Dubai, Feb 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) Indian Home Minister Amit Shah and other top ministers hailed Team India’s emphatic six-wicket victory over Pakistan in their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Group A clash at the Dubai International Stadium...
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Srinagar, Feb 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) A light-intensity earthquake measuring 3.8 on the Richter scale occurred in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday although no report of any casualty or damage to property was received from anywhere, authorities...
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EASTENDERS has announced that the iconic character, Vicki Fowler is set to make a dramatic return.
The adoptive sister of Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) will make her comeback for Martin Fowler’s funeral.
James Bye played Martin for a decade before he was killed off in the live episode to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the BBC One soap.
Martin was the first baby born on EastEnders, but he will soon be laid to rest in a poignant moment for the long-running fans.
Now, his niece will once again appear on Albert Square for his funeral, but she will come with a surprising new family in tow.
When Vicki last appeared on the soap in 2004, she was played by actress Scarlett Alice Johnson.
Now, Alice Haig will take up the role when the character makes her return to Walford.
For the first time in over 20 years, she’s set to attend her Uncle’s funeral, as she brings her new boyfriend Ross and his son Joel with her.
Fans took to social media, appearing disappointed that bosses chose to recast the role.
Writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, one viewer wrote: “Man, I don’t know about the Vicki recast, will have to see about this.”
A second stated: “I didn’t even realise that it’s Vicki Fowler (another recast).”
“I feel the time it wrong for Vicki especially as a recast, she should have been brought back either when Michelle was brought back & recast or when Denny died to support Sharon with a Vicki recast why couldn’t they do the same for spence as original actor definitely won’t be back”, commented a third user.
While a fourth raged: “I cannot believe the legendary Vicki Fowler has been recast.”
“Gutted they recast Vicki Fowler,” posted someone else.
And a sixth fan added: “Really upset they made the choice now to bring back Vicki and especially to recast.”
Vicki caused controversy on the square from day one of her life as the love child of teen mum Michelle Fowler and Dirty Den Watts,
With the 40th anniversary of EastEnders coming up, fans are looking forward to some more incredible cameos from iconic faces of Walford's past. But who have we had so far?
Tracy-Ann Oberman – Oberman returned as Chrissie Watts, a character she last played nearly two decades ago.
Paul Bradley – Bradley returned as Nigel Bates, a character he last played over 25 years ago.
Micheal French – French returned as David Wicks, a character he last played two decades ago.
Patsy Palmer – Palmer returned as Bianca Jackson, a character she last played in 2019.
Ricky Groves – Groves returned as Garry Hobbs, a character who has not been seen since 2009.
Cliff Parisi – Parisi returned as Minty Peterson, a character who was last seen on the square in 2010.
Ross Kemp – Kemp has returned to play Grant Mitchell, a character he first played in 1990. The BBC has described Kemp’s storyline as “explosive”. Kemp said it was an “absolute honour” to return to the show.
Other aspects of the EastEnders 40th anniversary celebration include: A wedding between fan favorites, A huge explosion at the Queen Vic, and A live interactive episode.
Since leaving the Square in 2004, it was thought that Vicki has been living in Australia with Spencer Moon where they ran a bar.
So, when she arrives in Walford with a new man on her arm, it will come as a shock to both sister Sharon and Spencer’s brother Alfie, who had no idea they had split.
EastEnders continues on BBC One and is available to stream on iPlayer.
GERMANY’S hard-right party has had its strongest showing since World War Two, exit polls suggest, taking 19.5 per cent of the vote.
Alternative for Germany (AfD) is fielding its first candidate to lead the country amid support from Elon Musk and Vice President JD Vance.
Exit polls have placed AfD high in the tallies of the high-stakes election – but full results are expected on Monday morning.
The centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has come out on top in the exit polls at 29 per cent, but it is falling short of an outright majority.
The race pits the incumbent chancellor against the opposition leader, the vice chancellor and for the first time a leader of a far-right party.
AfD became the first far-right party to win a state election in post-World War II Germany in Thuringia in September.
The party is backed by high-profile US figures like Elon Musk and Vice President JD Vance.
Germany’s electoral system rarely gives any party an absolute majority and opinion polls suggest that no party is anywhere near one this time.
Two or more parties will most likely form a coalition in the coming weeks.
Whichever parties get in could shape Europe’s response to Donald Trump.
Questions remain over whether a coalition could be formed that could break Germany’s long-standing “firewall”.
The “firewall” is the name given to a postwar stance in which mainstream parties have insisted they wouldn’t work with any far-right parties – including AfD.
JD Vance earlier this month said there is no place for “firewalls” during a visit to Munich earlier this month.
Once considered a political outsider, the AfD has cemented itself as Germany’s second largest party, polling at 21 per cent – more than double its result in 2021.
The party’s momentum has been strongest in Germany’s economically struggling east, but is also gaining traction in the west.
AfD’s campaign has echoed Trump-style populism, with supporters seen wearing MAGA-inspired caps reading “Make Germany Great Again”.
The party’s leader, Alice Weidel, has vowed to “break the firewall” that keeps mainstream parties from cooperating with the far-right.
A protester in Berlin told NBC News that the AfD has gained support from frustrated Germans by giving them “easy answers.”
AfD’s success in September’s state elections, where it won its first-ever governorship in Thuringia and came close in Saxony, signaled its growing influence.
Now, its national rise could force Germany’s mainstream parties to navigate an even more divided political landscape.
FOUR candidates are vying to become Germany’s next leader, each representing a distinct political vision.
Friedrich Merz (CDU): The 69-year-old leader of the centre-right Christian Democratic Union is the front-runner to become chancellor. Promising economic revival and strong leadership in Europe, Merz will need to form a coalition as his party is unlikely to secure an outright majority.
Olaf Scholz (SPD): The current chancellor and leader of the centre-left Social Democrats, Scholz has struggled to maintain support after his government collapsed late last year. He has positioned himself as a steady hand in uncertain times, but polls suggest his party will place third behind the CDU and AfD.
Alice Weidel (AfD): The leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany has propelled her party to its strongest showing in history. A staunch nationalist, Weidel has called for radical policies on immigration, the economy, and Germany’s place in the EU. Despite her success, she remains a deeply polarising figure.
Robert Habeck (Greens): The current vice chancellor and co-leader of the Greens, Habeck represents the environmentalist party’s push for climate action and social justice. However, the Greens have lost ground in recent months, making it unlikely that he will be a serious contender for the chancellorship.
Germany’s next government will be crucial in shaping Europe’s response to Trump.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz previously warned that Trump’s return would be ” a challenge”.
Meanwhile, Weidel has positioned herself as a German ally to Trump’s America.
She has been advocating for a nationalist agenda that includes withdrawing support for Ukraine, lifting sanctions on Russia, and even threatening a referendum on Germany’s EU membership.
Tech mogul and Trump’s “first buddy” Elon Musk amplified AfD’s message by livestreaming an interview with Weidel on X last month.
He posted: “Only the AfD can save Germany.”
Musk’s involvement has sparked concerns about foreign influence in German politics.
JD Vance also made waves by publicly meeting with Weidel and calling for an end to the German political establishment’s longstanding refusal to engage with the AfD.
Germany, once the powerhouse of Europe, has struggled with economic stagnation for the past half decade.
Many voters see this election as a referendum on how to reignite growth.
CDU leader Friedrich Merz, the current front-runner to become Germany’s next chancellor, has promised to fix the economy within four-years – an ambitious goal given the country’s infrastructure and energy woes.
Meanwhile, security and migration have dominated the election campaign following a string of deadly attacks, including a stabbing at Berlin’s Holocaust Memorial on Friday.
AfD has capitalised on these incidents, promoting its “remigration” policy, which includes deporting migrants who have committed crimes.
With 59.2 million Germans eligible to vote, polling stations will closed at 6pm local time, with exit polls providing an early snapshot of the results.
Vote-counting will began as soon as polls close, and a final official result is expected by early Monday.
Unlike some countries, Germany does not allow mail-in ballots to arrive after election day — meaning every vote must be received by the deadline to be counted.
The formation of a new government, however, can take weeks or even months as coalition negotiations unfold.
Merz is widely expected to lead the largest party, but his path to power is unclear.
A coalition will be necessary, with Scholz’s Social Democrats or Robert Habeck’s Greens being the most likely partners.
However, Merz has ruled out working with the AfD, maintaining Germany’s political “firewall” against the far-right.
If exit polls confirm AfD’s meteoric rise, it will mark a turning point in German politics — one that could have ripple effects across Europe and beyond.
It’s a known fact that Breaking Bad is one of the best TV dramas of the 21st century. With its 5 seasons and 62 episodes, the series tells us a story of a family conflict, witted lawyers, and compelling criminals. Seriously, its characters have left a mark on the entertainment industry. Despite the success of […]
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Dubai, Feb 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) For the better part of two decades, Virat Kohli has been India’s most resourceful batter under pressure. On Sunday ‘King Kohli’ once again tormented Pakistan and led India to a memorable...
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Dubai, Feb 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) Virat Kohli brought back his vintage self to hit his 51st ODI century off 111 balls and help India inch closer to a semi-finals spot with a comprehensive six-wicket win over...
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