Good morning, Thomas Morgan here with Friday's AM NewsMail.

There's some good news when it comes to Australia's progress in driving down carbon emissions, and it's only partly because of a greater uptake of renewable energy.

But first, skin doctors are becoming increasingly alarmed by the latest social media beauty craze: peptides designed to give you a tan, but which may leave users with consequences lasting a lifetime.

Plus, a former MAFS Australia contestant speaks to 7.30 about the behind-the-scenes culture on the reality show. And finally, we take stock of a busy week of news with our Friday quiz. 

What's the story? There's nothing healthy about a tan, goes the old advertisement line. But young Australians are increasingly being swept up in a new social media beauty craze promising them the perfect suntan, which could leave them with a lifetime of regrets.

But the results are horrifying dermatologists: When a young boy presented with 40-plus moles on his back that only popped up after he used an unregulated peptide, dermatologist Lisa Byrom was brought to tears. I just thought, "What has this young person done?" she says.

The boy had been injecting an unregulated peptide, melanotan-II (MT-II), to give himself a tan. His skin darkened as intended, but the emergence of dozens of moles means he now faces a higher lifetime risk of skin cancer, Dr Byrom says.

MT-II is a synthetic peptide, unapproved for human use or sale in Australia. But a growing number of users are reporting unusual side effects that are worrying senior skin doctors. The trend is particularly noticeable among teenagers and those in their early 20s.

• Green shoots? Australia is making progress towards its climate goals, new data shows. Our carbon emissions fell 2 per cent last year, powered by renewables, big batteries and emissions reductions in some of our most polluting industries. So job well done? Not so fast. 
• On the fuel excise: While the latest figures show demand for new EVs close to overtaking that of petrol vehicles, many motorists remain at the mercy of the global energy market. The federal government halved the fuel excise to provide relief from spiking petrol prices, and the end date for that cost-of-living measure is fast approaching.
• Race against time: In one of the world's most volatile places, a deadly outbreak has been taking hold. And while the true scale of the Democratic Republic of Congo's 17th Ebola epidemic is not yet known, one thing is clear from those on the ground — it is already the biggest they've had to contend with.
• Rumours, rifts and resignations: Recent word that the Iranian president may have resigned amid a power struggle with the country's powerful Islamic Guard underscores the turbulent moment the regime finds itself in. That doesn't just have consequences for a populace already grappling with war and water shortages, but for the shape of any potential deal with the US. 

• Fending off One Nation: Rob Borbidge knows a thing or two about the "danger" Pauline Hanson's party poses to conservative politics; after all, it cost the former Queensland premier his job. Describing the party's resurgence in 2026 as "starting to look like a recurring nightmare", he says state and federal governments should sit up and take notice before it's too late.
• News analysis: While the government remains in battle, trying to sell its budget as the backlash against it rolls on, Pauline Hanson is gearing up for her first formal National Press Club address in her 30-year political career. There are potential pitfalls for both her and the waiting Canberra press pack, writes Michelle Grattan.
• Trade tensions: Meanwhile, China is warning Australian beef exporters they face being slapped with 55 per cent tariffs. They've used up nearly all of their annual beef import quota, just over six months into the year. 
• Remote mega-project: India's Great Nicobar Island is home to one of the world's last isolated tribes, but a rising China is set to see it undergo a major transformation at the Indian government's insistence. We take you inside the project that some fear could endanger an ancient culture and impact a unique ecosystem.

— When Tahnee Cook signed up for Married at First Sight Australia, it was supposed to give her a fresh experience in dating. 

But instead, she details an experience that left her feeling like she had been pressured to be intimate by producers working on the program, including one moment when she almost reached "breaking point".

It comes as the UK version of the show faces allegations that have placed scrutiny on the successful format's global productions.

We're rounding out the week with ... taxes. It's less than a month until tax time, as it turns out, which means the ATO is out warning taxpayers not to go too crazy with deductions. 

So as part of this week's news quiz, we're challenging you to know whether your hilarious T-shirt or meal delivery is tax-deductible. But if that's not your cup of tea, don't despair: there are nine more questions on the big stories of the week to challenge your news knowledge.

And that's it for today. Thanks for reading. We'll be back at the same time on Monday with the latest.

Have a good weekend!

Thomas and the ABC News Digital team.

Skin specialists are sounding a warning about the potential cancer risks associated with unregulated peptides at the heart of a social media-driven beauty craze.

Emissions are at their lowest point since the COVID pandemic shut down the economy, dropping 2.1 per cent over the year to December 2025.