Newscoop: Long Stories Short

a world of independent news

World In Brief

In a letter to US secretary of state Rubio and USAID’s acting administrator Kenneth Jackson, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren has argued that questions must be answered before the state department considers redirecting $500 million from USAID to the controversial GHF, the self-proclaimed "aid organization" in Gaza backed by the Israeli and US governments.

The BBC has reported testimony from a former security contractor for the controversial GHF aid distribution organization in Gaza formed by Israel and the US. The contractor witnessed colleagues opening fire, including with machine guns, on hungry Palestinians who posed no threat.

At the UN international development funding summit this week in Seville, Spain, the executive director of UNAids, Winnie Byanyima, said the Trump funding cuts may mean the world faces 6 million more HIV infections and 4 million Aids-related deaths by 2029. "This is a pandemic," she said, "and pandemics have no borders.”

Both houses of the U.S. Congress have passed Donald Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill." The bill will give tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans and will reduce dramatically healthcare and food aid for the poorest.

BREAKING Gaza ceasefire talks took place on Thursday in Istanbul, with Hamas reportedly asking for stronger guarantees that any ceasefire will lead to a permanent end to Israel's assault. Israel has killed more than 300 Palestinians in Gaza in the last 48 hours.

There have been mass evacuations of hotels, rental rooms and homes on the island of Crete, as wildifires that sprung up Wednesday burn out of control.

BREAKING Over 300 Palestinians died in Israeli strikes on Gaza in 48 hours. Hamas demands a permanent ceasefire guarantee, while Israeli hardliners oppose any truce. Civilian casualties and the humanitarian crisis are worsening.

UK Finance Minister Reeves, backed by PM Starmer, faced market turmoil after a welfare reform U-turn. Starmer’s support eased fears, but fiscal doubts remain.

Europe’s heatwave tops 40 °C, triggering wildfires and health alerts. In Crete, 1,500 people were evacuated as flames neared resorts. Italy reports heat deaths, while governments open cooling centres and restrict outdoor work, warning worse may come.

Munition fragments recovered from the site of a crowded beachfront Gaza cafe attacked by Israel on Monday show that a massive 500 lb (230kg) bomb was used, which yields a massive blast wave and scatters shrapnel over a wide area. Between 24 and 36 Palestinians were killed. The bomb was American-made.

As Donald Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" that stands to balloon the national deficit gains steam, Elon Musk is threatening to form his own political party. Trump's not taking it well, saying he's looking into the possibility of deporting Musk.

The UK Labour government faces backlash after approving £128 million in arms exports to Israel despite a partial suspension over humanitarian concerns. Critics warn these deals, including F-35 parts, may breach international law. Rights groups are taking legal action, and ministers face pressure for stricter arms controls.

Hamas is reviewing new ceasefire proposals from mediators, aiming for an agreement that would end the Gaza conflict and ensure the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territory, according to a statement released.

A brutal European heatwave is shifting east after scorching France, Germany, and Spain with record temperatures up to 46 °C. France faces a row over expanding air conditioning as schools and landmarks close. Scientists warn such extreme heat will become the “new normal” without urgent climate action.

As Ukraine tries to fend off escalating Russian attacks, the Trump administration has stopped shipment to Ukraine of some weapons previously promised under Biden. The claim is that U.S. stockpiles are too low.

Gaza’s Grassroots Effort to Ensure Humanitarian Aid Reaches Starving Palestinians

MENA

Gaza’s Grassroots Effort to Ensure Humanitarian Aid Reaches Starving Palestinians

“Buy More U.S. Weapons”: “Daddy” Trump Pushes Military-Industrial Complex on NATO Countries

Americas

“Buy More U.S. Weapons”: “Daddy” Trump Pushes Military-Industrial Complex on NATO Countries

The Media is Asking the Wrong Questions about Trump’s Attack on Iran

MENA

The Media is Asking the Wrong Questions about Trump’s Attack on Iran

Peter Beinart's Substack

100 days of Trump: A view from Europe

Europe

100 days of Trump: A view from Europe

Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Artificial Intelligence Already Reshaping Our World

World

Artificial Intelligence Already Reshaping Our World

Breaking Points

Trump’s Big, Beautiful Handout to the AI Industry

Americas

Trump’s Big, Beautiful Handout to the AI Industry

Trump’s Palantir-Powered Surveillance Is Turning America Into a Digital Prison

Europe

Trump’s Palantir-Powered Surveillance Is Turning America Into a Digital Prison

How Kahanism found its way into the Israeli political mainstream

MENA

How Kahanism found its way into the Israeli political mainstream

The Deadliest Period in History for Palestinian Prisoners in Israeli Detention

MENA

The Deadliest Period in History for Palestinian Prisoners in Israeli Detention

Newstream

▼scroll for more▼

@ajplus As Israel continues to kill Palestinians seeking aid at U.S.-backed distribution centers, a grassroots Palestinian group has been peacefully delivering aid to Palestinians. #Gaza #US #Israel #Aid #AidCenters #Palestinians ♬ 3 minutes, quiet, meditation, yoga, ambient(1155101) - Gloveity

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Marianne FU Meyer (@nufenwen)

Netanyahu Thinks Israel Won

John Mearsheimer's Substack

Israel Turns Gaza Aid Distribution Sites Into Open Killing Fields

Aid Blockades, Funding Cuts, Conflict and Land Grabs: geopolitics deepen despair in Gaza and Sudan

The EU's pathetic response to Trump's Iran attack

Responsible Statecraft

Trump: We "obliterated" Iran's nuclear program, and now, "peace"

Responsible Statecraft

Israel Attacks Iran, Promising Full-Scale Military Operation

Desecrating God’s Name

Peter Beinart's Substack

Tulsi Gabbard said Iran not building nukes. One Senator after another ignored her.

Responsible Statecraft

Pure Orwell: Europe condemns Iran for attacks on its own territory

Responsible Statecraft

MAGA to Trump: Supporting Israel attacks is a 'middle finger' to voters

Responsible Statecraft

Israel is not winning. Trump must not cave to new demands for help.

Responsible Statecraft

"Zero enrichment" fantasies will lead us to war

Responsible Statecraft

Madleen flotilla: Israeli forces raid Gaza-bound aid ship, detain activists

Middle East Eye

Palantir: Peter Thiel’s Data-Mining Firm Helps DOGE Build Master Database to Surveil, Track Immigrants

*** Trump Is Building a Global Gulag for Immigrants Captured by ICE

Ten Sneaky Sleeper Provisions in Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill

The American Prospect

Hamas Responds to Witkoff Gaza Proposal, Demands Trump Guarantee Israel Won’t Resume Genocide

She exposed government abuse. Now she’s locked up in an El Salvador prison

How Israel and Witkoff Are Trying to Strong-Arm Hamas Into a Deal That Does Not End the Genocide

DROPSITE EXCLUSIVE: Inside Trump’s New Gaza "Ceasefire" Proposal

Senator Rand Paul Rand Paul blasts away at antisemitism speech bill

Responsible Statecraft

"Elderly child": Trauma of Israeli bombing turns Gaza girl’s hair grey

Middle East Eye

Salvadoran Journalists Exposed Pres. Bukele’s Ties to Gangs. Then They Had to Flee to Avoid Arrest

The Far-Right Group Building a List of Pro-Palestine Activists to Deport

The most interesting stories of the week delivered to your inbox.

Global news coverage from independent outlets, and from those who are living it.

from NewsCo-op

Digital Instrumentalization: Youth and Extremism in the Age of Social Media

Digital Instrumentalization: Youth and Extremism in the Age of Social Media

Noé Keutgen
(Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

Masha Gessen, Hannah Arendt, and Germany’s memory culture

Masha Gessen, Hannah Arendt, and Germany’s memory culture

Luca Mazzacane
(Pavia, Italy)
Edoardo Tagliati
(Siena, Italy)

AI is transforming media communications

AI is transforming media communications

Luca Mazzacane
(Pavia, Italy)

A Tale of Two Americas

A Tale of Two Americas

Aaron Aristotle
(Jakarta, Indonesia)

See all from NewsCo-op