Energy in America

Italian gas and oil company Eni says first-quarter profits dropped slightly as production grew by 4 percent amid rising oil prices.

An explosion and asphalt fire at a Wisconsin oil refinery sent huge plumes of smoke into the air that pollution experts said almost certainly contained large amounts of toxins, posing a serious health risk to those living downwind.

Several people have been injured in an explosion at a refinery in Wisconsin.

An explosion and asphalt fire at a Wisconsin oil refinery on Thursday sent huge plumes of smoke into the air that pollution experts said almost certainly contains large amounts of toxins, posing a serious health risk to those living downwind.

Authorities say the fire is out at a Wisconsin refinery where an explosion injured at least 11 people.

The Latest on a Wisconsin refinery explosion that injured several people (all times local): 2:15 p.m. Authorities have expanded the evacuation zone around a Wisconsin refinery that was rocked by an explosion and are now saying anyone within a three-mile (five-kilometer) radius should leave.

___ Hope for US trade visit to China: A delay in harmful tariffs WASHINGTON (AP) — When Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin leads a delegation of American officials to Beijing next week, few analysts expect them to defuse a smoldering trade conflict with China.

The Latest on a Wisconsin refinery explosion that injured several people (all times local): 12:10 p.m. Authorities now say five people have been taken to hospitals after an explosion rocked a large refinery in Wisconsin.

To the beat of electronic dance music, men and women inside a slate-gray building harvested marijuana plants festooned with radio-frequency identification tags.

Explosion rocks Wisconsin refinery; fire chief says at least six people hurt.

U.S. stocks are rising Thursday morning as Facebook leads a big rally for technology companies.

Asian share benchmarks were mixed on Thursday as investors digested the latest quarterly corporate earnings.

Two former coal miners in Kentucky who claimed defective dust masks led to their debilitating black-lung disease were awarded $67.5 million in damages in their civil lawsuit.

Energy company Royal Dutch Shell says first-quarter earnings rose 67 percent, boosted by a rebound in oil prices and growth in its natural gas business.

The arrests reportedly were made in connection with a contract dispute with state-owned oil company PDVSA.

The Latest on South Carolina's House considering cutting electric rates used to pay for failed nuclear plants (all times local): 3:45 p.m.

The leader of Republicans in the South Carolina House is asking representatives to reject a bill that cuts most of the charges utility customers are paying for two abandoned nuclear plants.

ConocoPhillips says it won $2 billion arbitration award against Venezuela's state oil company over asset seizures.

Eni's chief executive says the Italian company will proceed with more exploratory drilling south of Cyprus over the next 20 months, affirming a "strong engagement and commitment" in a hydrocarbons search off the east Mediterranean island nation.

Thousands of people have taken to the streets of Athens to protest bailout-related reforms, including the sale of power plants, potential pension cuts and staffing funding cuts for state-run hospitals.