ISTANBUL / AP Turkey’s electoral board on Wednesday rejected petitions by opposition parties to annul the outcome of a recent referendum on expanding presidential powers because of voting irregularities. The High Electoral Board announced in a written statement its decision to reject three requests by the opposition following a 10-1 vote. Mehmet Hadimi Yakupoglu, the main opposition Republican People’s ...

  RIYADH / AP US officials say Washington is looking for ways to boost military support to a Saudi-led campaign against Shiite rebel forces in Yemen. The goal is to help the Saudis put enough pressure on the Iran-backed rebels known as the Houthis (HOO’-theez) so that they’re compelled to enter peace negotiations. The Saudis are partnered in their Yemen ...

  KABUL / AP At least 14 Taliban fighters, including the shadow governor of the northern Baghlan province, have been killed in heavy fighting with Afghan forces, officials said on Wednesday. Amir Gul Hussainkhil, the deputy provincial police chief, said Afghan security forces launched a large-scale attack on the insurgents the night before in the western part of the province, ...

  NEW DELHI / AP India’s top court on Wednesday ordered four senior leaders of the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party to stand trial over a 1992 attack on an ancient mosque that sparked Hindu-Muslim violence that killed thousands. A lower court had earlier dropped conspiracy charges against the four in a case that has languished in India’s sluggish ...

  The only modern president who rivaled Donald Trump in his lack of preparation for global leadership was Harry Truman. Both men took office with little knowledge of the international problems they were about to face, and with worries at home and abroad that they weren’t up to the job. “I pray god I can measure up to the task,” ...

  A lot of companies view revolving credit lines the way some rock climbers view harnesses and ropes: They would rather not use them, but they’re glad to have them when trouble strikes. So it’s worth paying attention when a corporation starts withdrawing a substantial amount of money under these prearranged agreements with banks. This can signal a significant problem. ...

  Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been trying hard to combat his nation’s alarming demographic decline: promoting robots and other productivity-enhancing technology, bringing more women into the workforce, even opening the door a bit wider to foreigners. It’s plain, however, that he needs to try harder still, especially when it comes to immigration. Japanese companies already report they can’t ...

  British Prime Minster Theresa May shocked the UK by calling a general election for June 8. She said the election would strengthen the government’s hand in negotiations to leave the European Union. She dismissed criticism of her move to send voters back to polling booths for the third time in two years, after a May 2015 national election and ...

  Abu Dhabi / WAM The Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC), the master developer of major tourism, cultural and residential destinations in Abu Dhabi, announced on Wednesday that 60 per cent of the units has been sold after unveiling a compelling selection of residential units on Saadiyat Island at Cityscape Abu Dhabi 2017, taking place from April 18-20 at the ...

  Abu Dhabi / Emirates Business Hydra Properties announced the progress of two of its developments, Hydra Avenue and Hydra Village, at the Cityscape Abu Dhabi property exhibition. According to the announcement, Hydra Village Zone 8 in Shahama, is now 70% complete with an expected handover date of Q4 2017. While Hydra Avenue phase 2 in Reem Island is progressing ...