Atiku Abubakar, the former vice president, has refuted reports in the media that claimed he received campaign funds from Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor of Lagos State, for the 2023 election.
Atiku, who ran for president in 2023 as the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate, called the reports that he received money from Sanwo-Olu, a key member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a “blatant lie from hell.” ”
According to reports in a section of the media that the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu @jidesanwoolu, via Ms. Aisha Achimugu, gave allegedly Lagos State money from 1999 to 2007 to His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, Vice President of Nigeria, we at Atiku Media Office have taken note of. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is also credited with conducting the investigation.
This is a blatant lie coming from hell, let it be known; a manufactured political hogwash and a pointless calumny campaign aimed at advancing President Bola A. The Atiku media team’s statement reads “Tinubu.”
INCLUDE According to Makinde, the Yo-government is not opposed to the Sharia Panel’s operation.
Additionally, the statement claimed Atiku had never met the Lagos governor before and had never met Sanwo-Olu.
Further, it added that Tinubu’s camp is the subject of this piece of kindergarten propaganda. How is it possible for an Atiku to know someone who had no connection to Sanwo-Olu to engage in money-exchanging business with him, let alone during the presidential election of 2023, in which his boss was a candidate? What would that accomplish?
We therefore urge you to firmly state that this is a political hatchet job that will give Governor Sanwo-Olu, who appears to have lost favor with the “Bourdillon Cult,” a much-needed justification. ”
In fact, they have two goals: to get rid of Sanwo-Olu and to discredit the coalition being created by the opposition political leaders, for whom Atiku Abubakar is a key figure.
An unnamed Sanwo-Olu aide is quoted in the news story as attacking his principal, adding more fuel to the fire to even underscore how weak the propaganda is. Who does that, please? We challenge the anti-corruption agency to make the results of its alleged investigation known so that it can be drawn into politics and propaganda.
Peter Obi, the leader of the Labour Party’s presidential flag in the 2023 election, and former vice president Atiku Abubakar, are not just the President who is entitled to that information, but the general public of Nigerians.
With the highly-anticipated third season of White Lotus airing earlier this month, it’s no surprise skincare shoppers may be looking to the actress Michelle Monaghan and her character Jaclyn Lemon to discover what tips and tricks she uses to keep her skin glowing. And if you’re one of those fans keen to copy Michelle’s beauty regime, good news – she has revealed one gadget she uses for cleansing that she’s “obsessed with”.
The device that has Michelle hooked is the Forea Luna 4, a facial cleansing brush that strives to remove impurities deep in the pores. Clinically, it has been proven to remove 99% of dirt, oil, and makeup residue in just one minute. And what’s more, if you want to add Michelle’s sworn-by gadget to your own skincare routine, you can do so for £140 less as it lands on Amazon’s Spring Deals Week sale.
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The White Lotus star is ‘obsessed’ with the Foreo Luna 4 skincare device ( Foreo)
In a recent interview with Marie Claire, Michelle shared: “And there’s this Foreo cleansing device that I just discovered and am obsessed with. I just discovered it recently because I’ve been wearing a lot of makeup nonstop from filming, and I just felt like, oh my gosh, my skin needs it. I hadn’t had a chance to get a facial for months and needed a good cleanse.”
Thanks to the device’s innovative T-Sonic pulsations, it promotes circulation, lymphatic drainage, and the absorption of active ingredients for a deeper massage that clears the pores, firms facial contours, and leaves skin looking restored.
The Foreo Luna 4 has three brush types for balanced, sensitive, or combination skin to ensure a skincare routine that best suits your skin type. The device comes equipped with three cleansing modes: Gentle, Regular, and Deep cleanse, perfect for targeting different areas of the face and neck. There are also 16 adjustable T-Sonic pulsation intensities with which to play.
The device’s guided firming massages promise to reduce fine lines and sagging while relaxing facial and neck muscle tension points and improving lymphatic drainage – targeting visible signs of ageing.
The Luna 4 is made from ultra-hygienic silicone, making the gadget bacteria-resistant and reducing breakouts. It also gently exfoliates the skin, removing dead skin cells to reveal fresh, healthy skin below and reducing the risk of breakouts.
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And it’s not just Michelle loving this whizz, as shoppers flood Foreo’s website with rave reviews. One thrilled customer beams: “I have been using the LUNA 4 for about a month now and I already notice a difference! I use it multiple times a week in combination with the micro-foam cleanser. My skin feels much softer and cleaner. My skin also looks more even. A need for the perfect skincare routine!”
Another shopper gushes: “Have been using it for a few weeks now and I can feel a difference, my face feels softer, I don’t see as many dark spots as before, it looks tighter. I’m really loving it!”
And a third enthuses: “This is my 3rd LUNA device and I couldn’t be happier. It’s the best one yet!! The massage features are favorite part. Of course it gives you a great clean, but the massage features are what makes this special. It really helps me release my stress at the end of the day. Definitely worth the splurge imo. (I also love the colors lol).”
Those looking to steal Michelle’s go-to gadget for less can head over to Amazon, where their Spring Deals Week is still going. Thanks to a limited-time sale, the facial cleansing brush loved by Michelle has been reduced from £269 all the way down to £129 (for combination skin), saving shoppers £140. Meanwhile, the model for sensitive skin has been reduced to £143.64 from £269, and the device for balanced skin is available for £189.
If you prefer to shop elsewhere, the same gadget (for sensitive skin) is up for grabs at Lookfantastic for the reduced price of £122.85. Or if you’d rather shop direct, Foreo is offering the device for £169.
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK finalist La Voix spoke to the Mirror about the BBC show, a possible cameo on EastEnders and a celebrity version of the Traitors ahead of their new tour
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star La Voix spoke to the Mirror about her career and upcoming tour recently(Image: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
Drag Race UK star La Voix has teased over the future of her career months on from reaching the final of the drag competition. The performer is looking ahead after having the “best time” on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.
The drag artist, 44 – whose real name is Christopher Dennis – was runner-up on the sixth series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, which aired last year. La Voix spoke to the Mirror about the BBC show recently as well as potential TV work to come, whilst promoting her new single and an upcoming tour.
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Speaking about Drag Race, she said: “I had the best time ever. It was like the maddest summer camp you could ever go on in your life.” She shared: “It’s opened me up to a completely new audience, which is wonderful. Because my demographic has very much been a solid theatre going audience.”
And looking ahead, when asked about her career ambitions, La Voix said her “big dream” is to have a residency in Las Vegas. She also revealed that she would like to get more TV work, having “always adored” her projects in the industry.
La Voix – who competed on Britain’s Got Talent and Queen of the Universe prior to appearing on Drag Race – teased in our interview: “It would be nice to do a [show] where I’m not being judged for once. I’ve done lots of competitions – it would be quite nice to just walk on and present something without someone at the end giving me critiques.”
Asked if that means La Voix – known for her love of singing – wouldn’t do the Masked Singer, she told us that she wants diversity in her TV jobs. She said: “I’d like a mixture, let’s say.” She commented: “The Masked Singer would be amazing.”
La Voix, who was runner-up on the latest series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, spoke to the Mirror about her career recently(Image: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
The performer then teased a potential stint on the celebrity edition of the Traitors, which the BBC confirmed it had commissioned last year. There’s been speculation over the possible line-up and La Voix has eyed up being a Traitor ahead of filming reportedly taking place next month.
She said: “I adore the Traitors. Is there gonna be a celebrity one? There’s got to be one round the corner.” And further sharing her thoughts after we said that a celebrity version of the Traitors is coming, La Voix said: “When you’ve done something like Drag Race, that high level of competing where it really does push you out of your comfort zone, I think some of these other competition shows would feel like a walk in the park.” She added: “So bring it on, I think.”
Revealing whether she would want to be a Traitor or a Faithful, she said: “I think I’d have to be a Traitor because I think everyone would assume that I am a Traitor if I was a Faithful because I don’t think they’d believe me. The thing is y’know you spend your life playing so many other different divas, they’d be like ‘well surely she’s good at lying’.”
La Voix is also open to making a guest appearance on EastEnders. She already has a connection to the cast as she’s friends with actor Harriet Thorpe, 67, who has played Queen Vic manager Elaine Peacock on the soap since 2023.
Asked about the prospect of filming with Harriet in the pub for the show, she told us: “Oh, I’d love that!” She went on to comment over the potential collaboration: “Yes, let’s have me popping up as a cameo. I’d like that, walking in the pub.”
Discussing their friendship, La Voix revealed that Harriet has supported her since the filming of Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie (2016). She said: “Harriet has been such a supporter of mine for years, ever since I did Ab Fab the movie. That’s when we first sort of met together on the set of there.”
La Voix added: “I just love her. She’s just fabulous. You’re never with Harriet more than 2 minutes before she’s taking a selfie or a picture or something – she’s social media crazy and I love her for it. She’s always been in the audience in my shows for years and I think she’s wonderful in EastEnders.”
She revealed that she’s open to working alongside pal Harriet Thorpe on EastEnders in the future(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)
For now though, La Voix is focused on her upcoming single, The Show Isn’t Over, and an accompanying tour that will see her visit various venues in the UK between September and November. Both projects have just been announced today.
Although she’s released music before, the Show Isn’t Over marks the singer’s debut original song. It’s been written and produced by Gareth Shortland and Tony Webb, who have previously worked on music for acts like Claire Richards and Steps. La Voix also told us that the song – which is out now – will be supported by some remixes and that she is preparing to release an EP, containing four original songs.
She said: “My fanbase for years have been wanting me to bring out new music, original music. It’s what I’m known for – I’m known for singing. I’ve always done covers [though].” La Voix said of her latest project: “[Gareth and Tony] presented me the most fabulous pop-dance songs and I thought ‘oh my gosh they’re amazing’.” She added: “I adored being in the studio and making it my own for the first time.”
And later this year, she will embark on her new tour, La Voix: The Show Isn’t Over, which will open at Theatre Clwyd in Mold on September 17. Following the launch, the tour will head to the O2 Academy in Glasgow, Aviva Studios – The Hall in Manchester and Hall For Cornwall in Truro on September 24, October 1 and October 8 respectively.
La Voix is currently preparing to go on tour following the release of her new single the Show Isn’t Over(Image: AEG Presents)
She will then be at the Globe in her hometown Stockton-on-Tees on October 26. The tour is scheduled to come to an end with shows at Kings Theatre in Portsmouth, Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London and Brighton Dome in Brighton on October 29, November 2 and November 5 respectively.
La Voix teased: “It’s the tour of all tours for me and it’s just quality entertainment. And I’m going to bring a level of joy that no one else can,” she teased. Asked what to expect, she said of the upcoming tour: “I’m back on with live band and two hours of the most amazing costumes and my cutting wit, which I’m known for, and just glamour and drama and roasting and divas and everything all in one show.”
“I just love variety entertainment. I mean, I do everything in my show from psychic readings to comedy roastings to a tap routine. I do a whole parody of the Wicked film, right through to y’know Liza Minnelli that I played on Snatch Game might be making a surprise appearance,” she added.
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The Show Isn’t Over is available on all major streaming platforms. La Voix’s new tour runs from September to November this year, with tickets set to be available soon.
Amazon shoppers are praising a “fantastic” set of garden lights they’ve been snapping up online. The popular retailer is currently holding its Spring Deals Days sale, which has seen discounts across thousands of items.
Among the deals are the Kawaya Festoon Lights, a set of mains-powered string lights shoppers have been quick to praise. The lights are now priced at £18.04, down from £25.99.
The offer is exclusive to Prime members. For those not on Prime, the lights can be snapped up for £18.99.
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The Amazon description reads: “Our outside string lights use high light transmittance LED bulbs to replace traditional tungsten bulbs. Drop-resistant and wear-resistant plastic bulbs instead of fragile glass bulbs.”
It adds that the IP65 grade waterproof design “makes it perfect for outdoor lighting even rainy, windy, or damp climates.”
The garden lights have an overall rating of 4.2 stars, having racked up many rave reviews from keen shoppers. Among them, one person said: “I have had these festoon lights hanging for over a year in all weathers and they have stood the test of time. No signs of water inside the bulbs.
“They create a really nice warm glow. The bulbs are a great size – smaller than a lot of alternatives and more elegant. Highly recommended!”
Amazon’s Kawaya Festoon Lights ( Amazon)
A second shopper wrote: “Got two sets of these to go round my pagoda. They look great when lit. Plastic bulb case so they won’t break. Good weather proof fittings, been outside now for a few months in all sorts of weather and no damage.”
A third added: “Absolutely love these lights. Bought three to brighten up the garden for the summer. Give off a lovely warm bright light, have a nice rustic look to them and do exactly what they’re supposed to do!”
Another impressed shopper said: “Fantastic outdoor lights. Wow these lights are amazingly good quality. Really high calibre cabling and fixtures. Lovely shaped bulbs and the brightness is absolutely brilliant – especially in these cold winter months. 100ft is perfect to easily fit nicely around the border of my back garden.
“There’s a good cable length from plug to first bulb which allows you to place them where you want from the power source. They really are an exceptionally high quality set of lights – most highly recommended.”
However, not all shoppers were quite as pleased with the product. One person wrote: “The lights look great to begin with. However after a few weeks the bulbs begin to blow. They give you two spare bulbs, but now three have failed. Not good after just a few weeks of use.”
Another said: “Lights have stopped working after seven months. Nothing I can do via Amazon. I would have expect a much longer life time than this.”
Alternatively, other retailers are also stocking outdoor lights to brighten up your garden. Next has the Black 40 Warm White LED Outdoor Festoon Line Lights 9.8M for £28, while B&Q has the Noma Festoon Lights Mains-powered (plug-in & wired) Warm white 10 LED Outdoor String lights for £18. Dunelm also stocks the EGLO Partaj 16 LED Indoor Outdoor String Lights for £40.
United States air strikes have hit more than 40 locations across Houthi-controlled parts of Yemen, including in the capital, Sanaa, according to local media affiliated with the rebel group.
Multiple residential homes and shops were damaged in the US attacks before dawn on Friday in the provinces of Saada, Marib, al-Jawf and Hodeidah, reported the Houthi-linked Al Masirah broadcaster.
Other targets included the Sanaa International Airport, which is used for both civilian and military traffic, and mountainous terrain north of Sanaa in Amran, where military camps and other installations are believed to be.
At least seven people were injured across the country in the US strikes, including at least one in Sanaa, Al Masirah reported. It also said that communication networks went down after the attacks.
The US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM), which now has authority from the White House to strike offensively in Yemen without pre-approval, did not immediately acknowledge conducting any raids.
The new campaign of air strikes, which the Houthis say has killed at least 57 people, started after the rebels threatened to restart targeting ships in the Red Sea over Israel blocking aid entering the Gaza Strip for almost a month.
War ‘must be avoided’
The United Nations Special Envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg late on Thursday emphasised the urgent need for peace after a decade of conflict in the war-torn nation, asserting that stability is critical not only for Yemen but for the entire region.
“The resumption of a full-scale war in Yemen is not in anyone’s interest and must be avoided,” he said during a visit to Brussels, his office quoted him saying in a post on X.
Grundberg noted that diplomacy was key to de-escalation, calling for dialogue and mutual commitment among all parties.
“It is essential that the international community continues to take unified action to ensure a peaceful and sustainable solution for the Yemeni people,” he added.
The Iran-aligned Houthis have launched more than 100 attacks targeting ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since November 2023, following Israel’s war on Gaza that began in October that year, saying the raids were in solidarity with Palestinians in the enclave.
During that period, the fighters sank two vessels, seized another, and killed at least four seafarers in an offensive that disrupted global shipping, forcing firms to reroute to longer and more expensive journeys around Southern Africa.
The Houthis also launched dozens of missile and drone attacks on Israel, killing at least one person and causing damage to buildings, including a school in Tel Aviv.
For quite some time, Walsall’s march to the League Two title seemed almost inevitable.
But this is football after all – and the predictably unpredictable EFL, no less – with the Saddlers’ form having nosedived since January.
Yet they remain on top, as many of the chasing pack have also stuttered in recent weeks, leaving us no closer to knowing who will go up, who will make the play-offs and who will miss out altogether.
Will Walsall be knocked off their perch after 112 days?
By Saturday, Walsall will have been top of League Two for 112 days.
But for the first time since early December, they could be toppled if they fail to beat AFC Wimbledon and second-placed Bradford City win at Accrington Stanley.
The Saddlers held a 12-point advantage at the summit with a game in hand and a 15-point cushion in the automatic promotion places when they extended their winning run to nine games by beating MK Dons 4-2 on 18 January.
That day also marked the first game after top goalscorer Nathan Lowe was recalled by parent club Stoke City.
Despite coping well against MK Dons, the 19-year-old’s exit appears to have been a turning point for when Walsall’s drop-off in results began.
In the 13 games that have followed, Walsall have only won twice (D6 L5) and seen their lead at the top cut to just one point by the Bantams, while the gap to fourth is now six points.
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Lowe is still Walsall’s leading goalscorer after he netted 15 times in 22 appearances, ahead of Jamille Matt who has scored 12 goals in 35 games.
The 20 goals Walsall have conceded in their past 13 games at a rate of 1.53 is also higher than the 23 they allowed in their first 25 matches at a rate of 0.92.
Only bottom side Morecambe (10) and Salford (11) have picked up fewer points than Walsall’s return of 12 in that run.
Boss Mat Sadler said he was happy to “keep the scoreboard ticking over” following their goalless draw at Gillingham last Saturday, despite ceding yet further ground at the top.
“I have to be pleased with that point,” Sadler told BBC Radio WM. “It moves us into the 70s and we now look forward to attacking the end.
“Everyone is fighting hard for the cause. We’ve got a very good squad. We’ve always said that. Everyone is chomping at the bit to do well.”
To me, to you…
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Walsall aren’t the only team wobbling at the top of League Two with eight of the sides in promotion contention struggling for consistency.
Only three teams in the race to go up or make the play-offs are in the form table’s top 10 based on the past six matches – Bradford, Colchester and Doncaster, although Rovers, who are fifth, are winless in their past three (D2 L1).
Sixth-placed Notts County have taken just five points from their past six games, winning only one of those (D2 L3).
AFC Wimbledon, who are third, have won just two of their past eight (D3 L3), collecting nine points in that time.
Port Vale missed the opportunity to move into the automatic promotion spots with defeat at home to Barrow on Tuesday night, meaning they’ve now recorded just two wins from seven (D3 L2).
Grimsby Town in seventh have eight points from their past six games (W2 D2 L2), while Crewe Alexandra have slipped to ninth after a run of four without a win (D3 L1).
Salford City were in promotion contention after six straight wins took them second at the start of January, but just two victories from their past 13 games (D5 L6) has left them six points adrift of the top seven in 10th, albeit with a game in hand.
Aside from Bradford, who also had a mini-blip of their own by losing to Gillingham and Tranmere before thrashing Colchester 4-1, it was the U’s who had been in the best form prior to that heavy defeat.
‘A really important stage of the season’
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Graham Alexander has guided his Bradford side to an impressive 14 wins from their past 20 games (D2 L4) and said the win over Colchester was the “best performance” he’s seen since taking over as boss 16 months ago.
“It’s coming into a really important stage of the season,” he told BBC Radio Leeds, with 23,381 in attendance at Valley Parade.
“We were obviously hurting from the previous two results but we responded again and that’s us.
“We’re not perfect but we keep going.”
Judging by the recent tumultuous form of those chasing promotion, perfection might not be necessary to make it out of League Two.
