Thousands of new jobs are set to be created at a ‘research and innovation hub’ in Greater Manchester, it has been announced.
Keir Starmer is currently visiting the Gulf, and as part of the UK Government’s intent to “drive investment” into various cities and regions nationwide, the Prime Minister has now announced plans to pursue closer ties with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia – who he says are some of the UK’s “most vital” modern-day partners.
According to the Government, this part of the ‘Plan for Change’ will increase investment, deepen defence and security ties, and boost growth and new opportunities, both here in the UK and abroad, in a bid to to “deliver change that is felt by working people”.
It’s the north of England that will “reap the immediate benefits” from the closer cooperation of the UAE and Saudi Arabia, the Government claims – particularly here in Greater Manchester.
The Prime Minister has announced £250m plans to create thousands of new jobs in Greater Manchester / Credit: Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing Street (via Flickr)
Manchester-based Graphene Innovation Manchester (GIM) has now launched the world’s first commercial production of graphene-enriched carbon fibre, along with Saudi Arabia’s NEOM Giga-Project, which is said to be a “groundbreaking step forward” in the delivery of environmentally sustainable advanced materials.
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The project is aiming to generate £250 million of investment into a research and innovation hub in Greater Manchester.
More than 1,000 skilled jobs are also expected to be created in our region.
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Hydrogen buses, trucks, critical components, and other elements of hydrogen production and distribution will be created over the lifetime of the project, all while removing more than 25 million tons of transport-related CO2.
This government’s long-term missions – and ambitious but achievable milestones – will deliver change for working people. pic.twitter.com/gyc74tf0O0
The Prime Minister says every region and nation in the UK “should feel the impact” of the ‘Plan for Change’, but the North will benefit first.
“I am determined to ensure international diplomacy drives local results,” Starmer said.
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“Whether that is discussing how we can support regeneration in the UK, or supporting business deals that create jobs, my international agenda starts at home.”
Greater Manchester will also be benefitting from significant Saudi investment in housing too, the Government says – with International Investment Gate injecting £41 million into the regeneration of Brunswick Mill in Stockport to create 277 flats and 24 commercial outlets, and support the Prime Minister’s milestone to build 1.5 million homes by the end of his tenure in Parliament.
Featured Image – Mylo Kaye (via Unsplash)
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Beloved Manchester artist Stanley Chow slams Conservative Party for using his artwork
Daisy Jackson
Celebrated local artist Stanley Chow has lashed out at the Conservative Party.
The illustrator, who is famed for his cartoon portraits of famous faces, has discovered that the political party have been using his Andy Burnham illustration at their party conference.
Publicly addressing the usage, Stanley said he would be ‘seeking legal advice’.
He shared a photo of his Andy Burnham portrait that has been placed onto a water bottle with the slogan ‘Bottler Burnham’.
The label also says: “0% strength. Bottled under pressure from Badenoch.”
In another photo, Stanley Chow revealed that the Tory party conference has used his Andy Burnham portrait on pots of sweets, too.
This time, they say: “Andy Panders’ people pleaser pick n mix. Free sweets for everyone, it will only cost you higher taxes.”
Stanley wrote: “It seems like @conservatives have been using my artwork without my permission at their conference party…
“Regardless of whatever your political allegiances are, it’s still copyright infringement… I’ll be seeking legal advice.”
Backing him up in the comments are a number of other local artists, including Mancsy, who said: “As well as the copyright infringement, I expect more of political parties than making gags at the expense of the opposition. It’s alarming on multiple levels.”
Someone else wrote: “Imagine calling a prime minister a people pleaser like it’s an insult… when it’s their job.”
Another person said: “How does that even happen?! Layers of people signing off who go, ‘Sure, let’s not worry about copyright’ (people who’ve presumably never step foot in MCR and seen your artwork, like EVERYWHERE). Drag em, babe. Copyright and reputation, surely.”
Manchester man jailed after sexually assaulting and masturbating in front of woman on train
Emily Sergeant
A man has been jailed after sexually assaulting and masturbating in front of a woman on board a train to Manchester.
Following an extensive British Transport Police (BTP) investigation, Nisan Fernando Kurukulasuriya, of Troutbeck Road in Altrincham, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court last month.
At the trail last month, the court heard how, on Monday 20 April 2026, 39-year-old Kurukulasuriya was on a train from Stoke to Manchester and sat next to a woman he didn’t know, who was on the phone.
He then sexually assaulted her repeatedly, doing so again even after being pushed away by the woman.
The woman then noticed that Kurukulasuriya had exposed himself and was masturbating in front of her. She shouted at him, and in response, he stood up and ran away to leave the train – but the woman immediately got up to report the incident to staff.
When the train arrived at Manchester Piccadilly, the woman alerted a member of staff while Kurukulasuriya was stood only a few meters away, and BTP were subsequently called straight away.
Police quickly attended and arrested Kurukulasuriya.
When police interviewed him, Kurukulasuriya showed no remorse for his actions and refused to answer any questions put to him.
After pleading guilty to Sexual Assault and Outraging Public Decency at a previous court hearing, Kurukulasuriya was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment, and was also handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) which will bar him from sitting next to any woman he doesn’t know on public transport, as well as being put on thensex offenders register for 10 years.
BTP Detective Sergeant, Mark Haviland, called Kurukulasuriya a ‘despicable man’ who targeted a woman travelling alone ‘for his own sick sexual gratification’.
Emily Sergeant -
9th December 2024 
