The Kremlin said on Wednesday that attempts by the United States to undermine the Russia-backed Nord Stream 2 pipeline project to Germany were an example of unfair competition to derail what it casts as a purely commercial project.

Sainsbury's and Asda, the two British supermarkets that want to combine their businesses, have asked for a delay in the competition inquiry into their proposed 7.3 billion pound ($9.3 billion) deal.

British Prime Minister Theresa May could not have been surprised about the triggering of a no confidence vote against her and wants to move on with it quickly, the chairman of a Conservative committee which will organise the vote said on Wednesday.

Poor competition in the market for advice to pension fund trustees has resulted in "substantial customer detriment", Britain's Competition and Markets Authority said on Wednesday.

Sainsbury's and Asda , the two British supermarkets that are trying to merge, said they wanted more time to provide and consider all the evidence in the competition investigation into the deal.

Poor competition in the market for consultants who advise pension funds has resulted in "substantial customer detriment", Britain's Competition and Markets Authority said on Wednesday.

China's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that Canada's arrest of Meng Wanzhou, a top executive with Chinese tech giant Huawei, was a mistake from the start, and welcomed any efforts to move the case toward a correct resolution.

* EU competition, regulation to stifle future UK business ties

President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced two nominees for top posts at a U.S. financial markets regulator and the federal housing agency.

Google has "no plans" to relaunch a search engine in China though it is continuing to study the idea, Chief Executive Sundar Pichai told a U.S. congressional panel on Tuesday amid increased scrutiny of big tech firms.