major war in the Middle East: Operation Desert Storm.This is the first episode in a three-part series telling the story of that war from the perspective of the people who were there, on the ground. They are people you probably haven’t heard from before: an Iraqi General, a Kuwaiti Naval Commander and the highest ranking US Navy Seal involved in Desert Storm, just to name a few. This war was the start of something — the story of the United States in the Middle East today.In this episode:Salah Nasrawi, former Baghdad correspondent for Associated Press ; Nasser Al Hussainan, Retired Vice Admiral of the Kuwaiti Navy; Abdulwahab Al Qassab, Retired Major General, Iraqi Armed Forces; Eric T Olson, Retired Admiral, US Special Operations Command; Kate Adie, former BBC chief correspondentConnect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

President Joseph Biden has officially assumed the presidency, inheriting a deeply divided nation, a polarized Congress, and an economy severely impacted by COVID-19. While the transfer of power was seemingly peaceful, that doesn't mean supporters of Donald Trump are pledging their allegiance to the 46th President. How might that determine the landscape of politics in the US?In this episode: Josh Rushing (@joshrushing), senior correspondent for Al Jazeera’s Fault Lines.For more:The End of a Presidency: Trump’s Loss in a Divided AmericaConnect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Donald Trump is leaving office today as Joseph Biden assumes the presidency and command over a deeply divided nation. But the transfer of power is taking place under military presence as scores of National Guard troops patrol the U.S. Capitol and Washington, DC. In today's episode, we’ve got a roundup of Al Jazeera journalists seeking answers to the questions that will shape the next chapter of US history.In this episode:Guest host Patty Sagba; Asia Business editor Azhar Sukri; international correspondent Hoda Abdel-Hamid; and US political editor Steve Chaggaris.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Members of the Latinx community have perpetually remained underrepresented in front and behind Hollywood’s cameras. This past year, shows centering Latina, Latino and Latinx stories, like One Day at a Time, Vida, and Gentefied, were ignored at major awards shows. Now, creators are demanding more, as 270 producers, writers and show runners signed a letter calling for systematic change in the industry. In today’s episode, we speak to two of the letter’s signees to explore why Latinx shows are undervalued, and why these creators are pushing for diversity in entertainment.In this episode:Gloria Calderón Kellett (@everythingloria), co-show-runner and co-creator of One Day at a Time; Marvin Lemus (@ElMarvinLemus), show-runner of Gentefied.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

In a milestone win, Argentina’s Senate voted to legalize abortion, granting millions of women access to legal elective abortions until the 14th week of pregnancy. We’re revisiting an episode we first aired in March to take a deep dive into the decades-long fight to secure abortion rights, and to understand how the green wave movement secured the decriminalization of abortion in a majority Roman Catholic country and homeland of Pope Francis.In this episode:Teresa Bo (@TeresaBo), Al Jazeera journalist covering Latin America.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

After years of dispute, there was a breakthrough at the Gulf Cooperation Council summit. In June 2017, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Egypt announced a blockade on Qatar. The countries released a list of 13 demands to be met for the embargo to end. The dispute remained at a virtual standstill until last week, when the blockade was finally lifted. After more than three years of embargo by land, air, and sea, why is the GCC dispute coming to an end now?In this episode:Gregory Gause, Professor of International Relations at the Bush School of Government, Texas A&M University; and Jim Krane (@jimkrane), Energy Fellow at Rice University's Baker Institute Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

In the aftermath of the January 6 insurrection on the United States Capitol, many are asking, what’s next? Will President Donald Trump be punished for his role in encouraging the riots? What kind of punishment is possible for a President of the United States? We asked similar questions several months ago about President Trump's other pending legal cases. In today’s episode, we have an update to those questions. Hear what is possible while he remains in office, and what could happen once Donald Trump is no longer president of the United States.In this episode:Conor Shaw (@ConorMarcusShaw), senior policy and litigation fellow at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, DC (@CREWcrew)For more:Prosecuting a president, our first episode on the subjectConnect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Much of the country, and world, is shocked over the storming of the US Capitol in Washington, DC on January 6. In today’s episode, journalists and activists describe their experience covering and witnessing the insurrection. We hear experts analyze the contrast between the lack of police preparedness and response to Trump loyalists versus Black Lives Matter protesters last year. And we ask all of them to consider what Wednesday's events mean for the future of US democracy.In this episode:Journalists reporting from the US Capitol, Patty Culhane and John Hendren for Al Jazeera, and Tia Mitchell with the Atlanta Journal Constitution; Washington, DC-based activist Cirilo Manego; Attorney General for the District of Columbia, Karl Racine; Andre Perry, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution; anthropologist Steve Gardiner; former CIA officer Glenn CarleConnect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

How do you date during COVID? Well, it's different than it used to be. Some people are using Zoom along with dating apps, but others have just given up. Could your romantic life affect your health and the health of other people? We talk to a researcher who says yes, it can. And we hear from people trying to make it work during a trying time.In this episode:Richard Slatcher (@RelationScience) social psychologist studying relationships at the University of Georgia.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Chicago community organizer and artist Rami Nashashibi started writing the song “Mama Please” as a tribute to the memory of George Floyd. Over time, and with the help of musicians Drea d’Nur and Jecorey Arthur it evolved into a song about injustice in the US and abroad. And it’s dedicated to a former New York State police officer who was fired when she intervened to stop another officer’s chokehold. We talked to the artists, and former officer Cariol Horne, for a look into their work to fight for justice.In this episode:Singer and music producer, Drea d’Nur (@drea_dnur); artist and executive director of Inner-City Muslim Action Network, Rami Nashashibi (@RamiNashashibi), and former police officer and current activist, Cariol Horne (@cariolslaw).Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Citing racism and a desire for belonging, Americans and Britons of African descent are moving from the West to the African continent. It’s part of a Pan-African campaign to encourage repatriation and investment in tourism in Africa, and it’s a trend that culminated in 2019 with Ghana’s Year of Return, which marked 400 years since the first enslaved people from Africa were brought to the Americas. We speak to two women about their decision to leave the US and the UK to move to Ghana and The Gambia for good.In this episode:Muhammida El Muhajir, Ghana resident since 2014; Juliet Ryan, co-founder of the Council of African Descendants in The Gambia, and host of Bla Xit on YouTube.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Xiuhtezcatl had a lot planned for 2020, including a nationwide tour for his new album, and continuing his environmental justice work. Like most of us, he hadn’t planned on a global pandemic bringing everything to a halt. In the final episode of our ‘20 in 2020’ series, we hear from the indigenous organizer on how this summer's anti-racism protests and the relationships he made during isolation impacted his year.In this episode:Xiuhtezcatl (@xiuhtezcatl), musician and activist.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Jeremiah Thoronka has faced many difficult challenges — from Sierra Leone's civil war, the Ebola outbreak, the passing of family members, and now facing the coronavirus pandemic far from home. But at just 20 years old, the UN fellow and budding scientist has turned trash into clean energy, and has learned how to confront the challenges of a distressing year to work for a better tomorrow.This is the fourth episode in our ‘20 in 2020’ series — a snapshot of a global generation coming of age in an unprecedented year.In this episode:Jeremiah Thoronka, Sierra Leonean student in Kigali, Rwanda, and United Nations Millennium Fellow.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

It’s a story you may have not heard: the eternal conflict of an indigenous nation fighting against government and industry for recognition and rights. This year, the ongoing land struggle between the Chilean government and the Mapuche nation has become more violent than ever before, and the path to de-escalation is muddy and fraught.In this episode:Lucia Newman (@lucianewman), Al Jazeera correspondent in Chile.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Kajetan Chlipalski says 2020 is his year of emotional changes. He’s lived through some formative moments in his life this year, but many of them alone, from home. He’s also taking part in the biggest protests his country has seen in decades. We're talking to the 20-year-old student on what he's learned about people during this isolating year.This episode is the third in our series, ‘20 in 2020’ — a snapshot of a global generation coming of age in an unprecedented year.In this episode:Kajetan Chlipalski, Polish student, feminist, and activist Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

We keep hearing about the first COVID-19 vaccines being distributed in the United Kingdom and United States — but what about everyone else? When will the rest of the world be vaccinated? We check in with Al Jazeera correspondents from Baghdad to Beijing on when people there will start vaccinating, and what can be done to get more vaccines distributed.In this episode:Zain Rizvi, law and policy researcher for Public Citizen; Al Jazeera journalists Manuel Rapalo in Mexico City; Elizabeth Puranam in Delhi; Jessica Washington in Jakarta; Malcolm Webb in Nairobi; Katrina Yu in Beijing; Charles Stratford in Baghdad; and Dr. Zaher Sahloul, President of MedGlobal.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Bangladesh has relocated more than 1,700 Rohingya refugees from crowded camps in the country's southeast to Bhasan Char, an island prone to flooding — and they intend to relocate thousands more. The Bangladeshi government says the relocations are voluntary, though human rights groups say people are being coerced to move to an island where the conditions are so poor it may lead to a new crisis. It has been difficult to gain access to the island, so we’re speaking with an Al Jazeera correspondent who has been covering, and keeping in touch with the Rohingya.In this episode:Mohammed Jamjoom (@MIJamjoom), Al Jazeera Senior CorrespondentConnect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Ahed Tamimi was just 16 when she slapped an Israeli soldier in her village in the Occupied West Bank. She served eight months in Israeli prison and became an icon of Palestinian resistance to some, and a troublemaker and provocateur to others. Now she is almost 20, and rather than being out at university or protesting with her village, she’s been stuck inside four walls at home due to the coronavirus pandemic. And outside Palestine, a lot has changed, as Arab countries continue to normalize relations with Israel.This episode is the second in our series, 20 in 2020 — a snapshot of a global generation coming of age in an unprecedented year.In this episode:Ahed Tamimi, Palestinian activistFor more:Ahed Tamimi: Palestine's freedom fighter | AJ+Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

A budget bill has pushed thousands of Guatemalans into the streets every Saturday since November to demand their government do better by its citizens. Public frustration has been targeted at President Alejandro Giammattei over $13 billion in cuts to education and health, all while millions are struggling to recuperate after the devastation left by Hurricanes Eta and Iota. We’re taking a deep dive into what’s behind protester's demands, and why corruption seems to be at the root of it.In this episode:Jose Zamora (@jczamora), Guatemalan journalist in Miami, FloridaConnect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Farmers in India went through tear gas and water cannons to block key highways into Delhi for the last two weeks. They’re protesting a series of reforms that will open up the country’s agriculture sector to private corporations — and open farmers up to potential exploitation. We find out why thousands of farmers have left their homes during a pandemic to demand an end to these laws.In this episode: Elizabeth Puranam (@LizPuranam), Al Jazeera journalist in Delhi, India.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod).

Rehmat Zafar’s family is spread out across the world: Her parents are in Islamabad; her sister’s in Nairobi and her brother’s in New York. In 2020, that’s been hard. Rehmat’s trying to find her feet in a year where nothing has gone according to plan. This episode is the first in our series, ‘20 in 2020’ — a snapshot of a global generation coming of age in an unprecedented year.In this episode:Rehmat Zafar, 20, graphic design student.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod).

Many Iranians had no idea who Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was when he was assassinated at the end of November. But intelligence services in Israel and the United States had been tracking Iran's top nuclear scientist for years.So what happened that day, and what will it mean for Iran? We’re exploring Fakhrizadeh’s story, and the future of US-Iran relations as the US transitions from a Donald Trump administration to Joe Biden.In this episode: Maziar Motamedi (@MotamediMaziar), Al Jazeera journalist in Tehran, Iran.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod).

Scientists and doctors agree - pollution is killing Indians. In 2017, more than 1 million people in India died from pollution-related illnesses. But the Indian government denies any correlation. This year, exposure to pollution has also been linked to a higher number of COVID-19 cases and deaths related to the virus.Amid a public health emergency, we’re revisiting an episode we first aired in February to examine the stark differences in how the air pollution crisis is affecting Delhi's rich and poor.In this episode: Neha Tara Mehta (@NehaTaraMehta), New Delhi native and Al Jazeera producer.For more:Delhi's Deadly AirConnect with The Take: Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod).

Illegal fishing, disappearing squid, and ghost ships — a mystery has been unraveling in East Asia's seas. Researchers have discovered an eco-crisis in the waters off North and South Korea, and there’s a human cost. Local fisherman are struggling to make a living and dying while trying. Global Fishing Watch joins The Take to shed light on the environmental and human costs of squid fishing.In this episode: Jaeyoon Park (@Jaeyoon_GFW), Senior Data Scientist for Global Fishing Watch.For more:North Korea’s Ghost Ships by Al Jazeera's 101 EastConnect with The Take: Twitter (@ajthetake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

The coronavirus pandemic has brought much of the world’s economies into a recession, affecting every sector of the global population. But one generation may never recover — Generation Z, those born between 1997 and 2012. From a lack of socialization to not being able to start their careers, we’re examining how Gen Z'ers from ages 8 to 23 will have to manage these unprecedented challenges.In this episode:Kaelyn Forde (@kaelynforde), Al Jazeera business editor for the AmericasConnect with The Take: Twitter (@ajthetake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

While the Taliban and the Afghan government discuss peace in Doha, the violence back in Afghanistan seems unending. Afghanistan has been hit with a wave of targeted killings aimed at activists, civilians, and journalists. Today we have the story of one such journalist — the reporter Mohammad Ilyas Dayee, who brought the rest of the world countless stories of his home country.In this episode: Abubakar Siddique (@sid_abu), editor of @GandharaRFE.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@ajthetake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

This year seemed destined to be the year Hong Kong would get democracy, or lose everything. But as 2020 progressed, we’ve watched the movement suffer, blow after blow. We’re revisiting an episode we aired in June, and checking in on how coronavirus and the National Security Law have thwarted the fight for democracy.In this episode:Divya Gopalan (@DivyaGnews), Al Jazeera journalist.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@ajthetake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Beirut’s reconstruction in the wake of the August port explosion needs billions of dollars and months of work, and with little political or economic progress, the engine of the city’s reconstruction so far has been civil society. One recycling initiative is focusing on the glass that shattered all over Beirut by recycling the shards into new products.In this episode:Ziad Abichaker, CEO of Cedar Environmental.For more:Finished glass products created from the Beirut blast.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@ajthetake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Surfing has long been viewed as a white-dominated sport, but one woman is working to change the face of surf culture. From the shores of Dakar, Senegal, Rhonda Harper is training Black girls to become professional surfers through her organization Black Girls Surf. We’re diving into the swell to hear about the limitations, and triumphs of redefining the sport.In this episode:Rhonda Harper, founder of Black Girls Surf.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@ajthetake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

When Abiy Ahmed became Ethiopia’s Prime Minister in 2018, the country was full of promise and excitement for a better future. But this year, hope has turned to horror as headlines of ethnic violence and war have superseded those of peace-making. The conflict in northern Ethiopia has already lasted two weeks, and it threatens to destabilize the entire Horn of Africa.In this episode:Zecharias Zelalem (@ZekuZelalem), freelance journalist.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@ajthetake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Poland has some of the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe. So when a Polish court tried to restrict abortion even further, it led to mass protests — the largest the country has seen since the fall of communism. Members of Poland’s emboldened feminist movement walk us through the protests and tell us what to expect next.In this episode: Scholar and writer Agnieszka Graff; Gosia Wochowska and Wiktoria Sakowicz of Gals4Gals Lodz; student and activist Kajetan Chlipalski.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@ajthetake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

There are millions of olive trees in the Occupied West Bank, and they're a main source of the territory's agricultural income. But the olive harvest is often a source of conflict between Palestinians and Israeli settlers, and this season, that conflict was worse than usual.In this episode:Ibrahim Husseini (@husseiniibrahim), freelance journalist in Jerusalem; Sayel Kanan, Palestinian from Burqa.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@ajthetake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

After the reprinting of caricatures of Prophet Muhammad and a series of isolated and brutal attacks, French President Emmanuel Macron has become embroiled in controversy. He proposed a new bill to defend France's secular values against what he called “Islamist radicalism" and said the religion was "in crisis" all over the world. The backlash he received after his declaration included anti-French demonstrations in Muslim countries and the boycott of French goods. But French Muslims are concerned Macron's words are aimed at sympathizing with the country's far right ahead of the 2022 presidential elections.In this episode:Rim-Sarah Alouane (@RimSarah), French researcher, legal scholar and PhD candidate at the University of Toulouse.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@ajthetake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Activists in Thailand have been pushing for a change of government for months now, but a coup is not what they originally had in mind. It is, however, what many people in the capital Bangkok are preparing for. Rumors are circulating at a time when protesters are bolder and more organized than they've seen in years. Could democratic stability be on the horizon for a country that’s had 12 coups and 20 constitutions in the past century?In this episode:Scott Heidler (@ScottHeidler), Al Jazeera journalist covering Asia Pacific.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@ajthetake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

It’s three days after the US election, and there will be plenty of time to talk about how the election was lost or won. But today, we’re zooming in to look at how these few days of uncertainty panned out for some of the many people who’ve spoken to The Take during a long and turbulent year of election coverage.In this episode: Marco Gutierrez (@MarcoGutierrez) of California, co-founder, Latinos for Trump; A. Raphael Johnson (@Ulitave), writer and consultant in Minneapolis; Aleesha Shaik (@aleeshaik627), doctor at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City; Nima (@nima_ab), PhD candidate in Tehran.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@ajthetake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

With key swing states still counting votes, the US Presidential election is too close to call as of Wednesday evening. But there's a lot to unpack already, and guest host and longtime Washington, D.C. journalist Ray Suarez joins The Take to talk through some big takeaways with reporters and editors from Al Jazeera — and what the path to victory could look like for either candidate.In this episode:Ray Suarez (@RaySuarezNews), journalist and author; Patricia Sabga (@patriciasabga), managing business editor, Al Jazeera; Steve Chagaris (@stevechaggaris), political editor, Al Jazeera; Zahra Rasool (@RXahra), editorial lead, AJ Contrast; Jennifer Glasse (@JenniferGlasse) Americas editor, Al Jazeera.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@ajthetake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

It's the day after Election Day in the United States, but the US isn't the only country counting votes. We're taking you on a three-continent tour to fill you in on a few other contests — and the mixed results.In this episode:Dotto Mnyadi (@dottoa), Tanzanian journalist; Azat Asambaev, Kyrgyz journalist; Lucia Newman (@lucianewman), Al Jazeera Senior Correspondent and Latin America Editor.Connect with The Take: Twitter (@ajthetake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

For the first time in US history, Latinx, Latina, Latino and Hispanic voters are projected to exceed the number of Black eligible voters in a presidential election, making this the largest ethnic minority voting group. Since his time as a candidate for the presidency in 2016, Donald Trump's language towards the Latino immigrant community has been charged.Though, not all voters are focusing on immigration reform at the ballot box. We're hearing from members of the community on what their key voting issues are, and what a Joe Biden win, or a second Trump presidency will mean to them.In this episode: León Krauze (@LeonKrauze), Univision anchor, Washington Post columnist, and a podcast host for Slate; Jens Manuel Krogstad (@jensmanuel), a senior writer and editor at Pew Research Center.Join The Take on Election Night:Watch Malika Bilal (@mmbilal) LIVE on the Al Jazeera Instagram feed (@aljazeeraenglish) discuss the 2020 presidential race at the top of each hour from 4 pm ET (9 pm GMT) to 8 pm ET (2 am GMT).