AUTOMOBILES
Hyundai and Kia recalling more than 500,000 cars over brake lights
Hyundai and Kia are recalling more than a half-million compact cars in the United States because the brake lights may not go out when the pedal is released. The recall covers more than 390,000 Hyundai Elantra vehicles from 2013 and 2014. Also included are over 134,000 Kia Forte cars from 2012 through 2014. The companies say in documents filed with the government that a polymer stopper pad between the pedal arm and the light switch can deteriorate, allowing the switch to stay on. That can keep the brake lights illuminated and let a driver shift out of park without putting a foot on the brake. Neither company reported any crashes or injuries. Dealers will replace the brake stopper pad. Kia’s recall starts Jan. 30, while Hyundai’s begins Feb. 8. — ASSOCIATED PRESS
ENTERTAINMENT
Movie associate of Harvey Weinstein accused of sexual harassment
A movie executive based in Hong Kong who is an associate of Harvey Weinstein’s has been accused of sexual harassment, according to a report. Variety said Wednesday that Bey Logan, a consulting producer on the Weinstein Co.’s ‘‘Shanghai,’’ was the subject of investigative reports by Hong Kong online magazine HK01. The reports claim Logan sexually harassed actresses in his offices and on film sets. Logan said in a statement that he was ‘‘remorseful’’ about his prior behavior, but said many of the accusations weren’t true or were taken out of context. He denied any criminal wrongdoing, but said he’d ‘‘step back’’ to reflect on his behavior and the values he should uphold. Logan is also accused of sending actresses to Weinstein’s hotel room, where they faced sexual advances. The HK01 report includes accounts from seven women, one of whom is named. Logan sent a statement to Variety and other news outlets, denying knowledge of Weinstein’s alleged behavior. He also told Hong Kong media that he never sent women to Weinstein’s hotel room. — ASSOCIATED PRESS
VIDEO STREAMING
Twitch to show games from NBA’s G League
Twitch Interactive Inc., a video streaming platform owned by Amazon.com Inc., will show games from the National Basketball Association’s G League, pushing the online retailer deeper into live sports content. Twitch, which on average attracts 15 million daily viewers globally, will show about six games each week from the G League. The basketball league has 26 minor-league teams affiliated with NBA franchises such as the Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks. Twitch, used mostly to stream video games, adds interactive features such as chat rooms to the sports-watching experience. Amazon has purchased rights to stream Thursday night National Football League games this season to enhance its live content offerings. The Twitch NBA deal could lead to e-commerce functions, such as ordering a jersey from Amazon while watching a game. — BLOOMBERG NEWS
RETAIL
Target to boost same-day deliveries with purchase of Shipt
Target plans to boost its same-day delivery capability by paying $550 million for Shipt, its latest move to try to catch up with Amazon. Shipt delivers groceries to its members, who pay $99 a year. Target says it will add more products to the service. Target shoppers will have to make orders through Shipt’s app or website and pay the annual fee to get same-day delivery. Retailers have been looking for ways to speed up delivery as they try to better compete with online shopping giant Amazon.com Inc. Earlier this year, Target bought a delivery logistics company to offer same-day delivery to in-store shoppers. Minneapolis-based Target expects half of its 1,800 stores to offer Shipt by next summer. The deal is expected to close before the end of the year. — ASSOCIATED PRESS
VIRTUAL REALITY
Company backed by Hollywood heavyweights raises $30 million
A virtual reality company backed by 21st Century Fox Inc. and Warner Bros. completed a $30 million funding round, about 50 percent more than originally planned. Dreamscape Immersive, which is developing virtual reality arcades for shopping malls, said Wednesday the Series B financing included AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc., Viacom Inc.’s Nickelodeon, Dubai billionaire Majid Al Futtaim, VRSense Solutions Ltd., and Image Nation Abu Dhabi. Original investors include Steven Spielberg. The Los Angeles-based company is tapping red-hot Hollywood interest in virtual reality, which is seen as a new medium to tell stories and draw fans. The company announced in September that AMC Entertainment, the largest theater chain, would invest at least $20 million. Dreamscape plans to open up to seven VR centers, including a flagship location at the Westfield Century City mall in Los Angeles early next year. The company has commitments from AMC to finance as many as six Immersive VR Centers at theaters and other locations in North America and the United Kingdom. — BLOOMBERG NEWS
ECONOMY
Inflation rose 0.4 percent in November
Surging gasoline prices pulled US consumer inflation up 0.4 percent in November. The Labor Department said Wednesday that prices at the pump increased a sharp 7.3 percent after falling in October. Excluding volatile food and energy prices, so-called core consumer inflation rose a modest 0.1 percent in November. Over the past year, overall consumer inflation is up 2.2 percent and core inflation is up 1.7 percent. Inflation pressures have remained subdued even though the US economy is gathering momentum. — ASSOCIATED PRESS
TECHNOLOGY
Apple invests in facial recognition company
Apple has made its second notable investment this week, the latest into the facial recognition technology company, Finisar. The $390 million investment announced Wednesday comes from Apple’s $1 billion Advanced Manufacturing Fund, created to finance the work of domestic manufacturers and create jobs in the United States. Apple announced the creation of the fund in May and plowed $200 million into Corning Inc., the maker of the Gorilla Glass that is used in Apple’s touchscreens. The Finisar investment will help the company boost production of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers, which Apple uses for Face ID, Animoji, and Portrait mode selfies with the iPhone X TrueDepth camera and the proximity-sensing capabilities of AirPods. Finisar will open a manufacturing plant an hour north of Dallas, creating more than 500 jobs. Finisar runs a plant in Allen, just outside of Dallas. On Monday, Apple revealed that it had acquired Shazam. That company makes the song-recognition app that Apple’s digital assistant Siri has already been using to help people identify the music playing on their iPhones. — ASSOCIATED PRESS
