Empty shelves, rising food and fuel costs along with power cuts are unifying much of Sri Lanka against its president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa. And now, the economic crisis may be even worse. Rajapaksa’s government is announcing the country is no longer able to repay billions in loans. How did this happen? And what is in store for the people of Sri Lanka as the country continues to struggle with this new economic reality? 

In this episode:
Marisa DeSilva, Activist
Dr. Ahilan Kadirgamar, Senior Lecturer at the University of Jaffna
Dr. Vasan Ratnasingam, Media representative, Government Medical Officers’ Association

Connect with The Take: 

Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Empty shelves, rising food and fuel costs along with power cuts are unifying much of Sri Lanka against its president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa. And now, the economic crisis may be even worse. Rajapaksa&rsquo;s government is announcing the country is no longer able to repay billions in loans. How did this happen? And what is in store for the people of Sri Lanka as the country continues to struggle with this new economic reality?&nbsp;
In this episode:
<ul>
<li>Marisa DeSilva, Activist</li>
<li>Dr. Ahilan Kadirgamar, Senior Lecturer at the University of Jaffna</li>
<li>Dr. Vasan Ratnasingam, Media representative, Government Medical Officers&rsquo; Association</li>
</ul>
Connect with The Take:&nbsp;
Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/AJTheTake">@AJTheTake</a>), Instagram (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/ajthetake/?hl=en">@ajthetake</a>) and Facebook (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheTakePod/">@TheTakePod</a>)

The Take is a daily interview-driven international news podcast hosted by award-winning journalist Malika Bilal. Each episode focuses on conversations with journalists and people directly impacted by the news of the day, offering our listeners the context necessary to understand what's in the headlines.

With millions of global listens, it's clear the conversations we're having on The Take are worth hearing. And critics think so too. The show has won the Online Journalism Awards, the Signal Awards, Lovie Awards, and Anthem Awards, among others.

The Take is a daily interview-driven international news podcast hosted by award-winning journalist Malika Bilal. Each episode focuses on conversations with journalists and people directly impacted by the news of the day, offering our listeners the context necessary to understand what's in the headlines.
With millions of global listens, it's clear the conversations we're having on The Take are worth hearing. And critics think so too. The show has won the Online Journalism Awards, the Signal Awards, Lovie Awards, and Anthem Awards, among others.

The Take

The Take - Disco

Protesters, power cuts and Sri Lanka’s persistent president

A fast-growing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has crossed borders, raising alarms far beyond Central Africa. This time, the virus is a strain with no approved vaccine or treatment. As cases rise and governments scramble to respond, can the outbreak be contained before it spreads further?

In this episode: 
Catherine Soi (@cate_soi), Al Jazeera Correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé and Sarí el-Khalili with Spencer Cline, Tamara Khandaker, Jana Dabliz, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Tamara Khandaker. 

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. 

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

A fast-growing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has crossed borders, raising alarms far beyond Central Africa. This time, the virus is a strain with no approved vaccine or treatment. As cases rise and governments scramble to respond, can the outbreak be contained before it spreads further?
In this episode:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Catherine Soi (<a href="https://x.com/cate_soi">@cate_soi</a>), Al Jazeera Correspondent</li>
</ul>
Episode credits:
This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolom&eacute; and Sar&iacute; el-Khalili with Spencer Cline, Tamara Khandaker, Jana Dabliz, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Tamara Khandaker.&nbsp;
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&rsquo;s executive producer.&nbsp;
Connect with us:
@AJEPodcasts on <a href="https://twitter.com/AJEPodcasts">X</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ajepodcasts/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AJEPodcasts">Facebook</a>, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzGHKb8i9vTwjZkiFu6LhzsLUKFkYO60I">YouTube</a>

The Ebola outbreak the world isn’t paying attention to

Getting a visa can be expensive, frustrating, and for many people, unsuccessful. So what happens when governments outsource that process to private companies? An investigation by Lighthouse Reports examines VFS Global, the world’s largest visa processing firm, revealing how billions in applications generate enormous profits, even when visas are denied.

In this episode: 
May Bulman (@maybulman), Investigative Editor, Lighthouse Reports

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by our guest host, David Enders, Sarí el-Khalili, and Catherine Nouhan. 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. 

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Getting a visa can be expensive, frustrating, and for many people, unsuccessful. So what happens when governments outsource that process to private companies? An investigation by Lighthouse Reports examines VFS Global, the world&rsquo;s largest visa processing firm, revealing how billions in applications generate enormous profits, even when visas are denied.
In this episode:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">May Bulman (<a href="https://x.com/maybulman">@maybulman</a>), Investigative Editor, Lighthouse Reports</li>
</ul>
Episode credits:
This episode was produced by our guest host, David Enders, Sar&iacute; el-Khalili, and Catherine Nouhan. It was edited by Alexandra Locke.&nbsp;
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&rsquo;s executive producer.&nbsp;
Connect with us:
@AJEPodcasts on <a href="https://twitter.com/AJEPodcasts">X</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ajepodcasts/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AJEPodcasts">Facebook</a>, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzGHKb8i9vTwjZkiFu6LhzsLUKFkYO60I">YouTube</a>

Inside the billion-dollar business of getting a visa

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?  

This is a story from the archives. This originally aired on November 10th, 2025. None of the dates, titles or other references from that time have been changed. 

In this episode: 
Nida Ibrahim (@nida_journo), Al Jazeera Correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was updated by Sarí el-Khalili. The original production team was Tracie Hunte, Sarí el-Khalili, Tamara Khandaker, Kylene Kiang, Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Melanie Marich, Farhan Rafid, Fatima Shafiq and our host, Malika Bilal.

The Take production team is Marcos Bartolomé, Sonia Bhagat, Spencer Cline, Sarí el-Khalili, Tamara Khandaker, Chloe K. Li, Catherine Nouhan, Alexandra Locke and Noor Wazwaz. Our host is 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.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

A video showing Israeli soldiers raping a Palestinian prisoner has shaken Israel&rsquo;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?&nbsp;&nbsp;
This is a story from the archives. This originally aired on November 10th, 2025. None of the dates, titles or other references from that time have been changed.&nbsp;
In this episode:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Nida Ibrahim (<a href="https://x.com/nida_journo">@nida_journo</a>), Al Jazeera Correspondent</li>
</ul>
Episode credits:
This episode was updated by Sar&iacute; el-Khalili. The original production team was Tracie Hunte, Sar&iacute; el-Khalili, Tamara Khandaker, Kylene Kiang, Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Melanie Marich, Farhan Rafid, Fatima Shafiq and our host, Malika Bilal.
The Take production team is Marcos Bartolom&eacute;, Sonia Bhagat, Spencer Cline, Sar&iacute; el-Khalili, Tamara Khandaker, Chloe K. Li, Catherine Nouhan, Alexandra Locke and Noor Wazwaz. Our host is Malika Bilal.&nbsp;
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&rsquo;s executive producer.
Connect with us:
@AJEPodcasts on <a href="https://twitter.com/AJEPodcasts">X</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ajepodcasts/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AJEPodcasts">Facebook</a>, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzGHKb8i9vTwjZkiFu6LhzsLUKFkYO60I">YouTube</a>

Protesters, power cuts and Sri Lanka’s persistent president

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