Spanish taxi drivers strike over Uber, Norwegian Air to cut 150 jobs, 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.

Taxi drivers in Barcelona have gone on strike for a fourth day running. Using cars to blockade streets, drivers are hitting back over what they claim is the government’s lack of action in reining in competition from ride-hailing companies. The move comes after the government unveiled new regulation that would see customers having to book services like Uber and Cabify at least 15 minutes in advance. The protest marks the latest flare-up in tensions between Spanish taxis and ride-hail services. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Norwegian Air is set to axe around 150 jobs at its Irish base. The low-cost carrier says it will also reduce pay rates and craft numbers in a bid to save €200 million. The Scandinavian airline recently announced it is cutting certain routes in Europe and the US as well as closing bases in three Spanish destinations and several more in the US. Several budget airlines failed in Europe last year. ? Here’s what people are saying.

An Austrian privacy campaign group has filed a suit against some of the world’s biggest streaming services. None Of Your Business says services including Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime and Spotify are in breach of the EU’s GDPR for failing to provide basic information like how they buy and sell user data. The companies face fines of up to €18.8 billion if found guilty. The same group hit Facebook, Google, WhatsApp and Instagram with complaints just hours after the GDPR came into effect in May. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Spanish manufacturing company Siemens Gamesa has unveiled a new wind turbine with blades the length of a football pitch. The company says the model could boost energy production by up to 30% compared with previous models, and claims a site with 20 of the turbines could power a city the size of Liverpool. The turbine maker was narrowly pipped to the post in unveiling the first 10MW model after rival MHI Vestas debuted its latest turbine in September. ? Here’s what people are saying.

HM Revenue & Customs has revealed some of the strangest excuses offered by late taxpayers, including allegations of witches, broken boilers and being “too short to reach the post box”. One taxpayer who filed their tax return late claimed their mother-in-law was “a witch and put a curse on me”. Another claimed a high turnover of maids had left them “just too busy”. UK taxpayers have just over one week to complete their self-assessment tax returns before the January 31 deadline. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Idea of the Day: A new year may bring a new boss, with fresh opportunities, says Pfizer executive vice president Sally Susman.

“As important as it is to set goals and plan ahead, being mindful of past successes as well as opportunities for growth is vital.”

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

— Capucine Yeomans