The Take

As Israel’s war on Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria continues, we're coming to you on Sundays with a weekly roundup. This week: A funeral for Hassan Nasrallah is being held in Beirut. Israel delayed the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. It is day 506 of the war in Gaza, where more than 48,319 Palestinians have been killed.

In this episode:

• Assed Baig, (@AssedBaig) Al Jazeera Correspondent
• Nour Odeh, (@nour_odeh) Al Jazeera Correspondent
• Tareq Abu Azzoum, (@TareqAzzom) Al Jazeera Correspondent 

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. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on June 12, 2024. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed.

Whenever India and Pakistan meet in cricket, it's one of the world’s most-watched sports events. This past weekend, we headed to a highly anticipated T20 match, played on neutral ground in New York, to capture one of the world’s biggest sporting rivalries.

In this episode:

• Ashish Malhotra (@amalhotra2), Producer at The Take
• Tabish Talib (@tabish_talib), Senior Producer at AJ+

Episode credits:

This episode was updated by Noor Wazwaz. The original production team was Ashish Malhotra, Tabish Talib, and Tamara Khandaker, with Chloe K. Li, and our host, Malika Bilal. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editor is Hisham Abu Salah. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

For the first time since the Nazis, Germany’s far right nears power. With the AfD in second place ahead of a crucial election, the once-fringe party is now centre stage. How did they rise, and what impact will their growing influence have on Germany?

In this episode:

• Ozan Demircan (@ozmuhabir), Reporter, The Pioneer

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Melanie Marich, Sonia Bhagat, and Tamara Khandaker with Sarí el-Khalili, Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Hanah Shokeir, Amy Walters, and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Kylene Kiang, Noor Wazwaz and Sarí el-Khalili. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad Al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

With Syria's new government cracking down on Captagon, where will production shift in the drug trade's supply chain? Under Bashar al-Assad’s rule, Syria became a hub of Captagon production. With demand continuing, where will the drug market turn to next?

In this episode:

• Niko Vorobyov (@Narco_Polo420), Author of Dopeworld

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé, with Amy Walters, Sarí el-Khalili, Melanie Marich, Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editor is Hisham Abu Salah. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. 

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

United States President Donald Trump’s plan to cut a Ukraine deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin, along with his administration’s shifting approach to transatlantic ties, has left European leaders uneasy. What does this mean for Russia, Ukraine, and the future of the war?

In this episode: 

• Tristan Redman, Al Jazeera Senior Producer

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Amy Walters, Sonia Bhagat, and Chloe K Li, with Sarí el-Khalili, Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Marcos Bartholomé, Hanah Shokeir, Melanie Marich, and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz and Sarí el-Khalili.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad Al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. 

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

In Madrid, gay men say targeted police raids and humiliating strip searches are on the rise, defying Spain’s image as a leader in LGBTQ rights. Authorities claim it is part of a drug crackdown, but activists insist deep-rooted homophobia is driving the arrests. What is behind these allegations, and what does it mean for queer communities across Europe?

In this episode:

• Christo Casas (@christocasas), Journalist and Anthropologist

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé and Chloe K. Li, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Melanie Marich, Hanah Shokeir and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad Al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Hamas has survived 500 days of relentless bombardment, defying Israel's repeated vows to destroy it. Despite its losses, including assassinations of prominent leaders, Hamas is intact, manning checkpoints, coordinating aid, and releasing Israeli captives. How does Hamas continue to endure?

In this episode:

• Khaled Al-Hroub, Northwestern University in Qatar Professor and Author of “Hamas: A Beginners Guide” and “Hamas: Political Thought and Practice”

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra, Tamara Khandaker, and Chloe K. Li  with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Melanie Marich, and our host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz. 

The Take production team is Marcos Bartolomé, Sonia Bhagat, Spencer Cline, Sarí el-Khalili, Tamara Khandaker, Phillip Lanos, Chloe K. Li, Ashish Malhotra, Khaled Soltan, Amy Walters, and Noor Wazwaz. Our editorial interns are Melanie Marich and Hanah Shokeir. Our guest host is Kevin Hirten. Our engagement producers are Adam Abou-Gad and Vienna Maglio. Aya Elmileik is lead of audience engagement.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editor is Hisham Abu Salah. Alexandra Locke is the Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. 

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

As Israel’s war on Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria continues, we're coming to you on Sundays with a weekly roundup. This week: A sixth exchange of captives and prisoners took place between Hamas and Israel. It is unclear what will happen to the next phase of the ceasefire plan. Israel is expected to extend its occupation of parts of southern Lebanon. It is day 499 of the war in Gaza, where more than 48,239 Palestinians have been killed.

In this episode:

• Tareq Abu Azzoum, (@TareqAzzom) Al Jazeera Correspondent 
•  Mohammed Haji, (@hxji99) Al Jazeera Producer
• Hamdah Salhut, (@hamdahsalhut) Al Jazeera Correspondent
• Zeina Khodr, (@ZeinakhodrAljaz) Al Jazeera Correspondent

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. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

At Al Jazeera Podcasts, we want to hear from you, our listeners. So, please head to https://www.aljazeera.com/survey and tell us your thoughts about this show and other Al Jazeera podcasts. It only takes a few minutes!

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on April 7th, 2023. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed.

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, an expert on sustainable agriculture, Ekodiya
• Roman Gryshyna, CEO of Travelite MICE&Travel Ukraine

Episode credits:

This episode was updated by Amy Walters. The original production team was Amy Walters, Chloe K. Li, Miranda Lin, Khaled Soltan, and our host, Malika Bilal. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Adam Abou-Gad and Vienna Maglio. Aya Elmileik is lead of audience engagement. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Mohammed el-Kurd was first known for defending his home against Israeli settlers in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of Jerusalem. Now, he’s known globally for his writing about how the rest of the world perceives Palestinians. In his new book, he breaks down the ‘perfect victim’ myth and how it seeks to control the Palestinian narrative. 

In this episode:

• Mohammed el-Kurd (@m7mdkurd), Author of ‘Perfect Victims: And the Politics of Appeal’

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili, Sonia Bhagat, and Amy Walters with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Khaled Soltan, Melanie Marich, Hanah Shokeir, and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz.  

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad Al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is the Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. We’ll be back.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube