National Business

WASHINGTON — U.S. orders for big-ticket factory goods plunged for the second straight month in April as the coronavirus pandemic hammered the economy. The Commerce Department said Thursday that orders for durable goods dropped 17.

TOKYO — Japanese automaker Nissan plans to close auto plants in Spain and Indonesia after sinking into the red for the first time in 11 years as the pandemic squashed global demand and disrupted production.

Boeing is cutting more than 12,000 U.S. jobs through layoffs and buyouts as the coronavirus pandemic seizes the travel industry. And the aircraft maker says more cuts are coming.

LOS ANGELES — An investigation of Gabrielle Union’s complaints of racism on the set of “America’s Got Talent” concluded that her allegations were unfounded, according to NBC and the show’s producers.

The winner, and still champion, is CBS. The Tiffany network finished the traditional television season, which ended last week, as the most-watched broadcaster for the 12th consecutive year, the Nielsen company said.

TORONTO — With sheer optimism and a considerable amount of uncertainty ahead of them, two Toronto businessmen with strong political ties are betting on returning the languished Torstar Corp.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The launch of a SpaceX rocket ship with two NASA astronauts on a history-making flight into orbit was called off with less than 17 minutes to go in the countdown Wednesday because of thunderclouds and the risk of lightning.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — SeaWorld and Walt Disney World will reopen in Orlando, Florida, in June and July after months of inactivity because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to plans a city task force approved Wednesday.

MONTREAL — BRP Inc. says it will cut 650 jobs or about five per cent of its global workforce as the recreational product maker stops producing outboard motors that have been "hard hit" by the COVID-19 pandemic.

TORONTO — Some of the most active companies traded Wednesday on the Toronto Stock Exchange: Toronto Stock Exchange ( 15,272.03, up 123.91 points.) Air Canada (TSX:AC). Industrials. Down $1.23, or 6.96 per cent, to $16.44 on 17.4 million shares.