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The United States Department of Justice has filed a civil forfeiture complaint seeking approximately $61 million in cryptocurrency that prosecutors allege represents proceeds from the black-market sale of sanctioned Iranian crude oil and petroleum products. The complaint, filed in the Southern District of New York, targets cryptocurrency held across a network of addresses and alleges that the funds were ultimately intended to benefit the Government of Iran and Iranian militar

Five individuals allegedly linked to Russian intelligence services have been charged in the United States with conspiring to finance terrorism and, in three cases, with conspiring to commit murder for hire, following an investigation into a network accused of arranging payments for attacks, surveillance and targeted killings. The charges were unsealed on 15 September 2026 in the Southern District of New York. According to the indictment, the network operated from at least 202

The United States has imposed new sanctions on Russia’s VTB Bank over its alleged involvement in Iranian financial activities and efforts to circumvent US sanctions. The action was taken by the Office of Foreign Assets Control under Executive Order 13902, which authorises sanctions against persons operating in specified sectors of the Iranian economy, including the financial sector. The designation concerns VTB Bank Public Joint Stock Company, one of Russia’s largest financia

Huawei Technologies has gone on trial in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, in a long-running criminal case involving allegations of sanctions violations, bank fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, racketeering and theft of trade secrets. Jury selection began on September 8, 2026, almost eight years after US authorities initially brought charges against the Chinese telecommunications company. Prosecutors allege that Huawei used a network of corporate relationships and intern

US authorities have seized more than $560,000 in cryptocurrency allegedly intended to support Hamas, while simultaneously dismantling websites, servers and online communication infrastructure used to solicit digital-asset donations and recruit supporters. The operation represents another significant intervention against the use of cryptocurrency as a channel for terrorist financing and demonstrates the increasingly sophisticated methods being used by law enforcement to identi

The United States, under President Donald Trump’s second administration, is increasingly embracing prediction markets and the expanding trade in event-based contracts linked to everything from sports and politics to pop culture. While Washington moves to support the industry, several of the world’s largest economies are taking the opposite approach, introducing restrictions or outright bans on the controversial platforms. Speaking at the White House this week alongside Commod

An Australian businessman alleged to have played a central role in the creation of thousands of shell companies has been arrested in Queensland after United States authorities formally requested his extradition on a series of serious financial crime allegations connected to international money laundering activities. The Australian Attorney General Department confirmed that federal officers detained the man on April 29, 2026, following the processing of a mutual legal assistan

The United States Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed sanctions on four of Iran's most significant cryptocurrency trading platforms, accusing them of enabling illicit financial activity, supporting terrorism-related financing, and assisting in the circumvention of international economic restrictions. The action specifically names Nobitex, the country's largest digital asset exchange by market share, along with Wallex, Bitpin, and R

Oil prices climbed sharply after the United States launched fresh attacks on Iran, striking a military installation in Bandar Abbas, a strategically important port city on Iran’s southern coast. The US Central Command (Centcom) said American forces also intercepted and destroyed four Iranian drones “that posed a threat around the Strait of Hormuz”. Following the attacks, the global benchmark for oil prices, Brent crude, jumped 3.75% to $97.83 (£73.15) per barrel. Meanwhile, U

Former Venezuelan Industry Minister Alex Saab appeared before a federal court in Miami on Monday, where US authorities formally reinstated money laundering charges against the Colombian-born businessman and former Venezuelan government envoy. The allegations stem from accusations that Saab participated in the misappropriation of funds tied to Venezuelan government contracts, including the CLAP subsidized food distribution program established to assist the country’s most vulne

Federal authorities have carried out coordinated enforcement actions disrupting two major financial and narcotics trafficking networks linked to the Sinaloa Cartel, with regulatory measures including strict blacklisting designations and potential enforcement penalties exceeding 1,000,000 dollars. The Office of Foreign Assets Control led the sanctions effort, moving to freeze assets and disrupt cryptocurrency-based systems used to transfer illicit proceeds across international

The United States government has intensified its counterterrorism enforcement efforts by freezing the financial infrastructure connected to transnational procurement networks allegedly supporting a Hamas-backed flotilla attempting to reach Gaza. Through coordinated sanctions enforcement, the Office of Foreign Assets Control implemented broad asset freezes targeting international organizers and political operatives associated with maritime delivery initiatives and religious co

The United States commercial gaming industry generated $78.62 billion in revenue in 2025, reflecting a 9.1% increase year on year and extending the sector’s run to a sixth straight record-breaking annual performance, according to the American Gaming Association State of the States 2026 report. The figures illustrate the continued expansion of a regulatory environment that now spans 38 states along with the District of Columbia, with 37 jurisdictions reporting revenue growth a

Consumer prices in the United States rose sharply again in April, with the latest data from the United States Department of Labor showing the Consumer Price Index increased 3.8% compared with April 2025. The monthly reading also showed prices climbing 0.6% from March to April, a slowdown from the 0.9% increase recorded between February and March. Energy costs were a major driver of the increase, with petrol prices rising 5.4% over the month. On a year-over-year basis, petrol

European equities and US futures were largely subdued on Monday morning, even as oil prices pushed higher and Asian markets showed mixed but generally positive momentum. The price of Brent crude remained firmly above $100 per barrel, buoyed by renewed uncertainty surrounding diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran, which appear to have stalled despite a prolonged ceasefire. At the start of trading, oil markets moved upward, reflecting investor concern over the f

Global oil prices have climbed following renewed delays in planned second-round peace negotiations between the United States and Iran, as geopolitical tensions continue to strain global energy markets and raise concerns over supply disruptions. Benchmark crude, Brent, increased by almost 2% to $107.26 (£79.25) per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose by around 1% to $95.40. The price movement comes after US President Donald Trump stated on Saturday that Washing

The United States Department of Justice has announced a formal indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), accusing the organisation of involvement in wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering tied to more than 3 million dollars allegedly directed to white nationalist extremists and groups such as the Ku Klux Klan. The eleven-count indictment was returned by a federal grand jury in Montgomery following a joint investigation conducted by the Federal B

Legislative efforts to reshape financial oversight in the United States reached a decisive moment on Tuesday when the House Financial Services Committee narrowly voted 26 to 25 in favor of repealing the Corporate Transparency Act. The move propels forward the Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act, legislation designed to remove federal obligations requiring American citizens to disclose the true ownership of their business entities. Proponents of the bill argue that the current

The United States Department of the Treasury has recently unveiled a sweeping set of sanctions aimed at six individuals and entities connected to the Cartel del Noreste, a violent criminal organization operating in Mexico. The measures focus specifically on dismantling the group’s financial infrastructure, particularly its ability to move illicit proceeds across the US-Mexico border near Laredo, Texas. By designating three individuals and three commercial entities, authoritie

Global oil prices experienced a sharp decline and stock markets surged following the announcement of a conditional two-week ceasefire deal between the United States and Iran, which includes the reopening of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. Benchmark Brent crude fell approximately 13% to $94.80 (£70.73) per barrel, while US-traded oil dropped more than 15% to $95.75 per barrel. Despite the retreat, prices remain significantly above pre-conflict levels; on 28 February,