
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

AML / KYC
HKUST Announces New Academic Programme Dedicated to Financial Crime
21/05/2025
HKUST partners with KPMG, Griffith University to launch Asia’s first financial crime and forensic accounting master’s programme.

Big Picture
FS-ISAC Outlines Cyber Threats Facing FIs in 2025
20/05/2025
New report highlights growing cyber threats facing the financial sector, driven by emerging technologies, scam networks, and geopolitical instability.

AML / KYC
GCFFC Establishes Innovation & Technology Experts Working Group
20/05/2025
The Working Group will explore how data used to create a Digital ID could support FIs in fighting financial crime

AML / KYC
AUSTRAC Seeks Further Input on AML/CTF Rule Overhaul
20/05/2025
AUSTRAC seeks further industry input on AML/CTF rule amendments before it finalises the changes in August 2025.

AML / KYC
FATF, INTERPOL, UNODC Issue Joint Call to Action
20/05/2025
Governments must improve asset recovery efforts and to cooperate internationally to make financial investigations more targeted and effective.

Fintech / Regtech
IOSCO Sets Standards for Finfluencers, Copy Trading, Digital Engagement
19/05/2025
IOSCO sets out good practices to protect retail investors from online fraud, excessive risk-taking, and misinformation.

Securities / Derivatives
SFC’s Marketing Sounding Guidelines Are Challenging for Some Firms
19/05/2025
Market practitioners say some firms might not be able to “strictly comply” with the new market sounding guidelines.

AML / KYC
FATF is the ‘Best Compass We Have’ for Fighting Financial Crime
19/05/2025
Former FATF Executive Secretary David Lewis said the global body offers stability amid rising nationalism and geopolitical risks.

Sanctions
US Tightens Export Controls Targeting Huawei AI Chips
18/05/2025
Huawei’s Ascend AI chips now need a licence for their use irrespective of geographical location, which is an effective worldwide ban.

Market Infrastructure
UK and China Aim to Deepen Market Ties, Unblock Stock Connect
18/05/2025
A China-UK Wealth Connect scheme is proposed as a potentially “transformational” next step in strengthening financial ties.
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