The national transport agency is spending £350,000 on a pilot testing technology which identifies “distracted drivers” using smartphones or not wearing seatbelts.

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.

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

“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.

“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.

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.

The Commonwealth Sport Foundation was born from the legacy of 2014, when organisers recognised the potential to mobilise real charitable impact through the Games.

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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.

“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.

“Glasgow 2014 did incredible things for me, but it also did incredible things for people’s belief in the city.

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“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.

“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.

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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

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.”