Brent crude tumbles to $90 a barrel, stocks and bonds jump after Iran says Strait of Hormuz is open

"The price of oil tumbled and stocks and government bonds rallied on Friday after Iran's foreign minister said that the Strait of Hormuz was open for passage while a ceasefire is in force.

The price of benchmark Brent crude futures tumbled to $90 a barrel, down 9% on the day, U.S. crude fell 10% to $81.5 a barrel.
While still above pre-war levels, that is down significantly from late March's highs, which, for Brent, were close to $120 a barrel.
Stocks around the world, which had already been trading around record highs, jumped further on the news. Europe's broad STOXX 600 was last up 1.3% having been close to flat before the announcement, S&P futures were 0.9% higher.
"If we move to a situation where the path is still towards de-escalation - but we now have the bonus of commodity flows through Hormuz getting back to something resembling a normal level that we saw pre-conflict - then that's obviously removing a pretty chunky tail risk for the economy," said Michael Brown, senior research strategist at Pepperstone." 

msn

Russian attack on Chernihiv leaves 6,000 without power, sparks fires

"Russian forces struck critical infrastructure in the city of Chernihiv overnight sparking fires and leaving around 6,000 residents without electricity, officials said.
Head of the Chernihiv City Military Administration Dmytro Bryzhynskyi reported on Telegram that the attack targeted key facilities, with fires breaking out at the impact sites.
Regional energy provider Chernihiv Oblenergo confirmed that an energy facility in the district was damaged in the strike, causing widespread power outages across parts of the city." KI

IMF Warns Australia Set For One Of Highest Inflation Rates In Developed World

"The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says Australia is on track to have one of the highest inflation rates in the developed world.
It predicted that Australia’s GDP growth would remain flat this year at 2025’s level of 2.0 percent and would fall in 2027 to 1.7 percent.

While declining to offer his own forecast of GDP, John Quiggin, professor of economics at the University of Queensland, said he agreed that the Australian Labor government’s cut to fuel excise was “giving the wrong signals.”
“The only merit is that it is temporary,” he said. It is due to end in 3 months.
Graham Young, executive director of the Australian Institute for Progress, said the government was giving “a masterclass in how to repeat the 1970s and 80s and turn a price increase into an inflation increase.
“On its own, the oil price will redirect spending largely from non-essentials to fuel, but if the government tries to soften the hit, and they do that without corresponding savings somewhere else, then it will turn into inflation,” he explained." ZH

6.0 Earthquake - South of the Kermadec Islands

"A very strong magnitude 6.0 earthquake occurred in the South Pacific Ocean 188 km (117 mi) from Gisborne, New Zealand, in the early morning of Friday, Apr 17, 2026 at 1.30 am local time (GMT +12). The depth of the quake could not be determined, but is assumed to be shallow. The quake was not felt (or at least not reported so)." VD

132 clashes on frontline

"Ukraine’s Defense Forces and Russian troops engaged in 132 combat clashes.
In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, Russian forces launched four attacks and carried out 78 shellings, including five MLRS strikes.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, there were four attempted breakthroughs near Prylipky, Symynivka, Vovchansk, Veterynarne, and Starytsia.
In the Kupiansk sector, Russian forces conducted four attacks toward Petropavlivka, Podoly, and Kruhliakivka.

In the Lyman sector, one assault attempt was reported near Lyman.
In the Sloviansk sector, Ukrainian troops repelled an attack near Yampil.
In the Kramatorsk sector, two assaults were recorded near Minkivka and Nykyforivka.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, Russian forces carried out 25 attacks near Illinivka, Kostiantynivka, Pleshchiivka, Stepanivka, Sofiivka, and Novopavlivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukraine’s Defense Forces stopped 32 assault actions by the aggressor near Rodynske, Muravka, Udachne, Novooleksandrivka, Pokrovsk, Molodetske, and Kotlyne.
In the Oleksandrivka sector, three attacks were recorded near Kalynivske, Berezove, and Novooleksandrivka.
In the Huliaipole sector, ten clashes occurred near Zaliznychne, Huliaipole, Staroukrainka, Huliaipilske, Olenokostiantynivka, Zarichne, and Tsvitkove.
In the Prydniprovske sector, Russian forces carried out three unsuccessful assaults toward the Antonivskyi Bridge area and Bilohrudyi Island." Ukrin

Trump says Iran to hand over enriched uranium, U.S. close to deal after six-week war

"President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Iran has agreed to hand over its stockpile of enriched uranium, claiming the two sides are close to reaching a deal that could end six weeks of conflict.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump framed the development as a major breakthrough in ongoing negotiations. "They've agreed to give us back the nuclear dust," he said, using his term for enriched uranium that Washington believes could be used to build nuclear weapons. "There's a very good chance we're going to make a deal."
Trump said the next round of talks between the United States and Iran could take place as soon as this weekend, indicating momentum in negotiations.
At the same time, he cast doubt on the need to extend the current ceasefire. "I'm not sure it needs to be extended," he said, adding that Tehran is now more flexible than before.
"Iran wants to make a deal and we're dealing very nicely with them," Trump told reporters." msn

Nearly 2,000 Ukrainian civilians trapped in Russian-occupied Kherson Oblast town facing 'humanitarian catastrophe'

"Ukrainians in the Russian-occupied front-line city of Oleshky in Kherson Oblast have faced dire humanitarian conditions, with almost no safe route for evacuation or food deliveries, as

Russian troops mined access roads and made it dangerous to enter or leave the city, according to residents, volunteers working in Kherson Oblast, and Ukrainian officials.
"It's a humanitarian catastrophe, people are driven to despair," Tetiana Hasanenko, the exiled head of Oleshky's military administration, told the Kyiv Independent.
Hasanenko remains in touch with residents who have stayed behind. She estimates that out of the pre-war population of more than 24,000, about 2,000 people remain in Oleshky. She said this includes at least 47 children facing severe danger." Ukrin

5.2 Earthquake - Near Coast of Peru

"A strong magnitude 5.2 earthquake hit Near Coast of Peru at 08:09 GMT. The depth of the quake could not be determined, but is assumed to be shallow. The quake was not felt (or at least not reported so)." VD

Odesa hit by waves of Russian attacks: Eight killed, 16 wounded

"Eight people were killed and 16 others injured as a result of a nighttime Russian attack on Odesa." Ukrin

5.7 Earthquake - North Pacific Ocean, 100 km west of Nicoya, Provincia de Guanacaste, Costa Rica

"A strong magnitude 5.7 earthquake occurred in the North Pacific Ocean near the coast of Costa Rica around noon at 12.56 pm local time (GMT -6). The quake had a very shallow depth of 27 km (17 mi) and was not felt (or at least not reported so)." Ukrin

Russian attack on Kyiv leaves dead, wounded

"As a result of a combined Russian attack, 54 people were injured and four were killed in Kyiv, including a 12-year-old boy." Ukrin

153 clashes recorded along frontline

"153 combat engagements between Ukraine’s Defense Forces and Russian troops were recorded along the frontline.
In response, Ukrainian aviation, missile forces, and artillery struck seven clusters of Russian personnel and equipment.

In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, the enemy launched three airstrikes, dropping five guided aerial bombs, and carried out 116 shelling attacks, including three with MLRS. One assault attempt was recorded.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, Russian troops attempted four times to break through defensive lines near Starytsia, Vovchansk, and Vovchanski Khutory.
In the Kupiansk sector, Russian forces carried out two attacks toward Novoplatoniv.
In the Lyman sector, the enemy launched five attacks toward Shyikivka, Novoserhiivka, and Lyman.
In the Sloviansk sector, Ukrainian forces repelled four attempts by Russian troops to advance near Zakitne and toward Rai-Oleksandrivka.
In the Kramatorsk sector, Russian forces attacked four times near Minkivka and Nykyforivka, as well as toward Tykhonivka and Fedorivka.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, the enemy carried out 14 attacks near Kostiantynivka, Pleshchiivka, Sofiivka, and toward Illinivka and Novopavlivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukraine’s Defense Forces stopped 36 Russian assault attempts near Rodynske, Pokrovsk, Udachne, Hryshyne, Muravka, Novomykolaivka, Molodetske, Filiia, and toward Novooleksandrivka, Nove Shakhove, Shevchenko, Bilytske, and Ivanivka.
In the Oleksandrivka sector, the enemy attacked eight times near Oleksandrohrad, Vorone, Ternove, Kalynivske, and Zlahoda.
In the Huliaipole sector, 12 Russian attacks were recorded near Huliaipole, Zaliznychne, Pryluky, and toward Dobropillia, Olenokostiantynivka, Huliaipilske, Staroukrainka, Hirke, and Tsvitkove.
In the Prydniprovske sector, Russian forces carried out five unsuccessful assault attempts toward the Antonivskyi Bridge." Ukrin

Russians hit Sloviansk: dozens of buildings damaged

"Russian forces attacked the city of Sloviansk in Donetsk Oblast on the morning injuring one person, destroying a historical landmark and an office building and damaging around 40 other buildings." Pravada

Russian drone strike on Cherkasy Oblast

"At least four people have been injured in a Russian drone attack on Cherkasy Oblast in the night." Pravada

Russian drones hit Kyiv Oblast overnight

"Russian attacks in Kyiv Oblast in the night have damaged a production facility and houses, causing fires, but no casualties were reported." Pravada