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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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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IRELAND AM star Tommy Bowe looked happier than ever as he celebrated his birthday in style while abroad.
The BBC Sport pundit jetted over to Cardiff, Wales, to report live from the sidelines as Ireland claimed a third Six Nations win in Principality Stadium yesterday.
And the day was made extra special for Tommy as he turned 41.
The Virgin Media host took to Instagram last night to share some snaps from his brilliant birthday at the match.
Tommy captioned his post: “What a way to celebrate your birthday!
“Classic test match and catching up with old friends. Exactly what the 6 Nations is all about!“
The dad-of-two also shared a major throwback snap of him at his first ever international match.
Tommy thanked his pal Donncha O’Callaghan for the photo saying: “Thanks @theoffload_podcast for the first cap photo.”
The popular presenter’s fans all loved his blonde highlights in the hilarious picture and raced to the comment section with birthday wishes.
Marna wrote: “Happy birthday! I love the picture of baby Tommy with frosted tips!”
Fergal said: “Happy birthday Tommy. Hope you had a great day.”
Nuala commented: “Happy birthday Tommy!”
Leona remarked: “Happy belated birthday @tommybowe. Hope you had a fab weekend and everyone is doing well.”
Tommy, who is renowned for his cheeky sense of humour, put himself forward to take part in a hysterical segment on Ireland AM recently.
Professional Irish jockey Paul Townend appeared on the show and brought a mechanical race horse along for the presenters to try out.
Tommy jumped at the chance to get up on the mechanical horse and immediately had the Ireland AM crew in fits of laughter.
As the 40-year-old got himself positioned and secure with a helmet, he asked Paul: “Okay so what do I now?”
Paul sarcastically replied: “Well, you are going to hang on for dear life Tommy.”
Tommy’s face dropped as he nervously responded: “Oh please don’t go too fast now.”
Paul then pressed start on the mechanical horse and Tommy began to move as if he was riding the horse.
Tommy smiled from ear to ear as he shouted: “Ah come on give it some welly Paul.”
ISRAEL has released dramatic new footage of the missile blitz that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah as his funeral took place today.
Hundreds of thousands of mourners packed into a Beirut stadium and the surrounding streets for the terror boss’s funeral.
The video, published by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), shows the moment Israeli missiles struck Hezbollah’s underground headquarters in Beirut on September 27, 2024.
The strike, part of Operation “New Order,” saw Israel drop more than 80 bombs on the militant group’s main operations room, eliminating Nasrallah and several senior commanders in a devastating blow to Hezbollah.
Ali Karki, the Commander of Hezbollah’s Southern Front, was also killed in this blitz.
Alongside the footage, the IDF posted on X: “On September 27, 2024, at 6:21 p.m. and as part of Operation ‘New Order,’ the IDF eliminated Hassan Nasrallah, leader of the Hezbollah terrorist organization, and together with him Ali Karki… in several simultaneous strikes.”
The IDF also sent fighter jets to fly low over the Hezbollah chief’s funeral procession.
Defence Minister Israel Katz revealed the army made this move to send a message to the terror group.
Thousands of people, dressed in black, flocked to the militant boss’s funeral, which also remembered his successor, Hashem Safieddine, who was killed in a separate strike.
Nasrallah was one of the terror group’s founding members and his death was a huge blow to the Iran-backed militant group.
The Hezbollah co-founder was one of the most influential people in the Middle East and helped trained Hamas fighters.
He also helped increase Hezbollah’s presence and popularity in Lebanon during his 30 years in power.
Nasrallah had gone into hiding for several years before his death because of fears he would be assassinated by Israel.
Around 450,000 people were apparently in attendance at the funeral, according to an anonymous Lebanese official.
Hezbollah reportedly called on people to show up as an apparent show of strength following several major setbacks this year.
Israel wiped out 20 terror targets in a calculated and intense airstrike, just hours before the Lebanon ceasefire was signed in November.
The IDF also killed Nasrallah just two months before.
The deadly Israeli airstrike ripped through the terror chief’s underground command hideout in Beirut.
At the time, the IDF said: “Hassan Nasrallah will no longer be able to terrorize the world.”
