FIGURES released by a Jewish charity on anti-semitic incidents in the last year reveal that hate crimes in Manchester have rocketed. 244 incidents against Jewish people were reported last year, the highest number ever recorded and the highest of the entire country even though London´s Jewish population is six times bigger. 111 incidents were reported in Salford, 74 in Bury and 40 in Manchester.
BURY COUNCIL has agreed to a give out five years back pay to nearly 1,000 female workers due to an equality dispute. The women are mostly in low paid positions such as cooks, cleaners, home carers and catering assistants and were paid less than male workers in similar jobs. The council and Unison reached the agreement before a scheduled court hearing next month.
TEMPERATURES are expected to drop for the next few days and some snow could fall in Manchester over the weekend. Tomorrow should be a lot colder across the entire country as winds are coming in off Europe's mainland where the temperatures are extremely low and where over 100 people have died in the chill. Although February is the coldest month of the year, the expected temperatures are considerably lower than usual.
THE POLICE arrested councillors Bob Bibby and Jim Taylor on suspicion of accepting a £10,000 bribe linked to a planning application of 200 homes in Radcliffe, Bury. The police also confiscated a number of computers and documents at Bury Town Hall. The councillors deny these charges and have been given bail until April.
This week in 1875 Mr. Blackburne, a celebrated chess player, played blindfolded against ten members of the Athenæum Chess Club Manchester.
