Rafah: A Point of No Return

Rafah: A Point of No Return

By Mona Ali Khalil The catastrophe in Rafah has begun. In the 131 terrible days since the horrible Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, we have watched 1.8 million Palestinian civilians pushed from the north of Gaza to the south and even further south until they reached Rafah at the very end of the strip. Adults and children alike have been bombed and shot relentlessly in […]

February 16, 2024 28

World

France and Ukraine to sign bilateral security deal Friday

French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky are due to sign a bilateral security agreement on Friday. The deal comes amid ammunition shortages in Ukraine…as its war with Russia is about to enter its third year. Toni Waterman has more from Paris.

February 16, 2024 30

World

Indian farmers continue to pressure government for higher crop prices

A third round of talks between Indian farmers and government officials last night was inconclusive, as farmers demand higher prices for their crops. A union is organising a nationwide strike, which follows protests this week as farmers continue to put pressure on prime minister Narendra Modi's government ahead of a general election this month. Rebecca Bundhun reports from Mumbai .

February 16, 2024 32

Business / Economics

U.S Retail sales slump in January

Retail sales declined by a more than expected 0.8 percent in the U.S. last month. That marks the biggest dip since last March and has fueled fears that consumer spending may be on the wane. Williams Denselow reports from New York.

February 16, 2024 7

Opinion Pieces

Wagner Group is now Africa Corps. What this means for Russia’s operations on the continent

By Alessandro Arduino, King's College London In August 2023, Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin died after his private jet crashed about an hour after taking off in Moscow. He had been Russia’s pointman in Africa since the Wagner Group began operating on the continent in 2017. The group is known for deploying paramilitary forces, running disinformation campaigns and propping up influential political leaders. It has had a […]

February 16, 2024 9

World

NYC sues social media companies over ‘youth mental health crisis

The city of New York is suing several major social media platforms, accusing them of fueling a 'youth mental health crisis'. Mayor Eric Adams says the lawsuit will hold TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and YouTube accountable for 'endangering the mental health of children'. The social media companies involved deny the allegations and say they are working hard to keep young people safe. Sally Patterson reports.

February 16, 2024 12

World

Texas judge to decide on migrant arrest law

At a court hearing in Texas a judge seemed skeptical of a new law that would give the state power to arrest anyone suspected of entering Texas illegally. Campaigners in Texas are trying to block the bill before it comes into effect next month. Nick Harper reports from Austin.

February 16, 2024 15

Business / Economics

The rise of robo-retail: Who gets left behind when retail is automated?

By Mathew Iantorno, University of Toronto Canada’s first robotic cafe, RC Coffee, opened in Toronto in October 2020. The flagship location of the coffee chain revived the long-dormant retail concept of the automat: a restaurant where food and drinks are served by technology, rather than human staff. The new coffee automat consisted of a touchscreen for placing orders, a window that allows customers to watch a […]

February 15, 2024 23

Environment

Bangkok says work from home as pollution blankets city

Bangkok city employees have been told to work from home to avoid harmful air pollution, as a layer of noxious haze blanketed the Thai capital on Thursday. City authorities asked for cooperation from employers to help workers in the city of about 11 million people avoid the pollution, which is expected to last into Friday. The air monitoring website IQAir ranked Bangkok among the 10 most polluted cities […]

February 15, 2024 14