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Daily Record
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Donald Trump thanks Sean Connery as he opens his second golf course in Aberdeenshire
The US President praised First Minister John Swinney as a "terrific guy" after they met at dinner last night. Donald Trump paid tribute to the late Scots acting legend Sean Connery as he opened his new golf course in Aberdeenshire today. Speaking on the first tee, the US President made a pointed reference to the high-profile planning row in the mid-2000s which delayed the opening of Trump International Golf Links. And the Republican leader also praised First Minister John Swinney as a "terrific guy" after having dinner with him last night. Trump told invited guests and media at his Menie Estate: "I was just want to thank everybody, this has been an unbelievable development. The land, they said, couldn't get zoned, it was an impossibility. "And Sean Connery said 'let the bloody bloke build his golf course. Once he said that, everything came into line. John and I were talking about it last night." Connery reportedly said in 2008: "During tough economic times, this is a major vote of confidence in Scotland's tourist industry and our ability to rise to the challenge. I look forward to seeing a new gem in the north-east that is good for Aberdeenshire and good for Scotland.' The Edinburgh-born actor, a huge golf fan, never played the resort before his death in 2020. David Milne, a near neighbour of the Trump golf course, later said the claim that Connery helped him land planning permission for his golf resort was 'utter bollocks'. Swinney raised the situation in Gaza with Donald Trump during a meeting this morning, the Record understands. The leaders spoke for around 15 minutes, before posing together for pictures in front of a US flag and the saltire of Scotland ahead of the opening of a second course at the president's golf club in Aberdeenshire. We'll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story. Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Daily Record
Scotland's top 'lucky landmarks' named and both are in one city
The most popular sites in the country said to bring good fortune have been named. Scotland's top "lucky landmarks" have been named in a new study, with both sites located in Edinburgh. For hundreds of years, people have sought to boost their fortunes by visiting monuments believed to bring good luck. Whether tossing coins into fountains or touching centuries-old statues, some destinations are believed to be particularly lucky. SuomiCasino have shared a list of the top five lucky landmarks in Scotland and Ireland. The experts analysed the popularity of the landmarks by examining data from Instagram, TikTok, and Google search trends. Edinburgh is the only city in the top five to feature two lucky landmarks. Greyfriars Bobby and the David Hume Statue are both named on the list. Greyfriars Bobby placed at number three on SuomiCasino's roundup. It is a fountain that sits at the corner of Edinburgh's Candlemaker Row and George IV Bridge. According to the experts, the monument has 39,200 Instagram posts and more than 1,100 TikTok mentions. The statue was also revealed to have a monthly Google search volume of 4,400. The Greyfriars Bobby memorial is dedicated to the dog of the same name, who lived between 1855 and 1872. Bobby is famous for spending 14 years guarding the grave of his owner at Greyfriars Kirkyard until his death. The granite fountain, which is surmounted by a bronze life-size statue of Greyfriars Bobby, was erected in 1873. The bittersweet tale of loyalty has made it a popular tourist attraction over the years. It has become customary for those who visit Greyfriars Bobby to rub his nose for good luck. Over the years, this has caused the nose of the statue to turn shiny. The Greyfriars Bobby statue has earned positive reviews from tourists and visitors. On Google, the monument has an overall rating of 4.7 out of five based on 1,946 reviews. One visitor shared: "Bobby's story is beautiful and they say that stroking his nose brings good luck, so be sure to do this when you visit him." A second wrote: "I touched the nose for good luck, then won £1000 on Premium Bonds in April. Thanks Bobby!" Elsewhere, the David Hume Statue followed behind at number four on SuomiCasino's roundup. The statue is located at the top of Edinburgh's Royal Mile. According to the experts, the statue has 260 Instagram posts. It was also found to be the subject of 3,600 monthly searches on Google. The David Hume statue is dedicated to the Edinburgh-born 18th century philosopher, historian, and economist. It attracts visitors who touch its toe for wisdom and fortune. Elsewhere, coming in at number one on the list of the top lucky spots in Scotland and Ireland is The Blarney Stone in Cork. The centuries-old stone, which is said to grant the 'gift of eloquence' to anyone who kisses it, features in 76,900 Instagram posts and is the subject of 110,000 monthly Google searches. Read on for the full list of the luckiest spots in Scotland and Ireland. The luckiest spots in Scotland and Ireland The Blarney Stone, Cork The Hill of Tara, County Meath Greyfriars Bobby, Edinburgh David Hume Statue, Edinburgh Cnoc Meadha, Galway
The National
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Sherlock Holmes adaptation gives feminist twist to classic stories
Botanic Gardens, Glasgow BARD In The Botanics (BiB) – the annual summer theatre programme held in Glasgow's Botanic Gardens – has, for some years, broadened its remit to encompass not only the plays of Shakespeare, but also works by other classical authors. In recent years – to take three examples – we have been treated to adaptations of works by such theatrical luminaries as Euripides, Henrik Ibsen and Christopher Marlowe. I am, I admit readily, open to accusations of intellectual snobbery in suggesting that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – creator of the famous, and enduringly popular fictional detective Sherlock Holmes – is not a natural bedfellow of the dramatists named above. Nevertheless, it is to the Edinburgh-born doctor and writer that BiB's associate director Jennifer Dick turns for the company's latest play in the Botanics' splendid Kibble Palace glasshouse. READ MORE: Scottish tourist attraction wins prestigious award after 11,000 five-star reviews The lovely venue shares its Victorian provenance with Doyle (and, indeed, with Holmes). As such, it proves to be a good fit for this play about Baker Street's most famous fictional resident. Dick – who is both the adapter and the director of this drama – ensures that many of the established pillars of the Holmes myth are resolutely in place. Of course, Holmes (played with the necessary alertness and condescension by Adam Donaldson) has Dr John Watson (played with affection and resignation by Stephen Arden) as his long-suffering sidekick. James Boal (who has a busy evening, playing no fewer than four characters) takes on the role of the befuddled police inspector Lestrade. There are even references to the off-stage escapades of the Baker Street Irregulars. Dick does innovate, however, when it comes to the character of Irene Adler, aka 'The Woman'. As with Lara Pulver's performance (opposite Benedict Cumberbatch's Holmes) in the BBC series Sherlock, Rebecca Robin's clever and glamorous Adler has a seductive power over Holmes. However, here, she is not only a criminal mastermind but a determined champion of the rights of women who is bent on revenge. The truth and justice of the play's contemplation of misogyny are unarguable, as is the pleasure of seeing powerful male chauvinists getting their just desserts. However, Dick has a tendency to write for Adler speeches that are occasionally more polemical than they need to be. This is a pity, as Robin blesses the character with a darkly compelling and sympathetic performance. Boal is required to play central casting archetypes in the rough, but decent, sailor Captain Crocker, the arrogant King of Bohemia and the pernicious blackmailer Milverton. Each character is managed with colourful aplomb in both of his dimensions. Holmes isn't Holmes without his weakness for narcotics, and Donaldson plays the scene depicting the detective's dependency on cocaine with a believable exhilaration and anguish; even if the decision to illustrate the episode by way of the well-worn song The Windmills Of Your Mind is a tad obvious. This is, then, a nicely put together adaptation of Doyle's tales, which has been given a satisfying feminist twist. What it sometimes lacks in subtlety, it makes up for in theatrical brio. Until August 2:
Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Love Island star slams show as a ‘scam' and ‘fake as f***' in shock rant, revealing ‘why I'm banned from Aftersun'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A FORMER Love Island star has let rip at the ITV2 show and called it a 'scam' in a scathing outburst. The Edinburgh-born beauty - who starred in the summer 2023 series - has let rip at 'fake' reality TV. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 5 Mal has vented her anger about shows including Love Island and The X Factor Credit: tiktok/@mallurpaal/ 5 The brunette beauty has claimed that all reality TV is a scam Credit: tiktok/@mallurpaal/ TikTok star Mal Nicol - who was dumped after nine days in the villa - can be seen on the social media site responding to another clip from claiming that producers don't want Shakira to win the show. The Scottish star vented: "This is why I do not watch reality TV, because it's a scam, it's a scam, it's a scam, it's a scam. "People are too, I don't know, like, bum licking Love Island. Like, I don't care. I'm gonna say it's a scam. "All reality TV is a scam. Do I sound like a person that believes the earth is flat? "I'm telling you, The X Factor is a scam. "Britain's Got Talent is a scam. It's a scam. It's a scam. You've been scammed, it's just insane." She continued: "People who are genuine and actually have connections or whatever, they're f***ing up. "I'm not even gonna mention it, but I'm gonna sound so bitter, I'm a hater or whatever. "Just reality TV is not real. It's not real. It's fake as f**k. Oh my god, I'm literally gonna cry. "It's so frustrating because people believe it. The 45-second trick to get a snatched waist that Love Island star swears by "Another thing I'm gonna say... people always are like, Oh, the edit did me bad." She concluded: "I'm like, genuinely, if you're a bad person, they can't edit you to be anything else. "If you're a bad person, there's no way an edit makes you look bad. "If you're a good person, you're a good person. It will be shown. Let me leave it there." Mal entered the Love Island villa on day 16 and chose to go on dates with Mitchel Taylor and Sammy Root - who went on to win the show with Jess Harding. On day 18 she chose to couple up with Sammy but was dumped from the show shortly afterwards when she received the fewest votes for favourite girl. The former Love Island bombshell told fans last year that she'd been approached for a new series of MAFS. She took to Instagram to share a message apparently from one of the E4 show's casting agents - but is now happily in a relationship with her investment banker man. The Sun has contacted ITV reps for comment. 5 The Love Island star has slammed the show as 'fake' in an angry rant against reality TV Credit: tiktok/@mallurpaal/ 5 The Scottish beauty starred in the ITV2 show in the summer of 2023 Credit: Rex
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Love Island star slams show as a ‘scam' and ‘fake as f***' in shock rant, revealing ‘why I'm banned from Aftersun'
A FORMER Love Island star has let rip at the ITV2 show and called it a 'scam' in a scathing outburst. The Edinburgh-born beauty - who starred in the summer 2023 series - has let rip at 'fake' reality TV. 5 Mal has vented her anger about shows including Love Island and The X Factor Credit: tiktok/@mallurpaal/ 5 The brunette beauty has claimed that all reality TV is a scam Credit: tiktok/@mallurpaal/ TikTok star Mal Nicol - who was dumped after nine days in the villa - can be seen on the social media site responding to another clip from claiming that producers The Scottish star vented: "This is why I do not watch reality TV, because it's a scam, it's a scam, it's a scam, it's a scam. "People are too, I don't know, like, bum licking Love Island. Like, I don't care. I'm gonna say it's a scam. "All reality TV is a scam. Do I sound like a person that believes the earth is flat? Read more "I'm telling you, The X Factor is a scam. "Britain's Got Talent is a scam. It's a scam. It's a scam. You've been scammed, it's just insane." She continued: "People who are genuine and actually have connections or whatever, they're f***ing up. "I'm not even gonna mention it, but I'm gonna sound so bitter, I'm a hater or whatever. Most read in Love Island "Just reality TV is not real. It's not real. It's fake as f**k. Oh my god, I'm literally gonna cry. "It's so frustrating because people believe it. The 45-second trick to get a snatched waist that Love Island star swears by "Another thing I'm gonna say... people always are like, Oh, the edit did me bad." She concluded: "I'm like, genuinely, if you're a bad person, they can't edit you to be anything else. "If you're a bad person, there's no way an edit makes you look bad. "If you're a good person, you're a good person. It will be shown. Let me leave it there." Mal entered the Love Island villa on day 16 and chose to go on dates with On day 18 she chose to couple up with Sammy but The former Love Island bombshell told fans last year that she'd been approached for a new series of MAFS. She took to Instagram to share a message apparently from one of the E4 show's casting agents - but is now The Sun has contacted ITV reps for comment. 5 The Love Island star has slammed the show as 'fake' in an angry rant against reality TV Credit: tiktok/@mallurpaal/ 5 The Scottish beauty starred in the ITV2 show in the summer of 2023 Credit: Rex 5 The influencer lasted just nine days in the Love Island villa Credit: Rex
