Month: March 2023

Nearly £40m for Greater Manchester regeneration projects announced in Budget

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt has today announced the Budget for 2023, with childcare services and energy bills addressed. Since the last spring statement it has been a year of economic turbulence, a rapid rise in the rate of inflation and three newly appointed Chancellors of the Exchequer. Today’s statement is seen as a […]

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100 events on offer at Manchester Irish Festival to mark St Patrick’s Day

The Emerald Isle has arrived in Manchester suburbs with more than 100 events being held to celebrate St Patrick’s Day.   Manchester is home to the biggest Irish community in the UK and this 10-day festival is aimed at promoting Irish events and culture all year round.   Tony Hennigan, from the Manchester Irish Festival, […]

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FIFA confirms 48 teams to feature in the 2026 World Cup with 32 to head to the knockouts

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature a record 48 teams, rather than the usual 32 teams. The revised format is going to have four groups with 12 teams. Mexico and the United States of America are set to host the quadrennial event which is projected to have a record 104 games. Initially, the world […]

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A new ‘Beginning’ at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre

David Eldridge’s tale of the awkwardness of finding new love dazzles at The Exchange, treating audiences to an unrelenting experience full of realism and silence. I’ll hold my hands up from the off: I’m not an avid theatre-goer. That’s not because I dislike the medium. Far from it. It’s just not something that can often […]

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Star-studded line up featuring Grammy nominee announced for Manchester International Festival 2023

Yesterday, Factory International announced the list of artists who will have their work showcased this summer. The event will welcome some of the biggest names in the art world including footballer Juan Mata and Grammy nominee, singer Janelle Monae. Monae will be headlining the programme of music in a three-day residency. The event will take […]

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‘Cost-of-living crisis impairs the mental health of pet owners in the UK’

Pet ownership in UK is becoming a source of stress and impaired mental health due to the rise in the cost-of-living crisis. A recent survey conducted by the national pet charity organisation, Blue Cross, suggests that the cost-of-living pressure and the need to care for pets leaves a negative impact on owners’ mental health. The […]

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Spring Budget 2023 – Jeremy Hunt unveils extra 30 hours free childcare to get parents back to work

In the 2023 Spring Budget, Jeremy Hunt has announced 30 free hours of childcare a week for children from nine months to two-year-olds, which was already in place for three and four year olds in the UK. Mr Hunt also announced changes to Universal Credit childcare payments. The new childcare scheme is a part of […]

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“The problem is not only about the pay” – NHS nurse opens up on how the post covid era has led to the breakdown of UK’s healthcare system

NHS nurses have been fighting for an increase in pay for over two months now. Despite striking for several days over the course of the past few months, the government has not agreed to give a pay rise to the nurses. Mrs Rajana Alakandy, who works at Queen Alexandria Hospital, Portsmouth, is one of the […]

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Greater Manchester Football Wrap (March 17-18th): Rochdale, Salford City, Bolton Wanderers, Wigan Athletic, Stockport County, Altrincham

By Matthew Holmes, Joseph Brayne, Steven Narloch, Isaac Stronge, Callum Sutherland and Jacob Findell It’s a tale of sliding teams this week. Bolton, Salford and Stockport are threatening to slide away from the play-offs, whilst Wigan and Rochdale have been stuck in a permanent slide out of their respective leagues. Surely there has to be […]

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Second vote announced to unite Bury FC and AFC – days after Gigg Lane was vandalised

A second vote to merge Bury FC and Bury AFC has been announced to bring football back to Gigg Lane. Members from FC’s Supporter’s Society and AFC’s Shakers Society will now have until May 5 to cast their vote. Last year, the first attempts to create a unified organisation were blocked, despite a majority of […]

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