National Business

QUEBEC — The board of director of Exfo Inc. has decided not to pursue an unsolicited takeover proposal from competitor Viavi Solutions Inc. after its controlling shareholder rejected anything but his deal to take the company private.

Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes rose in June, snapping a four-month losing streak, while strong demand for higher-end properties and ultra-low mortgage rates helped push prices to new highs. Existing homes sales rose 1.

TORONTO — Amazon has cancelled its Prime Day marketing event in Canada this year due to the impact of COVID-19 on its operations.

KITIMAT, B.C. — The union representing Rio Tinto employees in British Columbia has issued a 72-hour strike notice after nearly seven weeks of negotiations.

TORONTO — A group representing Canada's small business sector has launched a petition pressing the federal government to halt the phasing out of financial support programs.

MADRID (AP) — A British man wanted in the United States in connection with a Twitter hack that compromised dozens of influential accounts has been jailed in Spain while he awaits possible extradition.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits rose last week from the lowest point of the pandemic, even as the job market appears to be rebounding on the strength of a reopened economy.

FRANKFURT — Facing unease over the spread of a more-contagious variant of the coronavirus, the European Central Bank said it would maintain its stimulus in the form of ultra-low interest rates until inflation “durably” reaches its 2% target.

WASHINGTON — The United States and Germany have announced a deal to allow the completion of a controversial Russian gas pipeline to Europe without the imposition of further U.S. sanctions.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A California judge on Wednesday cleared the way for conservative talk radio host Larry Elder to join the field of candidates for an upcoming recall election aimed at removing Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom from office.