DELIVERIES
Suit filed against company that hires drivers for Amazon
A lawsuit was filed Monday in Suffolk Superior Court against Dicom Midwest LLC, a Canadian contractor that Amazon uses to hire drivers, alleging that the company denied overtime pay to 50 or more drivers. The lawsuit, for which class-action status is sought, claims the company “edited’’ timesheets to reflect fewer hours worked. It’s one of several such suits that have been filed across the country, as drivers contracted to deliver for Amazon have pushed for better wages. — JANELLE NANOS
BANKING
Barclays’ former CEO, three others face criminal charges over Qatar agreements
Barclays, its former chief executive, and three other former senior managers were criminally charged Tuesday over agreements the bank struck with Qatar as it sought to avoid a government bailout during the 2008 global financial crisis. The accusations by the Serious Fraud Office are the first criminal charges to have been brought in Britain against a bank and its former executives as a result of actions taken as the financial crisis worsened. They are also a major test for the agency, which has suffered several setbacks recently in its efforts to prosecute manipulation of a benchmark interest rate known as Libor. Prime Minister Theresa May has proposed merging the fraud office into a larger crime-fighting body. Nine years ago, the British bank raised nearly 12 billion pounds — more than $15 billion at current exchange rates — from an arm of Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund and other investors in two deals, in June 2008 and in October 2008. The moves allowed it to avoid a bailout as a number of major banks on both sides of the Atlantic floundered and sought government lifelines. — NEW YORK TIMES
HEALTH CARE
R.I. Senate passes bill to streamline hospital mergers
The Rhode Island Senate has passed a bill that would streamline the regulatory process for hospital mergers. The Senate voted unanimously to pass the legislation Tuesday. It would tweak the Hospital Conversions Act, which governs procedures for hospital ownership changes. It now moves to the state House of Representatives. It’s a response to the proposed sale of Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket to California-based Prime Healthcare Foundation, and the related proposed takeover of Memorial’s parent, Providence-based Care New England, by Boston-based Partners HealthCare. The legislation would shorten the review process for certain hospital deals. Proponents say it would help keep struggling Memorial Hospital open. Unions have opposed the measure. — ASSOCIATED PRESS
PHARMACEUTICALS
FDA approves Shire drug for ADHD
Federal regulators Tuesday approved a new drug developed by Shire PLC to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in patients 13 and older. Development of the treatment, which will be marketed under the brand name Mydayis, was led by a research team based at the Irish company’s US headquarters in Lexington. Shire, a leading maker of rare-disease medicines, said it plans to make the newly approved ADHD drug available for commercial use in the United States in the third quarter. The company didn’t immediately disclose how much it will charge for the treatment. In a safety notice required by the Food and Drug Administration, which approved the drug, Shire said it could cause “physical and psychological dependence’’ if abused by patients. — ROBERT WEISMAN
TOYS
Ken gets a makeover worthy of Barbie
He’s been overshadowed by Barbie for decades, but now Ken is finally getting some attention. Mattel is introducing 15 new looks for the male doll, giving him different skin tones, body shapes, and hair styles. The makeover is part of the toy company’s plan to make its dolls more diverse and appeal to today’s kids. Barbie received a similar overhaul more than a year ago. Ken will be sold in three body shapes: ‘‘slim,’’ ‘’broad,’’ and ‘‘original.’’ He’ll have modern hairdos, such as cornrows and man buns, and come in seven different skin tones. He’ll also be sporting new fashions: Think skinny ties, plaid shirts, and graphic tees. Ken hasn’t changed much since he was introduced 56 years ago as Barbie’s blue-eyed, chiseled boyfriend. — ASSOCIATED PRESS
FINANCE
Chinese stocks to join benchmark index
Chinese stocks will join an important global benchmark, a decision that opens the door for foreign money to flow into China’s markets. The global stock index provider MSCI announced Tuesday that the stocks of companies that trade in China’s stock markets would be included in its influential emerging markets benchmark. For several years, money managers have anticipated the move, which will make it easier to invest in China. The MSCI decision represents a mostly symbolic victory for China. The Chinese government had lobbied MSCI for years to include in its indexes the so-called A shares traded on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock markets. MSCI has added 222 large-capitalization stocks on both exchanges. — NEW YORK TIMES
AUTOMOBILES
Ford to make small cars in China, not Mexico
Ford Motor said Tuesday that it would build its next-generation small car for US consumers in China rather than Mexico, where the automaker canceled plans for a new factory this year. The shift of production of the Ford Focus to China was among a number of manufacturing moves announced by the company, and one of the first strategic steps taken by its new chief executive, Jim Hackett. Ford said it would begin making the Focus in China for global markets in 2019, after production ends at its current location in Michigan. The company was building a $1.6 billion assembly plant for the next Focus model in Mexico, but it ran into stiff opposition from President Trump and then canceled the project. — NEW YORK TIMES
E-COMMERCE
Amazon to let shoppers try on clothes at home before they are charged
Amazon is hoping to claim more territory once held by department stores, essentially placing a dressing room in your house. The company, which has been making a big push into selling clothes, is testing a new service that lets members of its Prime program try on styles before they put items on their charge cards — with no upfront fees. Customers have seven days to decide what they like, and then pay only for what they keep. Shipments arrive in a resealable box with a prepaid label for returns. More than a million pieces of clothing and accessories are eligible, Amazon said Tuesday, including from brands like Calvin Klein, Hugo Boss, Theory, and Levi’s that are big names at department stores. — ASSOCIATED PRESS
MEDIA
Chicago investor group submits bid for Sun-Times
An investor group headed by a former Chicago City Council member and labor unions has submitted a bid to buy the Chicago Sun-Times — a move that, if successful, would prevent the paper’s biggest rival from purchasing it. The bid, led by former alderman Edwin Eisendrath and the Chicago Federation of Labor, comes a month after the owner of the Sun-Times, Chicago-based Wrapports LLC, announced it had agreed to enter into discussions with Tronc, which owns the rival Tribune and several other major newspapers, to acquire the paper. Terms of the offer haven’t been disclosed, but Eisendrath said the investor group has raised about $15 million. The announcement adds more uncertainty to the fate of the newspaper, which became part of journalism lore when it secretly operated a bar to expose crooked city inspectors. The Sun-Times was also home to the famed movie critic Roger Ebert and legendary columnist Mike Royko, before he left for the Tribune. All that history didn’t add up to much interest in buying the paper. — ASSOCIATED PRESS
