Latest coronavirus infection rates as cases rise in one area of Greater Manchester

Soviet bioweapons expert has claimed that Russia explored using monkeypox as a bio-weapon until at least the early 1990s.Colonel Kanat Alibekov – AKA Kenneth Alibek — claimed in recently resurfaced interviews that the USSR had a programme thats sole aim was to determine what viruses could be weaponised.Alibek was deputy chief of the USSR’s biological weapons programme until its collapse in 1991.He said: "So we developed a special program to determine what “model” viruses could be used instead of human smallpox."We tested vaccinia virus, mousepox virus, rabbitpox virus, and monkeypox virus as models for smallpox."The idea was that all research and development work would be conducted using these model viruses.

Putin looks “puffy” with physical signs of “weariness” as his brutal war in Ukraine continues to stall amid Russian military failures, claims a body language expert. The bonkers Russian dictator was seen leaning with his hands on a table as he spoke to a Security Council meeting earlier today (May 20).Reports coming from Ukraine following his country’s bloody invasion haven’t been good for the former-KGB agent, with his top generals reportedly starting to plan for a loss in eastern Europe after heavy casualities.Putin’s health has also been called into question with top officials in the Kremlin considering ousting their leader.Body language expert Judi James told The Mirror that he looked drained in his latest appearance.She explained: “His body pose suggests lowered energy levels.

It’s the Uffiesance, bitch! The Ed Banger queen’s return to the spotlight continues with Sunshine Factory, her first full length since 2010’s Sex Dreams and Denim Jeans. Produced largely by Chaz Bear, aka Toro Y Moi, and released on his label Company Records, Sunshine Factory is a sprightly, insightful survey of Uffie 2.0 — a fun-loving record that takes time to explore what happens after the party, too.

Ralf Rangnick admits he could have done better during his interim period as Manchester United manager. Rangnick will take charge of United for the 29th and final time against Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday and he has achieved only 11 wins since he took over on December 3.

Fernandinho says he has done everything that he wanted to do at Manchester City as the club mark the final weekend of the season with a lasting tribute to him.

Bowel babe Dame Deborah James admitted she cried after a stunning rose was named in honour of her to help raise money for her charity fund.The 40 year old revealed the news on her Instagram page saying she was "honoured" to have the Dame Deborah James Rose named after her. Dame Deborah was presented with a stunning bouquet of her new rose by the team at The Harkness Rose Company.They will be introducing the new flower at their stand at Chelsea Flower Show next week.

Manchester City star Vincent Kompany is top of Burnley's wish-list to become their boss should they survive the drop.The Clarets parted way with former boss Sean Dyche last month, and they installed Mike Jackson as their interim boss until the end of the season. However, Burnley have been looking for a permanent boss, and the former Man City man could fit the bill.According to Belgian outlet Het Laatste Nieuws, Burnley see that Kompany 'fits the profile of the modern manager'.

On the road to love. Rachel Recchia and Gabby Windey paid homage to Mean Girls in the first teaser for season 19 of The Bachelorette.

England footballer Harry Maguire’s mum has stolen the show as she joined his wife Fern Hawkins for a fun filled hen do in Marbella, Spain. Zoe Maguire, 55, wowed crowds as she appeared alongside daughter-in-law Fern and her friends for a bikini clad celebration after the couple famously tied the knot one week ago.

While covid numbers may no longer be in the headlines, that does not mean the virus is gone for good.

Theatre-goers are being warned to plan ahead with disruption expected this weekend. Road closures are due to come into force across the city centre tomorrow ahead of Sunday's Great Manchester Run.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorWhen CNN presents an exclusive interview Sunday evening between Jake Tapper and Trevor Reed, recently released from Russia after nearly three years of imprisonment, the network has the potential to spur a new strain of activism around U.S. citizens incarcerated abroad.Reed, who spoke with Tapper for several hours Thursday in Florida, was released “because the Biden administration engaged in a prison swap with Russia, and in the past, that has been seen as controversial,” says Tapper during a recent interview. “The family wants those days to disappear.”During the hour-long special, Reed talks about his experiences overseas, some of which, Tapper says sound like something out of a “horror movie franchise.” He also speaks about his interest in helping other American families who have relatives detained unlawfully overseas.

Pete Davidson’s time at "Saturday Night Live" is drawing to a close. The comedian, who has been a fixture at 30 Rock, is set to exit stage left after eight seasons that saw Davidson, 28, join the Lorne Michaels series in a proverbial little brother capacity at age 20.

Kelly Rizzo, whose late husband, Bob Saget, died in January. «My birthday wish is to have one more day with Bob,» she wrote on Instagram. «But since I can’t have that, I'll settle for memories.»The now 43-year-old travel blogger also shared a collection of videos of Saget celebrating her past birthdays. A post shared by Kelly Rizzo- FOOD TRAVEL MUSIC (@eattravelrock)Earlier this week, Rizzo paid tribute to the former  star on what would have been his 66th birthday, which was only two days before hers.

Police had to be called out to a UK airport after a passenger who flew from Manchester refused to turn his phone off on the flight. The passenger became rude and abusive to cabin crew on the easyJet flight after being told to turn the device off before the flight was about to land at Cornwall Airport Newquay this afternoon (May 20).

invasion of Ukraine has been described as a mere "rehearsal" for a far bigger World War by an analyst on Russian state TV. Professor Alexei Fenenko, a leading research fellow at the Institute of International Security Studies, teased that this future conflict may be against NATO.

Placebo supported My Chemical Romance at their huge Milton Keynes show last night (May 19) – check out their setlist and footage from the gig below.On the first of three nights supporting the emo giants at the MK Dons Stadium, Placebo performed five tracks from their latest album, ‘Never Let Me Go’, alongside a few fan favourites.The band – who joined other support acts Lost Alone and Aviva – played ‘Kitty Litter’, taken from 2009’s ‘Battle For The Sun’; ‘Bionic’, from their self-titled 1996 debut, for the first time since 2014; and ‘One Of A Kind’, from 2006’s ‘Meds’, for the first time since 2015.Watch footage from the band’s Milton Keynes set below:You can see Placebo’s Milton Keynes setlist below:‘Forever Chemicals’‘Kitty Litter’ (first performance since 2012)‘Beautiful James’‘Bionic’ (first performance since 2014)‘Hugz’‘One Of A Kind’ (first performance since 2015)‘Surrounded By Spies’‘Try Better Next Time’‘For What It’s Worth’‘Slave To The Wage’‘Special K’‘The Bitter End’‘Infra-red’Placebo’s remaining dates with MCR will be tomorrow (May 21) and Sunday (22) at MK Dons Stadium, Milton Keynes.My Chemical Romance kicked off their hugely anticipated UK and Ireland comeback tour on Monday night (May 16) at the Eden Project in Cornwall, marking their first UK show in 11 years.In a five-star review of the show, NME‘s Ali Shutler said: “They’re now safely one of the biggest rock groups to emerge in the last 20 years but if the band are worried about their new found status, they don’t show it.“Tonight’s show is fearless, loose and raw. It genuinely feels like anything could happen, as My Chemical Romance channel punk rebellion and playful ambition.

Three Thousand Years of Longing” at the Cannes Festival on Friday.Wearing only panties drenched with blood-red paint, the screaming woman had the Ukrainian flag sprayed across her chest with the words “Stop raping us.” The word “scum” was also written on her lower back. Video posted to Twitter shows security personnel covering up the woman and escorting her off the carpet.

Manchester United are reportedly eyeing a move for Europa League-winning defender Evan Ndicka, according to reports.

Here are your Manchester City evening headlines on Friday, May 20:

Coronation Street paid a moving tribute to the victims of the Manchester Arena bombing ahead of the fifth anniversary of the atrocity. During a scene on this evening's show, soap stalwarts Gail Platt and Eileen Grimshaw, played by actors Helen Worth and Sue Cleaver, laid flowers at a memorial bench previously installed at the ITV studio.