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What to expect from the first plenary session after the EU elections

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What to expect from the first plenary session after the EU elections

Roberta Metsola, support for Ukraine and Ursula von der Leyen will be the main topics of the first plenary session since the June elections.

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The European Parliament is back in session with the newly-elected 720 lawmakers gathering in Strasbourg for the first plenary of the 10th legislature, set to begin on Tuesday.

It marks the dawn of a five-year mandate that is poised to be the rowdiest in history: following the June elections, over a quarter of MEPs now sit with hard- and far-right groups, posing a direct challenge to the pro-European centrist parties that, despite holding onto a governing majority, worry an increase in polarisation could dampen the bloc’s long-term ambitions and foster legislative paralysis.

The latest addition to the radical right is the so-called Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN), a 24-strong group that encompasses forces ardently anti-migration, anti-LGBT, anti-feminism, anti-Green Deal, anti-vaccination and anti-military aid to Ukraine.

Its creation came on the heels of that of Patriots for Europe, with the likes of France’s National Rally, Hungary’s Fidesz, Italy’s Lega and Austria’s Freedom Party (FPÖ). The formation has amassed 84 MEPs, enough to become the third largest in the hemicycle.

The shifting landscape will test the limits of the cordon sanitaire that mainstream parties have until now placed on the far right, depriving it of high-profile positions in the institutions, such as vice-presidents and committee chairs.

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Before the Parliament descends into full-blown, finger-pointing brawls, here’s an overview of the agenda for the first plenary session.

Tuesday: Metsola’s done deal

MEPs will kick off their work by electing their president for the next two years and a half. The frontrunner is a familiar face: Roberta Metsola, the Maltese politician who has led the institution since early 2022.

Hailing from the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), Metsola is a moderate figure who is well-liked across the political spectrum and is considered to have done a good job representing the Parliament’s views. Thanks to her track record, her re-election by an absolute majority (50% of MEPs plus one) is a foregone conclusion.

The Left is reportedly interested in filing an alternative candidate, as they did last time in 2022. However, the alternative bid will be entirely symbolic.

The vote will be followed by the election of the 14 vice-presidents, proportionally distributed among the main parties. This will assess the effectiveness of the cordon sanitaire: Patriots for Europe is vying to secure one of the vice-presidents, something that the EPP, the Socialists and the Liberals have vowed to prevent.

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“These are elected posts of the Parliament,” an EPP spokesperson said on Friday. “We don’t want these MEPs to represent the institution, that’s the main reason.”

Wednesday: backing Ukraine, rebuking Orbán

The emergence of new far-right groups has raised fears the Parliament’s iron-clad support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s aggression will be progressively weakened over the next five years.

To dispel any doubts, MEPs are expected to devote the first resolution under the 10th legislature to double down on their backing for the war-torn nation, urging member states to step up military assistance and make progress in the accession process.

The joint call can be read as a rebuke to Viktor Orbán’s extremely controversial visits to Russia and China as part of his self-proclaimed “peace mission,” which EU leaders harshly denounced. Although Budapest insists the trips took place in the context of bilateral relations, the fact they coincided with the start of Hungary’s six-month presidency of the EU Council prompted accusations of power exploitation.

Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, was initially expected to attend the plenary session and debate Orbán’s tour with MEPs. But the item was eventually taken off the agenda and Michel will not show up in Strasbourg.

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Wednesday will also see a vote on how many lawmakers sit in each of the Parliament’s standing committees, subcommittees and delegations. The MEPs chairing these bodies will be decided at a later stage – another test for the cordon sanitaire.

Thursday: von der Leyen faces the music

Here’s the grab-your-popcorn moment of the week: MEPs will vote on whether to elect Ursula von der Leyen as president of the European Commission for a second term.

EU leaders hand-picked the incumbent as part of a three-pronged deal on the top jobs. But the Parliament is set to flex its muscles as the bloc’s only directly elected institution and make von der Leyen sweat.

The Socialists and the Liberals have all come up with detailed wishlists that they want the Commission chief to include in her work programme in exchange for their endorsements. Von der Leyen’s own family, the EPP, is not fully behind her re-election, meaning she needs as many votes as possible from other mainstream parties.

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The Greens, which, strictly speaking, are not part of the president’s centrist platform, are shaping up to be the day’s kingmakers. Its 53 MEPs have no shortage of complaints about von der Leyen’s stewardship (for instance, on the rule of law and migration) but they acknowledge her policy accomplishments under the Green Deal.

The result of these give-and-take negotiations will crystalise in the big speech that von der Leyen will deliver on Thursday at 09:00 CET, outlining the main priorities and initiatives she intends to undertake during her (potential) second mandate.

Making matters more dramatic, the day before the crunch vote, the European Court of Justice will issue a much-anticipated ruling over access to information related to von der Leyen’s handling of vaccine contracts, particularly her texts with the Pfizer CEO.

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If the nominee fails to secure the necessary 361 votes, EU leaders will have one month to propose a new name. The last-minute hiccup could force the re-opening of the entire deal on top jobs, which also covers António Costa and Kaja Kallas.

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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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