China warns Canada over Huawei arrest; Google CEO prepares to testify, and more top news

The news Canadian professionals are talking about now, curated by LinkedIn’s editors. Join the conversation by clicking the hashtags below.

China is threatening Canada with “serious consequences” should it go on detaining the chief financial officer of Chinese technology giant Huawei. Meng Wanzhou, also the daughter of Huawei’s founder, was arrested in Vancouver on Dec. 1 and is facing extradition to the U.S. for allegations of fraud. However, some Canadian businesses are worried about the ramifications of the arrest, according to CBC News. The British Columbia government has also cancelled a planned “trade mission” to China, as has Deputy Foreign Minister, Ian Shugart, who postponed a visit to Beijing. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Also: Not all businesses are canceling plans to travel to China, however — the CEO of Canfor is among the B.C. forestry firms carrying out a trip there this week to discuss continued trade with the world’s second-largest economy. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai will face the U.S. Congress today, where he is likely to face tough questions on accountability and transparency from lawmakers as the tech industry comes under increased scrutiny. In prepared remarks, Pichai says he intends to push back against allegations of political bias, insist his company takes privacy seriously, and reconfirm its commitment to working with the U.S. government. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg was called to testify in front of Congress in April. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Apple is appealing a Chinese court ban on the import and sale of older iPhone models. The ban followed a request for injunctions by Qualcomm, in its long-running patent dispute with the tech giant. In a statement, Apple said “all models remain available for our customers in China.” The San Diego chipmaker has brought more than a dozen infringement cases against Apple in China. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Verizon will buy out 6.8% of its workforce, or 10,400 employees, as part of a $10 billion cost-saving effort. The move comes months after Hans Vestberg took over as CEO of America’s largest wireless carrier and is aimed at retrofitting its ranks for next-generation network technology, 5G. The last time Verizon offered buyouts, in 2003, almost twice as many employees took them. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Amazon is battling a torrent of seller scams on its website and has sacked a handful of employees it alleges took bribes and fed inside information to independent merchants, reports The Wall Street Journal. The company has fired some workers from the U.S. and India as well as purging several thousand dubious customer reviews. It’s also curtailed seller access to internal data and worked to curb techniques allowing sellers to game the site’s search results to their benefit.? Here’s what people are saying.

Idea of the Day:  In order to prepare for the future of work, companies should be thoughtful about their transformation, says Walmart CEO Doug McMillon.

“We’re creating a company that is people-led and tech-empowered. Our people made the difference yesterday, just as they do today, and just as they will tomorrow.”

What's your take on today’s stories? Share your thoughts in the comments.  

— Jessica Hartogs