Rabia Ali
August 20, 2024•Update: August 20, 2024
ISTANBUL
Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Tuesday, including the latest developments on the Gaza cease-fire proposal, thousands protesting against US supports for Israel’s Gaza war in Chicago, and the Scottish government suspending meetings with Israel.
TOP STORIES
- US says Netanyahu accepts Gaza cease-fire proposal, Hamas says deal only favors Israel
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had accepted a new “bridging proposal” for a Gaza cease-fire and prisoner swap deal, but Hamas said the proposal in fact "meets Netanyahu's conditions” and fits his agenda.
The "bridging proposal" that Netanyahu accepted "reflects what is in the cease-fire agreement that President (Joe) Biden put before the world" on May 31, Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv
Hamas said on Sunday that the new proposal meets Netanyahu's conditions, “particularly his refusal of a permanent cease-fire, a complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.”
- Thousands protest US support for Israel's war on Gaza as Democratic convention begins in Chicago
Thousands of pro-Palestine protesters gathered in Chicago as the Democratic National Convention kicked off on Monday to push for an end to US support for Israel's war on Gaza.
Union Park was filled with protesters who were determined to make their opposition to the US's Gaza policy heard by President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Democratic delegates and the world.
As delegates arrived at the convention center, protesters marched through downtown Chicago, periodically chanting slogans such as "Free, free Palestine” hours before Biden was set to address the convention.
- Scottish government suspends all meetings with Israel
The Scottish government announced Monday that it had suspended all meetings with Israeli ambassadors until "real progress" is made towards peace in the Gaza Strip and unimpeded access is granted to humanitarian assistance to the enclave.
In a statement, External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson said the Scottish government would not accept any invitation for a further meeting with Israel until there was real progress on the Gaza conflict.
"This will remain our position until such time as real progress has been made towards peace, unimpeded access to humanitarian assistance is provided and Israel cooperates fully with its international obligations on the investigation of genocide and war crimes," said Robertson.
NEWS IN BRIEF
- US President Joe Biden vowed Monday to end the war in the Gaza Strip and bring the hostages back home on the first night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois.
- Russia said on Monday that peace talks with Ukraine are currently impossible, citing Moscow's peace proposal and Kyiv's incursion into the western Kursk region.
- There can be no peace in the Middle East without an independent Palestinian state, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Monday.
- An Israeli soldier was killed and six others were injured in a “mistaken” shelling of a building housing Israeli forces in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, the military said on Monday.
- At least 16,480 Palestinian children have been killed in Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip since last Oct. 7, local authorities said on Monday.
- The US and the Philippines have reached a deal to allow "a limited number" of Afghans to transit to the Philippines while awaiting approval for US visas and resettlement, the State Department said Monday.
- Türkiye's Communications Directorate announced Monday that firefighting teams have responded to 306 forest and rural fires across the country over the past four days, successfully extinguishing 304 of them.
- Officials will gather in the Egyptian capital Cairo for negotiations to reach a Gaza cease-fire deal this week, the White House said Monday.
- The US on Monday condemned the "dangerous actions" by China against Philippine maritime operations in the South China Sea.
SPORTS
- Turkish chess prodigy becomes youngest to earn grandmaster title
Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, a 13-year-old Turkish chess prodigy, has set a new record by becoming the youngest player to surpass a 2600 ELO rating and earn the grandmaster title.
"Our star athlete Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, who holds the title of the world's youngest grandmaster, has become the youngest player to exceed the 2600 ELO rating with his outstanding performance at the Abu Dhabi Chess Festival," announced the Turkish Chess Federation.
- Atalanta sign Lazar Samardzic on loan with obligation to buy
Italian Serie A side Atalanta announced on Sunday the signing of Serbian midfielder Lazar Samardzic from Udinese Calcio. The deal is a loan with an option to buy, which becomes mandatory under certain conditions.
“Atalanta BC is pleased to confirm the acquisition of Lazar Samardzic on a loan deal with an option and obligation to purchase, contingent on specific terms,” the club said in a statement.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
- General Motors to cut 1,000 jobs, impacting software and services division
General Motors (GM) is set to cut 1,000 jobs, primarily affecting its software and services division, according to multiple reports on Monday.
The layoffs will impact around 600 employees at GM's tech campus near Detroit, Michigan. The automaker's global workforce was approximately 76,000 at the end of 2023, with about 53,000 of those workers based in the United States. This reduction represents about 1.3% of the company’s overall workforce.
- Notorious counterfeiter arrested in Italy, linked to over $12M in fake euro bills
A notorious money forger responsible for producing over $12 million in counterfeit euro bills has been arrested in Italy, according to a statement released by the EU's law enforcement agency, Europol, on Monday.
The forger, apprehended in Naples through a joint operation by French and Italian authorities, was involved in distributing €8 million ($8.83 million) worth of fake banknotes across Europe. Authorities also discovered an additional €3 million worth of counterfeit currency ready for circulation.
