Porsche ditches diesel, Swiss voters reject ethical food plans, 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.

Porsche will no longer offer diesel cars, the company announced yesterday. The German carmaker is instead turning its focus to electric and hybrid vehicles as demand for diesel slumps. In 2017, diesel cars accounted for just 12% of Porsche’s global sales. The move comes after parent company Volkswagen was fined €1 billion in June for cheating emissions tests. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Swiss voters have rejected two proposed ethical food initiatives. The ‘Fair Food’ plan sought to promote sustainable, animal-friendly products by imposing Swiss standards on all food imports, while the ‘Food Sovereignty’ proposal called for more state support for small farms and for protection against cheap food imports. Opponents argued the schemes would lead to higher prices and less choice. More than 60% voted against the initiatives. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Comcast has outbid 21st Century Fox for broadcaster Sky. The two US companies went head-to-head over the weekend in a rare blind auction that saw Comcast emerge as the winner with a ￡30 billion offer in the third and final round. Sky CEO Jeremy Darroch looks set to receive ￡50 million following the sale, reports The Times. Sky is Europe’s biggest pay-TV provider, with 23 million subscribers. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Italy’s competition watchdog has launched a probe into Ryanair’s new baggage charges. From November, the airline will charge customers with non-priority seating €8 to take a carry-on bag on board in addition to their “small personal bag”. Antitrust says the policy could be an unfair commercial practice as hand luggage should be included in the ticket price. Ryanair insists the move is not aimed at making money but rather to “speed up boarding and cut flight delays”. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Divers south of France are removing an artificial reef made of old car tyres. The tyres have been found to be leaking toxic chemicals, leading to the shutdown of the project — originally seen as double solution for disposing of old tyres and creating a habitat for marine life. The operation to remove them, funded by tyre manufacturer Michelin and the French state, is likely to cost over €1 million. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Idea of the Day: The main reason people quit their jobs is because they don’t feel they have support and guidance from their direct manager, but training managers from the start to be strong mentors can reduce attrition, says Ripple HR VP Sandi Kochhar.

“You want to look for a place where you can learn not just your day-to-day job, but where you’re challenged and provided the right training to take on new responsibilities. This is a sign that your leaders are also receiving training as well.”

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

— Capucine Yeomans