COVID-19 and related quarantines and restrictions have damaged the image of Hong Kong, considered the international centre of Asia, provoked the departure of expats and spurred the ambitions of rival cities to replace Hong Kong and take its place as the preeminent financial centre of the region.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission has indicted 11 individuals for their role in creating and promoting Forsage, an alleged fraudulent cryptocurrency pyramid scheme and Ponzi scheme that raised over $300m from private investors worldwide.

To make things easier for taxpayers, the Cabinet of Ministers of Cyprus has extended the filing tax returns deadline for a month. Recently, Finance Minister Konstantinos Petrides announced this decision.

The new MAS platform will strengthen the regulator's ability to exchange information in the field of AML/CTF, preserve the existing achievements, enhance protection against illegal activities such as money laundering or terrorist financing, and ensure economic stability.