Greece: “Our Hatred for the Police Will Bring Us Together”
It is the beginning of April and the mental impact of the lockdown has become even more surreal as the seasons change. The acts of resistance over the past few weeks have been both beautiful and terrifying. Meanwhile, the government continues to restrict our freedoms while opening Greece to tourists and business—in spite of infection rates averaging between 3000 and 4000 cases of COVID-19 a day, putting Greece third to last in the EU in terms of managing the crisis. In the following report, we describe the conclusion of the hunger strike of Dimitris Koufontinas, the clashes of March 9, and more. This report is brought to you by Radio Fragmata. You can read our previous reports from Greece starting here. A full list of resources on struggles in Greece is included at the end.
https://crimethinc.com/2021/04/07/greece-our-hatred-for-the-police-will-bring-us-together
Biden to Ukraine: “Unwavering Support for Euro-Atlantic Aspirations”
Last Friday Joe Biden had his first call with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky Friday. Afterward, Zelensky stated, “We discussed the situation in Donbas in detail. President Biden assured me that Ukraine will never be left alone against Russia’s aggression.” In the White House readout of the call, Biden “affirmed the United States’ unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russia’s ongoing aggression in the Donbas and Crimea.” Meanwhile, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin called his counterpart in Kyiv. According to the Pentagon readout, “Secretary Austin reaffirmed unwavering US support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and Euro-Atlantic aspirations.” (See for reference Victoria Nuland’s description of the U.S.’ $ 5 billion investment in regime change in Ukraine as of 2014 as one in its “European aspirations.” The talking point term remains “aspirations.” But no reference to Pentagon aspirations to throttle Russia.) “Euro-Atlantic aspirations” means membership in NATO and the EU (that’s the usual sequence), the expansion of the Russia-NATO border by 1400 miles, and NATO’s virtual encirclement of Russia. What would go wrong with such a noble plan?
https://www.counterpunch.org/2021/04/07/biden-to-ukraine-unwavering-support-for-euro-atlantic-aspirations/
Jordan: Prince Hamzah drama comes at a critical moment
A similar scenario unfolded in 2004, when King Abdullah stripped his half-brother, Hamzah, of the title of crown prince and instead gave it to his own son, Hussein. In both cases, the changes went ahead without a public battle. The latest crisis is different, and it may prove to be the most dangerous in the history of the Jordanian monarchy, with Prince Hamzah now under house arrest. In a leaked recording, Jordan’s army chief instructs the prince to refrain from “mingling and visiting” people and to avoid social media. Prince Hamzah frequently meets with tribal figures on an unofficial basis, which has reportedly angered the king and led to arrests among the prince’s entourage. At the same time, Jordan has been gripped by protests over the country’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, fuelled last month by the deaths of seven patients amid an oxygen shortage at a government hospital in al-Salt. Although the king rushed to the hospital, dismissed the health minister and ordered a judicial investigation, public anger has not diminished, with protesters calling for comprehensive political and economic reforms. Some demonstrators have called on Prince Hamzah to play a role in saving the country, which is in the throes of a severe economic crisis. Many Jordanians feel that the government has failed to manage and contain both the Covid-19 pandemic and the economy, dramatically affecting their quality of life.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/jordan-prince-hamzah-drama-comes-critical-moment