Teenager's Death Raises Toll in Swiss Bar Fire to 41
A teenager who sustained injuries in a New Year's Eve bar fire in a Swiss ski resort died in a Zurich hospital, raising the death toll to 41, according to the local public prosecutor. The fire occurred at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, a popular venue for younger people where the drinking age is 16, BBC World reported.
The Wallis canton's public prosecutor, Beatrice Pilloud, announced the death of the 18-year-old Swiss national on January 31 in a statement. Pilloud added that no further information would be released at this time, BBC World noted.
In other news, Costa Rica is heading to the polls amid concerns about a potential authoritarian shift, The Guardian reported. Voters will be electing a president and 57 members of congress. Laura Fernández, the current president's hardline pick, is expected to win the first round, campaigning on a promise of a hard line on security. Crime is a major concern for many voters as criminal groups battle for control of lucrative drug-trafficking routes.
Snapchat has blocked or disabled over 415,000 accounts in Australia since the country's under-16s social media ban went into effect in December, The Guardian reported. The social media platform warned of "significant gaps" in the ban's enforcement due to technical limitations in accurately verifying users' ages.
A case highlighting the "living hell" of North Korea's "paradise on Earth" scheme has resurfaced in Japan, according to The Guardian. Plaintiffs in the case stated that they were lured from Japan, exploited for labor, and cut off from their families for generations. A court has ordered North Korea to pay each plaintiff 20 million yen in compensation. Eiko Kawasaki, who was 17 when she left Japan over six decades ago, was among tens of thousands of people with Korean heritage who were drawn to North Korea by the promise of a better life.
Starbucks is investing in robots to improve efficiency and customer service, BBC Business reported. At some locations, AI robots are taking orders at drive-thrus, while virtual personal assistants are helping baristas with recipes and schedules. Scanning tools are also being used to manage inventory, addressing out-of-stock issues. Starbucks chief executive Brian Niccol insists prices will not go up as the coffee chain tries to reverse sluggish profits.
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