Peter Murrell, the estranged husband of Nicola Sturgeon, has pleaded guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh (May 25)

Peter Murrell was once at the centre of Scotland’s political leadership as the husband of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. As the Scottish National Party’s long-serving chief executive, he oversaw the party’s rapid rise in popularity and a major surge in membership around the 2014 independence referendum.

Murrell had been in charge of the SNP’s day-to-day running since 1999, after previously working in the constituency office of former leader Alex Salmond, although he was never an elected politician. He met Sturgeon through their involvement in the party in the late 1980s, with their relationship becoming public in 2003.

The couple married in 2010 in Glasgow, as Sturgeon rose through the ranks after first being elected to the Scottish Parliament in 1999. The SNP entered government in 2007, with its rise often credited in part to Murrell’s organisational leadership, before making significant electoral gains in 2011.

After the late Mr Salmond’s resignation in 2014 following the result of the independence referendum, Sturgeon was elected unopposed as successor.

Questions were raised at the time about the close working and personal relationship between husband and wife, but they insisted there was a strict division of power within the party’s governance.

Speaking in a documentary released last year, Mr Salmond said he had privately expressed concerns to the couple that the press would exploit their relationship if things went badly for the SNP.

Eventually, the couple’s position came under increasing scrutiny in later years amid questions about party finances and transparency.

During the latter years of Sturgeon’s leadership, some within the SNP had complained of a lack of transparency around the party finances. In June 2021 the then-first minister said she was “not concerned” about the finances despite two high-profile resignations.

Allegations were made that hundreds of thousands of pounds raised for Scottish independence campaigning was diverted elsewhere.

Then, in July 2021, Police Scotland said they were opening an investigation after seven complaints were made in relation to SNP donations.

The situation escalated sharply after Sturgeon’s resignation as First Minister and SNP leader in February 2023. Murrell subsequently stepped down as chief executive following a dispute over membership numbers, including reports that around 30,000 members had left the party in a year.

In April 2023, police searched the couple’s home near Glasgow and SNP headquarters as part of the ongoing investigation, before Murrell was later arrested with embezzlement and charged.

In January 2025, Sturgeon announced the end of their marriage, saying they were separating “with a heavy heart” and that they “still care deeply for each other and always will”. Murrell, 60, has not publicly commented on the developments.

Additionally Sturgeon stepped down as Glasgow Southside MSP before this year’s Scottish Parliament elections in May.

On Monday May 25, Murrell was remanded in custody at the High Court in Edinburgh after pleading guilty to embezzling £400,310.65 from the Scottish National Party between August 2010 and October 2022.

The majority of Muslims will be celebrating Eid al-Adha on May 27.

The festival is one of the two blessed Eids celebrated as Muslims. It follows the end of the annual Hajj pilgrimage period, and is also known as the “Feast of Sacrifice”.

Performed after the Eid prayer, Muslims around the world come together to take part in Qurbani – the ritual sacrifice of livestoc, typically a sheep, goat, cow, or camel – reflecting the legacy of Prophet Ibrahim and his unwavering obedience to Allah.

Qurbani commemorates the faith of Prophet Ibrahim, who was willing to sacrifice his son Ismail in obedience to Allah’s command. It provides a means for Muslims to reach the level of submission he showed to Allah.

A damaged chemical tank in Southern California cracked over the weekend, which authorities were hopeful would relieve pressure and reduce the risk of an explosion.

Some 50,000 residents in Garden Grove, a city of roughly 170,000 about 40 miles (60 kilometers) south of downtown Los Angeles, have been evacuated and are waiting for a resolution. The tank overheated Thursday and began venting vapors, leaving local and state officials scrambling to evade a worst possible scenario at the aerospace company site.

No injuries have been reported.

Fire officials planned to send in a team overnight to determine if the pressure has been relieved, which would reduce the worst-case scenario of an explosion, Orange County Fire Authority interim chief TJ McGovern said in a video posted late Sunday to the agency’s X account.

Atmospheric modeling showed an active leak from the tank as of Sunday night, McGovern said.

Firefighters have repeatedly sprayed the tank with water in an attempt to cool the chemical inside, methyl methacrylate, which is used to make plastic parts. The tank’s interior reached 100 degrees (37.7 Celsius) Sunday, an increase of 10 degrees Fahrenheit (5.5 Celsius) since Saturday, according to Democratic state Sen. Tom Umberg.

Fire officials over the weekend discovered the tank had cracked, lowering the potential for a devastating blast.

Officials working to prevent a disaster

Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency Saturday and said he asked President Donald Trump to issue an emergency declaration to bolster federal support for local and state officials.

The tank at GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems, which makes parts for commercial and military aircraft, holds 6,000 to 7,000 gallons (22,700 to 26,500 liters) of methyl methacrylate used to make plastic parts.

Monitoring tests found air pollution around the evacuation zone was within normal limits and specialized equipment is being used to ensure gas is not released, state and federal environmental officials said Saturday.

The first goal of firefighters is to cool off the chemical inside the tank to prevent a leak or explosion.

Drones were monitoring temperatures at 10-minute intervals to watch for any spikes. Containment barriers have been set up to prevent the chemical from getting into storm drains or reaching creeks or the nearby ocean in the event of a spill, Orange County Fire Authority division chief Craig Covey said on social media.

As the interior temperature rises, methyl methacrylate converts from a liquid to a gas and increases the pressure, according to Purdue University engineering professor Andrew Whelton, who said the crack could mean product or pressure is being released, reducing the chance of explosion.

“Think of a soda can. If you leave it in a hot car it can explode,” Whelton said. “But if you put a hole in the can, the product is released and the can itself doesn’t explode.”

Firefighters are unlikely to consider making a hole in the tank, fearing a spark that might ignite the volatile and flammable gas. An explosion that could spread the chemical over a broad area and send shrapnel flying would be the worst-case scenario, he said.

Dealing with displacement and health concerns

Aerial photos taken by The Associated Press showed streets in the area were empty Sunday, while several evacuation shelters were open. At a high school in neighboring La Palma, people slept in cars or on mats and sleeping bags on the asphalt.

Garden Grove is next to Anaheim, home to Disneyland’s two theme parks, which were not under evacuation orders. Park officials said they were monitoring the situation.

Exposure to methyl methacrylate can cause serious respiratory problems, neurological problems and irritation to the skin, eyes and throat, according to fact sheets about the chemical.

Whelton said if an explosion occurs, it will be crucial to conduct detailed air monitoring specifically for methyl methacrylate and not just generic tests for volatile organic compounds as officials did after a 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, which released more than 115,000 gallons (435,000 liters) of vinyl chloride after officials blew open five tank cars and burned the chemical.

Orange County health officials said the chemical is easy to smell and people may notice it over a large area without being harmed.

Residents taking legal action

Some Garden Grove residents filed a class-action federal lawsuit Saturday against GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems, which operates the facility where the tank is located. Lawyers for the residents argued that regardless of what happens, property values in the surrounding community are sure to be impacted.

GKN Aerospace did not comment on the lawsuit but has apologized to residents and businesses forced to evacuate. It said Sunday it was “working around the clock to mitigate the risk of a leak.”

GKN Aerospace agreed in 2025 to pay state regulators more than $900,000 to settle violations involving recordkeeping, permitting issues and nitrogen oxide emissions, according to a report on the South Coast Air Quality Management District website.

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Associated Press journalist Ethan Swope in Garden Grove, California, contributed to this report.

Prediction: 17th

Leeds looked like they would struggle early on, but manager Daniel Farke turned it around, so both he and his players deserve great credit.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin proved a very shrewd signing on a free transfer from Everton, while, as expected, the Elland Road bearpit played its part.

If there was a disappointment, it was the timid performance in the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea at Wembley.

The main mission, however, was Premier League safety and that was achieved with something to spare.

What I said in August: “Someone has got to buck the growing trend of ‘three up, three straight back down’ from the Championship’s promoted sides, so I am going to say Leeds will break that glass ceiling.”

Fire crews from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to Station Road in Grassington on Sunday (May 24) at around 7.10pm, following reports of a fire involving a BBQ in the boot of a car.

According to the fire service, when they arrived, the BBQ had been removed from the car into the open air by the people in the car.

No one was injured during the incident, and the car wasn’t impacted by the fire.

Firefighters from Grassington extinguished the fire in the BBQ and left the scene shortly after.

A spokesperson for the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “A crew from Grassington responded to reports of a BBQ on fire on a pavement.

“This was a fire to a BBQ which had been put in a cardboard box in the boot of a car.

“On discovery, the occupants had removed the box and BBQ to the open air.

“The car was not impacted by the fire. Crews used a hose reel jet to extinguish.”

This was the second incident involving a BBQ in Grassington on Sunday, after firefighters also attended an incident in woodland at around 8.30pm.

This particular fire was damped down using knapsack sprayers.

Next held on Saturday (May 30) the event will feature stalls across Middle Street, the Masonic Hall on John Street, and the Foundation for Good on Trafalgar Street.

Cllr Kathryn Rooney, who organises the markets, said: “I’m excited to welcome back regular traders as well as lots of new ones, your support ensures the markets keep going and growing in size and bring people back in to our town centre”

Geordie Bangers will make their debut at the market as well as popular Grandpa’s Fish Bar from Lanchester, which will also be bringing its food to the market for the first time.

The market will also be held on July 25, September 26, October 31, and December 5.

A wide selection of stalls will be on offer, including hot food vendors serving burgers, pizza, and doughnuts.

Are you going? Let us know what you think of the markets in the comments.

The county’s force said an officer using a hand-held device detected vehicles travelling at between 21mph and 45mph within the area of Royal Albert Drive and Marine Drive in Scarborough‘s North Bay on Saturday, April 21, close to a skatepark.

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A force spokesperson said the measure was set up in response to reports from residents.

They said: “A vehicle was stopped by officers who found it bring driven by a 16-year-old boy.

“He was also detected driving at 35mph, with no licence or insurance, the schoolboy has been reported for motoring offences and the vehicle was seized. 

“Another driver was detected at 39mph and following his manner of driving in front of an officer, he has been reported for motoring offences.  

“Our team engaged with several drivers to speak to them about their driving behaviours. ”

Residents at Windsor Court, Bolton, described several pipe bursts over a period of years, with two coming in the last two months.

Another resident still has not had carpet replaced after a pipe burst over one month ago, which led to ‘ankle deep’ water flooding through her bedroom.

Tracey’s hallway shortly after the pipe burst (Image: Tracey Lowe)

Residents have also been left frustrated with Anchor’s response.

Anchor has apologised and said residents’ health and safety are its priority.

“They just don’t care,” said Tracey Lowe, whose house was flooded around four weeks ago.

“I rang the area manager and told her what happened, and she said, ‘you must be going through lots of pairs of slippers’.

The flooring in Tracey’s bathroom came loose as a result of the water damage (Image: Dan Dougherty)

“It’s just totally inappropriate.

“Someone else said ‘your dog’s belly must be getting wet’” – alluding to Tracey’s sausage dog.

The incident occurred one month ago, and Anchor sent workers around to fix it as an emergency.

The carpet above the burst pipe was removed and taken outside, where it still is.

But the carpet was not replaced, and the main hallway in Tracey’s home is still bare after over a month.

Tracey’s bedroom – the ridges in the carpet are the result of the water damage (Image: Dan Dougherty)

The carpet in Tracey’s bedroom was never even taken out, which Tracey – who sleeps using breathing apparatus – believes contributed to a recent chest infection she suffered.

“The room became very humid,” said Tracey.

“They gave me a dehumidifier and I kept the windows open, but it didn’t help.”

But, according to Tracey, Anchor refused to replace the bedroom carpet and refused to recarpet the hall, telling Tracey she must do the jobs on her own home insurance.

She was told it was ‘Anchor Policy’.

Tracey’s uncarpeted hallway as it currently appears (Image: Dan Dougherty)

Around a month before Tracey’s burst pipe incident, another resident of Windsor Court had a burst pipe in their house, only a few metres from Tracey’s.

Tracey’s 90-year-old neighbour has also had several burst pipes over the last few years.

This means there were at least three burst pipes across a 4m radius over the span of about two months – quite a large number of incidents for such a small space.

Anchor has confirmed it is ‘conducting further checks of the water pipes at Windsor Court’.

Richard Hope, Director of Property Services at Anchor, said: “We’re very sorry for the distress caused to our resident following the water leak.

“Their safety and wellbeing are our priority. We have visited them to check on their welfare, ensured their home is habitable and are taking steps to return their home to its original condition.

“When the leak was reported, we contacted our contractor straight away. They attended the property the same day and fixed the issue.

“We are also conducting further checks of the water pipes at Windsor Court.”

The defibrillator that residents bought (Image: Dan Dougherty)

In a separate incident, residents were frustrated that they had to raise money together to buy their own defibrillator, thinking it was a necessity for a retirement village.

The residents contacted Anchor about this, who refused to help with the purchase, meaning the residents had to spend thousands of pounds of their own money.

Anchor has been contacted regarding its defibrillator policy.

The former world champion boxer is said to be keen on a move into football club ownership

Tyson Fury is reportedly planning to buy hometown club Morecambe alongside former Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimović — with the pair said to be eyeing a Netflix documentary inspired by Ryan Reynolds and Wrexham’s remarkable rise.

According to The Sun on Sunday, Fury and Ibrahimovic are exploring a takeover of the non-league side and want to launch a behind-the-scenes series called Rise of Morecambe.

The project is reportedly being modelled on the success of Welcome to Wrexham, which followed Reynolds and Rob McElhenney after they bought Wrexham in 2021.

A source told the newspaper: “They want to buy the club and make a Netflix documentary called Rise of Morecambe together.

“Just like Ryan Reynolds did with Wrexham.”

Fury and Ibrahimovic were pictured together in Warsaw this week while filming a World Cup advertisement.

The pair have been friends for years, with Ibrahimovic previously training alongside Fury during his time in Manchester.

The source added: “They both know what it takes to get to the top.

“Tyson and Zlatan have been great friends for years.”

Fury already has close links with Morecambe, having based his training gym at the club’s Mazuma Stadium since 2020.

The two-storey facility also serves as headquarters for the Tyson Fury Foundation.

Wrexham’s Hollywood-backed success has sparked huge interest across the football world after the club secured three promotions in quick succession while attracting a global audience through the Disney+ documentary.

Although Morecambe currently operate outside the Football League spotlight enjoyed by Wrexham, the proposed project would attempt to recreate that formula with two of sport’s biggest personalities front and centre.

The report also claimed Fury hinted at “big news incoming” after posting a photograph beside his private jet earlier this week.

Meanwhile, Ibrahimovic — who retired from football in 2023 after spells with clubs including AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain — is preparing to work as a pundit during this summer’s World Cup coverage in the United States.

A Met Police officer has been suspended after artificial intelligence software allegedly found sexual material on a device issued by the force.

Special Chief Officer James Deller is one of more than 100 cops to have been referred by the software, created by Palantir Technologies and rolled out last month.

SCO Deller is now being investigated for allegedly having ‘sexualised content’ on the device.

If the allegation is proved, he could lose his job – but the matter is being treated as disciplinary and not criminal.

The force said: ‘The officer has not been arrested and there are no criminal allegations.’

A major inquiry, Operation Galatasary, has been set up by the force’s Directorate of Professional Standards to deal with the high number of referrals made by the software after it was bought for £487,000.

There have been accusations of fraud, sexual assault and misconduct in public office, and two officers have been arrested over unspecified allegations.

However, the use of the software has proved controversial. The Met Police Federation, a staff association representing 30,000 officers, said: ‘No one wants bad police, but officers do not deserve to be treated with this level of suspicion by their Big Brother Bosses.’

Palantir was also awarded a £330million contract by NHS England in 2023 to create the NHS Federated Data Platform (NHS FDP).

This, according to the NHS England website, will ‘connect vital health information across the NHS, helping staff deliver better care for patients and work more efficiently.’

But the data-sharing technology has raised concerns around privacy and around the technology itself, as some of Palantir’s other AI tools are used in global conflicts and in the US as part of the crackdown on immigration.

A £50million deal between the company and the Met Police, which would introduce tech to automate some aspects of investigations, was recently blocked by the Mayor of London.