'Campus' plans for much-loved 'New Islington Green' among major developments lined up for planning approval in Manchester

straight to your inbox every day for freePaul Scholes says Manchester United's position in the table shows they have the ability to be title challengers this season.Their recent form has prompted plenty of talk about whether United can launch a challenge that was unexpected at the start of the season. Some of United's players have been bullish about their chances and Scholes can see why.

Ariana Grande has brought some Christmas cheer to hundreds of young hospital patients in Manchester.The pop star has surprised hundreds of children at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI) with an Amazon voucher each worth £100.Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, the father of one of the patents said his daughter was “absolutely delighted” with the kind gesture, describing the ‘7 Rings’ singer as “a wonderful human being”.“She said, ‘look dad, I’ve got a

Ariana Grande is proving the people of Manchester are very much in her heart this holiday season.

Ariana Grande had an early Christmas present for young people in Manchester spending the festive season in hospital. It’s been reported that Ariana has gifted every child being treated at Manchester’s Royal Infirmary and the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital with a £100 voucher that they can use on Amazon.

direct to your inboxTwo men from Greater Manchester who won £20,000 on the hit BBC show Race Across the World have donated their prize money to charity.Emon Choudhury, 36, from Stockport, beat four other teams to win the race alongside his nephew Jamiul Choudhury, 25, from Oldham.The pair beat the odds to complete an epic 54-day journey from Mexico City to the south of Argentina for the second series of the BBC2 show.On their travels, the men were visibly moved by the number of homeless children

direct to your inboxGreater Manchester residents can still enjoy Christmas with friends and family - but plans will need to be drastically scaled back.In London and the South East ‘Christmas bubbles’ have been cancelled.Things look a little brighter up here - but Greater Manchester residents have been issued with a stark warning that celebrations must only take place on Christmas Day.Residents across the country are also being warned to “stay local” and avoid travelling outside their areas and

straight to your inbox every day for freeManchester United assistant manager Mike Phelan has sent a message to Kai Rooney upon his signing for the Reds. Kai is the son of United great Wayne Rooney, who starred for the club from 2004 to 2017.Rooney's son may only be 11 years of age but he is already on the books at United after signing this week, with the former England international sharing a picture on Twitter of himself with Kai and his wife Coleen at Old Trafford."Proud day.

straight to your inboxManchester City have given a Christmas present to every primary school kid in East Manchester and every child in in care across the whole city.Staff, players and coaches have paid for, wrapped and delivered more than 5,500 gifts.And with the coronavirus pandemic meaning the traditional Christmas visits to hospitals are off the cards, stars including Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne have been video calling patients on children's wards at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital,

straight to your inbox every day for freeEdinson Cavani could miss Manchester United's first visit of Leeds United in nearly 11 years due to a groin injury.Cavani, 33, has missed the last three matches since he was forced off at half-time in United's win at West Ham on December 5.The Uruguayan has resumed light training this week but faces a three-match domestic suspension over a Football Association misconduct charge that alleges he 'brought the game into disrepute' over an Instagram post.After

direct to your inboxControversial plans to build an office ‘campus’ on a much-loved green space in Ancoats have been approved despite overwhelming opposition from the local community.More than 5,000 people signed a petition opposing any development on the large patch of grass near New Islington tram stop, known locally as ‘New Islington Green’.The five-acre plot of land was sold by Manchester council last year on the condition that any future development included a ‘significant area of public

straight to your inbox every day for freeAndy Cole has declared himself a big fan of Edinson Cavani - and hopes the striker can share his knowledge of the game with his Manchester United team-mates.Cavani joined United on a free transfer at the end of the summer transfer window to give manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer another attacking option.

direct to your inboxCoronavirus has brought heartache to thousands of families across Greater Manchester.More than 3,800 people have died in our region's hospitals alone. And tragically, this number is continuing to rise.Behind the Covid-19 death statistics that we publish each day are human beings who all had stories to tell.

direct to your inboxTop-of-the-table Manchester United travel to Reading on Sunday as Casey Stoney’s side aim to keep up their unbeaten start to the Women’s Super League season.The Reds are unbeaten in their previous two encounters against the Royals (W1 D1), with a 1-1 draw being played out in Reading last year.

direct to your inboxTwenty-six more people have died from coronavirus in Greater Manchester's hospitals.The region's hospital death toll has risen to 3,900, the latest NHS figures show.Nine more Covid-related deaths were recorded by Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust in its 24 hour data.The trust runs the Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI), Wythenshawe Hospital, the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital and Saint Mary's hospital.Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust confirmed five new deaths.

Sign up for our What's On newsletter - for all the latest whether you're staying in or heading out and aboutA new vegan pizza restaurant is almost ready to open its doors in the Northern Quarter after snapping up the old Earth Cafe site.Four Side pizza - named because of the Detroit-style square pizzas it will serve - has moved into the basement unit left vacant by the decades-old cafe.The new concept comes from Dan Hope, formerly of Firebird Hope and also the man behind vegan doughnut truck

direct to your inboxAround 400 new homes, including affordable housing inside a historic landmark, are proposed as part of the continued transformation of Ancoats and New Islington.A ‘mobility hub’ with shared car and cycle parking, as well as new commercial and green spaces, also form part of proposals by Manchester council and housing providers.Ancoats, hailed as the world's first industrial suburb on the eastern fringes of Manchester city centre, has undergone major regeneration since the

Parklife will push back its dates from its usual slot in June to take place on September 11 and 12.Formed from the ashes of Joy Division in 1980, New Order went on to become one of the most influential electronic acts of all time with enduring hits including True Faith and Blue Monday.The band released their latest single, Be A Rebel, in September - their first new music since 2015's critically-acclaimed album Music Complete.New Order said: “The connection between ourselves and Manchester has

direct to your inboxEighteen more people have died from coronavirus in Greater Manchester's hospitals.The region's hospital death toll has now risen to 3,787, the latest NHS figures show.Thirteen new deaths were recorded at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, the organisation in charge of the Manchester Royal Infirmary, Wythenshawe Hospital, Saint Mary's and the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital.Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust confirmed four new deaths.