New York/ AFP Hillary Clinton declared a historic victory for women as she grasped the Democratic Party nomination and the chance to become America’s first female president. “Thanks to you, we’ve reached a milestone,” a beaming Clinton told ecstatic supporters in New York: “the first time in our nation’s history that a woman will be a major party’s nominee.” …

  Washington / AFP US President Barack Obama congratulated Hillary Clinton for clinching the Democratic presidential nomination, and planned to meet with her party rival Bernie Sanders later this week, the White House said. Obama called Clinton and Sanders and “congratulated both candidates for running inspiring campaigns that have energized Democrats, brought a new generation of Americans into the political …

  Caracas / AFP Venezuela’s opposition cleared its first hurdle in its uphill race to call a referendum on removing President Nicolas Maduro, whom it blames for driving the country to the brink of collapse. But the leftist leader flexed his muscle when riot police fired tear gas to block opposition protesters from marching on the electoral authority’s headquarters, underlining …

  Chittagong / AFP China accused the Philippines on Wednesday of ignoring requests for dialogue about their maritime dispute, as tensions rise before an international tribunal’s ruling on the territorial row. The Philippines has “unilaterally closed the door of settling the South China Sea issue with China through negotiation”, China’s foreign ministry said in a lengthy statement published by the …

  Washington/ AFP Two Chinese jets conducted an “unsafe” intercept of a US spy plane over the East China Sea, officials said, but the Pentagon downplayed the encounter and blamed it on shoddy piloting. According to US Pacific Command spokesman Commander David Benham, two Chinese J-10 fighter jets flew close to an American RC-135 reconnaissance plane that was on a …

  Sydney / AFP Giant waves and high winds have prevented any search operations for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 for the past month with the hunt now not expected to be complete until August, authorities said on Wednesday. Australia is leading the painstaking search for MH370 in the remote Indian Ocean, but the wild weather has not allowed the …

  Abu Dhabi / WAM The Abu Dhabi General Services Company (Musanada) announced that it has completed 40 percent of the upgraded road network and interchange at Abu Dhabi International Airport, as part of its efforts to realise the vision of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and to implement the directions of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed …

  Dubai / WAM The Road and Transport Authority (RTA) Licensing Agency has recently launched the second phase of its ‘Online Vehicle Mortgage Addition’ service, the ‘Vehicles Mortgage Addition/Redemption’ scheme. The first phase of the scheme, ‘Online Vehicles Mortgage Redemption,’ was launched in 2013. Ahmed Bahrozyan, CEO of the RTA Licensing Agency, said, “The RTA constantly seeks to adopt the world’s …

  Dubai / Emirates Business The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) participated in the recently concluded 25th GCC Ministerial Committee for Post and Telecommunications, chaired by Dr Mohamed Bin Ibrahim Al-Swail, Minister of Communications and Information Technology of Saudi Arabia, held in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The meeting focused on the recommendations raised by the GCC Committee for Undersecretaries of …

  Dubai / Emirates Business The Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates, a leading luxury destination for fine dining and leisure, was recognised for its excellence in guest comfort at the Middle East Hotel Awards 2016, winning the trophies for the Best Room Refurbishment and the Best Hotel Suite. Taking place at Palazzo Versace Hotel in Dubai, the awards gala …