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AfD and allies form new far-right group: Europe of Sovereign Nations

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AfD and allies form new far-right group: Europe of Sovereign Nations

The new group, called Europe of Sovereign Nations, immediately becomes the most radical force of the right in the European Parliament.

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A new far-right group has been formed in the European Parliament under the name “Europe of Sovereign Nations” (ESN), gathering controversial parties that until today lacked political affiliation due to the radical character of their ideas.

The formation encompasses 25 MEPs from eight member states, enough to establish a formal group in the hemicycle and avoid the category of non-attached, which greatly reduces the relevance and speaking time of lawmakers.

Its composition and name were announced on Wednesday afternoon after a constitutive meeting in Brussels, ending days of mounting speculation. The news comes just two days after the emergence of Viktor Orbán’s Patriots for Europe and cements the reconfiguration of far-right forces in the wake of the June elections.

Despite their varied nature, the eight parties of ESN are glued together by a rabid opposition to migration management, the Green Deal, social progressivism and military assistance to Ukraine, setting them on a collision course with the mainstream.

Additionally, they all contest the project of European integration, under which countries delegate some of their competences to supranational institutions to build a political and economic union. Hence, the prominence of the term “sovereignty” in the title.

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The Europe of Sovereign Nations is made up of:

  • Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD): 14 MEPs
  • Poland’s Confederation: 3 MEPs
  • Bulgaria’s Revival: 3 MEPs
  • France’s Reconquête: 1 MEP
  • Slovakia’s Republika: 1 MEPs
  • Czechia’s Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD): 1 MEP
  • Hungary’s Our Homeland Movement: 1 MEP
  • Lithuania’s People and Justice Union: 1 MEP

Who’s who in the new group?

The leading voice in the group is AfD, dominating more than half of the seats in Europe of Sovereign Nations. One of its lawmakers, René Aust, has been named co-president. Stanisław Tyszka, from Confederation, is the other one.

“We have come together because we share the goal of having a significant impact on Europe’s political future through decisive action and strategic planning. This can only succeed collectively, as European history shows. Influence has always been wielded by those who had the courage to organize and act strategically,” Aust and Tyszka said.

“We choose this path not because it is easy, but because it is necessary to realize our shared vision of a strong, united, and forward-looking Europe of Fatherlands.”

Arguably one of Europe’s most notorious far-right parties, the AfD has been accused of promoting ethno-nationalist beliefs, spreading Islamophobia, engaging in historical revisionism and denying the existence of man-made climate change.

Earlier this year, the investigative journalism organisation Correctiv revealed that AfD officials had taken place in a meeting that discussed “remigration” plans to expel asylum seekers, foreign residents and “non-affiliated” German citizens from the country. The report caused enormous outrage and prompted weeks of mass protests.

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In May, a German court labelled the AfD an official suspect of extremism, enabling intelligence services to monitor its activities and communications.

Later that month, AfD was expelled from the now-dissolved Identity and Democracy (ID) group after its then-leader, Maximillian Krah told an Italian newspaper that not everybody who wore an SS uniform was a war criminal. Separately, Krah’s offices were raided when his assistant was arrested on accusations of spying for the Chinese secret services.

AfD’s non-attached status fuelled weeks of speculation about a possible new group in Brussels, initially thought to be called “The Sovereignists.”

“The importance of this project is much greater than my own role; I am therefore satisfied and without any resentment,” Krah said, confirming his exclusion.

Other members include Poland’s Confederation (or Konfederacja), a coalition that is staunchly anti-LGBTQ, anti-feminism and anti-abortion. However, only three of the six MEPs elected under Confederation have joined the new group.

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MEP Anna Bryłka said she would stay out due to the group’s “attitude” towards the Nord Stream pipelines that connect Europe to Russia, which Poland strongly opposes.

“At the same time, I declare cooperation with every European force that wants to stop creeping federalisation, mass and uncontrolled immigration, and the European Green Deal,” Bryłka said on social media, explaining her decision.

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Europe of Sovereign Nations also encompasses Bulgaria’s Revival, Hungary’s Our Homeland Movement (MHM), Czechia’s Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD), France’s Reconquête! and Slovakia’s Republika, all of which advocate ultra-nationalism and ultra-conservativism, and embrace nativist and xenophobic themes.

In some cases, like Revival, Our Homeland Movement and Republika, the parties have been associated with the anti-vaccination movement. A friendly stance towards Russia is another recurring theme among the ESN members.

All in all, the group can be easily considered the most radical formation in the European Parliament and will be immediately put under a cordon sanitaire by mainstream forces, depriving it of high-level positions in the institution.

The controversial SOS Romania party, which appeared to be a suitable candidate, has been rejected due to concerns raised by some delegations, including the AfD and Our Homeland Movement. Among other extreme proposals, SOS Romania wants to redesign Eastern Europe’s map to re-establish “Greater Romania,” the interwar kingdom.

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Another notable omission is Spain’s The Party is Over (“Se Acabó La Fiesta“, or SALF), the self-proclaimed “anti-establishment” party led by social media influencer Luis “Alvise” Pérez. Despite being included in a map shared earlier on Wednesday by Hungarian MEP László Toroczkai, SALF did not join the far-right group.

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This article has been updated.

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‘Citadel: Diana’ Reveals October Premiere Date and Plot Details as Prime Video Unveils Italy Slate

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‘Citadel: Diana’ Reveals October Premiere Date and Plot Details as Prime Video Unveils Italy Slate

Prime Video on Monday unveiled teaser footage, plot details and an Oct. 10 launch date for “Citadel: Diana,” the hotly anticipated spy show starring Matilda De Angelis (“The Undoing”) that is part of the “Citadel” franchise.

Details of “Citadel: Diana” – which marks the streamer’s most ambitious Italian original to date – were unveiled during a gala evening presentation of Prime Video’s Italian slate held in the palatial Villa Miani on a hill overlooking the Eternal City.

The six-episode series is set in a near-future Milan, in 2030, where eight years earlier the independent global spy agency Citadel was wiped out by Manticore, the powerful enemy syndicate that manipulates the world from the shadows. Since then, Diana Cavalieri (De Angelis) – who is an undercover Citadel agent – is alone, “trapped behind enemy lines as a mole in Manticore,” as the provided synopsis puts it.

When Diana finally sees a way out and the chance to disappear forever, her only way out is to trust “the most unexpected ally,” Edo Zani, heir of Manticore Italy and son of the head of the evil syndicate’s Italian unit who is vying for Manticore’s leadership against other European families.

Besides De Angelis, other previously announced “Citadel: Diana” cast members comprise Lorenzo Cervasio, Maurizio Lombardi, Julia Piaton, Thekla Reuten, Daniele Paoloni, Bernhard Schütz and Filippo Nigro.

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“Citadel: Diana” is directed by Italy’s Arnaldo Catinari (“Suburra: Blood on Rome”) and developed by Alessandro Fabbri (“1992”), who is also the head writer and wrote the series with Ilaria Bernardini, Laura Colella, Gianluca Bernardini and Giordana Mari.

Courtesy Prime Video

The high-end show is produced by Amazon MGM Studios with Cattleya, the company that is part of ITV Studios known for standout crime shows such as “Gomorrah” and “ZeroZeroZero.” The “Citadel: Diana” showrunner and executive producer is Gina Gardini – who shepherded both of the above series at Cattleya – with Riccardo Tozzi, Marco Chimenz, Giovanni Stabilini and Emanuele Savoini also serving as executive producers. Anthony Russo, Joe Russo, Angela Russo-Otstot and Scott Nemes from AGBO, alongside David Weil (“Hunters”) also executive produced “Citadel: Diana” along with all series within the world of “Citadel.”

Midnight Radio, the producing team of Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec, Jeff Pinkner and Scott Rosenberg, also has executive producer credit on all installments within Prime Video’s global spy franchise.

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“Citadel” originally debuted in April 2023. The series is meant to serve as a launch pad for multiple shows set in different countries that will all be connected via plot and characters. Besides “Citadel: Diana,” which will be this Italian series, an Indian series titled “Citadel: Honey Bunny” is also currently in the works.

The other two, previously announced, standout series in Prime Video’s Italy slate are:

  • Costiera”: set on Italy’s iconic Amalfi Coast, directed by Emmy winner Adam Bernstein (“30 Rock,” “Breaking Bad”) and featuring Jesse Williams (“Take Me Out”) as the lead. The English-language series sees Williams play an Italian American former Marine named Daniel De Luca, who is a “problem solver” in one of the most exclusive hotels in the world in the picturesque Amalfi Coast town of Positano. It’s co-produced by Amazon Studios and Luca Bernabei for Lux Vide, which is Fremantle Group company. Under an innovative split-rights agreement – that has now been modified so that Prime Video has taken more territories than originally announced – “Costiera” will drop exclusively on the streamer in 2025 in Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and in all English-speaking countries including Great Britain, Ireland, the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand, while Fremantle will be handling sales in all other global territories.

Courtesy Prime Video

  • “The Bad Guy” The much anticipated second season of Italy’s most innovative mob show will drop on Prime Video in Italy on Dec. 5, while Fifth Season, the TV company previously known as Endeavor Content, is distributing internationally in tandem with RAI Cinema. The dark comedy series is produced by Indigo Film, the shingle behind Paolo Sorrentino’s Oscar winner “The Great Beauty.” It revolves around a Sicilian public prosecutor named Nino Scotellaro, played by Luigi Lo Cascio (“Lord of the Ants”), who devoted his whole life to fighting the Mafia and finds himself accused and condemned of being a mafioso himself. After faking his own death, he pulls off a Machiavellian revenge plan, becoming the “bad guy” that he had been unfairly turned into.

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During its Rome presentation, Prime Video also announced several new Italian original movies, including Christmas comedy “When Santa Claus” (“Natale senza Babbo”) directed by young hotshot helmer Stefano Cipani (“My Brother Chases Dinosaurs,” “Fedeltà”). Produced by Amazon MGM Studios with Gaumont Italia, it stars Alessandro Gassmann (“Transporter: Extreme”) as Santa Claus, who is having an existential crisis and decides to take a vacation, leaving his wife, played by Luisa Ranieri (“The Hand of God” to have to roll up her sleeves to save the most special day of the year. Prime Video will release “When Santa Claus” globally on Dec. 25, 2025.

Other new Italian original movies in the Prime Video pipeline include romantic comedy “Non è un paese per single,” which traslates as “It’s not a country for singles.” The movie is based on a book by the same title by a popular Italian author whose pen name is Felicia Kingsley. Her novels are published in 16 countries. Produced by Amazon MGM Studios with Lucisano Media Group, the rom-com is directed by Laura Chiossone, who helmed the Italian Christmas comedy “I Hate Christmas” for Netflix. 

Also coming to Prime Video globally from Italy is young adult romance “Love Me Love Me,” an adaptation of the first novel by Italy’s Stefania S, also a pen name, whose eponymous Wattpad trilogy has over 19 million reads, according to Prime Video. Written by Veronica Galli and Serena Tateo, “Love Me Love Me” will be co-produced by Lotus Production, which is part of Leone Film Group, and Amazon MGM Studios, with the support of Wattpad WEBTOON Studios.

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Suspect arrested after dismembered bodies of 9 women found in quarry in Kenya's capital

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Suspect arrested after dismembered bodies of 9 women found in quarry in Kenya's capital
  • Police in Kenya said they have arrested the main suspect after nine dismembered bodies of women were found in a quarry in the capital, Nairobi.
  • Collins Jumaisi Khalusha confessed to killing 42 women, including his wife, since 2022, according to the head of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
  • Police said the bodies were discovered after relatives of one of the missing women claimed to have had a dream in which she directed them to search the quarry.

Police in Kenya said Monday they have arrested the main suspect after nine dismembered bodies of women were found in a quarry in the capital, Nairobi.

The head of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, Mohamed Amin, said Collins Jumaisi Khalusha, 33, had confessed to killing 42 women, including his wife, since 2022. They gave no evidence to support his claim of killing 42.

He was expected to be arraigned in court Tuesday.

KENYAN PRESIDENT DISMISSES CABINET MINISTERS AFTER WEEKS OF PROTESTS

Police said several smartphones and identity cards were found in his house a short walk from the quarry.

Sacks with human remains are seen after being removed from a quarry in Mukuru Kwa Njenga area in Nairobi, Kenya on July 13, 2024. Police in Kenya said Monday they have arrested the main suspect after nine dismembered bodies of women were found in a quarry in the capital, Nairobi. (AP Photo/Andrew Kasuku)

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Police said the bodies were discovered after relatives of one missing woman claimed to have had a dream in which she directed them to search the quarry. The relatives asked a local diver to help, and he discovered the bodies wrapped in sacks.

Acting police inspector general Douglas Kanja said officers in a nearby police station had been transferred to make way for investigations. Locals had accused police of negligence due to the proximity of the quarry and the unresolved missing persons cases filed there.

A statement signed by human rights groups over the weekend urged Kenya’s security agencies to “to expedite investigations into all reports of enforced disappearances.” There were initial concerns that the bodies could be linked to abductions and arrests of young people during recent anti-government protests.

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At least four killed as fighting in DRC continues despite truce: Report

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At least four killed as fighting in DRC continues despite truce: Report

The US had announced a humanitarian truce between Kinshasa and the M23 rebel group on July 5.

Two children and two teenagers have been killed in a bombardment in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), local sources have told AFP news agency.

The United States announced a humanitarian truce on July 5 between Kinshasa and the M23 rebel group operating in eastern DRC. It was supposed to last until July 19, but fighting erupted on Friday.

A spokesman for one of the armed groups backing the DRC forces said the fighting occurred 70km (43 miles) northwest of the North Kivu provincial capital, Goma.

By Monday, the fighting had reached the town of Bweremana, around 15km (9.3 miles) west of Goma, where the deadly bombardment struck.

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The dead included two children from the same family, according to Innocent Mwitehofu Mumbara, a local civil society leader. The four victims were aged two, three, 16 and 18, Mumbara added.

A mother and her four-year-old child were among the wounded, said Bweremana Police Commissioner Paulin Ilunga, claiming that the shell had “come from the hills where the M23 is”.

Confirming the deaths of four people in the attack, a hospital source told AFP that five more had been admitted with serious injuries.

The DRC has been facing political instability and armed violence since 1996, with an estimated six million people killed since the conflict began.

Since the end of 2021, the M23, supported by units of the Rwandan army, had seized vast swathes of territory in North Kivu, going so far as to almost completely encircle Goma.

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According to a Human Rights Watch report, M23 allegedly executed scores of villagers and militia members between November 2022 and April 2023, burying them in mass graves in the village of Kishishe, North Kivu.

The report says that M23 has committed unlawful killings, rape, and other war crimes since late 2022, exacerbating the dire humanitarian crisis in the country. A total 171 civilians were executed in the last 10 days of November alone, according to the UN Human Rights Office.

At the end of June, the M23 and the Rwandan army seized several towns in Lubero territory, in the north of North Kivu, following the collapse of the Congolese army and its auxiliary militias.

Nearly 50 soldiers were sentenced to death in the following days for “fleeing the enemy”.

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