U.S. engagement in Caucasus driven by energy and regional stability goals: expert
As geopolitical alignments across Eurasia continue to evolve, U.S. engagement in the South Caucasus is once again drawing attention, particularly in r...
Uzbekistan is entering what regulators describe as the most complex phase of its banking reform, as the country moves to align its financial system with international standards by 2026–27, the Central Bank has said.
Deputy chairman of the Central Bank Sanjar Nosirov said the focus was shifting from structural change to quality and institutional strength, with banks preparing to adopt International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and the Basel III regulatory framework.
"We have reached the most difficult stage of reforms and are increasingly concentrating on quality," Nosirov said. "The transition to IFRS and the assessment of assets under Basel III standards will be our main task this year."
From 2026, all commercial banks will be required to fully adopt IFRS, bringing financial reporting into line with international practice. Asset classification will be aligned with Basel standards and IFRS 9, while new criteria will be introduced to assess business plans during bank licensing.
The Central Bank also plans to establish a Financial Stability Council, with government participation, to strengthen oversight of systemic risks and improve crisis prevention mechanisms.
By 2027, Uzbekistan is expected to complete its transition to Basel III, a global set of banking regulations introduced after the 2008 financial crisis to strengthen capital requirements, improve risk management and enhance banks’ resilience to economic shocks.
The reform package includes capital surcharges based on banks’ risk profiles, consolidated supervision of banking groups, and the full introduction of bank resolution and deposit guarantee mechanisms.
The reforms follow Uzbekistan’s first Financial Sector Assessment Programme, conducted by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in 2025, which evaluated the resilience of the banking system and its compliance with international supervisory standards.
According to the Central Bank, Uzbekistan aims to bring its financial sector into full compliance with all 29 core principles of effective banking supervision set by the Basel Committee.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has instructed regulators to accelerate the transition to IFRS, introduce Basel III standards and establish the Financial Stability Council as part of broader efforts to modernise the financial system and boost investor confidence.
Severe Tropical Storm Jangmi brought heavy rain, power cuts and transport disruption across Japan on Wednesday (3 June) as it tracked towards the greater Tokyo region.
Police officers were pelted with missiles during violent clashes at a protest near the Southampton, UK, home of convicted murderer Vickrum Digwa, as anger continued to grow over the handling of the fatal stabbing of 18-year-old Henry Nowak.
Thousands of people have taken to the streets in Albania in recent days to protest against a luxury tourism project linked to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, and his wife Ivanka Trump.
An Iranian drone and missile attack struck Kuwait International Airport early Wednesday, injuring several people, damaging Terminal 1 and forcing flight diversions, Kuwaiti authorities said.
Armenia’s parliamentary election comes at a defining moment for the South Caucasus, a region reshaped by the Garabagh conflict and broader shifts in Russia-West relations. The outcome is increasingly seen as a signal of Armenia’s future foreign policy direction and the regional balance of power.
Israel and Lebanon have agreed to implement a ceasefire after U.S.-backed talks in Washington. The deal requires Hezbollah to halt attacks and withdraw from southern Lebanon, while both sides will resume direct talks later this month aimed at reaching a broader agreement.
Baku Energy Week 2026 has drawn to a close after three days of high-level discussions, negotiations and business engagement in Baku, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders and international investors to shape the future of global and regional energy markets.
Afghanistan’s Deputy Minister for Counter-Narcotics has urged the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to expand support for legal livelihoods for farmers, saying such assistance is vital to preventing narcotics production and trafficking.
Turkish and Armenian leaders reiterated their commitment to normalising relations during a phone call on Tuesday, discussing plans to deepen cooperation and advance a long-stalled rapprochement process.
At least 21 people, including 18 foreign nationals, have died after a devastating fire swept through a hotel in India's capital, Delhi, on Wednesday. The blaze is among the deadliest fires recorded in the city since 2022.
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