NEWS: New guidance pushes New York banks to use blockchain analytics in compliance

Regulatory Watch News

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  Update to UK Sanctions List: Afghanistan Regime and Global Human Rights Regime

  UK Government

  April 14, 2026

  Today, Tuesday 14 April, the UK Government has amended the designations of the following 4 individuals sanctioned under the Afghanistan Sanctions Regime. This reflects the decision to amend these designations made by UN Security Council Sanctions Committee pursuant to Resolution 1988 (2011) on 13 April.   Amended Individuals:

  Name:	UN ID:	Unique ID:
  Mohammad Hassan AKHUND	TAi.002	AFG0006
  Abdul Ghani Baradar ADBUK AHMAD TURK	TAi.024	AFG0024
  Amir Khan MOTAQI	TAi.026	AFG0026
  Gul Agha ISHAKZAI	TAi.147	AFG0115

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  Six charged in relation to £13.8 million cannabis haul at Birmingham Airport

  National Crime Agency

  April 14, 2026

  Six men have been charged as part of a National Crime Agency investigation into the seizure of more than half a tonne of cannabis at Birmingham Airport. Kyle Gribben, Zaeon Hunter, Lashan Walker, all aged 26; James Turner and Torian Robinson, both aged 25, and Devonte Newman, aged 22, were arrested by NCA officers, supported by Bedfordshire Police, at addresses in the Marsh Farm area of Luton and Finchley, north London, in October 2024. They are suspected of organising the attempted importation of cannabis between 1 June 2024 and 9 August 2024, including the incident at Birmingham Airport on 9 August which resulted in 11 air passengers from various locations in the UK being arrested and charged. All 11 had flown into the UK from Thailand via Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.

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  FCA sets out vision for open finance to empower consumers and businesses

  Financial Conduct Authority

  April 14, 2026

  Consumers and businesses could be given greater control over their financial data to help secure better deals, under a vision for open finance published by the FCA.

  Open finance will unlock the potential for people and businesses to share their financial data securely with a range of financial services providers, helping them access mortgages, investments, savings and pensions. This will give financial services firms a more complete picture of consumers’ and businesses’ finances, enabling more personalised and inclusive services, alongside more competitive pricing and stronger fraud protection.