City news in 250 words: Wednesday 7 April

THE UNCLE OF TIA RIGG, the 12-year-old who was strangled and stabbed to death, has appeared in court charged with her murder. John Maden from Cheetham Hill was brought to the dock amid angry scenes. One woman banged on the partition glass and screamed at him. He is due to appear at Manchester Crown Court on Thursday, April 8, when applications for bail will be considered.

AIRPORT WORKER KNEW PASSENGER WAS DEAD: A member of staff who helped two women lift the body of a dead relative from a taxi has said he knew he was dead. Andrew Millea alerted security after finding that the man's face felt "ice cold. Gitta Jarant and Anke Anusic tried to check in the body of Curt Willi Jarant for a flight to Berlin at Liverpool John Lennon Airport on Saturday. The pair say they had no idea he was dead.

WHITNEY GIGS CANCELLED: R&B singer, Whitney Houston, has postponed the Manchester leg of her tour because of illness. Houston was due to perform tomorrow night and Friday at the MEN Arena, but is thought to be in a Paris hospital suffering from a respiratory infection. The shows have been rescheduled for June 16 and 17 and the original tickets will be valid for the new dates.

A £4.8M PROJECT WILL LINK SALFORD’S RIVERSIDE TO THE MANCHESTER CATHEDRAL. The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) has announced the regeneration plans which will see land in Greengate transformed into shops, offices, 1,100 houses and a hotel.