When her father-in-law became ill, the 50-year-old mother of one was able to spend a holiday with her family.
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Good Morning Britain host Charlotte Hawkins was hit by a family medical drama this Christmas(Image: ITV)
Good Morning Britain presenter Charlotte Hawkins’ festive celebrations were hit by a traumatic drama as a close family member was taken ill and rushed to A&E. The 50-year-old mum of one was enjoying a family Christmas when her father-in-law was taken ill.
The much-loved presenter said he underwent an operation – and paid tribute to the medical team which stepped in. She said: “Happy New Year to you! And raising a glass to toast Christmas miracles this year, it’s been quite the few days for us.
“My father-in-law had to be rushed to hospital from ours on Christmas Eve, but amazingly was back around the table less than 24 hours later after having a pacemaker fitted. From the brilliant paramedics in the ambulance, to the incredible NHS team who were there in the hospital over Christmas and got him back to us in time to raise a glass on Christmas Day. Such a HUGE thank you.”
Following her ordeal, fans rushed to cheer the presenter. Wow!, Feebee said. I wish you all the best of luck. Happy New Year, Lexi said. I’m so happy your FIL is fine.
Comeon continued, “Looking stunning, happy new year, and glad your father in law is feeling better. Happy New Year, Cam said. I’m glad to see that everything went well. “Happy New Year, Charlotte, and best wishes to your father-in-law.
Charlotte has previously struggled to hold back tears when she addressed the on-air struggles of her own late father with motor neurone disease. After battling the terminal condition for three years, the television presenter’s father, Frank, passed away in 2015 at the age of 78.
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Charlotte began by saying: “On the subject of modern technology, there has been a lot of AI and people are worried about where we are heading with this and people are wondering where we are heading with this.”
She continued, “I just want to flag a positive use of AI because I’m a Motor Neurone Disease Association patron, and this one caught my eye. One of the hardest things for those with motor neurone disease is losing your voice is a woman named Sarah Ezekiel, who is now diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
“And by the power of AI, her voice was able to be replicated after they discovered a small video clip, and this voice was given to her.”
The Good Morning Britain presenter had previously disclosed that her father passed away just one month before her eagerly-awaited daughter Ella Rose arrived.
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Before his “horrific” passing, she claimed at the time that she would remain forever “thankful” that he had found her carrying her daughter.
The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) enters the knockout phase as the new year rolls along, with the start of the round of 16 on Saturday, with an action-packed group stage now in the backseat.
What is the complete history of the eight fixtures?
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Senegal vs. Sudan
When: January 3, 5pm/16: 00 GMT Where: Ibn Batouta Stadium in Tangier
Senegal, the lowest-ranked team in the competition and making its debut in the knockout stages for the first time in 14 years, kicks off their AFCON round-of-16 campaign against Sudan, the tournament’s opening opponent.
Senegal defeated the Democratic Republic of the Congo on goal difference to finish top of Group D with seven points.
The 2022 champions will start as clear favorites with the addition of Kalidou Koulibaly, who was sent off in their final group game, despite having strong attacking firepower in Nicolas Jackson and Sadio Mane.
Equatorial Guinea defeated the 117th-ranked Sudan, making it one of the four best third-placed teams to earn three points in Group E. This marked only their second-ever victory at AFCON since 1970, when they won the trophy.
Sudan’s football team’s progress in the last-16 comes amid ongoing hostility at home, which is a significant accomplishment. Since fighting broke out between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in April 2023, war has  been ravaged by Sudan.
Tunisia vs. Mali
When: January 3, 8pm local/19: 00 GMT Where: Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca
As Group A runners-up Mali take on Group C’s second-placed Tunisia in this round-of-16 showdown, two well-known AFCON opponents square off against one another.
Tunisia advanced with four points thanks to one win and one draw while Mali won all three of their group games. Although neither side intentionally elevated the group stage, both could use this as a reset and raise their level.
Tunisia and Mali have met 15 times in a row in both competitive and friendly matches, with Tunisia holding a slight lead with seven victories over Mali’s five, with three games ending in draws. Their most recent meeting took place at AFCON in January 2024, when they finished the group stage 1-1.
Amadou Haidara, who was sent off late in Mali’s previous game, will miss the tournament because he finished second overall in 1972.
Morocco vs. Tanzania
When: January 4, 5pm/16: 00 GMT Where: Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat
Morocco, the host country in Africa, is scheduled to meet with Tanzania, who has completed a 45-year wait to qualify for the AFCON knockouts. With just two points from its first three Group C games, Tanzania edged out Angola in the final 16 behind the top four third-placed teams in the scoring table.
Morocco, on the other hand, won Group A with seven points from two victories and a draw. The Atlas Lions won their final group game 3-0 over Zambia despite being tipped to be the overwhelming favorites, but they faced early criticism after a grueling defeat to minnows Comoros and a draw with Mali.
50 years after Morocco’s first AFCON triumph, coach Walid Regragui is aiming for the nation’s second continental crown, which he had previously apologised to irritable fans for for the team’s underwhelming performance.
Achraf Hakimi, the Morocco captain, injured his ankle in the final group game against Zambia on Monday, but he came off the bench for the match [Themba Hadebe/AP]
Cameroon vs. South Africa
When: January 4, 8pm local/19: 00 GMT Where: Al Barid Stadium in Rabat
A five-goal thriller against Zimbabwe was ended by Oswin Appollis’ late penalty, which sealed South Africa’s place in Group B. With two victories and one defeat, Bafana Bafana now faces Cameroon, who is five-time champion.
South Africa placed third at AFCON 2023, one of the seven AFCON participants who has already secured a spot there for the 2026 event. They have not yet fully recovered from this feat. They will be hoping to find their groove when they face Cameroon, which finished Group F with two victories and an unbeaten group stage campaign.
The sides’ 10th previous meetings on Sunday will be marked by South Africa winning three games and Cameroon winning just once. Five of their previous encounters ended in draws.
Egypt vs. Benin
When: January 5, 5pm/16: 00 GMT) Where: Adrar Stadium in Agadir
Egypt came out on top of Group B with seven points after a failed campaign in the group stage. The Pharaohs drew 0-0 in their final group game against Angola despite a second-string lineup and returning key players like Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush to maintain their momentum.
After years of near misses, the team and fans are now convinced that Egypt could finally turn promise into silver as the record-seven-time champions chase a first AFCON title since 2010.
By contrast, Benin made it to the last 16 with a single victory in Group D over Botswana, which also represented their first victory in the AFCON finals. Despite reaching the quarterfinals in 2019, it took them 16 attempts to achieve that breakthrough following their debut in 2004.
Benin will attempt to double that number in face-to-power Egypt and spring another AFCON shock.
Mohamed Salah, center, has the best chance of capturing his eighth AFCON title, and Egypt’s first.
Mozambique vs. Nigeria
When: January 5, 8pm local/19: 00 GMT Where: Fez Stadium in Fez
With a flawless group-stage record, Nigeria were the first to claim their spot in the round of 16 and asserted their dominance early on.
The Super Eagles have quickly put their disappointment at missing the World Cup behind them, flying to Morocco on the back of a talented squad made up of well-known players like Alex Iwobi, Raphael Onyedika, Ademola Lookman, and Victor Osimhen.
The Group C winners now face Mozambique, who finished third with three points and will represent their country for the first time in the AFCON knockout stage. By defeating Gabon 3-2, the Mambas put an end to a 40-year search for a title in the continental finals.
With four defeats and five draws in their previous meetings against the former champions, Mozambique is facing its most difficult test yet on Monday.
Statistics show that Nigeria has the best attack of the tournament, scoring eight goals in three group matches.
DR Congo vs. Algeria
When: January 6, 5pm/16: 00 GMT Where: Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat
Algeria was the only other team to successfully complete the group stage campaign, dominating Group E with class thanks to Riyad Mahrez and Ibrahim Maza’s flawless finishing. The North Africans have depth in their squad and demonstrated their standing as title contenders, but their first knockout assignment presents a challenging challenge to DR Congo.
With two victories and a draw, DR Congo produced disciplined displays on both ends of the pitch to finish second overall in Group D. The most intriguing tie in this round-of-16 matchup pits two top-notch teams who have yet to experience defeat in Morocco.
Algeria, who have won two games and drawn four against DR Congo, are unbeaten in six previous encounters. Their first meeting in seven years will take place on Tuesday.
Burkinabe versus Ivory Coast
When: January 6, 8pm local/19: 00 GMT Where: Marrakesh Stadium in Marrakesh
After winning their final group game, titleholder Ivory Coast came out on top with seven points, finishing ahead of Cameroon in goals scored. In the group stage, Amad Diallo, one of the team’s standout performers, netted two of the team’s five goals.
The Ivorians wrap up their Group E victory streak with two victories and one defeat against Burkinabe, who finished second.
Before making a final decision regarding completing a £35 million move from Tottenham, Brennan Johnson will meet with Oliver Glasner, the manager of Crystal Palace, on Thursday.
The discussions will be crucial to the successful progression of the transfer, according to BBC Sport, who is aware of the growing expectation for the deal to be concluded.
Tottenham and Palace have already agreed the fee, but they are still waiting for the final agreement to be approved.
Johnson’s discussions with Glasner will center on the player’s place in the team, the club’s future, and its goals to ensure alignment between all parties.
The club has been keen to close the deal early because he is Palace’s top priority in the January transfer window.
Johnson, who led Tottenham in scoring with 18 goals last season, was made known last month by BBC Sport to reveal that the club was open to selling him.
A report that is currently being circulated on social media and the traditional media is being disowned by the National Judicial Council (NJC). It claims that 34 lawyers failed an integrity test and were consequently removed from consideration for appointments as judges of the Federal High Court of Nigeria.
The Secretary of the NJC, Ahmed Gambo Saleh, stated in a press release that the report was erroneous and unreliable, and that it did not accurately reflect the circumstances as they occurred at the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) level.
For the avoidance of doubt, the National Judicial Council has yet to make a decision or take any action in relation to the candidates referred to in the report.
The Council added that while a few candidates were in fact removed from the FJSC process based on negative findings made by the Commission, many others did not advance because they failed to meet the required qualifying score to be admitted to the NJC interview stage.
The Council made a point of highlighting the fact that, in contrast to the media reports, there is no stand-alone or newly developed “integrity test” whose failure automatically automatically disqualifies candidates in large numbers.
NLC Demands “Urgent” Review Of Workers Wages In 2026. READ ALSO: Inflation, Hardship.
It states that interviews conducted in strict accordance with established guidelines are still conducted as part of the judicial appointment process, which is merit-driven, multi-layered, and includes written examinations, performance benchmarks, background checks, and other requirements.
The Council is concerned that inaccurate and speculative information may be made public and unfairly damage candidates’ reputations if they are chosen in good faith.
The NJC has begun internal investigations to find the source of the unauthorized press statement and will take appropriate steps to safeguard the integrity and credibility of its procedures in light of the above.
As Rashad al-Alimi, the head of the internationally renowned Presidential Leadership Council, issued a warning against unilateral military actions by southern separatists, tensions are still high in Yemen.
Al-Alimi warned that serious consequences would result from further advancements by separatists from the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Hadramout and al-Mahra provinces.
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His warning came after STC forces took control of the resource-rich provinces in a surprise offensive in December. Riyadh claimed that the United Arab Emirates is trying to smuggle the STC, and Riyadh warned that Yemen’s security is threatened by the STC’s presence in Yemeni provinces that border Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia’s security is being supported by the UAE, which has refuted those claims.
The STC, in contrast, has rejected al-Alimi’s rule and vowed that its fighters will remain in the provinces that Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni government want them to leave.
The organization announced a new agreement on Wednesday night that would increase its presence further by putting additional separatist forces there. Official responses to this announcement have not been made by the Yemeni government or Saudi Arabia.
In a video posted on X, STC spokesperson Mohammed al-Naqeeb stated that the group’s units would continue operating in the seized areas. However, he added that they would be coordinated with the Saudi-led coalition and the “Homeland Shield” forces.
a solitary withdrawal
Salem al-Khanbashi, the governor of Hadramout, claimed that the STC’s response to official requests for a withdrawal had been constrained.
He urged the separatists to leave Hadramout and return to their original positions in an Arabic interview with Al Jazeera. He claimed he hoped there would be no bloodshed and that continued defiance could lead to province-level hostility.
After two ships leaving Fujairah, the Saudi-led coalition launched airstrikes on weapons and military vehicles at the port of Mukalla on Tuesday. STC is in charge of Mulla.
Saudi Arabia claimed that the UAE was sending military equipment to the STC as its troops gained access to Hadramout and al-Mahra, calling it a “red line.”
The accusation was refuted in Abu Dhabi. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the UAE described the allegations as “allegations,” but it later announced that Yemen’s “counterterrorism” teams had finished their last mission.
The STC, which wants to annex southern Yemen, made its most recent military moves in early December, disregarding local and regional calls for resumption.
As partygoers celebrated the new year’s eve in a ski resort early on Thursday morning, “dozens” of people were killed and more than 100 others were hurt, according to Swiss police.
What transpired?
According to a statement released on Thursday, a fire broke out at 1: 30 am (00:30 GMT) at Le Constellation, a bar in the heart of the posh Alpine ski resort town of Crans-Montana in southwest Switzerland.
The border with Bern, the capital of Switzerland, is about 200 kilometers south of Crans-Montana.
According to Gaetan Lathion, a police spokesperson in Wallis canton in southwest Switzerland, “there has been an explosion of unknown origin.”
The town’s bar is a well-known tourist destination. More than 100 people were present at the time of the incident, according to Swiss media outlet Blick, citing police.
What are the victims’ details known to us?
Without giving an exact number, Frederic Gisler, the police commander in the Valais Canton in southwest Switzerland, told reporters at a press conference on Thursday that “several dozens” of people were presuming to be dead. More than 100 people were injured, he added.
The Italian foreign ministry later reported that about 40 people had died, according to the Italian foreign ministry, quoting Swiss police.
According to a source in the medical sector, burn victims have flooded hospitals in French-speaking Switzerland. According to regional councillor Mathias Renard, the majority of the injured were in serious condition. Some victims, according to police, were from other nations.
He continued that the intensive care unit at Valais Hospital is full and that patients are being moved elsewhere.
On January 1, 2026, in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, a fire that broke out during a celebration of the new year, injuring and killing people, in Crans-Montana.
What has the government done?
10 helicopters, 40 ambulances, and 150 firefighters responded to the scene after being called to the fire. According to the police, the majority of the injured have “significant” burns or “significant” injuries. The Valais hospital has treated many patients.
A no-fly zone over Crans-Montana has been established, and the area around the bar has been completely closed off to the general public.
There is no current information on the possible causes of the fire.
Although we’re only just starting to investigate, Lathion referred to this as an “internationally renowned ski resort with a lot of tourists.”
The Valais canton’s prosecutor-general, Beatrice Pilloud, stated at the press conference that “we are currently favoring a fire and there is no question of any attack.”
Lathion added that a support line and reception desk (+1 41 848 112 117) have been established to assist families who have been affected. He continued, “The intervention is still ongoing.”
How frequent is this kind of incident in Switzerland?
In Switzerland, incidents like this are uncommon; recent fires and explosions have been minor.
In northern Switzerland, a blast that left two people dead in an underground parking garage and inflicted 11 injuries on two in June 2024 led to the discovery of the bodies of two people who had been killed. Local authorities confirmed that homemade fireworks had caused the explosion.
3, 000 tonnes of World War II ammunition that had been buried in the mountains above Mitholz, were the site of perhaps the biggest explosion in Swiss history in December 1947 at Mitholz Ammunition Depot. There were nine fatalities and several injuries.
