National Business

PARIS — France suspended all flights from Brazil on Tuesday amid mounting fears over the particularly contagious coronavirus variant that has been sweeping the South American country. Prime Minister Jean Castex announced the suspension to parliament.

OTTAWA — The Canada Infrastructure Bank and ITC Investment Holdings have signed a deal to invest $1.7 billion in an underwater transmission line connecting Ontario to Pennsylvania under Lake Erie.

FRANKFURT — Volkswagen and Germany’s largest industrial union have agreed on a 23-month wage deal that provides a 1,000 euro bonus recognizing employee efforts during the coronavirus pandemic and a 2.3% wage increase from January 2022.

LONDON — The U.K. economy grew 0.4% in February, rebounding from a sharp drop the previous month, as the rapid rollout of COVID-19 vaccines boosted confidence in a recovery from the pandemic.

TORONTO — The head of the Bank of Nova Scotia is urging Ottawa to adopt a series of policy changes to help parents, businesses of all sizes and companies trade between provinces.

TOKYO — Japan's government announced Tuesday it would start releasing treated radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean in two years.

WASHINGTON — U.S. consumer prices increased a sharp 0.6% in March, the biggest uptick since 2012, while inflation over the past year jumped 2.6%.

TORONTO — Ontario's financial regulator will provide a $500-million credit facility to help PACE Credit Union continue operations.

NEW YORK — Backed by an international concert hosted by Selena Gomez and headlined by Jennifer Lopez, Global Citizen is unveiling an ambitious campaign to help medical workers in the world’s poorest countries quickly receive COVID-19 vaccines.

TORONTO — Support for pandemic-related restrictions has fallen among business executives since last fall, according to a Modus Research report issued today.