German antitrust regulator restricts Facebook, and more news around the world

Every day, LinkedIn publishes 12 Daily Rundowns, in 7 languages, around the world to get professionals up to speed. Here's a translated look at what each market is talking about today.

U.S.: Ford invests $1 billion in Chicago plants, Sears survives by being sold, and more top news

• Ford is investing $1 billion to expand its production in Chicago and adding 500 jobs, in anticipation of this year’s launch of three new SUVs.
• After months of speculation surrounding Sears’ fate, a federal judge has given the iconic U.S. retailer a fresh start.
• The Food and Drug Administration is putting Walgreens “on notice” over illegal tobacco sales to minors.
• North Carolina-based BB&T is acquiring SunTrust Banks for $28.3 billion in a deal that will create America’s sixth-largest bank.
• The instability felt among federal workers due to the recent 35-day partial government shutdown may be behind a public sector “brain drain,” according to LinkedIn’s February Workforce report.

And here’s the video version.

CANADA: Bombardier's train unit boss quits, Sears is saved by being sold, and more top news

• The head of Bombardier’s train unit is departing with immediate effect.

MEXICO: Inflation hit lowest level in two years, 8 out of 10 want to change jobs in 2019, and more top news

• Inflation in January hit lowest level in two years.
• 8 out of 10 people want to change jobs in 2019, according to a survey conducted by PageGroup.
• Mexico's central bank held key interest rate steady.
• Walmart de Mexico’s comparable sales grew 4.4% in January.
• Mexican regulators confirmed authorization of a Korean bank to start operations in the country.

BRAZIL: Brazilians don't have much debt, but spend a lot with interest; Aneel starts operation to cut subsidies, and more top news

• Brazilians have little debt, but spend a lot on interest.
• Aneel begins operations to reduce subsidies and benefits.
• Vale has already lost R$ 70.6 billion in market value.
• Rio de Janeiro is in crisis stage after storms.
• Home-office still faces resistance within companies.

EUROPE: Renault probes funding of Ghosn’s wedding, BA under fire over maternity policy, and more top news

• Renault is investigating whether former boss Carlos Ghosn “misused” a company sponsorship to fund a private event, reports Le Figaro.
• British Airways has been told it must “do better” when it comes to maternity pay.
• Germany’s top antitrust enforcer has ordered Facebook to stop requiring users to let it collect data on their internet usage.
• Ikea is expanding a trial to sell refurbished furniture.
• Gucci has apologised after facing backlash over a woollen jumper.

U.K.: May and EU agree to reopen talks, BA told 'do better' over maternity pay, and more top news

• Theresa May and EU leaders have agreed to reopen negotiations immediately in a bid to break the Brexit deadlock.
• British Airways has been told it must “do better” after it emerged that the airline offers just six weeks’ maternity pay to its staff.
• Instagram will ban graphic images of self-harm from its platform.
• The Bank of England has warned the UK is heading for its weakest year since the global financial crisis.
• One of the UK’s last operating coal power stations will close this year due to rising costs.

FRANCE: The Brexit deadlock, a new Carlos Ghosn case in France, and more top news

• The EU agrees on talks to break Brexit deadlock, but there is no clear solution ahead.
• Carlos Ghosn would have spent French automaker Renault funds on his wedding party in Versailles.
• Electricity provider EDF launched an online platform aimed at connecting individuals and construction professionals.
• French trade deficit increased by €2.1 billion at €59.9 billion in 2018.
• In the EU, lobbies are becoming more and more powerful.

DACH: German antitrust regulator restricts Facebook; it’s easier for graduates of a “Duales Studium” to start their careers; and more top news

• German antitrust regulator orders Facebook to restrict data collection.
• Starting their career is easier for graduates of a “Duales Studium”, a mix of university education and on-the-job training in a company, compared to regular university graduates.
• The Diesel scandal has already cost VW €28bn.
• Real wages in Germany have gone up again in 2018.
• A Swabian distillery is not allowed to call their whisky “Glen Buchenbach” anymore as a court hands a win to the Scotch Whisky Association.

INDIA: Your EMIs may come down, WhatsApp’s pre-election warning, and more top news

• In its maiden monetary policy review under governor Shaktikanta Das, the Reserve Bank of India lowered the repo rate — the interest at which it lends to commercial banks — by 25 bps to 6.25%.
• WhatsApp will bar misinformation-spreading political parties from using its platform, its communication chief Carl Woog said.
• Indian startups are achieving unicorn status faster than their American counterparts, according to a KPMG report.
• The state of Maharashtra is planning to reward car owners who haven’t been ticketed for any on-road violation in the last five years by recommending them for a lower insurance premium.
• About 6 in 10 parents don’t monitor what their children view online, classifieds site OLX found in a survey of 26,000 users.

AUSTRALIA:  NAB CEO and chairman resign after scathing assessment, AMP data stolen, and more top news

• National Australia Bank’s chief executive and chairman will resign.
• A contractor allegedly stole customer data from AMP.
• Qantas has cancelled an order of eight Airbus A380 superjumbo jets.
• Companies are fighting for CBD office space, after the release of the banking royal commission report.
• Thousands of requests have seen Vegemite go gluten-free.

JAPAN: About 70 percent of people feel “work-reform” isn’t working, PPIH says there are too many cashless payment services, and more top news

• About 70 percent of people said they feel work-reform initiative isn’t working. Many of them blamed inefficient business practices that still remain at Japanese workplaces, according to a survey by Japan Management Association.
• Major property developer Leopalace21 will ask up to 14,443 residents who live in defective rent apartments to move out.
• Major Japanese sportswear maker Descente opposed a hostile bid by trading house Itochu, drawing the two firms into a rare takeover battle.
• Pan Pacific International Holdings, operator of discount store chain Don Quijote, decided not to install Family Mart’s cashless payment service “Fami Pay” at its retail stores, claiming there are already too many cashless payment services in the market. PPIH is a group company of Family Mart Holdings.
• Zozo president Yusaku Maezawa announced he will “take a break” from Twitter and focus on his actual job as a fashion shopping website operator. Maezawa’s Twitter account has been in the spotlight since early January, when he did a campaign to pay out 1 million yen to 100 random people who followed his account and retweeted his message.

CHINA: Sick shaming infiltrates the office, don’t hesitate to show your persuasive skills, and more top news

• Sick shaming infiltrates the office.
• The ability to persuade others was ranked as the second most in-demand soft skill by employers.
• Strong ties to other women helps women advance.
• Book recommendation: 《Rapid Reading》By Paul R.Scheele.

— LinkedIn Editors