Why a top law firm teaches its lawyers to be more like MBAs

Turning law students into lawyers has traditionally been the job of law schools. One major New York firm has decided three years of traditional legal training is not enough to make its rookies practice-ready. At Skadden Arps, one of the country's largest law firms, new hires must undergo five weeks of intensive business training, which they refer to as a mini-"virtual MBA." The approach is part of a growing push within the legal industry to equip lawyers with a deep understanding of finance and accounting at the start of their careers.

US orders ban on trans-fats

Trans-fats are unsafe to eat and must be banned from the food supply within three years, US regulators have said. The US Food and Drug Administration said partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), the main source of trans-fats, are not "generally recognized as safe". It said a ban would save lives by preventing fatal heart attacks. Food suppliers have been required to show trans-fats information on food labels since 2006 but health experts say Americans still consume too much.

US House votes to buy time for Obama's trade agenda

The US House voted 236 to 189 to give itself six more weeks to sort out tangled legislation involving trade. The House Republican leaders prodded their members to approve a rule change that extends time for a second vote on one part of a trade package. This portion, called Trade Adjustment Assistance, failed on Friday. That outcome tripped up the entire package, which also would have granted Trade Promotion Authority to the president. Now lawmakers have until July 30 — just before the August recess — to try to find compromises to pass the entire package and get it to Obama for his signature. The House vote to keep the trade agenda alive will be exceptionally complicated. But it's important to businesses and unions.

Unions hold fast against new trade deal

Labor unions argue it's yet another deal that will erode American jobs and benefit corporations. But labor specialists say there's a flip side: Companies more engaged in global trade pay higher wages. If the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal isn't revived in the next few days, labor unions will have helped defeat one of President Obama's main foreign policy goals. But what will defeating the TPP, an agreement that covers 12 nations along the Pacific Rim, do for labor?

Brazil prosecutors call for halt to Amazon dam evictions

Federal prosecutors in Brazil have called for the authorities to stop the eviction of at least 2,000 families living in an area of the Amazon jungle where a huge dam is being built. The prosecutor's office says the consortium building the Belo Monte dam has broken numerous agreements on the relocation of residents. Most of the people facing eviction are from indigenous groups. Belo Monte will be the world's third largest hydro-electric dam. The Brazilian prosecutor's office has produced a preliminary report that "recommends urgent intervention in the process to halt the demolitions and the violation of rights of the population evicted".

Nato condemns Putin's nuclear 'sabre-rattling'

Nato has condemned Russia's move to strengthen its nuclear arsenal, saying it amounted to "nuclear sabre-rattling" and was "unjustified" and "dangerous". Putin said Russia would put more than 40 new intercontinental ballistic missiles into service this year. It is part of a wide-reaching program to modernize the country's military. The move comes after the US proposed increasing its military presence in Nato states in Eastern Europe. Tensions are high over Russia's role in the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

EU ministers split on migrant quotas

EU ministers fail to agree on a plan to relocate migrants, as Italian police scuffle with a group on the French border. In EU circles, the word "solidarity" is being bandied about more than ever - but those using it are invariably arguing for something in their own national interest. The migration crisis in the Mediterranean makes the biggest mockery of the EU claim to always stand by those in pursuit of peace and human dignity. Many EU governments and citizens undoubtedly are horrified at the human suffering, fewer are keen on welcoming migrants, caring for them socially and medically and paying for them to start new lives, particularly in the wake of a biting economic crisis, whose tooth marks are still evident all over the continent.

Brazil's cybercrime free-for-all: many scams and little punishment

Brazil can claim to be a world leader in Internet fraud. It may not seem intuitive to associate Brazil with cybercrime, but the country was an early adapter of online banking and that helped create opportunities for online theft. Most schemes have targeted other Brazilians but now they hit farther afield in places like the United States. Cybercriminals who have been caught tend to fit a profile: well-educated, upper-middle-class males from 25 to 35 years old. It's an attractive business to be in because it pays well and you rarely get caught. Brazil passed its first cybercrime law at the end of 2012 — and it was done in a rush only after a soap opera star had private pictures hacked from her account. The laws are completely ineffective and inefficient, analysts say. Most cybercrimes involve only light penalties such as house arrest or a fine. Federal and State cybercrime divisions are understaffed and underfunded. Despite the fact that Brazilians are obsessed with social media and Internet use, they aren't educated in how to protect themselves online and so they frequently fall for scams.

Vatican prosecutor indicts defrocked priest on pedophilia charges

Jozef Wesolowski, the former Vatican ambassador to the Dominican Republic, is the first person arrested in the Vatican on charges of pedophilia. If convicted, he could face up to 12 years in jail.

Facebook taken to court over privacy

Facebook is being taken to court by the Belgian privacy commissioner over claims it tracks people across the web. The country's Privacy Protection Commission (CPP) also accused Facebook of tracking the browsing habits of non-users, as well as its own members. The action follows criticism of Facebook by the same body in May. Facebook said it was surprised that the CPP had taken the "theatrical action" because it was due to meet the watchdog this week to discuss its concerns.

Egypt court upholds ex-president Morsi's death sentence

An Egyptian court upheld the death sentence of deposed president Mohammed Morsi on Tuesday after consulting the grand Mufti, Egypt's highest religious figure and a government advisor on Islamic law. The death sentence was originally imposed in May, with more than 100 other defendants sentenced to death in absentia. The sentences were ordered as a punishment for involvement in the 2011 uprising and prison break that ousted then-president Hosni Mubarak. Also on Tuesday Morsi was sentenced to life in prison for spying and "colluding with foreign governments." Muslim Brotherhood Freedom and Justice Party spokesman Nader Oman expressed surprise and said the defendants were not given an opportunity to defend themselves. The verdict may be appealed to Egypt's highest court.

Romania council rejects changes to anti-corruption laws

Romania's Superior Magistrates' Council on Monday rejected 22 proposals that would have made it harder to fight top-level corruption. The proposals, developed by the governing Social Democratic Party, would have changed the law to make it harder to arrest lawmakers for corruption-related offenses including conflict of interest. Although the decision is not binding, Justice Minister Robert Cazanciuc said he intends to recommend that the Romanian Parliament refuse any such changes. The magistrates' body's decision comes in the wake of an announcement ten days ago that prosecutors suspect Premier Victor Ponta of money laundering, forgery, tax evasion and conflict of interest.

High Court rejects lawyers' claim for defense of fees

The US Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on Monday in Baker Botts v. ASARCO that law firms representing those undergoing bankruptcy proceedings cannot recoup fees incurred when defending the fees they originally charged their client. Under Chapter 11 bankruptcy rules, lawyers and others providing services to bankruptcy debtors can receive fees for "actual, necessary services rendered." Baker Botts had represented ASARCO in bankruptcy proceedings starting in 2005 and was awarded $113M for the representation. It also sought, and was originally awarded, $5.1M for fees incurred while defending the original fees after ASARCO challenged them. Writing for the majority, Justice Clarence Thomas held that defending these fees was not a service rendered to the debtor and was therefore not covered under the section

• Daily Press Review

'Elephant rockets' kill dozens in Damascus suburb
Al Jazeera, Doha, Qatar

Former Turkey President Demirel, twice toppled by military, dies at 90
Haaretz, Liberal daily, Tel Aviv, Israel

Sex offences against children rise
BBC News, Centrist newscaster, London, England

Warriors win 1st NBA title since 1975, down Cavaliers 105-97
CNN International, London, England

Cara Delevingne looks glamorous at Berlin Paper Towns photocall
Daily Mail, Conservative daily, London, England

Muslims MUST stop blaming others for young's radicalization?, writes Manzoor Moghal†
Daily Mail, Conservative daily, London, England

Moscow's nuclear 'sabre-rattling' is 'unjustified' and 'dangerous,' says NATO chief
EuroNews, International news, Ecully Cedex, France

Russia to add 40 missiles to nuclear arsenal
France 24, Issy-les-Moulineaux, France

?zmir heritage sites filling state coffers
Hurriyet Daily News, (Liberal, English-language), Istanbul, Turkey

US man arrested after setting ex-girlfriend's dog on fire following argument
Independent The, London, England

Major Ukrainian TV provider drops Russian channels
Moscow News The, Independent, Moscow, Russia

Rachel Dolezal, civil rights activist who pretended to be African-American, questions her white parentage
Telegraph The, Conservative daily, London, England

Foo Fighters cancel remaining UK and European tour dates
Telegraph The, Celebrity news, London, England

Taipei Dome isn't banks' burden: Ko
China Post, English-language daily, Taipei, Taiwan

Pantech Finds Last-Minute Savior
Chosun Ilbo, Conservative daily, Seoul, South Korea

NATO denounces Putin's nuclear plans as 'sabre-rattling'
Hindustan Times, New Delhi, India

Kandla officer who alleged Rs 1,000cr scam suspended
India Times, Conservative daily, New Delhi, India

Chubu Electric pushes Hamaoka reactor toward restart; residents divided
Japan Times, Independent centrist, Tokyo, Japan

Amnesty accuses Myanmar government of intimidating media
New Zealand Herald, Conservative daily, Auckland, New Zealand

Ukraine President cancels trip over protests in eastern Ukraine
Straits Times, Pro-government, Singapore

Beat the post holiday blues
Sydney Morning Herald, Centrist daily, Sydney, Australia

Former Turkey President Suleyman Demirel, twice toppled by military, dies at 90
The Economic Times, Business, Mumbai, India

Russia arms buildup 'destabilizing' and 'dangerous,' NATO warns
Canadian Broadcasting Centre, Toronto, Ontario

Ponte tower is Africa's tallest and most notorious residential building
Globe and Mail The, Centrist daily, Toronto, Canada

Liberty Reserve Brought Down By 'Joe Bogus': How The Feds Arrested Arthur Budovsky
International Business Times, Business news organization, New York, U.S

Adaptation Funding a Key Issue for Caribbean at Climate Talks
IPS Latin America, International cooperative of journalists, Rome, Italy

Asia shares, dollar dither as focus turns to Fed
Reuters, Business News, New York, U.S

Former Turkey President Demirel, twice toppled by military, dead at 90 - hospital
Reuters, World News, New York, U.S

Toronto elementary students will get report cards despite teachers' work-to-rule efforts
Toronto Star, Toronto, Ontario

Court upholds Morsi death sentence
BBC News, Centrist newscaster, London, England

-----

How are we doing?