Latest news with #Stevenson
NZ Herald
3 hours ago
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Shaun Stevenson to leave Chiefs for Japanese club Kubota Spears
Chiefs player Shaun Stevenson has confirmed his move to Japanese club Kubota Spears at the end of this year's Super Rugby Pacific season. Kubota announced they had reached a contract agreement with him until June 2027. In a release, the Chiefs said Stevenson had made an 'outstanding contribution' to
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Scotsman
The perfect bolthole? Inside the gorgeous and unique Scottish lighthouse home now for sale
A 19th Century lighthouse on the far north coast of Scotland has come up for sale. Holborn Head at Scrabster near Thurso was designed by the Stevenson family dynasty of lighthouse builders but has been sympathetically converted into a comfortable home which has B-listed status. Many original features of the old lighthouse keepers' accomodation have been retained. The once all-powerful lamp which guided sailors in the Pentland Firth for more than 100 years was turned off in 2003 with the tower now used as a look out and observatory. Endless views of sky, sea and coastline are included in the price, with Holborn Head being marketed for offers over £450,000. READ MORE: Luxury homes planned for 'New Luskentyre' in the Outer Hebrides A statement from estate agency Galbraith, which is handling the sale, said: ' The property is in an outstanding setting with stunning elevated views over Scrabster beach and harbour to Dunnet Head, Orkney and the Old Man of Hoy. 'This beautiful and dramatic Caithness coastline sits against a backdrop of spectacular mountain scenery, home to a wide variety of native wildlife and providing ideal hill walking and climbing. ' Inland is the Flows National Nature Reserve, designated for its spectacular peat and wetlands, while the River Thurso, which runs through the heart of the Reserve, is a salmon and sea trout river of great renown drawing fishermen from across the world.' READ MORE: Scotland's Home of the Year 2025 - the finalists Holborn Head has two reception rooms and three bedrooms over two storeys, with the living area on the first floor to allow for total immersion in the sea views. The property has a three-car garage, studio and garden stores with 'immaculately presented grounds' surrounding the lighthouse. The home was originally two flats lived in by the lighthouse keepers, with the accommodation reworked into a single dwelling. Many original features have been retained with modern comforts added to the property. The statement added: 'The work has been carried out to the highest standard, with excellent levels of insulation, underfloor heating on the ground floor, consented additional window openings and good quality fittings, while solid oak, Caithness flagstone, wrought iron finishes and an understated interior reflect and complement the magnificence of the surrounding landscape.' The lighthouse tower is reached by ladder staircases with the space 'beautifully restored'. The light has been removed from the lens dome, with the space now used as an outlook and observatory.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Game of Thrones star Rory McCann speaks out on joining Star Wars as Baylan Skoll in Ahsoka: "I think it's the right decision to carry on his storyline"
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Game of Thrones star Rory McCann has spoken out for the first time on taking over as Baylan Skoll in Ahsoka season 2. McCann is stepping in for Ray Stevenson as the former Jedi, after Stevenson sadly died in 2023. The casting was confirmed at Star Wars Celebration 2025. "I think it's the right decision to carry on his storyline, not just cut it off," McCann told "We've done it before with other things. I hope the fans embrace it and I'll do my best. I'm just starting now, so I'm just trying to be in the right zone for doing it. It's pretty bloody exciting. I mean, I remember being a kid with my dad, going to the first one probably in the late '70s and '80s. Now I'm training with a lightsaber at night, so it's pretty exciting." "It was a challenge for me to even consider continuing for a while," Ahsoka creator Dave Filoni said at this year's Celebration of Stevenson's passing. "But I have a great support group with Jon [Favreau] and Rosario [Dawson]. And I found a way, and I had Ray in my head. And [I'm] grateful for all those conversations with him about Baylan, so I understood what to do. It just took a while to get there. But I'm very confident now that Ray would be happy with the direction of the character that we've chosen." Also at Celebration, it was confirmed that Hayden Christensen will return as Anakin Skywalker in season 2, while another major Star Wars character, Admiral Ackbar, will face off against Grand Admiral Thrawn. A first look of sorts was also played for the crowd, featuring concept art spliced together with a voice over that teased giant evil droids and battles in two galaxies. Ahsoka season 2 doesn't yet have a release date. While you wait, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows for everything else the galaxy far, far away has in store.
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Brits rushing to snap up £3K homes in one European country
House buyers priced out of the UK market are turning to a Balkan country where prices are considerably cheaper. Thousands of Brits who have found themselves priced out of the UK's property market are instead snapping up homes in Bulgaria, sometimes without stepping foot inside. And some are buying homes for less than it costs for a family holiday with properties for sale for as little as £3,000. The lure of bargain basement prices, low living costs and sunshine has seen the number of British nationals living in the country shoot up. In 2011 official census data showed 2,605 UK nationals living in the Balkan country. By 2021 that had risen to 4,484 and the true figure is, in 2025, expected to be higher now. Bulgaria, in eastern Europe, is becoming a draw for Brits who struggle to get a foot on the property ladder here with the national average price for a property sitting at £269,000, according to And estate agents in Bulgaria say business is booming from the UK despite many properties being sold in dilapidated states. Buyers are not put off by renovation costs though as they are far cheaper than here. Estate agent Gemma Stevenson, who moved to Bulgaria in 2007 and set up Bulgarian Property Experts, said demand from Britons is booming, reports the Express. She said: 'Whether you're renting or buying, the prices are significantly lower than in most Western European countries. You also have a much lower crime rate in rural areas and an incredibly welcoming local culture.' Ms Stevenson now lives with her fiance, Georgi, and their children. Her daughter Sky is studying at university in Veliko Tarnovo. She said rural communities are often keen to embrace newcomers. She said: 'The locals take young families under their wing. Even if they don't speak your language, they'll go out of their way to help — bringing you homemade chutneys, preserves or even rakia to try.' One family who are making the move are Maxwell and Leah Jones, Prestatyn, who bought a three-bed house in the town of Popovo for £8,000 without viewing it first. The couple, aged 38 and 29, had been struggling to buy in the UK and decided to change tack. Mr Jones told MailOnline: 'We were due to buy a house in the UK but it became hard to put all this money out and still be paying it off for 25 years. We looked at the price in Bulgaria and it became a no-brainer. Now we're mortgage-free.' They estimate the full renovation of their run down home will cost between £15,000 and £20,000 which is still a fraction of property prices in this country. The couple plan to move in full-time by the end of the year with their children, Lorenzo and Indy. Mum Donna Hardy, from Scunthorpe, bought a large rural home near Veliko Tarnovo for around £22,000 last year. The estate came with outbuildings, a barn and an acre of land. And in 2022, Lewis and Jordan Vye bought a rundown farmhouse for just £7,000, where they're raising children Fae and Leo. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Many say Bulgaria offers an enviable quality of life. Average monthly costs for a family can be as low as £300, with bills a fraction of UK rates. Council tax, for instance, can be as little as £25 a year. The weather is another major draw. Some regions see more than 300 days of sunshine annually, while access to the Black Sea coast and cheap rail links to Turkey and Greece provide plenty of travel options. However, Bulgaria does have its drawbacks. It is the poorest country in the EU by GDP per head, and its political landscape is deeply unstable. Allegations of vote-rigging, voter intimidation and corruption have dogged recent elections. Much of the controversy centres on sanctioned oligarch and MP Delyan Peevski, who is accused of embezzlement and bribery. Despite this, buyers seem undeterred. Listings on sites like eBay and Facebook Marketplace regularly feature properties under £10,000, and many buyers appear more focused on freedom and affordability than politics. Ms Stevenson added: 'If you're willing to roll up your sleeves and adapt to a slower pace of life, you can build something really special here.'
Chicago Tribune
4 days ago
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Adlai E. Stevenson High School Class of 2025 members close book and move on to the next in their lives
Almost 1,200 seniors of the Adlai E. Stevenson High School Class of 2025 graduated at the 60th annual commencement at NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates on Friday, May 23. The Class of 2025 began their high school trajectory as Stevenson Patriots after their middle school years, which were marked by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. 'If those years taught us anything, it was adaptability,' said Ryan Dong of Buffalo Grove, one of two students who offered a senior address from the stage and podium. Dong's speech reflected on the journey. 'Now, here we are, at the final sentence of this final chapter, bookmarks in hand,' Dong said. 'So as we walk across this stage, remember that we're not just closing a book, we're starting the sequel. 'No matter where life takes us, we carry these memories, each other, and the wisdom we've gathered along the way,' Dong said. 'Every ending is a beginning in disguise, because the future is yours to write.' Offering the second senior address was Maya Heller of Buffalo Grove, whose speech focused on the future. 'We don't know what comes next,' Heller said. 'But I look forward to our 10-year reunion, when we will look at each other and know that everything is working out. 'Until then,' Heller said. 'Trust in the process. 'Our futures are unfolding perfectly.' Amy Neault of Kildeer, president of the District 125 Board of Education and the parent of two Stevenson graduates, welcomed the audience from the stage and ended her remarks with a message to graduates. 'As you graduate and leave Stevenson to begin your next journey, I ask you to please remember the foundations you learned here, commitment to self, commitment to others and commitment to learning,' Neault said. 'Wherever you go and whatever you do next, please remember, as a community, we will always be here holding you up and cheering you on. 'Never forget, you are astounding,' Nealt said. Waiting in the queue with other seniors behind the scenes before the ceremony were Buffalo Grove seniors Pritha Biswas and Nicolett Tarnorutskaya. 'I'm so excited to leave but I'm going to miss all of the memories that I made,' said Tarnorutskaya, who is going to college to study biochemistry. Biswas is attending college to pursue veterinary sciences. 'Stevenson offers a larger variety of programs,' Biswas said. 'Our family actually moved here and picked this specific district for Stevenson because we've heard such amazing things about it. 'They give so much college support,' Biswas said. 'My counselors and support team have been amazing here.' Tarnorutskaya said about Stevenson, 'Being a Patriot means achieving success with the help of others, working in a community and maintaining strong relationships with everyone and striving to be the best person you can be.' Also, before commencement, Ruina Liu of Vernon Hills stood alongside graduates waiting to file into the arena. 'It's like it's not real, I can't believe I'm graduating,' Liu said with a laugh. Liu is going to college to study computer science. To Stevenson, Liu said, 'Thank you for providing such a surreal experience in high school and giving me opportunities.'
