While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Nov 10, 2024
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Gaza war mediator Qatar has hit pause on its efforts to broker talks until warring parties Israel and Hamas show “willingness and seriousness” to end the conflict.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Qatar halts Gaza mediation until Israel, Hamas get serious
Qatar has put its Gaza war mediation on hold until Israel and Hamas show “willingness and seriousness” to end the conflict, its foreign ministry spokesman said on Nov 9.
The Gulf state told Israel and Hamas in October that it would suspend mediation after nearly a year of failed attempts to broker a ceasefire and hostage-release deal, Mr Majed Al Ansari said.
“Qatar notified the parties 10 days ago, during the last attempts to reach an agreement, that it would stall its efforts to mediate between Hamas and Israel if an agreement was not reached in that round,” he said in a statement.
“Qatar will resume those efforts with its partners when the parties show their willingness and seriousness to end the brutal war,” Mr Ansari added.
Thousands protest over handling of Spanish flood disaster
Thousands of people demonstrated in the eastern Spanish city of Valencia on Nov 9 over regional authorities’ handling of devastating floods that killed more than 220 people in one of Europe’s worst natural disasters for decades.
In the latest demonstration over the floods, protesters filled the centre of Valencia demanding the resignation of regional government leader Carlos Mazon and chanting “Killers!”.
“Our hands are stained with mud, yours with blood,” read one banner. Some demonstrators dumped muddy boots outside the council building in protests.
Trump team distances itself from outlined Ukraine peace plan
Donald Trump’s presidential transition effort said on Nov 9 that a Republican operative who outlined some potential contours of a US-backed peace plan in Ukraine earlier in the day was not speaking on behalf of the president-elect.
Mr Bryan Lanza, a long-time Republican strategist who was a contractor on Trump’s 2024 campaign, said in an interview with the BBC that Trump’s administration would be asking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for a “realistic vision for peace.”
He said the new administration’s priority in Ukraine would be establishing peace and not restoring lost territory, including Crimea.
Man City lose fourth match in a row after defeat by Brighton
Manchester City’s misery continued with a 2-1 loss to Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League on Nov 9, thanks to late goals from substitutes Joao Pedro and Matt O’Riley that gave the champions their fourth consecutive loss in all competitions.
The defeat marks the first time City coach Pep Guardiola has lost four in a row in his managerial career and kept his side second in the league standings on 23 points from 11 matches. Brighton climbed to fourth on 19 points.
“It’s a period that we’re going through at the minute, and the international break is probably coming at the right time,” City captain Kyle Walker told Sky Sports.
Gauff fights back to beat Zheng for WTA Finals title
Coco Gauff became the youngest player to win the WTA Finals title in 20 years with a gruelling 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/2) victory over Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen in Riyadh on Nov 9.
Gauff, 20, rallied back from 3-6, 1-3 down, and erased a one-break deficit twice in the decider, to overcome the seventh-seeded Zheng in three hours and four minutes - the second-longest WTA final in 2024.
By clinching the trophy, Gauff pocketed a record US$4,805,000 (S$6.3 million) - which is the largest ever payout at a professional, sanctioned tour event.
