
Manesh Samtani is the Editor at Regulation Asia, where he leads the regional news desk from Hong Kong, directing coverage of critical regulatory developments impacting financial services across APAC. Manesh specialises in analysing how new rules and technologies are reshaping banking, capital markets, and the fight against financial crime, providing finance professionals, compliance leaders, and policymakers with the intelligence they need to navigate risk and understand the impact of regulatory change in the region. manesh@regulationasia.com

PEPs & Sanctions
US Expands International Reach of Cuba Sanctions Programme
04/05/2026
New executive order authorises secondary sanctions against foreign financial institutions and companies doing business with designated Cuban entities.

Structural Regulation
China's Legislature Progresses New Overarching Financial Laws
04/05/2026
China’s top legislature has confirmed plans to formulate both a Financial Law and a Financial Stability Law this year, creating a new overarching legal framework for the financial sector.

PEPs & Sanctions
US Sanctions China, Hong Kong Firms in Iran Oil Trade Crackdown
04/05/2026
The US targeted a Chinese oil terminal and numerous Hong Kong-based front companies, while issuing new warnings on sanctions evasion, digital assets, and maritime risks.

Fraud, Scams & Cybercrime
Sri Lanka Treasury Heist Probe Widens Amid Second Fraud, Official’s Death
04/05/2026
The USD 2.5 million cyber heist revealed deep-seated vulnerabilities and a second, similar fraud at another state entity.

Trading & Investment
China's CFFEX Tightens Rules on Abnormal Trading, Introduces New Fees
04/05/2026
CFFEX revised abnormal trading standards for stock index derivatives and will introduce graded fees to curb high-frequency order submissions.

Operational Risk
HKMA Annual Report Sets Key Priorities for 2026
04/05/2026
The report highlights Hong Kong's resilience in 2025 and set a forward-looking agenda focused on technology risk, digital assets, and financial crime.

Fraud, Scams & Cybercrime
Indonesian Agritech Founder Jailed in USD 300 Million Fraud Case
03/05/2026
The verdict concludes a high-profile scandal that has triggered widespread scrutiny over due diligence standards in Southeast Asia’s venture capital markets.

Credit Risk
HKMA Proposes Overhaul of Credit Card, Strategic and Reputational Risk Rules
03/05/2026
HKMA proposes updates to address modern payment ecosystems, new financial products, and align with the latest international risk management standards.

Tokenisation
AFME Outlines DLT Vision with Implications for Global Rule-Making
01/05/2026
New paper from the Association for Financial Markets in Europe details a vision for DLT-based capital markets, offering insights for global policymakers.

Anti-Bribery & Corruption
New Judicial Guidance on Anti-Corruption Take Effect in China
01/05/2026
The judicial guidance lowers criminal thresholds for private sector bribery and targets increasingly sophisticated corruption schemes.
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