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President Donald Trump orders the U.S. military to 鈥渟hoot and kill鈥� Iranian boats in the Strait of Hormuz. The听directive, announced by the president in a social media post, came just a day after announcing an extended ceasefire. It follows an uptick in conflicts in the waterway. The shipping tracker firm Kpler reported that 22 ships had been attacked between the start of the war and April 12. In recent days, Iran seized two container ships and fired on one other. The conflict has hampered global trade and closed a critical oil route, driving U.S. gasoline prices above $4 per gallon.听Our coverage: Can the US and Iran close off the Strait of Hormuz? What international law says.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend a ceasefire. The announcement followed a meeting with the ambassadors from the two states at the White House Thursday 鈥� the first direct diplomatic talks in decades between neighboring countries that officially have been at war since Israel鈥檚 inception in 1948. The initial ceasefire between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah had been due to expire Monday. Lebanon鈥檚 state-run news agency reported Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire overnight in several towns and villages in southern Lebanon despite the agreement.听鈥� The Associated Press

Authorities arrest 25 alleged members of Mexican Mafia in California. Local, state, and federal authorities said on Thursday that among the suspects arrested were alleged gang members who carried out orders given by the group鈥檚 local leader while he was in an Orange County jail. The Mexican Mafia is a powerful gang that formed in prisons, but it also has extensive criminal activities in the streets. The U.S. Attorney鈥檚 Office for the Central District of California says that those arrested are part of three federal indictments that span charges including kidnapping, extortion, drug trafficking, illegal gambling, and murder.

A second French soldier dies following an attack in Lebanon. An ambush on Saturday against U.N. peacekeepers killed Staff Sgt. Florian Montorio and left Cpl. Anicet Girardin badly wounded. Corporal Girardin died on Wednesday. French President Emmanuel Macron has blamed Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters for the ambush, though the extremist group has denied responsibility. Three French soldiers have now been killed since the start of the fighting in the Middle East, in addition to 13 U.S. service members and thousands of civilians.

A huge ice block on the route above Mount Everest's base camp is delaying climbers. The unstable serac is located in the Khumbu Icefall, a difficult part of the mountain that is known for its shifting glacier and deep crevasses. Hundreds of foreign climbers and about the same number of Nepalese guides and helpers are expected to attempt to scale the mountain next month during the annual brief window of favorable weather.听鈥� A.P.

A new bridge in Lesotho is set to boost water supplies to South Africa. The Senqu Bridge is part of a major cross-border water project that will increase exports from the mountain kingdom to South Africa, which relies heavily on its water resources. Officials say the project will also generate revenue for Lesotho 鈥� where about half the population lives below the national poverty line 鈥� and support economic development. 鈥淭his project is more than infrastructure. It is more than steel and concrete,鈥� said South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. 鈥淚t is a symbol of a deep and enduring partnership.鈥�

鈥� Compiled by Monitor writers around the world

How does a government balance its responsibility to guarantee fair and secure elections with the need to protect citizens鈥� fundamental right to vote? A voter-roll clean-up in India is sparking allegations of suppression.

A $500 million bailout for Spirit Airlines could save thousands of jobs. But the deal, which could give the government a 90% stake in the company, is sparking criticism over federal interference in private industry.

Britain鈥檚 King Charles III faces a delicate mission during next week鈥檚 state visit to the U.S. 鈥� to reinforce the 鈥渟pecial relationship鈥� between London and Washington as President Donald Trump openly berates Prime Minister Keir Starmer over his decision not to join the Iran war.

In the absence of renewed U.S.-Iran talks, the combatants are wrangling over the Strait of Hormuz. But the main dispute between the two is still Iran鈥檚 nuclear program, and President Donald Trump鈥檚 pledge to secure a better deal than did President Barack Obama.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed an order reclassifying state-licensed medical marijuana as a less-dangerous drug, following President Donald Trump鈥檚 call for a more 鈥渃ommon sense鈥� policy. But many Americans have been growing more skeptical of the drug鈥檚 effects on users and on U.S. society.

The women on the team Las Diablillas spend their two hours of softball practice every week in constant laughter. The game allows them to take a break from their traditional Mayan roles as housewives, mothers, and daughters and do something just for themselves.

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For many Iranians, one way to hasten an end to the conflict with Israel and the United States is to make specific plans now for what would happen if the Islamic Republic should fall. These 鈥渄ay after鈥� scenarios vary. Yet most present a moral alternative to the current police state in hopes of gaining defections from the regime.

One notable effort was launched last month by the exiled crown prince, Reza Pahlavi. It builds on a budding trend in the Muslim world. Mr. Pahlavi formed a group, led by Nobel Peace laureate Shirin Ebadi, to set up rules for a truth-finding commission and other steps to help 鈥渧ictims of injustice, torture, and repression by the Islamic Republic.鈥澨�

This victim-centered approach has gained traction in several postconflict countries. It is based on the idea that empathy and truth can be forerunners to justice and peace. Syria, for example, has set up a commission on transitional justice following the 2024 ouster of a dictator. That country鈥檚 effort is 鈥渁 constant exercise of dialogue at the community level, at the national level, and at the international level,鈥� Fernando Traves铆-Sanz, executive director of the New York City-based International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), told the news outlet PassBlue. 鈥淗ow do we live together after this? How do we continue writing the history of a country in which this doesn鈥檛 happen again?鈥�

For the war in Sudan, civil society groups are documenting militia atrocities against civilians in hopes that information will be useful in peace negotiations or assist in recovery after the war. 鈥淒espite immense humanitarian needs, victims and civil society have remained steadfast in demanding accountability, placing transitional justice at the center of their struggle,鈥� wrote Ilaria Martorelli of the ICTJ. 鈥淭hey see it as essential to breaking cycles of violence.鈥�

Even in Israel, a tense political conflict over how to hold the government accountable for not preventing the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack has led the high court to weigh whether to set up a state commission of inquiry to help restore trust in government.

The Pahlavi plan for Iran depends on people being willing to balance justice and mercy for those in the regime who have violated human rights, in order to achieve peaceful reconciliation. One model is Colombia鈥檚 2016 pact that ended a civil conflict by giving a formal voice to its victims. It turned out the victims wanted the truth about their lost loved ones more than retribution. The president at the time, Juan Manuel Santos, later said: 鈥淭he听victims听have taught me that the capacity to forgive can overcome hatred and rancor.鈥�

For Iranians today, Mr. Pahlavi said, transitional justice is a critical part to create a free Iran. 鈥淭he truth will be revealed,鈥� he said. 鈥淛ustice will be served. Light will triumph over darkness.鈥�