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Bloomberg Tencent Holdings Ltd and China UnionPay Co will soon unify the mobile codes that consumers scan to pay for purchases, granting the Chinese central bank-backed network a bigger foothold in a $27 trillion payments arena. Tencent and UnionPay have agreed to integrate their QR code systems, allowing their respective customers to transfer or spend money using the same smartphone …

Bloomberg A group of Barclays Plc shareholders have filed what they say is the first climate change resolution at a European bank, taking aim at the lender’s support of fossil fuels. Eleven institutional investors and more than 100 individuals urged Barclays to say how it will phase out financing energy firms that don’t align with the Paris Agreement climate goals, …

Bloomberg Thailand’s trade surplus with the US exceeded $20 billion, raising the chances it will be added to the US Treasury’s watchlist of currency manipulators. The surplus reached $20.05 billion in the 12 months through November, according to US Census Bureau data released in Washington. That exceeds the $20 billion limit the US Treasury has set for bilateral goods trade …

Bloomberg Riksbank Governor Stefan Ingves signalled that the bank’s decision to raise its main rate to zero last month won’t be followed by more tightening for a very long time. According to minutes of the bank’s December meeting, Ingves said he’s even willing to let inflation exceed the bank’s target for a while. That said, he also defended the decision …

Bloomberg A Boeing Co 737-800 jetliner bound for Ukraine that crashed after takeoff in Iran, killing everyone on board, was most likely brought down by an engine fire, according to Tehran authorities. Ukraine International Airlines said 167 passengers and nine crew were on the plane, an older version of the 737 that predates Boeing’s grounded Max model, which crashed at …

Bloomberg United Airlines Holdings Inc is taking a $90 million non-cash charge in the 2019 fourth quarter to account for a steep drop in demand for flights to Hong Kong, which has been roiled by protests against the Chinese government for more than half a year. Hong Kong International Airport, a major passenger and cargo hub, imposes landing and arrival …

Bloomberg Airlines around the world diverted flights from the airspace over Iran, Iraq, and the Persian Gulf after Tehran fired more than a dozen missiles at US forces in the region. In the wake of the attack, carriers ranging from Singapore Airlines Ltd and Qantas Airways Ltd to Air France-KLM and Deutsche Lufthansa AG have said they’re avoiding the area, …

Bloomberg Chinese state-owned conglomerate Citic Ltd is planning to significantly reduce its stake in McDonald’s China Co more than two years after it bought into the fast-food chain, as rising costs pinch the franchise’s profit. McDonald’s China said in a statement on Wednesday that Citic is looking for buyers for a 22% stake, which will bring its share in the …

Bloomberg A major parking-garage fire at an airport on Norway’s west coast destroyed hundreds of cars, grounded air traffic and led to an evacuation of the facilities. The fire, which started on January 07 afternoon and spread to several floors of the garage, was partly contained by 9:30 pm local time, Norwegian news agency NTB reported, citing police. There were …

Bloomberg Forever 21 Inc can add a lawsuit to the hurdles it’s trying to overcome as it works to woo investors in time to finance its exit from bankruptcy. An Alabama mall owner is suing Forever 21, saying it lost millions of dollars leasing space to the retailer based on misleading sales targets. Forever 21 is accused of misrepresenting sales …