Kauai Island Utility Cooperative is again warning about phone scams targeting its customers.

As with similar schemes in the past, customers have told KIUC they received telephone calls from a person warning them that their electrical bill was past due. They were directed to go to a store and wire-transfer transfer money immediately or their power would be shut off.

KIUC does not initiate calls to customers about late bills, nor does KIUC request wire transfers.

Similar calls were reported in February 2014 and April 2013.

Last week Hawaiian Electric Co. reported a similar scam directed toward its customers on Oahu.

Never provide personal, confidential or financial information to anyone when responding to unsolicited phone calls or emails. If you’re not sure that the call is legitimate, get the caller’s name, phone number and company name and tell them you’ll call them back after verifying their information.

If you ever have questions about the status of your electrical bill, call KIUC at 246-4300.

Hawaiian Air seeks to expand Beijing route

Hawaiian Airlines, which began service to China in April 2014, is seeking to increase service to Beijing to five days a week, from three days a week, during the Chinese New Year peak travel time. The state’s largest carrier filed an application Tuesday with the U.S. Department of Transportation to begin the additional service Feb. 3 and return to three flights a week Feb. 13.

Slow Chinese recovery hurts KFC parent

LOUISVILLE, Ky. >> Yum Brand, owner of KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, cut its profit outlook for the year, citing a slower-than-expected comeback for its key China division.

The company said it now expects full-year earnings per share to rise in the low-single-digit percentages. It had previously forecast growth of at least 10 percent for the year, based on expectations at the time for a strong recovery by its stores in China, which have been hit by scares over food quality.

In the latest quarter, however, the company said sales in China rose just 2 percent at established locations, reflecting a 3 percent increase at KFC and 1 percent decline at Pizza Hut. For the full year the company said it expects China’s overall sales at established locations to be negative. Yum, based in Louisville, Ky., has been trying to win back customers after negative publicity stemming from food-supply controversies. In the year-ago quarter, sales in China fell 14 percent at established locations.

In the U.S., Taco Bell and KFC saw positive sales gains, while Pizza Hut remained relatively flat.

For the quarter ended Sept. 5, the company said profits grew to $421 million, or 97 cents a share, compared with $404 million, or 91 cents a share, in the same period a year ago. Sales rose 2 percent to $3.43 billion.

UAW threatens strike against Fiat Chrysler

DETROIT >> The United Auto Workers union is threatening to go on strike against Fiat Chrysler Automobiles after its membership rejected a tentative contract deal with the company.

In a statement, Fiat Chrysler said Tuesday that it received a strike notice from the union and that it continues to work toward reaching an agreement.

A letter to Fiat Chrysler that was posted on the UAW website Tuesday says the union is ending its contract with FCA at 11:59 p.m. EDT today.

IMF downgrades economic forecasts

LIMA, Peru >> China’s slowdown and tumbling commodity prices will push global economic growth this year to the lowest level since the recession year 2009, the International Monetary Fund predicted Tuesday.

In a report in advance of the IMF-World Bank annual meetings here this week, the fund says the world economy will grow 3.1 percent this year, down from a July forecast of 3.3 percent and from 3.4 percent growth last year.

ON THE MOVE

The Kahala Hotel & Resort has named Bill Hinkley directory of security. He has 30 years’ experience in security operations, including security leadership positions at many hotels, resorts and casinos in Nevada and California, and eight years as a police officer in New Jersey.

Kanu Hawaii has named its new executive leadership team:

>> Nicole Brodie, executive director, has 15 years’ experience in community organizing and handling advocacy campaigns for social service agencies.

>> Darcie Scharfenstein, director of operations, has 20 years’ experience with strategy and communications outreach for nonprofit organizations and foundations in Hawaii and on the mainland.