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.

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@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.

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@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 (@xxx) 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.

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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.

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@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

Pakistan and Taliban-led Afghanistan have agreed to a ceasefire after some of the worst cross-border violence in years. Relations have soured over Islamabad's accusation that Kabul is aiding the Pakistan Taliban in attacks against the Pakistani military - a claim Kabul denies. With deep mistrust and armed groups still active, can the fragile peace between the two countries really hold?

In this episode:

• Ali Latifi, (@alibomaye), Asia editor, The New Humanitarian

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili, Noor Wazwaz, and Marcos Bartolomé, with Amy Walters, Farhan Rafid, Fatima Shafiq, Tamara Khandaker, and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. 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:

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The US is charging two men allegedly associated with antifa with "terrorism.” The case follows President Donald Trump’s executive order to designate antifa a "domestic terrorist organization,” despite most experts agreeing that antifa is an ideology rather than an organized group. What does the latest move from the Trump administration mean for dissent and free speech in the US?

In this episode:

• Jason Blazakis, professor and director of the Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Tracie Hunte, Noor Wazwaz and Haleema Shah with Amy Walters, Farhan Rafid, Fatima Shafiq, Tamara Khandaker and me, 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

Thousands of Palestinians have been freed under a fragile ceasefire between Hamas and Israel – but many more remain in Israeli prisons. As arrests continue and families wait for answers, what does “freedom” really mean under occupation? And how does detention shape daily life, resistance, and hope in Palestine?

In this episode:

• Maram Humaid (@MaramGaza), Reporter, Al Jazeera
• Shawan Jabarin (@SJabaren), General Director, Al-Haq

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé and Melanie Marich, with Catherine Nouhan, Haleema Shah, Fatima Shafiq, Tamara Khandaker and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Alexandra Locke.

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