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Our top stories.

Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would begin talks with Lebanon,

but Israel's Prime Minister said strikes against Hezbollah

and Iran-backed militant group would continue.

Lebanese authorities said that Israeli attacks on Wednesday killed more than 300 people.

Israel insists that its neighbor is not included in America's and Iran's fragile ceasefire.

Iran argues otherwise and has threatened to withdraw from the agreement. Iran's supreme leader said in a written statement that management

of the Strait of Hormuz would enter a, quote, new phase, signaling tighter control over shipping after the ceasefire.

Mastaba Harmony has not been seen or heard in public since the war began.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia said its oil production capacity had fallen by about 600,000 barrels a day, owing to recent attacks on its infrastructure.

American stocks rose for a seventh straight day. The SMP 500 is now on its longest run of gains

in six months. Oil prices swung as traders weighed the risk of escalation in the Middle East.

Brent crude settled at $95.92 a barrel, below its earlier peak in the day, but still up by more than 1%.

Vladimir Putin, Russia's president, announced a 32-hour ceasefire for Orthodox Easter.

Starting on Saturday, Mr. Putin said that Russian troops would remain ready to respond to any, quote, provocations.

Ukraine had already called for a truce, but said Russia had continued attacks.

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