This past week in Naples: - Napoli bought a football player, he had his watch taken at gunpoint; - A shipment of vegan Nutella "fell off a truck" before it was released in stores; - there's a manhole cover theft epidemic, and people are worried about the tourists falling in. So crazy. Love it.

Braćo i sestre, Balkan is everywhere you feel Balkan

Thanks, Kevin!

Jacques Delors has died, and while most people will remember him for other accomplishments, I can't help but think of his attempts to have Yugoslavia join the EEC as a full-fledged member — sadly, just a little too late. My op-ed for Euronews:

Delors advocated for peace in Europe, and others should too

While Delors’ little-known Yugoslavia episode was overshadowed by the atrocities of the 1990s conflict, he left us a lasting lesson on how European unity could — or should try to — prevent viole...

Vucic’s pre-election media spectacle exposes his dogged obsession with controlling every aspect of the narrative in Serbia, turning journalists into public enemies while spoon-feeding the public soothing yet deceptive tales. My piece for @politico.euwww.politico.eu/article/alek...

Vučić’s key to Serbia election victory: Media capture

President uses government-friendly stations to cast himself as defender of ordinary Serbs — on everything from Kosovo to sausage prices.

Thanks so much, Gresa! 🙏🏼

You can deeply care for the suffering of both Palestinian and Israeli people and not drink the coolaid of black-and-white thinking where being a hardliner is the only option. You can condemn both the Israeli gov’t and Hamas for their actions. One does not exclude the other.

If you think Hamas is fighting the good fight, we have nothing to talk about. If you think Netanyahu and his government are fighting the good fight, we have nothing to talk about either. Both are hell-bent on making people suffer. That should be self-evident to everyone. No “buts”.

Seen in Skopje: these two didn't know a word of each other's language but then used Google Translate to become fast friends. Shook hands and hugged when the boy had to leave. Heartwarming.

Another ICYMI for the day: an op-ed by @polidemitolog.bsky.social about Russia's favorite sport of being the global agent of toxicity and muddying the waters. I wish I could say it's a fun read — but it's definitely important.

The Israel-Hamas war is the latest proof Russia is an agent of chaos

Russia’s leadership doesn’t even have a stable, non-contradictory set of principles or values it adheres to, and its hodgepodge of narratives shows it is trying to fuel any conflict it can, all wi...