Mexican president taps Edgar Amador as new finance chief
Amador was previously deputy finance minister.
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Reuters
5 minutes ago
- Reuters
Ukrainian man arrested over Nord Stream pipeline attacks
BERLIN, Aug 21 (Reuters) - A Ukrainian man was arrested in Italy suspected of coordinating the 2022 attacks on the Nord Stream pipelines, German prosecutors said on Thursday, signalling a breakthrough in an episode that sharpened tensions between Russia and the West. Seen by both Moscow and the West as an act of sabotage, the explosions severely damaged three pipelines carrying gas from Russia to Europe, marking a major escalation in the Ukraine conflict and squeezing energy supplies on the continent. No one has ever taken responsibility for the blasts. The arrest comes just as Kyiv is engaged in fraught diplomatic discussions with the United States over how to end the war in Ukraine without giving away major concessions and swathes of its own territory to Russia. "The bombing of the pipelines must be investigated, including through criminal prosecution. Therefore, it is good that we are making progress in this regard," said German Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig in a statement. There was no immediate comment from the Ukrainian embassy. Ukraine has previously denied involvement. The suspect, identified only as Serhii K. under German privacy laws, was part of a group of people who planted devices on the pipelines near the Baltic Sea island of Bornholm in September 2022, a statement from the prosecutor's office said. He and his accomplices had set off from Rostock on Germany's northeastern coast in a sailing yacht to carry out the attack, it said. The vessel had been rented from a German company with the help of forged identity documents via middlemen, it added. Authorities acted on a European arrest warrant for the suspect, who faces charges of collusion to cause an explosion, anti-constitutional sabotage and destruction of important structures. Carabinieri officers arrested him overnight in the province of Rimini on Italy's Adriatic coast, the German prosecutors' statement said. The Italian Carabinieri confirmed the arrest but gave no further details. In September 2022, one of the two lines of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline was damaged by mysterious blasts, along with both lines of Nord Stream 1 that carried Russian gas to Europe. Both the U.S. and Ukraine have denied having anything to do with the attacks, as has Russia. Moscow, without providing evidence, blamed Western sabotage for the blasts, which largely severed Russian gas supplies to the lucrative European market. Denmark and Sweden closed their Nord Stream pipeline investigations in February 2024, leaving Germany as the only country continuing to pursue the case. Danish authorities concluded there was "deliberate sabotage of the gas pipelines" but found "insufficient grounds to pursue a criminal case", while Sweden closed its investigation citing a lack of jurisdiction.
Reuters
33 minutes ago
- Reuters
India passes bill banning money-based online games, app shutdowns loom
BENGALURU, Aug 21 (Reuters) - India's parliament on Thursday passed a bill to ban online games played with money in a move that threatens the survival of the popular fantasy gaming sector, after the government flagged the high risk of financial and psychological harm. The sudden ban has shocked the industry, which was set to be worth $3.6 billion in India by 2029, with executives fearing job losses and the complete shutdown of their apps the moment the president signs the bill, which, although there is no set date, is considered a formality. India's upper house of parliament passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025 after the lower house cleared it earlier this week with the support of lawmakers. The bill prohibits "harmful" online money gaming services, advertisements and financial transactions related to them, with the government citing the psychological and financial harm they can cause. Gaming industry executives have said they fear the loss of billions of dollars of foreign investment, from venture capital firms like Tiger Global and Peak XV Partners. Endorsements by top Indian cricketers and other marketing efforts have boosted the appeal of, and investor interest in, gaming apps such as the popular fantasy cricket games operated by startups Dream11 and Mobile Premier League. Dream11 commands a valuation of $8 billion while Mobile Premier League is valued at $2.5 billion, PitchBook data shows. Other popular gaming apps in India include Zupee and Games 24X7.
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Shanghai stock benchmark closes at decade high as fintech, stablecoin shares surge
SHANGHAI, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Mainland China stocks advanced on Thursday, with the Shanghai benchmark closing at a decade high level, driven by hefty gains in fintech and stablecoin-concept shares after a Reuters report signalled a major shift in Beijing's stance on digital assets. ** At the close, the Shanghai Composite index (.SSEC), opens new tab was up 0.13% at 3,771.10 points, the loftiest close since August 2015, while the blue-chip CSI300 index (.CSI300), opens new tab gained 0.39%. ** Fintech and stablecoin-concept shares were among the biggest winners in morning deals, after Reuters reported, citing sources, that China is considering allowing the usage of yuan-backed stablecoins for the first time to boost wider adoption of its currency globally. ** China's plan for the usage of stablecoins, if approved, would mark a major shift in its approach towards digital assets. The country banned cryptocurrency trading and mining in 2021 due to concerns about the stability of the financial system. ** The CSI Fintech Theme index (.CSI930986), opens new tab advanced 0.78%, while Brilliance Technology Co ( opens new tab jumped 12.59% and Tansun Technology Co ( opens new tab leapt 4.75%. ** Chinese shares have been rising, supported by easing trade tensions between the world's two largest economies and improved liquidity conditions, and as investors shift out of bonds and into stocks, traders and analysts said. ** James Wang, head of China strategy at UBS Investment Bank research, said rising retail participation could be one of the drivers underpinning the recent stock rally. ** "Retail flows may have been one of the drivers with trading volume up 80% year-on-year on the A-share and margin financing balance outstanding also rising sharply," Wang said. "As retail participation typically increases following stronger performances for the A-shares, it would seem that A-share offers better upside potential." ** In Hong Kong, the benchmark Hang Seng index (.HSI), opens new tab slipped 0.24% at 25,104.61 points, while the Hang Seng China Enterprises index (.HSCE), opens new tab fell 0.43% to 8,974.77. ** Around the region, MSCI's Asia ex-Japan stock index (.MIAPJ0000PUS), opens new tab was firmer by 0.2%, while Japan's Nikkei index (.N225), opens new tab closed down 0.65%.
