The 10 big Manchester developments that could be given the green light this week

Matt Hancock told aides he wanted to “frighten the pants off everyone” about the Kent variant of Covid to ensure compliance with lockdown rules, leaked messages have revealed. The latest set of WhatsApp exchanges show the then-health secretary and others discussing how to use an announcement about the variant to scare the public into changing their behaviour. The messages, among 100,000 passed to the Telegraph by journalist Isabel Oakeshott, show cabinet secretary Simon Case suggested in January 2021 that the “fear” factor would be “vital”.

The family and friends of three women and two men are appealing for help to find them after they went missing following a night out in the early hours of Saturday (March 4).

A community fridge aiming to help Greater Manchester families during the cost of living crisis has opened in Oldham, gaining the support of Andy Burnham and Oldham Council Leader, Amanda Chadderton.

Hundreds of young people across Greater Manchester are to get free cycle hire, in a new promotion announced by Mayor Andy Burnham. The first 1,000 Our Pass members to sign up for the offer will get 50 minutes free 'bee bike' hire in March, April and May.

Former education secretary Sir Gavin Williamson accused teaching unions of 'hating work' and described them as 'a bunch of absolute arses' during the coronavirus pandemic.

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Many of Greater Manchester's levelling up fund bids were 'guaranteed to fail' as the Government changed the selection criteria after applications had been received, councillors have heard. In January, Greater Manchester missed out on more than £276m of Levelling Up money in the latest round of funding announced by the government.

Calls to make council tax cheaper for some of the poorest Mancunians have been voted down. The Lib Dems' proposal to increase the maximum discount on council tax bills in Manchester from 82.5 pc to 85 pc has been rejected.

Two new fire stations are to be built as part of a £38m investment by Greater Manchester's brigade. They would be constructed on the existing sites of the Whitefield and Blackley stations.

People in Stockport will see their council tax bills rise by more than 4 per cent from April after town hall bosses passed a ‘robust’ budget for the year ahead.

Manchester United booked their place in their last-16 of the Europa League with a 2-1 win over Barcelona in the second-leg of their knockout round play-off tie at Old Trafford on Thursday night, sealing a 4-3 aggregate triumph.

Plans for the multi-million refurbishment of Stretford Leisure Centre have been approved by Trafford council. The state-of-the-art proposals to totally transform the centre on Chester Road in the town were rubber-stamped by members of the council’s executive.

A seven-year-old boy was rushed to hospital after falling 30ft onto a stone path at a popular beauty spot near Bolton.

These are the horrifying conditions a mum claims she had to live with in her city centre apartment block for months.

A nine-year-old girl has been making a difference in the community of Heywood through acts of kindness and generosity.

Seven bus services across Greater Manchester have been saved as transport bosses announce funding worth £2.5m to keep the routes running. It follows Diamond's decision to cut bus services after missing out on a major contract.

Disney+ has canceled the John Stamos-led sports comedy-drama Big Shot, as well as The Mighty Ducks: Changers, both after two seasons, Deadline has confirmed.

Council taxpayers in Bolton will see their total bills rise by just over four per cent from April after the town hall’s budget was agreed for the next year. Bolton’s 2023/24 budget was approved on Thursday (February 15) at a meeting of the full council.

Keep up to date with all the big stories from across Greater Manchester in the daily Mancunian Way newsletter. You can receive the newsletter direct to your inbox every weekday by signing up right here.

Manchester is spoilt for choice when it comes to restaurants serving a variety of cuisines, but only a handful have stood the test of time and welcomed diners for decades.