The Take

Days after Shein opened its first location in Paris, France is threatening to ban the Chinese fast-fashion giant. The threat follows months of hand-wringing over Shein’s growing footprint in France, topped off by the discovery of child-like sex dolls and weapons from third-party sellers on its website. on its third-party online marketplace. With growing backlash, will the controversial company survive in Europe’s fashion capital? In this episode: Claire Roussel (@claire_roussel), fashion journalist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Haleema Shah, Noor Wazwaz, Tracie Hunte, and Melanie Marich, with Sarí el-Khalili, Diana Ferrero, Fatima Shafiq, Farhan Rafid, Tamara Khandaker, and guest host, Natasha del Toro. It was edited by Alexandra Locke.  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 X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

A long siege by al-Qaeda-linked fighters has left Bamako low on fuel, food and power. Life has stalled and fear is growing across Mali. The crisis now tests a military government that has promised safety yet cannot break the blockade. What does this mean for Mali and the wider region? In this episode: Beverly Ochieng (@BeverlyOchieng), analyst at Control Risks Episode credits: This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé and Melanie Marich, with Diana Ferrero, Farhan Rafid, Fatima Shafiq, Tamara Khandaker, and our host, Natasha del Toro. It was edited by Kylene Kiang. 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 X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

A video showing Israeli soldiers raping a Palestinian prisoner has shaken Israel’s military and judiciary, leading to the arrest of the prosecutor who leaked it. But as the fallout centers on the leak, and not the events in the video, what does it mean for the victim of the so-called Sde Teiman affair?  In this episode: Nida Ibrahim, Al Jazeera Correspondent  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Tracie Hunte, Sarí el-Khalili and Tamara Khandaker, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Melanie Marich, Farhan Rafid, Fatima Shafiq, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Kylene Kiang The Take production team is Marcos Bartolomé, Sonia Bhagat, Spencer Cline, Sarí el-Khalili, Diana Ferrero, Tracie Hunte, Tamara Khandaker, Kylene Kiang, Phillip Lanos, Chloe K. Li, Melanie Marich, Catherine Nouhan, and Noor Wazwaz. Our editorial interns are Farhan Rafid and Fatima Shafiq. Our host is Malika Bilal.  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 X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

This week: 32 days into a ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 240 Palestinians in Gaza. Israel continues strikes on Southern Lebanon. Israel’s former military prosecutor under house arrest.  Israel has killed more than 68,875 Palestinians in Gaza since October 7th, 2023. In this episode: Caley Callahan, Al Jazeera Journalist Zeina Khodr, (@ZeinakhodrAljaz) Al Jazeera Correspondent Hani Mahmoud, Al Jazeera Correspondent Nour Odeh, @nour_odeh) Al Jazeera Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced and mixed by Marthe van der Wolf. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Andrew Greiner and Munera AlDosari 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 X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on September 13, 2021. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. 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 centres 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 Episode credits: This episode was updated by Haleema Shah. The original production team was Alexandra Locke with Negin Owliaei, Priyanka Tilve, Dina Kesbeh, Amy Walters, Ney Alvarez, Ruby Zaman, and Malika Bilal.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Adam Abou-Gad and Vienna Maglio. Andrew Greiner 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 X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Palestinian-American comedian Mo Amer has spent years using humor to face pain, break silence, and speak for a people under fire. In a moment of deep loss, he turns to the stage again. What can comedy still cut through? In this episode: Mo Amer (@realmoamer), comedian, actor and writer Episode credits: This episode was produced by Melanie Marich, Sonia Bhagat, Marcos Bartolomé and Tamara Khandaker, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Amy Walters, Haleema Shah, Sarí el-Khalili, Farhan Rafid, Fatima Shafiq, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Kylene Kiang. 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 X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

New York’s new Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani won amid Islamophobic attacks, and is set to become the city's first Muslim mayor. He pledged to serve all communities, and to challenge US President Trump's policies. His win is being compared to that of London’s Muslim Mayor Sadiq Khan, a counterweight to then-UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Are city mayors the new resistance to right-wing governments? In this episode: Moustafa Bayoumi (@BayoumiMoustafa), author and columnist for The Guardian Episode credits: This episode was produced by Haleema Shah, Sarí el-Khalili, Diana Ferrero and Tracie Hunte, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Amy Walters, Farhan Rafid, Fatima Shafiq, Tamara Khandaker, and guest host, Manuel Rapalo. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz and Kylene Kiang.  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 X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Trump’s tariffs are headed to the US Supreme Court as Washington and New Delhi pursue a trade deal. On the ground in India, export hubs are seeing cancelled orders, layoffs, and falling pay rates. As uncertainty deepens, what does this mean for factory workers? In this episode: Jayati Ghosh (@Jayati1609), Professor of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst Episode credits: This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker, Melanie Marich, Diana Ferrero, and Sarí el-Khalili, with Amy Walters, Farhan Rafid, Fatima Shafiq, and our guest host, Natasha Del Toro. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Joe Plourde mixed this episode. 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 X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Rio de Janeiro’s deadliest police raid in years left bodies in the streets and a city reeling. Officials called it a success, while residents called it a massacre. What really happened in the favela, who was targeted, and does this mark a turning point for state violence in Brazil? In this episode:  Cecília Olliveira (@Cecillia), Investigative journalist Matheus de Moura (@mathdemoura), Investigative journalist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Melanie Marich, Marcos Bartolomé, Sarí el-Khalili and Diana Ferrero, with Amy Walters, Farhan Rafid, Fatima Shafiq, Tamara Khandaker and guest host, Natasha Del Toro. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz and Kylene Kiang.  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 X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

From embracing Zionism as a Holocaust survivor to becoming a vocal critic of Israeli policies, renowned author and doctor Gabor Maté reflects on the evolution in his thinking, on trauma as a driving force behind Zionism and Israel, and on how collective Jewish trauma has been exploited by Israel to justify its war in Gaza. This is a story from the archives. This originally aired on January 17, 2025. None of the dates, titles or other references from that time have been changed. In this episode: Gabor Maté (@DrGaborMate), Physician and Author Episode credits: This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker and Sonia Bhagat, with Noor Wazwaz, Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Hagir Saleh, Melanie Marich, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Alexandra Locke.  The Take production team is Marcos Bartolomé, Sonia Bhagat, Spencer Cline, Sarí el-Khalili, Diana Ferrero, Tracie Hunte, Tamara Khandaker, Kylene Kiang, Phillip Lanos, Chloe K. Li, Melanie Marich, Catherine Nouhan, Amy Walters, and Noor Wazwaz. Our editorial interns are Farhan Rafid, and Fatima Shafiq. Our host is Malika Bilal.  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 X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

This week: 23 days into a ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 224 Palestinians in Gaza. Unexploded ordinance in Gaza is also claiming lives. Lebanon's President instructed its army to respond to Israeli attacks. Israel has killed more than 68,858 Palestinians in Gaza since October 7th, 2023. In this episode: Hind Khoudary, (@Hind_Gaza) Al Jazeera Correspondent Kimberly Halkett, (@KimberlyHalkett) Al Jazeera White House Correspondent Ibrahim al-Khalili, (@_ibrahimalkhalili) 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 Andrew Greiner and Munera AlDosari 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 Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on October 21, 2022. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. With Vladimir Putin’s warning that Russia will use “all available means” at his disposal to defend his country, there has been increased chatter about the Russian president using 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 Defense Editor Gerhard Mangott (@gerhard_mangott), Professor of International Relations, University of Innsbruck Episode credits: This episode was updated by Sarí el-Khalili. The original production team was Ashish Malhotra, Chloe K. Li, Ruby Zaman, Negin Owliaei, Amy Walters, Alexandra Locke, Ruby Zaman, and our guest host, Halla Mohieddeen.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Adam Abou-Gad and Vienna Maglio. Andrew Greiner 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 X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

The war in Sudan took an alarming turn when the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces seized the city of el-Fasher in Darfur this week. Mass killings and torture followed. It’s an emergency many experts have been warning about. Will the international community step in and stop the violence? In this episode: Dallia Abdelmoniem (@dalliasd), Sudanese political analyst and commentator Episode credits: This episode was produced by Haleema Shah, Sarí el-Khalili, and Tracie Hunte with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, and Malika Bilal. 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 X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

It’s being called “the storm of the century". Hurricane Melissa has torn through the Caribbean, ranking among the most powerful Atlantic storms on record. The Category 5 storm hit Jamaica especially hard. How will the island recover? In this episode: Robian Williams (@robian_williams), Reporter, Nationwide News Network Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili and Melanie Marich, with Marcos Bartolomé, Amy Walters, Farhan Rafid, Fatima Shafiq, Tamara Khandaker and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Rick Rush mixed this episode. 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 X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Black lawmakers remain a pillar of US support for Israel, accepting millions of dollars from the pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC despite growing public outrage over Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Why is the Congressional Black Caucus, founded as “the conscience of Congress”, so vocal in support of Israel? In this episode: Anthony Conwright (@aeconwright), Journalist Episode credits: This episode was produced by Tracie Hunte, Haleema Shah, and Melanie Marich, with Amy Walters, Farhan Rafid, Fatima Shafiq, and our guest host, Natasha Del Toro. 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 X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Japan’s first female leader, Sanae Takaichi, is facing her first diplomatic test: a meeting with US President Donald Trump. How will the conservative hardliner navigate Japan’s economic crisis, unstable political scene and global tensions? In this episode:  Jeffrey J. Hall, (@mrjeffu), Lecturer at Kanda University Episode credits:  This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé, Haleema Shah and Melanie Marich, with Amy Walters, Farhan Rafid, Fatima Shafiq, Tamara Khandaker 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 X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Palestinian citizens of Israel are navigating relief, fear and distrust as a fragile ceasefire is tested by continued violence. In this episode, we speak with Haifa-based Palestinian human rights lawyer Sawsan Zaher about the impact of the ceasefire deal in Israel and whether accountability for genocide can ever come from within Israel itself. In this episode: Sawsan Zaher (@SawsanZaher), Human Rights Lawyer Episode credits: This episode was produced by Melanie Marich, Noor Wazwaz and Tamara Khandaker, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Amy Walters, Fatima Shafiq, Farhan Rafid, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Kylene Kiang.  The Take production team is Marcos Bartolomé, Sonia Bhagat, Spencer Cline, Sarí el-Khalili, Diana Ferrero, Tracie Hunte, Tamara Khandaker, Kylene Kiang, Phillip Lanos, Chloe K. Li, Melanie Marich, Catherine Nouhan, Amy Walters, and Noor Wazwaz. Our editorial interns are Farhan Rafid, and Kisaa Zehra. Our host is Malika Bilal.  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 X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

This week: 16 days into a ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 93 Palestinians in Gaza. US officials pressured Israel to continue with the ceasefire. Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian farmers in the occupied West Bank. Israel has killed more than 68,519 Palestinians in Gaza since October 7th, 2023. In this episode: Hani Mahmoud, Al Jazeera Correspondent Tareq Abu Azzoum, (@abuoazzum) Al Jazeera Correspondent Nour Odeh, (@nour_odeh) Al Jazeera Correspondent Nida Ibrahim, (@nida_journo) 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 Andrew Greiner and Munera AlDosari 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 Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

A movement to stop police brutality in Nigeria has taken over the streets – and international headlines. #EndSARS, the youth-led movement demanding an end to police violence, and specifically to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), has created a moment of reckoning for Nigeria’s government. We spoke to protesters to hear what they have seen over the past two weeks, and where they think the movement will take Nigeria next. In this episode: Demonstrators throughout Nigeria. Episode credits: This episode was updated by Haleema Shah. The original production team was Abigail Ony Nwaohuocha, Negin Owliaei, Priyanka Tilve, Dina Kesbeh, Ney Alvarez, Alexandra Locke, Amy Walters, and our host, Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Adam Abou-Gad and Vienna Maglio. Andrew Greiner 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 X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

The Amazon Web Services (AWS) outage may have started at a data center in Virginia, but its effects were felt by millions worldwide. Apps for banking, e-commerce, smart home devices and social media slowed, glitched or completely shut down. With so much of our lives dependent on cloud services from Amazon, Google and Microsoft, do consumers need more options? In this episode: Belle Lin (@bellelin_), reporter, The Wall Street Journal  Episode credits: This episode was produced by Haleema Shah, Noor Wazwaz, and Tracie Hunte with Amy Walters, Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Farhan Rafid, Fatima Shafiq, Tamara Khandaker and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Kylene Kiang.  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 X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube