The head of the US Senate’s antitrust subcommittee has told antitrust officials that Verizon Wireless’s purchase of wireless spectrum from a consortium of cable television companies has the potential to stifle competition.

The European Competition Network (ECN) has publicly defended the need to protect the confidentiality of leniency material from disclosure in follow-on damage claims.

US computer maker Apple has shot back at a US Department of Justice antitrust division lawsuit, saying the government’s “fundamentally flawed” case against it props up a monopoly while attacking competition in the electronic books market.

The Malaysian Competition Commission (MyCC) is reviewing four applications for exemption to the country’s competition law, including from Swiss food and nutrition manufacturer Nestlé.

Israel's Antitrust Authority has informed gas supplier Supergas of its intention to file criminal indictments against the company, marking the authority’s first use of criminal sanctions for an alleged failure to provide information.

Poland’s Office of Competition and Consumer Protection has proposed substantial amendments to the country’s competition law, covering merger control, liability for individuals and legal privilege.

Israel’s government has updated its competition law by giving the Antitrust Authority the ability to impose administrative fines for antitrust violations, significantly boosting the agency’s enforcement potential.

Malaysia's Competition Commission (MyCC) has opened a public consultation on its draft abuse of dominance guidelines.

The successful prosecution of three financial services executives last week adds another victory to a string of recent courtroom wins for the US Department of Justice’s antitrust division, deepening observers’ belief that changes in the division’s litigation team is paying off for the enforcer.

China’s Supreme People’s Court has released a judicial interpretation of China’s Antimonopoly Law (AML) which promises to shape the development of private antitrust litigation in China.

The line between “normal commercial push and shove” and cartel behaviour is sometimes hard to distinguish, says Edward Anderson, head of competition law at UK supermarket chain Sainsbury’s – particularly for supplier sales teams that are given financial incentives to get price increases implemented and to alleviate buyers’ concerns.

Portugal’s government has published the country’s new competition law, bringing it in line with the requirements of the country’s memorandum of understanding with the European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund.

The European Commission and national authorities are frequently “between a rock and a hard place” as they seek to balance political pressure with their own antitrust remit, and to meet pressing demands from farmers, retailers and consumer groups, Paul Csiszár, director for basic industries, manufacturing and agriculture at the commission, said today.