"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
"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
"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
"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
