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Author: AFP

Venezuelans turn to alternative medicine

The small waiting room at the home of self-styled healer ‘Brother Guayanes’ in Caracas’ rundown Petare district fills up quickly with patients — business has never been better. With Venezuela’s chronic medicine shortages and hyperinflation, more and more people are turning to alternative medicine to treat common ailments in the

White House insists economy like ‘a rock’

WASHINGTON: After a brief surge during his first years in office, and despite his lofty promises, the American manufacturing rebound has begun to crumble under President Donald Trump. Auto plants and steel mills are shutting down. Companies are announcing layoffs and furloughs. Factory output is in the red. The year-end

UK firms stock up in last Brexit stretch

LONDON: British companies are ramping up preparations ahead of Brexit, spearheaded by the food and drink sectors stockpiling extra ingredients and bottles. ‘Get ready for Brexit’ is the UK government’s slogan ahead of the nation’s scheduled departure from the European Union on October 31. Billboards up and down the country

From Hitler to Wacko Jacko, unlikely names for Nobel Prize

Eighty years ago on the brink of the bloodiest conflict in history, Adolf Hitler was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, illustrating that literally anyone can be nominated. From the Fuhrer to the ‘King of Pop’, in the nearly 120 years the prize has been awarded nominations have included some

Grab threatened with RM87m fine

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s competition watchdog yesterday threatened to hit Grab with a $21 million fine for practices that allegedly reduce competition, the latest problem for the ride-hailing giant. Grab is the biggest ride-hailing firm in Southeast Asia, and has strengthened its hold on the market since buying US rival Uber’s

Striking EU with $7.5b in tariffs

WASHINGTON: Hours after getting the green light from the World Trade Organisation, Washington moved Wednesday to retaliate against the EU over illegal subsidies for Airbus, announcing tariffs on $7.5 billion worth of European goods starting October 18.  The ruling is the largest arbitration award in WTO history and a landmark moment

Awaiting key EU ruling

WARSAW: Like hundreds of thousands of other Poles, 42-year-old Piotr Zientala anxiously awaits a crucial EU court ruling Thursday on the legality of Swiss franc mortgages which could determine his financial future. On the other side, economists warn that if the European Court of Justice (ECJ) decides in favour of

Asian markets take a tumble

HONG KONG: Asian markets tanked yesterday after a below-par US jobs report compounded worries about the world’s top economy, while the WTO fanned fresh trade war fears by allowing Washington to impose tariffs on the European Union. Investors tracked yet another plunge in Europe and on Wall Street — where

Tesla shares fall after 3Q deliveries miss estimates

NEW YORK: Tesla reported lower-than-expected third quarter auto deliveries Wednesday, pushing shares lower in after-hours trading. The electric carmaker, which is led by Elon Musk, delivered 97,000 vehicles last quarter, a bit below the 99,000 projected by analysts. The figures raised fresh doubts about the company’s ability to hit its

Tobacco giant Imperial says CEO stepping down

LONDON: British tobacco giant Imperial Brands, which recently warned over a backlash against vaping in the United States, said yesterday that Chief Executive Alison Cooper is stepping down. Cooper, who served nine years as CEO and has been at Imperial for 20 years, will leave once her successor has been