- Trump warns Iran against Hormuz tolls -

US President Donald Trump on Thursday warned Iran against imposing a toll for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, after Tehran agreed to reopen the crucial route as part of a two-week ceasefire.

"There are reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers going through the Hormuz Strait -- They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now!" Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

In a second message just a few minutes later, Trump added that "very quickly, you'll see Oil start flowing, with or without the help of Iran."

- Israel issues evacuation order for Beirut -

Israel's military warned residents of Beirut's southern suburbs, long a stronghold of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, of imminent strikes and called for them to evacuate.

The World Health Organization urged Israel to cancel the evacuation order, saying the district it intends to target is home to two hospitals.

The announcement came a day after Israel carried out its largest wave of strikes since the start of its war with Hezbollah on March 2, killing more than 300 people and wounding over 1,000, according to Lebanon's health ministry.

- Trump, Starmer seek 'practical plan' on Hormuz -

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Trump called "for a practical plan" to get shipping moving again through the Strait of Hormuz following the US-Iran ceasefire, the UK leader's office said.

The two leaders "agreed that now there is a ceasefire in place and agreement to open the Strait, we are at the next stage of finding a resolution," according to Downing Street.

"The leaders discussed the need for a practical plan to get shipping moving again as quickly as possible," and agreed to speak again.

- Israel-Lebanon talks planned in Washington next week -

Israel and Lebanon will hold talks next week in Washington after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered direct talks, a US official said Thursday.

The negotiations will come soon after the United States and Iran are set to open talks in Pakistan.

Israel has said that the Lebanon invasion, in which it is targeting Iranian-backed Hezbollah, is not affected by a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran.

But a Hezbollah lawmaker reiterated his group's rejection of any direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel.

- Israel seeks Lebanon talks -

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered his cabinet to open direct talks with Lebanon to disarm Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah and establish "peace relations" between the two countries.

"In light of Lebanon's repeated requests to open direct negotiations with Israel, I instructed the cabinet yesterday to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible," his office wrote in a statement.

- Netanyahu threatens Hezbollah -

Earlier, Netanyahu said Israel would keep hitting Hezbollah "wherever necessary".

"We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with force, precision, and determination," the prime minister said on his personal X account.

- Khamenei tributes -

Thousands of Iranians rallied in a tribute to former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, killed on the first day of the war.

Holding portraits of their deceased leader and waving the Islamic republic's flag, Khamenei supporters took part in rallies across the country after he died in the US-Israeli attack on February 28.

- World warns on Lebanon -

Countries including China, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and Turkey issued appeals for the US-Iranian ceasefire to extend to Lebanon.

- Pakistan praises 'restraint' -

Pakistan praised the "restraint demonstrated by all sides" in the Middle East war, but condemned ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon as Islamabad prepared to host expected US-Iranian talks.

Both Washington and Tehran have confirmed their participation in peace talks brokered by Pakistan, although the schedule is still to be confirmed.

- IMF to cut growth forecasts -

The International Monetary Fund will lower global growth forecasts over the war, said managing director Kristalina Georgieva, warning of the conflict's "scarring effects" despite the fragile ceasefire.

Georgieva said the IMF expected to have to provide up to $50 billion in immediate financial assistance to countries affected by the war.

burs/gv/md/sst

X