Ursula von der Leyen has framed the Balkan nations’ choice of potential partners as a question of ‘democracy’ vs. ‘autocracy’ The Russia-Ukraine conflict reflects on the Balkans as a struggle between “autocracies and the law of the strongest” and “democracy and the rule of law”, European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen said during an EU-Western Balkans partnership…

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Beijing is apparently relenting on its strict lockdowns, but Western commentators are still not happy China is shifting away from its strict zero-Covid policy. That’s clear from recent developments in the country and some signals from state media, which Zichen Wang of the famed Pekingnology newsletter laid out in methodical detail. The short takeaway from…