Families hoping for justice from prescription bribes trial

Drug company executives weren’t satisfied with sales for their powerful painkiller, so they devised a plan, prosecutors say: Offer cash to doctors in exchange for prescriptions. Soon, the highly addictive fentanyl spray was flourishing, and executives were raking in millions.

Fire report could complicate PG&E bankruptcy decision

A state fire investigation’s conclusion that Pacific Gas & Electric Corp. equipment was not to blame for a 2017 wildfire that killed 22 people in Northern California wine country could hamper lawsuits by victims of the blaze and complicate the utility’s plans to file for bankruptcy.

AP Explains: What a Venezuelan oil embargo could mean for US

Diplomatic relations between U.S. and Venezuela have hit a new low over President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize the leader of the South American country’s opposition as its legitimate president. But the two countries have long history of interdependency when it comes to oil that has endured through years of political tensions. Trump has long … Read more

'The milkman model': Big brand names try reusable containers

A new shopping platform announced Thursday at the World Economic Forum aims to change the way we buy many brand-name products. “Loop” would do away with disposable containers for things like food, shampoo, laundry detergent and diapers from some of the world’s biggest manufacturers.

Airbus CEO warns it could move in event of no-deal Brexit

The chief executive of Airbus warned Thursday that the aviation giant could move its U.K. operations out of Britain if the country leaves the European Union without a deal on trade relations, in one of the starkest assessments yet of the economic impact of a “no-deal” Brexit.

Maduro foe's next step awaited as power crisis deepens

All eyes were on Juan Guaido’s next step after the popular Venezuelan opposition leader declared he was temporarily assuming presidential powers in a high-stakes bid to unseat Nicolas Maduro, whose powerful loyalists went on the offensive Thursday in support of the embattled leader.

Asian shares buoyed by US earnings, upbeat talk on China

Asian stocks were mostly higher on Thursday as positive U.S. earnings reports reassured investors that the world’s largest economy was on track. Comments by a top Chinese official buoyed trading too, but poor Japanese data for the second straight day weighed on the Nikkei 225 index.

PG&E: Judge's proposals for fire risk could cost up to $150B

Proposals by a U.S. judge to prevent Pacific Gas & Electric Co. equipment from causing more wildfires would endanger lives, could cost as much as $150 billion and would interfere with the work of federal and state regulators, the utility said Wednesday in a court filing urging the judge not to impose the measures.

Forgoing staffers, many businesses turn to freelancers

It hasn’t been lost on small business owners that Uber and other ride-sharing services are enormously successful without having employees doing the work. It’s one of the reasons why small companies are forgoing employees in favor of independent contractors.

Businesses sound alarm as UK says prepare for no-deal Brexit

Businesses in Britain and the European Union need to prepare for the possibility the U.K. will leave the bloc in March without an exit deal, senior British and EU officials warned Wednesday, as a growing number of U.K. firms braced for disruption by stockpiling goods or shifting operations overseas.