Tonight’s the night (Sony Interactive Entertainment)
The Thursday letters page looks forward to tonight’s State of Play showcase, as one reader argues for an official demake of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.
Games Inbox is a collection of our readers’ letters, comments, and opinions. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk
Mind-blowing rumour The idea that Sony could start making its first party games multiformat is crazy to me. I know they’ve done it with a Lego game (because most Lego players are on Switch) and a couple of old remasters but the idea that you’d do it with a brand new God Of War game, even if it is a spin-off, blows my mind.
My main question is: why? Why do you want to give less reasons to buy your console? I realise, obviously, they’ll make more money on overall sales, but at what cost? You just diminish the point of the console further and if you carry on along that path it just becomes no different to a mid-range gaming PC. Unlike the Switch 2, which is the only place to buy Nintendo games.
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Even if they only stick with doing it with lower profile games, to me it just dilutes the whole point of what PlayStation is. Do they really want to turn into Xbox? Are they looking at them right now and wishing they were them? Sony hasn’t made sense to me all generations and while I hope today’s State of Play will be good, I’ve now got a bad feeling about it. Crassus
First among equals So it’s looking pretty likely that we’ll see a new God Of War game today, but I hope the State of Play is firmly focused on first party games and not just random third party stuff. As people have been saying, this is an opportunity to turn a corner and get back to what people loved about the PlayStation 4.
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Whether that’s going to happen I don’t know but I expect to see Saros, Marvel’s Wolverine, and ideally at least two new games. I’ll settle for a God Of War spin-off but I can’t say the idea of a 2.5D Metroidvania excites me very much.
PlayStation used to stand not just for the console but great games and we just have not seen enough of them in recent years. One big exclusive a year is not enough, especially when you usually have only one or two others even announced. We’ll see what today brings but if it’s just time-wasting fluff I won’t be happy. Grando
Positive thoughts I want to be positive about Thursday’s State of Play, so let’s hope that we get plenty of new announcements and not just 20 minutes a piece on games we already know plenty about, which is how a lot of these things seem to work out.
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There’ll definitely be Saros, because it’s out soon, but I’ll be fine if there’s no Wolverine or Intergalactic, because they’re a way out and will probably have dedicated showcases. I’d much rather see some new games, ideally a new non-God Of War game from Santa Monica Studio, a new IP from Bluepoint, and a new Uncharted from someone else – maybe Bend Studio.
New, new, new is my wish and positivity. We’ll see how it turns out but I feel this one is Sony’s to lose now, in terms of good publicity. Kiefer
Pokémon unmade I can very easily imagine Nintendo charge for re-releases of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, and I might even buy them, but that doesn’t mean I approve of it. I don’t know what else they could’ve done though, does anyone want them to remake the games again with the graphics of Scarlet and Violet? It’s not a very appealing thought, is it?
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To be honest, I’d rather they demake Scarlet and Violet to look like FireRed and LeafGreen. For me Pokémon only really works as a 2D, top-down game. You have to use your imagination then but when it’s 3D the low-tech graphics and weak open worlds end up making things look kind of embarrassing and broken.
To live up to the potential a 3D game would have to have a huge budget and it’s obvious by now that Nintendo is not going to pay for that. So I’d rather have a state-of-the-art 2D game than a shonky 3D one. Tacle
State of team-up I’m wondering what the chances of GTA 6 turning up at the State of Play is? We keep getting these rumours of Rockstar having a marketing deal with Sony, which I easily believe, but we don’t see any evidence of it. If anything, Sony has gone out of their way to ignore GTA 6 so far.
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None of the GTA 6 marketing so far has involved another company but I think if that was going to change it would be to announce a PlayStation 5 (and PS5 Pro) bundle. I am almost certain this will happen and the only real question is if it gets revealed this week or not. I could see it being the mic drop at the end, especially if there’s a bit of new footage. That would be cool. Trepsils
Hardware emulation I’m really curious to see what Nintendo will do about emulating DS and 3DS games because I don’t see how plugging in a second screen to the bottom of the Switch 2 would work. It’d make it massive and heavy, and how would you hold it exactly?
The obvious way to do it is to turn the Switch vertically and have both screens showing that way. They’d be pretty small but probably the same size as the actual thing and I’m not sure you really want to be showing off those lo-res graphics on a big giant screen.
The only other obvious thing to do is have some kind of special made device, like the Virtual Boy thing, but then you’re still putting the Switch 2 inside it, which is also going to make it clunky and heavy. Maybe you could make the device and have the Switch 2 stream to it, but then it wouldn’t be very portable.
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It’s a problem but I hope they work out something good, because there are so many great games that are trapped on the DS and 3DS that are going to fade from history very quickly, because no one can play them anymore. Some are digital downloads too, so you can’t even buy an old cart off of eBay.
I see that it was necessary, but I miss Nintendo having a separate, dedicated portable. Those games had to be small and compact and I appreciated that. Apart from anything else it meant they never took that long to make, so there was always a steady stream of new games. You definitely don’t get that anymore and it’s a shame. Oscar
Absolute Zero Great suggestion from Wotan about the Xbox name. I think there will be three versions: Zero, Ultimate Zero, and Complete Zero.
Strangely, Zero will be the most powerful and the other two will be less so. Complete Zero won’t have a compatible controller, as you can control it just by holding your breath. Ed
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Household names It looks like Nioh 3 has followed its predecessors and completely passed under everyone’s radar. I know it apparently did some decent numbers on Steam when it first came out but after that I haven’t heard a single word about the game. I’ve definitely not talked to anyone that’s played it or is even aware of it.
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It makes me wonder how popular some games really are. Are they selling in the thousands or even just hundreds, if you take into account even a big population like the UK. Getting to a million sales, which is apparently the minimum to be a ‘hit’, sounds like a lot but it’s really not when you consider how many gamers there are in the world, let alone people in general.
It’s funny how few games can be trusted to be 100% recognisable to any age. I’d say Sonic and Mario are probably the only ones, since they need to be old too. Probably most people have heard of Fortnite and Minecraft, but unless they have kids I wonder how well they understand them. Kind of similar thing for Call Of Duty.
This is why Nintendo does so well, because even it’s spin-offs, like Mario Kart, are globally recognised and that does so much work for them. No matter how many awards it might win Nioh is never going to be a household name, and that’s a shame given its quality. Hysteve
GC: Those weren’t Steam numbers, the game sold over 700,000 copies on PlayStation 5 and PC in four days, which is really good for a game like that. We agree it doesn’t get talked about much, but it didn’t get two sequels because it doesn’t sell. Up until last May the first two games had sold over 8 million copies.
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Inbox also-rans My wish for the State of Play is a Dino Crisis remake. If you can get two Code Violet games, surely Capcom can give us one official game? Korbie
I can never hear the name Mega-CD and not think of the ads in Viz calling them mega seedy, with a picture of S&M guy. Those were the days. Cobalt84
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A Mobile UK boss has urged MPs and local councillors to stop blocking new phone masts, as it emerged that just two areas in north Norfolk were found to have ‘good’ connections
07:25, 12 Feb 2026Updated 07:25, 12 Feb 2026
A Mobile UK boss has called upon MPs and members of the public alike to stop blocking phone masts, explaining that this was the biggest issue when it comes to phone coverage.
While attending a North Norfolk District Council meeting, Mobile UK’s director of policy and communications, Gareth Elliott, was quizzed by councillors as to why exactly the signal in certain parts of the region was so poor, with various blackspots. In response, Mr Elliot explained, “We’ve seen MPs who have objected to masts, I’ve seen councillors objecting to masts. That is a blocker in itself.”
Concerns over phone masts date back decades. In a 2000 report, the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones (IEGMP) determined that, on the balance of evidence, there is no general risk to the health of those living near base stations, with exposures expected to be small fractions of guideline levels. Three years later, in a 2003 report, the independent Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation (AGNIR) concluded that exposure levels from living near base stations were extremely low.
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Still, despite such reassurances, many people remain anxious about the thought of living near phone masts, and will take action to keep them far away from their own front garden.
BBC News reports that, based on data compiled for the county council-run Streetwave project, just two areas in north Norfolk were found to have “good” connections. Mr Elliott declared that Mobile UK represented operators – EE, Virgin Media O2, and VodafoneThree – had made a commitment to providing 5G connections to “90 per cent of all populated areas by 2030”.
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While raising problems with MPs and councillors objecting to masts being built within the district, Mr Elliott did also concede that rural areas were not always “economically viable” in terms of network infrastructure investment, as per the Eastern Daily Press. He said: “Planning applications have gone through due diligence to understand how it affects the existing network and radio physics. We don’t just build masts anywhere and everywhere.”
While there have been a number of new mast applications in recent years, not in north Norfolk and elsewhere, there has also been plenty of opposition. This was the case in the village of Erpingham, where many were keen to rectify the poor phone signal, only for former Conservative MP Duncan Baker, councillors and concerned locals to block this move.
Showing support for improving network coverage, Steffan Aquarone, Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk, asserted: “I was surprised to hear the comments made by Gareth Elliot, that MPs objecting to masts has become a blocker to better rural signal. I have never been in any opposition to any infrastructure that will improve mobile phone coverage in North Norfolk, and in fact, have rallied for the exact opposite.
“Although I’m keen that mobile operators use the latest technology to minimise visual impact, and take into account all aspects of health and safety, I have been actively campaigning to improve mobile signal since I was first elected in 2017 and will continue to fight for it until North Norfolk is better connected.”
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Do you have a story to share? Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com
The national transport agency is spending £350,000 on a pilot testing technology which identifies “distracted drivers” using smartphones or not wearing seatbelts.
04:30, 12 Feb 2026Updated 07:13, 12 Feb 2026
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New AI ‘spy’ cameras will be rolled out on Scotland’s roads to catch drivers who break the law.
The national transport agency is spending £350,000 on a pilot testing technology which snares “distracted drivers” who use smartphones or fail to wear seatbelts behind the wheel.
Previous roll outs elsewhere in the UK have seen thousands of motorists caught out in a matter of days.
Transport chiefs said the trial was part of a plan to make the country’s roads the safest in the world.
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But privacy campaigners slammed the use of AI technology on Scots roads, branding it “intrusive and creepy”.
A Transport Scotland spokesman said: “We have committed to trialling distracted driver technology as we work towards our goal of making Scotland’s roads the safest in the world by 2030.
“This contract award is part of that ongoing work.
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“Plans for the roll out of this technology are being finalised and will be announced in due course.”
Transport chiefs have awarded the contract for the pilot to Edinburgh-based firm AECOM, the only available firm to offer the technology, which would be used to “determine the scale and extent of specific driver behaviours”.
The company says it uses a unique combination of “AI hardware and software, as well as a team of our analysts, to identify any drivers using mobile phones or not wearing seatbelts”.
Images are taken and “algorithmically analysed in real time” with any potential violations being sent to a team of analysts to review and check.
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It says: “In addition to directly deterring illegal and dangerous driving, the contextual data captured, such as traffic conditions and demographics, can be used to inform policies and develop targeted interventions, such as education to highlight the dangers of hands-free devices.”
Drivers can be fined up to £500 for not wearing a seatbelt, in addition to penalty points, and up to £1,000 and six penalty points for using a mobile phone.
The Department for Transport ran a trial of the kit across the UK in 2023, which featured some sites in Scotland.
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Police forces previously piloting the cameras were Durham, Greater Manchester Police, Humberside, Staffordshire, West Mercia, Northamptonshire, Wiltshire, Norfolk, Thames Valley Police, Sussex and Warwickshire.
In 2024, Transport for Greater Manchester said a total of 3,205 drivers or passengers were caught out on Greater Manchester roads over a five-week period.
Ultra-detailed, close-up images were released as part of the trial, capturing those risking innocent lives by breaking the law as they travel.
TfGM said the trial had helped gather data to understand the scale of the issue, which would then be used to guide future education campaigns and enforcement.
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In August last year, Devon & Cornwall Police said about 50% more people had been caught not wearing seat belts as those fined for driving while using mobile phones.
It said 10,000 images collected by Artificial Intelligence cameras over the last 12 months had captured 6,000 people breaking seat belt laws and 4,000 drivers using phones.
It added a large proportion of those killed in road accidents in Devon and Cornwall who were not wearing seat belts were young people, aged 16 to 24.
The AA has previously warned that AI cameras must not become a substitute for traffic officers stopping suspect motorists who might also be drink driving – an offence that would not be recorded by simply snapping images.
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And Jake Hurfurt, Head of Research and Investigations at privacy campaign group Big Brother Watch said the new contract for Scotland must ensure intrusive surveillance is not used in the place of “human decision making”.
He said: “Drivers should not be monitored and potentially criminalised by AI-powered video analysis. This kind of surveillance is creepy and intrusive, and treats every driver it captures as a potential suspect.
“We should all be able to go about our lives without being analysed by faceless and unaccountable AI.
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“The Information Commissioner has expressed concern about how the adoption of immature biometric surveillance tools could lead to discrimination. Public bodies need to be careful to ensure they are not using privacy-threatening algorithms in place of human decision making.”
But IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy and Standards Nicholas Lyes said the pilot was a “positive step” for road safety in Scotland.
He said: “The use of AI cameras for mobile phone and seatbelt offences has already led to positive changes in behaviour where this has been trialled in south west England.
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“We know that driver distraction and non-seatbelt use are considered part of the police’s ‘fatal five’ and clearly officers cannot always be in all places.
“Embracing new technology which keeps everyone safe is a positive step.”
In a statement, UH Sussex said its mortality rates for the past three years were “markedly below national rates” and that, as one of the larger NHS trusts in England, it would expect to be associated with higher levels of negligence claims. “Our goal is to provide the safest possible maternity care,” it added.
Gold medallist Charlie’s knock-out support comes after it was announced that three Scottish organisations are set to receive a major boost from Games-related giving.
One of the most recognisable faces of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games – Motherwell boxer Charlie Flynn – has backed a new charity fundraising drive linked to the return of the Games to the city.
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Gold medallist Charlie’s knock-out support comes after it was announced that three Scottish organisations are set to receive a major boost from Games-related giving.
Through the Commonwealth Sport Foundation, the official charity of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, 50 per cent of all Games-linked donations will stay in Scotland.
Funds will support Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, Scottish Sports Futures – which uses sport to help young people to be healthier, more confident and resilient – and the Team Scotland Youth Trust, which provides financial awards and educational opportunities to promising young athletes.
The remaining 50 per cent will fund sport-for-development programmes such as GAPS, which aims to remove barriers to participation for Para athletes across the Commonwealth.
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The Commonwealth Sport Foundation was born from the legacy of 2014, when organisers recognised the potential to mobilise real charitable impact through the Games.
One of the defining faces of that magical summer 12 years ago, was Team Scotland lightweight boxing gold medallist Charlie Flynn, who helped launch the partnership at Glasgow Boxing Academy, just across the Clyde from the SEC, where the boxing will be held this summer.
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“The Mailman” captured the nation’s imagination with his gold medal win in front of a raucous home crowd, and his memorable post-bout interviews, including when he thanked supporters who “looked like ants but roared like lions”.
Charlie said: “The Games returning to Glasgow brings back memories of two weeks that changed my life.
“I’ll never forget walking out and hearing that noise. I felt like the whole city was behind me.
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“Glasgow 2014 did incredible things for me, but it also did incredible things for people’s belief in the city.
“But a far bigger moment for me was when my son’s life was saved by an emergency heart operation at Glasgow Children’s Hospital.
“I’m just so pleased that its charity will benefit from people enjoying the Games, alongside two other organisations helping people transform their lives through the power of sport.
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“I guess you could say I’m buzzing like a jar of wasps that the Games are coming back to Glasgow.
“And even more so knowing the impact will be felt long beyond this summer through these incredible charities getting much-needed support.”
Inspired by the impact of fundraising during Glasgow 2014, the Commonwealth Sport Foundation was established to help address some of the world’s greatest challenges and to support sport and development programmes in each host city, with a focus on youth, inclusion and community.
The Foundation has so far raised almost £5 million to help change the lives of athletes and communities.
A paint that cools buildings whilst simultaneously harvesting water from the air has been unveiled by scientists at the University of Sydney, Australia. The nano-engineered polymer was created in conjunction with startup Dewpoint Innovations, and reflects sunlight, cooling buildings by up to 6°C inside.
Not only does it reduce the need for energy-hungry air-conditioning systems, but the porous structure of the coating creates ideal conditions for atmospheric water vapour to condense into droplets on the cooler surface, the way steam condenses on a bathroom mirror. The fresh water dew is then harvested and can be used as water for animals, for horticulture of high-value plants, for use in cooling by misting, or even for use in hydrogen production.
“This technology not only advances the science of cool roof coatings but also opens the door to sustainable, low-cost and decentralised sources of fresh water – a critical need in the face of climate change and growing water scarcity,” said the university’s Prof Chiara Neto. “While humid conditions are ideal [for the paint], dew can form even in arid and semi-arid regions where night-time humidity rises. It’s not about replacing rainfall but supplementing it – providing water where and when other sources become limited.
Main image: Ian Talmacs
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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.
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.
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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
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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.
Bad Bunny used sugar cane as his backdrop, the crop that drove the colonial economies of the Caribbean islands. PA / Alamy
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.
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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.
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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.
Youth gang in mass brawl at McDonalds in Dundee
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.
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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.
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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.”
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
Alan Johnson Social News Reporter
06:38, 12 Feb 2026
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.
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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.”
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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.”
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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”
06:14, 12 Feb 2026Updated 06:15, 12 Feb 2026
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”.
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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.”
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.
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“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.