Natasha Belling

A listener production.

Hi, Natasha Belling with you and welcome to the afternoon edition of The Briefing.

Coming up in our deep dive, back in the 1990s, a US scientist made a crazy prediction that a human could run a marathon in less than two hours.

Well, last weekend, one runner did, and today we're talking to that scientist about the decades-long quest to break a human limitation and also what records may be broken next.

But first, let's check the afternoon headlines this Friday 1 May.

The long-term partner of former Queensland Premier Anastasia Palaszczuk has been released on bail after being charged with three counts of rape.

Dr Reza Adib, who is a Brisbane surgeon, has also been charged with one count of sexual assault and two counts of deprivation of liberty.

The charges come just a day after police raided his Gold Coast apartment.

It's alleged the offences occurred on 30 March.

He is set to appear in court on 14 May.

Local authorities and Indigenous leaders are appealing for calm after last night's riots in Alice Springs.

Hundreds took to the streets and clashed with police just hours after the body of missing five-year-old Kumunjaya little baby was found.

The riots occurred outside Alice Springs Hospital where Jefferson Lewis, who has been arrested, accused of allegedly abducting and murdering the little girl, was being treated after he was beaten by locals before police arrived.

It's understood the 47-year-old has now been moved to Darwin.

Today we heard from police and local Indigenous elders who urge calm to allow for the family of the child to grieve.

Here is Michael Little from the Alice Springs Town Council.

The family of Kumanjai Little Baby has also released a statement saying, quote, it is now time for sorry business to show respect for our family and have space for grieving and remembering.

Catherine Little, the CEO of child advocacy agency Snake, says that once the grieving period has passed, some serious conversations and structural reforms need to occur.

Overseas now in the U.S.

is weeks into an uneasy stalemate with Iran, with both countries blockading shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.