Ted Baker staff demand end to ‘forced hugging’, US car tariffs could cost Europe $75bn, 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.

Ted Baker founder Ray Kelvin has been accused of establishing a culture of “forced hugging” at the fashion brand. A petition, launched by an employee, claims that Kelvin’s inappropriate behaviour “is part of a culture that leaves harassment unchallenged”. The company says that while hugs are indeed part of Ted Baker’s culture, they are “absolutely not insisted on”. It adds that the firm’s founder often greets people with hugs, "be it a shareholder, investor, supplier, partner, customer or colleague.” ? Do you hug at work or prefer a handshake? Here’s what people are saying.

US tariffs on cars could cost Europe as much as $75 billion, according to analysts from Barclays. President Trump has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on European imports, which the bank claims could wipe 0.4 percentage points off Euro area growth. Meanwhile, China and the US agreed at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires to retreat temporarily from the trade dispute that has been escalating between the world's two biggest economies. The timeout means the US will defer raising tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods for 90 days. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Several EU countries have rejected a compromise on a new digital tax. The proposal to postpone until 2022 a 3% levy on digital giants like Google and Facebook was on Friday met with opposition from Ireland, Sweden, Denmark and Finland, who continue to express concern about the potential impact on trading relationships. The EU-wide tax, dubbed a “quick fix” until a global agreement is reached, must be unanimously agreed on by all 28 states at a December 4 meeting if it is to pass. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Madrid is banning older cars from its city centre. Spanish authorities have launched new rules that will see cars’ emissions levels tested, with those that fail to achieve an “eco label” no longer permitted in the centre. Breaching the rules could result in a €90 fine. The measures are part of a plan by the Madrid City Council — which estimates about 20% of cars will be affected — to reduce air pollution by 40%. It follows cities including Hamburg, Glasgow, Paris and Berlin in introducing a ban. ? Here’s what people are saying.

A hotel chain in Switzerland is offering to take holiday photos and post them to guests’ social media accounts on their behalf. Visitors who take up the “Relax, We Post” service (around ￡70) at Ibis hotels in Zurich and Geneva hand over their Instagram passwords to social media celebrities like “Germany’s Next Top Model” contestant Sara Leutenegger. The hotel says it wants to take away the pressure of updating social media accounts so guests can relax and live in the moment. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Idea of the Day: Digitalisation is something that companies can turn to their advantage, writes Douglas Group CEO Tina Mueller.

“True, the digital transformation challenges our tried-and-tested notions, but it also promises an infinite number of new opportunities.”

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— Capucine Yeomans