OFAC Expands Sanctions Waiver on Russia Oil Sales
The U.S. Treasury Department has issued a second temporary authorization allowing buyers to take delivery of Russian oil cargoes already at sea, broadening a waiver granted last week to India alone as Washington seeks to ease pressure on crude prices during the ongoing conflict in Iran.
OFAC Targets Hamas-Linked Charities, DPRK-Linked IT Worker Schemes
The U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday announced two new sanctions actions targeting financing and revenue-generation networks tied to Hamas and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
Hong Kong Raids Securities Firms, Arrests 8 in Major Bribery Case
Hong Kong authorities have arrested eight people in their biggest coordinated market misconduct raids since 2017, as regulators investigate an alleged HK$315 million ($40 million) insider dealing and corruption scheme involving two major brokerages and a hedge fund manager.
Hungary Returns Armored Vehicles to Kyiv but Keeps Seized Ukrainian Loot
Hungary returned two seized armored bank vehicles to Ukraine on Thursday but continued to hold cash and gold worth about $82 million as part of an alleged money-laundering investigation.
HSBC and Standard Chartered to Receive Hong Kong Stablecoin Licenses
HSBC and a joint venture led by Standard Chartered are expected to be among the first companies to receive Hong Kong stablecoin licenses within two weeks, marking a milestone in the city’s effort to regulate the sector and strengthen its position as a global digital asset hub.
Halkbank Granted 90-Day Stay in U.S. Criminal Case Amid DPA Talks
A federal judge in Manhattan on Wednesday granted a 90-day pause in the criminal case against Turkey’s state-run Halkbank, a first step toward a possible dismissal of charges that the bank helped launder billions of dollars in Iranian oil and gas proceeds.
Senate Democrats Call for Hearing on OFAC’s Russian Oil Sanctions Waiver
Senate Democrats are pressing for a congressional hearing on the Trump administration’s decision to ease sanctions on Russian oil, arguing that the step could benefit Moscow even as the Kremlin is providing support for Iranian forces.
European Defense Giant Failed to Disclose NATO Corruption Ban
European defense company Czechoslovak Group failed to tell investors before its January stock market debut that a Spanish ammunition subsidiary had been suspended by NATO’s procurement agency amid a widening corruption investigation.
FATF Flags Dirty-Money Risks of Offshore VASPs
Gaps in the international oversight of offshore virtual-asset firms have made it possible for criminals to commit large-scale fraud, money laundering, and terrorism financing beyond the reach of most supervisory bodies, according to FATF.
U.S. Launches New Probe into Binance Transfers Linked to Iran
The U.S. Justice Department is investigating Iran’s use of Binance to evade U.S. sanctions, according to new reporting by The Wall Street Journal.