Job fears over auto mega-merger, the firm raising the bar on parental leave, and more top news

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

Trade unions fear thousands of British jobs could be at risk, after Fiat Chrysler confirmed it is in merger talks with the French owner of Vauxhall and Peugeot. Trade union leaders are demanding talks with PSA, which owns the Ellesmere Port plant in Cheshire that makes the Astra and employs about 1,000 staff. A potential deal between the two firms would create the world’s fifth biggest carmarker, worth about ￡35.7bn. It comes as UK car production fell again in September to its lowest level since 2011. ? Here’s what people are saying. 

The battle between Facebook and privacy regulators in Britain is over. The social network will pay a ￡500,000 fine but admit no liability in a settlement with the Information Commissioner's Office over the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Facebook received intense scrutiny on both sides of the Atlantic after the data of up to 87 million users was harvested by the political consultancy. Even as the social media giant settles the British probe, it still faces antitrust investigations in America and 11 privacy investigations in Ireland. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Also… Political ads will no longer be welcome on Twitter, CEO Jack Dorsey has announced. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal will cost the UK economy nearly ￡70bn in the next decade, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research predicts. A new study by the independent think tank states Johnson's deal would shave off 3.5% in GDP in the next 10 years. It also claims the free trade deal with the EU would be slightly worse for the economy than that proposed by Theresa May last year. Johnson's plan, however, wouldn't be as bad for the UK economy as a no-deal Brexit, which would see GDP shrink 5.6% by 2029. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Apple shrugged off waning interest in its flagship iPhone to record a 1.8% revenue increase. It raked in $64bn (￡49.6bn) for the quarter on the back of a 54% surge in wearables income and an 18% jump in services like apps, subscriptions and mobile payments. Profits fell 3% to $13.69bn (￡10.5bn), marking the fourth consecutive quarter Apple’s profit has declined. Still, the result surpassed market expectations, which factored in increases in manufacturing costs and Apple’s transition from the iPhone functioning as the backbone of its business to merely a key element. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Investment group Standard Life Aberdeen is to offer nine months of fully paid leave for all new parents, unveiling one of the UK’s most generous parental schemes. The policy, which comes into force from January, will be available to all parents — regardless of gender — including those who adopt or have a child via surrogate. Parental leave policies have been cited as a remedy for narrowing the gender pay gap. Earlier this week, ONS data revealed women are paid ￡260,000 less than men over their careers. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Idea of the Day: Firms today are evolving more rapidly and radically than ever before, with profound implications for their growth, profitability and returns, writes David Hunt, president and chief executive at PGIM.

“Customers, employees, regulators and shareholders are holding them accountable to a broader set of community values that go well beyond maximising quarterly earnings.”

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

— Natalie MacDonald and Emily Spaven