Latest news with #Aberdeen


Daily Record
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Aberdeen star's Bond link as he dates Sean Connery's granddaughter
Dante Polvara has been spotted on social media spending time with Sean Connery's granddaughter, Natasha. Aberdeen star Dante Polvara celebrated Scottish cup glory, with a bond girl on his arm. The midfielder was a hero at Hampden as the Dons pulled off a shock Scottish cup victory over Scotland, and by his side was none other than Natasha Connery, granddaughter of Sir Sean Connery- the original James Bond. Polvara came off the bech during the match and calmly scored a penalty in the shootout as Aberdeen won 4-3. The 25-year-old American signed for Pittodrie straight from New York City FC's youth sides. After a loan spell in the US with Charleston Battery, he enjoyed a breakthrough 2023/24 season, making 40 appearances and scoring five goals. 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'. Sir Sean was the first actor to bring 007 to life on the big screen, starring in classics like Goldfinger and Diamonds Are Forever. He also bagged an Oscar for The Untouchables and was knighted in 2000 for his contribution to film. Adding another twist, former Rangers chairman Sir David Murray revealed that Connery secretly invested £1million into the club. Murray wrote in his book Mettle: "For years, Sean and I would share a catch-up call every weekend to chat through the football and we would inevitably kick off with Rangers. "After all, he had put £1million into the club which no one knew about at the time or even since. "I was raising £50million in 2004 and Sean asked if he could invest. "I told him that it was football, that there were no guarantees and he should get professional advice but he was adamant - he wanted in."


Scottish Sun
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Scottish Premiership footballer bags a Bond girl as he holidays with Sir Sean Connery's granddaughter
The pair have been snapped together on exotic holidays and looking after pets STRONG BOND Scottish Premiership footballer bags a Bond girl as he holidays with Sir Sean Connery's granddaughter Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ABERDEEN star Dante Polvara has a Scottish Cup winners' medal in his possession. And he's also got a Bond girl on his arm - after embarking on a relationship with Sir Sean Connery's granddaughter Natasha. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Sean Connery's glamorous granddaughter Natasha has found love with American footballer Dante Polvara, who plays for Scottish Premiership club Aberdeen Credit: natashagigiconnery/Instagram 4 The pair have posed together on Natasha's Instagram account Credit: natashagigiconnery/Instagram 4 They were snapped celebrating the midfielder's 25th birthday together Credit: natashagigiconnery/Instagram 4 Natasha was at Hampden as Polvara and Aberdeen shocked Celtic to win the Scottish Cup Credit: natashagigiconnery/Instagram Natasha was in attendance at Hampden as Polvara and his Aberdeen teammates pulled off a shock Scottish Cup victory over Celtic. The midfielder came off the bench in normal time and scored a penalty in the shootout as Dons won 4-3. He signed for the Pittodrie side straight out of New York City FC's youth sides in 2022. The 25-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2023/24 after returning from a loan to Charleston Battery in the US, making 40 appearances and scoring five times. He got together with Natasha Connery last summer, who is the daughter of the stepson of a famous Scots actor. Natasha's grandfather Sir Sean Connery was of course best-known for being the first actor to portray super-spy James Bond. He played 007 in seven films over the course of 21 years, including fan-favourites Goldfinger and Diamonds Are Forever. He also won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in The Untouchables and was knighted in 2000 for services to film drama. Former Rangers chairman Sir David Murray has also revealed that Connery secretly invested £1million into Gers. Connery, who died in 2020, was a supporter of the club and close friend of Murray's. Sir Sean Connery's secret £1 MILLION investment in Rangers revealed Murray wrote in his book Mettle: "For years, Sean and I would share a catch-up call every weekend to chat through the football and we would inevitably kick off with Rangers. "After all, he had put £1million into the club which no one knew about at the time or even since. "I was raising £50million in 2004 and Sean asked if he could invest. "I told him that it was football, that there were no guarantees and he should get professional advice but he was adamant - he wanted in." Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page


BBC News
14 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Financial watchdog launches probe into WoodGroup
Engineering giant Wood Group is being investigated by the UK's financial watchdog following an independent review which found "cultural failings" with its accounting Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) probe will look into the period between January 2023 and November 2024.A Wood Group spokesperson said the company would cooperate fully with the Aberdeen-based group, which provides oilfield and engineering services, warned in April that it had to restate its accounts from previous years. It also delayed the publication of results for the 2024 financial year, which were due at the end of meant its shares have since been suspended from trading on the London Stock Exchange. 'Inappropriate pressure' Earlier this year, an independent review by Deloitte found "material weaknesses and failures in the group's financial culture" within its projects business unit and the engagement with its group finance included "inappropriate management pressure" to maintain previously reported positions and "over-optimism and/or lack of evidence in respect of accounting judgements".The report said: "The cultural failings appear to have led to instances of information being inappropriately withheld from, and unreliable information being provided to, Wood's auditors."Wood Group stressed there has been significant change within the business since the period in question and steps taken to address the failings firm has also been the subject of a takeover approach by Dubai-based buyer latest offer, received in April, valued the company at around £242m.A year ago, Sidara made a £1.56bn takeover approach before talks collapsed. Wood Group's share price subsequently plummeted.


Telegraph
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Richard Tice: Glastonbury is not safe for me
Richard Tice turned down an invitation to debate the deputy leader of the Green Party at Glastonbury over concerns it 'would not be safe'. The deputy leader of Reform had been invited to debate Zack Polanski, the self-proclaimed 'eco-populist', the deputy leader of England's smallest party in the Commons. Mr Polanski said at a talk on Thursday that Mr Tice had been invited to debate him on stage at Glastonbury but that the Reform deputy leader had said no. A spokesman for the Reform MP said he turned down the invitation because 'my team concluded that it would not be safe'. Mr Polanski is the latest in a series of Left-wing politicians to be given a platform at Glastonbury, including Jeremy Corbyn. It is much more unusual for a Right-wing figure to appear there. Mr Corbyn appeared on the festival's Pyramid stage in 2017, at the height of his popularity among Labour members, and was introduced by Michael Eavis, the Glastonbury founder, as the 'hero of the hour'. Mr Tice's decision not to attend follows claims that he and Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, were targeted by 'antifa' activists at a campaign stop in Aberdeen earlier this month. Protesters stood outside the event wearing face coverings and shouting through the windows that Mr Farage was a 'fascist'. He has since suggested that face coverings, including burkas, should be banned in the UK for security reasons. Mr Polanski and Mr Tice had a row on X in March, when the Reform deputy leader accused his opponent of behaving like a 'dictator'. The Green Party deputy had suggested that the BBC gives Reform too much airtime, after Mr Tice appeared on the broadcaster's Question Time programme. 'How about we stop having Reform on every single TV and radio show possible and constantly giving them a platform?' Mr Polanski said. 'It's so obviously disproportionate. And it's constant.' Mr Tice responded: 'So [Reform UK] are leading in national polls. But you want us totally banned. You sound like a dictator who does not want democracy.'


The Independent
16 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
UK's financial watchdog launches probe into troubled Wood Group
Engineering giant Wood Group is being investigated by the UK's financial watchdog following an independent review which unearthed 'cultural failings' with its accounting practices. The Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) probe will look into the period between January 2023 and November 2024. The troubled Scottish group, which provides oilfield and engineering services, warned in April that it was having to restate its accounts from previous years. It also delayed the publication of results for the 2024 financial year, which were due at the end of April, meaning its shares have been suspended from trading on the London Stock Exchange since. This followed an independent review carried out by Deloitte finding 'material weaknesses and failures in the group's financial culture' within its projects business unit and the engagement with its group finance team. This included 'inappropriate management pressure' to maintain previously reported positions and 'over-optimism and/ or lack of evidence in respect of accounting judgements'. 'The cultural failings appear to have led to instances of information being inappropriately withheld from, and unreliable information being provided to, Wood's auditors,' the results found. The firm stressed there has since been significant change within the group and steps taken to address the failings discovered. Meanwhile, Aberdeen-based Wood Group has been the subject of a takeover approach by Dubai-based buyer Sidara. The latest offer, received in April, valued the company at around £242 million. A year ago, Sidara made a £1.56 billion takeover approach before talks collapsed – and Wood Group's share price has plummeted since.