Venezuela Deploys Troops to Crack Down on Illegal Gold Mining Amid Push for Foreign Investment 
US to Accelerate Troop Withdrawal from Europe, NATO Allies to Review Plans Next Month 
Trump Signs Executive Order to Expand Access to Federal Lands in the U.S. 
Trump Administration Plans Deportation of Iranian Migrants to Central African Republic Under New Third-Country Deal 
Keiko Fujimori Narrowly Leads Peru Presidential Election as Overseas Votes Shift Race 
Lebanon Resists Iran Pressure as Israel-Hezbollah Ceasefire Talks Stall 
US Plans NATO Force Reduction in Europe Amid Defense Burden Dispute 
KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun Defends Taiwan-China Engagement During U.S. Visit 
US Warns of More Strikes on Iran as Trump Pushes for Peace Deal 
US House Approves $70 Billion Immigration Enforcement Funding Bill, Ending Congressional Deadlock 
US Sanctions Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and Key Officials Amid Rising Tensions 
JCPOA Nuclear Deal Explained as U.S. Nears Potential New Iran Peace Agreement 
IMF Advances Ukraine Loan Program, Clears $690M Disbursement 
Brazil Extends Fuel Subsidies and Tax Relief Measures Through July 2026 Amid Global Oil Market Volatility 
US Plans Faster Military Drawdown in Europe, NATO Allies Face Greater Defense Role 
DOJ Sues Virginia Over Law Enforcement Mask Ban 
US Expands Iran Sanctions, Targets Major Crypto Exchanges and Individuals 
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has approved a proposal to roll back a Biden-era policy that increased scrutiny on large bank mergers. The decision, announced Monday, reinstates the pre-2024 merger policy while the agency reassesses its review process.
This move, led by the Republican-controlled FDIC, reverses stricter regulations imposed by the previous Democratic leadership, which aimed to heighten oversight of mergers involving large financial institutions. The 2024 policy required public hearings for bank mergers resulting in assets exceeding $50 billion and mandated heightened financial stability reviews for those surpassing $100 billion.
The rollback aligns with a broader shift under the pro-business Trump administration, which contrasts with Biden-era policies that pushed for tougher regulatory scrutiny on corporate mergers. Banks have long criticized the merger approval process as overly complex and opaque. The Bank Policy Institute, representing large financial firms, opposed the 2024 policy, arguing it created regulatory uncertainty and exceeded Congress’s intended oversight.
By reverting to the prior framework, the FDIC aims to provide a more predictable path for bank mergers while conducting a comprehensive evaluation of its policies.
