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Warwick Davis reveals he has found love again one year on from wife’s tragic death

Actor Warwick Davis has candidly opened up about finding love again following the tragic death of his wife.

Samantha died last March aged 53. The couple met when they were teenagers before tying the knot in 1991. They shared two kids together. Now, as the actor prepares to move on, he has opened up about a new special person in his life while chatting with Jonathan Ross.

The presenter quizzed Warwick on his moving BAFTAs speech, in which he mentioned a mystery person who had been helping him grieve. In Warwick’s speech at the annual awards ceremony, the 55-year-old said thanked the mystery person for helping him feel love again in his life.

Warwick Davis paid tribute to his late wife at the BAFTAs earlier this year

The emotional Harry Potter star said in his acceptance speech: “Special mention should go to Sponge. You know who you are. Thank you for showing me that life can still have meaning and to helping me to laugh and to love again”.

When Jonathan asked about his words, Warwick told the chat show host: “When you go through your career as an actor, you sometimes become a bit reluctant to do certain jobs thinking another one will come along and be a bit better. She would always say ‘ get out there and do it’.

” She was great at networking as well, always talking to producers and getting me the work in the next job. Very supportive. You need that in this business because it is difficult. You’ve got to have someone who is very supportive of you being away on occasions and working ridiculous hours. “

He added:” Acting is quite a lonely career, really. You need a solid foundation at home to support that and make it work. “Jonathan tried to press Warwick on the identity of his new interest, but he simply replied:” I can reveal, sticking with the Harry Potter theme, Sponge is indeed She-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named. “

Warwick Davis spoke to Jonathan Ross
Warwick Davis spoke to Jonathan Ross (Brian J Ritchie/Hotsauce/REX/Shutterstock)

As he referred to Daisy May Cooper’s character Kerry Mucklowe, Warwick added:” Sponge very much reminds me of Kerry. Some of the things she says and her accent. “

Warwick, who lives with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita – a rare form of dwarfism – lost his wife Samantha last year. He paid tribute to her in April last year weeks after her death. He wrote:” Her passing has left a huge hole in our lives as a family. I miss her hugs. “

He then went on to describe his late spouse as his” most trusted confidant and an ardent supporter of everything I did in my career””. She was a unique character, always seeing the sunny side of life she had a wicked sense of humour and always laughed at my bad jokes, “he added

Warwick also paid an emotional tribute to his late wife Samatha as he received this year’s BAFTA Fellowship – the British Academy’s highest honour – earlier this year. During his moving acceptance speech, the Star Wars actor dedicated the award to Samantha.

As part of his speech, Warwick, 55, thanked his beloved wife for her support throughout his career and reflected on life since her passing”. Above all though, I’d like to dedicate and thank my wonderful wife Sammy, who died almost a year ago. She was always so supportive of my career – encouraged me to grab every opportunity with both hands.

“However, I soon noticed that her level of enthusiasm for me taking a particular role was often relative to how much she wanted that designer handbag. Since then, life has been pretty tough for me. But thanks to the support of our wonderful children, Annabelle and Harrison, I’ve been able to continue working and engaging in life”.

The Jonathan Ross Show, Saturday at 9.20pm on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player

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Tinubu Appoints Chief Medical Directors For Six Federal Hospitals

President Bola Tinubu has appointed six Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) for Federal Government-owned hospitals in Akure, Gombe, Azare, Lafiya, Maiduguri, and Kafanchan. &nbsp,

A statement by President Tinubu’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, on Friday, said that all appointments are for four years, effective from the respective dates of assumption of office.

According to him, President Tinubu congratulated the newly appointed and reappointed Chief Medical Directors, urging them to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, accountability, and service delivery in their respective roles.

READ ALSO: &nbsp, Tinubu Appoints Jega As Special Adviser On Livestock Reforms

He added that the President also reiterated his administration’s commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure and ensuring all Nigerians have access to quality medical services.

The newly appointed CMDs and their hospitals are as follows: Prof. Olusegun Sylvester Ojo&nbsp, has been appointed Chief Medical Director of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Akure, Ondo State.

A seasoned medical professional, Prof. Ojo previously served as the pioneer Chief Medical Director of the Ondo State Specialist Hospital.

Prof. Yusuf Mohammed Abdullahi&nbsp, was reappointed as the Chief Medical Director of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, following an outstanding performance during his first term.

His reappointment underscores his exceptional leadership and contributions to the hospital’s growth.

Dr. Dauda Abubakar Katagum, &nbsp, the Acting Chief Medical Director of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Azare, Bauchi State, was confirmed as the substantive CMD.

Dr. Ikrama Hassan&nbsp, has been appointed as the Chief Medical Director of the newly upgraded Federal Teaching Hospital in Lafiya, Nasarawa State.

A consultant physician, Dr. Hassan previously served as the Medical Director of the Dalhatu Ibrahim Arab Specialist Hospital before its elevation to a teaching hospital.

Dr. Ali Mohammed Ramat, &nbsp, a renowned Consultant Orthopaedic and Spine Surgeon, was appointed Chief Medical Director of the newly established National Orthopedic Hospital in Maiduguri, Borno State.

Dr Haruna Abubakar Shehu, &nbsp, a Consultant Family Physician, was appointed Chief Medical Director of the newly established Federal Medical Centre, Kafanchan, Kaduna State.

The statement noted that Prof. Yusuf Mohammed Abdullahi’s second and final term as CMD of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, commenced on September 5, 2024.

Trump Threatens New Russia Sanctions After Strikes On Ukraine

US President Donald Trump on Friday threatened new sanctions and tariffs on Russia over its bombardments of Ukraine, after previously suspending US aid to Kyiv in a stated bid to encourage diplomacy.

But in comments later Friday, he said it was “easier” to work with Russia than Ukraine in efforts to end the war.

Trump’s warning to Moscow, published on his Truth Social platform, came hours after Russia launched a “massive” drone and missile attack on Ukrainian energy facilities&nbsp, Friday.

“Based on the fact that Russia is absolutely ‘ pounding ‘ Ukraine on the battlefield right now, I am strongly considering large scale Banking Sanctions, Sanctions, and Tariffs on Russia until a Cease Fire and FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON PEACE IS REACHED”, Trump wrote.

“To Russia and Ukraine, get to the table right now, before it is too late”, he added.

Kevin Hassett, director of the president’s National Economic Council echoed this message in comments to reporters on Friday.

“President Trump is adamant that we need to get everybody to the table, and we could do that with carrots, and we can do that with sticks”, he said.

Talking to reporters Friday after his post online, Trump said he trusted Putin. “I believe him”, he said.

“I’m finding it more difficult frankly to deal with Ukraine and they don’t have the cards”, he said. “It may be easier dealing with Russia”.

Valentyna Guk searches for pieces of glass for mosaic fragments among debris of a heavily damaged building in Kharkiv on March 7, 2025, amid the Russia invasion of Ukraine. Valentyna Guk is a 21-year-old Ukrainian artist from Kharkiv who creates mosaics from broken glass. After the shelling, Valentyna collects interestingly shaped pieces of glass and then assembles them into separate mosaic forms, which she later hangs on the facades of buildings. In total, there are six of her mosaic works on the streets of Kharkiv and one in Izyum. (Photo by Ivan SAMOILOV / AFP)

‘ Force Russia to stop ‘

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky is due to meet US officials in Saudi Arabia next week for a fresh round of talks.

“The theme is clear: peace as soon as possible, security as reliable as possible”, he said in his evening address Friday.

“Ukraine is determined to be very&nbsp, constructive”.

Earlier on Friday, he renewed calls for a mutual halt to aerial attacks on critical infrastructure following the latest Russian barrage.

The Ukrainian leader said the first steps to establishing real peace should be stopping both Russian and Ukrainian aerial and naval attacks.

This latest proposal builds on growing rhetoric from Kyiv, Washington and Moscow on halting the war, now in its fourth year.

Ukraine’s allies abroad have voiced support for Zelensky’s truce proposal and on Friday Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who recently hosted the Ukrainian leader, also gave it his backing.

The Kremlin has previously ruled out a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine.

US President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky meet in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, February 28, 2025.
(Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)

Air and sea truce

Russia’s defence ministry confirmed Friday it had carried out “precision” strikes on energy facilities.

The Ukrainian air force said it had deployed French Mirage fighter jets — delivered to Ukraine last month — for the first time to repel the aerial onslaught.

They said the fighter jets along with air-defence units shot down 34 of the missiles and&nbsp, 100 drones.

DTEK, the largest private energy supplier in Ukraine, said its facilities in the Black Sea region of Odesa had been targeted for a fourth successive night.

Its gas facilities in the central Poltava region had “ceased operations” after being struck in the overnight attack, it added.

State gas company Naftogaz said its production facilities had been damaged, and the authorities in at least five Ukrainian regions said Russia had targeted energy facilities.

The latest Russian air assault came after EU leaders, shaken by the prospect of US disengagement, agreed to boost the bloc’s defences.

This photograph shows a damaged car a day after a Russian strike on a suburb of Odesa, southern Ukraine on March 7, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Oleksandr GIMANOV / AFP)
Local resident walk among the debris near a damaged house, a day after a Russian strike on a suburb of Odesa, southern Ukraine on March 7, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Oleksandr GIMANOV / AFP)

US, Ukrainian officials to meet

EU chiefs on Friday briefed several NATO partners — including Britain and Turkey — about the outcome of a meeting on defence of the bloc’s leaders in Brussels a day earlier.

“Our cooperation with likeminded NATO partners is vital for international security. For Ukraine. For stepping up our joint efforts on defence”, Antonio Costa, who heads the European Council of EU states, said in a post on X.

Washington said talks with Kyiv were back on track to secure a ceasefire with Moscow — after a public falling out between Trump and Zelensky last Friday.

Ahead of Tuesday’s meetings with US officials, Zelensky himself will travel to Saudi Arabia on Monday for talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

US envoy Steve Witkoff said he would speak to Ukrainian negotiators about an “initial ceasefire” with Russia and a “framework” for a longer agreement.

Ukraine’s energy minister German Galushchenko said Russia was trying to “hurt ordinary Ukrainians by shelling energy and gas production facilities”.

Five civilians were killed and nine wounded in Russian strikes in the Donetsk region, the prosecutor’s office there announced Friday.

Why FG Declared Free Treatment For Women With Pregnancy Complications – Health Minister

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, has disclosed the reason behind Federal Government’s support for women with complications in pregnancy which includes free cesarean sections.

According to the Minister who was a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, the health and wellbeing of Nigerians are fundamental to President Bola Tinubu’s vision for Nigeria.

He said that with this in mind, the President has made it a priority to reduce the number of deaths associated with obstetric complications by ensuring that no woman dies because she cannot afford cesarean section or other such treatments.

READ ALSO: Facilities For Free Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric Care, VVF Surgeries

“(The Federal Government has approved) free treatment of emergency obstetric complications for women in the empanel facilities and that includes cesarean sections”, the minister said on the programme.

“So, it’s not only cesarean sections, excessive bleeding, obstruction, other complications of pregnancy. If a woman gets to a facility that is certified, the facility will be reimbursed for the care.

” The reason for that, I cannot emphasise this enough, the president is very clear in his mind that the health and wellbeing of Nigerians is core through his own agenda and vision for the country. “

Pate noted that in the contest of this reforms in the health sector that the president is undertaking, the Federal Government mobilised resources working with the Health Insurance Authority to ensure that empanel facilities can reimburse, so that cost would not be a burden for women who go there for treatment.

‘ FG paying for VVF surgeries ‘

In addition to free cesarean section, the Minister also disclosed that the Federal Government is also offering free treatment for women with vesicovaginal fistula (VVF).

He said”, vesicovaginal fistula is a complication of pregnancy and delivery, and at least 10, 00 women annually get those complications.

“They leak urine, there are all kind of stigma in their families, many of them are young women, they get discouraged by their families and they cannot afford the care, and its care is surgical care that requires competency and facility that knows how to take care of them, but it costs money.

” For a very long time, many women suffered from that without the opportunity to have those repairs. We took it upon ourselves to ensure whoever has VVF will have a surgical repair and that will be paid for by the government. “

The Minister added that about 2, 000 women have already been repaired and it’s very touching seeing them expressing gratitude for the life-changing opportunity that they have.

Free facilities for obstetric complications and VVF surgeries

Also on the programme, the Health Minister disclosed that the Federal Government has enlisted 154 health facilities across Nigeria for free treatment of women who have obstetric complications.

He also announced 18 centres across the nation for free treatment of vesicovaginal fistula (VVF).

Bosnia’s top court suspends separatist laws adopted by Bosnian Serbs

Bosnia’s Constitutional Court has suspended legislation passed by the autonomous Republika Srpska region which rejects the authority of the federal police and judiciary on its territory.

The court said on Friday that it was “temporarily suspending” the laws that Bosnian Serb President Milorad Dodik pushed through the regional parliament earlier this week.

The laws were passed days after a court in Sarajevo sentenced Dodik to a year in prison and banned from office for six years for refusing to comply with decisions made by Christian Schmidt – the international high representative charged with overseeing Bosnia’s peace accords.

Since the end of Bosnia’s inter-ethnic conflict in the 1990s, the country has consisted of two autonomous regions – Republika Srpska and a Muslim-Croat federation, which are linked by a weak central government.

Bosnian officials say that Dodik’s laws violate the Dayton Peace Agreement that ended the country’s 1992-95 war, binding the two entities under joint institutions, including the army, top courts and tax authorities.

Dodik on Thursday said he would ignore a summons from Bosnian state prosecutors investigating him for allegedly undermining the country’s constitutional order.

On Friday, he doubled down on his separatist drive, calling on ethnic Serbs to quit the federal police force and courts and join the government of Republika Srpska.

“We have ensured them a job, while preserving their legal status, ranks, and positions. They will receive the same salary, or even a higher salary than they had”, said Dodik.

Dodik later added there were no plans for violent escalation but insisted that Republika Srpska had “the ability to defend itself, and we will do that”.

On Friday, local media reported that the&nbsp, Bosnian Serb Republic’s police had forced federal agents from the State Information and Protection Agency (SIPA) out of their premises in the city of Banja Luka.

But SIPA head Darko Culum later labelled the reports incorrect, insisting that the security situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina was “stable and calm”.

The situation in Republika Srpska remained tense on Friday.

The Srebrenica Memorial Centre – where most of the 8, 000 victims killed by ethnic Serb forces in July 1995 are buried – said it had closed its doors “until further notice”, citing uncertainty triggered by the ongoing political crisis.

“This decision has been made due to the inability to ensure adequate security guarantees for our employees, collaborators, guests, and visitors”, said the centre, which is located in the village of Potocari, in an online statement.