Hello, and welcome to episode 116 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast, I’m Chris Kirkbride. Money laundering takes centre stage again this week with stories from Europe and the UK. On fraud news, a range of actions from the European Public Prosecutor’s Office across Romania, Malta, and Italy. The sanctions news has new designations from the US and Switzerland, and the UK has updated sanctions guidance for a number of countries. There is also a round-up of the cyber-attack news this week.

As usual, I have linked the main stories flagged in the podcast in the description. These are:

AUSTRAC, Spotlight on our work with international partners.

AUSTRAC, Discover purpose behind the Fintel alliance.

Bank of England, A multi-tool for cross-border payments: the power of Legal Entity Identifiers − speech by Victoria Cleland.

Commonwealth, New Commonwealth model law to help countries regulate virtual assets.

Council of Europe, Georgia: anti-corruption body calls for stronger oversight and accountability in top executive functions and the police.

Council of Europe, Fifth Round Evaluation: Georgia.

Delegation of the European Union to Namibia, EU supports Namibia to tackle money laundering, terrorist financing and related crimes.

Eurojust, Eurojust supports searches into bribery and money laundering.

European Public Prosecutor’s Office, Romania: Three individuals and five companies indicted for €1 million fraud involving IT project.

European Public Prosecutor’s Office, Malta: Eleven charged in investigation into customs fraud and corruption of public officials.

European Public Prosecutor’s Office, Italy: EPPO seizes assets in €1.3 million fraud and money laundering investigation.

Europol, French and Spanish authorities crack down on Chinese money laundering gang.

Financial Action Task Force, Public Consultation on Recommendation 16 on Payment Transparency.

Financial Action Task Force, Targeted Update on Implementation of the FATF Standards on Virtual Assets and Virtual Asset Service Providers.

Financial Conduct Authority, Quarterly Consultation CP24/11 No 44.

National Crime Agency, National Crime Agency leads international operation to degrade illegal versions of Cobalt Strike.

National Cyber Security Centre, The NCSC and partners issue alert about evolving techniques used by China state-sponsored cyber attackers.

Office of Foreign Assets Control, Cyber-related Designation Removal; Russia-related Designation Removal; Issuance of Venezuela General License 40C.

Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, OSCE Facilitates Training Course on Investigation of Corruption in Chisinau.

The Federal Council, Ukraine: Switzerland adopts further sanctions against Russia.

UK government, Zimbabwe sanctions guidance.

UK government, Venezuela sanctions guidance.

UK government, Guinea-Bissau sanctions guidance.

UK government, Bosnia and Herzegovina sanctions guidance.

UK government, Nicaragua sanctions guidance.

UK government, Global Anti-corruption sanctions guidance.

UK government, Global Human Rights sanctions guidance.

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Bribery becoming less accepted in Nigeria, says new report on corruption patterns and trends in the country.

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Corruption in Nigeria: Patterns and Trends.

US Department of State, Sanctions on Individuals and Entities Contributing to Violence and Instability in the West Bank.