The Mix

CHICAGO (AP) — Jussie Smollett is on trial this week on charges that he lied to Chicago police when the former “Empire” actor and R&B singer reported being the victim of a racist and homophobic attack nearly three years ago.

BERLIN (AP) — A court has ruled that German authorities are justified in banning three pornographic websites based in Cyprus from operating in Germany due to rules intended to protect minors.

DETROIT (AP) — General Motors is forming a joint venture with Posco Chemical of South Korea to build a North American battery materials plant as it brings more steps in the electric vehicle supply chain under its umbrella.

TORONTO — Canada's main stock index gained more than 300 points in late-morning trading led by gains in the energy and financial sectors as investors shook off worries about the latest COVID-19 variant and U.S. stock markets moved higher.

Tourism businesses that were just finding their footing after nearly two years of devastation wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic are being rattled again as countries throw up new barriers to travel in an effort to contain the omicron variant .

TORONTO — Ontario’s auditor general has found the province’s securities regulator has not alerted the public to many potentially risky investments and failed to collect the majority of fines it imposed over the last decade.

VALCOURT, Que. — BRP Inc. beat expectations as it reported a third-quarter profit of $127.7 million amid supply chain disruptions that caused a drop in product deliveries. The maker of Ski-Doos and Sea-Doos said Wednesday its profit amounted to $1.

NEW YORK (AP) — CNN indefinitely suspended anchor Chris Cuomo on Tuesday after details emerged about how he helped his brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, to face charges of sexual harassment earlier this year.

TORONTO — Pizza Pizza Ltd. has signed a deal that will see the restaurant chain expand into Mexico next year. The company says it has signed a master franchise agreement with Guadalajara-based KSG/GrünCorp.

NEW YORK (AP) — The pandemic, politics, pervasive anxiety over the climate and the economy.