Regional AML and sanctions experts to offer compliance guidance on beneficial ownership rules, FinTech tools, Russia sanctions, and more

MIAMI, Dec. 05, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In an effort to support compliance professionals and mitigate de-risking throughout the Americas, ACAMS will host a two-day training event for its 4th Annual AML and Anti-Financial Crime Conference – Caribbean. Beginning on December 8^th, attendees of this fully virtual event will learn the latest guidance on fighting financial crime from high-level representatives of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), World Bank, Egmont Group, U.S. Treasury Department, Bank of Jamaica, Central Bank of the Bahamas, Cayman Islands Monetary Authority, Bahamas Financial Services Board, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, and many of the region’s largest banks, FinTech companies, and law firms.

In addition to answering audience questions, the conference’s expert speakers will outline emerging threats and best practices linked to an array of urgent anti-financial crime (AFC) issues, including achieving technical effectiveness in CFATF mutual evaluations, strengthening Know-Your-Customer controls to meet evolving beneficial-ownership obligations, assessing bribery and corruption risks that impact correspondent banking services, and complying with new U.S. subpoena powers under the 2020 Anti-Money Laundering Act.

Attendees will hear a keynote address by the World Bank’s Global Lead for Financial Market Integrity, Finance, Competitiveness and Innovation, Emile van der Does de Willebois, and special presentations by the Egmont Group’s Vice Chair, Anne-Marie Kemna, and The Avery Center for Research & Service’s CEO, Megan Lundstrom.

CFATF Executive Director Dawn Spicer will also take part in a fireside chat with Rick McDonell, ACAMS Executive Director and the former Executive Secretary of the Financial Action Task Force.

“As Caribbean nations continue to contend with such issues as de-risking and regulatory lapses in the cryptoasset sector, AFC compliance plays an increasingly important role in supporting regional economies,” said ACAMS CEO Scott Liles. “This conference offers a roadmap for bolstering AFC and sanctions controls and ensuring the safety and soundness of the Caribbean’s vibrant financial sector.”

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“Whether AFC professionals are looking to mitigate Russia and Venezuela sanctions risks, combat trade-based money laundering, or track suspicious crypto-payments, they’ll come away from the ACAMS Caribbean Conference with practical guidance on how to better protect their institutions,” he said.

Find out more about the ACAMS Caribbean Conference here.

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About ACAMS®

ACAMS is a leading international membership organization dedicated to providing opportunities for anti-financial crime (AFC) education, best practices, and peer-to-peer networking to AFC professionals globally. With over 100,000 members across 180 jurisdictions, ACAMS is committed to the mission of ending financial crime through the provision of anti-money laundering/counterterrorism-financing and sanctions knowledge-sharing, thought leadership, risk-mitigation services, ESG initiatives, and platforms for public-private dialogue. The association’s CAMS certification is the gold- standard qualification for AFC professionals, while the CGSS certification is its premier specialist qualification for sanctions professionals. ACAMS’ 60+ Chapters globally further amplify the association’s mission through training and networking initiatives. Visit acams.org for more information.

CONTACT: Lashvinder Kaur ACAMS +44 7388 264478 lkaur@acams.org

KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: A day after Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) announced the results of the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2022, dozens of students staged a protest outside the Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) accusing the institution of adding out-of-syllabus question in the exam, depriving aspiring students of pursuing their ambition.

A large number of students, carrying placards and banners, chanted slogans and demanded a re-test.

They claimed the examination paper for students in Sindh, which was prepared by the DUHS, carried several questions which were not part of their syllabus, unlike papers in other parts of the country.

They also accused the DUHS management of being insensitive towards the students’ concerns.

Commission opens rechecking of exam papers, students can apply until Nov 27

The protests, which largely remained peaceful, resulted in a tense situation as students tried to enter the DUHS premises, forcing the security to shut doors.

The situation further intensified when senior politician Dr Farooq Sattar joined the protesters and entered the university with other students by scaling walls.

The protest finally ended after Dr Sattar’s talks with the DUHS administration.

Addressing the protesters, Dr Sattar said the PMC through DUHS had as­­sured that a committee would look into the matter and all the answer sheets would be rechecked within a week.

“I have talked to the students and they have told me that there were 35 out of syllabus questions in the test,” he said, adding it was unfair and unjustified.

PMC opens rechecking

The PMC has said that the rechecking for MDCAT-2022 has started and will continue for five days.

Students have been advised to apply and get their papers rechecked by Nov 27.

“Students are directed to visit the website of their respective exam-conducting university to apply for rechecking,” the PMC stated.

In case of any errors or omissions in the results, the students have been asked to contact the university concerned.

On Wednesday, the commission uploaded the MDCAT results on its official website.

MDCAT is an aptitude exam, mandatory for aspiring doctors to clear to get admission in medical and dental colleges. This year, the test was conducted on Nov 13 across the country and also in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2022

© Provided by Free Press Journal Students appearing for exams.

New Delhi: All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) has demanded the withdrawal of a letter from the University Grants Commission instructing all central universities to hold lectures on ancient Indian democracy, alleging that the proposed themes glorified anti-women ancient texts and traditions.

 In a statement, the AIDWA said the letter dated November 15 was sent to 45 central and deemed-to-be universities each to hold lectures on "India: Mother of Democracy" to celebrate Constitution Day on November 26.

The letter, it said, directs all universities to hold lectures on the ancient origins of Indian democracy apart from studying the preamble and the chapter on fundamental duties. "The University Grants Commission (UGC) appears to have circulated a concept note on this subject which identifies 15 themes. Though the note has not been made public, several media reports and statements of the UGC chairperson suggest that the themes include the glorification of anti-women ancient texts and traditions. The themes of the lectures include khap panchayats, feudal and dictatorial monarchies and anti-women customs that follow the Manusmriti. It is also ironical that the UGC has asked the universities to celebrate Constitution Day in a manner that fundamentally ignores the rights of women to a decent and dignified life," it said.

The women's association also contended that while the UGC asks people to read the preamble, it promotes ideas and texts that have laid the foundation of oppression of women since ancient times.

"The UGC has been attempting to push courses of Vedic culture and alter the academic syllabus to suit the patriarchal Hindutva brigade. By issuing this letter, it has shown that it is not an autonomous agency which is wedded to the ideals of modern education, rather it is becoming a handmaiden of the Hindutva brigade. It is directly following the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has been selling the idea of Vedic democracy as an ideal political system," the letter stated.