ANALYSIS: Why UBS banked a Russian billionaire with reported ties to Putin

Regulatory Watch News

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  Update to UK Sanctions List: Afghanistan Regime

  UK Government

  August 4, 2026

  This e-alert is a re-issue of one published on Friday 31 July, which contained mismatches between the individuals' names and UN IDs. The underlying data and change notice have not been changed.  Today, the UK Government has varied 5 designations under the Afghanistan Sanctions Regime. This reflects the decision to amend these designations made by the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee pursuant to Resolution 1988 (2011) on 30 July. Individuals Varied:

  Name:	UN ID:	Unique ID:
  Jalaluddin HAQQANI	TAi.144	AFG0036
  Noor Mohammad SAQIB	TAi.110	AFG0088
  Hamdullah NOMANI	TAi.044	AFG0039
  Abdul-Haq WASSIQ	TAi.082	AFG0062
  Gul Agha ISHAKZAI	TAi.147	AFG0115

   

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  INTERPOL report finds AI linked to more than half of cybercrime in Africa

  Interpol

  August 4, 2026

  LYON, France - Artificial intelligence is enabling 55 per cent of reported cybercrimes across Africa making attacks faster, more scalable, and increasingly difficult for victims and platforms to detect, according to INTERPOL’s African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026. With more than 1.1 billion mobile subscribers recorded in 2025, Africa’s digital transformation is expanding rapidly. However, cybercrime legislation is fragmented and AI readiness in law enforcement agencies remains alarmingly low. The 40-page report draws on survey data from 36 African member countries and highlights a defining shift: cyber-criminality has evolved from isolated incidents into an industrialized, borderless ecosystem.

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  FCA finalises rules to cut firms’ transaction reporting costs by over £100m a year

  Financial Conduct Authority

  August 4, 2026

  Transaction reports are critical to the FCA’s ability to detect and investigate market abuse, monitor market functioning and supervise firms effectively. The new rules are designed to ensure the FCA continues to receive accurate, high-quality data while eliminating duplicative or low-value reporting. By removing unnecessary reporting the changes will reduce regulatory burden and support growth and competitiveness. The changes will save firms more than £100m a year. Therese Chambers, joint executive director of enforcement and market oversight, said: 'Transaction reports are the backbone of our market oversight work – they help us catch financial crime, monitor market stability and supervise firms effectively. 'By taking a smarter, streamlined approach to reporting, we're giving firms meaningful cost relief while ensuring we continue to receive the accurate, high-quality data that keeps UK markets clean and competitive.'