The firms microchipping their staff, France to use social media to catch tax cheats, and more top news

The news professionals in Europe are talking about now, curated by LinkedIn’s editors. Join the conversation on today's stories in the comments.

Some companies are implanting microchips into their employees, reports The Guardian. UK firm BioTeq says it has already fitted 150 implants, while Sweden’s Biohax is in discussions with several legal and financial firms about imbedding the tiny chips into workers. The implants, which can be be used to open doors and store data, could improve security, but the Trades Union Congress fears employers could use the technology to “control and micromanage” staff. ? Would you allow your employer to microchip you? Here’s what people are saying.

France is using social media to crack down on tax cheats. Budget minister Gérald Darmanin announced yesterday that from early 2019, tax administrators will be combing individuals’ public social media accounts for indications they may be committing tax fraud — for example by posting photos of luxury cars they “don’t have the means to own”. The move is part of a new law passed last month that gives French authorities more options to fight tax evasion. ? Here’s what people are saying.

German rail operator Deutsche Bahn is set to ask the government for a €4.9 billion investment, according to The Bild newspaper, which says the state-backed company will lobby for the financial injection in a bid to reduce train delays and cancellations. Deutsche Bahn, which last month announced it was considering reviving plans for an IPO for its Arriva unit, saw its operating profit fall 17.5% to €974 million in the first half of 2018. ? Here’s what people are saying.

British Airways owner IAG is seeking support from Spain as it prepares for a potential no-deal Brexit. An airline must be more than 50% EU-owned to qualify as European — and Anglo-Spanish carrier IAG, which is headquartered in London, is yet to be able to prove it can meet that requirement. Meanwhile, in continuing woes for low-cost carrier Ryanair, the airline has been forced to pay €525,000 to France to retrieve a jet impounded in Bordeaux over illegal subsidies. ? Here’s what people are saying.

A baby bust is spreading across the globe. Close to half of the world’s nations are not producing enough babies to sustain their current population levels, according to new research published in The Lancet. Between 1950 and 2017, the global fertility rate declined from 4.7 children per woman to 2.4. When the rate drops below 2.1, populations begin to shrink. The shift could pose significant social and economic challenges in the decades ahead, as the ranks of grandparents exceed that of grandchildren, BBC reports. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Idea of the Day: Failing at anything hurts, but sometimes leaders need to know when to give up, says Shake Shack founder and Union Square Hospitality Group CEO Danny Meyer.

“We [entrepreneurs] are equally responsible for balancing hope and reality, and for knowing when no degree of optimism is going to overcome the underlying challenges.”

— Capucine Yeomans