
Why Ukraine wants women conscripts for war
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
6 Okt 202317min

Kevin McCarthy is out as US House Speaker. What’s next?
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
5 Okt 202318min

Can foreign intervention save Haiti from gang violence?
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
4 Okt 202320min

What’s behind soaring crossings at the US-Mexico border?
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
3 Okt 202317min

As Arab-Israeli normalisation expands, where do Palestinians fit?
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 (@MustafaBarghoti), 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
2 Okt 202323min

Tragedy strikes Iraq after fire at a wedding
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
29 Sep 202318min

Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Nagorno-Karabakh's mass exodus
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 (@AliTahmizian), 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.
28 Sep 202322min

What’s it like going back to school in Turkey’s earthquake zone?
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.
27 Sep 202319min