by Tony Wikrent

 

Gaza / Palestine / Israel

US Urged to Condemn Israel’s ‘Summary Execution’ of Two Journalists

Edward Carver, August 02, 2024 [CommonDreams]

A Palestinian journalist on Thursday pressed a U.S. State Department spokesperson to characterize the killings of two Al Jazeera journalists by Israeli forces as summary execution.

The heated press briefing followed an airstrike on Wednesday that killedAl Jazeera reporter Ismail al-Ghoul and cameraman Rami al-Rifee, and sparked global outrage. Israel’s military acknowledged targeting al-Ghoul, saying he was “eliminated” because he was a Hamas “terrorist,” an allegation the Qatar-based network said was “baseless.”

The death toll of Palestinian journalists and media workers now stands at least 108, including several intentionally targeted by Israel forces, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

 

[X-Twitter, via Naked Capitalism 07-31-2024]

It’s telling Israel (allegedly) can conduct pinpoint operations thousands of kilometers away to a capture target with precision, yet just two kilometers from home, they use 5-ton bombs on families to eliminate minor threats.

Oligarchy

Private Equity Giants Invest More Than $200M in Federal Races to Protect Their Lucrative Tax Loophole 

[Exposed by CMD, via Naked Capitalism 08-02-2024]

 

The carnage of mainstream neoliberal economics

Uber, Lyft and Others Win California Ruling to Treat Drivers as Contractors 

[Wall Street Journal, via Naked Capitalism 07-28-2024]

 

Big Law Confronts Tail Risk Threat to Private Equity Bankruptcy 

[Bloomberg, via Naked Capitalism 07-29-2024]

Big Law partners are looking at a ruling that sent shock waves through the bankruptcy world as a lesson rather than a serious threat to their model of representing both private equity sponsors and their distressed portfolio companies.

The fallout comes in the wake of a decision this month in the Eastern District of Virginia. The court declared Vinson & Elkins could not represent wood-pellet maker Enviva Inc. in its bankruptcy case due to the law firm’s longstanding relationship with Riverstone Investment Group LLC, a private equity firm that held 43% of Enviva’s publicly traded shares.

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