1. Behind the News: March 5, 2019
2. Programs from series

TORNADOES Powerful tornadoes have devastated parts of America. People have died and thousands of buildings have been destroyed. BtN explains how tornadoes happen and why they are really common in this part of the world. VACCINATION ROW The vaccination debate is back in the news after the NSW Opposition said they want to introduce a plan to ban unvaccinated kids from childcare centres. Figures have also been released that show immunisation rates in some parts of NSW have hit record lows. BtN explores the impact vaccines have had on controlling disease over the years and why people are opposed to the new plan. MABO June 3rd marks the anniversary of the Australian High Court's landmark Mabo decision which gave important land rights to Indigenous Australians. We take a look at the life of Eddie Mabo and why he's considered a significant Australian. BLIND RADIO Nas Campanella has a voice that you may recognise as she's the newsreader on the radio station Triple J. But recently the newsreader was in the news herself when she let it be known that she is blind. So how does Nas read all those news bulletins and operate all the buttons and knobs if she can't see? LUGE GIRL BtN profiles a crazy and dangerous winter sport called luge. We meet an amazing athlete who's overcome some huge setbacks to become one of the best young competitors in Australia.

CLONING BREAKTHROUGH Scientists say they've made a breakthrough by cloning a human embryo to make stem cells. BtN breaks through the jargon to explain what this development actually means and why it's so important. OVERSEAS AID BtN takes a look at Australia's commitment to overseas aid. In the recent budget some money that was meant to be spent on poor people overseas will now be spent in Australia instead. So why do we send money overseas anyway? NO CONFIDENCE The opposition says that it's planning to move a motion of no confidence in the Government. So what does it actually mean? And how could this vote affect Australian politics? BUG MEAL The thought of eating beetles, maggots or ants may make you feel a bit sick. But a UN report is trying to change the way we think about eating insects and says they could be the food of the future. Sport can be a great way of bringing people together and that's exactly what's happening at one football club in Victoria. A group of mainly Muslim girls have got together to create their own team. While they may be struggling on the ladder they're making their mark in other ways. SHOW DOGS We meet some family pets getting a taste of fame on the stage. What makes a great animal actor and how are they trained?

BUDGET The Federal Budget is set to be announced. The big talking point this year is the large hole in the Government's finances. We have billions of dollars less than was predicted. So who made those predictions and why did they get it so wrong? ANIMAL TESTING When you look at most make-up products you're likely to see claims that the item hasn't been tested on animals. Recently the consumer group Choice said that some of these claims may be misleading. Nathan finds out why. LOGGING You probably picture Tasmania as being a pretty peaceful place. It's full of natural reserves and there aren't that many people there. But according to some, the state's been at war for years over the issue of old growth logging. So what exactly are they fighting about? And why are some politicians now saying the war is finally over? VOLUNTEER WEEK Meals on Wheels has been running for more than 60 years delivering food to the elderly and disabled. But the charity is warning that its future could be in danger unless it can attract more young volunteers. Nathan catches up with some of their volunteers to see what they do. BOOK SHARING We take a look at a fun new way of sharing books. It's called book crossing and it's growing a big following. The idea is to hide a book in a public place and leave clues on the internet so that other book lovers can find it.

INSIDE DETENTION Hidden camera footage has revealed the poor conditions for asylum seekers at Australia's off-shore detention centres. So why are we sending people to other countries for processing? And how can we guarantee that they're given fair treatment? FASHION FACTORIES Hundreds of people were killed when a factory collapsed in Bangladesh recently. Factory bosses told staff they had to work in the building even though they'd been warned that it was unsafe. The factory makes clothes for some well-known western fashion brands. So why do we make so many of our clothes overseas? QUAD BIKES Quad bikes are a part of everyday life for kids who've grown up around farms or in the country. At the moment, a kid can ride a quad bike at any age and they don't even have to wear a helmet. There have been some serious accidents recently and some kids have even died. Some people think the rules should be made tougher. ACL INJURY If you listen to any sports bulletin on the news then you're likely to hear at least one story about a player with an injury. Quite often we'll hear the names of these injuries but with no explanation about what they actually mean. Last week three AFL players tore their ACLs which meant they'd be sidelined for the season. So what is an ACL injury and why is it such a bad one? UKULELE KIDS A lot of songs these days feature an instrument you might not know too much about - the ukulele. It's a bit like a mini guitar and is really easy to learn. Tash caught up with some school girls who decided to make their own ukulele ensemble and are proving to be a big hit.

INDIGENOUS ANZAC On ANZAC day the country stops to remember those who fought and died for Australia in times of war. But there's one group of Australians whose sacrifice isn't as well known. In the First and Second World Wars thousands of Indigenous Australians went to fight for a country that didn't even recognise them as citizens. Sarah meets the descendant of one Aboriginal soldier and finds out what ANZAC day means to him. NBN PLANS The government and the opposition have revealed their plans for the Internet. The government is rolling out a National Broadband Network but the opposition has put forward an alternative idea. We'll take a look at both plans and try to explain the differences. CSIRO Australia's biggest scientific organisation, the CSIRO, recently announced it's going to lose some funding. Some people aren't happy because jobs will be lost and it could affect scientific research. We take a look at the role of the CSIRO. BITCOIN In the past few weeks there have been a lot of news stories around about things called bitcoins. They're a type of currency that only exists on computers and some people use them to buy and sell things online. Investors have also started buying bitcoins hoping to make a profit. So what is this mysterious money? COMPETITIVE FISHING Many people think of fishing as a relaxing hobby. But it can also be a highly competitive sport. We got some tips from a young angler and joined him at a fishing comp.

CANBERRA SHUFFLE The dust is still settling in Canberra after the explosive leadership spill involving Julia Gillard. Some of the plotters have either resigned or been sacked and some Gillard supporters have been promoted to the cabinet as a result. So what exactly is the cabinet? And what's the difference between a politician on the front bench and the back bench? CYPRUS BANKS Cyprus is in serious financial trouble. Its banks have had to close their branches and many people are likely to lose some of their savings. But how can a bank go broke? And why are the finances of this tiny country important to the rest of the world? CYBER BULLYING We take a look at a new approach to tackling cyber bullying. This program doesn't just target the bullies or the victims. Instead the focus is on bystanders and the role they can play in stopping cyber bullying. ILLEGAL SOUVENIRS Lots of us bring home souvenirs from holidays overseas to remind us about the great time we had. But did you know there are strict rules about what you're allowed to bring home? Tash visits an exhibition of some of the crazy things airports have collected over the years. LAWN BOWLS Have you ever played lawn bowls? You might think of it as a game that old people play but it's actually something that more and more young people are doing. We meet some up and coming young players.

LEADERSHIP MOVES When people went to the last election many would have made a decision between Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott. But did you know that you actually only vote for the party - not the PM? Nathan looks into the latest leadership speculation and why it won't go away. SYRIA KID Can you imagine what it would be like to be a kid living in the middle of a warzone? We follow 11 year old Ibrahim as he goes about his normal life in Syria. YEAR 7 Making the move from primary school to high school is a big step for kids. In some states high school starts in year 7 but in others it's a year later when you're in year 8. So what's the best age to make the change? COMPUTER CODE Lots of us use computers but not many of us actually know how they work. Some computer programmers have launched a campaign to encourage schools to teach computer coding. They reckon it's a really important skill for kids in the 21st century. VOICE ARTISTS We meet some of the people who provide the voices for some well known cartoon characters. So what skills do you need to be a really good voice actor?

MARGINAL SEATS The leaders of our two main political parties have already started campaigning ahead of the next election. Most of their time has been spent talking to voters in Western Sydney. So, if they want the whole of Australia to vote for them, why are they concentrating on just a few areas? Sarah looks at the importance of marginal seats. RECYCLING CANNED A scheme to pay people for every bottle they recycle has had a positive impact on the environment in South Australia. It's so good that the Northern Territory government decided to bring in the scheme too. But that idea has been blocked by a court. Nathan explains. FLUORIDE WATER For years fluoride has been added to water because it helps to prevent tooth decay. Most people regard it as an important public health breakthrough. But some councils in Queensland have been voting to remove it from their water supply. Tash looks at why. SHAKESPEARE IN SCHOOL Learning about the playwright William Shakespeare is usually something kids do in high school. But now his works are being studied in some primary schools too. So who is Shakespeare and why is it important for kids to study him? MONSTER TRUCKS We meet a kid who's been involved with monster trucks for most of his life. Find out more about these amazing machines and what they can do.

WHALING Whaling is a controversial topic that's back in the news again after anti-whaling activists were accused of ramming a Japanese whaling ship. As the debate continues about who was to blame we take a look at the issue of whaling and why many people are opposed to it. FOOD STANDARDS Over the last month there have been lots of stories about horse meat being detected in other foods. The latest discovery was in the meatballs at some Ikea stores overseas. BtN investigates food labelling in Australia and the testing that's done to make sure products are properly labelled. KONY UPDATE Kony 2012 was one of the world's most popular online campaigns. The idea was to tell the world about a war criminal called Joseph Kony, in the hope that he would be caught. It's one year since that campaign started so BtN decided to head to Uganda to see if it has had any real effect. Lots of money was raised, so what was it spent on? OSCAR PROPS While kids might often dream of a life on the stage or screen, working behind the scenes can be just as exciting and rewarding. We meet some young people whose talent in making special effects has taken them all the way to Hollywood. MEDIEVAL KIDS Dressing up as a knight and practicing some medieval swordplay might seem like an unusual after-school sport but for the kids we met, it's the ultimate adventure.

SPY SECRETS This week information was revealed about an Australian man who died in mysterious circumstances while working as a spy for Israel. It's led to a lot of talk about the role of spy agencies around the world. SPACE ROCK When an asteroid flew past the earth last week, it got lots of scientists very excited. And while that was happening a meteor hit a Russian town and caused lots of damage. So what's the difference between an asteroid, a meteor, a meteorite and a comet? UN YOUTH When you think of the United Nations you probably picture lots of old people wearing suits and sitting around tables. But did you know that there's also a UN for kids... and that Australia has its very own youth ambassador? We asked our youth representative to take a video camera along to his next meeting to see what he does. CAR CLASS We visit a school that's putting on classes to teach kids how to fix cars. Not only are they turning kids into future mechanics, but the class is teaching valuable life skills too. The course is popular amongst boys... but not many girls are getting involved. So how can the auto industry attract more girls? MINI MAGIC If you've ever tried a bit of magic you'll know it can take a long time to perfect your trick. The best magicians practice for years to get it just right. We meet a couple of kids who are so good at magic that they've been invited to perform all over the world.

BtN stories include, Pope Resigns, Sport Cheating, Work Experience, World Challenge and Sheep Burps.

BtN stories include: North Korea, Opinion Polls, Sport Doping, Science Kids and Shark Patrol.

WILD WEATHER For many families it hasn't been a good start to 2013. First there were massive bushfires which destroyed homes in Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales, then floods hit parts of Queensland and New South Wales. If you think that story sounds familiar, you're not wrong. In fact, BTN has started off many years with a story about natural disasters. So why is January such a dangerous month in Australia? Sarah finds out what's behind the wild weather. TASSIE REBUILD Over the holidays, Tasmania was hit by devastating bushfires that destroyed more than one hundred properties with some people being forced to take shelter on beaches and in boats. Now the clean-up and recovery process begins. We asked some BtN viewers to show us whats involved in rebuilding homes and schools affected by the bushfires. SCHOOL ECONOMICS While you were away from school some decisions were made about what you should be studying while youre at school. For the first time economics lessons will be taught to kids in primary school. We take a look at why teachers and politicians think the economy is something you need to know more about. AUSSIE FLAG A few weeks ago people all around the country celebrated Australia day. For most Aussies that means barbeques, trips to the beach, parties and lots of Australian flags. But this Australia day some were asking whether it might be time to change the Australian flag. So why do some people want it to be changed? BALL KIDS If you caught the tennis over the school holidays, you would have been focused on watching the players on the court. But there are some other people on the sidelines who have an important job to do. Tash finds out what it's like to be a ball kid!

GAZA CONFLICT The fighting between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza strip has been one of the biggest stories in the news all week. We'll take a look at the conflict and why it seems so hard to find a peaceful solution. CLIMATE CHANGE The World Bank has released a report saying it expects the world to warm up by 4 degrees over the next century. So what effect would that temperature rise have on the world as we know it? YOUNG REFUGEE We meet an orphan from Afghanistan who has decided to make Australia his home. So what's it like for a young person trying to make a new life in a foreign country? BOLLYWOOD CULTURE A few weeks ago we told you how the government was trying to encourage kids to learn about Asia. As well as learning a language the government wants you to learn about Asian cultures. We meet some Aussie kids who are getting involved in an Indian tradition that's bigger than you might realise. YEAR IN REVIEW We take a look back at some of the most important stories that made the news this year.

ROYAL COMMISSION Over the next few weeks and months you'll probably be hearing a lot about something called a Royal Commission. The government is starting one to look into the issue of child abuse. Many are hoping that it'll bring about changes that will protect kids. So what is a Royal Commission? HOMELESSNESS The number of homeless people in Australia has risen. A new report says there are now more than a hundred thousand people without a home. We meet some kids trying to make a difference by helping people in need. FLYING DENTISTS In some of Australia's most remote communities, regular access to medical experts can be pretty hard to come by. That's why the royal flying doctors service exists. And it's also the reason why a new program has started putting dentists in the sky as well. ANIMAL RESCUE After a bushfire there are often animals that get injured. Sometimes they wander into people's backyards to find safety. So what should you do if you find an injured animal? SURF LIFESAVERS When you head down to the beach this summer you'll probably notice the surf lifesavers doing their patrols and checking that people are staying safe. It requires good fitness and swimming skills to be a top lifesaver, and in Australia we're lucky that ours are some of the best in the world. The surf life saving World Championships were held recently... so how did our young lifesavers do against kids from other countries?

STORM CLEAN UP We take a look at how New Yorkers are recovering after the devastating storms that hit the city last week. Our story is told by a local kid who's currently off school and living in a home without power. So how can a city recover... and what's life like for kids living through the disaster? CYBER SMART Cyber bullying is something we hear a lot about and that's because it's a huge problem for kids all around the world. There are lots of campaigns out there trying to stop it and last week Facebook launched a new one. Many reckon the power to stop bullying lies with kids... and Sarah found out about a school which is giving them the knowledge they need to do it. INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE Last week we told you how the government wants all kids to learn an Asian language. But there are languages much closer to home that some people think are just as important. Australia has hundreds of indigenous languages and some people are worried that if we don't keep teaching them they could eventually die out. We visit one school where learning an aboriginal language is a very important part of the day. FOOD GARDEN When tourists come to Australia they often visit the opera house, the Sydney harbour bridge or the great barrier reef. But when Prince Charles arrived to tour Australia this week he chose to visit a food garden made by primary school kids. So what was so special about this school's food garden project? SPACE JUNK Over and over again, we've been told about the problems associated with litter here on earth. But did you know we also have a junk problem somewhere else? Over 2000ks above your head space junk is creating a big hazard. Cleaning it up though is a lot tougher than you might think.

BtN stories include: Super Storm, Asian Century, Homework Debate, Organ Farming and Robot Boy.

URANIUM U-TURN We all know how important energy is... so what if I told you that there's an energy supply that's thousands of times more efficient than coal, that doesn't create carbon pollution and that Australia has massive reserves of. Sound pretty good? Well it's a bit more complicated than that. Sarah finds out why Uranium is a controversial element and why new plans to mine and sell it have stirred up debate. AMERICA VOTES Elections in Australia are big news, but what about elections overseas? Right now Americans are getting ready to go to the polls and the story seems to be on the Australian news most nights. So why should America's election matter to people living here. SCHOOL SWIMMING Summer is just around the corner and most of us love cooling off at the beach or in a swimming pool. But a new report's found a lot more young people are drowning each year because they don't know how to swim. One idea that's being talked about is making swimming lessons compulsory in schools. DEVIL ISLAND Not that long ago Tassie devils were a common sight across Tasmania, but a nasty disease wiped out a big chunk of the population. Now conservationists are trying to bring the species back from the brink by introducing them to a part of the state they've never lived before. STONER GOODBYE If you know anything about motorbike racing, then you've probably at least heard of Casey Stoner. He was so young when he started winning races, that he's inspired a whole generation of young riders to follow in his tracks. As he completes his final race, we'll take a look at what he's achieved, and the legacy he'll leave behind.