Compliance & Ethics

Two Enterprises Face Possible Penalties Over Alleged Bid-Rigging in $61 Million Highway Tender

Malaysia’s competition watchdog has issued a proposed decision against two enterprises over alleged bid-rigging linked to a major highway construction project valued at approximately $61 million (RM285 million).

Amazon & Italy’s Antitrust Watchdog Set for Fresh Appeals in Long-Running Competition Case

Amazon plans to appeal an Italian antitrust ruling even after a court sharply reduced a record competition fine imposed on the company, signaling that a closely watched regulatory battle in Europe is far from over.

CNMC Fines ICON Europe €1.2 Million & Bars It From Public Contracts for Five Months

Spain’s competition watchdog, the CNMC, has fined ICON €1.2 million and barred it from public-sector contracts for five months, concluding that the company ran a long-standing strategy to tightly control prices and commercial conditions in the professional hairdressing products market.

Swedish Authorities Warn Money Transfer Providers of Growing Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing Risks

A new guidance brochure, published on 9 January 2026, has been developed by the Swedish Coordinating Body for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism, working alongside the Swedish Police Authority, the Financial Intelligence Unit, the Swedish Security Service, and Sweden’s financial watchdog. Its aim is to help providers of money transfer services understand how their businesses are being exploited and what they are expected to do about it.

FTC Seeks Answers From Division I Universities on Sports Agent Compliance With Student Athlete Protection Law

Federal Trade Commission officials are seeking information from 20 universities as part of a new inquiry into whether sports agents working with student athletes are complying with federal requirements designed to protect those athletes.

Malta Tightens Sponsor Requirements Under Updated Capital Markets Framework

‍The Malta Financial Services Authority has launched a revised regulatory regime for sponsors, marking a significant step in its broader efforts to strengthen Malta’s capital markets framework. The new regime became applicable on 1 January 2026 and delivers Pillar III of the MFSA’s Capital Markets Strategy, which is focused on reinforcing the regulatory environment governing sponsors operating on the local regulated market.

Dubai Financial Regulator Shifts Crypto Token Responsibility to Firms in DIFC

The Dubai Financial Services Authority has brought a revised Crypto Token regulatory framework into force in the Dubai International Financial Centre, marking the most significant update to its digital assets regime since it was first introduced in 2022.