ESG / Sustainability

China Releases New Trading Rules for National Carbon Market

06/02/2024

The new regulations cover all the main aspects of carbon emission trading and address the issue of carbon emission data falsification.

ESG / Sustainability

UK Environment Agency Launches Economic Crime Unit

06/02/2024

The unit will boost the Environment Agency’s efforts to tackle money laundering and carry out financial investigations in the waste sector.

Sanctions

Iran Reported to Have Used UK Banks for Sanctions Evasion

06/02/2024

Iran allegedly used front companies in the UK to conceal real ownership and receive funds at accounts at two of the UK’s largest banks.

Enforcement

US Unseals Charges Against Iranian Oil Trafficking Network

05/02/2024

Nine individuals were charged over the illicit sale of Iranian oil to government-linked buyers in Russia, Syria and China.

Enforcement

PBOC Fines Six Rating Agencies, Including Unit of S&P Global

05/02/2024

The agencies were found to have shortcomings in their rating business processes, violating independence requirements and breaching consistency principles.

Enforcement

HK, SG Take Down 139 Servers in INTERPOL Cybercrime Operation

05/02/2024

Operation Synergia, launched in response to the growing threat of transnational cybercrime, involved more than 50 participating countries.

AML / KYC

Multinational Firm Scammed by Deepfake Tech in Hong Kong

05/02/2024

A finance worker was duped in a video call by a deepfake version of his company’s CFO to transfer HKD 200 million.

Sanctions

OFAC Sanctions Four HK Entities for Supporting Iran

05/02/2024

Three of the Hong Kong companies operated as “covert procurement entities” for Iran’s weapons programmes. The fourth sold Iranian commodities to benefit Iran.

Sanctions

Oil Price Cap Coalition Issues Alert on Evasion Methods

04/02/2024

The alert includes an overview of key oil price cap evasion methods as well as recommendations for identifying them.