Gulf states and Turkey urged Trump not to launch strikes against Iran

Gulf states and Turkey urged Trump not to launch strikes against Iran

Fears that attack could lead to conflict across region prompted lobbying by longstanding US allies Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and Oman urged Donald Trump not to launch airstrikes against Iran in a last-minute lobbying campaign triggered by fears that an attack by Washington would lead to a major and intractable conflict across the Middle East. The warnings of chaos from the nations, longstanding allies of the US, appear to have been influential in persuading Trump late on Wednesday to hold off for the moment on a military assault. In the case of Saudi Arabia, its reticence led it to deny the US use of its airspace to mount any attacks. Continue reading...

John Higgins rides wild fluke to win final three frames and reach Masters semi

John Higgins rides wild fluke to win final three frames and reach Masters semi

Scot recovers to deny Zhao Xintong 6-5 in the last eight Judd Trump faces Mark Allen in later Thursday match John Higgins benefited from an outrageous fluke as he came from 5-3 down to beat world champion Zhao Xintong 6-5 on the final ball and reach the semi-finals of the Masters at Alexandra Palace. Higgins made a horrible mess of a plant, only for one of the reds to fly into the opposite pocket and the cue ball to somehow land on the black, en route to squaring the match at 5-5. The 50-year-old Scot then took a tight decider, clearing the table from the final red to move one step closer to a third Masters title. This report will update later Continue reading...