FHFA proposes alternative to Fannie and Freddie, TSA to allow pocket knives onto planes, and more.
- The acting director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced plans to form a new business organization, independent of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, as the foundation for a restructured mortgage market.
- The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported that it will relax some post-9/11 restrictions and allow small pocket knives and other previously prohibited items in carry-on luggage, drawing opposition from flight attendant and airline worker unions.
- Attorney General Eric Holder told the Senate Judiciary Committee that the size of certain banks inhibits criminal prosecution of these banks, prompting criticism from some Senators.
- The European Commission fined Microsoft €561 million for failing to comply with the company’s 2009 commitments to provide consumers with an easy way to choose their preferred web browser while using Windows 7.
- Various finance ministers of European Union countries debated proposed rules to restrict bankers’ bonuses.
- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced its opposition to restricting wireless customers’ ability to unlock mobile phones by stating that the restriction may pose concerns to competition and innovation.
- The Security Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a risk alert about investment advisers’ compliance with the agency’s custody rule, which is designed to protect against misuse or theft of clients’ funds and securities.
- Overriding Governor Mike Beebe’s veto, the Arkansas legislature passed a new law requiring doctors performing abortions to test for fetal heartbeat and prohibiting abortions where the test detects a heartbeat.
- Par Pharmaceuticals pleaded guilty and agreed to pay $45 million to settle claims that it marketed its prescription drug Megace ES, an AIDS-related drug, for uses not approved by the Food Drug Administration (FDA).
- Following a settlement against two companies for deceptive claims that their architectural coating products contained no volatile organic compounds, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a new enforcement policy statement on these compounds.
- The FTC released 17,213 refund checks to consumer victims of a fraudulent mortgage relief service that posed as a government mortgage-assistance program.
