Jailed terrorist Hashem Abedi has admitted he 'played a full part' in planning and preparation for Manchester Arena bombing, inquiry told

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

direct to your inboxIt's been another busy couple of weeks in the region's courts in the lead up to Christmas.People have been locked up for all manner of  criminal offences  with M.E.N. reporters there to cover the most serious.There was the vicious knifeman who has left three people permanently disfigured and traumatised.Then there was the troubled baker told investors she had 'turned her life around'.

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 inboxA driver who was on 'a cocktail of drugs' has been jailed after crashing his Audi into a biker and leaving her with life-changing injuries. Paul Ashe, of Altrincham Road in Manchester, failed a roadside drugs test after police were called to reports of a crash on the A558 Daresbury Expressway in Runcorn at around 8.15am on September 5 last year.

straight to your inbox every day for freeHere are your Manchester United evening headlines for Monday, December 21.United want to sign Moises Caicedo next month as a part of a new transfer strategy.Caicedo, a 19-year-old midfielder who plays for Independiente del Valle, is a new young target that signifies United new approach to the transfer window that will focus on signing on the most talented teenagers across the world and developing them at the club.MEN Sport understands that United are keen

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

straight to your inbox every day for freeManchester United aim to complete their long-drawn squad overhaul across the next two transfer windows by having two quality players available for each position at the start of next season.The MEN understands United are still in the market for a ready-made winger, a centre-back, a right-back and a defensive midfielder but the expectation is there will be no incomings in the January window.United intend to have settled on their list of summer targets by

straight to your inbox every day for freeManchester United fans have joked the club should make a move to sign Thomas Partey from Arsenal if the club suffer an unlikely relegation from the Premier League.The Gunners have struggled under Mikel Arteta this season, sitting 15th in the table after 12 games played, just five points ahead of Fulham in the bottom three.Arsenal were defeated by Burnley at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, their fourth home defeat of the season already, increasing pressure

straight to your inbox every day for freeJuventus are targeting a January loan move for Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba, according to reports.Pogba has been incessantly linked with a return to Turin in recent transfer windows with Mino Raiola increasing speculation over his future with a statement last week claiming his time at United is 'over'.Raiola touted a return to Italy as a possible destination for his client and urged United to allow him to leave, potentially opening the door to

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 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.

direct to your inbox The Home Secretary has written to both Andy Burnham and Greater Manchester Police to express ‘deep’ concerns about the findings of a damning inspection report into the force - and to demand their plans for improvement.

direct to your inboxStood at the counter of a hardware store waiting to collect an order, this is terrorist Salman Abedi shopping for components to make his deadly bomb.Abedi's movements over five days before the Manchester Arena attack on May 22, 2017, were plotted by police through CCTV.Meanwhile, the detective who led the criminal investigation into the bombing said it would 'always' remain open.Operation Manteline was one of the largest police investigations ever to be carried out in the UK,

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.

direct to your inboxHashem Abedi, the convicted brother of Manchester Arena bomber Salman Abedi, has admitted playing a 'full and knowing part' in the 'planning and preparation' for the attack.The development was revealed at the ongoing public inquiry into the atrocity.Hashem, 23, was found guilty of 22 counts of murder, one count of attempted murder and one count of conspiracy to cause an explosion, following a trial in March.He was subsequently jailed for a minimum of 55 years in August.Hashem

Bury and the daughter of a major drug dealer from Doncaster, Manchester Crown Court heard.