ESG / Sustainability

Japan Becomes First Sovereign to Issue Climate Transition Bonds

15/02/2024

Japan sold JPY 800 billion of 10-year climate transition bonds and plans to sell a further tranche of 5-year bonds later this month.

Capital / Liquidity

S Korea: DGB Daegu Bank Applies to Convert Banking Licence

14/02/2024

If approved, Daegu Bank will be the first to take advantage of a recent regulatory amendment that expedites the process of converting a regional bank to a commercial bank.

Sanctions

France Announces Sanctions Against “Extremist” Israeli Settlers

14/02/2024

The move prohibits 28 individuals from entering France, which plans to also pursue sanctions against Israeli settlers at the European level.

AML / KYC

US DOJ Secures Guilty Plea in Russia Sanctions Evasion Case

14/02/2024

A Canadian-Russian national helped ship US-origin electronic components that were later found in Russian weapons in Ukraine.

AML / KYC

FinCEN to Extend AML/CFT Requirements to Investment Advisers

14/02/2024

Investment advisers would have to implement risk-based AML/CFT programmes and report suspicious activity to FinCEN.

Sanctions

EU Proposes to Apply Trade Curbs to Some Chinese Firms

14/02/2024

The current draft sanctions package includes three mainland companies which EU firms would not be allowed to trade with.

Enforcement

Major Japan Insurers Directed to Divest ‘Strategic Shareholdings’

14/02/2024

The FSA suspects that the competitive environment may have been distorted by the practice of insurers’ holding shares in client companies.

ESG / Sustainability

LME Facing Lawsuit Over “Dirty Metals” Sourced from Indonesia

14/02/2024

The case could force the LME to revisit its rules for listing metals for trading, the London Mining Network and Global Legal Action Network said.

Sanctions

UK Announces First Sanctions Against Israeli Settlers

14/02/2024

Four individuals were designated for their involvement in violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, the first time the UK has imposed such measures.