Germany won’t ban Huawei from its 5G network; what’s crushing kids’ ambitions? 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. 

Germany will not ban Huawei from its 5G network, a spokesperson for the Interior Ministry has confirmed. The decision is a blow for the US, which has been pressuring its allies to block the Chinese telecommunications giant over security and espionage concerns. Huawei has welcomed Germany’s “fact and standards-based approach,” promising to “work openly with regulators, customers and industry organisations to ensure that mobile networks are secure”. Several countries, such as Australia and New Zealand, have banned Huawei from their domestic networks. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Spain’s economic growth could more widely outperform that of the rest of the EU if the political and social tension in Catalonia was resolved. That’s according to acting economy minister Nadia Calvino, who says the region is “growing less than the average in the rest of the country” where it was once “one of the most dynamic”. Earlier this week, nine leaders of the 2017 separatist movement were jailed, sparking clashes between protesters and police in Barcelona and elsewhere in the region. ? Here’s what people are saying.

A Qantas plane is scheduled to take off from New York on Friday to Sydney on a flight that, 20 hours later, would make it the longest flight in the world. The test flight is expected to include pilots, crew and passengers, along with researchers watching how everyone handles the ride. A successful flight could pave the way for regular direct flights between Sydney, New York and London. Airlines have recently been testing limits on long-haul flights, with Singapore Airlines reviving its 18.5-hour flight from Singapore to New York in 2018. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Ex-prisoners could plug the skills gaps that many industries are suffering, the FT suggests. The UK construction sector is already leading the way, with large groups such as Keltbray, Costain, Lendlease and Multiplex operating programmes to hire former offenders. However, research by think tank Onward shows just 1% of employers have initiatives in place to recruit ex-inmates, and almost half of employers just would not employ them. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Children as young as seven are ruling out future career options due to stereotyping around their gender, ethnicity or class. That's according to a report from the OECD, which found primary school children begin making assumptions about the type of people that enter particular types of work, and these assumptions only change minimally between the ages of seven and 17. Andreas Schleicher of the OECD said pupils need access to role models to help them see what they could achieve in the future. “You can’t be what you can’t see," he added. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Idea of the Day: Closing the gender gap means teaching adolescents why equality matters, says Bridget Lohrius, founder of Tin Roof Communications.

“[It] would help to educate adolescents around why gender equality matters. How balance helps drive community and commerce.”

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

— Capucine Yeomans