International

PEPs & Sanctions

US Eases Russian Oil Sanctions for 30 Days to Calm Markets

By Nithya Subramanian | 16/03/2026

OFAC issues a temporary general licence to release Russian oil stranded at sea, a move aimed at market stability that has been criticised by Ukraine and European partners.

ESG Data

ICMA Report Highlights Need for APAC Convergence of ESG Ratings Rules

By Mark Johnston | 13/03/2026

New report highlights the rise of voluntary codes and binding rules for ESG ratings providers across Asia-Pacific jurisdictions.

Liquidity Risk

BIS Report Warns on Foreign Currency Funding Risks, Data Gaps

By Manesh Samtani | 13/03/2026

A new CGFS report highlights banks' reliance on internal capital markets and derivatives, urging enhanced monitoring and currency-specific liquidity rules.

Payments & Settlements

FSB and Industry Launch New Push on Cross-border Payments

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 13/03/2026

Andrew Bailey says progress on the G20 roadmap is stalling, outlining new action plans for regulators and calling for industry leadership.

Reporting & Disclosures

New Zealand Finalises Sustainability Assurance and Ethics Standards

By Manesh Samtani | 13/03/2026

New Zealand's XRB is aligning with global standards, setting a permanent framework for sustainability assurance effective from December 2026.

Payments & Settlements

BIS Paper Calls for Public Sector Push to Fix Cross-Border Payments

By Manesh Samtani | 12/03/2026

New paper highlights slow speeds and high costs, pointing to APAC initiatives as models for improving global payment systems.

Anti-Money Laundering

Thailand Freezes 10,000 Crypto Accounts in AML Crackdown

By Editors | 12/03/2026

The action follows the rollout of a new ‘Speed Bump’ protocol and stricter KYC checks designed to disrupt illicit fund flows.

Tokenisation

New Zealand FMA Calls for Digital Asset Law, Expands Fintech Sandbox

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 12/03/2026

The FMA has flagged the need for primary legislation for virtual assets, citing industry concerns over regulatory fragmentation.

Stablecoins

Japan FSA Prioritises Real-World Use Cases to Guide Digital Asset Rule-Making

By Manesh Samtani | 12/03/2026

A senior official outlined Japan's focus on fostering real-world applications for stablecoins and tokenised assets while seeking global consensus on DeFi.