The Take

Videos of the mysterious migrating herd of elephants in China have become an internet sensation. But no one knows why they're on the move. The fact that they are points to a deeper environmental problem. Human-elephant conflict is on the rise pretty much everywhere the gentle giants live, and without concrete action, the problem will only get worse.

There was an unusual target for protests in the Occupied West Bank this week: the Palestinian Authority. Protesters were angry after the death of a well-known critic named Nizar Banat, who was killed in a violent arrest. With elections called off earlier this year and a crackdown on the protests, the demands for accountability in Palestine are growing louder.

We’ve been hearing concerns about COVID variants since the outbreak began but none are as worrying as the Delta strain. At least, so far. From Asia to Africa to South Africa the vaccinated, under vaccinated and unvaccinated are all reaching for their masks. Why does this variant seem so much more alarming than the rest? Could it disrupt Euro 2020? And how does vaccine inequality play a role? That’s this episode of The Take.

For the past few weeks, protesters along the Western coast of North America have been attempting to block ships operated by the Israeli company ZIM from unloading cargo. They’re trying to pressure Israel into ending its military occupation and complying with international law. In this episode, we talk to a blockade organizer and an historian about why targeting ships is an activist tactic.

For over a century, Indigenous children were forcibly taken away from their families to residential schools created by the Canadian government and administered by churches. Survivors have reported that all kinds of abuse happened there. Last May, the first mass burial site was discovered with the remains of 215 children on the grounds of a former residential school. This week, less than a month later, a First Nations official announced the discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves at the site of another former residential school. Even when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has publicly apologized for Canada's history with its Indigenous people, many say his government’s actions when it comes to reparations do not reflect his words.

It’s been just about one year since Beijing’s National Security Law for Hong Kong took effect. It criminalizes secession, sedition and collusion with foreign forces. Dozens of activists and journalists have been arrested under the decree, and now, changes in the schools mean teachers’ jobs and students’ learning are also at risk.

Scientists say that two-thirds of the biggest rainforest in Mexico, the Lancandon Jungle, has been lost. With only 10% of virgin territory to protect, environmental groups and indigenous people are fighting to curb deforestation, illegal logging, and trade with protected species.To help us celebrate World Rainforest Day, we talked to Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Mexico, Manuel Rapalo, about his excursion to the jungle and the protected species he met there.

It’s election day in Iran and for many, the question is not who to vote for, but whether to vote at all. Strong candidates were disqualified from running, and conservative Ebrahim Raisi is a clear frontrunner. The stakes are high: the winner of this election will lead Iran through a pandemic, intense economic sanctions, runaway inflation, and the ongoing negotiations to restore the nuclear deal. So how much does this election mean for the future of Iran?

All eyes are on Geneva for a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden. It’s just the latest in a long line of high-profile meetings between US and Russian leaders. And while it’s the first time the two are meeting since Biden took office, they have a history of their own. In this episode, we take a look at the past, present, and future of US-Russian relations.

The Palestinian group Hamas doesn’t fit neatly into the labels some try to fit them into — terrorist, freedom fighter, armed group, political party. On the 14th anniversary of Hamas’s takeover of the Gaza Strip, we’re looking at the context that made the group what it is, and most importantly, how it has impacted Gazans living in the territory.

Ousting Benjamin Netanyahu would take a political earthquake and the alliance of parties who’ve banded against him is unprecedented. After four elections in two years, the end of his 12-year rule may have arrived. As internal tensions rise, how likely is a new political era for Israel?

The highest-paid female athlete in the world, tennis superstar Naomi Osaka, decided to leave the French Open at the end of May citing her battle with depression and anxiety. Her withdrawal from the tournament created a media frenzy, and divided journalists and fans. But also has started a conversation about athletes and mental health that for many is long overdue.

The Herero and Nama people continue to demand justice for Germany’s colonial atrocities from more than a century ago.

Ireland is the first EU country to condemn “de facto annexation” of Palestinian land. The two-state solution has been conventional wisdom for a generation. As the Israeli political landscape shifts, does Ireland’s move show that reality is intruding on the international consensus?

Mehray Mezensof's husband is one of an estimated million Uighurs being detained in China. Several countries accuse China of committing crimes against humanity, including genocide. Starting Friday, a people's tribunal in the UK will meet to decide if that's true.