The former head of the FBI who investigated ties between Russia and Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, has died aged 81.

Robert Mueller, who ran the US crime investigation body from 2001 to 2013, died on Friday evening, a spokesperson for his family said.

His cause of death has not been released publicly.

In a statement, a spokesperson for his family said: ‘With deep sadness, we are sharing the news that Bob passed away. His family asks that their privacy be respected.’

At the FBI, Mr Mueller set about almost immediately overhauling the bureau’s mission to meet the law enforcement needs of the 21st century, beginning his 12-year tenure just a week before the September 11 attacks in 2001 and serving presidents of both political parties. He was nominated by Republican George W Bush.

The cataclysmic event instantly switched the bureau’s top priority from solving domestic crime to preventing terrorism, a shift that imposed an almost impossible standard on Mr Mueller and the rest of the federal government: preventing 99 out of 100 terrorist plots was not good enough.

Later, he was special counsel in the Justice Department’s investigation into whether the Trump campaign illegally co-ordinated with Russia to sway the outcome of the 2016 presidential race.

Mr Trump posted on social media: ‘Robert Mueller just died. Good, I’m glad he’s dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people!’

The second-longest-serving director in FBI history, behind only J Edgar Hoover, Mr Mueller held the job until 2013 after agreeing to Democratic president Barack Obama’s request to stay on after his 10-year term was up.

After several years in private practice, Mr Mueller was asked by deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein to return to public service as special counsel in the Trump-Russia inquiry.

His team spent nearly two years quietly conducting one of the most consequential, yet divisive, investigations in Justice Department history.

He held no news conferences and made no public appearances during the investigation, remaining quiet despite attacks from Mr Trump and his supporters and creating an aura of mystery around his work.

Mr Mueller later brought criminal charges against six of the president’s associates, including his campaign chairman and first national security adviser.

His 448-page report released in April 2019 identified substantial contacts between the Trump campaign and Russia but did not allege a criminal conspiracy.

He laid out damaging details about Trump’s efforts to seize control of the investigation, and even shut it down, though he declined to decide whether Mr Trump had broken the law, in part because of department policy barring the indictment of a sitting president.

Mr Mueller noted: ‘If we had confidence after a thorough investigation of the facts that the president clearly did not commit obstruction of justice, we would so state. Based on the facts and the applicable legal standards, we are unable to reach that judgment.’

The conclusion did not deliver the knockout punch to the administration that some Trump opponents had hoped for, nor did it trigger a sustained push by Democrats to impeach the president – though he was later tried and acquitted on separate allegations related to Ukraine.

The outcome also left room for attorney general William Barr to insert his own views. He and his team made their own determination that Mr Trump did not obstruct justice, and he and Mr Mueller privately tangled over a four-page summary letter from Mr Barr that Mr Mueller felt did not adequately capture his report’s damaging conclusion.

During his time at the FBI, it was defined by the 9/11 attacks and its aftermath, as an FBI granted broad new surveillance and national security powers scrambled to confront an ascendant al-Qaida and interrupt plots and take terrorists off the street before they could act.

It was a new model of policing for an FBI that had long been accustomed to investigating crimes that had already occurred.

Mr Mueller was born in New York City and grew up in a well-to-do suburb of Philadelphia.

He received a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University and a master’s in international relations from New York University.

He then joined the marines, serving for three years as an officer during the Vietnam War.

He led a rifle platoon and was awarded a Bronze Star, Purple Heart and two Navy Commendation Medals. After his military service, he earned a law degree from the University of Virginia.

Mr Mueller became a federal prosecutor and rose quickly through the ranks in US attorneys’ offices in San Francisco and Boston from 1976 to 1988. Later, as head of the Justice Department’s criminal division in Washington, he oversaw a range of high-profile prosecutions that chalked up victories against targets as varied as Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega and New York crime boss John Gotti.

In a mid-career switch that shocked colleagues, Mr Mueller quit a job at a prestigious Boston law firm to join the homicide division of the US attorney’s office in the nation’s capital, where he immersed himself as a senior litigator on unsolved drug-related murders in a city rife with violence.

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Sarah James, executive producer at Strictly, said in a statement: “As the longest-serving female professional dancer in the history of the show, Karen has given so much of herself and her time to the programme, and we are extremely grateful for the passion, creativity and dedication she has brought to every single performance.

When Liverpool came to Brighton last May, the away end was in party mode at the full-time whistle despite the defeat as they sang and celebrated with inflatables and balloons.

By then, Arne Slot’s side had won the Premier League title and a trip to the south coast was another excuse to enjoy themselves. And rightly so.

Ten months on, Liverpool tasted defeat against Fabian Hurzeler’s side again but this time the away end was half empty by the time Slot made his way over to the travelling supporters.

Their latest defeat is the 10th in the league this season, making it only the seventh time the reigning Premier League champions have lost 10 or more games during their title defence.

Since starting the campaign with five wins on the trot, Slot’s side have won just nine of their next 26 games in the league. With that kind of form, Liverpool do not look like a team that has it in them to qualify for the Champions League.

It is all but certain that the Premier League will get an extra place in the Champions League and Liverpool currently occupy that fifth spot, though they have a game in hand on sixth-placed Chelsea who play later on Saturday.

Much had been made in the build-up about the 62 hours Liverpool had to prepare between their Champions League win over Galatasaray at Anfield and this trip to Brighton.

With Alisson and Mohamed Salah forced out with injuries, Liverpool‘s situation worsened when striker Hugo Ekitike was forced off early on.

“What went wrong started off with the lead up to this game,” Slot said.

“As so many times has happened this season, when we played a very good game [against Galatasaray] and we thought we could bring that level to the next game, or even better, we had Mo Salah injured, we had Alisson injured and, after two minutes, Hugo Ekitike out.

“That has happened to us so many times this season and what happened to us a lot this season is that the first chance of the other team immediately went in.

“But in the second half Brighton were the better team and deserved to win.”

Slot was the first to say that his side deserved to lose here and it would hardly have surprised him. Of their 10 Premier League games this season following a Champions League fixture, Liverpool have lost five of them.

Questions have to be asked about fitness and, despite spending £450m in the summer, Liverpool lack proper squad depth.

“It makes complete sense if you win the league last season and you spent £450m that the expectations are high, and those expectations were high for the pundits, for the media, for me, for the fans,” said Slot.

“At our club we’re also looking at the situation and the challenge we had during this season, and then we might be a bit more realistic [about] why the season has gone why it is gone.

“But still it’s not good enough no matter how much excuses I can come up with – it’s still not good enough for the position we’re in right now.”

The cute green top and matching midi skirt costs under £40

A new F&F co-ord has been described as the “perfect” outfit for spring. The warmer weather and lighter nights are finally here, which means it’s time to switch up your spring wardrobe.

Tesco’s F&F has you covered, with some great spring additions offer. To style it up this season, F&F offers the bubble hem sleeveless co-ord top in green, and the smocked waist midi skirt to go with it.

This cute two-piece was posted to the F&F Instagram, which has over 887,000 followers. Posted with the caption: “The perfect spring co-ord does exist”, people have already shared their love for the outfit.

One Instagrammer described the skirt as “sublime”, while another also described it as “perfect”. The two-piece can be bought online or in-store, with the top costing £16 and skirt costing £22.50.

For other cute co-ord inspiration, Boden offers some good options. Boden offers the Belgravia linen trousers and shirt in a dazzling multi-coloured stripe pattern.

The outfit is lightweight and is the “perfect style to carry you from work-to-weekend looks from now into the warmer weather”, as stated on the Boden website.

To mix it up a bit, New Look offers the dark red fringe hem cotton rich midi skirt and matching hem top. On the New Look website it says: “Knitted to a slender silhouette, this dark red-hued midi skirt will lend a playful spin to your wardrobe with its fringed hem.”

The building had been facing problems for 40 years

An ‘eyesore’ building in a Cambridgeshire town centre has been redeveloped after more than 40 years of neglect. The site, known as ‘The Gap’ at 24 High Street in Wisbech, has been turned into a new shop and flats by Fenland District Council.

The building was once the site of Cook’s Butchers, but had been facing problems since the business collapsed more than 40 years ago. The council is now in the process of finding the first tenants for the shop and flats.

The redevelopment formed part of the council’s Wisbech High Street Project, which was launched in 2017 with £1.9 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The development was also supported by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority’s Market Towns Programme, which aims to improve business premises.

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Cllr Chris Seaton, Fenland District Council’s portfolio holder for Wisbech High Street projects, said: “We’re proud to have taken on this complex and challenging site to make what will be a long-lasting difference to the restoration of Wisbech High Street for generations to come.”

Repairs are also being carried out at other buildings on the High Street, including at 13-17, where derelict first floors have been brought back into use. The council are currently working on plans for 11-12 High Street, which are also derelict.

Everton, meanwhile, have picked up more points away from home so far this season but did beat Burnley in their most recent match here before losing to Arsenal in London. European qualification remains a possibility for the Toffees, currently a dark-horse in the Champions League battle, a win this evening would move them to within two points of Chelsea. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis from Dom Smith at the ground.

Parts of the UK enjoyed breathtaking views of the Northern Lights overnight – and more is forecast for Saturday.

The natural light show, known as the aurora borealis, is one of nature’s “most spectacular displays”, according to the Met Office.

Pictures from Friday night featured waves of mostly green and purple light at Bamburgh in Northumberland in the UK, as well as in Estonia and Canada, while social media users posted images taken elsewhere, including Russia.

While the Northern Lights are mostly visible near the Arctic Circle and northern Scotland, the Met Office said “pale green and pink to vibrant reds, blues, and violets can sometimes light up the night sky, especially in the north of the UK”.

The Met Office said on Thursday there was a chance of seeing the northern lights “over the next couple of nights”, predicting sightings being “most likely across Scotland where skies are clear but perhaps into northern England too”.

What causes the Northern Lights?

The shimmering spectacle occurs when energy and charged particles released from the sun through coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and solar flares travel towards Earth on the solar wind and collide with the Earth’s magnetic field and upper atmosphere, interacting with gases to create spectacular displays of blue, purple, green, pink and red.

If the solar activity is strong enough, it will cause a geomagnetic storm.

In January, the Met Office said the solar maximum was “all but confirmed to have taken place in 2024 and 2025”, meaning solar activity on the surface of the sun “appears to be in a declining phase”.

But it said this phase “can be a period which can often bring strong events, as evidenced by last week’s aurora visibility as far south as northern Italy”.

Will we see them again soon?

Several things need to occur for the skies over the UK to dazzle again.

Any solar eruptions that do occur need to be aimed at Earth and cause a strong geomagnetic storm.

It also needs to be dark enough, with settled weather allowing clear skies to see the aurora.

What’s the best way to capture them?

While the Northern Lights are visible to the naked eye, the colours often appear faint and muted compared with those captured by camera.

To take better pictures of the aerial phenomena, Adobe recommends using manual camera settings and a wide aperture on a camera.

It suggests using low shutter speeds, up to 20 seconds, as well as setting the camera’s ISO value all the way to 2,000 or higher – such settings are usually available in smartphones’ camera settings.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can be claimed by people who need additional help with daily living tasks

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PIP claimants do not need to inform the DWP about every change to their circumstances, official rules show. Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can be claimed by people over 16 and under State Pension age who require extra assistance with daily living activities or mobility due to a long-term illness, disability or mental or physical health condition.

In Scotland, the benefit has been replaced by Adult Disability Payment (ADP), which follows similar eligibility criteria as PIP. A successful claim for PIP or ADP currently provides between £29.20 and £187.45 each week in additional financial support.

That equates to between £116.80 and £749.80 every four-week payment period. Both disability benefits are offered at the same rates – despite the difference in name and welfare administration body – to avoid a two-tier benefits system, reports the Daily Record.

While many recipients may be familiar with the list of changes in circumstances that must be reported to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to continue receiving uninterrupted payments, there are several changes that do not need to be declared.

Changes you do not need to report to DWP

PIP is not a means-tested benefit and can be paid whether the claimant is working or not, so there is no need to inform the DWP if you make any of these six changes:

• You are made redundant
• You leave a job
• You change roles at work – unless the amount of help you need has changed
• You take retirement
• You stop claiming other benefits
• You start a new job

Changes you must report to DWP

However, guidance on the GOV.UK website states you must contact the PIP enquiry line if:

• Your condition has worsened and you’re not expected to live more than six months
• You go into hospital or a care home
• You go abroad (for more than four weeks)
• You are imprisoned or held in detention
• Your personal details change – for example, your name, address or doctor
• The help you need or your condition changes

The GOV.UK website further notes: “You could be taken to court or have to pay a penalty if you give wrong information or do not report a change in your circumstances.”

Therefore, if you’ve recently relocated or changed to a different GP, don’t delay reporting the alteration any longer – particularly if you’re receiving PIP in Scotland, as Social Security Scotland will rely on the information held by the DWP when you’re moved to the new devolved benefits system.

How to notify DWP of a change in circumstances

Before placing the call, you’ll require your National Insurance number, bank account details and GP name and address for the DWP to confirm your identity.

• Telephone: 0800 121 4433 (option 5)
• Textphone: 0800 121 4493
• Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 121 4433
• Video relay service for British Sign Language (BSL) users – check you can use the service here.

Veteran golf commentator Ewen Murray witnessed horrific abuse directed at Rory McIlroy’s family at the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage, prompting him to step back from Sky Sports commentary after 35 years

Veteran golf commentator Ewen Murray has revealed how witnessing the appalling abuse directed at Rory McIlroy’s family at last year’s Ryder Cup left him wanting to retire from broadcasting.

Murray has been a central figure in Sky Sports’ golf coverage for 35 years but chose to take a step back after being disturbed by the scenes at Bethpage in New York.

The 71 year old, who will rejoin the Sky Sports team for the major championships this season, told the Sliced Podcast: “On the Saturday, I had two hours off after they teed off in the afternoon,

“Because I don’t hear tremendously well, I thought I’d go out to the 9th, 10th and 11th which were quite close to the television village.

“I heard stuff in that half hour that I can’t repeat to you, it’s that bad. Not fired at Rory but at Rory’s family. I walked back and I thought ‘do you really need to be part of this anymore?’

“That’s when I decided to finish commentary. By the time I got on the plane on the Monday, I looked out over New York and thought its been a fantastic journey, but if that’s our future, I really don’t want any part of it.”

The offensive chants that sections of the American crowd directed at their European rivals, particularly McIlroy, sparked significant controversy during the team event.

And Murray believes American Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley bears some responsibility for the incidents, with the experienced commentator also expressing strong disapproval of Heather McMahan’s behaviour.

McMahan, a comedian and actress employed by the PGA of America to energise the crowd positioned near the first tee, was subsequently removed after leading chants of “F*** you Rory” through a megaphone.

“The PGA of America should be ashamed employing a woman at the back of the first tee to behave the way she behaved,” Murray added. “I actually found out, thankfully, she doesn’t have kids. So we’re not going to see the next generation of that. I thought her performance was disgraceful.

“If Keegan Bradley who came and supported it and waved his hands to get the crowd to get louder… if he spent as much time looking at his pairings, [he] may well have been a winning Ryder Cup captain. They spent way too much energy on something that was disgusting and really had no place in our game.”

Murray also condemned PGA of America president Don Rea for neglecting to denounce the abuse being aimed at the European players and for congratulating Europe on “retaining the Ryder Cup” in the aftermath rather than acknowledging they had won outright as they had done.

“[I thought] where have you been for the last few hours?” Murray added. “They didn’t retain. They had a putt to retain which they knocked in, then they had a putt to win which they knocked in.

“I just thought what a terrible organisation. I shouldn’t say that because my father was captain of the PGA in Scotland in the mid-seventies so it was very much part of growing up and my father’s involvement in that and every other profession involved in the PGA but I don’t think they did themselves any favours at all.”

Criminal Record has brought together a round-up of today’s biggest crime stories.

Every day on Criminal Record we will be bringing you a round-up of the biggest crime stories of the day.

Whether it’s a child killer making a bid for freedom or another attack in Scotland’s gangland war – this is the place where you’ll get the low-down.

If you love to read about crime – this is the place to be every day.

Here’s what has been making the news across the country on Saturday.

Ross McGill “leaned on European ultras groups”

Mob boss Ross McGill transformed the Union Bears from a ragtag bunch with a handful of followers into the ‘biggest group in the UK’ after visiting clubs in Europe.

A former member of the Rangers ultra group explained to the Record how McGill, 32, took over as capo of the group at the age of 18 and was determined to make them a bigger outfit than the Green Brigade.

The source revealed how the mobster visited clubs in Europe to learn his trade but this led to him getting involved in criminality after he hooked up with ultras in Denmark.

He said: “McGill had been with the Union Bears for a few years before he was made leader and his main focus at first was just to outshine Celtic’s group.

“He knew he had to learn fast so decided to start visiting clubs across Europe, and would just reach out to the ultras and pitch up alone.

“Rangers have a historical link with Hamburg SV in Germany and he went over there around 20 times and built up close ties with the Chosen Few ultras.”

Prostitute killer ‘still at large’

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The family of a prostitute murdered almost 35 years ago believe her killer is still out there.

Diane McInally’s battered body was found in undergrowth in Pollok Park, Glasgow, in October, 1991. She had been working the streets for a number of years to feed a heroin habit.

Two men, now dead, were charged with her murder at the time but never stood trial.

Diane’s aunt Elizabeth “Dolly” Glover – one of only a few surviving family members – believes there is another possible suspect out there.

The great grandmother says Diane’s parents, stepfather, partner, and brother and sister have all died without seeing justice but she hasn’t given up hope.

Dolly added: “You often wonder is there still somebody out there who’s really done it. We know according to the police it was a bad death she got.

“Diane would have fought back unless there was more than one there. There is no way she would have laid down to them.

“There could have been someone else there.”

Hero brothers

Dramatic footage has shown the moment hero brothers chased a masked gang who tried to raid their neighbours’ shop. Thieves tried to break into Leslie Mini Market on Leslie High Street at around 2.30am on Thursday, March 19.

No items or cash were taken and an investigation is underway to find out exactly what happened. Fatima Hussein, 62, and husband Zahid Hussein, 67, who have owned Leslie Mini Market for over 30 years, were sleeping in their flat above the shop when neighbour, Euan, chapped their door alerting them to the incident.

He and brother Scott, who live across the road, had looked out their window after their dog Buddy started barking and saw four masked men trying to force their way into the store, prompting them to courageously intervene.

Footage taken at the scene shows the brothers chasing the culprits, who were driving a white car and reportedly had English accents, up the high street after they pick up a fifth accomplice a few yards away.

While the motor is stationary, Euan takes a swing at the car window in a bid to smash it so the men can’t flee. But the criminals reverse back erratically before charging forward at Euan, seemingly in an attempt to mow him down.

In a terrifying near-miss, the gang end up crashing into a wall, forcing them to abandon the motor and escape on foot. In the last part of the clip, the burly brothers can be seen charging towards them, seemingly unfazed.

After the men disappear into the night, Euan then slams one of the car doors shut and inspects his arm, which was injured in the run-in, while Scott dashes up the road to get help.

Faslane naval base

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A man and a woman have been charged after trying to enter Faslane Naval Base.

Police Scotland have confirmed that a 34-year-old Iranian man and a 31-year-old Romanian woman have been arrested and charged in connection with the incident at His Majesty’s Naval Base, Clyde.

The incident happened at 5pm on Thursday at the Faslane site, based on the Gare Loch in Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute. It is home to the core of the UK’s submarine fleet and the Trident nuclear deterrent.

Unconfirmed reports have suggested that the pair are spies. It is understood that they did not try to force their way into the base. They asked if they could enter but were refused permission and were then arrested shortly afterwards.

The pair are due to appear at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Monday, March 23.

Police said “enquries are ongoing”.

Man ‘wielding knife’ in Fife housing estate

A man has been charged after allegedly wielding a knife in Fife.

Police officers raced to Lawrence Court in Buckhaven at 9.05pm on Friday night. It followed reports of a disturbance on a housing estate.

A 44-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with carrying a bladed weapon. A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

Images taken at the scene showed two police vans and a marked car parked on the street. A number of officers could be seen standing outside a block of flats.

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