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Although the scientific community is split over whether e-cigarettes really work to help people quit smoking, and whether they're safe, the world's largest study into their use has strengthened arguments in favour of the devices. The University of California study comes as a campaign gains momentum to legalise so-called 'vaping' in Australia, where the nicotine fluids are classed as poison.

In Venezuela, millions of people have gone on a two-day strike to protest against the unpopular President, Nicolas Maduro, and his plans to change the constitution to consolidate his power. The country's main opposition is boycotting this weekend's special election to determine the delegates who will re-write the constitution. Meanwhile the Trump Administration has imposed sanctions on 13 senior Venezuelan officials, placing more pressure on the Government. More than 100 people have died in clashes between rival factions which began three months ago.

A political and legal revolt has forced the New South Wales Premier to dump yet another of her government's centrepiece policies. 14 Sydney councils which took the government to court to stop forced amalgamations have extracted an about face. Gladys Berejiklian still thinks it's the right policy. but she's says the legal fight went longer than anticipated, so she's giving up on forcing the councils to merge.

Cricket Australia has backed down from its position of refusing mediation in the ongoing dispute with the players association. There has been no headway in the months long dispute that has Australia's top male and female cricketers left officially unemployed and unpaid. Joining PM is Braham Dabscheck, an industrial relations expert and senior fellow at Melbourne Law School.

The threat of North Korea launching nuclear weapons capable of hitting countries such as Australia and the United States has been discussed during high level meetings in Sydney. The defence and foreign ministers of Australia and United Kingdom have wrapped up a day of talks which also covered military tensions in the South China Sea.

A Colombian judge has deferred a decision on whether to accept accused Australian drug smuggler Cassandra Sainsbury's plea deal. The 22 year old admitted in court, to carrying almost six kilograms of cocaine, when she was arrested at the airport earlier this year. But she says she could not prove a death threat was made, and the judge adjourned the hearing to consider the legality of the plea deal.

While the peak industry body, Cotton Australia, refuses to comment on revelations about water meter tampering in the northern MD Basin, the same can't be said of cotton growers. 450 of them have gathered for the industry's annual meeting and many have the view that a few bad eggs shouldn't soil the whole industry. They say the money spent on a potential Royal Commission should instead be spent on extra compliance officers in the field.

Business PM catches you up on the most important news in business and finance.

Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has again called for China to do more in pressuring North Korea to drop its nuclear ambitions as reports suggest the possibility of further missile tests as soon as today. It's been revealed that the presidents of China and Indonesia have agreed to a strategy of co-operation linked to Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative. Joining PM is Dr. Shen Dingli, a Professor of International Relations at Fudan University in China.

The Federal Trade Minister's vowed to fly to China if that's what's needed to resolve a ban on some Australian meat products. Chinese authorities slapped a temporary ban on the import of meat from six Australian abattoirs, over labelling discrepancies. Steven Ciobo says Chinese authorities have confirmed the ban won't affect shipments currently on route to China. But it's unclear how quickly a ban on further shipments can be lifted.