Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump's recent visits to China could have major implications for the world order as we know it. 

There are renewed calls for an overhaul of early childhood education, following the release of a damning report on the sector in New South Wales.

And US federal prosecutors have announced charges against former Cuban President Raúl Castro.

Press the 'Follow' or '+' button on this show page to add us to your playlist, so you never miss an episode.

For more news, politics and current affairs podcasts go to ABC listen.

Listen to the latest updates from ABC News

Listen to the latest updates from ABC News

Health officials are assuring Australians there is no shortage of diptheria vaccines in Australia, with case numbers at their highest level in decades.

Diphtheria is a contagious bacterial infection that's preventable through vaccination.

More than 130 cases have been recorded in the Northern Territory, with dozens more in Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia.

The Northern Territory's Chief Health Officer has also confirmed that one person with diphtheria had died in the NT.

Notorious paedophile and former magistrate Peter Liddy will be released from jail when his sentence expires next month, despite an ongoing South Australian government bid to keep him in prison indefinitely.

The 83-year-old child abuser was jailed in 2001 for the sexual abuse of four children between 1983 and 1986.

He's remained in custody ever since, with his prison term due to expire next month.

South Australian Attorney-General Kyam Maher lodged an application for his indefinite detention earlier this year.

The Supreme Court refused to shelve the application and will hear further submissions on that matter later this year.

Rabbitohs and Maroons NRL player Jai Arrow has asked for support as he announced he's stepping away from the game after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease.

The 30-year-old forward played 178 games for the Broncos, Titans and South Sydney,as well as 12 Origin outings for Queensland over his decade-long career.

Press the 'Follow' or '+' button on this show page to add us to your playlist, so you never miss an episode.

For more news, politics and current affairs podcasts go to ABC listen.

Federal and state governments have mobilised to address the largest outbreak of diphtheria in recent memory, with the Commonwealth preparing a support package to bolster vaccination rates.

There have now been more than 220 cases of diphtheria reported so far this year across Australia, primarily in the Northern Territory but also in WA, South Australia and Queensland.

Authorities are also waiting on the outcome of an investigation into a reported diphtheria-related death in the NT, which would be the first death from the disease in almost a decade.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has met with the family of Kumanjayi Little Baby in the Northern Territory.

The body of the five-year-old Warlpiri girl was found on the outskirts of Alice Springs late last month and a 47-year-old man has been charged with her murder.

Mr Albanese says he has told the girl's family that Australia stands with them.

South Sydney forward Jai Arrow has announced his immediate retirement from the NRL after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease.

The former Queensland State of Origin representative has not featured for Souths this season due to a serious shoulder injury.

The 30-year old has revealed that following extensive medical testing and consultations he's been diagnosed with the nerve and neurological condition.

Press the 'Follow' or '+' button on this show page to add us to your playlist, so you never miss an episode.

For more news, politics and current affairs podcasts go to ABC listen.

The federal government is facing a growing backlash over its decision to get rid of the capital gains tax discount.

Health officials across the country are working to control Australia's largest diphtheria outbreak on record.

Diphtheria is a contagious bacterial infection that's preventable through vaccination.

More than 220 cases have been recorded across the country so far this year, with the vast majority in the Northern Territory and Western Australia.Authorities say crowded living conditions and low immunisation rates in remote communities are fuelling the outbreak.

The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says right-wing politicians and their allies are deliberately trying to spook Australians over Labor's changes to the capital gains tax system.

From July 2027, the CGT discount will be replaced by a new discount based on inflation, with real gains taxed at a minimum of 30 per cent.

Today 40 start-up business owners released an open letter, criticising the move as an "aspiration ambush".

Another group of Australian women with links to ISIS are reportedly trying to make their way back to the country from Syria.

The federal opposition is again calling on the government to block their return.

The PM says the government is not assisting them. It follows the recent return of four women and nine children from Syria - three women in that cohort were arrested upon their arrival.

Press the 'Follow' or '+' button on this show page to add us to your playlist, so you never miss an episode.

For more news, politics and current affairs podcasts go to ABC listen.

The Prime Minister is reiterating the Australian government is not providing any assistance to a group of women and children with links to the Islamic State group, who are expected to depart a Syrian camp in the coming days. Their planned journey to Australia follows the recent return of four women and nine children earlier this month.

Three of the women in that cohort were arrested and charged by federal police for slavery and terrorism related offences.

Meanwhile the Coalition's accusing the government of trying to rush its sweeping tax changes to areas such as negative gearing and capital gains, through federal parliament, adding they should have been taken to an election.

The Prime Minister says some of the campaigns against the changes are not based in facts, as experts rubbish the veracity of viral internet memes criticising the tax reforms.

Labor needs the support of the Greens to get the changes through the parliament and the minor party says they don't go far enough.

And the leaders of Russia and China are about to meet in Beijing, just days after the US president was also hosted in China.

Russia's Vladimir Putin will hold talks with China's President Xi Jinping and the Russian leader's expected to push Beijing to move forward on a major gas project.

China and Russia are allies of Iran which is in a negotiating stalemate with the US over its war.

Indigenous health organisations in central Australia are calling for help from other states and territories to curb a large diphtheria outbreak.

The Prime Minister says right-wing politicians and their allies are deliberately trying to spook Australians over Labor's changes to the capital gains tax system, insisting some of the campaigns are not based on facts. 

US ‌President Donald Trump has ⁠told ‌a bipartisan event at the White ​House ‌that ⁠the US will end ‌the war in Iran ‌very ‌quickly, despite the countries being a long way apart at the negotiating table.  

Press the 'Follow' or '+' button on this show page to add us to your playlist, so you never miss an episode.

For more news, politics and current affairs podcasts go to ABC listen.