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France suspects pro-Iranian group HAYI was behind foiled attack on Bank of America Paris

By Mathieu Rosemain

PARIS, April 1 (Reuters) - France suspects a pro-Iranian group known as HAYI to be behind a foiled attack on Bank of America's Paris offices, its anti-terrorism prosecutor said on Wednesday, although it stressed the link has not yet been formally established.

HAYI, which stands for Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya, or Movement of the Companions of the Right Hand of Islam, had posted a propaganda video on social media on March 23 targeting Jewish interests and communities in France and Europe, the prosecutor's office said in a statement to Reuters.

A private security member stands outside Bank of America’s Paris offices, after French anti-terrorism prosecutors opened an investigation into attempted destruction by fire or other dangerous means in Paris, France, March 30, 2026. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

Bahrain circulates revised UN Hormuz draft, drops binding enforcement

By John Irish

PARIS, April 1 (Reuters) - Bahrain has circulated a revised U.N. Security Council draft resolution on protecting commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz, retaining language authorising “all necessary means” but dropping an explicit reference to binding enforcement.

Shipping through the waterway, through which roughly a fifth of global oil supplies pass and which underpins Gulf economies, has already slowed to a near‑halt after Iran struck vessels amid its conflict with the United States and Israel.

FILE PHOTO: A map showing the Strait of Hormuz is seen in this illustration taken March 23, 2026. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

UK to host multi-nation meeting on Hormuz shipping Thursday

Britain will on Thursday hold a virtual a meeting of about 35 countries to discuss how to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz which has been crippled by the Middle East war.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the meeting earlier Wednesday, while a UK official told AFP the meeting would be virtual and held on Thursday.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will host the discussions, Starmer told reporters during a Downing Street news conference.

The meeting will 'assess all viable diplomatic and political measures that we can take', said Starmer

Trump says U.S. strongly considering NATO exit, Telegraph newspaper says

LONDON, April 1 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said he was strongly considering pulling the United States out of NATO after allies failed to back U.S. military action against Iran, according to an interview with Britain's Daily Telegraph.

Trump described the alliance as a "paper tiger" and said removing the United States from the defence pact was now "beyond reconsideration," the newspaper reported. He said he had long held doubts about NATO's credibility.

U.S. President Donald Trump signs an executive order on mail ballots, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., March 31, 2026.  REUTERS/Evan Vucci

Philippines seeks safe passage for oil in Iran meeting

The Philippines has sought safe passage for desperately needed oil shipments in a meeting with Iran, a presidential spokeswoman said Wednesday, as the import-dependent archipelago jockeys with other regional countries for fuel.

The price of fuel has hit historic highs in the Philippines since treaty ally the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, with Tehran effectively closing the vital Strait of Hormuz to traffic since.

The Philippines is committed to deepeningh cooperation with Iran, Foreign Secretary Thereza Lazaro said after a meeting with Iranian Ambassador Yousef Esmaeilzadeh

Greenpeace accuses oil companies of reaping Mideast 'war profits'

A study commissioned by Greenpeace said on Wednesday that oil companies have been making more than 80 million euros a day in "war profits" in the European Union since the start of the war in the Middle East.

"If this level persists, the oil companies can expect additional operating profits of approximately 2.5 billion euros ($2.9 billion) for the month of March alone," the study said.

The study examined the difference between the price of crude oil and the price of fuel at the pump between January and February 2026, and the first three weeks of the war in March.

The rise in crude prices are causing fuel prices to climb, raising worries about inflation

War in the Middle East: latest developments

Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war:

- Hezbollah claims attacks -

Lebanese militant group Hezbollah said its fighters launched drones and rockets at northern Israel on Thursday, targeting troops and a village.

The Israeli military's Home Front Command said air raid sirens were activated across the border. There were no reports of any casualties or damage.

- Israel under Iran missile fire -

US President Donald Trump speaks during a televised address on the Middle East war

Trump says Iran war almost over, warns of weeks more heavy strikes

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday the US-Israeli war campaign against Iran was almost complete but that the country would be hit hard over the next two to three weeks as Washington pressed toward its military objectives.

Speaking in his first national address since the war began on February 28, Trump sought to reassure war-weary Americans that the offensive was worth the effort.

"Thanks to the progress we've made, I can say tonight that we are on track to complete all of America's military objectives shortly, very shortly," Trump said from the White House.

President Donald Trump told Americans that while the United States was close to achieving its mission objectives in the war against Iran, US forces would hit the Islamic republic 'extremely hard' over the next two to three weeks

Pope Leo celebrates first Easter amid Middle East war

Pope Leo XIV is preparing to celebrate Easter for the first time as pontiff a year after his predecessor's death, as concerns grow among Christians over the Middle East war.

Holy Week began with a clash in the Holy Land as the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Italian Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, was denied entry to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem by Israeli authorities in what he called a first "in centuries".

On Tuesday, Leo said he hoped that US President Donald Trump was "looking for an off-ramp" to end the war, as he called for an end to the violence.

Pope Leo XIV leads a mass for Palm Sunday at St Peter's square

Iraq plot 'shock' as famous win seals World Cup return after 40 years

Coach Graham Arnold challenged his players to "shock the world" after Iraq became the 48th and final team to qualify for the World Cup with a nerve-shredding 2-1 win over Bolivia in an intercontinental playoff in Mexico on Tuesday.

Iraq, whose preparations were disrupted by the war in the Middle East, sealed their first appearance at the finals in 40 years and will play in Group I against France, Senegal and Norway.

Goals from Ali Al-Hamadi and Aymen Hussein secured a famous win for Iraq, whose last appearance at the World Cup came at Mexico in 1986.

Iraq's Australian coach Graham Arnold celebrates with substitute goalkeeper Kumel Saadi after clinching World Cup qualification against Bolivia