The Take

Migrant workers, mainly from countries like Nepal, India, and Pakistan, are moving to Romania as Romanians leave for higher-paying jobs in the European Union. But many must repay massive debts to agents who helped them get the work. And often, it’s a story of dashed hopes and expectations.

In this episode: 

• Radu Stochita (@stochita_radu), Journalist
  

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan with our host Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin 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. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

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

A potential US TikTok ban is edging closer into becoming law. The House of Representatives passed a bill that would effectively ban the app, citing national security concerns. If the bill makes it through the Senate, President Joe Biden has indicated he would sign it into law. But protesting TikTok users say targeting one app also targets freedom of information and creators’ livelihoods.

In this episode: 

• Alexander Howard (@digiphile), Author & Analyst of Digital Government Issues 
• Callie Goodwin (@CallieGoodwin), Founder of Sparks of Joy Co

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili, Ashish Malhotra, Negin Owliaei and Amy Walters with our host Malika Bilal. Chloe K Li 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

As Israel’s war on Gaza continues, we're coming to you on Sundays with a weekly roundup. This week: Aid reached Gaza by ship as Israel continued to prevent significant delivery by land crossings. Hamas presented a plan for a truce and ceasefire. Israel widened its strikes in Lebanon. It is day 163 of the war.

In this episode:

• Hind Al Khoudary (@Hind_Gaza), Journalist for Al Jazeera
• Hamdah Salhut (@HamdahSalhut), Al Jazeera Correspondent
• Tareq Abu Azzoum, (@TareqAzzom), Al Jazeera Correspondent
• Zeina Khodr, (@ZeinakhodrAljaz), Al Jazeera Correspondent

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. 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. 

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin seems set to win his fifth term as president as voters head to the polls this weekend. Days before the voting began, Putin confirmed that Russia was prepared for nuclear war. Today, we’re going back to an episode digging into similar statements made by Putin.

It originally aired on October 21st, 2022. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. 

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 updated by Amy Walters. The original production team was Ashish Malhotra, Chloe K. Li, Ruby Zaman, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, Alexandra Locke, Ney Alvarez, and our host, Halla Mohieddeen in for Malika Bilal. Tim St. Clair mixed 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.

Thirteen years ago, Syrians took to the streets to stand up against the government of Bashar al-Assad. The war that followed has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced more than 12 million. Today, al-Assad is still in power. Has the world abandoned Syria?

In this episode: 

• Alia Malek (@AliaMalek), Journalist, Lawyer, and Author of The Home That Was Our Country: A Memoir of Syria

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by David Enders, Chloe K. Li, Negin Owliaei and Amy Walters with our host Malika Bilal. Khaled Soltan and 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. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

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

Where is Kate Middleton? Aside from a pair of paparazzi shots, the Princess of Wales hasn’t been seen in public since Kensington Palace announced she was having surgery in January. A doctored photo released on Sunday only fueled more rumours over her public absence. What does the public relations debacle say about the state of the royal family, and the media that covers it?

In this episode: 

• Afua Hagan (@afuathescot), Journalist and Royal Commentator

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra, Khaled Soltan and Chloe K. Li, 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

Worldcoin has people lining up all over the world to let silver orbs scan their eyes for the promise of free cryptocurrency. But governments are now shutting down operations. There are concerns about collecting data and blurry lines around consent. So where will Worldcoin go next?

In this episode: 

• Russell Brandom (@RusselBrandom), Rest of World US Tech Editor 
• David Gerard (@davidgerard), Author of Attack of the 50 Foot Blockchain 

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra and Sarí el-Khalili with our guest host Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin 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

Mexico City’s residents are approaching a “day zero” where the government will no longer be able to provide them water. A city that was once built on water is now nearly dried up. How did this happen and what is being done to fix it? 

In this episode: 

• Alejandra Cuellar (@ale_cuellar), Environmental Reporter, Dialogo Chino
• Addi Palacios, Indigenous Activist 

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li and Ashish Malhotra with our host Malika Bilal. 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. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

Connect with us:

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

Ramadan this year for Palestinian Muslims looks different around the world. In the US and in Gaza, we hear how people have found solace in faith during Israel’s war, and what it means to refocus during a holy month.

In this episode: 

• Deanna Othman (@deannaothman), Freelance Journalist

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Fahrinisa Campana 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

As Israel’s war on Gaza continues, we're coming to you on Sundays with a weekly roundup. This week: At least 25 people have starved to death in Gaza. The US said it would provide more aid as aerial drops killed at least five people. Palestinians prepared for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, despite the war, which is now in its 156th day.

In this episode:

• Akram Al Sattari, Freelance Journalist
• Imran Khan (@ajimran), Al Jazeera Correspondent
• Hamdah Salhut (@HamdahSalhut), Al Jazeera Correspondent

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

Connect with us:

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