After days of controversy in which Donald Trump complained about the acts and said he would not attend, and alternative “all-American” entertainment was lined up, Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny took to the stage of the much-hyped halftime show of Sunday’s Super Bowl.

Expectations were high, a fact reflected in the unprecedented number of viewers who tuned in. Bad Bunny’s show surpassed 135.4 million views, exceeding Kendrick Lamar’s 133.5 million in 2025 and Michael Jackson’s 133.4 million in 1993.

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Media coverage framed the event primarily as a celebration of diversity, fuelling a backlash from Donald Trump supporters and conservative commentators. The criticism targeted Bad Bunny not only for his outspoken opposition to the Trump administration, but also for claims that he was “not an American artist” – ignoring Puerto Rico’s status as a US territory. Bad Bunny’s performance demonstrated how authenticity can be produced through anti-colonial activism.

While authenticity is often regarded as something real, true or genuine, it is defined by a relational quality that can emerge through a person’s behaviour in three ways: through connections to people or place; conformity to, or disruption of, conventions, and consistency between message and action. We look at how Bad Bunny displayed all three at the Super Bowl.

1. Authenticity as connection

This was evident in the presence of sugar cane on stage, a crop that shaped the colonial economies of the Caribbean. Plantations were owned by colonisers and sustained through the violent exploitation of Indigenous people and transatlantic enslaved Africans. By foregrounding sugar cane, the performance exposed the foundations of colonial wealth and reclaimed a symbol of oppression as historical truth rather than romanticised memory.

The presence of Puerto Rican icon Ricky Martin strengthened this sense of connection when he performed Bad Bunny’s Lo Que Le Pasó A Hawaii. Through its lyrics, the song cautions Puerto Ricans against relinquishing their cultural identity amid pressure to assimilate into the influence of the US. Martin’s performance underscored the message, highlighting cultural preservation as an essential form of anti-colonial resistance

Lady Gaga added a powerful layer of symbolism to the performance. Her light blue dress referenced the original 1895 design of the Puerto Rican flag before its shade was darkened to align with the US flag. She adorned it with a red hibiscus, a national emblem of pride and resistance, alongside white flowers. Together, these elements echoed the colours of the Puerto Rican flag. Gaga embodied respect, participation and solidarity rather than segregation or erasure.

2. Authenticity as conformity

Artists often simultaneously conform to and break rules, and Bad Bunny mastered that tension. As a Puerto Rican artist rising within an industry that frequently pressures performers to abandon their roots, he instead created a hybrid cultural space: a Spanish-language Super Bowl halftime show. He operated within the system while disrupting assumptions and expectations that English must dominate and that mainstream icons should fit a narrow cultural mould.

Bad Bunny further disrupted the dominant narrative that reduces “America” to the US, instead acknowledging the full geography of the Americas. After declaring “God bless America”, he proceeded to list countries from the southernmost to the northern regions of the continent.

By naming countries across the Americas, Bad Bunny also inverted the conventional geopolitical hierarchy. The gesture echoed Uruguayan artist Joaquín Torres-García’s famous painting América Invertida (Inverted America) and his assertion that “the south is our north”, challenging the idea that cultural or political legitimacy must flow from the so‑called north, and rejecting the aspiration to emulate it.

3. Authenticity as consistency

Consistency appeared through callbacks to Bad Bunny’s longstanding activism. The lamppost explosion before performing El Apagón directly referenced the 2022 song’s music video, which functions as a documentary critiquing infrastructure neglect and the privatisation of electricity by North American companies. This moment connected entertainment to colonial reality for Puerto Ricans, reinforcing how Bad Bunny refuses to separate his art from the colonial conditions affecting his homeland.

The brief appearance of El Sapo Concho, the unofficial mascot of his latest album, added another layer of symbolic continuity. Nearly driven to extinction through centuries of ecological disruption tied to colonial extraction of resources, the Puerto Rican crested toad has become a visual shorthand for survival against structural harm. Its presence, even for a moment, served as a reminder that colonialism’s impact is environmental as much as cultural, and invoked themes of survival and resistance against imposed systems.

The same idea emerged when Bad Bunny presented a Grammy to a younger version of himself, reinforcing his phrase: “If I’m here, it’s because I always believed in myself.” In a world where people from colonised nations face discrimination, exclusion, oppression and marginalisation, many came to view the culture of their colonisers as a path to transcend those barriers. Thus, Bad Bunny’s gesture reclaimed self-belief as an act of defiance. By centring identity rather than imitation, Bad Bunny asserted that authenticity, not mimicry, is the most powerful form of anti-colonial refusal.

This is America

At the end of the performance, a flashing billboard read: “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.” Bad Bunny held a football inscribed with the words “Together, We Are America”.

This proposed a pan-American ideal anchored in solidarity rather than domination, emphasising collaboration over hierarchy. Hate thrives on isolation, but this act created a unifying vision. Through symbols of collective resilience, Bad Bunny framed authenticity as anti-colonial activism grounded in love, memory and community.

Overall, these visuals were intentional, aligning with years of public statements, music and community engagement. Each element reinforced a consistent narrative of resistance, showing that authenticity is not just performance but the culmination of sustained anti-colonial activism.

By embedding history, symbolism and personal conviction into every moment, Bad Bunny demonstrated that art can be a deliberate vessel for political and cultural action grounded in love, tolerance and inclusion.

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Police were called to the Kingsway East restaurant on Longtown Road after the alarm was raised at around 10.30pm on Saturday.

A mass brawl between teenage thugs broke out in a McDonald’s in Dundee.

Police were called to the Kingsway East restaurant on Longtown Road after the alarm was raised at around 10.30pm on Saturday, February 7.

The shocking was captured in video footage as the yobs battered into each other. In the clip around a dozen school-age teenagers are heard shouting as punches are thrown between the youths.

An older male in a high-vis jacket can be seen trying to break up the fight. Some of the youngsters can be heard shouting “stop” before a scream of “kill the f****r” is heard.

Shocked families enjoying their dinner could be seen watching on in shock as the incident unfolded. The extent of any injuries suffered as a result of the attack is currently unclear.

One 13-year-old boy has been arrested and charged in connection with assault as a result of the incident.

Officers say that a report will be submitted to the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration and their enquiries into establishing the full circumstances of the incident remain ongoing.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “A 13-year-old boy has been arrested and charged in connection with an assault which happened at restaurant in Milton of Craigie, Dundee around 10.30pm on Saturday, February 7, 2025.

“A report will be submitted to the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration. Enquiries are ongoing.”

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A McDonald’s spokesperson said they were left shocked by the incident as they slammed the “completely unacceptable behaviour. Bosses said that they will continue to assist police with their enquiries.

The spokesperson said: “We have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to violence or abuse of any kind towards our employees and customers, and it is completely unacceptable to see anyone behaving in this way.

“This incident has been reported to the police and we will continue to assist them in their enquiries.”

The incident comes amidst the Daily Record’s long-running Our Kids … Our Future campaign, which has called for a crackdown on an epidemic of youth violence and online bullying across Scotland.

Valentine’s Day (Saturday, February 14) is just around the corner so if you need a last-minute, cost-effective idea to make it a special one, Reddit users have shared their top methods

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If you’ve left it until the last minute to treat your loved one or person you secretly admire for Valentine’s Day – then fear not, for you are not alone. Whilst you may be running out of time ahead of February 14, there are some “frugal” ways you can succeed before the all-important day.

The advice came after a concerned Reddit user opened up on their personal dilemma, with limited time remaining themselves and operating on a low budget.

They wrote: “Never been in a relationship on Valentine’s Day before. It’s three days away and I can’t stop stressing.”

“I don’t really have the budget for holiday gifts since I’m living paycheck to paycheck and it’s barely enough. But I love my partner dearly and want to make sure they know it. Any ideas?”

The post was met with dozens of helpful responses, which left the original poster extremely grateful.

“Cheap wine and a playlist you made especially for the occasion tends to be a good first Valentine,” one person advised. “Make dinner together. Get tipsy on wine and dance in the kitchen.”

They continued: “Don’t sleep on inexpensive cheesy romance. For anyone who truly loves their partner, this holiday is about being thoughtful and loving. It’s not about the spend or going out.”

A second individual shared: “Depending on where you live, if it isn’t too cold you can bring a picnic to a park! If it’s too cold to do so, some candles and a nice romantic playlist with his favourite dinner. Then you can play a game for 2, do a free online crossword together, or pick out a movie from the library that you both want to see!”

A third shared her tip: “Cook a meal for them, go for a evening walk, liberate some garden flowers and write a letter from the heart to them. One of my most treasured things is my husband’s wedding speech that he hand wrote but was unable to say as he got so choked up and emotional on the day.”

A fourth Reddit user penned: “This year is my wife’s and my first married Valentine’s Day. We bought a few varieties of cupcakes to do a tasting together because I have to work late on Valentine’s Day itself. Typically we just do a nice homemade meal and a card.”

Whilst a fifth suggested: “Write your significant other little notes and leave them where they’ll find them throughout the day. If you/they are into puns or if you have inside jokes, you could work them into the notes.

“All it costs is a few pieces of paper and some time to think of what to write. I plan on doing this for my fiancé and I know it will make him smile and feel loved. It’s the thought that counts!”

YE Olde Starre Inne in Stonegate holds the title for the longest continuous licence since 1644.

Today, it’s a Greene King pub, but no longer provides accommodation for visitors. Several suggestions have been made as to the origin of its name. Some say that it was named after the Star of Bethlehem which guided pilgrims to York Minster.

Others claim that it’s named after the six-pointed star which is the symbol of the Worshipful Company of Innholders.

And another possibility is that it was, in fact, so called in honour of King Charles I who was nicknamed The Old Star by his Royalist followers during the English Civil War of the 1640s.

Princess Elizabeth walking in procession along Stonegate in 1949, accompanied by the Lord Mayor of York, JB Morrell. You can see the advertising hoarding for Ye Old Starre Inn with the Minster in the background

Originally, the Starre had stables with an entrance from Lop Lane (present-day Duncombe Place).

The distinctive beamed sign advertising the inn across Stonegate was erected by licensee Thomas Bulman in 1733.

In his book, York’s Historic Inns, Pete Coxon notes that the inn is mentioned twice in 1644. Thomas Broad, a printer, lived at the house of Mistress Rogers in Stonegate ‘over against the Starre’.

Entrance to Ye Olde Starre Inn

The second mention is during the Civil War. When the Parliamentarians entered York after the siege of the city, they stayed at the Starre inn whose staunchly Royalist licensee was a certain William Foster.

And we can imagine how grudgingly he served them. The inn’s cellar served as both an operating room and a morgue for soldiers who’d been injured or killed at the nearby Battle of Marston Moor (1644).

Staff have claimed that their ghostly shrieks can still be heard.

Recommended reading:

Story of York’s oldest and most haunted inn with 5 ghosts and another surprise!

Story of historic York pub that survived scandal and 300 years of changes

How York has changed over time – 10 old photos from the past

Like many old pubs, Ye Olde Starre Inne has its share of ghosts. John Arnold, the manager, told me the story of the two black cats which were reputedly buried alive in the wooden pillar at the centre of the main bar. This was a common superstitious practice in the 17th century to ensure the future safety of a building. Their ghosts are seen as shadows, and dogs entering the bar growl at them from a distance.

Ye Olde Starre Inne pub sign.

John took me to the Minster Yard garden at the rear of the inn. Here there was originally a well which provided pure water to large parts of the city. He also told me about the ghost of the little girl staring out of the attic window. She was seen by two of his customers who were seated one bright sunny day in this Minster Yard garden. There was no way anyone could have accessed the attic, let alone a little girl.

Today, the inn caters for a mix of tourists and regulars. Pubs are a precious part of our island heritage, and we should do everything possible to ensure that they survive.

David Wilson is a community writer with The Press

The owner of O’Connell’s Bakery, which is in an independent bakery in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire in Wales, said the one-star review “has knocked the wind out of us”

The boss of a family-run bakery has taken aim at a customer who left a “dishonest” review.

The management at O’Connell’s Bakery said the “damaging” review could undo much of their hard work and made them question what sort of person would do something like this. In their response, the boss said: “I hope you at least chew your bakes properly” in a nine-word dig.

The negative review, which came via a third-party platform, claimed a delivery never arrived, but O’Connell’s said tracking confirmed that they accepted the parcel. They described the review as “next-level dishonest” and “damaging”, adding that a false review like this one can “undo weeks of hard work, affect visibility, trust, and sales”.

A post from O’Connell’s Bakery, which is in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, said: “Honestly, this has knocked the wind out of us. Customer places an order on a platform we use. Photo evidence of tracking shows them accepting the parcel. Royal Mail GPS and Google Maps confirming it’s their front door open with the resident recieving our parcel… and then leaving a one-star review claiming it never arrived is next-level dishonest.”

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The fiery response continued: “This kind of behaviour isn’t just ‘annoying’ — it’s damaging. For small businesses like ours, one false review can undo weeks of hard work, affect visibility, trust, and sales, and genuinely make you question why you even bother selling on platforms at all.

“We pour our time, money, and hearts into what we do. We don’t have big teams, legal departments, or endless margins to absorb this stuff. It makes you want to pull the plug completely.

“I truly don’t understand how people can do this and sleep at night. Dishonesty like this shouldn’t be rewarded — if anything, it should be called out and banned from social platforms. I do believe in karma though… and I hope you at least chew your bakes properly. To our genuine customers: thank you. You’re the reason we keep going.”

The bakery received an outpouring of support from their regular customers after they shared the post, according to Wales Online. One person said: “How awful! I’ve never had a problem receiving my orders and can also confirm they have always been delicious. I think all the very positive reviews and comments and all the amazing interaction from you guys show the truth. People like those trolls just show how low in morals they are.” Another said: “Absolutely disgusting thing to do to a brilliant family run business.”

O’Connell’s Bakery, which is in the heart of the market town, is run by a husband and wife, who recently also opened a sweet shop in the area.

Unison has warned that a controversial migration shake-up will lead to a Windrush-style scandal as Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood plans changes to settlement rules

Shabana Mahmood’s controversial migration plans risk another Windrush-style scandal, the UK’s biggest trade union warned.

Unison called on the Home Secretary to back down from proposals to at least double the period when migrant workers are eligible to settle in the UK. The plans have sparked an outcry, with the Home Secretary facing a rebellion from Labour backbenchers.

Under the shake-up, hundreds of thousands of people who thought they would qualify for permanent residence after being in the UK for five years will have to wait 10. And Unison warned key social care and low-paid workers face being in limbo for 15 years.

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General secretary Andrea Egan said: “Failure to look at all the consequences is reckless. There’s a risk they’ll have another Windrush-style scandal on their hands.

“You cannot move the goalposts and retrospectively extend the qualifying period to people who came to the UK under existing rules.”

She continued: “The Home Office consultation refers to overseas social care staff as ‘low waged and low skilled’. The country should be thanking these workers, not insulting them.

“The care sector can’t be built on exploited, dehumanised workers.” The Government says the shake-up will require people to earn the right to settle in the UK.

Ms Mahmood said NHS workers, high earners and people who volunteer will be fast-tracked for quicker settlement deals. At the moment, people have the right to permanently settle in the UK after being here for five years.

The Government is proposing to at least double this – but there will be some exceptions. The standard wait will be 10 years under the plans, while there will be a number of reductions and additions to this.

Claiming benefits and coming to the UK illegally will mean extra years are added, the Home Office said. Last week Ms Mahmood told MPs: “It is perfectly fair and legitimate for us to want to have a controlled system, and that does place burdens on employers.

“You cannot just go off and bring people in from abroad; you have to play by some rules. I think that is fair enough. That is what the changes are designed to do.”

And in a speech on Thursday, Keir Starmer defended the measures, saying they are focused on contribution. He said: “I mean go back to Windrush – which is such an important moment in our national story.

“The people who came here, they weren’t victims, they weren’t vulnerable. Britain did not invite them here as an act of compassion, that is liberal vanity.

“No, they came here because Britain needed them because they wanted to come and Britain wanted them to make a contribution. And they did. They helped rebuild this country. Now, I think there’s far more dignity in that story – the real story, than in this kind of fairytale of Britain’s charity.”

A Home Office spokesman said: “Net migration is at its lowest level in half a decade and has fallen by more than two-thirds under this government.

“We will go further to cut numbers, and the Home Secretary has outlined fundamental reforms to fix our broken immigration system, ensuring people who come here contribute and give more than they take.”

Simon Dobbin died in October 2020

Manslaughter charges have been brought against 12 men after a Cambridge United fan died. Simon Dobbin travelled to Southend on March 21, 2015, to watch Cambridge United play Southend United.

After the match, Simon was subjected to a sustained and violent attack. The attack left him with injuries that changed his life.

Due to the injuries he had suffered, Simon had to receive 24-hour care from his family. Simon died in October 2020.

The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised manslaughter charges against 12 men. They are:

• Greg Allen, 37, of Wellington Avenue, Westcliff
• Ryan Carter, 30, of HMP – The Mount
• Jamie Chambers, 33, of Southchurch Avenue, Southend
• Lewis Courtnell, 43, of Pall Mall, Leigh-on-Sea
• Philip McGill, 40, of Hornby Avenue, Westcliff
• Scott Nicholls, 49, of Little Spenders, Basildon
• Matthew Petchey, 35, of Pollards Close, Rochford
• Rhys Pullen, 29, of Lysander Grove, Maldon
• Thomas Randall, 31, of Grand Parade, Leigh-on-Sea
• Michael Shawyer, 40, of Edinburgh Avenue, Leigh-On-Sea
• Alexander Woods, 33, of First Avenue, Westcliff
• James Woods, 33, of The Green, Nawton, York

The 12 men are due to appear at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, March 31.

Detective Superintendent Stephen Jennings said: “This is a significant milestone in an extremely complex investigation, and comes as the result of the professionalism, dedication, and hard work from a team of highly skilled officers and staff.

“Investigations such as these are challenging and can take time, it has required hundreds of hours of painstaking work to get to this stage.

“Throughout this time we have worked closely with the Crown Prosecution Service.

“Simon’s case is one that has evoked a great deal of emotion, but I would ask people to be mindful about commentary to ensure those charged are able to have a fair trial.

“I want to thank Simon’s family – his wife Nicole and daughter Emily – for their patience and unwavering support for our team.”

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Certain groups of older people on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) may be able to ask the DWP to review their claim and potentially receive backdated payments for enhanced mobility rate

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Certain elderly individuals on Personal Independence Payment ( PIP ), particularly those receiving the lower rate of mobility element, may be eligible to request a reassessment of their claim from the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ) due to a recent legal amendment. Those over State Pension age might also qualify for an increased award for the mobility component of PIP, even if they’ve ceased receiving the benefit.

This legal change solely pertains to claimants over State Pension age and their eligibility for the enhanced mobility award. DWP guidelines clarify that this only applies to PIP claims reviewed between April 8, 2013, and November 20, 2020.

This legislative shift comes in the wake of a tribunal ruling on May 22, 2020, which pinpointed an inadvertent loophole in regulation 27 of the Social Security (Personal Independence Payment) Regulations 2013.

The guidance clarifies: “DWP did not have the legal powers to restrict the mobility award for claimants who were in receipt of the standard rate of the mobility award and over State Pension age, on the grounds of new medical evidence. New medical evidence is a report from a health professional requested by DWP which recommended the enhanced rate of the mobility award.

“DWP were only able to restrict the mobility award for claimants if a relevant change in circumstances was identified after they reached State Pension age.”

To rectify this unintentional oversight, amendments to PIP regulations came into force from November 30, 2020, reports the Daily Record.

The DWP is urging anyone potentially impacted to request a review of their claim.

WXCHARTS has predicted snow will fall from Cape Wrath in northern Scotland to Hereford, starting next Tuesday, with parts of the Scottish Highlands forecast to get up to 97cm (38 inches)

Britain is preparing for more wintry weather in the coming days as numerous cities across the country are predicted to see snowfall.

New maps from WXCHARTS, utilising MetDesk data, forecast up to a whopping 97cm of snow for certain parts of the UK. Starting next Tuesday, less than a week away, snow is expected to fall from Cape Wrath in northern Scotland down to Hereford in the Midlands.

Scotland will bear the brunt of the conditions, with parts of the Highlands receiving up to 97cm, and surrounding areas seeing up to 12cm. England should fare slightly better, with an average of just 2cm across the country, leaving much of the east and south untouched.

In a separate forecast for February 15 to 24, the Met Office states: “Showers or longer spells of rain are expected as Atlantic low pressure systems dominate in the vicinity of the UK.

“Some heavy rain is likely in places, probably focussed on western hills, with some snow at times in the north, mainly on high ground. Strong winds are possible at times, especially around coasts. Temperatures will probably be near normal. Later in the period, there is a chance that drier, more settled conditions may begin to develop.”

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The Express reports weather warnings are in place already for this week as snow is expected to fall as far south as Derbyshire. However, the worst of the weather is anticipated next week with the heaviest snowfall.

Cities across the UK, from likes of Perth and Stirling in Scotland, to Hereford and Birmingham in the Midlands, are expected to experience snowfall next week.

It comes after heavy and prolonged rainfall. The UK has, in fact, endured a record-breaking 42 consecutive days of rainfall with forecasters warning the gloomy conditions will continue for several more weeks to come.

Low-pressure weather systems stalling across the UK have been blamed for seemingly endless rainfall. The consistent rain is more commonly known as a “blocked” weather system.

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Full list of affected cities

1. Glasgow
2. Perth
3. Stirling
4. Dundee
5. Lancaster
6. Preston
7. Liverpool
8. Manchester
9. Salford
10. Chester
11. Stoke-on-Trent
12. Lichfield
13. Wolverhampton
14. Birmingham
15. Worcester
16. Hereford
17. Bradford
18. Leeds
19. Sheffield
20. Derby
21. Coventry
22. Leicester
23. Nottingham
24. Peterborough

“For many, this tax will make their holiday unaffordable, meaning families will shorten trips, forgo a break altogether, reduce their spending with pubs, restaurants, events, leisure activities and local attractions, or travel overseas – spending their money and creating jobs elsewhere.”