Local Economic Boost: eThekwini Municipality is gearing up for the Comrades Marathon (June 14), expecting 21,600 athletes, 65,000 spectators, and about 1,300 temporary jobs—plus spending that should lift accommodation, transport, hospitality, retail and tourism. AI & Work: LinkedIn’s UK hiring slowdown is being blamed on macro conditions, not AI, while Microsoft’s AI messaging is reframed as automating routine tasks rather than replacing whole jobs. Apprenticeships & Skills: Northern Gas Networks launched its 2026 apprenticeship programme across the North, aiming to break stereotypes and widen access to energy careers. Hiring & Fraud Controls: Infosys paused online assessments for nearly 20,000 candidates after impersonation and cheating cases, signaling tougher safeguards for remote recruitment. Graduate Pathways: A panel discussion weighs what graduate programmes offer and how AI is changing early-career work—pushing graduates to focus on progression, mentorship and real experience. Labor Dispute: Kakao workers staged a first strike over bonus and profit-sharing terms, escalating pay-performance tensions at major Korean tech firms. Job Placement Initiative: UNDP Kenya plans a NextGen pilot to place 500 young Kenyans into private-sector roles with monthly stipends. Workplace Flexibility During Sports: UK workers say they’d be honest with employers about late World Cup matches affecting attendance, but most expect little flexibility.