Bloomberg Swedish home improvement chain Clas Ohlson will close all its stores in the UK and Germany following years of losses at its operations there and as the retail market increasingly shifts to online sales. The closures will affect about 150 employees, cost some $23 million, and set forth a “completely new direction” for the company’s operations outside the Nordics, …

Bloomberg The leader of a French pilots’ union who emerged as a poster boy for strikes at Air France has lost his bid for re-election within the group, heralding a possible unblocking of labour talks at the troubled carrier. Philippe Evain, head of the airline’s powerful SNPL union, lost a majority in an election, a union spokesman said by phone. …

Dammam / Emirates Business Saudi Aramco has awarded a major simulation and well-testing contract to Baker Hughes — a GE company — to be a partner in optimising production from new and existing wells across conventional fields in Saudi Arabia. Demonstrating the strength and breadth of its expertise and portfolio of oilfield services, BHGE will deliver a comprehensive well services …