National Business

NASHVILLE — From skateboarding to Fleetwood Mac to learning Cardi B's rump-shaking choreography, TikTok users got creative in a pandemic year with new songs, dances and memes in 60 seconds or less.

MONTREAL — National Bank of Canada topped expectations as it reported a fourth-quarter profit of $492 million. The Montreal-based bank says its profit for the quarter ended Oct. 31 amounted to $1.

BEIJING — A Chinese spacecraft sent to return lunar rocks to Earth collected its first samples Wednesday after landing on the moon, the government announced, adding to a string of successes for Beijing's increasingly ambitious space program.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is threatening to veto a defence policy bill unless it ends protections for internet companies that shield them from being held liable for material posted by their users.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed dined at a posh Napa Valley restaurant the day after California's governor was there. San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo went to his parents' house for Thanksgiving.

CHICAGO — A federal judge on Tuesday struck down two Trump administration rules designed to drastically curtail the number of visas issued each year to skilled foreign workers.

VANCOUVER — BC Hydro's residential customers will get a one-time credit of $4 on average early next year on their bills to reflect a change to its rates.

MINNEAPOLIS — Enbridge Energy began construction on its Line 3 crude oil pipeline replacement in Minnesota on Tuesday, a day after state regulators approved the final permit for the $2.

MONTREAL — Lightspeed POS Inc. is spending another US$430 million to expand its reach in the U.S., this time by acquiring U.S. restaurant and management software company Upserve Inc.

EDMONTON — Alberta Health projections released by the Opposition NDP predict COVID-19 hospitalization rates could soar to 775 by mid-December and the number of intensive care patients could reach 161.