“The powerful Iran-backed Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah said in a statement on Tuesday that it will release American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was kidnapped from a Baghdad street corner last week. The group said its decision came ‘in appreciation of the patriotic stances of the outgoing Prime Minister’ Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, without giving more details. It added that ‘this initiative will not be repeated in future.’ Kataib Hezbollah had not previously acknowledged that it was the one responsible for Kittleson’s abduction, although both U.S. and Iraqi officials had pointed fingers at the group. U.S. officials had previously alleged the group was responsible for abducting freelance journalist Shelly Kittleson from a Baghdad street corner on March 31. The Iraqi government has not publicly named the group responsible, and the militia has not claimed the kidnapping.” (04/07/26)
“Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law a measure that gave him and other state officials the power to designate groups as ‘terrorist organizations’ and expel students who support them, with rights groups saying the law will chill free speech. The law empowers the state’s chief of domestic security, governor and cabinet to designate any organization they determine engages in extremist acts as a ‘terrorist organization.'” (04/06/26)
“Iran on Monday delivered a 10-point proposal to end the war with the United States and Israel, according to Iranian state media. … Two senior Iranian officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive negotiations, said the proposal included a guarantee that Iran would not be attacked again, an end to Israeli strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon and the lifting of all sanctions. In return, Iran would lift its de facto blockade of the key shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran would also impose a fee of roughly $2 million per ship that it would split with Oman, which sits across the strait. Iran would use its share of the proceeds to reconstruct infrastructure destroyed by American and Israeli attacks, rather than demand direct compensation, according to the plan.” (04/07/26)
“The Artemis II astronauts wrapped up their lunar flyby as they continue their journey back to Earth on Tuesday, bringing with them rich celestial observations including little-known lunar craters, a solar eclipse and meteor strikes that scientists hope will open doors. … The Orion capsule will now travel back to Earth in a so-called ‘free-return trajectory,’ a trip that will take about four days.” (04/07/26)
“Resident doctors have commenced a six-day walkout, marking their 15th round of industrial action, following the collapse of pay negotiations with the government. Health Secretary Wes Streeting acknowledged that patients will be left ‘waiting in pain or anxiety longer than is necessary’ due to delayed appointments, though urgent and emergency care will continue. The British Medical Association (BMA) rejected a government offer that included a 4.9 per cent average basic pay increase from 2026-2027, while an offer for 1,000 extra training places was taken off the table last week.” (04/07/26)
“Bitcoin slid toward $68,000 on Tuesday, with traditional markets closed in Hong Kong for a long weekend, as repeated failures near $70,000 left the bitcoin market vulnerable to a break lower. The drop came after another failed push above $70,000, with prices slipping quickly once they approached the lower end of the $65,000 to $73,000 range that has defined trading since late March. Intraday losses accelerated near that boundary, highlighting how little support exists when momentum turns. That calm is not being driven by strong demand. Recent Glassnode data shows softer trading volumes and subdued onchain activity even as prices recover, indicating limited participation behind the move.” (04/07/26)
“Ukraine is continuing its attacks on Russian oil infrastructure despite calls from the West seeking to end such strikes. Russian officials on Sunday said Ukrainian drones struck an oil refinery operated by Lukoil and a Baltic pipeline near St Petersburg. The governor of Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region said air defence units had repelled a 30-drone barrage. Last week, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said that some allies have signalled for Ukraine to reduce long-range strikes on Russia’s oil sector due to rising global energy prices. Zelensky said he would be happy to do so – but only if Russia reciprocates by stopping its own attacks on the Ukrainian grid.” (04/06/26)
“British officials are moving swiftly to court Anthropic after the US Defense Department labeled it a supply-chain risk for refusing military use of its Claude AI system. The designation, currently blocked by a federal judge, has created a diplomatic and regulatory opening for the UK to position itself as a more supportive base for AI firms. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration is backing the pitch, which includes expanding Anthropic’s London operations and a potential London Stock Exchange listing.” (04/06/26)
“A federal appeals court ruled on Monday that New Jersey gaming regulators cannot prevent Kalshi from allowing people in the state to use its prediction market to place financial bets on the outcome of sporting events. A three-judge panel of the Philadelphia-based 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 in finding that the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission has exclusive jurisdiction over the sports-related event contracts that Kalshi allows people to trade on its platform. … The ruling was in line with the position advanced in other litigation by the CFTC under President Donald Trump’s administration. The regulator last week sued Arizona, Connecticut and Illinois to prevent them from pursuing what it called unlawful efforts to regulate prediction markets.” (04/06/26)
“US President Donald Trump says a leak to the media about the existence of a second shot-down airman shortly after American troops rescued the first one threatened to upend the entire operation. The rescue of the F-15E pilot on Friday evening was first reported by Israeli media …. ‘We didn’t talk about the first [rescue] for an hour, and then somebody leaked something, which we’ll hopefully find that leaker,’ Trump says during a White House press conference on the weekend rescue mission. … ‘We’re going to go to the media company that released it, and we’re going to say, ‘National security. Give it up or go to jail,” he continues.” (04/06/26)
