The Take

What would the end of US sanctions mean for Syria? The handshake between US President Donald Trump and interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa was a dramatic shift, signaling the end of 46 years of US sanctions against Syria. Now, the door is opening to more investment and international aid, and Syrians poured into the streets in celebration. How did the deal come together, and what might it mean...

As Israel’s war on Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria continues, we're coming to you on Sundays with a weekly roundup. This week: Israel began a new military operation in Gaza, killing more than 300 Palestinians since Thursday. Earlier in the week, Israel bombed two hospitals, killing a journalist it had previously wounded. It is day 590 of the war in Gaza, where more than 53,272 Palestinians have bee...

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on May 10, 2024. None of the dates, titles, or other references have changed. Usually all quirky music and fun, Eurovision has been marked by protests over Israel’s participation during its ongoing war on Gaza. Will it overshadow an event meant to unite? In this episode: Nils Adler ( @nilsadler1 ), Al Jazeera Journal...

A hundred years after the birth of Malcolm X, and in the shadow of a second Trump presidency, Ibram X. Kendi – author of the international bestseller How to Be an Antiracist – returns to the meaning of Malcolm’s legacy in his newest book. What does it reveal about where the US is now, and what still needs to be said about race in America? In this episode: Ibram X Kendi ( @ibramxk...

Gaza is starving. As Palestinians mark 77 years since the Nakba, families are still under bombardment, cut off from aid and struggling to survive. With US President Donald Trump touring the Gulf, what will it take to bring relief to Palestinians? In this episode: Youmna ElSayed ( @YoumnaElSayed17 ), Al Jazeera correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili, Soni...

Recently elected Pope Leo XIV is the first pontiff from the United States, just as the country's president is shaking up the global order. With both the US and the Catholic Church deeply divided, what does Pope Leo’s selection mean for Catholics in the US and worldwide? In this episode: Hoda Abdel-Hamid ( @hodaaje ), Al Jazeera correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy...

United Nations agencies are facing an unprecedented financial crisis, with the United States abruptly pulling aid, European contributions shrinking, and global budgets shifting to defence. Deep cuts, mass layoffs and sweeping reforms are under way, jeopardising food, shelter and other aid for millions around the world. How can the UN adapt to survive? In this episode: Gabriel Elizondo ( @elizondog...

Feeling lonely? You’re not the only one, and it’s not just in your head. The World Health Organization has called loneliness a global health threat, linked to serious physical and mental harm. But researchers say connection is a skill we can relearn, and rebuilding it might just save our lives. This episode originally aired on December 13, 2023. All dates, titles, and references reflec...

As Israel’s war on Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria continues, we're coming to you on Sundays with a weekly roundup. This week: Israel approved a new plan for displacing Palestinians in Gaza. A Turkish student arrested in the US for her views on Gaza was released. Talks between the US and Iran were scheduled to resume. It is day 583 of the war. More than 53,253 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed....

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on October 25, 2024. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. The sex trafficking trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs is under way in New York. The music mogul courted controversy since the 1990s and now faces allegations of trafficking and coercing women into drug-fueled sexual...

It’s the biggest military escalation between India and Pakistan in decades. Missile strikes, drone attacks, and deadly shelling have struck on both sides of the border in the disputed region of Kashmir. With dozens of civilians dead and both countries trading blame, can the two nuclear powers contain the dispute? In this episode: Charu Kasturi (@ CharuKasturi ), Al Jazeera senior editor and...

Israel bombed Yemen’s Sanaa airport and Hodeidah port within 24 hours, as tensions have been escalating in response to Israel's war on Gaza. On Sunday, the Houthis launched missiles that landed near Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. What does it mean for Yemenis facing this escalation? In this episode: Maysaa Shuja al-Deen ( @maysaashujaa ), Yemeni writer and researcher Episode credits: This e...

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin celebrates 25 years in power this week, along with a Victory Day parade attended by leaders from around the world. We chart his rise to power, how his worldview has changed, and what we can expect from him next. In this episode: Mikhail Zygar (@ zygaro ), Writer & Author of The Last Pioneer Substack Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walte...

Drones struck the Conscience, a ship carrying humanitarian aid in international waters, after more than two months of blockade by Israel of aid into Gaza. Freedom Flotilla Coalition organizers believe Israel, which has attacked their ships in the past, is responsible. Israel has not commented on the strikes. What does this attack mean for Palestinians in Gaza – and activists trying to break...

TikToks claiming luxury brand goods are manufactured in Chinese factories have gone viral in shoppers’ feeds. This comes after the closure of a major import loophole and 145% tariffs on Chinese goods. What do these videos reveal about American consumer culture and the course of this trade war? In this episode: Caiwei Chen ( @CaiweiC ), Reporter at MIT Technology Review Episode credits: This...

As Israel’s war on Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria continues, we're coming to you on Sundays with a weekly roundup. This week: Dozens of Palestinians in Gaza have starved to death. Drones struck a ship in the Mediterranean with aid bound for Gaza. Israel attacked Syria. It is day 576 of the war in Gaza, where more than 52,495 Palestinians have been killed. In this episode: Ibrahim al Khalili, ( @he...

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on April 24, 2024. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. Tensions have been mounting at Columbia University for months, even before the school called police to clear a Gaza solidarity encampment. Pro-Palestine students say the administration hasn’t prioritized their safety....

Australia heads to the polls facing a cost-of-living crisis and two familiar faces: Labor’s Anthony Albanese and the Conservative Coalition’s Peter Dutton. But United States President Donald Trump has emerged as having an unforeseen impact on Australian political discourse. How will the candidates navigate the political realignment across the Pacific? In this episode: Tom McIlroy ( @To...

US President Donald Trump boasted that he could broker a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire in his first 24 hours in office. 100 days later, fighting continues, and both sides are questioning the plan the Trump administration has laid out. Why is there still no agreement on a ceasefire proposal, and what does it reveal about the limits of American power? In this episode: Anatol Lieven ( @Lieven_Anatol ), Di...

As the administration of US President Donald Trump continues its immigration crackdown across the United States, children are often caught in the middle. Some are deported with their parents to countries they never knew, while others are separated from their parents and remain in the US. What happens to them? In this episode: Mariana Blanco, Director of Operations, Guatemalan-Maya Center Episode c...

Tensions are growing between India and Pakistan after an attack killed 26 people in Indian-administered Kashmir. As the exchange of accusations and gunfire continues, Kashmiris fear for what is to come. In this episode: Assed Baig (@ AssedBaig ), Al Jazeera correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan and Chloe K. Li, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Kisaa Zehra, Kin...

Canadians head to the polls in an election that could change the country by redefining its relationship with the United States. The leading candidate, Prime Minister Mark Carney, has already faced off with US President Donald Trump over tariffs, while Conservative Party candidate Pierre Poilievre has drawn comparisons with the US leader. So, who will Canadians choose? In this episode: Supriya Dwiv...

As Israel’s war on Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria continues, we're coming to you on Sundays with a weekly roundup. This week: The UN announced its food stocks in Gaza are completely depleted. Israel further isolated Jenin refugee camp. The world bid Farewell to a pope who advocated for Palestinians. It is day 569 of the war in Gaza, where more than 51,495 Palestinians have been killed. In this epi...

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on February 11, 2022. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. 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 episod...

The United Kingdom’s Supreme Court has ruled that a woman is defined by “biological sex” under equality law. The decision could limit transgender women’s access to essential services and set a lasting legal precedent. As hate crimes rise, what will this mean for the daily lives and rights of transgender women in the UK? In this episode: Jess O’Thomson, Journalist and...