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Wynn Resorts Ltd. has become the latest major Las Vegas casino operator to face a cyberattack, with hackers demanding a $1.5 million ransom and threatening to release sensitive data. The extortionists have set a Monday deadline for payment and claim to have obtained approximately 800,000 records from the company’s systems. A hacking group calling itself ShinyHunters reportedly contacted Wynn Resorts on Friday, demanding the ransom while warning that they would make public “fu

As of February 20, 2026, travelers requiring a French visa are now obligated to secure their appointments exclusively through an online system, with walk-ins and informal booking channels officially discontinued. The reform applies globally and covers both short-stay Schengen visas and long-stay national visas. The shift is aimed squarely at long-standing frustrations within the visa application process, including overcrowded service counters, extended queues, and the prolife

Austria’s chief financial watchdog, Financial Market Authority of Austria, has delivered a decisive administrative ruling against KuCoin EU Exchange GmbH, effectively blocking the cryptocurrency platform from onboarding new clients or rolling out new products after identifying serious deficiencies in its internal governance structure. The enforcement action followed the regulator’s determination that the company no longer retained the mandatory personnel required to oversee r

A 36-year-old assistant manager employed at a high-end watch boutique was brought before the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, where she claimed trial to 44 counts of money laundering involving a total of RM1.7 million. The accused, Miki Oshiro, entered a plea of not guilty after all charges were read out before three Sessions Court judges — Izralizam Sanusi, Azrul Darus and Norma Ismail. According to the charge sheets, Miki is alleged to have received RM1.7 million i

Binance CEO Richard Teng has publicly challenged a report published by The Wall Street Journal that claimed $1.7 billion in cryptocurrency transactions were connected to sanctioned Iranian entities. The exchange asserted that the article contained inaccuracies and misrepresented its compliance practices. In a statement dated February 23, 2026, Binance disclosed that it had sent a formal letter to the publication demanding corrections and a complete retraction. According to th

Estonian prosecutors have brought charges against three individuals and 12 companies in connection with an extensive international money laundering operation linked to a global investment scam valued at hundreds of millions of euros. The District Prosecutor's Office for Economic Crime and Corruption confirmed that the funds at the heart of the case stemmed from a worldwide investment fraud scheme that targeted victims in numerous countries. Authorities allege that the illicit

The Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA) has implemented a five percent withholding tax on the net winnings of online bettors, a measure that takes immediate effect across the state’s regulated gaming market. The announcement was made on Thursday by LSLGA Chief Executive Officer Bashir Are, who confirmed that the deduction will apply to all gaming platforms licensed in Lagos, regardless of whether the player resides in the state. According to the public notice i

The Central Bank of Cyprus has unveiled the CBC Blog, a new digital communication platform designed to deepen public understanding of economic developments and the role of central banking. The initiative, according to the bank, is part of a broader strategy to strengthen transparency and improve the flow of information to the public regarding economic conditions and monetary policy. Through this newly established blog, the central bank aims to publish timely, accessible and a

The European Central Bank has imposed administrative penalties totaling €12.18 million on J.P. Morgan SE after identifying long-running inaccuracies in the bank’s regulatory reporting. The sanctions stem from systemic errors in the calculation of risk-weighted assets, a core metric underpinning the resilience of the international banking system. Supervisors concluded that, for several years, the institution failed to present an accurate picture of its risk exposure due to def

The global digital identity ecosystem was jolted on November 11, 2025, when security researchers uncovered an unsecured database tied to identity verification provider IDMerit. The exposed repository contained an astonishing one billion personal records spanning twenty-six countries, marking one of the most consequential failures in the protection of sensitive financial and identification data in recent history. As an AI-driven identity verification service, IDMerit aggregate

Sweden’s financial regulator, Finansinspektionen, has announced a formal investigation into Swedbank over suspected shortcomings in customer due diligence procedures during a two-year period ending in 2025. The supervisory authority is examining whether the bank maintained adequate internal safeguards to prevent its systems from being misused by criminal organizations. The probe underscores the pivotal responsibility large retail banks bear in shielding the wider financial sy

French judicial authorities have charged five individuals connected to the associations Humani Terre and Soutien Humani Terre for allegedly channeling €40 million to support Hamas through intricate financial arrangements. The suspects were indicted by the Parquet National Anti-Criminalité Organisée (PNACO) on accusations that include financing a terrorist enterprise and organized breach of trust. At the heart of the case lies the alleged diversion of charitable donations, ori

The Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Keve) has underlined the substantial export potential arising from the newly concluded free trade agreement between the European Union and India, noting that the arrangement is expected to open important new pathways for European exporters, including businesses in Cyprus.   According to the chamber, the agreement, finalised in January 2026 and anticipated to take effect in the coming years, will make India’s vast market of around 1

South Africans who access unlicensed offshore gambling websites face serious legal and financial consequences, including the possible loss of both their deposits and any winnings.   Financial institutions are obligated under the law to seize funds connected to illegal betting activities, meaning users may never recover money earned through these platforms.   According to the Internet Service Providers’ Association (ISPA), national legislation forbids residents from participat

Detectives in Nairobi have apprehended a second individual in connection with a multi-million shilling gold fraud scheme that allegedly swindled an American citizen out of USD 217,900. The suspect, Mohammed Noor Muhyadhin Mohammed, was arrested by officers from the Operation Support Unit on allegations of money laundering linked to a fraudulent gold transaction that had promised the delivery of 495 kilograms of gold but ultimately produced nothing. Authorities say the elabora

The Dutch gambling authority, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has issued a penalty order against Polymarket, instructing the cryptocurrency-based prediction platform to halt its operations in the Netherlands or face fines that could reach as much as €840,000 ($994,147).   The regulator determined that the platform had violated national regulations by making its services available to Dutch users without the required gambling licence.   According to the KSA, the company responsible f

Kenya is intensifying reforms aimed at strengthening its systems for detecting and preventing illicit financial flows as it works toward being removed from the global financial crimes watchdog’s grey list by May 2026. The country was placed under increased monitoring by the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in February 2024 after shortcomings were identified in its efforts to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. Being on the grey list signals strategi

The Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission has issued a warning about the increasing risks associated with the use of cryptocurrencies in the gambling industry, pointing to growing concerns over financial crime, including money laundering and sanctions evasion.   The regulator also stressed the need for closer international cooperation and stronger enforcement measures to address these emerging threats.   The Commission highlighted the expanding role of virtual assets wi

Sweden’s financial watchdog has issued a formal caution and imposed an administrative penalty of 80 million SEK (approximately 7.5 million euros) on Samhällsbyggnadsbolaget i Norden AB (SBB) after identifying serious deficiencies in the company’s financial reporting. The action follows an investigation by Finansinspektionen, which concluded that the firm failed to present an accurate picture of its consolidated financial statements for the 2021 fiscal year. According to the r

The Danish Financial Supervisory Authority has unveiled a wide-ranging strategic initiative aimed at reducing the regulatory load on smaller financial institutions operating within Denmark’s banking sector. The project is designed to introduce a more proportionate supervisory framework for banks that operate primarily on a domestic basis and do not maintain complex or international business models. By concentrating on institutions with straightforward risk profiles, the autho

French authorities have launched broad investigations into alleged human trafficking and financial crimes linked to contacts of the late convicted U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following the publication of a substantial cache of documents detailing his activities. Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau announced on Wednesday in an interview with France Info radio that the new inquiries would draw on publicly available documents as well as complaints submitted by child protection