International News

US gun industry thrives but challenged by demographics

  • WASHINGTON, (APP/AFP) – Driven by fears of tighter regulation, gun sales in the United States have prospered during the Obama presidency and after mass killings, even as few new customers enter the market. The day after the massacre at an Orlando nightclub, investors were back betting on a pickup in gun sales Monday. Shares in […]

  • Facebook ‘declares war’ in Philippine flag gaffe

    MANILA, (APP/AFP) – Facebook has apologised for accidentally declaring the Philippines was in a state of war, in what was meant to be an innocuous flag tribute for Independence Day. The social media giant greeted Filipinos a “Happy Independence Day” on Sunday with a post showing a Philippine flag, but it was upside-down with red […]

  • US sanctions threaten 167-year-old Panama newspaper

    PANAMA CITY, (APP/AFP) – A 167-year-old newspaper in Panama that existed even before the country became independent is faced with extinction because its main shareholder has been hit with US sanctions for allegedly laundering drug money. The daily, La Estrella de Panama, and a sister newspaper, El Siglo, are in “real danger of closing,” the […]

  • Four Mexicans among Orlando victims

    MEXICO CITY, (APP/AFP) – Four Mexicans were among the 49 people killed in a gunman’s assault on a nightclub in the US city of Orlando, Florida, Mexico’s government said Monday. The foreign ministry earlier reported three Mexican deaths but later confirmed the fourth victim and said it was in contact with all their families. Mexico’s […]

  • Obama says no evidence Orlando attack was ‘directed’ from abroad

    WASHINGTON, (APP/AFP) – President Barack Obama said Monday there was no evidence that the massacre of 49 people in a Florida nightclub was directed from abroad or was part of a larger plot. After being briefed on America’s deadliest mass shooting in modern times by top security aides, Obama said “we don’t yet know” the […]

  • US Muslim leader condemns Orlando attack, slams extremists

    WASHINGTON, (APP/AFP) – The head of a prominent US Muslim advocacy group Sunday strongly condemned the nightclub massacre in Florida, calling members of the Islamic State group an “aberration” amid allegations the gunman was inspired by the jihadists. Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, also called for unity and urged politicians […]