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Trying to maximize cites on your new law review article? The Guardian found a gem of a study on how the titles of academic papers affect their rate of citation and download. The conclusion:
(1) Articles with question marks in the titles were downloaded more but cited less.
(2) Article titles containing a colon had fewer downloads and fewer citations.
(3) Articles with longer titles were downloaded slightly less than the articles with shorter titles.
Of course, the only other academic paper out there on the topic, according to the Guardian, found that longer titles, colons and an acronym in the title were associated with more citations.
Google says number of government requests for user info jumps
Twice a year, Google releases aggregate data on requests it receives from governments across the world. It's part of a project they call "Transparency Report." In its latest release, Google says the number of content removal requests it received from the United States increased by 70 percent from the previous six months. And the number of user data requests jumped by 29 compared to the previous reporting period. And interestingly, it gives us a peek at how Google complies with local laws, even if they seem designed to stifle free speech.
UK paper loses bid to avoid privacy case in France
The UK's Sunday Mirror has lost its bid to stop Kylie Minogue's French ex-boyfriend Olivier Martinez suing it in France for alleged breach of privacy. He launched legal action against MGN - Mirror Group Newspapers alleging interference with his private life and infringement of his right to his image. European judges ruled he could seek damages in any EU member where the online story was accessible. Judges in France will also next month decide whether the News of the World breached the privacy of Max Mosley, filmed with prostitutes at a 2008 orgy. Both rulings could have far-reaching implications for the British press.
Tunisia Islamists set for victory
Partial official results from Tunisia suggest victory for the moderate Islamist party Ennahda, in the first democratic elections prompted by the Arab Spring uprisings.
Libya government to implement moderate Sharia law
Interim Libyan leader Mustafa Abdul-Jalil said Tuesday that he intends to make Islamic Sharia law the basic source of legislation and reject any tenets in contradiction the teachings of Islam, but all in moderation to reflect Libya's political landscape, cultural norms and religious makeup. Though Abdul-Jalil says he intends to legalize polygamy, which was previously outlawed by former leader Muammar Gaddafi, he does not intend to adopt the harsher punishments instituted by Iran and Saudi Arabia, such as cutting off limbs for thievery, beheading murderers, stoning adulterers and publicly flogging alcohol users. Critics fear that even the moderate implementation of Sharia law may stunt progressive legislation for women and families and that insisting on the implementation of any Sharia law without allowing a vote on the issue flies in the face of Libya's long, violent struggle for democracy. Others celebrate the once-banned moderate Islamic party's presence in the upcoming free election.
EU to enforce aircraft emissions law despite US opposition
The European Union on Tuesday insisted that it will enforce its new cap-and-trade law on airline emissions for flights traveling to and from Europe despite strong opposition from the US. The new legislation, taking effect January 1, 2012, will eventually require all airlines, including those of non-EU countries, to pay for their carbon dioxide emissions in an effort to encourage airlines to use cleaner fuels and to economize fuel use. Those who do not comply would face steep fines.
New York D.A. declines to drop charges against Wall Street protesters
Prosecutors instead offered those arrested an adjournment for six months; if the individual is not arrested during that time, their case will be dismissed and sealed.
Canada's gun registry under fire
Canada's Conservative government has introduced legislation to abolish the long-gun registry. Opponents of the registry say most violent crime involves handguns. While a repeal failed last year, the Conservative's new majority has a much greater chance of success.
Guatemala genocide trial halted
Former Guatemalan military ruler Oscar Mejia Victores has been sent to hospital to see if he is well enough to stand trial on genocide charges. Mejia, 80, is accused of ordering massacres in indigenous Maya villages during Guatemala's 1960-96 civil war. His lawyers say he recently suffered a stroke and is not physically or mentally capable of answering the charges.
Oil giant BP reaches 'turning point'
Oil giant BP has announced a big rise in third-quarter profits and says it has reached a "turning point" for its oil and gas operations and production. BP reported third-quarter profits of $5.14bn, a near tripling of the $1.85bn replacement cost profit it made in the same period a year ago. CEO Bob Dudley said operations were "regaining momentum" and the firm had "greater confidence". BP's profits and reputation were hit by last year's Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
Dreamliner begins maiden flight
Boeing's Dreamliner takes off on its maiden commercial flight from Tokyo to Hong Kong, after three years of delays.
New hitch to eurozone rescue plan
The EU's 27 finance ministers and the 17-nation Eurogroup will not now meet on Wednesday, although a full emergency heads-of-government summit will happen. This could mean a delay to final announcements on solutions. The cancellation is being seen as largely procedural, since the full EU summit meant there was no need for the finance ministers to meet. Meetings of economy and finance ministers - known as Ecofin - are traditionally held to to prepare measures for consideration by heads of state and government at a summit. As the deadline for fixing the euro-zone summit approaches, more and more attention is focusing on Italy. Sarkozy and Merkel ganged up against Berlusconi at the weekend, telling him in no uncertain terms that he had to get his public finances in order. A move that is seen as trying to force Silvio Berlusconi from office.
Brazil rejects Europe debt purchase plan
Brazil on Tuesday rejected the idea of buying European bonds to help ease the euro zone's debt crisis, casting doubt on a plan for major emerging market economies to offer fresh funds for the continent's rescue.
Obama healthcare law issues before U.S. high court
Oral arguments on the law's key issues--including an insurance mandate and medicaid expansion--are expected to begin in March.
Brazil minister faces court probe
Brazil's supreme court launches an investigation into Sports Minister Orlando Silva, who denies allegations of corruption.
News Corp suffers investor rebuke
Almost 35% of NewsCorp investors voted against James Murdoch, who is the company's deputy chief operating officer, while 34% voted against his brother. Chairman Rupert Murdoch received 14% of "no" votes. The vote is seen as a rebuke over News Corp's handling of the phone-hacking scandal at the News of the World. News Corp Critics of the Murdoch family, which has control of News Corp and its global newspaper and media assets, say that not enough was done to stop the phone hacking when the accusations arose.
Credit Suisse in £6m advice fine
The UK arm of Credit Suisse has been fined £5.95m for failings over advice to customers when selling complex financial products.
UBS fined $12m over short-selling
The regulatory authority Finra accused the Swiss bank of a "systemic supervisory failure" in its oversight of millions of short-sale trades over the last five years.
Guantanamo lawyer challenges possibility of indefinite detention despite acquittal
The lawyer for suspected USS Cole bomber Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri has filed a challenge to the method in which Guantanamo Bay military tribunals are conducted. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Stephen Reyes asserts that the Pentagon will never release prisoners like al-Nashiri, thus rendering trials moot. In the motion, released to the public on Monday, Reyes suggests that the Pentagon warn officers who serve as jurors from the start if a prisoner is to be held indefinitely.
UN Security Council resolution urges stricter anti-piracy measures
The UN Security Council adopted a resolution Monday urging member states to make piracy a crime and establish anti-piracy courts because of the rise in maritime piracy crime off the coast of Somalia. The request was due in part to the recent conclusion by the Malaysia-based International Maritime Bureau's Piracy Reporting Center that despite increased patrol, Somali pirates are intensifying their attacks.
Canada AG blocks Bush torture suit
The Attorney General for British Columbia on Tuesday blocked a lawsuit filed by the CCIJ - Canadian Centre for International Justice against US president George W. Bush on torture allegations. Lawyers from both CCIJ and the CCR - Center for Constitutional Rights responded with disappointment to the blocked lawsuit and order that the proceedings be stayed.
Groupon sues former sales managers who joined Google
Groupon wants a court order to prevent the former employees from disclosing confidential information to Google, which would continue to "irreparably" harm it.
Alcoa wants lawsuit reopened so it can close it down
Alcoa, the Pennsylvania aluminum maker, is asking a federal judge to re-open the unusual federal civil suit that landed it in the sights of the international law enforcement community for allegedly shady dealings in Bahrain. It wants the case opened so it can move to dismiss it, the company said in a filing today in federal court in Pennsylvania.
Turkey search for quake survivors continues
Al Jazeera, Doha, Qatar
Syria group calls for international protection
Asharq Al-Awsat, Pan-Arab daily, London, England
Gaddafi buried in secret desert location
Egyptian Gazette, English-language, Cairo, Egypt
Decades later, historical Israeli railway station gets new lease on life
Haaretz, Liberal daily, Tel Aviv, Israel
'Ilan Grapel incident is unlikely to become a trend'
JPost, Conservative, Jerusalem, Israel
EU leaders to finalise euro plan
BBC News, Centrist newscaster, London, England
Early results: Once-banned party wins Tunisia vote
CNN International, London, England
Student pulled from quake rubble
Daily Express, Conservative tabloid, London, England
Amazon shares plummet 11% amid heavy spending on Kindle tablet to rival the iPad
Daily Mail, Conservative daily, London, England
Geri Halliwell gets her dancing boots on as she turns out for friend George Michael's Royal Albert Hall concert
Daily Mail, Conservative daily, London, England
Euro debt crisis: the impact of the eurosceptics
EuroNews, International news, Ecully Cedex, France
EUROZONE: Eurozone rescue plan in doubt ahead of key summit
France 24, Issy-les-Moulineaux, France
Rescued 13-year-old dies en route to hospital
Hurriyet Daily News, (Liberal, English-language), Istanbul, Turkey
Out of sight: Gaddafi buried as an outcast
Independent The, London, England
Medvedev wants answers to alleged Inteko land scam
Moscow News The, Independent, Moscow, Russia
Give firms freedom to sack unproductive workers, leaked Downing Street report advises
Telegraph The, Conservative daily, London, England
Inside 11-year-old Kiernan Shipka's designer-laden wardrobe
Telegraph The, Celebrity news, London, England
Vibhavadi, Phahon Yothin flooded
Bangkok Post, Independent, Bangkok, Thailand
Most powerful US nuke being dismantled
China Post, English-language daily, Taipei, Taiwan
A Message from the U.S. Defense Secretary
Chosun Ilbo, Conservative daily, Seoul, South Korea
Afghan president backtracks on US-Pak statement: Report
Hindustan Times, New Delhi, India
Woman, 3 children found dead in pond
India Times, Conservative daily, New Delhi, India
Swallows spoil Maeda's no-hit bid
Japan Times, Independent centrist, Tokyo, Japan
Mass tsunami debris to hit Hawaii in 2013
New Zealand Herald, Conservative daily, Auckland, New Zealand
Joe the Plumber announces bid for Congress
People's Daily Online, English-language, Beijing, China
'Shocking' rates of forced wedlock in Commonwealth
Straits Times, Pro-government, Singapore
Police 0 Lawyer father 1
Sydney Morning Herald, Centrist daily, Sydney, Australia
Toyota trims Japan output due to Thai flooding
Taiwan News, English-language daily, Taipei, Taiwan
China Vice-Premier Li: Global risks rising
The Economic Times, Business, Mumbai, India
Air Canada withdraws court challenge
Canadian Broadcasting Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Police scuffle with protesters in Occupy Oakland march
Globe and Mail The, Centrist daily, Toronto, Canada
Australia's Inflation Ease Makes Room for Rate Cuts
International Business Times, Business news organization, New York, U.S
VENEZUELA: Government Distributes Land to Yukpa Indians
IPS Latin America, International cooperative of journalists, Rome, Italy
Wall Street hit by worries before Europe debt summit
Reuters, Business News, New York, U.S
Growing flood alarm in Bangkok after Thai PM warning
Reuters, World News, New York, U.S
Cleared of murder in her boyfriend's death, Melissa Lewis speaks out: 'I always had faith'
Toronto Star, Toronto, Ontario
Gaddafi 'buried in Libya desert'
BBC News, Centrist newscaster, London, England
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