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Barcode turns 50 but its days might be numbered
Barcode turns 50 but its days might be numbered
Business and Economy
by  AFP

The patch of irregular vertical lines that revolutionised checking out at the supermarket and facilitated the globalisation of retail is turning 50. It has become so integrated in the shopping experience that it is easy to forget how much the technology revolutionised retail by speeding up the checkout process and giving retailers the ability to trace products and better manage inventory.

Boon or blight? E-scooters around the world
Boon or blight? E-scooters around the world
Business and Economy
by  AFP

The for-hire electric scooters that have become ubiquitous in Paris and other cities worldwide are under scrutiny in the French capital, where residents vote Sunday on whether to ban them. - Paris: the pioneer - The French capital was an early adopter of e-scooters in 2018, when the pavements were soon strewn with discarded rental devices from the first operator, Lime.

Squeezed by high costs, US tenants grapple with eviction
Squeezed by high costs, US tenants grapple with eviction
Business and Economy
by  AFP

For nearly eight years, driving for a ride-hailing platform and making deliveries helped Laine Carolyn pay her bills -- but a sudden deterioration in health forced her to stop work and fall behind on rent. Carolyn had worked out a payment plan with her landlord but it became increasingly hard to work as her health worsened: "I just couldn't make enough money."