July 30, 2010 Nº 938 - Vol. 8
"There are two kinds of people in this world: those who want to get things done, and those who don't want to make mistakes."
John Maxwell
In today's Law Firm Marketing, ongoing follow-up key to turning prospects into clients.
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Read Migalhas LatinoAmérica in Spanish every Tuesday and Thursday. Visit the website at www.migalhas.com/latinoamerica
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FBI to help investigate leak of documents on Afghan war
In what has been called Nato's crucial year in Afghanistan, the sudden, unauthorised publication of thousands of revealing military and intelligence documents is just about the last thing the alliance needs. US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has called in the FBI to help with the inquiry into the leaking of classified military records. Gates said they were potentially dangerous for US troops and allies, and an "aggressive investigation" would determine how the leaks occurred. "The battlefield consequences of the release of these documents are potentially severe and dangerous for our troops, our allies and Afghan partners, and may well damage our relationships and reputation in that key part of the world," Gates told reporters on Thursday. He said intelligence sources and methods, as well as military tactics could "become known to our adversaries". To those of us in the media who have been following the twists and turns of the Afghan conflict, there are few great surprises contained in the 91,000 documents. Even some of the material classified as "Secret" (the second highest classification after "Top Secret") is not, in reality, particularly sensitive, and of course all of it is at least seven months old. Some of the documents, while authentic as official intelligence reports, can be dismissed as clearly wrong or unfounded. But that is not the point. Taken together, the Wikileaks documents give the general public a remarkable insight into a war that - at least up until December 2009 - now appears to have been going worse than we were told. The issue of civilian casualties has been one of the biggest bones of contention between Nato and the Afghan government. Coalition forces know killing civilians is not only morally unacceptable but is also a sure-fire way to boost Taliban propaganda and recruiting."
Sharp sting of Arizona immigration debate
Arizona asked an appeals court Thursday to lift a judge's order blocking most of the state's immigration law. In her temporary injunction, U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton delayed the most contentious provisions of the law, including a section that required officers to check a person's immigration status while enforcing other laws. She also barred enforcement of parts requiring immigrants to carry their papers and banned illegal immigrants from soliciting employment in public places — a move aimed at day laborers that congregate in large numbers in parking lots across Arizona. The judge also blocked officers from making warrantless arrests of suspected illegal immigrants. Bolton indicated the government has a good chance at succeeding in its argument that federal immigration law trumps state law. But the key sponsor of Arizona's law, Republican Rep. Russell Pearce, said the judge was wrong and predicted the state would ultimately win the case. Surely it's going to make states pause and consider how they're drafting legislation and how it fits in a constitutional framework," Dennis Burke, the U.S. attorney for Arizona, said. "The proponents of this went into court saying there was no question that this was constitutional, and now you have a federal judge who's said, 'Hold on, there's major issues with this bill." Meanwhile, Phoenix filled with protesters, including about 50 who were arrested for confronting officers in riot gear. So no-one is hollering victory. But it will further fire up an already heated debate in the run up to November's elections. The right will feel they are being robbed of a important tool to deal with lawlessness. Many Democrats will feel they've scored a first victory against covert racism. Arizona is the nation's epicenter of illegal immigration, with more than 400,000 undocumented residents. The state's border with Mexico is awash with smugglers and drugs that funnel narcotics and immigrants throughout the U.S., and supporters of the new law say the influx of illegal migrants drains vast sums of money from hospitals, education and other services.
UN declares access to safe drinking water a basic human right
The UN General Assembly on Wednesday adopted a resolution declaring that access to clean and sanitized drinking water is a basic human right. The resolution, passed by a vote of 122-0 with 41 member states abstaining, also requires the UN Independent Expert on the issue of human rights obligations related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation, Catarina de Albuquerque, to report to the General Assembly annually. The initiative promotes progress to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to reduce social and economic harms by 2015, including decreasing the number of people who cannot reach or afford safe drinking water and do not have basic sanitation by half. The resolution also expressed concern that approximately 884 million people are without access to safe drinking water and more than 2.6 billion people lack access to basic sanitation.
US House approves commission to reform criminal justice system
The US House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill that would create a bipartisan commission charged with reviewing the US criminal justice system. The commission would also propose reforms and promote the reduction and prevention of violence and crime. According to House sponsor Bill Delahunt (D-MA), the US incarcerates 2.3 million people, with prison costs soon reaching $75 billion.
Four keys to improving your writing in English
Georgetown Law and Lex Mercator announce an upcoming Open Lecture entitled "Four Keys to Improving Your Writing in English". It will take place on Wednesday, August 4, at 5 p.m. Washington, D.C. The speaker will be Professor Debra Lee, co-author of "American Legal English" and U.S. law professor. Migalhas readers are invited, of course. To reserve a spot click here.
Stop yourself from making egregious e-mail errors
Etiquette in today's digital world can be tricky. Composing an e-mail is kind of like making out: Everyone assumes they know what they're doing, but in reality plenty of people could use some pointers. We're all pretty much constantly sending missives around the web. In 2009, worldwide e-mail traffic amounted to 247 billion messages per day. But practice doesn't make perfect, and myriad senders are horrifying recipients every day. Here are three big egregious e-mail mistakes you're probably making.
E-mail entry forms are not that complicated. We all understand how BCC (blind carbon copy) and Forward work. Why, then, do so many people persist in using them incorrectly -- awkwardly fumbling about in the internet ether? Use BCC when you're e-mailing a gazillion people and you don't want to junk up their inboxes with the recipient list, and/or you don't need everyone to see everyone else on the list. For example, if you're sending a mass e-mail to let your networking contacts know you're on the lookout for a new job, it wouldn't really be good form to give everybody the e-mail address of that big-shot VP your parents know. Also use BCC if you're giving a whole list of people bad news (e.g., that they didn't get a gig). Last year, Twitter published the e-mails of scads of rejected job applicants. Awkwardness and tail-between-the-legs sheepishness ensued. Do not use BCC to secretly let someone know an e-mail exchange is going down. You run the risk that the idiot will fail to notice he wasn't candidly CC'ed, in which case he can hit reply-all, blow your cover and create a situation so awkward, it rivals that walk of shame where you ran into your boss in the same clothes you wore to work the day before -- only backward. The smarter way to loop a buddy in (say, you want to clue a co-worker in on a client's latest display of stunning idiocy): Reply to the client, then forward the whole exchange to your colleague. Just bear in mind that said recipient is going to read everything in the convo up until that point. It's easy to be like, "Oh, we're talking about meeting up at Samson's, I'll forward this last one to Samson," forgetting that Samson is going to read six e-mails into your and Julie's personal e-mail exchange, where she reveals that last night's episode of "Friday Night Lights" really spoke to her about her and Jude's relationship problems.
In interoffice e-mails, especially, the purpose of an exchange is almost always to demand or supply information. In the give-and-take, you must remember the magic words your mom drilled into your head until you were huddled terrified in the corner, simpering into your Apple Jacks: please and thank you. When you request something via e-mail and get back what you need, it's easy to think, "Oh, I won't clutter up his tremblingly overstuffed inbox with a pointless note of gratitude." But if you say thanks as soon as you get the info, you won't throw off his e-mail-checking routine. Just try to respond quickly -- if it's been more than 20 minutes, skip the gratuitous gratitude and tack the thanks on to the next e-mail volley. ("I appreciate your sending me those survey results last week. I'd like to set up a meeting to discuss...") If you're the one providing the info, don't just paste it into the body of an e-mail and hit send without salutations or a sign-off. That just makes it sound like you're pissed off to have to help. "Here you go, thanks" takes three seconds to type, and prevents resentment from brewing in the bowels of your coworkers. Leave that to pay cuts, the hellish drone of fluorescent lights and increasingly bizarre money-saving schemes.
Show of hands: How many of you under-30s have ever received the following e-mail from a higher-up? "???" It's typically a response to your e-mail or a forward of something someone else said, right? And yeah, it feels like a nauseating shot of Wild Turkey and makes you momentarily hate your boss, right? Now imagine sending that same e-mail to your boss: She sends a note giving you a completely unrealistic new deadline, say, and you just hit Reply and give that question mark three jabs. Ridiculous, right? My friend even had a higher-up pepper a message with comic book-style cuss words: "There's no way I'm calling another #&$% meeting..." Classy. The rule here is simple: Address your employee the same way you'd address your boss. Unless you're still a two-finger typist, "I'm not clear why this hasn't been taken care of. Can you please send me a status report? Thanks," is not an onerous message to compose. If you're especially bad at judging how your e-mails come across, there's ToneCheck, a (slightly silly) plug-in that flags harsh phrases. If you can prevent your workers from feeling like Bazooka gum on the bottom of your shoe, surprise! -- they'll actually want to impress you. Kissing ass is a whole lot easier to master than the other kind.
Source: Andrea Bartz and Brenna Ehrlich, CNN.com
Before you open the door to the boardroom, peek through the keyhole!
Michael Page specializes in the placement of candidates in permanent, contract, temporary and interim positions within client companies around the world. Have a look at the new section of the Migalhas website and discover the professional development opportunities with large corporations, in legal and business fields, presented by Michael Page International. Click here to peep through the hole!
1 - Arizona Will Appeal Ruling on Immigration Law, Governor Says (Click here)
2 - Congress Passes Bill to Cut Federal Sentences in Crack Cocaine Cases (Click here)
3 - Immunity Granted for Lawyers to Testify Against Impeached Judge (Click here)
4 - New powers for Russia's FSB alarm rights activists (Click here)
5 - NYC judge rules that wearing low-slug trousers may look foolish but is not a crime (Click here)
6 - City will withdraw law that lets police impound vehicles (Click here)
7 - Court Declares Poet a Militant Leader (Click here)
8 - Malaysia toughens people-smuggling laws, tripling prison sentences and raising fines (Click here)
9 - US law to counter 'libel tourism' in British courts (Click here)
10 - Court upholds expulsion of counseling student who opposes homosexuality (Click here)
11 - Judge OKs law requiring pornographers to keep age records (Click here)
12 - N.Y. Governor committed no crimes in response to assault accusation against aide, says judge (Click here)
13 - Judge blocks Arizona Immigration Law for now (Click here)
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100% Migalhas: www.migalhas.com
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China overtakes Japan as No.2 economy
China has overtaken Japan to become the world's second-largest economy, the fruit of three decades of rapid growth that has lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty. Depending on how fast its exchange rate rises, China is on course to overtake the United States and vault into the No.1 spot sometime around 2025.
China allows release of IMF report
China has allowed the publication of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff report for the first time since 2006. Many commentators believe that China manipulates its exchange rate to give it a competitive advantage, keeping its value low in order to boost its exports. The European Union and the US have both called for China to allow its currency to strengthen, and last month Beijing took its first step toward making the yuan more flexible, when its central bank raised the centre point of the currency's official trading band.
China should cut foreign ore to one-third of needs, Steel Association says
China, the biggest buyer of iron ore, should reduce supplies by foreign companies to just one-third of its requirements by 2015 by boosting domestic output and investing overseas, the China Iron & Steel Association said. China wants to cut purchases from Vale SA, BHP Billiton Ltd. and Rio Tinto Group, which account for three-quarters of global trade, after they dropped a 40-year custom of setting annual prices and raised rates twice this year.
Ongoing follow-up key to turning prospects into clients
by Trey Ryder
Follow-up is critical to good marketing. Why? Because prospects may not be ready to hire you the moment they discover you.
Prospects may need time to get to know you. They may need time to evaluate whether they can trust you. They may need more facts to make their decision. Or they may not want to hire you until their circumstances change.
Whatever the reason, prospects may need time. And with time comes the opportunity for your prospect to contact other lawyers -- and for other lawyers' marketing efforts to get in your way.
To remain in the strongest competitive position, you need to stay in touch with prospects -- in an education-based way -- so when they decide to hire legal services, the lawyer they choose is you. This is why it's important that you identify your prospects and capture their names and addresses for your mailing list. (If your prospect does not want his partners, co-workers or spouse to know he has contacted you, ask him to get a post office box or e-mail address that is not known to the other parties.)
You want your first communication with a new prospect to be neutral and non-threatening. This is one reason your offer to mail an information packet can be so attractive. In addition, when you offer your packet by mail, you (obviously) ask for your prospect's name and mailing address. And your prospect (naturally) gives it to you, without raising his defenses as he would if he thought he would soon become the target of a sales pitch.
During the follow-up process, you strive for the highest level of personal interaction with your prospect -- hopefully, a personal conversation. When you speak with your prospect, you help your prospect feel at ease, you respond to your prospect's questions, and you help move the process forward so your prospect hires your services.
Make sure you build your follow-up efforts on answering questions and providing information. When your follow-ups focus on offering facts and advice, every time your prospect interacts with you, you reinforce the depth of your knowledge, skill and experience.
To stimulate a second contact from your prospect:
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Invite your prospect to a seminar or roundtable. This gives him the opportunity to talk with you and ask questions in a non-threatening setting.
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Offer to speak with your prospect over the telephone to answer questions or provide further information and advice.
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Offer to meet with your prospect in your office or his, so you can discuss his situation in more detail.
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In your information packet, and on your web site, provide a form on which your prospect can list his objectives. Ask him to fill out the form and send it to you -- or bring it to his first appointment with you.
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In your information packet, provide an intake or evaluation form. Ask your prospect to provide basic facts and then return the form for your review, in advance of your first conversation. Or he can bring it to your first meeting.
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Offer additional articles and educational handouts. While sending an article is not as personal as speaking with your prospect, if your prospect isn't ready to talk with you, his requesting an article is at least a cordial and educational contact. Plus, it keeps the flow of information going from you to your prospect.
You can extend all of these offers by mail or e-mail (through letters and newsletters) -- and on your web site.
I caution you NOT to conduct your follow-up effort by calling your prospect on the phone. An unwanted phone call labels you as a telephone solicitor and could cause your prospect to respond to you the same way he responds to other telemarketers In a few seconds, an uninvited phone call can destroy the credibility you've worked weeks or months to build.
How often should you follow up?
Frequency is more important than the amount of information you provide. For maximum impact, send your prospect something by mail (or e-mail) every five days for the first three weeks. Make sure whatever you send is designed to educate your prospect and help him make an informed decision.
After the first three weeks, follow up at least monthly. If you can send something twice monthly or weekly, that's even better.
You work hard to identify new prospects and add them to your mailing list. Now make sure you provide ongoing follow-up and take good care of your prospects. If you don't, hundreds of other lawyers will.
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© Trey Ryder
FREE LAWYER MARKETING ALERT: If you'd like to receive Trey Ryder's weekly Lawyer Marketing Alert, send an e-mail to [email protected]. Write "Subscribe LMA" in the subject line and write your name and e-mail address in the body of the message.
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Contratos
Ecuador entregará hoy el nuevo modelo de contratos de prestación de servicios a las petroleras privada y arrancará una difícil negociación entre partes ya que el gobierno busca asumir la totalidad de la producción de crudo de la nación sudamericana.
(Presione aquí)
Venezuela – Colombia
Reunión de Unasur concluye sin acuerdo de diálogo entre Venezuela y Colombia. (Presione aquí)
Empresas
Las empresas españolas ganan más en países sudamericanos que en la propia España. Países como Brasil y Argentina han sido nichos preferidos y de mayor lucro para empresas como Repsol, Telefónica y bancos como Bradesco y Santander. (Presione aquí)
Repsol
Pese a las ganancias, Repsol mantiene la idea de vender una parte de su tenencia en YPF en Argentina. Allí, el grupo Petersen posee el 15,1% de las acciones, con derecho para llegar al 25%. Para cumplir con ese paso, Repsol planeaba una oferta pública de acciones.
Anheuser-Busch InBev loses Budweiser name case
Global brewing giant Anheuser-Busch InBev has suffered a defeat in a long-running battle over the rights to the Budweiser beer brand. The European Court of Justice has ruled that AB InBev cannot have exclusive European rights to the Budweiser name. The ruling comes 14 years after its initial application to register the name as an EU trademark was blocked by Czech brewer Budejovicky Budvar. Budvar also uses the Budweiser name in several European markets. The ruling, which agreed with an earlier decision by the European General Court, means that Budvar retains exclusive rights to the Budweiser name in Germany. Most other European countries allow both companies to use the name. Anheuser Busch, which was bought by InBev in 2008, first began producing their Budweiser in 1875 in the US, while Budvar's use of the brand dates back to 1895.
Goldman Sachs bans naughty words in emails; an 'unlearnable lesson' on Wall Street?
There will never be another s— deal at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. In the wake of embarrassing profanity that came to light in recent Congressional hearings led by Sen. Carl Levin, Goldman Sachs has moved to prohibit employees from swearing in emails. The New York company is telling employees that they will no longer be able to get away with profanity in electronic messages. That means all 34,000 traders, investment bankers and other Goldman employees must restrain themselves from using a vast vocabulary of oft-used dirty words on Wall Street, including the six-letter expletive that came back to haunt the company at a Senate hearing in April.
Call to check on mobile network security
Mobile phone users are being encouraged to find out if operators are doing enough to keep their calls secret. Security researchers have released tools that, they say, make it easy to see what security systems operators use to stop eavesdropping. The researchers want to expose those operators that have not updated security systems to prevent others listening in. Most mobile calls are protected with an encryption system that uses a huge number of keys to stop eavesdropping. The vast amount of time it would take to try all the keys just to get at the contents of one call makes it effectively impossible to eavesdrop. GSM Association said: “the practical risk to customers is very low and spreading fear and panic amongst mobile users is inappropriate and regrettable."
Google cleared of wi-fi snooping
Google did not grab "significant" personal details when collecting data from wi-fi networks, according to the UK's Information Commissioner Office (ICO). The finding came after the body reviewed some of the data Google scooped up from unsecured networks. The French data protection authority said it had seen sensitive information, such as passwords, in the data during a preliminary examination.
The head above the parapet
US media have been making much of the fact that an American is in charge of BP for the first time. It seems to be a source of some satisfaction here. It's taken as an acknowledgement of the importance of the US to the company. It is America's largest producer of gas and oil, and a third of its reserves are here. Hayward didn't have the media skills or the right plans in place to parade along the parapet, without getting shot at. A change of accent may not be answered by a change of tone from the White House, which has previously insisted it's not who's in charge that matters, but that BP honors its promise to clean up and pay out. While BP's figures are startlingly good, given what it has to pay out, it is not out of the woods yet. Neither, of course are the people of the Gulf of Mexico, where the economic and environmental damage is still difficult to quantify.
Enron's former CEO, Jeffrey Skilling, applies for bail
The former chief executive of Enron, Jeffrey Skilling, has applied to be released from prison on bail. Skilling is serving a 24-year sentence for his role in the collapse of the energy giant in December 2001. The request follows a Supreme Court ruling that a law used to convict Skilling had been wrongly applied. That same ruling led to last week's release on bail of the Canadian-born media tycoon, Conrad Black. Both Skilling and media magnate, Conrad Black, were prosecuted using a statute known as the "honest services" law. In June the US Supreme Court ruled that this law should apply only to cases where bribes and kickbacks had changed hands. Neither Black nor Skilling were accused of these crimes. In 2006, Skilling was convicted for his part in an accounting fraud, which deceived the authorities and investors over the true state of Enron's finances. He was found guilty on 19 counts including conspiracy, fraud and insider trading. Enron founder, Kenneth Lay, was also convicted but died six weeks later as he awaited sentence.
U.K. author says he won't apologize for book on Singapore's death penalty
Alan Shadrake, the British author charged for contempt of court for challenging the integrity and independence of Singapore's judiciary, said he wouldn't apologize for his book on the city's death penalty. "I want to have my day in court," he said after his trial was adjourned today to allow his lawyer more time to prepare a defense of fair criticism and fair comment. "I didn't spend three years writing the book only to run away," Shadrake said.
Vodafone says no tax due in India, mulls IPO
Vodafone is confident the company doesn't have any taxes due in India in relation to its $11.2 billion acquisition of a majority stake in a local mobile phone operator and may discuss with its local partner the possibility of a public offer for its India unit. Indian authorities said Vodafone should have withheld tax on the government's behalf and that Vodafone is liable to pay tax that could total as much as $2.6 billion as the deal involved the transfer of an Indian asset. Vodafone International filed a high court appeal against the claim, saying it wasn't liable as it bought the stake from CPG Ltd. in a deal that took place on foreign soil. CPG is registered in the Cayman Islands and is owned by Hutchison Telecommunications International Ltd. A Bombay High Court judge is expected on Aug. 2 to hear arguments from the two sides over the question of jurisdiction. The court's decision could have far-reaching implications on how foreign companies view India as an investment destination. Some experts say a ruling against Vodafone could discourage multinational companies from pursuing big-ticket deals in India.
Vietnam's 19 insurers fined for colluding on fees by antitrust agency
Vietnam Competition Council fined 19 insurance companies including Bao Viet Holdings, the country's biggest listed insurer, for colluding to increase insurance fees for motor vehicles. The companies accounted for 99.79 percent of the country's market share in motor vehicle insurance in 2008 when 15 insurers signed a motor vehicle insurance agreement that four joined later that year.
Visa says U.S. Justice Department is considering antitrust lawsuit
Visa Inc. , the world's biggest payments network, fell as much as 5 percent after saying the U.S. Department of Justice may sue the company over a policy that bars merchants from charging extra to customers who pay with credit cards. (Click here)
Moody's says Spain may lose Aaa rating; U.S. needs 'clear plan'
Spain will probably lose its Aaa credit rating after the country was put under review for possible downgrade in June, and the U.S. needs a "clear plan" to tackle its deficit, Moody's Investors Service said. The U.S. faces a difficult task in trying to stimulate growth as its current debt trajectory would threaten the nation's top rating in the years ahead.
France president announces new measures against illegal Roma
French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday ordered measures against illegal Roma communities in France and announced new legislation aimed at making their deportation easier. The announcement comes a week after riots by members of the Roma community sparked by the shooting of a young man, resulting in the deployment of 300 troops. The government aims to dismantle half of illegal Roma camps in the country within three months and to immediately deport of all those found to have broken the law.
Spain judge orders arrest of US troops suspected of shooting journalist in Iraq
Spanish National Court Judge Santiago Pedraz issued an arrest warrant Thursday for three US troops suspected of gunning down Spanish journalist Juse Couso in Iraq. Couso, a television cameraman, was killed in 2003 when a US tank fired into the Palestine Hotel in Baghdad. The 3rd Division infantrymen named in the warrant, Sgt. Shawn Gibson, Capt. Philip Wolford and Lt. Col. Philip de Camp, maintain that they fired into the hotel at what they thought was an enemy combatant because they were being fired upon. A US military investigation has cleared them of wrongdoing, and US officials have said they will not extradite the soldiers. Pedraz said that he issued the warrant because the matter "may constitute a crime against the international community," and US officials have not cooperated in Spanish investigations into the incident.
Bangladesh high court outlaws religious parties
The Bangladeshi Supreme Court on Wednesday overturned a constitutional amendment that had allowed religious parties to participate in politics. The court, upholding a lower court decision, held that the Fifth Amendment to the Bangladeshi Constitution, which allowed the participation of religious political parties and legitimized military rule, violated the principle of secularism and representative democracy found in the Constitution's preamble. Relying heavily on the US Supreme Court decision of Marbury v. Madison to reinforce the notion of judicial review, the court found that the supremacy of the Constitution over the actions of government officials required them to strike down the amendment for violating the constitutional principles that the "heroic people ... sacrificed their lives."
Tribal law
Major reform in law enforcement is headed to Indian Reservations across North Dakota... and the United States. Obama signed the Tribal Law and Order Act. It reforms the justice system in Indian Country and will provide tribal communities with more resources to fight crimes. The new law will allow tribal governments to deputize state and local police officers as well... to help enforce laws on tribal lands.
And may the best nurdle win
A pair of toothpaste makers have squared off in court over a marketing icon, the "nurdle." For the uninitiated, the nurdle is that curvy squirt of toothpaste—perfectly shaped in advertisements—that people use to scrub their pearly whites. Toothpaste manufacturer Colgate-Palmolive Co. initiated the legal tussle Thursday morning by asking a judge to find that its packaging didn't infringe on the trademarks of rival manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline PLC, the maker of Aquafresh. The Aquafresh maker countered with its own suit in the same court Thursday afternoon, alleging that Colgate was attempting to "trade off the commercial magnetism" of Glaxo's Aquafresh brand. In a statement, the company said Glaxo created the "highly distinctive" tricolored nurdle design over two decades ago, and has used it ever since.
ACLU urges Obama administration to repudiate Bush-era national security policies
The Obama administration is in danger of entrenching some of the most draconian aspects of the Bush administration's controversial national security policy, warns a new report, from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) released Thursday. The report, titled "Establishing a New Normal: National Security, Civil Liberties, and Human Rights Under the Obama Administration," concludes that the first 18 months of the Obama White House betray a civil rights record that is "mixed, at best." Though the group concedes that "the Obama administration inherited a legal and moral morass" and has had some early successes reinstating certain civil rights protections undone by the Bush administration, it says that the Obama administration risks legitimizing controversial Bush-era policies through its refusal to take action to actively address the civil rights abuses those policies have perpetrated.
Russia court bans YouTube for extremist content
A Russian court on Wednesday made public a ruling banning access to five websites, including the video-sharing network Youtube, for what it calls extremist elements. A court in the city of Komsomolsk-on-Amur obliged the local Internet provider Rosnet to block access to the sites in its region of the country, citing Russia's anti-extremism laws. The decision came after a video entitled "Russia for Russians," also a Russian extremist slogan, was posted on YouTube. The other sites were blocked for containing excerpts of Adolf Hitler's book Mein Kampf, which was banned by the Russian Prosecutor General's Office in March after it was found in violation of laws against extremism.
Germany prosecutor charges former Nazi camp guard
Prosecutor Christoph Goeke of the German city of Dortmund announced Wednesday that former Nazi guard Samuel Kunz has been charged in relation to the murder of nearly half a million people during the Nazi regime. Kunz, who has admitted to working at the Belzec concentration camp from 1942-1943, is accused of helping to murder 430,000 Jewish people during his time at Belzec, and of shooting 10 other people in separate incidents. Kunz maintains that he never personally murdered anyone. Kunz has been called as a witness in the case of fellow accused Nazi war criminal John Demjanjuk. In May, a German court denied a motion to dismiss charges against Demjanjuk.
Pakistan flood death toll rises
Al Jazeera, Doha, Qatar
Saudi, Syrian Leaders Head to Lebanon Amid Tension
Asharq Al-Awsat, Pan-Arab daily, London, England
New judicial department to settle disputes over rights
Gulf News, Independent daily, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
U.S. hikers detained in Iran are like 'three Rachel Corries', says friend
Haaretz, Liberal daily, Tel Aviv, Israel
Dutch Christian Group Backs Settlements
IPS Middle East, International cooperative of journalists, Rome, Italy
Politicians try to bridge new ME divide
JPost, Conservative, Jerusalem, Israel
On cruise of compassion with Shaikh Hamdan
Khaleej Times, English-language daily, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
UAE- Tanker damage raises a tidal wave of questions
Middle East North African Network, Online financial portal, Amman, Jordan
3 U.S. Troops Killed, Deadliest Month of Afghan War
Nahamet, Online news portal, Beirut, Lebanon
Panel formed on Lebanon poll law
Saudi Gazette, English-language daily, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Arabs back direct peace talks when Abbas sees fit
The Daily Star, Independent daily, Beirut, Lebanon
Israeli military helicopter crashes in Romania
Times of Oman, English-language daily, Muscat, Oman
A campaign aims to raise youth's awareness on drugs
Yemen Observer, Sana'a, Republic of Yemen
The OPEC Fund for International Development Scholarship
Yemen Times, (Independent weekly), Sana'a, Republic of Yemen
MoD 'to pay for Trident renewal'
BBC News, Centrist newscaster, London, England
Venables identity 'to stay secret'
Daily Express, Conservative tabloid, London, England
At least 267 killed and thousands missing in Pakistan's worst flooding for 80 years
Daily Mail, Conservative daily, London, England
Qualcomm secures local investors for India LTE project
DMeurope, Online news portal, Amsterdam, Netherlands
LEBANON: Syrian and Saudi leaders head for Beirut to avert crisis
France 24, Issy-les-Moulineaux, France
Turkish Press Scan for July 30
Hurriyet Daily News, (Liberal, English-language), Istanbul, Turkey
Exclusive LOOK Discount: Get 20% Off Spoiled Brat
Look Magazine, London, England
Explosion halts production at Cumbrian factory
News & Star, Independent daily, Carlisle, England
Saudi, Syrian Leaders Visit Beirut In Bid To Ease Sunni-Shi'ite Tensions
Radio Free Europe, Prague, Czech Republic
Exclusive: Regulator's Concerns Over Royal Mail's 35-Year Pensions Deal
Sky News, Independent newscaster, Middlesex, England
Anarchy in Dagestan: Islamists Gain Upper Hand in Russian Republic
Spiegel International, Liberal newsmagazine, Hamburg, Germany
Iraq war intelligence was insubstantial, says Prescott
The Guardian, Liberal daily, London, England
Russia clamps down on Internet
The Independent, London, England
Central Bank raises economic forecast
The Irish Times, Centrist daily, Dublin, Ireland
On the Trail of City Funds Spent on Strays
The Moscow Times, Independent daily, Moscow, Russia
Venables pal wanted me for kid-sex game
The Sun, London, England
Chelsea Clinton's wedding draws closer
The Telegraph, London, England
Benefits could be localised
The Telegraph, Conservative daily, London, England
Six of world's best wild-water swims
Times Online, Conservative daily, London, England
Maluku to organize windsurfing competition
Antara News, News agency, Jakarta, Indonesia
Taiwan approves additional investment from China
China Post, English-language daily, Taipei, Taiwan
10th Seoul International Financial Forum Kicks Off
Chosun Ilbo, Conservative daily, Seoul, South Korea
Blast damages Nato oil tanker in Quetta
Dawn, English-language daily, Karachi, Pakistan
Children, AIDS and exclusion
Gazeta.kz, Official online newspaper, Kazakhstan
Red wine can suppress inflammation in humans
Hindustan Times, New Delhi, India
Transfer Sohrabuddin case outside Guj for 'fair trial': CBI
India Express, News portal, Mumbai, India
Candide
Japan Times, Independent centrist, Tokyo, Japan
Church arson: One acquitted but two brothers must enter defence
Malaysian Star, Online news portal, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
South African students fined for racist video
New Zealand Herald, Conservative daily, Auckland, New Zealand
Commander surrenders
Pajhwok Afghan News, (Independent news agency), Kabul, Afghanistan
3 leftist rebels killed in clash in N Philippines
People's Daily Online, English-language, Beijing, China
Men busy looking at scantily clad girls more likely to crash cars: UK study
Sify News, Chennai, India
Kickboxer's death in ring
Sydney Morning Herald, Centrist daily, Sydney, Australia
Floods wash chemicals into northeast China river
Taiwan News, English-language daily, Taipei, Taiwan
Historic photography exhibition opens in Taichung
Taiwan Today, Government Information Office, Taipei, Taiwan
People are sexually attracted to their kin, and their own selves
Thaindian News, Bangkok, Thailand
India-Russia nuclear talks hit liability snag
The Hindu, Left-leaning daily, Chennai, India
Pickton appeal ruling due Friday
Canadian Broadcasting Centre, Toronto, Ontario
IDB helps business projects
Caribbean360, Online news portal, St. Michael, Barbados
Minister extends public consultation on Conservation Law
Cayman Net News, Online news portal, George Town, Cayman Islands
Dominican agents combed the globe to nab Puerto Rican kingpin
Dominican Today, Independent daily, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
HONDURAS: Rights Situation Deteriorates
IPS Latin America, International cooperative of journalists, Rome, Italy
Shake-up at UWI
Jamaica Gleaner, Independent daily, Kingston, Jamaica
Peruvian economy will have the highest growth rate worldwide, says Consensus Forecast
Living in Peru, News portal, Lima, Peru
BlackBerry Vs. iPhone: The ultimate showdown
The Globe and Mail, Centrist daily, Toronto, Canada
Italy in political turmoil as Berlusconi party implodes
Toronto Star, Toronto, Ontario
ODPM, ministry on clean up job
Trinidad Guardian, Independent daily, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad
Four fined over SA 'racist video'
BBC News, Centrist newscaster, London, England
138 Dead after Boat Sinks on Kasai River
CongoPlanet.com, Independent online news aggregator
$US15 million spent on 2010 World Cup - Minister
GhanaWeb, Online news portal, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Mugabe's sister dies
iafrica, Online news portal, Cape Town, South Africa
Suicidal teen's body cut in half
Independent Online, News portal, Cape Town, South Africa
Ethiopia's Zenawi Gov jams its own ETV station
Jimma Times, Online news portal, Jimma, Ethiopia
Jub Jub trial set down for October
Mail & Guardian Online, Liberal, Johannesburg, South Africa
Nassif back on the stand
News24.com, Online news portal, Cape Town, South Africa
10 suspected pipeline vandals arrested
Vanguard, Independent daily, Lagos, Nigeria
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