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Failsworth Community Fridge stocks up festive favourites for families in need

Helen Greaney
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Failsworth Community Fridge stocks up festive favourites for families in need

McCarthy Stone Foundation has donated £500 to help ensure Christmas dinner essentials get to those in need this festive season.

Thanks to the outstanding voluntary efforts of the Failsworth Community Fridge, run by the Co-op Academy in Failsworth, local people can visit if they need help to access food or basic hygiene products.

Currently, the Community Fridge supports around 30 households each week and expects this number to increase on the run up to Christmas as more people struggle with festive costs.

The Community Fridge will use the £500 donated by The McCarthy Stone Foundation – which supports grassroots, volunteer led charitable causes that promote the health and wellbeing of older people – to stock up on Christmas dinner hampers, complete with turkey and all the trimmings, so that families don’t have to miss out this December.

Timely donation

Jack Ryan, community engagement officer at Co-op Academy Failsworth, said: “We are really grateful to the McCarthy Stone Foundation for this timely donation. There are so many families in the area who are in desperate need of help through the provision of food and other items, but also older people who are isolated and struggle to access food. This is only increasing as we head into the Christmas season. So many people in today’s society face financial difficulties and this has got worse recently due to soaring prices.

“The donation is an enormous help towards our aim of ensuring nobody in the local area goes without a meal on Christmas.”

McCarthy Stone Foundation is the independent, registered charity of the UK’s leading developer and manager of retirement communities, McCarthy Stone, which has a new Retirement Living development under construction on Ashton Road West.

The Foundation is hoping to bring some festive cheer those who may be struggling in the run up to the festivities.

Declan Fishwick, business development manager at McCarthy Stone added: “We really wanted to show our support to the community of Failsworth, many of whom are facing such difficult times. Christmas is a time of year that should be enjoyed by everyone, no matter what their circumstances are.

“The Community Fridge is such a wonderful community project and it’s clear to see the work that goes in to support local families and individuals, week after week. We are thrilled that our donation will really make a difference at a key time of year.”

Currently under construction, Sydney Grange, will boast a collection of low-maintenance, energy efficient and affordable privately owned apartments, designed to support over-60s to make the most of their retirement years.

Manchester votes THIS Christmas dinner item as its festive favourite

Helen Greaney
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Manchester votes THIS Christmas dinner item as its festive favourite

Tasty turkey, pigs in blankets, sausagemeat, roasties, cranberry sauce, lashings of gravy and Yorkshire puddings (although that is debatable in some parts)… can only mean one thing.

Christmas dinner is a highly anticipated part of the holiday season, when families and friends gather to enjoy good food.

But which foods reign supreme and which dishes would we rather ditch?

A new survey, by The Gift Of Oil, quizzed Brits about their favourite parts of a Christmas dinner.

According to the results, one of the more modern Christmas dinner staples, pigs in blankets, is a firm favourite for three UK cities; Leeds (63%), Sheffield (79%) and Southampton (72%).

Cardiff (76%) and Edinburgh (52%) simply can’t imagine a Christmas dinner without gravy, placing the sauce above any actual food items.

Family favourites

Liverpool (73%) and Bristol (58%) both chose stuffing as their ultimate treat.

But a whopping six cities remained totally traditional, loving the star of the show, the golden turkey.

Birmingham (58%), Glasgow (48%), London (53%), Manchester (48%), Norwich (66%) and Nottingham(63%) all favoured the big bird as the best item on the menu.

But it was those in Belfast who favoured mash potatoes and Newcastle opted for Yorkshire puddings as their top menu choice.

Surprisingly, while taking up the majority of the plate, not a single vegetable made the top spot for any city.

Looking more specifically at the greens, the survey found each city’s favourite veg and Brussel sprouts landed the top spot for 10 cities in total! Other popular vegetables included carrots, parsnips and mashed potatoes.

Baked beans and peas

In addition to this, one in ten (10%) from Belfast like to have baked beans on their Christmas dinner and 13% of Liverpudlians would have mushy peas.

Phil Bianchi, founder of The Gift Of Oil, said: “Each region is known for its local delicacies and it’s interesting to see how this plays out with the traditional Christmas Dinner. Manchester chose turkey as the number one and it’s clear to see why! This festive favourite simply cannot be left off the menu.

“Our research also showed that GenZ are moving away from traditional dishes and looking for new ways to improve iconic Christmas dinners. We would recommend swapping duck fat roast potatoes for olive oil roasties, honey carrots for balsamic carrots and buttery mash for truffle mash!”

Red Star Belgrade v Manchester City: Preview, expected line-ups, how to watch and prediction

Jon Fisher
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Red Star Belgrade v Manchester City: Preview, expected line-ups, how to watch and prediction

The State of Play

Manchester City have already qualified for the knockout stages as group winners after taking maximum points from their five games so far. The 3-2 win at home to RB Leipzig – secured after City were 2-0 down – last time out guaranteed Pep Guardiola’s men top spot.

Red Star Belgrade have struggled, failing to win a single game. They will finish fourth and be eliminated from European competition.

Read our other football stories here
Manchester United’s dressing room is not ‘toxic’, says Scott McTominay
Manchester United v Bayern Munich: Preview, expected line-ups and prediction
Tuchel sympathises with Ten Hag, but no Bayern favours in store for Manchester United

The wider narrative surrounding the game focuses on City. Their four-game winless run in the Premier League ended on Sunday when they came from behind to win 2-1 at Luton. It wasn’t always convincing, although much improved in the second half, and Guardiola’s team still have questions to answer domestically before they fly off to the Club World Cup.

Red Star are top of the Serbian SuperLiga but that has not stopped speculation surrounding the future of head coach Barak Bakhar who is likely to be sacked during the upcoming Christmas break.

Team News

The beauty of qualifying with a game to spare means Guardiola can rest as many players as he wishes, with Crystal Palace due at the Etihad on Saturday before the squad fly off to Saudi Arabia. When they return from the Middle East, it’s the hectic Christmas period, so expect to see fringe players and reserves on show in Serbia.

Erling Haaland will definitely not travel with the squad due to a foot injury sustained prior to the Luton game while the likes of Kyle Walker, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva are likely to be given the night off.

Red Star have no such worries and will name their strongest possible side for the visit of the European champions.

Expected line-ups

Red Star: Glazer; Nedeljkovic, Dragovic, Djiga, Rodic; Stamenic, Mijailovic; Lucic, Hwang, Ivanic; Bukari

Manchester City: Ortega; Lewis, Stones, Gvardiol, Sergio Gomez; Phillips, Kovacic; Bobb, Matheus Nunes, Grealish; Alvarez

What they said

Red Star coach Barak Bakhar on his team finishing bottom
“The fault lies with all of us. It is a failure that we finished last in the group.”

Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden on the luxury of having already qualified
“It’s such a nice feeling to go into the last game [as group winners].
“We deserve to be in the position we are, so we can enjoy ourselves and not feel any pressure. It’s always nice when you qualify early and the pressure isn’t on in the last game.”

When and how to watch

The game takes place at the Stadion Rajko Mitic in Belgrade, kicking off at 1745 UK time. It can be viewed in the UK on TNT Sports.

Prediction

Red Star are formidable at home in domestic competition. Their 3-1 win against Mladost Lucani means they have gone 122 home league matches without defeat. However, they have yet to win on their own turf in the Champions League, drawing with Young Boys and losing to RB Leipzig. City will be much changed but will still be too good on the night.
Away win!

Police appeal after body found in Salford

Helen Greaney
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Police appeal after body found in Salford

Police are appealing for information regarding a suspicious death of a man in Salford.

Officers were called to a property in Great Cheetham Street at around 2.35am on Thursday, where they found a body of a man after searching the surrounding area of the property.

The body was located on the land between Great Cheetham Street West, and Salford and Broughton Cricket & Football Club.

The body has not been formally identified yet.

Two men were arrested at the scene with a further man later arrested, all on suspicion of murder.

They have been released on bail pending further investigation.

“Distressing time”

Detective chief inspector Rachel Smith from GMP’s Major Incident Team said: “Firstly, I would like to reassure the public that we are working hard to ascertain the full details that led to a man being found deceased.

“This is undoubtedly a very distressing time for the residents in the Salford area.

“Everything is being done to make a formal identification of the man, so we can inform their family and they can be laid to rest.

“If you know anything that might assist us with our investigation, please do get in touch.”

Police are appealing to anyone with any information, relevant footage such as mobile, doorbell, CCTV or dashcam to contact them on 0161 856 3635, quoting log number 218 of 07/12/2023.

They can also call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Chris Boyd, Alarm and Security Expert, Highlights the Impact of New Burglary Technologies on Property Protection

News Desk
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Chris Boyd, Alarm and Security Expert, Highlights the Impact of New Burglary Technologies on Property Protection

The year 2022/2023 saw England and Wales report an alarming 191,490 house burglaries – a daily average of 525 break-ins, or one every 165 seconds. This stark reality underscores the necessity for businesses and families to review their security arrangements and stay updated on defensive strategies.

NSW UK‘s founder, Chris Boyd, a provider of diverse CCTV and burglary systems, discusses the importance of having effective security in place.

Advancements in Security Tech

CCTV technology has undergone significant transformations, particularly in the last decade, resulting in high-quality footage that’s a far cry from the blurry images once typical on Crime Stoppers. Combining CCTV systems with other security measures like burglar alarms is crucial for deterring criminal activities at both homes and workplaces.

Chris Boyd explains the technical prowess at NSW UK: “Every CCTV system we build and install has the ability to capture high-definition footage. In a court of law, CCTV footage from a professionally built system may be included as evidence, which can protect communities more efficiently.”

He adds, “Analogue and digital CCTV systems are the two varieties that are accessible. Digital CCTV systems are relatively new, although analogue CCTV systems have been around for a while. Internet Protocol (IP) is the newest technology utilised in digital CCTV systems. IP cameras can be hardwired or wireless, and to operate, they can even use sim cards or wifi at home.”

Security technology advancements have given homeowners and businesses essential peace of mind. The ability to monitor properties remotely via web browsers or smartphone apps has proven effective in deterring crime and aiding in criminal identification.

He concludes with advice: “CCTV systems, whether digital or analogue, each offer benefits and drawbacks. Selecting the correct system can be difficult, so it’s important to do your homework and pick a company that has the best expertise, carefully trains its employees, and has the newest designs and can assist you along the way. Although this may be more expensive, it’s better to avoid going with the less expensive option that could end up costing much more if properties are broken into later.”

Chris also emphasises the significance of regular maintenance: “Every part of a protective system is brand-new and fully functional when it is installed. The components of an alarm may wear out with time and frequent use. When this occurs, safety issues may also surface in addition to the alarm’s decreased effectiveness. This is the reason why maintaining systems is crucial for both financial and safety reasons. This can also be accomplished through the business you chose; NSW UK has the best-trained personnel to install and support your alarms and systems in addition to providing ongoing maintenance.”

Learn more about NSW UK’s CCTV and tech services here.

Cash Haleem’s Book Foundry and Book Technologies Inc. Transform Global Book Market

News Desk
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Cash Haleem’s Book Foundry and Book Technologies Inc. Transform Global Book Market

Cash Haleem’s Book Foundry, based in Somerset, UK, in partnership with Book Technologies Inc., is redefining the global book sales landscape, offering readers an extensive range of titles and enhanced services.

Established on January 5th, 2018, by Cash Haleem, Book Foundry has rapidly evolved into a key online platform for book enthusiasts worldwide, providing a vast array of diverse literature. With its innovative approach and global reach, Book Foundry has become synonymous with digital literary platforms’ progress and accessibility.

Since its inception, Book Foundry has made significant strides in the literary world. It boasts an impressive inventory of 21,000,000 titles, including 13,000,000 in English and 8,000,000 in other languages. Moreover, its free international shipping to over 170 countries underscores its commitment to making literature globally accessible.

Book Technologies Inc., a brainchild of Cash Haleem, is the driving force behind Book Foundry. Founded on June 1st, 2023, it functions as the parent company, enhancing Book Foundry’s reach and services. This strategic collaboration caters to a wide range of literary needs for readers, authors, publishers, and retailers.

Book Foundry anticipates a significant relaunch in 2024, broadening its services to include book printing, special edition publishing, and the introduction of e-books and audiobooks. This expansion reflects the platform’s dedication to adapting to changing reader preferences.

The brand identity of Book Foundry, under the unified term “Bookfoundry,” mirrors iconic brands like “Facebook.” This branding approach reflects Cash Haleem’s vision of creating a “World of Books” that champions diversity and connectivity.

Furthermore, Book Technologies Inc. plays a vital role in reinforcing Book Foundry’s brand and services within the literary market. This synergistic effort is geared towards providing an all-encompassing solution for the book industry’s varied stakeholders.

A notable development is the upcoming launch of the British National Call Line by Book Technologies Inc., aimed at enhancing global consumer connections. This hotline will facilitate easier access to books, complemented by Book Foundry’s commitment to free international shipping to over 170 countries. The hotline service, managed by skilled call handlers, promises efficient processing and delivery, thus elevating Book Foundry’s global presence and customer satisfaction.

Mary Earps England shirts sell out within five minutes of release

Harry Carr
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Mary Earps England shirts sell out within five minutes of release

The latest batch of England women’s goalkeeper shirts sold out within five minutes of release on Monday, following a campaign to make the kits worn by Mary Earps available for sale.

England’s kit supplier Nike was the subject of a backlash during this year’s Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand after failing to make women’s goalkeeper shirts available to purchase.

Manchester United goalkeeper Earps, who won FIFA’s Golden Glove award as England finished as runners-up to Spain, said the situation was “hugely disappointing and very hurtful”, with other Lionesses players also criticising Nike over their failure to release them.

Read our other Manchester United news stories here:
Manchester United’s dressing room is not ‘toxic’, says Scott McTominay
Manchester United v Bayern Munich: Preview, expected line-ups and prediction
Tuchel sympathises with Ten Hag, but no Bayern favours in store for Manchester United

A petition calling for Nike to release the shirts garnered over 150,000 signatures, and they were eventually made available for the first time in October.

Those shirts sold out within hours of release and a second batch, believed to be comparable in quantity to the number of goalkeeper shirts produced for men’s tournaments, sold out within five minutes of being made available on Monday morning.

United turned down a bid from Arsenal – believed to be the highest ever made for a women’s goalkeeper – for Earps in September, though she has yet to agree a new contract with the club ahead of her current deal expiring at the end of the season.

Earps has kept four clean sheets in nine appearances in the Women’s Super League this season, a tally only matched by Manchester City counterpart and England deputy Khiara Keating.

 

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A post shared by Mary Earps (@1maryearps)

Tuchel sympathises with Ten Hag, but no Bayern favours in store for Manchester United

Harry Carr
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Tuchel sympathises with Ten Hag, but no Bayern favours in store for Manchester United

While Thomas Tuchel sympathises with Erik ten Hag, the under-fire Manchester United boss should not expect any favours from Bayern Munich on Tuesday as they look to respond to Saturday’s chastening defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt.

Bayern have already confirmed qualification for the UEFA Champions League’s last 16, having secured top spot in Group A back on matchday four.

United, by contrast, approach Tuesday’s game bottom of the group. They will only join Bayern in the round of 16 if they win and Copenhagen and Galatasaray draw in Group A’s other fixture.

A humiliating group-stage exit would dial up the pressure even further on Ten Hag, who oversaw a dismal 3-0 Premier League defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday.

Read our other Manchester United news stories here:
The Manchester United dressing room is not ‘toxic’ – McTominay
Rashford and Martial miss Manchester United training ahead of Bayern Munich clash
Manchester United v Bayern Munich: Preview, expected line-ups and prediction

Asked about the criticism Ten Hag is facing at Monday’s pre-match press conference, Tuchel said: “I empathise with all my colleagues. Sometimes it’s difficult and challenging.

“I know what it’s like to manage big clubs. Sometimes you feel that a club is not developing as quickly as you would like.

“We’ll have to muster a lot of energy tomorrow to succeed here. I’m convinced that United want to fight back. A game in Manchester is always a big game, it’s a big club that electrifies people. They’re always a dangerous team.

“They have a certain aura about them, it’s part of the club’s DNA that they can survive difficult moments.

“They have ups and downs in their game, and they’ve conceded a lot of goals recently, but in strong moments, you can see what they’re really capable of.”

Though Bayern have nothing to play for at Old Trafford, the prospect of them fielding a weakened team appears remote as Tuchel demands a response to Saturday’s dire 5-1 defeat to Eintracht, which allowed Bayer Leverkusen to move four points clear at the top of the Bundesliga.

Asked how seriously Bayern will take the game, Tuchel said: “I understand some people thought that against Copenhagen [a 0-0 draw on matchday five] it looked like we weren’t throwing everything into it, but when you sign for Bayern or United, you sign to give 100 per cent every day.

“When you wear the Bayern Munich jersey, you behave like champions, there’s no other way. We have high expectations, even if we are always under pressure.

“We were brutally punished with an extraordinary result, which hurts a lot, but it has to be said that this was our first defeat in the league.

“I have great confidence that a reaction will now follow. We addressed the mistakes very directly, and tomorrow we have the opportunity to show a reaction on one of the biggest stages in football.”

Tuchel refused to give much away regarding his plans for the game, though he did suggest England captain Harry Kane will start, saying: “Every fan wants Harry to play in their team.

“We’re very proud we were able to sign Harry, he’s a great character and a great role model, a terrific player.

“He scores a lot of goals and he will be very happy to play here tomorrow. It’s a great story that we were able to bring the England captain, your centre-forward, to Germany.”

Rashford and Martial miss Manchester United training ahead of Bayern Munich clash

Harry Carr
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0
Rashford and Martial miss Manchester United training ahead of Bayern Munich clash

Manchester United forwards Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial both missed Monday’s training session through illness, as the Red Devils gear up for Tuesday’s clash with Bayern Munich.

The Red Devils must beat Bayern to have any chance of reaching the UEFA Champions League’s round of 16, with the Bavarian giants having already qualified as Group A winners.

A victory alone will not be enough for Erik ten Hag’s under-fire team, however, as they also need Copenhagen and Galatasaray to draw in Group A’s other fixture if they are to avoid a humiliating group-stage exit.

Read our other football news stories here:
Bullish Ten Hag confident Manchester United can see off Bayern Munich
Former Manchester United striker Ibrahimovic lands senior role at Milan
The dressing room is not ‘toxic’ – McTominay says Manchester United players are behind Ten Hag

United had hoped their forward line would be boosted by the return of Rashford, who was suspended for their last European game – a thrilling 3-3 draw with Galatasaray – after receiving a straight red card in Copenhagen on matchday four.

However, the club confirmed after Monday’s training session that both Rashford and Martial had been unable to participate due to illness, leaving their hopes of facing Bayern in doubt.

Victor Lindelof, who Ten Hag said was doubtful in his pre-match press conference, did take part in the session and could be a candidate to partner Harry Maguire in the centre of defence.

Fellow defender Lisandro Martinez was also seen out on the grass, but he was only able to complete individual work as he recovers from the metatarsal problem which has sidelined him since September.

Former Manchester United striker Ibrahimovic lands senior role at Milan

Jon Fisher
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Former Manchester United striker Ibrahimovic lands senior role at Milan

Former Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has returned to the Rossoneri as a senior advisor to the club’s ownership and senior management.

Swede Ibrahimovic, who can also count Inter, Ajax, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United as former clubs in a glittering career, retired at the end of last season.

Read our other sports news stories here
Manchester United v Bayern Munich preview
Bullish Ten Hag believes United can beat Bayern
The Manchester United dressing room is not ‘toxic’ – McTominay

He has now been employed by Redbird – the American investment firm that own Milan. According to a statement from RedBird, the 42-year-old will ‘play an active role across the club’s sporting and business operations and will help reinforce the club’s winning culture.

‘His mandate will include player development and high-performance training, advancing AC Milan’s global brand and commercial interests, and supporting special projects of strategic importance, including the club’s new stadium.’

Ibrahimovic, who won two Scudetti with Milan, said: “My love for the Rossoneri will never die, and the opportunity to be a part of its future in a meaningful way is something I could only have dreamed of.

“I am grateful to [RedBird founder] Gerry [Cardinale] for making this opportunity available to me. I have greatly admired the commitment, passion and hard work RedBird and senior management have demonstrated since acquiring the club.

“This is not a decision that I take lightly – it is one which is very important and personal to me and my family. I’ve thought long and hard about the first steps in my post-playing career, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to start that journey as a member of RedBird and AC Milan.

“For me and my family, this is truly a homecoming with the cherished club where I ended my playing career and am now starting my next chapter.”

Milan CEO Giorgio Furlani added: “Bringing a leader like Ibra as an advisor to AC Milan’s leadership team underscores our commitment to the future success of our club for the benefit of our players and our fans.

“We’re fortunate to have access to Ibra’s creativity and expansive network of relationships across European Football to continue elevating the club on a global stage.”

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