Imani Moise

Israel says it's ready to negotiate with Lebanon, while the ceasefire brought relative calm to the Persian Gulf.

Plus, soaring HOA and condo fees are making it even more expensive to afford a home.

And British officials say their Navy foiled a secret Russian underwater operation in the North Atlantic.

It's Thursday, April 9th.

I'm Imani Moise for The Wall Street Journal, filling in for Alex Osola.

This is the PM edition of What's News, the top headlines and business stories that move the world today.

Israel says it will begin peace talks with Lebanon while continuing military operations against Hezbollah there.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the ceasefire doesn't cover the Hezbollah conflict.

Iran insists that it does and that fighting must stop.

Several European nations and Pakistan, the host of talks this weekend between the U.S.

and Iran, said Israel's attacks have undermined peace efforts.

In the Persian Gulf today, there was relative calm.

Several countries made no reports of a missile or drone strike by Iran.

But shipping was limited in the Strait of Hormuz, with only a few ships carrying Iranian cargo crossing the waterway.

And the head of the IMF said today that even if the ceasefire holds, the damage to the economy has been done.

Global growth will be slower than previously thought because of the destroyed infrastructure and supply disruptions, as well as, quote, losses of confidence.

News that Israel would pursue peace talks with Lebanon lifted U.S.

stocks.

The Nasdaq led the gains, closing up 0.8 percent.

The S&P and the Dow both rose by more than half a percent, with the Dow now in positive territory for 2026.