The Take

Hachalu Hundeessa was the man many Ethiopians credit with composing the soundtrack of a movement. His uptempo pop songs filled with political references gave voice to the marginalized Oromo ethnic group. His recent death has prompted a political flashpoint that highlights the country's simmering ethnic tensions.

The annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca has been drastically downsized this year. Saudi Arabia announced that only pilgrims within the country can perform the Hajj, in order to limit the spread of the coronavirus. With a restricted Hajj comes frustration for Muslims who plan for years to fulfill a religious duty, and worry over how the loss in revenue will impact the local economy.

A three-year undercover investigation into the world's most powerful gun lobby ended last year with an explosive report by Al Jazeera's investigative unit that revealed a link between the National Rifle Association and Australia's far right. Journalists from the unit walk us through how they got the story — which is the focus of a newly published book.

Women are the fastest growing incarcerated population in the US, and Elaine Daly was one of them. Daly's story served as inspiration for Al Jazeera's virtual reality film, "Still Here." The immersive multimedia installation, which premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, explored life after incarceration and erasure upon returning to a gentrifying neighborhood. Daly talks to us about the film, and how the criminal "injustice" system impacts women.

The presumptive Democratic nominee for President of the United States, Joe Biden, has made a promise: He will pick a woman as his vice president. There have been calls for Biden’s pick to not only be a woman, but a Black women. But will Black women pick Biden as the next president?

Farhan Virk is a household name in Pakistan's Twittersphere. Considered by many to be a state-sponsored troll, he commands a Twitter army of more than 1,000 volunteers dedicated to spreading hyper-nationalist propaganda. In this episode, investigative filmmaker Hasham Cheema details the inner-workings of Virk's methods, and how Virk's command of the algorithm has impacted Pakistan's democracy. (edited)

Syria’s inner circle of power has been dominated by the Assad family for 50 years, but nearly a decade of war is exposing its cracks. Journalist Sam Dagher was based in Damascus in the early years of the war, and after the government kicked him out, he used his access to write the inside story of the family that’s become synonymous with Syria. As Bashar al Assad marks 20 years in power this week, we pull the curtain back on the inner circle to hear the story of a leader who wasn’t meant for power, but was lifted up by the family name that consumed him.

The past 20 years of President Vladimir Putin's rule have coincided with a widening inequality gap in Russia. Now a constitutional change allows him two more chances at the ballot box — which means he could still be president in 2036. Today, we're looking at how Putin's economic policies have made the rich richer, the poor poorer, and why he's still so popular.

Juneteenth, as it's known, is the day in 1865 when a group of enslaved people in Texas finally learned that slavery had been abolished two years before. June 19 has been known as the true day of independence in the Black community for over 150 years, and now state governments and companies are finally taking notice.

Latin America's most populous country now has over 1 million infections and more than 50,000 COVID-19 deaths. But President Jair Bolsonaro continues to dismiss the outbreak, and has protested local lockdown measures. The rate of infections continues to grow, threatening indigenous communities in the Amazon, with many accusing the government of genocide.

July 1 is a deadline with the potential to reshape Israel, Palestine, and the rest of the Middle East. That’s when Israel may begin plans to annex parts of the Occupied West Bank — as much as 30 percent. Annexation is illegal under international law and much of the world has condemned it. So why might this controversial move happen now?

Carvell Wallace was the host of Al Jazeera's first feature podcast in 2017. In Closer Than They Appear, he had tough conversations centered around issues we are struggling with today, and he gave us a glimpse into what it's like to be a Black man in America. In the first of seven episodes, he talks with Academy Award-winning actor Mahershala Ali. Today, The Take brings you this conversation.

Global hunger is one of the most dangerous side effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Some of the most vulnerable to hunger live in the world's richest cities, or work in the industries that feed us. In this episode, The Take explores the global food chain's weak links and how some are innovating to help keep people fed.

Protesters say the Hong Kong and Beijing governments are stealthily chipping away at the city's democracy this year, expecting the international community to be distracted by the coronavirus pandemic. Many activists say 2020 is the year Hong Kong will either get democracy, or lose everything.

The coronavirus pandemic has changed every aspect of society, including education. Classes have moved online, and parents have become responsible for their children's schooling. In this episode, we’re exploring how this sudden shift in routine might affect a child's development, and asking what families can do to make kids feel safe and supported.