Financial Crime

PEPs & Sanctions

China NFRA Asks Banks to Halt New Loans to Sanctioned Refiners

By Editors | 08/05/2026

The NFRA directs top banks to suspend new credit to the sanctioned firms, contrasting with the recent use of China's anti-sanctions blocking statute.

PEPs & Sanctions

Australia Imposes Counter-Terrorism Sanctions on Pakistani Militant Group

By Editors | 08/05/2026

The sanctions target the Balochistan Liberation Army as an entity, along with three of its senior leaders.

Anti-Money Laundering

China Probes Former Citic Land Chairman Over Evergrande Deals

By Editors | 08/05/2026

The investigation is scrutinising opaque property sales from the state-linked firm to the indebted developer, financed by Citic Bank.

Anti-Money Laundering

AUSTRAC Probes Tabcorp over 'Serious' AML Concerns

By Editors | 08/05/2026

AUSTRAC has commenced an enforcement investigation into Tabcorp over “serious concerns” regarding its AML/CTF compliance.

PEPs & Sanctions

New Zealand Sanctions Russian Cyber Actors and Payment Networks

By Manesh Samtani | 08/05/2026

The package targets 20 individuals and entities involved in hybrid warfare, sanctions evasion, and military supply chains supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Supervision & Enforcement

Outgoing ASIC Chair Calls for Ban on Unlicensed Super Communications

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 08/05/2026

In his final speech, Joe Longo highlighted a tougher enforcement stance and proposed new rules to curb a “conveyer belt of consumer harm” in the superannuation sector.

Fraud, Scams & Cybercrime

Korea Deploys AI and Citizen Army to Fight Online Financial Crime

By Mark Johnston | 08/05/2026

Regulators are expanding a citizen monitoring group and upgrading an AI surveillance system to crack down on illegal online advertisements and unregulated "finfluencers."

PEPs & Sanctions

Hong Kong Seeks to Freeze Assets Linked to Sanctioned Prince Group

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 07/05/2026

Hong Kong's DOJ has applied for a restraint order against 41 individuals and companies allegedly connected to Cambodia’s Prince Group and its associates.

DeFi & Web3

DeFi Sector Faces Investor Exodus After High-Profile Hacks

By Manesh Samtani | 07/05/2026

Nearly USD 14 billion has been withdrawn from the DeFi space following major hacks that have raised security concerns.