Ex-SNP chief Peter Murrell

The former chief executive of the Scottish National Party (SNP) Peter Murrell has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than £400,000 from the party over a 12-year period, in one of Scotland’s biggest political finance scandals in recent years.Murrell appeared before the High Court in Edinburgh on Monday, where prosecutors said she spent party funds between 2010 and 2022 on a lavish lifestyle, including luxury cars, a high-end motorhome, jewellery, cosmetics and expensive personal purchases.The 61-year-old, who is also the estranged husband of Scotland’s former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, agreed to reduced charges after reaching a deal with prosecutors.

luxury spending exposed

According to court documents, Murrell used SNP money to buy a Jaguar, a VW Golf, a luxury motorhome worth approximately £124,000, designer items, electronics, gardening tools, binoculars, Kindle devices and women’s cosmetics.Investigators alleged that he submitted false bills, manipulated party accounts and used SNP credit cards to conceal spending, some of which were allegedly issued in the names of party staff.Judge Lord Young described the crimes as a “gross breach of trust” and remanded Murrell in custody immediately after the hearing. He is due to return to court on June 2 and will be sentenced on June 23. He may face a long prison sentence.

Who is Peter Murrell?

Born in Edinburgh in 1964, Murrell has been one of the most influential people behind the scenes in Scottish politics for more than two decades. He joined the SNP in the late 1980s and rose through the ranks, eventually becoming Chief Executive of the party in 2001.Murrell was widely credited with helping to modernize the SNP’s organization and election machinery, playing a major role in the party’s rise to power and its historic victory in the 2007 Scottish Parliament election.His position was under scrutiny after his wife Nicola Sturgeon became SNP leader and First Minister of Scotland in 2014. Critics within and outside the party questioned whether it was appropriate for a married couple to hold the two most powerful positions in Scottish politics.Murrell resigned as chief executive of the SNP in March 2023 amid controversy over misleading membership figures during the party’s leadership contest following Sturgeon’s resignation.

operation branchform check

The case emerged from Operation Branchform, a long-running police investigation launched in 2021 following complaints of missing SNP funds and concerns over donations raised for a second Scottish independence campaign.Questions were raised over donations of more than £660,000 allegedly earmarked for the independence campaign which did not clearly reflect in the party accounts. The controversy triggered resignations within the SNP, including among its finance committee members and party treasurer Douglas Chapman.Police Scotland said Murrell went to “great lengths” to conceal the fraud, which ran for more than a decade.Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston said Murrell “abused his privileged position” and spent party funds “to support the lavish lifestyle he wanted but could not afford”.

Sturgeon distanced herself

After the guilty plea, Sturgeon said she had no knowledge of the misuse of party funds.“I am completely shocked that he did this and can’t understand why,” she said. “These are not my crimes. Like others, I too was misled,” he said.Sturgeon herself was arrested and interrogated during the investigation in 2023, but was later acquitted without charge. Former SNP Treasurer Colin Beattie was also investigated and released without trial.Murrell and Sturgeon separated following his arrest and later revealed divorce proceedings.The scandal is expected to deepen scrutiny of the SNP’s internal governance and financial oversight as the party attempts to rebuild credibility ahead of future elections.Murrell, once considered the architect of the SNP’s political machine, now faces the prospect of prison after admitting one of the most damaging financial scandals in the party’s history.

New Delhi: Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda on Monday reviewed India’s preparedness and response measures ebola virus disease Noting recent outbreaks in parts of Africa, the World Health Organization has warned that the pandemic is “outpacing” response efforts.However, the Health Ministry said that no case of Ebola has been reported in India so far.News agency ANI reported that the review meeting was attended by the Health Secretary, Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Director General of Health Services (DGHS), Additional Secretary (Public Health), Director of the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) and other senior officials of the ministry.It comes as WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Monday that there had been 220 suspected deaths in the current outbreak and warned that delays in detecting infections had hampered containment efforts.“We are urgently scaling up operations, but at the moment the pandemic is ahead of us,” Tedros said, urging countries bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo, the epicenter of the outbreak, to take immediate action.Tedros said he would travel to Congo on Tuesday and said tackling the rapidly spreading outbreak was particularly difficult because Ituri and North Kivu provinces remained highly vulnerable and there were no approved vaccines for the Bundibugyo strain.Earlier in the day, Uganda recorded two more cases of Ebola in the capital Kampala, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to seven.Meanwhile, Uganda’s neighbor and center of the current outbreak, Congo, has reported more than 900 suspected infections so far, AFP reported.WHO has declared the outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola a public health emergency of international concern, while the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has classified it as a public health emergency of continental concern (PHECS).

Aliko Dangote’s trade expansion into East Africa, now linked by proposed pipeline corridors through Ethiopia and Djibouti, is often discussed in terms of scale and strategy. But the deeper story behind these moves extends far beyond recent headlines. It traces a long, uneven journey that began in a wealthy business family, progressed through small-scale entrepreneurship and gradually evolved into one of Africa’s most powerful industrial empires. Even today, as his net worth is reportedly in the tens of billions, the structure behind that wealth is still shaped by early family influences, reinvestment habits, and decades of high-risk expansion decisions.

Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote’s journey from business roots to billion-dollar empire

For Aliko Dangote, the road to business did not begin in isolation. He was born into a prominent business family in Kano, Nigeria, where commerce was already part of everyday life. That environment is often cited as a quiet but important foundation for what came later.While studying at Al-Azhar University in Egypt, he reportedly developed a keen interest in structured trading and large-scale commerce. After returning to Nigeria, he initially started with small trading operations, trading basic commodities before gradually moving into manufacturing and industrial production.Over time, this shift from trading margin to production scale became the defining characteristic of his business philosophy.

Aliko Dangote’s family background and personal structure

Behind the corporate scale, Aliko Dangote’s personal life has been relatively low-profile compared to his business visibility. He comes from a well-established Muslim family in Northern Nigeria, with a history rooted in trade and community business networks.He has been married and divorced and is the father of three children. Despite his global business footprint, he is often described as maintaining a private and tightly controlled family structure, with limited public involvement in his personal affairs.This separation between personal visibility and corporate expansion is often seen as part of their broader business discipline – focusing on long-term industrial properties rather than public lifestyle branding.

East African expansion and infrastructure challenges

Aliko Dangote’s alleged involvement in discussions around a potential pipeline corridor linking Ethiopia and Djibouti has brought his expansion strategy back into focus, Bloomberg reports. According to Bloomberg, the plan falls within a broader effort to improve regional energy transportation, starting with refined fuels and possibly later expanding to the movement of natural gas and crude oil.On paper, this route appears to provide Ethiopia with a long-awaited logistics solution, while cementing Djibouti’s role as a major transit hub in the Horn of Africa. Such coordination has historically proven difficult in large African infrastructure projects. Even within Nigeria, Dangote-led ventures have faced delays and gradual stagnation.

Aliko Dangote’s net worth

As reported by Forbes, his net worth is approximately $32.7 billion as of May 25, 2026. Aliko Dangote’s rise from a business background to a global billionaire has often been framed as a classic business success story. But the structure of that asset tells a more complex story.The majority of their net worth is tied to long-term industrial assets such as cement production and refining infrastructure, meaning it is closely linked to operating performance, commodity cycles, and national economic conditions.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay; Congress MP Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi: In a development that may strain relations between new allies Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) and Congress, the TVK-led Tamil Nadu government on Monday held consultations with Cauvery water and legal experts on the proposed foundation stone laying ceremony announced by neighboring Karnataka for the Mekedatu dam project on the Cauvery river.Incidentally, Karnataka is ruled by the Congress and has proposed construction of the Mekedatu dam, giving rise to new political and inter-state sensitivities over the river water-sharing issue.Also read: Tone may soften due to Congress support for Vijay, no Kaveri tension between Karnataka-Tamil Nadu!According to a press note from the Tamil Nadu government, the meeting chaired by the new Chief Minister and actor-turned-politician C Joseph Vijay was called to uphold “state rights” and protect the welfare of farmers.“Taking into account the details of the Supreme Court judgment and detailed legal consultation, CM Vijay advised that immediate follow-up legal measures should be taken expeditiously,” the statement said.The statement further said that since the proposed Mekedatu Dam is contrary to the Supreme Court judgment, the then Tamil Nadu government had filed petitions in the Supreme Court on November 30, 2018, and June 7, 2022, opposing the project.It was further informed that during the hearing on November 13, 2025, the Supreme Court had not given permission for the Mekedatu Dam and found that it was still in the initial stage. The court also said that only the expert body, the Central Water Commission, can determine whether the project falls within the scope of its earlier decision or not, and accordingly ordered closure of the cases.Also read: DMK, political parties condemn Karnataka government for Mekedatu dam remarksChallenging the decision, the erstwhile Tamil Nadu government filed a review petition on December 11, 2025. The press release said the petition was put up for consideration in chamber in the Supreme Court during the previous government, the judgment was reserved and has now been dismissed.CM Vijay’s meeting came after Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that the detailed project report (DPR) for Mekedatu will be submitted to the Center soon, adding that the foundation stone ceremony will be planned after obtaining the central government’s approval.Shivakumar told reporters, “The DPR for the Mekedatu project has been prepared, and a project office has been opened. We are identifying alternative land to compensate for the forest area that is going to be submerged. The DPR will be submitted to the Center soon. After getting the Centre’s approval, we will conduct the bhoomi puja for the project.”Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and the Union Territory of Puducherry have long been in dispute over the waters of the Kaveri River, with the issue being particularly sensitive in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and sometimes triggering violent protests.Kerala also now has a Congress government, while Puducherry is led by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).(With ANI inputs)

To counter the growing threat from Azerbaijan, Armenia is building strong defense ties with India, which is supported by both Pakistan and Turkey. A high-ranking delegation of the Armenian Army visited the School of Artillery in Nashik district of Maharashtra. The three-member delegation was briefed about the training facilities and methodology adopted at the School of Artillery. The visiting delegation also witnessed a live artillery firing practice.Late last month, during a visit to Delhi, Armenia’s First Deputy Defense Minister and Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Edward Asarian held high-level talks with Chief of Defense Staff General Anil Chauhan, Army Chief of Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh and Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.In February 2026, India’s Chief of Defense Staff General Anil Chauhan visited Yerevan to deepen bilateral cooperation, inaugurate defense research facilities and emphasize joint training in modern warfare. The visit underlined India’s emergence as Armenia’s most trusted arms supplier at a time when Moscow, traditionally Armenia’s primary source of military equipment, has reduced deliveries as it focuses on the war in Ukraine.Azerbaijan, with the support of both Pakistan and Turkey, launched two conflicts against Armenia in 2020 and 2023. Islamabad has signed a deal with Baku for 40 JF-17 Block III aircraft, the largest ever export order for these fighters. Other operators of the JF-17, including Myanmar and Nigeria, use the aircraft in much smaller numbers. During these conflicts, the Azerbaijani military deployed Turkish-origin systems against Armenian forces. This prompted Yerevan to seek more reliable air defense capabilities, ultimately leading the Caucasian country to purchase India’s Akash surface-to-air missile system.Since 2020, Armenia has signed defense contracts worth about $2 billion with India, including deals for Swati weapon-detection radar, Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) and advanced anti-drone systems. In 2022, Yerevan became the first foreign buyer of India’s Akash missile system in a $720 million deal, significantly enhancing its air defense capabilities.Delivery of the Akash system begins in 2024, increasing Armenia’s ability to counter UAV and missile threats. Armenia has increasingly turned to India for advanced weapons systems, military training and potential joint production initiatives, making New Delhi a key player in the strategic balance in the South Caucasus.

An RAF jet carrying British Defense Secretary John Healey

An RAF jet carrying British Defense Secretary John Healey reportedly had its GPS signals jammed for nearly three hours as it flew close to the Russian border, raising fresh concerns over Moscow’s increasingly aggressive electronic warfare tactics.According to a report in The Times, Hayley was returning to the UK on Thursday after meeting British troops stationed in Estonia when the incident occurred.The aircraft, a Dassault Falcon 900LX, is believed to have suffered deliberate electronic interference, which is suspected to have originated from Russia.

Pilots were forced to change navigation systems

The jamming attack reportedly disabled the aircraft’s GPS system for the duration of the flight, forcing RAF pilots to rely on alternative navigation methods.Passengers on board, including journalists and photographers, were informed that the aircraft was safe to operate despite the disruption.The interference also affected connectivity onboard, leaving smartphones and laptops unable to access internet services during the flight.“This is reckless Russian interference, but the RAF is well prepared to deal with this activity,” Britain’s Defense Ministry told AFP news agency.

Was Healy deliberately targeted?

Authorities have not confirmed whether Healy himself was the intended target. However, reports said the plane’s route was publicly visible on flight-tracking platforms, potentially making it easier to identify.The incident comes amid rising tensions between NATO allies and Russia over military activity near Eastern Europe and the Black Sea region.

Dangerous Russian encounter on the Black Sea

The GPS jamming episode came to light after Britain revealed that two Russian fighter jets that shot down an RAF surveillance plane over the Black Sea last month were “dangerous” by the Ministry of Defence.According to the MoD, a Russian Sukhoi Su-35 flew close enough to trigger the spy plane’s emergency systems and disable its autopilot.Another Sukhoi Su-27 reportedly made six attacking passes, at one point coming within just six meters of the nose of the RAF aircraft.The British aircraft involved was a Boeing RC-135 Rivet Joint Reconnaissance Aircraft operating as part of a NATO patrol mission monitoring Russian military activity.

‘Will not stop Britain’s commitment’: Healey

Responding to the recent Russian air encounters, Healey praised the professionalism of RAF personnel and stressed that Britain would continue to support NATO operations despite increasing provocations.“Let me be absolutely clear: this incident will not affect Britain’s commitment to NATO, our allies and our interests to protect them from Russian aggression,” the BBC quoted Healey as saying.

Repetition of 2024 event

This is not the first such case involving senior British officials. In March 2024, an RAF plane carrying former UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps also experienced GPS interference while flying near Russian territory after a visit to Poland.That disruption lasted about 30 minutes and was widely linked to Russian electronic warfare capabilities.

New Delhi: A new demolition drive was launched targeting alleged illegal structures linked to Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders were attacked in West Bengal’s Hooghly district on Monday, days after a similar action near Howrah railway station, triggering a major political confrontation in the state.Bulldozers were reportedly used to clear structures built on government land, as civic authorities, backed by heavy police deployment, intensified their crackdown on unauthorized constructions in several parts of Bengal, according to PTI.The latest action comes amid an escalating war of words between the BJP and TMC, which the opposition has termed “bulldozer politics”.Earlier on Sunday Chief Minister of West Bengal And TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee launched a scathing attack on the Centre, accusing it of promoting “state terrorism” and targeting the poor in the name of the demolition drive.Addressing party workers and supporters, Banerjee compared earlier rehabilitation efforts under her government to the ongoing demolition.He said, “When the Kalyani Express Bridge was built, 43 houses on the road were affected, and we built exactly the same 43 houses to rehabilitate them. Now, there is looting, vandalism and an attempt to erase all traces.”“When you fall from power in Delhi, you will have to face the consequences of your actions – we are waiting for that day,” he said.Banerjee also appealed to the judiciary, saying, “I want to remind the judiciary that they are the true protectors of the law… I will continue to fight the legal battle against state terrorism. I will see who has more power – the Constitution or the tip of the gun.”In recent times the demolition drive has expanded in Kolkata and surrounding areas. On Sunday, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) launched a drive in Tiljala, Kasba and Beleghata against buildings allegedly constructed in violation of civic norms.In Ward 66 of Tiljala, which is represented by TMC councilor Faiyaz Ahmed Khan, civic officials demolished unauthorized parts of buildings amid tight security arrangements.Another demolition was carried out on East Kuria Road in Beleghata area, where a partially constructed building allegedly belonging to local TMC leader Raju Naskar was razed.“A notice was issued on May 21 asking the owner to produce the relevant building documents within 48 hours. “With no response from the owner, the demolition squad continued the operation today,” a KMC official said.Meanwhile, another demolition drive was carried out in Kasba in connection with arrested land scam accused ‘Sona Pappu’ amid allegations of constructing a five-storey building without necessary approvals.BJP leader and Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Paul, who visited one of the demolition sites, alleged rampant corruption under the previous administration.“During the previous regime, corruption flourished unchecked. Illegal constructions took place with the knowledge of civic officials and under the patronage of influential politicians in exchange for money,” he said.He said, “Even if the police wanted to take action, they would not be able to do much. Strict action will be taken against all those involved in illegal construction as well as those who promote such irregularities.”Also read: Payloader demolishes ‘TMC party office’, owner gets land back

Spain finally announced their 26-man squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Saturday and while the Euro 2024 champions remain one of the favorites for the tournament, the biggest talking point became the complete absence of Real Madrid players from Luis de la Fuente’s squad.

The Spain head coach, who guided La Roja to UEFA Euro 2024 glory before finishing runners-up in the UEFA Nations League 2025, has selected a Barcelona-dominated squad for the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

And fans were left stunned when Real Madrid stars Dean Huijsen, Alvaro Carreras and Fran Garcia were left out of the final squad despite strong expectations of their inclusion.

Even former captain Alvaro Morata, who led Spain to Euro 2024 triumph, failed to make a place.

Barcelona, ​​meanwhile, had the most representation in the squad, with names like Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Gavi, Pau Cubarci, Eric García, Ferran Torres and goalkeeper Joan García.

No Real Madrid player in Spain team

The absence of Real Madrid representation immediately became the biggest talking point surrounding the announcement of Spain’s World Cup squad.

Fans were particularly hopeful that Dean Huijsen would be included after his rapid rise over the previous year, while Fran García and Álvaro Carreras were also seen as realistic options given Spain’s deep concerns in defensive areas.

Instead, Luis de la Fuente opted for continuity around the core group that helped Spain dominate possession-based football during their recent international success.

Spain’s defensive unit will now be led by the likes of Marc Cucurella, Pau Cubbarsi, Aymeric Laporte and Pedro Porro, while the midfield will once again revolve around Pedri, Martin Zubimendi, Fabian Ruiz and Gavi.

In attack, Nico Williams, Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres and Borja Iglesias top the options along with teenage sensation Lamin Yamal.

However, Barcelona’s teenage superstar is expected to miss Spain’s opening World Cup match against Cape Verde due to injury concerns.

Spain will also be without midfielder Fermin Lopez as he underwent surgery after suffering a fractured foot last week.

Spain enters the World Cup as title contenders

Spain are heading into the FIFA World Cup 2026 as one of the strongest favorites after a resurgence under Luis de la Fuente over the past two years.

After winning UEFA Euro 2024 with an exciting young core combined with experienced midfield control, Spain produced another strong performance in the UEFA Nations League before finishing runners-up earlier this year.

The team announcement also came relatively late compared to many other World Cup nations, making Real Madrid’s omission even more discussed among online supporters.

Spain has been drawn in Group H along with Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay.

La Roja began their World Cup campaign against Cape Verde on 14 June after playing warm-up friendlies against Iraq and Peru at the beginning of the month.

spain fifa world cup 2026 squad

Goalkeeper:

Unai Simon, David Raya, Joan Garcia

defenders: :

Marc Cucurella, Alejandro Grimaldo, Pau Cubersi, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Pabil, Eric Garcia, Marcos Llorente, Pedro Porro

midfielder: :

Pedri, Fabian Ruiz, Martin Zubimendi, Gavi, Rodrigo, Alex Baena, Mikel Merino

Ahead: :

Mikel Oyarzabal, Dani Olmo, Nico Williams, Jeremy Pino, Ferran Torres, Borja Iglesias, Victor Munoz, Lamin Yamal

– ends