ECB approval allows UniCredit to cross the 30% threshold in Commerzbank, advancing a takeover opposed by German officials, employees and management.
Western governments are preparing contingency plans to move embassies from Kyiv as Russian strikes intensify and energy risks rise.
German and Austrian authorities searched two businessmen suspected of routing vehicles to Russia through third countries in breach of EU sanctions.
Swiss voters rejected a neutrality initiative that would have sharply limited sanctions, preserving Bern’s policy flexibility.
Russian strikes on Kyiv killed two people and injured six, damaging residential areas and medical property, including a maternity hospital parking lot.
Trump signed the Graham sanctions law, giving the White House broad tariff powers over Russian energy buyers and sanctions evasion networks.
The Fed lifted rates to 3.75%-4%, putting Kevin Warsh at the center of a policy fight over inflation, credit costs and political pressure.
Cl0p hacker group linked to Russia claims breaches at 50 companies including Philips, Shell, Fiserv and GE, raising urgent cybersecurity concerns for global business leaders.
Russian banks' websites are flagged as insecure by major international browsers due to revoked TLS/SSL certificates amidst Western sanctions, complicating global access and cybersecurity strategy.
Greece has sharply increased Schengen visa denials for Russian tourists amid EU policy changes, impacting Russian travel companies and shifting market dynamics.
The UAE reportedly unblocked billions in Iranian assets to halt missile attacks, though the Foreign Ministry denies it. This move coincides with nearing US-Iran peace talks.
The EU plans to restrict Microsoft, Google, and Amazon from public cloud tenders in strategic sectors to reduce dependence on US tech firms amid data sovereignty concerns.
Uzbek banks saw strong deposit growth in Q1 2026, with Octobank leading a 416% surge, reflecting increased client confidence and liquidity in the sector.
Octobank has begun offering international money transfers from South Korea to Uzbek HUMO cards via the E9PAY platform, enhancing its cross-border payment services.
Uzbek banks expanded loans to over 623 trillion UZS in Q1 2026, with non-performing loans rising 1.8 trillion UZS, mainly in state banks despite a slight drop in NPL ratio.
Effective April 15, Uzbek banks must maintain a minimum balance of 1.236 million soms during automatic credit card deductions, preventing full depletion of customer funds.
Uzbekistan accelerates Asakabank's privatization, transferring non-core assets and injecting $95M capital to streamline operations ahead of market-driven ownership by 2026.
Uzbek banks report strong profit growth and asset expansion in Q1 2026 amid rising competition and operational costs, highlighting strategic challenges for executives.