Police and the ambulance service were called to Baliol Green around 3.45pm on Saturday (February 14) after reports the boy was assaulted.

The 13-year-old was taken to hospital as a precaution, and left “shaken” by the attack.

Durham Police confirmed an investigation is now underway.

A force spokesperson said: “Any witnesses to the incident are asked to call Durham Constabulary on 101, quoting incident number 265 of February 14.”

Australia’s hopes of reaching the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup are all but over after Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka hit a brilliant unbeaten 100 to condemn them to an eight-wicket defeat in Pallekele.

Stunned by Zimbabwe in their second outing on Friday, Australia needed a win to keep their qualification fate in their own hands but it is Sri Lanka who march into the next round.

For Australia to sneak through as the second-placed team from their group, they now need Zimbabwe to lose both of their remaining matches against Ireland and Sri Lanka and then to defeat Oman themselves which would bring net run-rate into play.

Australia’s predicament came from their inability to convert a good start from their openers Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh as they set the home side a target of 182 after a collapse in the second half of their innings.

Despite the feeling Sri Lanka could have a complicated chase on their hands because of a pitch which was slowing down, they eased to victory with the Australian bowling attack lacking any bite in the absence of injured Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.

And the Sri Lanka duo of Nissanka and Kusal Mendis took full advantage.

With wicketkeeper Mendis providing perfect support with a composed 51 from 38 balls, Nissanka brought up his century in 52 balls to take his side past the finish line with an innings that blended brute power and finesse.

Australia had Marsh return after recovering from a groin injury that forced him out of the first two matches and the returning skipper gave his side a solid platform batting alongside Head, who hit a long-overdue half-century off 27 balls.

They powered Australia to 104-0 in 8.2 overs before Head departed for 59 and it marked the beginning of dramatic downturn.

Marsh followed him shortly with a brisk 54 as they unravelled alarmingly to be bundled out for 181, losing their final five wickets in the space of just seven runs and 14 balls.

With Sri Lanka chasing down the target with ease, the Australians are left clinging to only the slimmest mathematical hope and will watch nervously as Zimbabwe face Ireland on Tuesday.

Anthony Boyle leads the cast of the award-winning Belfast-set drama, with Jessica Reynolds and House of Guinness stars joining the Channel 4 adaptation

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Outlander star Jessica Reynolds has signed on to the impressive ensemble cast of a highly anticipated new British drama.

Channel 4 has unveiled the stellar line-up for Close to Home, based on Michael Magee’s acclaimed debut novel of the same name.

The book, which won both the 2023 Rooney Prize for Irish Literature and the Nero Prize for Debut Fiction 2024, is set in Belfast and chronicles a young man’s return home from university.

The synopsis reads: “Back from university and back into old habits. Back on the mad all-nighters, the borrowed tenners and missing rent, the casual jobs that always fall through.

“Back with his brother, his ma and all the things they never talk about. Back where the promised prosperity of peacetime has yet to arrive and every street has a story to tell”, reports the Scottish Daily Express.

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“One night, Sean assaults a stranger at a party and everything is tipped into chaos.”

House of Guinness star Anthony Boyle will take the lead role as Sean, reuniting with his co-star from the Steven Knight-created period drama, Seamus O’Hara, who plays Anthony.

Reynolds, who also appeared in House of Guinness as Christine O’Madden, alongside roles in A Woman of Substance and Kneecap, will take on the part of Mairéad, whilst Trespasses’ Oisín Thompson has been cast as Ryan.

Many viewers will remember Reynolds best from her portrayal of Malva Christie in Outlander’s sixth series, where she sparked chaos within the Fraser family by claiming Jamie (Sam Heughan) had fathered her child, infuriating his wife Claire (Caitriona Balfe).

Author Magee expressed his excitement about Channel 4’s eagerly awaited adaptation: “Developing Close to Home for television has been an intensely fulfilling creative experience, a dream come true, really, and I’m incredibly grateful to Michael Dawson and Clare Dwyer Hogg for all the work they’ve done with me on the scripts, and to Diarmuid Goggins and Gemma Boswell and the whole team at Element and Channel 4 for the passion and creative energy they’ve put into bringing this story to life.”

Gemma Boswell, Commissioner Editor for Channel 4, chimed in: “It is a privilege to bring Mick’s award-winning novel to Channel 4. Close To Home explores the emotionally rich landscape of West Belfast through the eyes of Sean, played by the fantastic Anthony Boyle. We’re delighted to showcase Mick’s beautiful writing with this timely and evocative story of a young generation finding their place in the world.”

Lastly, Executive Producer Michael Dawson commented: “In his debut novel, Mick has captured a compelling vision of Belfast life, brimming with anarchic energy, humanity and mischief.

“Diarmuid Goggins is the perfect filmmaker to bring this to the screen; his ability to fuse bold, kinetic visuals with a raw, grounded realism is exactly what this story demands.

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“Together with the indomitable Anthony Boyle and our incredible partners at Channel 4, Fremantle, NI Screen, and Screen Ireland, we are set to deliver a piece of television that is as dynamic, loud, and uncompromising as the city itself.”

Close to Home will be helmed by director Diarmuid Goggins (Code of Silence) and produced by the BAFTA-winning Element Pictures, a Fremantle company behind Normal People and Bugonia.

Whilst the series does not yet have a confirmed release date, filming is due to commence in Belfast from this month.

Outlander season 8 premieres Friday, 6th March on Starz and will be available to stream on MGM+ via Prime Video. Close to Home will release at a later date on Channel 4.

ITV’s Betrayal finale airs tonight with viewers already asking if there will be another series.

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Betrayal is drawing to a close and viewers are already wondering whether the ITV espionage thriller will return for another season.

Endeavour star Shaun Evans takes centre stage in this gripping four-part series, portraying MI5 officer John who uncovers an imminent attack on British soil.

His complex inquiry, coupled with marital turmoil at home, has delivered riveting television over the past fortnight, with the concluding episode broadcasting tonight, Monday, February 16, on ITV.

Will Betrayal return for a second series?

At present, there has been no official announcement regarding Betrayal’s renewal for a second series.

For viewers who have already devoured the drama on ITVX, this inaugural series does conclude the narrative, leaving no significant unresolved threads for Betrayal to explore in a potential follow-up.

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Nevertheless, this doesn’t automatically rule out Betrayal’s comeback, as a second series could instead centre on John becoming embroiled in other high-stakes investigations.

There’s also the matter of John’s marriage to Claire (Romola Garai) remaining uncertain in the closing moments as they resumed couples’ therapy.

Actor Shaun Evans revealed that whilst no plans exist for another series, additional episodes could materialise if Betrayal resonates with home audiences.

“We set out to make a four-parter which was strong and felt like it had no filler, that it wasn’t hanging around, that it was tight and concise, and that the story was really strong,” he told Radio Times.

“And then you offer that to the world, and if there’s an appetite for more, then we will get together and discuss whether there’s more story to tell.

“But it wasn’t like, ‘This is a brilliant setup for running and running and running’.

“I think you’re on a hiding to nothing if you do that. To me, it feels quite cynical.”

For the time being, however, viewers will simply have to remain patient to discover whether additional episodes are in the pipeline.

Whilst Betrayal’s complete boxset has been available to stream on ITVX since last week, its concluding episode will premiere this evening, Monday, February 16, on ITV.

But can Mehreen and General Qasem Asadi (Omid Djalili) be relied upon, or could a potentially fatal attack actually be on its way?

Betrayal is available to watch on ITVX.

‘There’s been bother before, so I’m not exactly surprised about it’

“It’s usually a nice, peaceful street…” one neighbour says in a faceless voice through a Ring doorbell. “There used to be a lot of commotion, but not so much anymore.

The words come as, just down the street, the window of a modern home is peppered with bullet holes. Around eight.

Through the pouring rain, the pane of glass next to it can be seen completely smashed, the window frame now nearly empty, after a gunman opened fire on the house. The shooting happened on School House Road yesterday (Sunday, February 15).

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A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said officers were initially called to reports of criminal damage at a property at around 1pm. But neighbours say they heard a series of gunshots in the early hours of the morning, around 5am.

Thankfully, no injuries have been reported, but investigations are now underway. The home was a hive of police activity last night, and again this morning.

The street was taped off, along with Roundthorn Road, which the houses back on to. Crime scene investigators in white suits inspected the doorway, before going inside the house and not emerging out for hours.

They were spotted taking pictures of the blasted windows, and a host of police cars and vans patrolled the police tape roping off the area.

Neighbours told the Manchester Evening News that there used to be trouble on the small street, but things had more recently calmed down until now. One man said: “There’s only around 15 or 16 properties, it’s a small close.

“But there’s been bother before, so I’m not exactly surprised about it. It had calmed down, and has been quite safe.

“Hopefully, with police here, I don’t need to worry about things getting bad again.”

Police are urging anyone with information on the incident to come forward. In a statement, a GMP spokesperson said: “At around 1pm yesterday (Sunday 15 February 2026), we were called to reports of criminal damage at an address on School House Road in Oldham.

“Officers attended the scene and confirmed that there had been a firearms discharge.

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“A scene remains in place whilst we continue our enquiries and thankfully, no injuries have been reported. Investigations are ongoing.

“We are appealing for witnesses or any information about this incident – anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage that could assist our investigation should contact us on 101 quoting log 1397 of 15/02/2026.

“You can also report information via LiveChat on our website or through the independent charity Crimestoppers – anonymously – on 0800 555 111.”

Police also found seven people inside the car

A car suspected of being used in hare coursing has been seized after being stopped by police in Whittlesey. Cambridgeshire Police had information that it had previously been used for hare coursing.

Police stopped the car in Briggate West in Whittlesey on Saturday February, 14 at around 8.45am where police found seven occupants inside the car.

The car was seized and the driver was reported for having no insurance, no licence and for carrying passengers in a manner than was likely to cause harm.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police said: “Hare coursing remains a priority for us, and we will continue to address the issue by targeting offenders and working with our rural communities. If you believe hare coursing is taking place, always call 999.”

Journey through the dangers of the reproductive system in a new indie game where you play as a bespectacled sperm, in the ultimate race for life.

Indie games have the freedom to explore avenues AAA publishers would fear to tread, between roguelite cat breeding in Mewgenics and slapping the residents of Barnsworth on the buttocks in Thank Goodness You’re Here!

A new example of the noble indie spirit is a fantastical sperm simulator, where you swim through the human reproductive system in order to create new life. The best part? It’s called Become.

As you can see in the trailer, you’re controlling one of millions of sperm and (per the Steam description) you have to ‘evolve your cell to be the fastest, toughest, and most efficient swimmer to achieve the miracle of life’.

Just as you’d hope, it’s all pretty tongue-in-cheek, with references to being ‘deep inside the balls’ and dramatic zoom outs of soiled socks. The trailer doesn’t show much gameplay wise, but it looks you’ll be dodging antibodies, acidic baths, and collecting sugars and proteins to unlock new abilities.

Despite all the jokes the basics actually seem fairly realistic, although probably not quite enough to be used as an educational tool.

There is some silly semen customisation too, whether you fancy a bespectacled baby maker or rooting-tootin’ ejaculate in a cowboy hat. Sadly, there’s no ability to plaster your Mii faces onto your seed.

Become promises to be a short single-player experience, at two-to-three hours in length, and it’s set to be released on Steam in 2026. It sounds like this isn’t locked in stone though, with a note at the end of the trailer stating: ‘Coming 2026 if I don’t f*** it up.’

The game is created by solo developer Valentin Wirth. This is their first indie game, but they previously worked on the cinematics for Mafia 3, Mafia: Definitive Edition, and, er… Crime Boss: Rockay City starring Chuck Norris and Vanilla Ice.

Beyond the adventures of spunk, there’s a vast load of indie games still to come in 2026. These range from Mina The Hollower, Mouse: P.I. For Hire, Replaced, to Big Walk from the creators of Untitled Goose Game.

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Barack Obama casually revealing that the truth is (maybe) out there hints at a big ‘twist’ to come in the search for alien life, UFO experts say.

The former US President was asked on Saturday whether he believes aliens are real.

‘They’re real, but I haven’t seen them. They are not being kept in Area 51,’ he told YouTuber and podcast host Brian Tyler Cohen.

Obama clarified in an Instagram post that his remarks weren’t to be taken too seriously, though said ‘statistically’ it’s likely extraterrestrial life exists.

He added: ‘But the distances between solar systems are so great that the chances we’ve been visited by aliens is low, and I saw no evidence during my presidency that extraterrestrials have made contact with us. Really!’

A 2024 report by the Pentagon found no evidence of an alien cover-up, though it said that the belief that the government is hiding aliens will persist.

Nick Pope, who investigated UFOs for the British Ministry of Defence in the 1990s, said Obama’s comments have only intensified this belief.

‘Much of the UFO community has taken this as quasi-official confirmation of an extraterrestrial reality,’ Pope told Metro.

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He added that rumours are swirling of a ‘disclosure’ event, where long-classified files around what are now called Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena will be released.

‘Obama’s comments are being seen as part of an acclimatisation campaign, readying people ahead of a definitive, formal announcement,’ Pope said.

‘Whatever the truth, Obama’s comments have reignited the debate about UFOs, extraterrestrials, and what governments might know about all this.

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‘Hang onto your hats: there are probably further twists to this tale ahead.’

UFOlogist Mark Christopher Lee is among those expecting a ‘twist’.

The filmmaker said many US presidents have seemingly had close encounters of the third kind, such as Ronald Reagan in 1974.

The then-California governor claimed he saw a zigzagging white light while aboard a plane flying over Bakersfield.  

Nevertheless, Lee stressed that the government has always been tight-lipped about what it knows, if anything, about extraterrestrial beings.

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UFOs have remained a mystery even after a former intelligence official testified in 2024 that the government was holding ‘nonhuman’ bodies.

Current US President Donald Trump has said that, as much as aliens are sometimes on his mind, he personally doesn’t believe in them.

Lee said: ‘That’s why there may be genuinely historic developments ahead from the current administration.

‘I have been informed by a reliable source close to President Trump that he has already prepared a full UFO disclosure speech and plans to deliver it on July 8.’

Yet Avi Loeb, a Harvard astrophysicist, said the search for life beyond our blue skies isn’t just what presidents and intelligence officials would know.

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Rather, it’s ‘a scientific question that can be best answered openly within the mainstream of science’, such as interstellar visitors like 3I/ATLAS.

Loeb speculated that the solar system trespasser, a comet that drifted past Earth last year, may have been sent by aliens.

Formerly known as A11pI3Z, 3I/ATLAS is only the third interstellar visitor to be discovered passing through our corner of the galaxy.

Studying the next one could bring humanity one step closer to finding out if we’re alone or not in the universe.

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‘Perhaps one day, the State of the Union address by the US President will include an official statement on the “State of the Universe”,’ Loeb added.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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Wayne Rooney will be watching the FA Cup with pride as his brother John aims to continue a fairytale run with Macclesfield against Brentford

Wayne Rooney will hope brother John can continue his fairytale FA Cup run with Macclesfield FC as they take on Brentford in the fourth round. The brothers have been in football for years, with one somewhat more successful as a player.

Former Manchester United star Wayne couldn’t hide his emotions as he watched John defeat Premier League side Crystal Palace 2-1 in the FA Cup third round. National League North side Macclesfield took an unbelievable 2-0 lead against the cup holders and held on to go through to the next round despite a late Palace goal, securing a legacy as one of many ‘giant-killers’ in the cup competition.

The ex-England international had been doing punditry for the BBC and was visibly close to tears after the game. He told the BBC: “I am getting emotional to see my younger brother achieve this. He has not long been in management.

“To get through to the fourth round of the FA Cup, and to beat Crystal Palace a Premier League team? I am so proud of him.”

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Praising John’s calm demeanour during the match, Rooney added: “He did. I don’t know how! It’s such an achievement, absolutely superb.”

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The Macclesfield boss was similarly emotional after the historic achievement. John said: “I am the same. … Late in the game we thought about slowing it down. I never thought we’d be in that situation. I can’t get my head around it.”

The Rooneys grew up in the Croxteth area of Liverpool, with Wayne the eldest brother between himself, John and Graham. The current Macclesfield boss, like Wayne, began his career at Everton, but didn’t have the same trajectory throughout his professional journey in football.

While Wayne rubbed shoulders with icons and became one himself at Manchester United, John spent his career in the MLS and lower leagues in England. He played for Orlando City, Barnsley, Stockport County and the team he now manages, Macclesfield.

Despite never reaching the same heights as his brother while playing, John has certainly enjoyed a fast introduction to life in football management. The 35-year-old retired last year and almost immediately moved into coaching, taking over at Macclesfield from Robbie Savage after hanging his boots up at the club on the same day.

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He has guided the side to 7th in the National League North table and famously led them to a 2-1 win over Palace in the FA Cup. While the pair tend to keep their personal relationship under wraps, Wayne showed a more sensitive side to his bond with John after his FA Cup upset.

The 40-year-old posted his congratulations on social media to John, writing on Facebook: “Couldn’t be any prouder of my brother John. Well done to everyone at Macclesfield. Unbelievable achievement and more than deserved.”

Wayne will be watching on with bated breath as his younger sibling takes on yet another Premier League outfit in the shape of Brentford on Monday night. A place in the fifth round of the FA Cup awaits one of them and the Rooney family will be hoping Macclesfield can further their dream run in the historic competition.

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