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Australian regulators and tax authorities have kicked off 2026 with a renewed focus on companies and individuals that have failed to meet their tax obligations, signalling a tougher enforcement approach against unpaid tax debts. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO), alongside the corporate watchdog Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), has begun taking action against people responsible for managing corporations that have neglected to pay tax liabilities in

The US Treasury announced on Wednesday that it has imposed sanctions on six Palestinian aid organisations operating in Gaza, accusing them of forming part of a “covert support network” for Hamas through its armed wing, the Qassam Brigades. The organisations named in the announcement are Waed Society, Al-Nur, Qawafil, Al-Falah, Merciful Hands and Al-Salameh. In its statement, the Treasury said it was acting through its Office of Foreign Assets Control, noting that “Treasury’s

The Colombian government has revised its taxation strategy for the online gambling sector, replacing the 19% value-added tax previously applied to player deposits with a levy based on gross gaming revenue. The updated framework came into force on January 1, redirecting the tax burden toward the actual income earned by operators rather than the total amount of money deposited by customers. The deposit-based 19% VAT was first introduced in February 2025 as a temporary response

The National Treasury of South Africa is preparing to introduce a new tax targeting online gambling, a move that would see gambling operators pay an additional 20% on the revenue they generate from online betting activities. As part of the consultation process, the Treasury has extended the deadline for public submissions on the proposal, shifting it from 30 January to 27 February 2026 to allow for broader engagement and feedback. The department has described the proposed lev

The European Parliament is preparing to suspend the ratification of the US trade deal agreed in July, according to sources close to its committee on international trade. The announcement is expected to be made on Wednesday in Strasbourg, France, marking a significant escalation in tensions between the US and Europe. The move comes as Donald Trump intensifies his efforts to acquire Greenland, prompting threats of new US tariffs over the issue during the weekend. The standoff h

The Korea Customs Service has successfully dismantled a major criminal network that laundered 148.9 billion won through unauthorized digital asset transfers, authorities confirmed. Investigations revealed that three Chinese nationals orchestrated the elaborate scheme by exploiting domestic bank accounts and international cryptocurrency platforms between September 2021 and June of the previous year. The suspects have been referred to the prosecution for serious violations of t

The Lebanese Central Bank has introduced a series of regulatory enhancements aimed at responding to evolving financial threats and preserving the integrity of the national banking system. At the core of these reforms is a strong emphasis on deploying advanced screening mechanisms designed to identify illicit funds before they can penetrate the formal economy. Regulators are placing greater weight on transparency by requiring more frequent disclosures and imposing stricter sta

On 1 January 2026, the European Union reached a decisive moment in its campaign against financial crime as the European Banking Authority formally completed the transfer of all anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism responsibilities to the Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism. The handover represents a major step toward centralizing oversight at the EU level and safeguarding the integrity of the single market.

Paraguay’s gambling sector recorded its strongest year on record in 2025, generating PYG215.9 billion ($32.6 million), according to figures released this week by the country’s regulator, the National Gaming Commission (Conajzar). The milestone year followed the liberalisation of the market under Law No 7348/2025, which fundamentally reshaped the country’s regulatory framework.   The revenue total represents the highest annual figure ever reported in Paraguay’s gambling indust

Federal authorities have charged 20 former Division I college basketball players in what prosecutors describe as the largest point-shaving scandal in college hoops in 75 years, alleging a far-reaching scheme in which players were bribed to manipulate games so gambling syndicates could profit.   Prosecutors in Pennsylvania announced the charges on Thursday, revealing a sprawling indictment unsealed by a Philadelphia grand jury. The case spans more than a dozen mid-major colleg

Beginning January 16, Chinese passport holders traveling to the Philippines for tourism or business purposes may enter the country without a visa for stays of up to 14 days. The initiative, which will remain in force for one year, is limited to arrivals through two major gateways: the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Metro Manila and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) in Cebu. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced the new arrangement on Thurs

Former Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili has been sentenced to five years in prison following a plea agreement announced by the Prosecutor General’s Office on January 12 in connection with a serious money laundering case. In addition to the prison term, Garibashvili was fined GEL 1 million, or approximately USD 270,000, and authorities will confiscate cash seized from his residence that they say was obtained illegally. Without the plea deal, Garibashvili had been fa

The United States District Court for the District of Columbia has issued a final decision siding with the Department of Justice in its effort to keep confidential a lengthy monitor report examining HSBC’s internal compliance failures. Granting the government’s motion for summary judgment, the court brought to a close years of litigation over access to a document exceeding one thousand pages that chronicles the bank’s past shortcomings and remediation efforts. The ruling concl

The Council of Europe’s anti-money laundering monitoring body, MONEYVAL, has published a new set of follow-up reports assessing the performance of Georgia, Montenegro, Poland and Slovakia, revealing mixed outcomes in how effectively these countries have strengthened their frameworks to combat illicit finance. While several states have recorded meaningful legislative and regulatory advances, others continue to face persistent shortcomings in meeting technical compliance standa

Inflation across the euro area has largely been reined in following one of the most intense price surges in recent decades, with the European Central Bank now moving into what it sees as a delicate transition period, according to ECB executive board member Philip Lane. In an interview first published by Italian newspaper La Stampa , Lane said the dramatic rise in inflation during 2021 and 2022 led the ECB to implement an aggressive tightening of monetary policy, a strategy th

More than ten illegal Chinese-made coin-slot gambling machines were seized and destroyed on Friday at the Nyando Deputy County Commissioner’s offices, as authorities stepped up efforts to eliminate unlawful gambling activities in the area.   Nyando Deputy County Commissioner Elijah Maranga said the machines were recovered during coordinated security operations carried out in Ahero and Awasi towns. He stressed that the operation of coin-slot gambling machines is prohibited und

Nicola Brown, a 37-year-old resident of St John’s Park, Waterford, has pleaded guilty to committing money-laundering during the period of February 3 to 5, 2024. Brown made her plea at Waterford Circuit Court before Judge Eugene O’Kelly. She admitted to a charge of money-laundering contrary to Section 7.1.a and 7.1.b, having laundered €5,600 through a Revolut account. During the hearing, defence counsel Gareth Hayden BL requested that a probation report be prepared ahead of se

The European Union is preparing a sweeping package of retaliatory measures against the United States, including tariffs worth up to €93 billion ($107.71 billion), in response to threats by US President Donald Trump to annex Greenland, according to a Financial Times report published on Sunday evening.   Brussels is also examining the possibility of limiting access for US companies to the European market as part of a broader response. The measures were discussed during a meetin

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has levied a $1.1 million fine and issued a censure against three Cetera entities after uncovering systemic deficiencies in their anti-money laundering (AML) controls and oversight of low-priced securities. The regulatory body determined that from March 2019 through August 2021, Cetera Advisors, Cetera Wealth Services, and Cetera Investment Services “operated a compliance program that was not reasonably designed to detect or

Indonesia’s Financial Services Authority (OJK) has directed the country’s banks to block and shut down 31,382 accounts suspected of being connected to illegal online gambling activities, an increase from the 30,392 accounts previously flagged by regulators.   Authorities have repeatedly warned that online gambling poses serious risks to financial stability, disrupts household finances and undermines the wider economy. Although many gambling platforms are operated from outside

Swedish law enforcement has stepped up its offensive against unauthorized financial intermediaries, warning that anyone acting as an illegal money transmitter risks long prison terms and the seizure of their assets. Criminal networks are increasingly leaning on loose, decentralized webs of willing or coerced individuals to move dirty money across borders while steering clear of regulated banks. The funds being shuffled through these channels often bankroll major criminal acti