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Israeli citizens are about to vote in what’s being seen as elections that are almost existential when it comes to the future identity of the country. That’s because since the October 7 attack by Hamas in which about 1,200 Israelis were killed, and the resulting war in Gaza that a UN commission of inquiry has described as a genocide, some say the country’s politics and views have shifted profoundly to the right. These political events have ricocheted around the world, impacting communities, politics and governments, including here in Australia. Chief Middle East correspondent Emma Graham-Harrison tells Reged Ahmad why this is Israel’s most consequential election in history and if it could be the end of Netanyahu’s leadership

Tony Barry and George Megalogenis (filling in for Barrie) examine the response to the horrific alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines this week. While the prime minister pleaded for all to ‘turn the temperature’ down, it didn’t take long for many to dial it right up, particularly online. So can politicians from all sides tell their tribes to tone down the rhetoric? And what lessons can we learn from history to help us all navigate toxic public debate?

The mother of the youngest complainant wept on the stand after being presented with a note written by her son alleging ‘something happened’ at Alan Jones’s property at Fitzroy Falls. As the prosecution questioned the mother, she told the court she had ‘trusted’ Jones with her then teenage son. She was also asked why she stayed in contact with the broadcaster after her son told her about the alleged indecent assault. Guardian Australia’s media correspondent, Amanda Meade, joins host Nour Haydar to unpack an emotional week in the courtroom Mother of alleged Alan Jones victim ‘absolutely trusted’ the radio host, court told

One year ago, Sanae Takaichi became Japan’s first female prime minister, taking over a party in crisis. Since then, she’s defied the doubters, not just surviving as leader in a country that struggles with its gender politics – but winning convincingly at an election in February. She has faced President Trump, fraught relations with China over Taiwan and was even the subject of one of Anthony Albanese’s biggest controversies this year. But could Japan’s prime minister be at her most politically dangerous moment yet? Tokyo correspondent Justin McCurry speaks to Reged Ahmad about whether Takaichi can ride out what comes next

In this episode of Guardian Australia’s US politics podcast, co-hosts Jonathan Yerushalmy and Reged Ahmad look at how Katie Zacharia broke the record for shortest tenure as White House press secretary. They then examine the pattern of how women in the Trump administration are treated when they’re perceived to have made mistakes – versus how men seem to survive their missteps. They also look at how the US might be changing course on Russia’s war on Ukraine. Are relations between Donald Trump and Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy at their lowest point ever? And what happens if the US decides to take Vladimir Putin’s side in the war?