Saturday Extra - Separate stories podcast

January used to be a pretty quiet time in Australian politics, something of a partisan ceasefire. But not anymore.

Old Girls On The Road is a women-led community of classic car owners in Brisbane. Classic car culture is very male-dominated, so this group offers inclusive, joyful driving for women. 

President Donald Trump is amassing US military forces in the Gulf, as Tehran seeks a deal to ease tensions.Meanwhile, this week doctors inside Iran revealed estimates that 30,000 people may have been killed in 48 hours between 8-9 January. 

Amid the turmoil in Minnesota, President Donald Trump has given conflicting statements on whether or not he will pull back immigration enforcement efforts there.

China's top military general, Zhang Youxia, has been put under investigation and accused of "grave violations of discipline and the law."The purge is considered to be all the more astonishing because General Zhang seemed to be a confidant of President Xi.What's known about this latest purge, and what does the upheaval in China's top command structure reveal about its military ambitions and capabilities?

It's that time of year — when die-hard country music fans make their annual pilgrimage to the New South Wales town of Tamworth.For ten iconic days, big acts and buskers alike are sweating it out under a sea of akubras.Fanny Lumsden has been nominated for her 10th Golden Guitar award, and will take over Tamworth Town Hall before hitting the road for a tour of Australian capital cities.

For many, Australia Day is a time to celebrate the very best of this country. For others, it's a day of reflection, mourning or protestBut this annual national reckoning isn't unique to Australia. Around the world, other countries also have national or commemorative days that are tied to complex histories.

There's been a January surprise for economists, with an unexpected drop in the country's unemployment rate.According to figures released by the ABS this week, the unemployment rate fell from 4.3 per cent to 4.1 per cent in December.But with this comes some concern that the economy is running a little too hot. Could a rise in interest rates be on the cards?

After the Coalition split, Malcolm Turnbull examines how it all went so wrong. The former prime minister also discusses a major week in international politics, including Canadian leader Mark Carney's powerful speech at Davos.

When hate crime legislation was tabled in parliament this week, few predicted the rancour and division it would unleash on the conservative side of politics. But was the Coalition's split this week inevitable?As the National Party haemorrhages support to One Nation, how might the Coalition remake itself in the wake of this historic divorce to once again become a credible party of government?