France braces for mass strike action; a sour ruling for vinegar makers, 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. 

France is bracing for what could be the biggest strike action in decades. Trade unions will today launch industrial action in response to a controversial reform of the country’s pension system. All public transport systems are expected to be affected, including international travel, with Eurostar cancelling all trains between December 5 until at least the 9th. The last time France saw a strike of this size was in 1995, when former President Jacques Chirac’s government attempted to overhaul the country’s retirement system. • Here’s what people are saying.

Italian vinegar makers from the Modena region have lost their challenge to stop rivals from using the term “balsamic”. The Consortium for Balsamic Vinegar of Modena sued German company Balema after it started labelling products with the terms “balsamico” and “Deutscher balsamico”. Following a legal battle that has been dragging on for years, the EU Court of Justice in Luxembourg ruled the protection of the name Aceto Balsamico di Modena “does not extend to the use of non-geographical individual terms of that name”. • Here’s what people are saying.

Ryanair is set to close its bases in Nuremberg, Germany and Skavsta, Sweden after further delays in receiving Boeing 737 MAX planes. The carrier says it has taken delivery of just 10 of an expected 20 jets, and as a result will also have to reduce its summer capacity at other bases. It’s the second time the carrier has had to revise its expected traffic growth, announcing in November that it was expecting to receive just 20 out of 30 MAX planes. • Here’s what people are saying.

The world is nowhere near cutting carbon emissions to curb climate change — in fact, it’s not even on track. Global greenhouse gas emissions are projected to hit yet another record high this year, The Washington Post reports, totaling 36.8 billion tons or a 0.6% increase from last year. Experts say “we’re blowing through our carbon budget” at a time when emissions should start to decline to meet the goals of the Paris climate agreement. Despite a slow in growth, the trend marks three straight years of rising emissions. • Here’s what people are saying.

Peloton’s holiday ad is drawing widespread criticism, with claims the spot — in which a woman is gifted an indoor bike by her husband — promotes "negative body image, unchecked privilege, and gross marital dynamics,” per CNN. It’s not the first time the company, which went public in October, has come under fire over the privileged consumers it portrays and targets; CEO John Foley drew ire recently when he called the bike, which starts at $2,245, “crazy affordable.” • Here’s what people are saying.

Idea of the Day: Most people don't want you to solve their problem; they want empathy, understanding and support, says writer Bruce Kasanoff.

"Way before you wrestle with the possibility of teaching someone a new skill they may or may not be open to learning, ask yourself: for what is this person starving?"

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— Capucine Yeomans