Israel intercepts Gaza aid ships in international waters — (LINK) — ground.news: 92 media reports — 30 April 2026 (LINK)

Oil price tops $120 a barrel after Trump warns Iran blockade could last ‘months’ — 30 April 2026 (LINK)

Iran has executed at least 21 people since start of war: UN human rights chief — (LINK) ground.news: 16 media reports — 29 April 2026 (LINK)

China's factory activity nears stagnation as Iran War drives up cost / China’s factory activity expands for a second month despite shocks from the Iran war — (LINK) — ground.news: 25 media reports — 29 April 2026 (LINK)

Congress gives King Charles rousing reception over call for 'checks and balances' after Trump meeting — 29 April 2026 (LINK)

Head of organization overseeing nuclear test ban treaty issues warning to US and Russia tjat if they go ahead with a test, other nations will follow — 29 April 2026 (LINK)

Jerome Powell says he plans to remain on the board of the Federal Reserve after his term as chair ends next month "for an undetermined period of time." He cited the recent legal actions taken by the Trump administration against the Fed as his reason for staying on.

The Federal Reserve left its benchmark interest rate unchanged for the third straight meeting but signaled it could still cut rates in the coming months, moves that attracted the most dissents since October 1992: — 29 April 2026 (LINK)

Supreme Court limits use of race in drawing electoral maps — 29 April 2026 (LINK)

— In a 6-3 decision, the conservative justices sided with a challenge to new districts in Louisiana that were created to comply with a landmark Civil Rights law meant to protect black Americans from racial discrimination.

Axios: Supreme Court lifts GOP odds of keeping House: could boost the Republican majority in the House by an additional 19 seats when compared to 2024 — (LINK)

Pentagon official: Iran war has cost $25B: The figure is the most specific price tag the administration has provided on the U.S. military conflict — 29 April 2026 (LINK)

— Politico: That figure falls far behind many outside estimates. It is also dwarfed by reports that the administration could seek hundreds of billions of dollars to cover the Middle East campaign. Acting Pentagon comptroller Jules Hurst told attendees at a March defence summit in Washington that the first week of the Iran war cost roughly $11 billion.

ICE arrests more than triple under Trump as share without charges rises — (LINK) — ground.news: 30 media reports — 29 April 2026 (LINK)