• Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Cess dated December 17, 2018 – Pursuant to the directions of Hon’ble Supreme Court contained in its judgement dated 19.03.2018 in W.P. (C) No. 318/2006, the Central Government has formulated a model welfare scheme for BOC workers which, inter alia, envisages certain maternity benefit, out of the BOCW welfare cess fund, for those BOC workers who are not covered under Ayushman Bharat.
  For more information, please access –
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• Registration of Government Establishments under the Building & Other Construction Workers Welfare (RE&CS) Act, 1996 Instruction thereof dated December 24, 2018.
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COMPETITION LAW

• The Administrative Law Judge Upholds Federal Trade Commission complaint allegations that the merger of major Titanium Dioxide companies would have harmed competition.
  [December 17, 2018] For more information, please access –
  https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2018/12/administrative-law-judge-upholds-ftcs-complaint-allegations
• The Federal Trade Commission approves Teva petition to reopen and modify decision and order in case involving Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s acquisition of Actavis Inc.
  [December 18, 2018] For more information, please access –
  https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2018/12/ftc-approves-teva-petition-reopen-modify-decision-order-case
• The Federal Trade Commission obtains Court Order barring U.S. and Canadian scammers from marketing, selling internet-related services and misrepresenting their relationship with consumers.
  [December 18, 2018] For more information, please access –
  https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2018/12/ftc-obtains-court-order-barring-us-canadian-scammers-marketing
• The Federal Trade Commission imposes conditions in Joint Venture among three producers of PET Resin.
  [December 21, 2018] For more information, please access –
  https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2018/12/ftc-imposes-conditions-joint-venture-among-three-producers-pet
• The Competition and markets authority tackles loyalty penalty charges.
  [December 19, 2018] For more information, please access –
  https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cma-tackles-loyalty-penalty-charges
• The Antitrust Commission fines Guess €40 million for anticompetitive agreements to block cross-border sales.
  [December 17, 2018] For more information, please access –
  http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-6844_en.htm
• The European Commission State aid: Commission concludes that Gibraltar gave around €100 million of illegal tax advantages to multinational companies.
  [December 19, 2018] For more information, please access –
  http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-6889_en.htm
• The European Commission, Antitrust Commission seeks feedback on commitments offered by NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros, and Sky in pay-TV investigation.
  [December 20, 2018] For more information, please access –
  http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-6894_en.htm
• The European Commission State aid: Antitrust: Commission sends Statement of Objections in US Dollar supra-sovereign, sovereign and agency bond trading cartel.
  [December 20, 2018] For more information, please access –
  http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-6895_en.htm

ENERGY

• Oil prices rise as OPEC output cuts seen deeper than previously expected.
  [December 21, 2018] For more information, please access –
  https://energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/oil-and-gas/oil-prices-rise-as-opec-output-cuts-seen-deeper-than-previously-expected/67187025
• Administration moves closer to opening Arctic refuge for oil.
  [December 21, 2018] For more information, please access –
  https://energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/oil-and-gas/administration-moves-closer-to-opening-arctic-refuge-for-oil/67187455
• Petronet restructures natural gas supply contract with RasGas.
  [December 22, 2018] For more information, please access –https://energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/oil-and-gas/petronet-restructures-natural-gas-supply-contract-with-rasgas/67204100
• Sudan signs mining, oil refinery agreements with Russian companies.
  [December 21, 2018] For more information, please access –https://energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/oil-and-gas/sudan-signs-mining-oil-refinery-agreements-with-russian-companies-oil-ministry/67188450
• India mulls building natural gas reserves.
  [December 21, 2018] For more information, please access –
  https://energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/oil-and-gas/india-mulls-building-natural-gas-reserves/67186959
• German regulator removes LNG connection line from grid expansion plan.
  [December 20, 2018] For more information, please access –https://energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/oil-and-gas/german-regulator-removes-lng-connection-line-from-grid-expansion-plan/67178508
• ANALYSIS: Rising LNG demand to exert more pull on US natgas prices.
  [December 20, 2018] For more information, please access –https://energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/oil-and-gas/analysis-rising-lng-demand-to-exert-more-pull-on-us-natgas-prices/67175416
• Solar power industry wants more clarity on GST rates applicability.
  [December 24, 2018] For more information, please access –
  https://energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/renewable/solar-power-industry-wants-more-clarity-on-gst-rates-applicability/67224276
• CNG Queue Management System (QMS) and Social CRM of IGL launched by Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, CNG operated buses will be launched on green corridors soon.
  [December 24, 2018] For more information, please access –
  http://pib.nic.in/newsite/pmreleases.aspx?mincode=20
• Policy Framework Notified to Permit Exploration and Exploitation of Unconventional Hydrocarbons.
  [December 17, 2018] For more information, please access –
  http://pib.nic.in/newsite/pmreleases.aspx?mincode=20
• Power Generation from Waste.
  [December 20, 2018] For more information, please access –
  http://pib.nic.in/newsite/pmreleases.aspx?mincode=28

MINING

• Indian court orders Vedanta to not reopen copper smelter for a month – petitioner.
  [December 21, 2018] For more information, please access –
  http://www.mining.com/web/indian-court-orders-vedanta-not-reopen-copper-smelter-month-petitioner/
• India holds off raising import tariffs on some US goods until Jan 31.
  [December 17, 2018] For more information, please access –
  http://www.mining.com/web/india-holds-off-raising-import-tariffs-us-goods-jan-31/

NEWS

• Government plans to amend norms pertaining to incorporation of companies.
  [December 17 2018] For more information, Read more at:
  https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/government-plans-to-amend-norms-pertaining-to-incorporation-of-companies/articleshow/67133545.cms
• Google denies altering YouTube code to slow down Microsoft Edge.
  [December 20, 2018] For more information, Read more at:
  https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/google-denies-altering-youtube-code-to-slow-down-microsoft-edge/articleshow/67175909.cms
• Government to set up panel to look into tax issues faced by startups.
  [December 21, 2018] For more information, Read more at:
  https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/startups/newsbuzz/govt-to-set-up-panel-to-look-into-tax-issues-faced-by-startups/articleshow/67184718.cms
• Government seeks comments on draft social media rules.
  [December 25, 2018] For more information, Read more at:
  https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/ites/govt-plans-amending-it-rules-to-curb-social-media-misuse/articleshow/67232660.cms
• SEBI refuses to grant stay on forensic audit of Inter Globe Finance.
  [December 27, 2018] For more information, Read more at:
  https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/news/sebi-refuses-to-grant-stay-on-forensic-audit-of-inter-globe-finance/articleshow/67277046.cms
• RBI backs higher capital norms, need for prompt corrective action.
  [December 29, 2018] For more information, Read more at:
  https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/banking/finance/banking/rbi-backs-higher-capital-norms-need-for-prompt-corrective-action/articleshow/67290369.cms
• SEBI announces measures to protect investors in an event of credit default.
  [December 28, 2018] For more information, Read more at:
  https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/mf/mf-news/sebi-announces-measures-to-protect-investors-in-an-event-of-credit-default/articleshow/67291172.cms
• High Court suggests bringing in amendments to Passport Rules.
  [December 31, 2018] For more information, Read more at:
  https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/hc-suggests-bringing-in-amendments-to-passport-rules/articleshow/67326097.cms