Israel elections: Netanyahu's big test

About this episode

Kate Adie introduces stories from Israel, Albania, the US and Chile. Israel goes to the polls on Tuesday in a pivotal vote on the future direction of the country. Israel's longest-serving prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is facing a serious political challenge in former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, though neither is likely to be able to win a majority reports Lucy Williamson. Student protesters have faced-off against riot police in Albania for nearly a fortnight in violent clashes, with many demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama. This follows weeks of largely peaceful demonstrations over the rising cost of living and education – and the environmental impact of a planned luxury tourist development. Nick Thorpe has been in the capital Tirana. In the Republican state of Nebraska, many American ranchers say they're being hit from all sides as a result of drought, wildfires, and government policies - including the decision to import duty-free foreign beef and the rising cost of fuel due to the Iran war. The economic pinch has left some reassessing their political allegiances ahead of the mid-term elections, finds Sheila Flynn. Chile’s capital Santiago is having it