City news in 250 words: Thursday 2 December

WILL WE GET THE 2018 WORLD CUP? Today is decision day for Fifa, as the race to host the 2018 world Cup goes down to the wire. Bidding countries are Belgium and Netherlands, England, Russia and Portugal and Spain. Prime Minister David Cameron said of the England bid: “We have got the stadia, we have got the facilities, we have the transport networks, we have the enthusiasm for football in our country.” The decision is due to be announced at 3pm today.

IT’S BECOMING COLDER THAN ICELAND in parts of the region, as temperatures are set to drop to -10C tonight. More than 134 schools closed yesterday and 3,000 miles of road were gritted. A Met Office spokesman said: "It could be as cold as -10C around Manchester tomorrow morning and again on Saturday. It could be lower than that in parts."

HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN MANCHESTER: A man has been charged by police investigating human trafficking and sexual exploitation in Manchester. The 37-year-old, from Harpurhey, has been charged with three counts of rape and human trafficking for the sexual exploitation of a 33-year-old woman who arrived in Manchester from Hungary to work as a nanny. He is due to appear at Manchester Crown Court.

MATERNITY UNIT DECSION DEFFERED: The decision to close the baby units at Salford Royal, Fairfield General in Bury and Rochdale Infirmary, has been deferred until February following concerns over capacity and safety issues. NHS North West agreed that some of the criteria needed to be investigated.

Out of the window weather forecast: Spinningfields is a glow with snow...