Category: Middle East

Regulatory Watch News

• 

  Treasury Press Release: U.S. Treasury Identifies $270 Million in Suspicious Activity Linked to Federal Student Aid Fraud

  FinCEN

  October 19, 2026

  The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced today that its Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has identified approximately $270 million in suspicious financial activity potentially linked to fraud against federal student aid programs. FinCEN has referred these findings to federal investigators to pursue potential fraud schemes targeting federal student aid programs and help ensure those responsible are held accountable. These referrals underscore the Trump Administration’s commitment to eliminating fraud, protecting taxpayers, and safeguarding the integrity of federal student aid programs.

• 

  Hennie Verbeek-Kusters highlights the importance of prevention in AML/CFT at International Anti-Financial Crime Summit

  AMLA

  October 19, 2026

  AMLA Executive Board Member Hennie Verbeek-Kusters delivered a keynote speech at the International Anti-Financial Crime Summit in London in October 2026.

  AMLA Executive Board Member Hennie Verbeek-Kusters spoke today at the International Anti-Financial Crime Summit in London, highlighting the role of prevention in strengthening the effectiveness of the AML/CFT framework. She stressed the importance of bringing together supervision, FIU cooperation and risk analysis to strengthen the EU's capacity to anticipate threats, understand how criminal networks exploit weaknesses in the financial system and support more effective interventions.

• 

  Evaluation visit to Cyprus under GRECO’s Sixth Round

  GRECO

  October 19, 2026

  A delegation of four GRECO evaluators from Armenia, Germany, Norway and Romania, together with two members of the Secretariat, visited Cyprus from 12 to 16 October 2026 to conduct the on-site evaluation under GRECO’s Sixth Round, which focuses on preventing corruption and promoting integrity at the subnational level. The municipality of Nicosia, the capital, and the District Local Government Organisation of Larnaca volunteered to participate in this evaluation. During the visit, the delegation met with numerous authorities and stakeholders from central and oversight bodies, subnational governing bodies and public administration.  It also held discussions with civil society organisations, media representatives and academics.