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VOLODYMYR Zelensky’s potential successors could be preparing their campaigns to be the leader of Ukraine.

After Donald Trump slammed him as a “dictator”, the brave president said on Sunday he would step down if Ukraine could join Nato – thereby securing its defence.

That’s left ambitious Ukrainians rubbing their hands at the thought of being taking the top job – but who could fill the very large shoes left by Zelensky?

Vitali Klitschko – Heavyweight champion

Reuters

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko visits the site of a Russian missile strike[/caption]

Former heavyweight boxing world champion Vitali Klitschko is the current mayor of Kyiv.

The 6ft 7in giant has led the capital through constant Russian bombing, was a key figure in the Euromaidan protests, and has been in office since all the way back since 2008.

With a 47-2 boxing record, he is 8-2 on elections he has fought.

Klitschko has also shown ambition to lead the country and was set to run for President in 2014 before he dropped out and endorsed Petro Poroshenko.

The boxer has led the city through daily bombardments by Russian drones and has become a powerful symbol of the city’s defence joining the territorial defence forces.

Like Zelensky, Klitschko would be a strong pro-European leader that Vladimir Putin would hate.

Valery Zaluzhny – The Iron General

Zaluzhny led the defence of Kyiv at the start of the war when Russia sent its special forces to their death at Hostomel Airport.

Russia then tried to take Kyiv from the north by sending an Army from Belarus.

But the Iron General Zeluzhny – who is known for thinking outside of the box – was able to beat Putin’s best troops by outfoxing them.

Doing so, he built a cult status in Ukraine and is currently the country’s ambassador to London.

Viktor Medvedchuk – Putin’s Man

Reuters

Russian President Vladimir Putin with Viktor Medvedchuk in 2019[/caption]

Not all those running for President could be pro-European.

Ukrainian oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk is the godfather to Putin’s youngest daughter.

He was an important interlocutor between Moscow and Kyiv and backs a pro-Russian political party with several television stations he owns.

In 2021, he was arrested on suspicion of supporting Russian separatists – with the oligarch denying any wrongdoing.

The move is said to have infuriated Putin and was seen as one of the possible reasons he launched his invasion.

He was stripped of his Ukrainian citizenship and traded to Russia, but Putin could insist he is allowed to contest the election as part of a peace deal.

Moscow could then back Medvedchuk with unlimited money and get its propaganda troll farms in behind the oligarch.

Kyrylo Budanov – Ukraine’s top spy

Getty

Kyrylo Budanov is the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence[/caption]

Ukraine’s military intelligence chief has been instrumental in keeping Kyiv one step ahead of Moscow.

Kyrylo Budanov has been able to get Ukrainian agents inside Russia who have then been able to sabotage key oil pipelines and train routes.

Just 39 years old, the spy boss has also been ruthless in fooling Russians to carry out attacks on their own country.

Budanov has also run his own information trickery – which could make him the perfect politician.

In 2023, he speculated that Putin could even be dead after photos showed the tyrant with a different-looking chin.

Petro Poroshenko – Former President

Reuters

Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko delivers a speech in 2019[/caption]

Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and billionaire chocolatier led the country between 2014 and 2019

He came to power following the Euromaidan protests and ran the country following Putin’s first invasion in 2014.

Last year, he said he would run for president again, but only after there was peace in the country.

Poroshenko has remained in the public eye visiting troops on the front line, organising donations, and doing press interviews as the war has gone on.

Kommersant Photo / Polaris

Volodymyr Zelensky voting for himself in 2019[/caption]

AFP

Zelensky has said he could stand down if Ukraine could join Nato[/caption]

History has a funny way of repeating itself in the gaming industry. Just two months after CD Projekt Red’s controversial announcement about The Witcher 4, Insomniac Games finds itself walking a similarly thorny path with Marvel’s Spider-Man 3. Both beloved franchises are shifting focus from their iconic protagonists, but while one studio’s approach has fans ready to […]

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New Delhi, Feb 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) Hours ahead of resuming the three-day UN global biodiversity negotiations in Rome, the European Union (EU) on Monday said it is working towards an agreement on pending decisions at COP16...

The post Working towards UN pact on biodiversity finance: EU appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Seoul, Feb 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) South Korean police on Monday requested a higher prosecution office to review their request for an arrest warrant for the acting chief of the Presidential Security Service (PSS) over allegations that...

The post South Korea: Police ask higher prosecution office to review arrest request for acting presidential security chief appeared first on Social News XYZ.

The "30 Rock" star, 66, and the former yoga instructor, 41, have been married since 2012 and share seven children.

KYLIE Jenner skipped attending the SAG Awards with Timothee Chalamet, after the death of her glam squad ember Jesus Guerrero.

Actor Timothee, 29, looked visibly shocked as his name was called and he won the best male actor announcement.

Getty

Kylie Jenner skipped attending the SAG Awards with Timothee Chalamet, after the death of her glam squad ember Jesus Guerrero[/caption]

Instagram/jesushair

Jesus Guerrero’s death was announced over the weekend[/caption]

Instagram

Jesus’ cause of death has not yet been revealed[/caption]

His girlfriend Kylie has been accompanying him to awards ceremonies that he’s been attending for his portrayal as Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown.

But the Kardashian’s star was noticeably absent from the SAG Awards, after the death of Jesus Guerrero – which was revealed on Sunday 23 February.

Instead, Timothee attended the awards ceremony with his mother, Nicole Flender.

The Los Angeles-based hairdresser, 34, who had a close bond with the Kardashians alum, has now “gone to Heaven” according to his sister Gris.

Jesus’ cause of death has not yet been revealed, with make-up mogul Kylie, 27, also not releasing a public tribute as yet.

Kylie Jenner has not posted on social media since the heartbreaking news was announced.

On Saturday, Jesus’ younger sister Gris released an emotional statement confirming the passing of the Texas native – and revealing the family had set up a GoFundMe page in his honor.

She wrote in her emotional message: “My name is Gris, Jesus’s younger sister.

“It is with a heavy heart that we let the world know that Jesus Guerrero has gone to heaven.

“He is a son, a brother, an uncle, an artist, a friend, and so much more.”

She added: “Born and raised in Houston, TX to immigrant parents, Jesus learned how to work hard and dreamt of taking his skills to the top.

“Unfortunately, his passing came very suddenly and unexpectedly.

“Currently, his family is taking care of his personal belongings and accommodations to bring him home to Houston.

“We hope that you find it in your heart to help in any way and/or share this GoFundMe.”

Jesus’ tragic passing came after his trip with his “main girly” Kylie in January.

He took to his Instagram grid to upload a snap showing the pair posing for a mirror selfie, as well as a slew of Kylie’s stunning looks.

On January 7, Kylie ‘liked’ an image he posted of her Golden Globes hairstyle, which left one fan gushing: “You are KILLING it with her hair recently!!!”

Previously, the Kylie Cosmetics founder joked about a haircut from her close pal and quipped on her page: “@jesushair said he was giving me a trim and cut off all my hair.”

His most recent Instagram post, uploaded on February 3, showcased a collection of his hairstyles for famous faces at the Grammy’s.

Jesus was also known for styling J-Lo and Katy Perry‘s locks, creating the later’s infamous spiked style last year.

Getty

Jesus was behind many of Kylie’s incredible hair looks[/caption]

Getty

Timothée Chalamet at the 31st Screen Actors Guild Awards held at Shrine Auditorium[/caption]

Matt Damon’s 2016 film Jason Bourne took a long time to happen, and while it performed well at the box office, the reviews had not been favorable. For a sequel as highly anticipated as this one, surely there’s something in it that at least made a lot of fans swoon. Indeed, Damon finally did one […]

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BRITAIN’S Got Talent has found itself embroiled in a new “fix” row after eagle-eyed fans of the franchise recognised an act Simon Cowell “didn’t know”.

On this weekend’s show, fans were left “feeling sick” when Auzzy Blood, a gothic cabaret stuntman, performed tricks including putting a giant screw through his mouth and nose, and hoisting himself into the air with a hook through his jaw.

|ITV

Auzzy Blood left an impression when he appeared on BGT this weekend[/caption]

NBC

The act previously appeared on America’s Got Talent in 2022[/caption]

NBC

Simon was on the AGT panel alongside Sofia Vergara, Heidi Klum and Howie Mandel[/caption]

Alesha Dixon buzzed the act saying she “couldn’t watch it”, while viewers at home said they wanted to complain to Ofcom.

However, Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Bruno Tonioli voted for him to stay, with Simon in particular being enamoured by his sadistic routine.

But viewers of the worldwide franchise were left scratching their head over Simon “pretending like he didn’t know” Auzzy, considering he had appeared on the show before.

Auzzy Blood, real name Austin Punton, is a cabaret performed from Las Vegas who first appeared on America’s Got Talent in 2022.

On stage, he declared himself “a sideshow freak who likes to endanger his life for other people’s entertainment and to show people they can truly accomplish anything you put your mind to.”

For his audition on the show, Auzzy was seen swallowing a number of knives, battering one into his mouth with a steal beam before asking judge Howie Mandel to get in on his act and push one down his gullet.

He eventually made it through, but was knocked out in that season’s wildcard round.

Auzzy ramped up menacing act for BGT, adopting an evil laugh and grin and refusing to talk to the judges, trading words for intense glares.

The three-time Guinness World Record holder openly says on his Instagram he has appeared on six iterations of the Got Talent franchise.

He made it to the finale in Spain, where he was seen putting hooks into his eyelids, and also appeared on the French version of the show as well.

Taking to the YouTube video of his BGT performance, commenters quickly questioned why Simon pretended not to know who the act was.

“The funniest thing for me was Simon acting like he never saw this guy before, he was on Americas got talent 2 years ago and Simon was a judge,” wrote one.

Another noted: “Simon has become a good actor”

“Simon has done it many times, Piff the Magic Dragon, Tape Face, Wes P, Gonzo to name a few. The show is fake, in 2009 every contestant to perform last from the semi finals went through and in the final Paul Potts performed last and he won they got heat for it so changed it,” said another infuriated viewer.

“Simon Brodkin proved this, not to mention that some of the winners are already established artists because they dont have to pay them if they’re giving them a bigger platform.”

The Sun has reached out to Britain’s Got Talent reps for comment.

Auzzy is far from the first star to make multiple appearances across the different iterations of the Got Talent franchise.

BGT rules do not state that you cannot compete even if you’ve appeared elsewhere, or if you’re a professional act.

A source previously told The Sun acts with past performing experience as it “all boils down to the public vote”.

“The show has never hidden the fact that auditions are open to everybody, irrespective of previous experience, and everybody is given the same opportunity on the show,” they said.

“Regardless of experience, these contestants are not household names, and are unknown to most of the public.

“The show offers contestants an opportunity to perform on a Global scale and pursue their dreams”.

NBC

Auzzy has appeared on six versions of the Got Talent franchise[/caption]

EAFC 25 fans will want to take note as we’ve rounded up the top-rated players you need in your Ultimate Team.

Whether you’re a beginner or you’re an avid gamer wanting to know more about FC 25, here’s a full list of players you need for your Ultimate Team in each position.

10 players for each position you need in your team

EA Sports FC 25, the second installment in the EA Sports FC series, was released worldwide on September 27, 2024.

If you’ve joined the millions of fans who’ve got their hands on the game, you may be wondering which players you need for each position.

Of course, the choice is entirely yours, but you will need to consider several factors including chemistry, attributes, and price.

To help build your Ultimate Team, we’ve rounded up 10 fan-favourite players for each position, including icons.

GK

• Thibaut Courtois
• Gregor Kobel
• Gianluigi Donnarumma
• Jan Oblak
• van der Sar
• Iker Casillas
• Tim Howard
• Emiliano Martínez
• Alisson
• Ederson

RB

• Cafu
• Maicon
• Carlos Alberto
• Jules Koundé
• Marcus Thuram
• Jeremie Frimpong
• Steve McManaman
• Sacha Boey
• Pedro Porro
• Malo Gusto

CB

• Erling Haaland
• Virgil van Dijk
• Ibrahima Konaté
• Rio Ferdinand
• Antonio Rüdiger
• Vincent Kompany
• Fernando Hierro
• Ronald Araujo
• Bremer
• Jaap Stam

LB

• Theo Hernández
• Ashley Cole
• Nuno Mendes
• Fridolina Rolfö
• Ferdi Kadıoğlu
• Philipp Lahm
• Alphonso Davies
• Federico Dimarco
• Sakina Karchaoui
• Ferland Mendy

CDM

• Rodri
• Nicolò Barella
• Declan Rice
• Blaise Matuidi
• Sandro Tonali
• Patri Guijarro
• N’Golo Kanté
• Frenkie De Jong
• Julie Foudy
• Tijjani Reijnders

CM

• Yaya Touré
• Marek Hamšík
• Alexia Putellas
• Kevin De Bruyne
• Jude Bellingham
• Federico Valverde
• Aitana Bonmatí
• Xavi
• Vitinha
• Zé Roberto

CAM

• Lionel Messi
• Rivaldo
• Florian Wirtz
• Xavi Simons
• Neymar Jr
• Jay-Jay Okocha
• Cole Palmer
• Michael Olise
• Ademola Lookman
• Guro Reiten

RW/RM

• Caroline Graham Hansen
• Bukayo Saka
• Mohamed Salah
• Garrincha
• George Best
• Ousmane Dembélé
• Lauren James
• Leroy Sané
• Donyell Malen
• Rodrygo

LW/LM

• Vini Jr.
• Eden Hazard
• David Ginola
• Son Heung-min
• Rafael Leão
• Lamine Yamal
• Alejandro Garnacho
• Raphinha
• Nani
• Federico Chiesa

ST

• Antonio Di Natale
• Kelly Smith
• Harry Kane
• Carlos Tévez
• Kenny Dalglish
• Sam Kerr
• Erling Haaland
• Cristiano Ronaldo
• Moussa Diaby
• Marcus Thuram

Boost for Haaland

Erling Haaland maintains his 91 rating status.

However, he has had a increase of +4 pace and +1 dribbling. 

Rodri and Kylian Mbappe are also two of the highest-rated stars on 91, and Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are on 90.

Meanwhile, Lionel Messi was given his lowest rating in 16 years on EA FC 25.

He finds himself behind seven Premier League stars on an 88.

It was like a scene from a gangster movie.

As 17-year-old Tyler McDermott emerged into the night after a party, he was shot in the head at point-blank range before being slashed by a machete as he lay defenceless on the ground.

Met Police

Schoolboy Tyler was shot at point blank range before the gunman ran away[/caption]

Rex

Crooks are adapting guns in garden sheds to be used in dangerous crimes[/caption]

Rex

This DIY tool kit was used to convert guns in Luke Parr’s shed[/caption]

The shooter then took aim at Tyler’s teenage friend Kamali Lindo and missed before disappearing into the darkness.

It’s a killing that wouldn’t seem out of place in America’s gun capital Chicago, but Tyler, who was heavily involved in the music scene, was killed on the streets of north London in Tottenham.

Britain has some of the tightest gun controls in the world, but violent gangs and drug dealers are increasingly converting blank weapons in basements, garden sheds and bedrooms across Britain.

Four people were killed and 17 seriously injured with makeshift weapons last year, when more converted guns (64) were fired than real handguns (42).

In the last four years, cops have recovered 800 guns converted to fire live ammunition – and experts warn it’s young, reckless gang members who are the most likely to snap them up for use in trigger-happy shootings.

NCA deputy director Charles Yates told The Sun: “Your traditional organised criminal is probably going to think twice before using a firearm whereas your urban street gang is likely to more readily use them.”

Up until this year, the blank shooters could easily be bought by over-18s online or at fishing and shooting shops across Britain for just a few hundred pounds. 

Criminal gangs make thousands converting them into live weapons by tampering with the blocked barrels of top-venting blanks bought mainly from Turkey, where gunfire is common at weddings and other celebrations.

Four makes of Turkish guns are now banned from the end of this month after the National Crime Agency – Britain’s version of the FBI – proved how easily the Retay, Ekol, Ceonic ISSC and Blow blanks could be turned into deadly weapons.

Around 10,000 are believed to be in circulation across the UK after mainly being bought for use in movies, at sports events or coveted by collectors.

Owners now have until February 28 to hand them in to police stations across the country or risk up to 10 years in jail.

Charles Yates told The Sun: “Criminals would ideally like to get their hands on a firearm like a Glock because that’s what they’ve seen on TV but they can’t necessarily get hold of one, so they’re having to make do with what they can get their hands on.

“They identified that these top venting blank firearms could be converted with some relative ease and they still end up killing people.

“They look authentic, particularly if they’re painted black and have a trigger mechanism and magazine that contains bullets, just as a normal firearm has.

“They pose a significant threat.”

Senseless killing

Met Police

Tyrese Barnett, 20, was one of four men jailed for the horrific murder[/caption]

Met Police

Leo Reid, 21, was given life in jail for his role in the killing of Tyler[/caption]

Victim Tyler, pictured as an innocent schoolboy, was leaving a music recording studio in the early hours of April 13, 2023, when he was shot and stabbed after a row over filming inside the premises.

The shooter Tyrese Barnett, 20, of Newham, London,  and Leo Reid, 21, from south-west London, who slashed Tyler with a machete, tried to flee Britain but were caught by cops at Heathrow Airport with one-way tickets to Jamaica.

In a victim impact statement at the Old Bailey, Tyler’s sister Zara said: “I will never understand why these boys did what they did; however hard I try, I cannot forgive them.”

Barnett was jailed for life with a minimum sentence of 30 years while Reid, also convicted of murder, will serve at least 22 years.

Two accomplices Rhys Antwi, 20, of Lambeth, London, who was armed with a sword hidden underneath his clothes, and Kalam Bagge, 19, who carried a knife, were also given life.

Indiscriminate violence

Channel 4

Hampshire Police

Cops are finding more and more guns being used by criminals across the UK[/caption]

Tyler is far from the only victim.

Drug dealer Justice McCann, 22, shot an innocent stranger in the chest with a converted Turkish-made Retay in Luton, narrowly missing his heart.

He was jailed for 22 years after his victim, known only as Jakob, spent two weeks in hospital and later returned to Poland saying the attack – featured on Channel 4’s 24 Hours in Police Custody – had destroyed his life and left him too scared to leave his home.

Police found there was no motive for the shooting in August 2019.

Illegal gun factory

Rex

Parr was altering blank shooters in his sheds to enable them to take live ammunition[/caption]

Rex

One of the guns that had been modified in Parr’s garden workshop[/caption]

Eastern Region Special Operations Unit

Ammunition seized during the investigation into Ashley Latimer-Basil[/caption]

Cops and National Crime Agency bosses have made several big busts on outlaws converting guns.

Earlier this month, Londoner Luke Parr, 23, was jailed for 10 years after police found he was making firearms in his garden shed in Dagenham.

In January, the head of an organised crime group who sold guns and ammo across the UK was jailed for 30 years alongside two of his associates.

Ashley Latimer-Basil, 36, his brother Michael, 39, and Robert Kenna, 35, had key roles within a network which converted blanks to sell to gangsters.

The Cambridgeshire trio were given a combined 68 years and nine months.

Assistant Chief Constable Tim Metcalfe, National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for the criminal use of firearms, warned gangsters that more fake guns will be tested with a view to making them illegal.

He said: “There are numerous other models out there which we feel are slightly harder to get hold of, but will be testing them in the next few months.

“This amnesty is the public’s chance to stop weapons like this falling into the wrong hands. 

“In the last two years, policing and the NCA have disrupted several gangs making these pistols into live weapons and one investigation recovered more than 400 converted guns.”

Around 1,000 weapons have been handed in to police stations around the UK as part of the month-long amnesty.

South Wales Police

It’s becoming more common for police to seize guns despite tight restrictions[/caption]

Rex

Luke Parr was one member of an organised crime group modifying guns[/caption]