News

Banks across Central Asia and the Caucasus are expected to remain resilient in 2026, supported by strong profitability, solid capital buffers and continued economic growth, according to a new report by S&P Global Ratings.

The agency forecasts regional lending growth of around 15%–20%, driven largely by retail demand, while asset quality is expected to remain broadly stable amid a supportive macroeconomic environment.

S&P said favourable economic prospects, stable funding bases and sound liquidity metrics could lead to further positive rating actions, with most banks already holding stable outlooks and some carrying positive outlooks.

However, the report highlights several risks, including...

A former UK business secretary has called for an investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s time as a government trade envoy following allegations he shared confidential information with Jeffrey Epstein.

Sir Vince Cable said the claims, based on documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice, were «totally unacceptable» and urged authorities to examine whether any criminal wrongdoing occurred. He called for both a police assessment and a government inquiry into how the situation was handled.

Emails included in the so-called Epstein files reportedly show Mountbatten-Windsor, who served as UK trade envoy from 2001 to 2011, sharing reports from official...

Izzy Hammond, the daughter of TV presenter Richard Hammond, escaped injury after a high-speed crash during a Formula E influencer event in Saudi Arabia.

The 25-year-old lost control of her car at turn 13 of a modified Jeddah Corniche Circuit layout, slamming head-on into a concrete barrier. She later revealed the impact measured 24G but said she was cleared by medical staff shortly afterwards.

Speaking after the incident, Hammond said her main concern was reassuring her father, the former Top Gear host, that she was safe. She attributed the crash to cold tyres, explaining that the car lost...

Lewis Hamilton made a strong impression during the first week of Formula 1 pre-season testing in Bahrain, with Ferrari posting competitive lap times and showing solid reliability ahead of the 2026 campaign.

While Ferrari were not widely viewed as the outright fastest team, analysts believe the Italian outfit may still have untapped performance, potentially positioning Hamilton as an early title contender. Technical experts suggest the team could even emerge as favourites when the season begins.

Elsewhere in the paddock, Mercedes sparked debate after George Russell warned the team may have taken a step backwards since earlier tests. However...

Dozens of ultra-Orthodox Jews staged a protest near west Jerusalem on Monday against mandatory military conscription, amid ongoing tensions over the issue.

Videos shared on Israeli social media showed Haredi demonstrators blocking Route 38 near Beit Shemesh. Police said officers moved in to disperse the protesters and reopen the road after traffic was disrupted.

Authorities said demonstrators set up roadblocks and stood in the roadway, preventing vehicles from passing. The incident comes as friction between police and Haredi communities has intensified in recent months.

The protests follow a 2024 Israeli Supreme Court ruling that ended long-standing exemptions for...

ByteDance has said it will introduce stronger safeguards on its AI video generator Seedance 2.0 following legal threats and criticism from major Hollywood studios.

The Chinese tech company, which owns TikTok, launched the tool last week, allowing users to create realistic videos using short text prompts. The release sparked concern in the film industry as users generated clips featuring well-known actors and characters.

According to reports, Walt Disney sent a cease-and-desist letter accusing ByteDance of using a «pirated library» of intellectual property, including characters from Marvel and Star Wars. Other studios and industry groups have also alleged copyright...

More than 70 migrants who crossed the English Channel in small boats have received compensation after a High Court ruling found the Home Office acted unlawfully by confiscating mobile phones on arrival in the UK.

The policy, introduced in 2020 during a surge in crossings, allowed authorities to seize phones and SIM cards from asylum seekers, with data in some cases fully downloaded. Judges later ruled the approach breached the European Convention on Human Rights, citing unlawful blanket seizures and interference with privacy rights.

So far, 32 asylum seekers have received payouts totalling £210,800, with 41 additional cases...

Polish President Karol Nawrocki has said Poland should explore developing nuclear weapons as part of its long-term security strategy, citing growing threats from Russia.

In an interview with Polsat television, Nawrocki said he supported Poland «joining the nuclear project» in a way that complies with international regulations. He argued the country’s proximity to the war in Ukraine and Moscow’s «aggressive, imperial attitude» make stronger deterrence necessary.

The remarks come amid broader debate in Europe about strengthening nuclear capabilities as relations with the United States, the continent’s main nuclear guarantor, grow more uncertain.

Several European leaders have recently discussed...

Officials from Uzbekistan and Afghanistan have agreed to deepen cooperation between research institutions as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral ties.

Javlon Vakhabov, Deputy Adviser to the President of Uzbekistan, met in Kabul with Abdul Hai Qanit, Director of the Centre for Strategic Studies at Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The talks focused on joint initiatives to advance strategic partnership between the two countries.

According to a post by Vakhabov on X, the sides discussed ways to improve public awareness of political and regional developments through closer collaboration between analytical centres. The goal is to enhance mutual understanding...

Uzbekistan and Russia are moving to deepen industrial ties and expand the supply of Russian products to the Uzbek market following a series of business and government negotiations in Tashkent.

The talks, held at Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade, brought together representatives of 10 leading Russian companies alongside Uzbek officials and industry stakeholders. Discussions focused on expanding bilateral industrial cooperation and exploring new investment opportunities.

Both sides examined prospects for localising production in Uzbekistan and launching joint manufacturing projects. The Russian delegation presented proposals covering mining, construction materials, furniture production and related industrial sectors.

Targeted meetings...

Energy ministers from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan have held talks aimed at strengthening regional coordination on water and energy management, underscoring growing cooperation across Central Asia.

The meeting brought together Kazakhstan’s Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov, Kyrgyzstan’s Taalaibek Ibrayev and Uzbekistan’s Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov to review current collaboration and outline future priorities. Discussions focused on ensuring the stable and balanced operation of the regional power system and improving joint resource management.

Officials examined coordination of power generation schedules, compliance with water-use agreements and the development of unified approaches to managing shared resources. Particular emphasis was placed on maintaining stable water...

Afghanistan has returned 48 tonnes of substandard cement to Uzbekistan after the shipments failed to meet national quality standards, the Afghanistan Standard and Quality Authority (ASQA) said.

According to the regulator, two consignments were inspected at Hairatan port during routine quality control checks and were deemed unfit for entry into the domestic market. The materials were subsequently sent back to Uzbekistan.

ASQA said inspections at border points are being carried out under strict and transparent procedures to prevent the import of low-quality goods. Officials emphasised that substandard construction materials could pose risks to public safety and infrastructure durability.

The Syrian–Uzbek Business Forum held in Bukhara has underscored growing interest in expanding trade and investment ties between the two countries, bringing together more than 200 business leaders, officials and industry representatives.

Participants focused on identifying new opportunities for bilateral cooperation across key sectors, with discussions centred on strengthening economic partnerships and promoting knowledge exchange. The forum highlighted the importance of regional collaboration in accelerating investment and fostering sustainable growth.

Representatives from Syrian chambers of commerce presented the industrial and agricultural potential of their regions, pointing to opportunities in manufacturing, food processing, agriculture, exports and logistics. Uzbek participants explored avenues...

Uzbekistan is exploring new avenues for infrastructure cooperation with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), signalling continued deepening of bilateral development ties.

The prospects were discussed during a meeting between Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov and Sota Tosaka, head of JICA’s Office for Afghanistan, according to the Uzbek ministry.

Talks focused on expanding investment cooperation, strengthening institutional coordination and creating favourable conditions for Japanese development initiatives in the region. Uzbek officials reaffirmed their readiness to support JICA-led projects and maintain close dialogue.

Both sides also highlighted the importance of sustainable development and private sector growth, identifying...

Azerbaijan will present its vision for the development of its national space industry at a special briefing during the STC 2026 Space Technology Conference in Tashkent, scheduled for April 1.

The presentation will be delivered by Dunay Bedirkhanov, acting chairman of Azercosmos, the country’s state space agency operating under the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport. The conference itself will run from March 30 to April 1, bringing together regional and international stakeholders in the space and technology sectors.

Organisers say the briefing will highlight Azerbaijan’s strategic priorities in space development, including satellite capabilities, international partnerships and industry...

Uzbekistan’s ambitious Uzbekistan-2030 Strategy is positioning the country on a long-term path toward economic growth, social reform and regional leadership, according to a new analysis by Central Asia researcher Abdulhameed Hameed Al-Kba.

Adopted in September 2023 under a presidential decree, the strategy serves as Uzbekistan’s primary development roadmap through the end of the decade. It sets out 100 goals across five priority areas, including improving living standards, accelerating economic growth, advancing green transition policies, strengthening governance and expanding international partnerships.

The programme builds on earlier reforms and aims to transform Uzbekistan into an upper-middle-income economy by 2030. Key...

Iran is facing growing international alarm after reports of sweeping arrests following a deadly crackdown on protests that allegedly left thousands dead. Security forces are said to have detained tens of thousands of people across the country, targeting a wide cross-section of society.

Human rights groups claim the arrests have affected students, doctors, lawyers, teachers and activists, though the reported figure of more than 50,000 detainees remains unverified. Families say many detainees are being held incommunicado, with little information about their location or legal status.

Medical professionals and legal advocates have been among those reportedly targeted. Rights organisations...

Uzbekistan’s alpine skier Medet Nazarov placed 50th in the men’s giant slalom at the Winter Olympics in Italy. He clocked 1:21.14 in the second run.

Nazarov had been 54th after the opening run with a time of 1:25.75 but improved his position following the final descent.

Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen secured the gold medal, marking a landmark achievement for his country. Switzerland claimed the remaining podium spots, with Marco Odermatt taking silver and Loic Meillard earning bronze.

Later on February 15, Uzbekistan will also be represented in speed skating by Daniil Eybog, who has received an additional Olympic qualification...

India has reported the first fatality in its latest Nipah virus outbreak after a 25-year-old nurse in West Bengal died from complications linked to the infection. Health officials said the patient suffered a secondary lung infection and cardiac arrest while receiving intensive care.

The case is one of two confirmed infections in the state, with the second patient having recovered and been discharged. Authorities say the death marks the first confirmed fatality in the current outbreak, prompting renewed health vigilance.

Officials conducted extensive contact tracing involving around 200 people linked to the cluster. All contacts tested negative, and...

A newly leaked 1997 edition of Jeffrey Epstein’s so-called «Little Black Book» has triggered a social media firestorm after unredacted names, addresses and phone numbers of hundreds of high-profile figures surfaced online. The document offers a rare look into Epstein’s network during the late 1990s, years before his crimes became widely known.

Unlike the more familiar mid-2000s version, the 1997 book reportedly contains 349 entries, with more than 200 names not seen in later editions. Researchers say the document resurfaced in 2020 after earlier being discovered and stored privately, making it one of the earliest snapshots of Epstein’s...

Discord is facing mounting criticism after confirming it will introduce global age verification checks from March, requiring some users to prove their age via government IDs, facial scans, or automated estimation tools. The move has triggered a wave of backlash from users and privacy advocates, who warn the policy could erode trust in the platform.

The company says the rollout will apply only to certain users and will restrict access to some content and communities if age cannot be verified. However, many users have criticised the measures as intrusive, particularly the potential use of facial recognition and biometric...

In January 2026, Uzbekistan sold 28,600 new vehicles, a 7.2% increase compared to the same period last year, according to the Centre for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR). Sales were strongest in Bukhara, Kashkadarya and Fergana regions, while demand fell in Samarkand, Khorezm and Tashkent.

The growth was largely powered by domestically produced vehicles, which accounted for over 24,000 units. Sales of imported cars dropped 10% year-on-year to 4,400 vehicles.

Electric car sales rose 9% to reach 6,100 units in January, with the capital recording 3,700 of these purchases. Strong interest also came from Samarkand, Namangan and Surkhandarya regions.

Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen moved to the brink of a historic Winter Olympic gold medal after dominating the first run of the men’s giant slalom on Saturday at the Milano Cortina Games.

No athlete representing a South American nation has ever won a Winter Olympic medal, but the Norway-born 25-year-old put himself in prime position to change that. Starting first among 81 competitors, Braathen delivered a clean and fluid run through 52 gates on the softened Stelvio course, stopping the clock at 1:13.92.

He finished 0.95 seconds clear of Switzerland’s reigning Olympic champion Marco Odermatt, who was the only...

Tottenham Hotspur have appointed Croatian coach Igor Tudor on a short-term contract until June 2026, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano. The deal comes with no option for extension, as the club evaluates long-term candidates including Roberto De Zerbi and former manager Mauricio Pochettino. Tudor replaces Thomas Frank, whose contract was terminated in mid-February.

Tudor began his playing career at Hajduk Split in the mid-1990s and later appeared for Juventus and Siena, making 220 appearances in total. He began coaching at Hajduk in 2009 and has since managed teams in Italy and Turkey, including Galatasaray, Juventus and Lazio.

Currently, Tottenham...