June 25, 2010 Nº 923 - Vol. 8
"There are some ideas so wrong that only a very intelligent person could believe in them."
George Orwell
In today's Law Firm Marketing, Educational message increases confidence in you, skepticism in competing lawyers
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Kenya opens fast-track piracy court in Mombasa
A court to mainly try suspected pirates has opened in the Kenyan port of Mombasa, funded by international donors. Pirates based in neighboring Somalia have made the Gulf of Aden one of the world's most dangerous shipping lanes. Warships from several world powers now patrol the Indian Ocean but there has been confusion about where those arrested should face justice. Analysts say the court is a significant step forward in the fight against piracy although, officially, it will also be used for other serious criminal cases. (Click here)
Google's YouTube wins Viacom copyright case
Google has won a landmark ruling as a judge threw out a $1bn lawsuit brought by Viacom accusing the internet giant of allowing copyrighted material on its YouTube service without permission. Viacom had accused Google of "massive intentional copyright infringement". But the Manhattan judge said Google and YouTube could not be held liable merely for having a "general awareness" that videos might be posted illegally. Media conglomerate Viacom said it planned to appeal against the decision. Google called the ruling "an important victory". Judge Louis Stanton said in his ruling: "Mere knowledge of prevalence of such activity in general is not enough. The provider need not monitor or seek out facts indicating such activity. "YouTube was given notices, it removed the material... it is thus protected from liability" under a provision in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. (Click here)
Europe's antitrust chief shows leniency on fines
European antitrust regulators have long prided themselves on their toughness when it comes to cartel busting, throwing the book — and increasingly heavy fines — at violators. But the new competition commissioner, Joaquín Almunia, has so far shown a somewhat lighter touch, as more and more companies plead for leniency in tough economic times. Seventeen makers of toilets, bathtubs and sinks were fined a total of 622.3 million euros ($767 million) on Wednesday for fixing prices over a period of 12 years, but Almunia lowered penalties on five of them to avoid pushing them into bankruptcy. At a tricky time for the economy, Almunia said he could make similar exceptions in other coming cartel decisions. Although he did not give any details about those cases, they involve airlines that fixed prices on air cargo routes and makers of certain kinds of steel. And in another nod to the depth of economic troubles facing Europe, Almunia also said he would extend European Union approval for the public loan guarantees granted by Madrid to Spanish banks. Almunia, who took over from Neelie Kroes in February, insisted that he was just as tough on cartels and on other violations of European competition law as his predecessors.
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 - The eight dumbest financial laws of all time.(Click here)
2 - Senate passes motion urging government to ban burqa. (Click here
3 - UN chief says East Jerusalem demolition plan 'illegal'.(Click here)
4 - Philadelphia Newspapers head to court as buyer, Union negotiate.(Click here)
5 - Congress urged to give FDA power to regulate CT scans.(Click here)
6 - China rejects latest U.S. charge on yuan. (Click here)
7 - Assault conviction costs Lauaki Japanese contract. (Click here)
8 - Peru leader rejects indigenous land rights law. (Click here)
9 - Kerviel prosecutor seeks four-year prison sentence. (Click here)
10 - Australia reacts to its first female PM. (Click here)
11 - Kenneth Clarke announces review of legal aid. (Click here)
12 - Hellerstein approves respiratory illness settlement for 9/11 workers. (Click here)
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MiMIC Journal
China's export economy begins turning inward
China has long relied on workers from its interior to produce goods for export; to remake its economy, it is now counting on them to buy goods.
Taiwan and China agree details of key trade deal
Taiwan and China have finalised details of what many believe will be the most important agreement between the two sides in 60 years. The agreement - similar to a free-trade pact - will cut export tariffs and give more access to each other's market.
Beijing keeps a tight rein on currency's rise
The Chinese central bank set a reference rate for the renminbi on Wednesday at a level that signaled Beijing was engineering only a very gradual appreciation of the Chinese currency.
The billboard game that can help you write powerful headlines
by Tom Trush
When you were a kid, did you ever make up games while riding in the backseat on long road trips?
Maybe you looked for license plates from as many states as possible ... searched for a name on an object that began with each letter of the alphabet ... or slugged your sibling every time you saw a Volkswagen Beetle.
The last two weeks or so I've racked up many highway miles during our family's mega Midwest vacation. All this time on the road has given me a chance to create new games -- this time from the driver's seat.
The latest one involves billboards.
What I do is read billboards and then try to determine what they're promoting. When I find one that gets my attention, I take note because you can almost always adapt the content for a powerful, eyeball-grabbing headline.
It amazes me, however, how many times you can't figure out a company's product or service from the words used on its billboard. After all, like any advertising or marketing piece, you have only a split second to seize a prospect's attention on a billboard.
Below are four billboard headlines that left me confused. Can you match each headline to the appropriate company (the answers are at the end of this article)?
1. Put Your Ducks in a Row
2. The Place to Go for Answers
3. Join Us Out Here
4. Screwed or Just Celebrating
A. Leinenkugel Brewing Company
B. Link Billboards
C. SeniorBrigade.com
D. DivorceNetwork.com
The importance of a headline in any marketing or advertising piece can't be ignored because it's the only information most of your audience reads. If you don't communicate the biggest benefits of your product or service in your headlines, then there's little chance prospects will see anything else in your promotional materials.
Headline Answers: 1. B 2. C 3. A 4. D
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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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Petroleras
El gobierno de Ecuador presentará a las compañías petroleras, la próxima semana, los nuevos modelos contratos a los que deben regirse para seguir operando en el país. La renegociación arrancará en julio. Las multinacionales medianas como la Repsol se quedaran y a las petroleras chinas dice que se les ampliará su participación.
Petrobras
La estatal brasileña Petrobras informó que la Agencia de Crédito a la Exportación de Noruega (GIEK, Garanti-instituttet for eksportkreditt), aprobó un límite de crédito de hasta US$ 1.000 mlls., para financiar la contratación por parte de la petrolera de bienes y servicios de empresas noruegas de la industria del petróleo.
Venta
British Petroleum está buscando plata para pagar los US$ 20.000 mlls., (aunque la cadena de televisión CBS calcula que serían US$ 63.000 millones) por el derrame de petróleo en el golfo de México. En ese camino, en la prensa inglesa ya especulan que la compañía británica evalúa vender el 60% de Pan American Energy (PAE), la empresa argentina en la que es socia de Bridas (de la familia Bulgheroni y la china CNOOC).
Brasil – Argentina
Autoridades financieras de los gobiernos de Argentina y Brasil se reunieron el jueves en Sao Paulo para hablar por las trabas comerciales. Argentina reclamó por los trámites burocráticos que deben cumplir los exportadores nacionales de productos alimenticios, medicinales. Pidió que se limiten los plazos para aprobar en términos de normas sanitarias y técnicas el ingreso de bienes argentinos al mercado brasileño. Y se volvió debatir el déficit en el intercambio de autopartes.
Concesiones
La directora de hidrocarburos de Nicaragua, Verónica Artiles, dijo que no se debería permitir que Colombia ofrezca concesiones petroleras en aguas del Caribe cuyo control está disputando el país centroamericano en la Corte Internacional de Justicia
Petrobras delays offering
Petrobras said on Tuesday that it would defer a rights issue worth up to 150 billion reais ($85 billion) until September pending a government decision to evaluate certain oil assets. The Petrobras offering, on track to be the largest worldwide this year, was set for the end of the month and is intended to capitalize the company to finance its exploration of so-called pre-salt fields in deep waters off the coast of Brazil, where some oil reservoirs are buried below a salt stratum. The postponed issue, approved by shareholders the same day, will offer up to 60 billion reais ($34 billion) worth of preferred shares and up to 90 billion reais ($51 billion) in common stock — much larger than previously reported.
High Court restricts suits by foreign investors
The Supreme Court has put new limits on foreign investors who want to use United States securities law and domestic courts to sue foreign firms for fraud.
Deadlock over Zimbabwe 'blood diamond' trade
The organisation that controls the international diamond trade has failed to agree whether Zimbabwe should be allowed to resume diamond sales. The Kimberley Process suspended diamond exports from Zimbabwe last November in response to allegations of atrocities committed by security forces since 2008 against those who flocked to the Marange field when it was discovered. Zimbabwe's army took control of the Marange mines four years ago. Zimbabwe's government said on Wednesday that it planned to sell diamond stockpiles from Marange regardless of the Kimberley Process decision. But human rights groups want Zimbabwe to remain banned from selling "blood diamonds" - those which are used to fuel a conflict. Zimbabwe has accused the West of trying to hold back its economic development.
Conrad Black fraud case returns to court of appeal
A US appeals court has been told to look again at the convictions of Conrad Black, the newspaper tycoon currently serving a prison sentence for fraud. The US Supreme Court has set aside an earlier ruling upholding Black's convictions, saying that the government had not used the law correctly. The court gave a similar ruling in the case of Jeffrey Skilling - the former chief executive of Enron. The convictions of both men remain in place, however.
Justices limit use of 'Honest Services' law against fraud
The Supreme Court on Thursday significantly narrowed the scope of a law often used by federal prosecutors in corruption cases and called into question the fraud convictions of Jeffrey K. Skilling, a former chief executive of Enron, and Conrad M. Black, a newspaper executive convicted of defrauding his media company. The justices were unanimous in calling a broad interpretation of the law, which makes it a crime "to deprive another of the intangible right of honest services," unconstitutionally vague.
McChrystal forces us to focus
Gen. Stanley McChrystal's greatest contribution to the war in Afghanistan may turn out to be forcing everyone to focus on it. The real news there this week was not Gen. McChrystal's epic faux pas and dismissal but that 12 soldiers were killed on June 7-8, including five Ame ricans by a roadside bomb, making that "the deadliest 24 hour period this year.” In an extraordinary turn of events, Obama called General Stanley McChrystal on the carpet at the White House, relieved him of command and replaced him with his boss, General David Petraeus, architect of the Iraq war turnaround. "The conduct represented in the recently published article does not meet the standard that should be set by a commanding general," Obama said as he announced McChrystal's dismissal. "It undermines the civilian control of the military that is at the core of our democratic system. And it erodes the trust that's necessary for our team to work together to achieve our objectives in Afghanistan," he said. One of Gen. McChrystal's aides, in the Rolling Stone interview, said that if Americans "started paying attention to this war, it would become even less popular."
Argentina achieves new debt swap
Argentina says it has achieved a debt swap that moves it a step closer to resolving the difficulties caused by its huge default eight years ago. Creditors agreed to exchange two thirds of its outstanding bad debt for new bonds, in a deal worth around $12bn. The deal means Argentina has now settled 92% of the bad debt left from its sovereign default in 2001.
US Congress backs new sanctions against Tehran
The US Congress has overwhelmingly approved new sanctions against foreign companies that trade with Iran, over its nuclear program. Those firms that supply Iran's Revolutionary Guards or contribute to the country's energy industry are targeted by the bill.
Obama's Twitter hacker receives a suspended sentence
A 23-year-old Frenchman has been given a suspended jail sentence for hacking into US President Obama's account on micro-blogging site Twitter. He told the courtroom he hacked the account for the common good, to highlight privacy breaches.
Peru leader rejects indigenous land rights law
President Alan Garcia of Peru has refused to sign a law that would give indigenous people more power to stop oil and mining projects on their lands. The law was approved by Congress, but Garcia said he could not let indigenous communities stop development that would benefit all Peruvians. Native groups and opposition politicians have criticized the move.
Kenya court allows prisoners to vote in constitutional referendum
The Kenyan Interim Independent Constitutional Dispute Resolution Court ruled Wednesday that prisoners of sound mind will be allowed to vote in a referendum on the country's proposed constitution. Kenya's current constitution bans convicts from voting in presidential, parliamentary and civic elections, but convicts from Kenya's Shimo La Tewa Prison petitioned the court to allow them to vote in the referendum, arguing that it does not fall under any of the banned categories.
Pakistan court reimposes ban on YouTube for offensive content
A Pakistani court on Wednesday reimposed a ban on the video sharing network YouTube after content deemed offensive to Muslims resurfaced on the website when a previous ban was lifted last month. The court also restricted access to Yahoo, MSN, Hotmail, Google, Islam Exposed, In The Name Of Allah, Amazon and Bing. The court ordered the ban after evidence of content on the websites regarding the Prophet Muhammad and the Koran was presented at a hearing. Depicting the Prophet Muhammad is considered blasphemous by Muslims, who make up the overwhelming majority of the population in Pakistan.
Second open skies deal signed
EU transport ministers have signed a second "open skies" agreement with the US at a meeting in Luxembourg. The new deal, which follows the first open skies agreement of 2007, is designed to make it easier for US and European airlines to buy each other. Currently there are limits to foreign ownership of US and EU airlines. European carriers can only own 25% of US airlines at present, while US carriers can take 49.9% stakes in their European competitors. The deal should see those limits raised, though the new levels have yet to be decided.
Belgian Catholic offices raided in sex abuse probe
Belgian authorities have raided the headquarters of the Belgian Catholic Church during an investigation into child sex abuse claims. A spokesman for the Brussels prosecutors' office confirmed that the palace of the archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels had been sealed off. Police also raided the home of retired Archbishop Godfried Danneels. Prosecutors were looking for material relating to allegations of sex abuse. Belgium is one of several countries in which a stream of abuse claims have shaken the Church.
States can disclose petition signers
The US Supreme Court said people who signed a petition to repeal Washington state's gay rights law do not have the right to keep their names secret from the public.
EU fines bathroom cartel 622m euros
Seventeen bathroom equipment makers have been fined a total of 622m euros ($760; £510m) by the European Commission for price-fixing. The companies, including Ideal Standard of the US, which was fined 326m euros, formed a cartel for 12 years covering ceramics such as sinks, baths and taps. They coordinated prices in Germany, Austria, Italy, Belgium, France and the Netherlands. The fines of five companies were reduced to a level they could afford. The Commission described the firms' practices as "very serious infringements of the EU competition rules".
Obama: US-Russia ties 'reset'
Al Jazeera, Doha, Qatar
Al Qaeda Recruiters Target Algeria's Young Jobless
Asharq Al-Awsat, Pan-Arab daily, London, England
Abdullah calls for closer ties at Arab-Pacific forum
Gulf News, Independent daily, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
IDF strikes Gaza for first time since flotilla raid
Haaretz, Liberal daily, Tel Aviv, Israel
Israelis Keep the Trigger Tight
IPS Middle East, International cooperative of journalists, Rome, Italy
Top Five Scams in the Middle East
JPost, Conservative, Jerusalem, Israel
Nigerian politician denied bail
Khaleej Times, English-language daily, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Rising unemployment among Saudis
Middle East North African Network, Online financial portal, Amman, Jordan
G8 Leaders Gather in Canada Amid Airtight Security Blanket
Nahamet, Online news portal, Beirut, Lebanon
Panel formed on Lebanon poll law
Saudi Gazette, English-language daily, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Trade in focus as Russia's Medvedev visits Obama
The Daily Star, Independent daily, Beirut, Lebanon
Iran says has enriched 17 kg uranium to 20 percent purity
Times of Oman, English-language daily, Muscat, Oman
SAS deploys in Yemen to hunt al-Awlaki
Yemen Observer, Sana'a, Republic of Yemen
The OPEC Fund for International Development Scholarship
Yemen Times, (Independent weekly), Sana'a, Republic of Yemen
Cameron urges focus at G8 summit
BBC News, Centrist newscaster, London, England
Jamaican gang leader arrives to face US charges
BreakingNews.ie, Online news portal, Cork, Ireland
Tobacco firm challenges Scotland's ban on shop display
Daily Express, Conservative tabloid, London, England
David Cameron tours Ark Royal and warns of more British casualties as four die in Afghanistan
Daily Mail, Conservative daily, London, England
RIM ships 11.2 million BlackBerrys in May quarter
DMeurope, Online news portal, Amsterdam, Netherlands
CANADA: Ontario hosts world leaders at G8 and G20 summits
France 24, Issy-les-Moulineaux, France
The week at the movies
Hurriyet Daily News, (Liberal, English-language), Istanbul, Turkey
Victoria Beckham: Running Out Of Clothes?
Look Magazine, London, England
OAP knocked down near Carlisle superstore
News & Star, Independent daily, Carlisle, England
Wife Of Missing Scientist Calls For International Help To Bring Him Home
Radio Free Europe, Prague, Czech Republic
Cameron Arrives In Canada Ahead Of G20
Sky News, Independent newscaster, Middlesex, England
Picture This: Fire Light
Spiegel International, Liberal newsmagazine, Hamburg, Germany
Budget cuts: top Lib Dems fire warning to Tories
The Guardian, Liberal daily, London, England
England dressing room fan facing court
The Independent, London, England
IMF urges support for homeowners
The Irish Times, Centrist daily, Dublin, Ireland
Apple CEO Advises Medvedev to Change Russian Mentality
The Moscow Times, Independent daily, Moscow, Russia
4 Brit soldiersdrown in truck
The Sun, London, England
Salma Hayek: Actress reveals love of eating insects
The Telegraph, London, England
Australian coup: the rise and fall of Kevin Rudd
The Telegraph, Conservative daily, London, England
Bull 1, Mexican matador: never again
Times Online, Conservative daily, London, England
Another of Gayus's former superiors arrested
Antara News, News agency, Jakarta, Indonesia
Early harvest lists finalized at ECFA meet
China Post, English-language daily, Taipei, Taiwan
10th Seoul International Financial Forum Kicks Off
Chosun Ilbo, Conservative daily, Seoul, South Korea
The genesis of violence
Dawn, English-language daily, Karachi, Pakistan
Turkey to unveil monument to Kazakhstan's president
Gazeta.kz, Official online newspaper, Kazakhstan
Japanese to sleep early to cut carbon emissions
Hindustan Times, New Delhi, India
Masseuse accuses Al Gore of sexual assault in 2006
India Express, News portal, Mumbai, India
Rains cool Delhi, more in store
India Times, Conservative daily, New Delhi, India
Artists offer wares at Kobe swap shop for a song and a dance
Japan Times, Independent centrist, Tokyo, Japan
Mining tax issue Gillard's priority
New Zealand Herald, Conservative daily, Auckland, New Zealand
Commander surrenders
Pajhwok Afghan News, (Independent news agency), Kabul, Afghanistan
Syria's Assad, Jordanian king discuss bilateral relations
People's Daily Online, English-language, Beijing, China
Humans will be extinct within 100 years, says Oz scientist
Sify News, Chennai, India
Kiwis gutted at Cup exit
Sydney Morning Herald, Centrist daily, Sydney, Australia
China 'concerned' over Japan stance
Taiwan News, English-language daily, Taipei, Taiwan
Government to support soft power of pop music
Taiwan Today, Government Information Office, Taipei, Taiwan
Footballer's body betrays whether penalty kick will swerve to left or right
Thaindian News, Bangkok, Thailand
India, Pakistan to focus on the doable
The Hindu, Left-leaning daily, Chennai, India
3 deaths in Edmonton blast ruled homicides
Canadian Broadcasting Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Dudus on the way to the US
Caribbean360, Online news portal, St. Michael, Barbados
Police seize weapons suspected in crimes
Cayman Net News, Online news portal, George Town, Cayman Islands
Barrick Gold says 35 workers got sick, not 150
Dominican Today, Independent daily, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Not Everyone in Peru Is Winning Championship Against Poverty
IPS Latin America, International cooperative of journalists, Rome, Italy
Dudus vs USA
Jamaica Gleaner, Independent daily, Kingston, Jamaica
Joran van der Sloot claims rights were violated by Peru police
Living in Peru, News portal, Lima, Peru
The strange case of the artist and the hacker
The Globe and Mail, Centrist daily, Toronto, Canada
Pilot killed in crash near Buttonville airport
Toronto Star, Toronto, Ontario
?Firm pleads guilty in worker's death
Trinidad Guardian, Independent daily, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad
Diamond body divided on Zimbabwe
BBC News, Centrist newscaster, London, England
Report Says Uganda's Elusive LRA Rebel Almost Caught Last Year
CongoPlanet.com, Independent online news aggregator
Government will never abandon agric production-Ofosu-Ampofo
GhanaWeb, Online news portal, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Police raid Catholic HQ
iafrica, Online news portal, Cape Town, South Africa
We're still looking for coach, says Safa
Independent Online, News portal, Cape Town, South Africa
Ethiopian man assaults woman in US
Jimma Times, Online news portal, Jimma, Ethiopia
Portugal expect 'beautiful game' against Brazil
Mail & Guardian Online, Liberal, Johannesburg, South Africa
Bus crashes into river, 21 hurt
News24.com, Online news portal, Cape Town, South Africa
Ohakim dissolves boards of parastatals
Vanguard, Independent daily, Lagos, Nigeria
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