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In this bulletin;
- US-Iran talks set to begin in Pakistan;
- Energy minister provides update on fuel supplies;
- And in sport, Supercars cancels final race of the Taupo round due to looming cyclone in New Zealand.
The United States and Iran are set to hold talks in Pakistan to end the six-week-old war, although doubts have been cast over negotiations with Tehran saying they cannot begin without commitments on Lebanon and sanctions.
The Iranian delegation, led by parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, arrived in the capital Islamabad on Friday.
Mr Qalibaf says talks can not commence until Washington agrees to unblock Iranian assets and to a ceasefire in Lebanon, where Israel has killed nearly 2000 people in the past 6 weeks.
Vice President JD Vance, who is leading the US delegation, says Iran should not try to "play" the US, warning the negotiating team won't be receptive if they do.
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Energy minister Chris Bowen says there are 57 tankers of fuel currently heading to Australia, with orders locked in for the next four weeks.
Providing a daily fuel supply update, Mr Bowen says that despite some progress between the US and Iran, there remains plenty of global uncertainty.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is currently returning from Singapore, where he signed an agreement to continue trading large amounts of fuel and gas between the two countries.
Mr Bowen says the government will not let their guard down on energy security.
"We are not for one second relaxing our efforts to ensure security of fuel supply. That's why the prime minister's been in Singapore is currently on his way back. He played an absolute blinder yesterday in Singapore, working closely with the Singaporean government, which is a very big supplier of fuel to Australia. To ensure that we are reliable suppliers of fuel to each other, energy to each other in this most difficult international circumstance."
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The four astronauts aboard the Artemis II have safely returned to earth in what Nasa has dubbed the 'perfect mission'.
Nasa astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency, have become the first humans to travel to the moon and return to Earth since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.
United States President Donald Trump has congratulated the astronauts and the space agency, which he plans to cut the budget of by more than 23 per cent.
Nasa administrator Jared Isaacman says this mission was just the beginning.
"These were the ambassadors from humanity to the stars that we sent out there right now and I can't imagine a better crew than the Artemis II crew that just completed a perfect mission right now. So, yes, it's a huge moment for everybody, right? I mean, we are back in the business of sending astronauts to the moon, bringing them back safely and to set up for a series more. I mean, this is not a once in a lifetime, which you hear sometimes around here it's like "This was a once in a lifetime." No it's not. This is just the beginning, we are going to get back into doing this with frequency."
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Orthodox Christians have gathered in Gaza City to mark Good Friday under a fragile ceasefire, but the mood remains grim amid ongoing hardship and little relief.
Inside Saint Porphyrius Church, worshippers recited traditional prayers and lit votive candles in commemoration of the crucifixion of Jesus.
But chanter Ibrahim Jahshan said there was little to celebrate this Easter.
"There is no joy in the holiday because of the blockade on the Gaza Strip and this unjust war that the Palestinian people, the Lebanese people, and the Arab world are enduring. We pray for peace to prevail in the Middle East and in Gaza, and that the crossing will be opened so that we can bring the Holy Fire to Gaza City, so that peace may reign in the land of peace."
About 1,300 Christians live in Gaza.
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To sport now,
Supercars has cancelled the final race of the Taupo round due to the looming cyclone on the North Island of New Zealand.
The third race of the weekend had been moved forward on Sunday in a bid to beat the deteriorating weather conditions.
But with Cyclone Vaianu expected to make landfall earlier than expected, Supercars have cancelled all racing on Sunday.
The third race at Taupo, and 10th of the season, will now go ahead next weekend in the historic round in Christchurch.
