“Silicon Valley’s commitment to the ideal of authenticity remains ironclad, even as more and more people are starting to recognize that the internet isn’t real life.”

– Michael Serazio, professor of communications at Boston College, in the story Why Elon Musk is obsessed with casting X as the most 'authentic' social media platform.

Agoa trade deal talks: South Africa will need to carefully manage relations with the US and China

Arno J. van Niekerk, University of the Free State

Pretoria needs to pull off a balancing act in managing South Africa’s international relations to advance its economic interests.

Why young workers are leaving fossil fuel jobs – and what to do if you feel like ‘climate quitting’

Grace Augustine, University of Bath; Birthe Soppe, University of Innsbruck

The oil and gas industry is struggling to retain talent – here’s why.

Niger delta is rich in resources, but environmental destruction is pushing people into poverty

Otekenari David Elisha, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education

Environmental degradation of Nigeria’s Niger Delta region is causing poverty as well as food insecurity, increased crime and conflict.

Shops can’t save UK high streets but a dose of local character could help them thrive again

Edward Thomas Jones, Bangor University; Linda Osti, Bangor University

To make a real change to our high streets, we need to think about about the social purpose and economic functions of these areas.

Mental health needs to be a cornerstone of equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives

Keshav Krishnamurty, York University, Canada

Workplaces committed to diversity and inclusion need to ensure they don’t overlook the importance of addressing mental health concerns.

Too many products are easier to throw away than fix – NZ consumers deserve a ‘right to repair’

Alexandra Sims, University of Auckland; Trish O'Sullivan, Massey University

Manufacturers have too much legal freedom to sell products that don’t last or are hard to repair. It’s time local law caught up with global efforts to address this environmental and consumer issue.

From the story Worried economists call for a carbon price, a tax on coal exports, and ‘green tariffs’ to get Australia on the path to net zero