China not considering eliminating death penalty for corruption

The National People's Congress never considered removing the death penalty as a punishment for corruption during the consideration of an amendment to the criminal code, legislator Chen Sixi stated Tuesday. The proposed amendment, which would reduce the number of capital crimes, was presented to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) last month, of which Chen is a member. The current criminal code in China outlines 68 criminal offenses that carry the death penalty. If adopted, the proposed legislation would eliminate death sentences for 13 non-violent economic crimes, including smuggling and fraud-related activities, and would be the first time the number of crimes carrying the death penalty has been reduced since the enactment of China's criminal law in 1979. The amendment also proposes expanding capital punishment exceptions to criminals over the age of 75. Previously, only pregnant women and criminal offenders under the age of 18 were exempt from the death penalty. The proposed legislation is the latest move by the Chinese government to reduce the number of death sentences ordered by the country's courts.

Sinopec to invest $7.1 billion in Repsol's Brazil unit

China Petrochemical Corp., the country's second-largest oil and gas producer, will invest $7.1 billion in Repsol YPF SA's Brazilian unit as the Spanish oil company raises funds to develop offshore projects. Repsol has stakes in blocks in Brazil's Santos, Campos and Espirito Santo basins, and has said it plans to invest as much as $5 billion there from 2010 through 2014, and as much as $9 billion from 2015 through 2019. 

China issues US yuan bill warning

China has warned that a US bill aimed at penalising it for currency manipulation could "harm relations" between the two economic giants. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said China was "resolutely opposed" to the bill, which treats undervalued currencies as illegal export subsidies. China is accused of keeping the yuan artificially low to help its exporters.

US billionaires host banquet for China's wealthiest

US billionaires Bill Gates and Warren Buffett have hosted a dinner in Beijing for 50 of China's richest people. At a news conference, the pair said they discussed philanthropy in China and how to encourage people to give more to charity. The two men have already convinced a number of extremely wealthy Americans to give away half their fortunes. There was great secrecy surrounding the event, which came amid reports wealthy invitees had been reluctant to attend. Gates said he had heard some interesting ideas, but he said that China's economic reforms had only recently started to produce rich people - and many of them were still unsure about what to do with their money.

• Law Firm Marketing

How to make referring clients easy for friends, colleagues

by Trey Ryder

You want referrals. Yet you can't be sure whether friends and colleagues remember the types of cases you handle, your new address, or other information they want to give someone who needs your services.

Here's the solution: Don't rely on your friend's memory. Instead, give him a few of your referral brochures, which he can pass along to anyone he wants to refer.

What's a referral brochure?

It's a simple brochure that you give to your referral sources, which they pass along to prospective clients they want to send your way. Here are various formats and contents you might consider:

Format #1: Single sheet, 8.5" x 11". Headline: At the top of the sheet, offer one or more articles available from your office. Body: Describe the problem your prospect faces -- and what he will learn from reading your article. The more your prospect benefits, the more excited he grows about requesting your information, so go into plenty of detail.  Response Area: In the bottom one-third of the sheet, create a coupon your prospect can fill in and mail back. Also, provide your contact information so your prospect can call or send an e-mail, if he prefers.

Format #2: Brochure made from an 8.5" x 11" sheet, folded into thirds. From the left edge, use the first two panels to feature a personal message over your signature, your biography and your photograph. Also, include a detailed list of your services. Use the far right panel as a reply postcard.  (To meet post office requirements, you must print this brochure on card stock that meets post office reply card specs.)

On one side of the reply card, write the copy so your prospect can indicate whether he wants to schedule an office appointment, schedule a phone appointment, request your packet of materials, request your newsletter, and so forth. Your prospect can check whichever option(s) he wants. The other side of the postcard should be pre-addressed with your business reply permit information so prospects can return the card to you without applying postage. Make sure this reply card panel is perforated so your prospect can easily tear it off and drop it into the mail.

Format #3:  ame as format #2 above, with two panels rather than three. In this case, the left panel contains your personal message, bio, photo and services. The right panel is the reply postcard.

For convenience, all of these formats easily fit into a #10 business envelope. You might send three or four referral brochures to each known referral source. You might also send them to past clients and other professionals, asking them to pass one along to a friend or colleague who might need your services. 

When you put referral brochures into people's hands, the brochures serve as a visible reminder that you want and welcome referrals. Plus, you help your friends because they no longer have to rely on their memory to recall the types of cases you handle, your new office address, or any other facts they need.

And with memories fading (at least mine is), the easier you make it for friends to send you referrals, the more referrals you'll receive.

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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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Tell your friends and colleagues you've read it in Migalhas International

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• Historia Verdadera

Sublevación

Ecuador vivió el jueves una rebelión policial desencadenada por la aprobación de una ley que recorta los gastos de burocracia estatal e implica la reducción de salarios y otros beneficios del sector. El presidente Rafael Correa calificó el hecho como un intento de golpe. La rebelión que termino con un enfrentamiento entre policías y militares provocó una reunión de emergencia del Unasur en Argentina.

Exploraciones 

La argentina YPF, filial de la española Repsol, comenzará a explorar las aguas profundas de la Cuenca de Malvinas a fin de año, con una inversión de US$ 150 mlls. La operación estará a cargo de YPF y sus socios Pan American Energy y la brasileña Petrobras.

Vale

La brasileña Vale concluyó la adquisición de una participación adicional de 20,27% en Vale Fertilizantes - anteriormente denominada Fosfértil -  a The Mosaic Company por US$ 1.029,81 mlls. 

Banca

Un bono por US$ 500 millones, a 10 años plazo y con intereses semestrales, colocó BancoEstado de Chile en los mercados internacionales de Estados Unidos, Europa y Asia.

• Brief News

US House passes China currency sanctions bill

The US House of Representatives has backed legislation that would pave the way for trade sanctions on China. The Democrat-backed bill passed by 348 to 79, and targets countries that hold down the value of their currencies, as many accuse China of doing. To become law, the bill would also need to be passed by the Senate - unlikely before November mid-term elections - and then signed by President Obama. China said the bill contravened World Trade Organization rules.

Court boost for Ukraine president

Ukraine's constitutional court has boosted the powers of President Viktor Yanukovych by reversing a reform introduced in 2004. It ruled that the reform, which curbed presidential powers in favour of parliament, had been unconstitutional. The move had given parliament the right to name the prime minister and most of the cabinet members.

Ecuador leader rescued from siege

President Rafael Correa makes a triumphant speech to supporters after being rescued by Ecuadorean troops from a hospital besieged by militant police.

New equality rights in workplace come into force in the UK

New rules aimed at banning discrimination by employers, covering areas such as age, disability and pay, have come into force. The Equality Act covers many workplace areas and draws nine separate pieces of legislation into a single Act. Equalities Minister Theresa May says it will now be easier for firms to comply with anti-discrimination rules. However, some business groups argued the new legislation will impose a heavy burden on employers. The new law restricts the circumstances in which employers can ask job applicants questions about disability or health prior to offering them a position, making it more difficult for disabled people to be unfairly screened out. There are also new powers for employment tribunals. The Act will also stop employers using pay secrecy clauses to prevent employees discussing their own pay, which means men and women can compare pay. But the Act will not make employers reveal how much they pay men compared with women, as had been planned by the Labour government. Some campaigners argued that this revision undermined the new legislation.

UN to publish Congo rights report

The UN prepares to publish a controversial report on human rights violations in the DR Congo in the 1990s which has angered Rwanda and Uganda.

Nigeria marks 50 years of freedom

The people of Nigeria - Africa's most populous country - have begun celebrations to mark 50 years since independence from the UK. Nigeria is a major oil producer yet most people live in poverty. More than 200 different ethnic groups co-exist in an uneasy coalition and the scars of numerous coups and a civil war are still visible.

Securities lawyers mixed on 'Wall Street 2'

According to four prominent securities lawyers, Oliver Stone's latest film, Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps, may be a decent movie, but it took the wrong message away from the economic collapse of 2008.

Baader-Meinhof murder trial opens in Germany

A former member of the radical far-left Red Army Faction (RAF) militant group has gone on trial in Germany over the 1977 murder of a federal prosecutor. Verena Becker, 58, was arrested last year for her suspected role in the ambush of Siegfried Buback. Two men escorting him were also shot dead. Police said there was DNA evidence implicating Ms Becker on a letter in which the RAF claimed responsibility. The RAF, also called the Baader-Meinhof gang, killed more than 30 people.

Scores of lawyers apply for lead counsel in BP litigation

More than 100 lawyers who are suing BP over the Deepwater Horizon oil spill have applied for coveted places on the committee that will lead the multidistrict litigation, citing either the extensive work they've already done or the unique role they would serve as the representative of a specific group of alleged victims.

What an Akin-Orrick merger would look like

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld and Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe have confirmed that the two firms are in the early stages of merger talks. While that certainly doesn’t mean a combination is a sure thing, it does beg the question of what a union of the two firms would look like.

Air France-KLM faces legal claims it fixed cargo rates

Air France-KLM and sister cargo carrier Martinair are being sued by hundreds of European companies, led by Ericsson and Philips, the firms' lawyer says. The carriers face claims of up to 500m euros ($681m; £432m) in compensation for alleged air cargo price-fixing. They say they were overcharged by 10% on international air freight between 2000 and 2007 because of an illegal price-fixing deal between airlines.

Whirlpool unit fined along with Panasonic

Panasonic and Whirlpool will plead guilty to conspiring to fix prices on refrigerant compressors and pay $140.9 million in criminal fines.

IMF says ratings agencies should tighten procedures

Credit rating agencies should be more tightly supervised, the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) half-yearly Financial Stability Report has said. The IMF says agencies have an impact on funding costs for debt issuers, and can affect financial stability. They can also influence fund managers about which bonds to hold. The report says that although there are 70 agencies worldwide only three - Moody's, Fitch, and Standard and Poor's - have a global scope.

Dozens allegedly used Zeus Trojan virus to steal millions from U.S. bank accounts

Hackers in Eastern Europe used computer viruses to steal usernames and passwords, and teamed up with foreign students who opened bank accounts in the U.S. to snatch at least $3 million from American bank accounts. Prosecutors in New York have charged more than 60 people in the US, with allegedly using computer viruses. It's called the "Zeus Trojan". Once it infects a computer, the virus quietly records the user's keystrokes and sends them back to the hackers. In this case, the virus was allegedly recording usernames and passwords as the victims used banking websites.

Anti-piracy law stalls after opposition grows

A controversial anti-piracy law that would have allowed the federal authorities to effectively shutter certain sites seems to be stalled until at least after the midterm elections. The Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act would have enabled the federal authorities to ask for court orders directing Internet service providers and domain registrars to stop visitors from reaching domains "dedicated to infringing activity." Entertainment groups like the Recording Industry Association of America and Motion Picture Association of America supported the proposed measure, while digital rights groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation opposed it. Among other arguments, the EFF said that copyright holders can already go into court and obtain injunctions against certain infringing sites.

U.S. issues new rules on offshore drilling

The Interior Department tightened its rules on offshore oil and gas operations on Thursday but left in place the moratorium on deepwater drilling that has left oil executives frustrated and Gulf Coast officials fuming.

With bank inquiry, Vatican confronts modern life

When Rome magistrates opened an investigation last week into the Vatican bank over transparency issues, it was not only a bold assertion of state over church, it also pointed to one of the Vatican's greatest continuing challenges: facing modernity. The Vatican's famously opaque finances are being tested by tightened European Union anti-money-laundering statutes. As in the sexual abuse scandal, in which for years the Vatican appeared to declare itself outside — or above — civil law, this time the issue is the Vatican's famously opaque finances, which for the first time are being held to tightened European Union anti-money-laundering statutes.

Foreclosures slow as document flaws emerge

The foreclosure machinery that has forced millions of Americans out of their homes is beginning to seize up as some lenders and their lawyers are accused of cutting corners in their pursuit of rapid home repossessions. Evictions are expected to slow sharply, housing analysts said, as state and national law enforcement officials shine a light on questionable foreclosure methods revealed by two of the country's biggest home lenders in the last two weeks. Even lenders with no known problems are expected to approach defaulting homeowners more cautiously and look more aggressively for resolutions short of outright eviction. U.S. courts are clogged with a record number of foreclosures . Next, they may be jammed with suits contesting property rights as procedural mistakes in those cases cloud titles establishing ownership.

Novartis unit to pay $422.5 million in marketing case

A U.S. subsidiary of Novartis has agreed to pay $422.5 million to resolve criminal and civil charges that it illegally marketed the epilepsy drug Trileptal and paid kickbacks to doctors.

EU suing UK over internet privacy

The European Commission (EC) announced Thursday that it would refer the UK to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) for not fully complying with EU regulations that protect the privacy of electronic communications. The EU has found UK law in breach of the ePrivacy Directive 2002/58/EC and the Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC, regulations regarding consent to interception and the role of enforcement and supervisory committees. Specifically, current UK law does not provide for an independent national authority to supervise the interception of some communications, it allows for communications to be received without fulfilling the EU definition of consent and it does not have a mechanism that ensures sanctions for unlawful unintentional interception, as required by EU law.

India court divides disputed holy site between Hindus and Muslims

An Indian court on Thursday ruled that the disputed holy site Ayodhya must be split among Hindus, Muslims and Nirmohi Akhara, a Hindu sect representing the Hindu deity Ram. The dispute over ownership of the site has been ongoing for more than 60 years and has resulted in tensions between the religious communities, leading to violence in the country. In 1992, a sixteenth-century Muslim mosque located on the site was destroyed by a mob, sparking riots that led to over 2,000 deaths. The court was asked to address several questions regarding the sit,e including whether a Hindu temple was destroyed in order to build the mosque, whether the site was the birthplace of Ram and whether ownership of the property could be established. The court determined that no Hindu temple was destroyed in order to build the mosque and that joint ownership among the parties had been established by their religious beliefs and over 150 years of Muslims and Hindus practicing their faiths side by side. The court also gave deference to the belief regarding the birthplace of Ram and allocated a courtyard near the previous mosque location to Nirmohi Akhara. Two of the judges ruling on the issues indicated that it would be possible for a new mosque to be built on the site in the future. The dissenting judge in the case rejected this decision, finding that the mosque had been built against the tenets of Islam and was therefore not entitled to be treated as a mosque. The changes at the site will not go into effect for three months, which could be extended because multiple petitioners have indicated that they will appeal the ruling.

Federal court begins first civilian trial of ex-Guantanamo detainee

The first civilian trial of a former Guantanamo Bay detainee began Wednesday, as Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani appeared in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York for jury selection. Ghailani, a Tanzanian man, is accused of a key role in the 1998 bombings against two US embassies in Africa. Ghailani's defense filed a motion to dismiss over the summer, saying he would not get a fair trial, but the court denied the motion, because "the government is entitled to attempt to hold Ghailani accountable in a court of law for his alleged complicity in the murder of 224 people and the injury of more than 1,000 others." The pool of hundreds of potential jurors will be cut down to 12, likely by Monday when opening statements are expected to begin.

France lawmakers mulling controversial immigration bill

France's National Assembly began considering Tuesday a new bill that would would make it easier to deport illegal immigrants and strip immigrants accused of violent crimes of their French citizenship. The proposal, which supporters argue will help decrease crime in the country, targets immigrants facing murder or other violent charges within 10 years of gaining French citizenship. The bill would also make it easier for French authorities to deport both EU-citizens and non-citizens who have been in France for more than three months, but less than three years, for lesser crimes like "theft or aggressive begging" and would give local authorities greater power to dismantle and evacuate illegal settlements. Human Rights Watch criticized the bill, urging the French government to reject the proposal because it targets minority populations, particularly the Roma. The open session discussion of the bill will continue through October 12.

• Daily Press Review

Troops free Ecuador president
Al Jazeera, Doha, Qatar

Mitchell, Ashton to meet leaders; renewed progress attempt
JPost, Conservative, Jerusalem, Israel

UN Chopper Carrying Pakistan Food Makes Hard Landing, Several Wounded
Nahamet, Online news portal, Beirut, Lebanon

Ministerial meeting of the Friends of Yemen
Yemen Observer, Sana'a, Republic of Yemen

Survey reveals sharp rise in insolvencies
BreakingNews.ie, Online news portal, Cork, Ireland

BP spill clean-up bill hits GBP 7.1bn
Daily Express, Conservative tabloid, London, England

Everything Everywhere to cut 1,200 jobs by Christmas
DMeurope, Online news portal, Amsterdam, Netherlands

U.S. Indicts Dozens From Eastern Europe In Internet Theft Scheme
Radio Free Europe, Prague, Czech Republic

UN agency warns of global unemployment unrest
The Guardian, Liberal daily, London, England

Luzhkov Weighs His Legal Options
The Moscow Times, Independent daily, Moscow, Russia

Denise Van Outen finds GBP 90k of cocaine
The Telegraph, London, England

5-6 October 2010 in Astana in the Palace of Independence on 5th Eurasian forum KAZENERGY
Gazeta.kz, Official online newspaper, Kazakhstan

Rajapaksa ready to re-evaluate Fonseka's jail term: report
Hindustan Times, New Delhi, India

Tengku Razaleigh may be Barisan candidate for Galas by-election
Malaysian Star, Online news portal,  Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

SKorea approves former inspector as PM
New Zealand Herald, Conservative daily, Auckland, New Zealand

Labour  benefited from electoral fraud 'in Asian  community'  in general elections: Baroness Warsi
Sify News, Chennai, India

Phone number on cereal box connects callers to sex line in US
Thaindian News, Bangkok, Thailand

High Court awards two-thirds of disputed Ayodhya site to Hindu parties, one-third to Sunni Waqf Board
The Hindu, Left-leaning daily, Chennai, India

Government lacks tools for mass recalls: Aglukkaq
Canadian Broadcasting Centre, Toronto, Ontario

Dominican Republic's Cardinal rails gays
Dominican Today, Independent daily, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Nigerian kidnapped children freed
BBC News, Centrist newscaster, London, England

US President and UN chief discuss wide range of international issues
CongoPlanet.com, Independent online news aggregator

Accept Zim's equity law, or stay out : Mugabe
Mail & Guardian Online, Liberal, Johannesburg, South Africa