A high-energy, fun way for upper primary and secondary students to learn about current issues and events in their world. Each program is built around major news stories of the week.

A high-energy, fun way for upper primary and secondary students to learn about current issues and events in their world. Each program is built around major news stories of the week.

A high-energy, fun way for upper primary and secondary students to learn about current issues and events in their world. Each program is built around major news stories of the week.

A high-energy, fun way for upper primary and secondary students to learn about current issues and events in their world. Each program is built around major news stories of the week.

A high-energy, fun way for upper primary and secondary students to learn about current issues and events in their world. Each program is built around major news stories of the week.

News and current affairs for students.

News and current affairs for students.

News and current affairs for students.

News and current affairs for students.

Iran Deal One of the biggest news stories of the week was US President Donald Trump's decision to pull out of an international agreement with Iran. It was made back in 2015 because lots of countries were worried that Iran was trying to make nuclear weapons. While many world leaders said the deal was the best way to bring about peace, others said it didn't do enough to stop Iran making weapons. We find out why ditching the deal is a really big deal for the US and the world. Hawaii Volcano One of the world's most active volcanos has been causing havoc in Hawaii. Mt Kilauea has been spewing out ash and rivers of lava which has destroyed homes and property. We find out more about the volcano and meet some local kids who live in the shadow of the volcano. Aussie Space Agency This week's federal budget contained an exciting announcement for space enthusiasts. The government is planning to put $41 million into the space industry and, for the first time, the country will get its very own space agency! We find out what Australia's future role in space might look like and why so many countries put money into exploring the cosmos. Young Archies We meet nine-year-old James, who is one of the finalists of this year's Young Archie competition. It's the junior version of Australia's most famous portrait prize, the Archibald, and it asks kids to draw or paint someone who's important to them. We find out more about the Archibald and meet the art teacher who inspired James to paint his masterpiece. BTN Investigates: Toilet water BTN viewer Pollyanna asked us to find out where toilet water goes, so we decided to investigate! Amelia goes on a fascinating, but slightly smelly tour of a waste water treatment plant to find out what happens when we flush the loo.

Budget 2018 Next Tuesday is budget day - when the federal government outlines how it's planning to spend Australia's money. It's one of the biggest days of the year for Aussie politicians but it's also an important day for ordinary Aussies, because the budget affects us all. We find out what the budget is and why keeping everyone happy can be a difficult job. Korea Talks Over the past few weeks there's been some good news about North and South Korea. For the first time in a decade the leaders of the two countries have met and they say they're working towards a peace treaty. We find out why that's a big deal by having a look at the history of North Korea and South Korea. Free Range Eggs For a long time there's been debate in Australia about chickens and eggs - that is - how chickens are farmed and how eggs are labelled. Many customers are willing to pay more for eggs that are "free range", but there's been some confusion about exactly what free range means. Now some new laws have come in which aim to clear that up. We visit an egg farm to find out more about the news laws and how they could affect Aussie farmers and Aussie breakfasts! Bionic Builder We find out about a year 8 student from Melbourne who challenged herself with a Christmas holiday school assignment. She looked into bionic technology and 3D printing and managed to build a bionic arm from scratch! Ask a Reporter: Why Do We Listen to Music? BTN viewer Isabelle asks is the intriguing question; "Why do people like music so much?" Jack goes on a musical journey to find out more about the story of song and why the tunes that we love get our toes tapping.

Banks Behaving Badly A royal commission into Aussie banks has put some of our most powerful financial institutions under the spotlight and some seriously dodgy dealings are being uncovered. We'll look at the important role that banks play in the lives of Australians, why the royal commission came about and why its findings have made a lot of people angry. Villers-Bretonneux Centenary This Anzac Day marked 100 years since thousands of Australian soldiers fought to free a tiny French town from German occupation during World War I. Its name is Villers-Bretonneux and the battle that took place there is recognised as an important turning point in the war. We find out more about what happened in Villers-Bretonneux and why the town still has a special connection to Australia. BTN Kids Contribute Survey Results Recently we asked kids around Australia to tell us how they contribute at home, at school at in their communities. More than 11,000 took part in the survey and now the results are in. This week we'll tell you more about how kids are contributing and how it makes them feel. Composting Kids Did you know that next week is International Compost Awareness Week? It might not be on everyone's calendar but experts say composting is a process we should all know more about. We meet some school kids who explain how compost can scrap pollution and build healthier soils. Corny Business We meet Sam, a young entrepreneur, whose popcorn business has taken off since it launched late last year. Sam tells us what it's like to run a business and whether there's any such thing as too much popcorn!

Cricket Ball Tampering It's the controversy that's had the whole country talking. Some of our biggest Australian cricket players have now apologised after being caught breaking the rules during a test match in South Africa. Facebook Data The founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, has said sorry after more than 50 million of his social media site's users had their personal information taken. He's also announced changes to help better protect privacy. But that hasn't stopped some people from saying it's time we logged off Facebook for good. Aboriginal Flag History After a long fight, the Alice Springs Local Council has voted to fly the Aboriginal flag on Anzac Hill. It's actually the area that inspired the flag's design. Here's more on the decision and the history behind the flag itself. Viking Myths A new museum exhibition in Melbourne is hoping to debunk some of the myths surrounding Vikings, a group of people that lived in Northern Europe from the 8th to the 11th century. E-sports League Schools around the country have been asked to submit teams for the first ever National High School E-Sports league starting later this year. The competition will pit teams against each other in League of Legends.

NSW and Victoria Bushfires A closer look at the bushfires that hit Victoria and New South Wales last weekend. Here's an update on where things are at now and what help is still needed. What is the Commonwealth? The Commonwealth Games are just around the corner and this time the Gold Coast is hosting right here in Aus! Athletes will soon be arriving from around the world. But who decides which countries are actually invited? Voting Age Experiment Results As voters around South Australia went to the polls for the 2018 state election, hundreds of 16- and 17-year-olds were having their say as well. We told you all about it a few weeks back. But now, the results of this unique experiment are in. Mars Class Have you ever wanted to go to Mars? Well one group of high school kids get to go there every Thursday morning. Well, kind of. Easter Bilbies You probably remember seeing a lot of chocolate eggs, hot cross buns and tasty bunnies in shops leading up to Easter. But did you know, there's an Easter symbol that's a little more local - the bilby. I went to meet this threatened creature and found out how buying the chocolate version can help the real thing.

Tariffs US President Donald Trump got the whole world talking about tariffs last week, after announcing a new one on steel and aluminium imports. It got many countries around the world fired up, so we're going to take a closer look at what tariffs are and why the US introduced this one. Hawking's Life World-famous scientist Stephen Hawking has died at the age of 76. He was a pioneer in cosmology and theoretical physics. We'll find out how he made such a big impact on scientific thinking around the world. Australia's Population: A BTN two-part special Our next 'Ask a Reporter' topic In part 2 of BTN's special look at Australia's population, we'll investigate where our population is headed and take a look at both sides of the growth debate. Then on Friday following the show, join us live for Ask a Reporter, where Jack and Amelia will answer all of your population questions. Amelia Earhart New research has concluded that that bones discovered on an island in the Pacific in 1940 are likely those of Amelia Earhart. She was a legendary aviator that disappeared on an around-the-world flight attempt. We'll take a look back at her life to find out why she's still an inspiration today. BTN Investigates: How do planes fly? Following on from Amelia Earhart's story, one of our viewers wants to know "How do planes fly?" We sent Matt out on a wing and a hunt for the answer.

Voting Age Experiment Our next 'Ask a Reporter' topic In Australia, no one can vote in an election until they turn 18. But what would happen if that age was lowered? That's something that South Australia's Commissioner for Children and Young People is aiming to test during the upcoming state election there. The group are asking school students aged 16 and 17 to vote, before adding those unofficial results to real ones to see what effect it would have had. Australia's Population - a BTN two part special Over the next two weeks, BTN will join the rest of the ABC in taking a special look at Australia's population. In the first of our two part special, we're going to take a look back at our long journey to 24 million people. We'll follow that with an investigation into where our population is headed and the debate around whether that growth is good. BTN's Kids Contribute Survey How much good do Australian kids do in their homes, schools and communities? That's exactly what we want to find out with the first ever BTN Kids Contribute Survey. Watch our story all about a young volunteer - and then jump online to fill in our short survey about all the things you do for others. Plastic Campaign Meet a 12-year old on a mission to reduce the amount of plastic in our oceans. Arlian has been dubbed the 'plastic-free boy' and he hopes to inspire kids around the country with his own documentary, 'Plastic Alarm'. Record Message The world's oldest message in a bottle has been discovered in Western Australia, 132 years after it was dropped in the ocean. It's an incredible find - and it's telling historians a more than you might expect.

The Coalition Our next 'Ask a Reporter" topic Recently the federal National party elected a new leader, named Michael McCormack. Soon after, the Australian Government swore in a new Deputy Prime Minister, also named Michael McCormack. That important role is always given to the leader of the Nationals as part of its agreement with the Liberal party. But when did this agreement start? And what's in it for both sides? International Women's Day The 8th of March is International Women's Day, when we're encouraged to learn more about the inequality faced by women and girls everywhere. But it's also a time to celebrate some of the amazing contributions women have made. To get you started, we'll run through some of the major milestones in the fight for women's rights and find out about a new ABC kids podcast that highlights the inspiring stories behind some of Australia's most inspiring women. Mardi Gras History It's a celebration attended by hundreds of thousands of people every year and this year it turns 40. But how did Sydney's Mardi Gras festival actually begin? We'll take you back in history to find out. Dingo Heroes A new study has found that sometimes dingoes can become unlikely heroes to small native animals. The wild dogs hunt feral predators like foxes and cats and, in the process, protect smaller native mammals that would usually be their dinner. Racing Class This weekend Australia's best V8 Supercar drivers will take part in the Adelaide 500. But before they hit the track, they'll be grilled by a group of school kids as part of a junior press conference. We tagged along to find out how these rookie reporters go - and discover what other lessons these kids can be taught in pit lane.

Gun Campaign Tragedy has inspired a group of young people in America to campaign for stricter gun control. The leaders of this movement were caught up in last week's school shooting in Florida. And now they're taking their message right to the President's door. Recycling Issues Our next 'Ask a Reporter' topic We're previewing Clean Up Australia Day on the 2nd of March with a special look at recycling. Last year, we revealed that some of it is being stored in warehouses and some is being shipped overseas for processing. But now, China has announced that it's banning these imports, leaving Australian recycling companies worried about the future of the scheme. Aussie Seeds Australia will soon make its biggest deposit of seeds into the doomsday vault. We'll find out what that is and why locally-grown seeds could one day help save the world. BTN Investigates: How do eyes work? One of our viewers has asked us to find out how our eyes work. We will give you some insight! Poetry Prodigy Last year, 13-year old Solli Raphael became the youngest ever Australian Slam Poetry Champion. But what is slam poetry and how is it different to the forms of poetry you'd be more used to? We've asked Solli to explain.

The Cabinet Files There's been a lot of discussion over the past week about some top secret documents called the Cabinet Files. They were found in two filing cabinets sold in a second-hand furniture store. We'll find out why the release of these documents is such a big deal. We'll also reveal how it could be illegal to do so in the future. Apology 10th Anniversary Today marks 10 years since Kevin Rudd said sorry to the stolen generations. We'll take a look back at the big moment and the reasons why it happened. Cryptocurrencies: Our next 'Ask a Reporter' Topic Cryptocurrencies have hit the mainstream following the sudden rise, then fall, of the value of bitcoin. But what actually is a cryptocurrency and how are they different to regular currencies? Chinese New Year Friday, February 16, marks the beginning of Chinese New Year. But you might be wondering why it's celebrated a month after the official change of year in Australia. Tune in for the answer. Surf Classes Recently some kids with a vision impairment in New South Wales got an awesome surfing masterclass from a record breaking Paralympian. Matt Formston wants to inspire others in a similar position - and the results speak for themselves.

Winter Olympics - Our next 'Ask a Reporter' topic Next week the Winter Olympic Games will begin. But while athletes around the world are gearing up for the competition, a lot of the focus has actually been on host country South Korea and its relationship with its neighbour, North Korea. Both countries have agreed to march under one flag at the opening ceremony and compete together in some sports. We'll find out why this small act of unity is actually a big deal. Safer Internet Day Have you ever wondered why many internet sites and services are banned for kids under 13-years old? To mark Safer Internet Day on the 6th of February, we're going to investigate. We'll also learn about other rules designed to keep you safe online. Greenland Warming Most of us have heard about the threat of global warming. But its effects can already be seen in the cold northern country of Greenland, where more and more ice is melting into the ocean each year. Though as Ruby found out, the warmer temperatures are also providing some positive opportunities for the people here, too. Super Blue Blood Moon This week, kids and adults all over Australia stayed up late to check out a very special moon. It was called a super blue blood moon and it looked pretty spectacular. But why did it look so different? We'll find out. T-Shirt Business Opening a business sounds like a pretty adult thing to do. But two 12-year old kids are proving that not only can you do it before hitting your teens - you can also be really successful! We'll hear from them to find out how they managed to do it.

The Year in Review This is our final episode for 2017, so to celebrate, we're taking a look back at some of the biggest stories we covered this year. We'll run you through all of the good, bad and the downright fascinating things that happened, plus we'll have a special 15 question super quiz to test your memory on too. And if that wasn't enough, we'll also reveal the winner of the first BTN Teacher awards. Join us for all the fun on BTN next week! Ask a Reporter Join Nathan as he answers all of your questions about how BTN is made. Head to our website to find out more and to send him all of your special BTN-related questions. Teaching Resources Included Learning areas: English / Literacy / Interpreting, analysing, evaluating: Use comprehension strategies to interpret and analyse information and ideas, comparing content from a variety of textual sources including media and digital texts (Year 6) English / Literacy / Texts in context: Compare texts including media texts that represent ideas and events in different ways, explaining the effects of the different approaches (Year 6) Media Arts: Plan, create and present media artworks for specific purposes with awareness of responsible media practice (Years 3 and 4) Plan, produce and present media artworks for specific audiences and purposes using responsible media practice (Years 5 and 6)

Zimbabwe The controversial President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe has resigned. Mugabe was under pressure from the country's military to step aside to make way for a new leader. The news triggered mass celebrations on the streets. We'll find out why. UN Kids Study A recent United Nations study has shown almost half of children feel their views go unheard by adults. It's just one of the statistics contained in the report, which surveyed children from 14 countries around the world. We'll dive into the data to find out what else has kids concerned overseas. Beach Safety App A nine-year old girl in Sydney has created an app to help save lives this summer. Sarah's app contains three mini games that teach people about sun protection, water safety and CPR. Teaching Resources Included Learning Areas - Health and PE / Personal, Social and Community Health: Plan and practise strategies to promote health, safety and wellbeing (Years 5 and 6) Investigate community resources and ways to seek help about health, safety and wellbeing (Years 5 and 6) Health and PE / Personal, Social and Community Health / Contributing to healthy and active communities: Investigate the role of preventive health in promoting and maintaining health, safety and wellbeing for individuals and their communities (Years 5 and 6) The Sailing Kangaroo You might've met a kangaroo or two in your time, but you've probably never met one like Edward. He's a red kangaroo who's been blind since birth and currently, he lives on a boat floating along the Murray River. But Eddie's getting too big for life on the water so his owner Lee is trying to find him a new home. BTN Investigates - Christmas Traditions Christmas decorations are up and school is only a few weeks away from wrapping up. So one member of our audience asked us to find out where all of our beloved Christmas traditions came from. We'll deck the halls with loads of answers next week. Teaching Resources Included Learning Areas - HASS / History / Knowledge and Understanding: Celebrations and commemorations in places around the world (for example, Chinese New Year in countries of the Asia region, Bastille Day in France, Independence Day in the USA), including those that are observed in Australia (for example, Christmas Day, Diwali, Easter, Hanukkah, the Moon Festival and Ramadan) (Year 3) HASS / Inquiry and skills / Questioning: Pose questions to investigate people, events, places and issues (Years 3 and 4) HASS / Inquiry and skills / Researching: Locate and collect information and data from different sources, including observations (Years 3 and 4)

Marriage Survey Results 61.6 percent of Australians have voted to allow same-sex marriage to be legalised. We'll take a closer look at the result and find out what's now required to make it official. Driverless Cars This week, Australia is hosting the International Driverless Car Summit. Experts from around the world will gather to talk about the benefits and challenges facing this new technology. Tune in for a full wrap of the pros and cons. Coral Spawning A special annual event has just got underway off the coast of Queensland. It's the time each year when coral right across the Great Barrier Reef reproduce. But experts are paying particularly close attention this year so they can measure how much the reef has suffered because of things like cyclones and bleaching. Teaching resources included Learning Areas - Science / Science Understanding / Biological sciences: Living things have life cycles (Year 4) Living things depend on each other and the environment to survive (Year 4) Living things have structural features and adaptations that help them to survive in their environment (Year 5) The growth and survival of living things are affected by physical conditions of their environment (Year 6) Interactions between organisms, including the effects of human activities can be represented by food chains and food webs (Year 7) Pet Bushfire Safety As bushfire season begins for many Australians, fire services and the RSPCA are teaming up to remind people not to leave their pets out of their family action plan. We'll run you through the best ways to make sure your four-legged friend stays safe this summer. Big Idea Winner We'll introduce you to a kid who's come up with a great way to make life easier for carers around Australia. Eight-year old Amelia has designed a special hoist to help lift her brother out of his wheelchair. And now the invention has won her a trip to NASA! Teaching resources included Learning Areas - Science / Science as a Human Endeavour / Use and influence of science: Scientific knowledge is used to solve problems and inform personal and community decisions (Years 5 and 6) Solutions to contemporary issues that are found using science and technology, may impact on other areas of society and may involve ethical considerations (Year 7) People use science understanding and skills in their occupations and these have influenced the development of practices in areas of human activity (Year 7) Science / Science Inquiry Skills / Questioning and predicting: With guidance, pose clarifying questions and make predictions about scientific investigations (Years 5 and 6) Science / Science Inquiry Skills / Evaluating: Reflect on and suggest improvements to scientific investigations (Years 5 and 6)

Paradise Papers Last week, millions of leaked documents, dubbed 'the Paradise Papers', were released by news outlets around the world. Among other things, they detail the processes that some people and companies use to move their money in an effort to pay much less tax. Nike was one of the companies contained in the release. So next week, we'll reveal exactly how much money from each pair of their shoes you buy in Australia stays here as tax. Ozone Improvement NASA has revealed some good environment news! It says the ozone hole over Antarctica is the smallest it's been for three decades. That's a pretty big deal, because in the 90s, things were looking really bad. So to celebrate, we'll find out exactly what the ozone layer actually is and why things are improving. Teaching resources included Learning Areas - Science / Science as a Human Endeavour / Use and influence of science: Science knowledge helps people to understand the effect of their actions (Year 4) Scientific knowledge is used to solve problems and inform personal and community decisions (Years 5 and 6) History of Toilets On November 19, we all mark World Toilet Day. The aim is to spread word that toilets save lives by doing a messy, but vital job. Plus, it's an excellent opportunity to tell your toilet how much you appreciate it! Awkwardly, we'll do just that next week. Indigenous Seasons We all know the traditional European seasons; summer, autumn, winter and spring. But did you know Australia's Indigenous cultures had different seasons that better fit local weather conditions, plants and animals? Next week, we'll join a class as they learn more about these seasons and how they vary across the continent. Teaching resources included Learning Areas - Geography / Knowledge and Understanding: The custodial responsibility Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have for Country/Place, and how this influences views about sustainability (Year 4) Science / Science Understanding / Earth and space sciences: Predictable phenomena on Earth, including seasons and eclipses, are caused by the relative positions of the sun, Earth and the moon (Year 7) Gaelic Covers Finally we'll travel to Ireland, where some kids are using famous songs to keep their culture alive. They've made music videos covering famous songs in their traditional language, Irish Gaelic. Not many people are speaking it anymore, so they hope these covers will help revive this ancient language.

Adani Mine You might have heard about a big project that's been proposed for Queensland's Galilee Basin. An Indian company called Adani wants to create one of the biggest coal mines in the world there but it's really controversial. In fact it's one of the biggest issues being talked about in the lead-up to the Queensland State election. We find out more about the mine and why it's been causing so much debate. Flu Season If you came down with the flu this year, you're not alone! This season has been the worst in years, with around 220,000 people coming down with the Influenza Virus. It's got some calling for a stronger flu vaccine and even suggesting it should be available for free to everyone. We look at what the flu is, how a vaccine can help and why this year was such a bad one. Extended teaching resources Learning Areas - Science / Science as a Human Endeavour / Use and influence of science: Scientific knowledge is used to solve problems and inform personal and community decisions (Years 5 and 6) Solutions to contemporary issues that are found using science and technology, may impact on other areas of society and may involve ethical considerations (Year 7) Science / Science Inquiry Skills / Communicating: Communicate ideas, explanations and processes using scientific representations in a variety of ways, including multi-modal texts (Years 5 and 6) Uluru Climbing Ban Uluru is one of Australia's biggest tourist attractions but, from 2019, visitors will no longer be able to climb the famous rock. It's something traditional owners have been fighting for for many years because, to them, Uluru is a sacred site. We look at the debate that led up to this historic decision. Recycling Week Next week is National Recycling Week, when Australians are encouraged to think a bit more about what they throw away. We take a closer look at the recycling process, find out what we can put in our recycling bins, and what we can do to reduce waste. Extended teaching resources Learning areas - Geography / Knowledge and Understanding: The use and management of natural resources and waste, and the different views on how to do this sustainably (Year 4) Science / Science Understanding / Chemical sciences: Natural and processed materials have a range of physical properties that can influence their use (Year 4) Science / Science as a Human Endeavour / Use and influence of science: Science knowledge helps people to understand the effect of their actions (Year 4) Scientific knowledge is used to solve problems and inform personal and community decisions (Years 5 and 6) HASS / Inquiry and skills / Evaluating and reflecting: Reflect on learning to propose actions in response to an issue or challenge and consider possible effects of proposed actions (Year 4) BTN Investigates - History of Electricity Friday the 10th of November is World Science Day, so we thought this week would be a good time to answer a question one of our viewers has about an important scientific discovery - electricity. Ethan asks when electricity was first discovered, and we've done our best to find out!

Now over 500 years since Martin Luther's challenge to the Catholic Church, this program explores the relevance of the event that kick-started a revolution that continues to resonate in Australian lives today.

Cameron Daddo, Skye Lecki, Benjamin Law, Alex Greenwich, and Alli Simpson reflect on how their lives have changed since their participation in this profound social experiment.

Leigh Sales presents the most detailed current affairs from an Australian perspective. Includes exclusive investigations, probing interviews and political analysis.

Find out what's going on in the world with a news bulletin designed for children, featuring stories that are relevant and easy to understand.

Biting, bite-sized comedy as Sammy J rips into the political machinations of Canberra and beyond. With an insatiable appetite for politics, Sammy blends comedy and song where he can harass and heckle the politics of the day.

Five high-profile Australians with the potential to effect real change will swap their privileged lives to discover what life is like for the nation's homeless in the country's most expensive city: Sydney. Stars actor and broadcaster Cameron Daddo, charity fundraiser and Sydney socialite Skye Leckie, author and journalist Benjamin Law, politician and activist Alex Greenwich, and singer and Instagram star Alli Simpson.

You asked and now we present the answers in this special. We investigate gravity, how eyes work, how planes stay in the sky, and why we like music.

In September 2016, the Canadian government launched an independent National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

Leigh Sales presents the most detailed current affairs from an Australian perspective. Includes exclusive investigations, probing interviews and political analysis.

Five high-profile Australians with the potential to effect real change will swap their privileged lives to discover what life is like for the nation's homeless in the country's most expensive city: Sydney. Stars actor and broadcaster Cameron Daddo, charity fundraiser and Sydney socialite Skye Leckie, author and journalist Benjamin Law, politician and activist Alex Greenwich, and singer and Instagram star Alli Simpson.

Find out what's going on in the world with a news bulletin designed for children, featuring stories that are relevant and easy to understand.

A high-energy, fun way for upper primary and secondary students to learn about current issues and events in their world. Each program is built around major news stories of the week.

Five high-profile Australians with the potential to effect real change will swap their privileged lives to discover what life is like for the nation's homeless in the country's most expensive city: Sydney. Stars actor and broadcaster Cameron Daddo, charity fundraiser and Sydney socialite Skye Leckie, author and journalist Benjamin Law, politician and activist Alex Greenwich, and singer and Instagram star Alli Simpson.

Is Trump's 'zero-tolerance' immigration policy violating human rights? In the days following Trump's U-turn, this program follows one family's fight to get their seven-year-old son back, after he was taken away at the border. “Hug your son because you’re not going to see him anymore,” Ludy Garcia was told at the U.S. Border. Under President Trump’s Zero Tolerance Policy which took effect in April this year, immigrant children were housed in shelters, separated from their families, for an average of 41 days. Ludy’s 7-year-old son, Osmin, spent 51 days in detention between May and July this year. Ludy and Osmin are just two of the many victims of family separation at the U.S. border, who fled their homes under threats of gang violence and extortion. On April 6 2018, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced a new policy for an "escalated effort to prosecute those who choose to illegally cross our border." Trump’s administration has directed federal prosecutors to prioritise immigration cases. Athough the policy does not explicitly call for the separation of parent and child, in practice, it does precisely that: While parents are taken to be prosecuted, their children are left with a sponsor or at a shelter. Back home in Guatemala, mother Lesbia is at the family’s hut, eagerly awaiting her weekly phone call with Osmin – all she knows is that he has been taken to a shelter in Arizona. “Every time I go to sleep, I pray for you,” Osmin sobs into the phone.

There's a new push in Australia to build giant incinerators to burn waste. Is this the way to go? Those clever Swedes think so. We send War on Waste's Craig Reucassel to Sweden to investigate.

AFTRS chair and star of Gruen, Russel Howcroft addresses the National Press Club on the topic: The Creative Economy Deficit.

The Behind the News team report on a new plan to stop shark attacks in WA, a hunt for the best fit working dog in Australia, a backyard invention, Australia’s Science agency CSIRO announces their new chief scientist, an update on Science week, the history of Penicillin plus a wrap-up of the days news and sport.

Jetstar Salaries Budget airline Jetstar is paying its Thai cabin crew a base salary of as little as $100 a week. Cassandra McLaren Cassandra McLaren, who formed a social media support group for people affected by the drought, joins 7.30 to discuss the fundraising effort for farmers. Scott Morrison Treasurer Scott Morrison joins 7.30 to discusses the National Energy Guarantee and Tony Abbott Japanese baseball player makes the switch to cricket Meet the Japanese baseball player who has made the switch to cricket. NEG decision Today the Turnbull Government got its National Energy Guarantee through the Coalition party room. The move confirms the waning influence of the former prime minister Tony Abbott on his colleagues when it comes to climate policy.

Feeding Australia: Foods of tomorrow To many people, organic or wild caught food is the best and healthiest produce to eat. But in 2050, when Australia’s population hits 40 million, we may have to find more sustainable ways to farm our food than nature currently provides. Chef Paul West, Nutritionist Professor Clare Collins and Dr Noby Leong travel across Australia to meet the growers and scientists who are making key breakthroughs in this field.

From Behind Bars Kathleen Folbigg is serving a 30-year prison sentence for killing all four of her infant children. During her 2003 trial the court heard that Caleb, Patrick, Sarah and Laura were all killed by a mother who was driven to smother her children in fits of rage. Having exhausted her rights of appeal, Folbigg has her hopes pinned on the outcome of a petition seeking a judicial review of her case. Drafted by a Newcastle legal team and submitted three years ago to the NSW Attorney General’s department, the petition argues amongst other things that some of the medical evidence against Folbigg during the trial was flawed. During this program we hear from Kathleen Folbigg for the first time, as she speaks out from behind bars about her conviction and the incriminating diary entries that were instrumental in securing the jury's guilty verdict. We also hear from the then NSW Director of Public Prosecutions Nicholas Cowdery, who remains firmly of the belief that the jury got it right.

Power, Spirituality and Free Speech Panellists: Dr Cornel West, Scholar and Poet; Eric Abetz, Tasmanian Liberal Senator; Anne Aly, Labor Member for Cowan; Lindsay Shepherd, Free Speech Advocate; and Jeremy Bell, People’s Panellist.

Widow left in the lurch by husband’s super fund A widow expected to receive more than $208,000 from her husband’s superannuation death benefit, but all she got was $25. National Energy Guarantee Tomorrow the Coalition is meeting to discuss the National Energy Guarantee. 7.30's chief political correspondent Laura Tingle looks at what it will take for there to be a breakthrough. Coalition's NEG is 'very poor policy' Liberal MP and former prime minister, Tony Abbott, joins 7.30 to discuss the Coalition's National Energy Guarantee. Australia ready to re-enter the space race The first boss of Australia's new national space agency is Dr Megan Clark, and she has the job of deciding which state will host the local equivalent of NASA.

Beauty's New Normal Welcome to the new world of enhanced "beauty" where there's nothing natural about the faces and bodies created by cosmetic procedures. Fuelled by social media influencers on Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat, cosmetic surgery has entered the mainstream. From dermal fillers and Botox, to butt lifts and breast implants, women are undergoing treatments that could change their lives forever, and not in the ways they were expecting.

The Behind the News team report on the facts about homework, why four primary schools in WA have decided to ditch homework, the launch of Parker probe that had taken off on Sunday after a few issues, updates on the info collector which will help scientists on the issue of global warming, updates on bricks expo featuring lego models and country kids are encouraged to attend events to allow them to relax plus a wrap-up of the weekend's news and sport.

Gamble of life Soon after meeting and falling in love, Andrew and Olivia Densley agreed they both adored kids and wanted a large family. They got married and got on with their dream. But after having their fourth child they received terrible news. Their third child, a son, had a genetic immune deficiency disease which looked likely to kill him. Just when all seemed lost though, he was saved by a long-shot miracle. His little brother, the couple’s fourth child, was a match as a bone marrow donor. But as Tom Steinfort reports, at this point the story gets even more complicated. While Andrew and Olivia knew the substantial risks of having more children, it didn’t stop them. Olivia fell pregnant with a fifth child who was also born with the usually fatal disease. But having rolled the dice and lost, the couple refused to give up. It has taken several years and a hundred thousand dollars, but they’ve managed to engineer another extraordinary solution. A magpie called Penguin Somewhere, flying around the northern beaches of Sydney, is a magpie called Penguin who often thinks she’s a human. And if that’s not incredible enough, this amazing bird has another claim to fame – she’s a lifesaver. Penguin taught Sam Bloom, a mother of three, how to live again after she fell from a balcony, broke her back and became a paraplegic. It’s a truly inspiring tale that not surprisingly will also soon be a Hollywood movie