TRANSCRIPT
- Ukraine says Russian attacks continue despite claims of a 24-hour 'Easter truce' in Ukraine.
- Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton share Easter messages.
- And in the NRL, reigning premiers Penrith have beaten the Sydney Roosters 40-12 at Allianz Stadium.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russian artillery fire has not subsided despite President Vladimir Putin's announcement of a one-day Easter ceasefire.
Mr Zelenskyy says he is ready to abide by such a ceasefire as well as implement the 30-day truce that Ukraine agreed to last month.
But he says President Putin cannot be trusted as his top commander confirmed Russian assaults have not halted despite the claims of peace.
And in London, hundreds of Ukrainians queued for holy Easter service at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral.
Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski says families are trying to find some festive joy despite their concern for loved ones threatened by the war.
"Well, I think the mood today at the cathedral is one of very upbeat, of course, caution because everybody is thinking and praying about their loved ones, their brothers and sisters in Ukraine who are having to face this Easter season under the threat of a war that continues. But I think those people that are coming to the cathedral today are feeling very festive and joyful."
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Australia will do everything it can to help Melbourne man Oscar Jenkins after reports he faces charges in Russia.
After initial reports in January that Oscar Jenkins had died in captivity, Russia then confirmed he was alive and being held in custody.
Russia and its eastern Ukraine proxies typically consider foreigners traveling to fight in Ukraine as mercenaries.
This enables them to prosecute fighters under its criminal code, rather than treating them as captured prisoners of war with protections and rights under the Geneva Convention.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Australia has not abandoned Mr Jenkins.
"We'll continue to make representations to the reprehensible regime of Vladimir Putin on behalf of Mr Jenkins, we will stand up and use whatever avenues we have at our disposal to continue to make those representations both to Russia, but also, of course, through our friends in Ukraine, who have also made representations as well."
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The Prime Minister and the Opposition leader have both shared Easter messages this weekend.
In a statement Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Easter is a special time for Christians and also offers a break for many Australians to spend time with family and friends.
He also thanked people working over the long weekend.
Meanwhile, the Opposition leader Peter Dutton said Easter was a time of compassion and hope and also thanked those working – especially paramedics, nurses, police, firefighters and Defence personnel – who have given up time with their own families to serve others.
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Iran and the United States have agreed to hold another round of talks next week over the Middle Eastern country's nuclear ambitions as they end their second round of negotiations in Rome.
Iran's Foreign Minister and U-S President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy negotiated indirectly through an Omani official who shuttled messages between the two sides.
The progress made in the meeting was praised by Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi who posted on X that the talks are "gaining momentum and now even the unlikely is possible."
Oman's Foreign Ministry says the sides have agreed to seek a deal that ensures Iran is completely free of nuclear weapons and sanctions, and maintaining its ability to develop peaceful nuclear energy.
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Twenty-one humanoid robots ran alongside thousands of runners at the Yizhuang half-marathon in Beijing, marking the first time the machines have raced alongside humans on a course this distance.
The winning robot was Tiangong Ultra, from the Beijing Innovation Center of Human Robotics, with a time of 2 hours and 40 minutes.
The men's winner of the race had a time of 1 hour and 2 minutes.
Wang Guolin is the deputy head of the robot group for the race, he says aid stations are set up along the route in case the robots run out of power.
"As it is difficult to complete the entire race with one battery, so to meet the teams' needs to replace batteries, we refer to the Formula 1 racing method, that is, to provide a backup power supply. Then in this way, we can improve the robot's running ability and the distance covered in the race."
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Reigning premiers Penrith have beaten the Sydney Roosters 40-12 with Nathan Cleary becoming the club's' record pointscorer.
The Panthers have been way below their best to start 2025 and, at 1-5 coming into Saturday night's contest at Allianz Stadium.
But fullback Dylan Edwards helped the Panthers' chalk up a win that keeps the flame of their premiership defence alight.
Cleary did so by kicking six conversions and a penalty goal as he surpassed Ryan Girdler's (1572 points) club record haul.
