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☆ How far does Gulf money go? An Abu Dhabi-backed newspaper buyout attempt is sparking panic in London
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Copies of The Daily Telegraph newspaper on a newsstand in a shop in London, UK, on March 12, 2024 (L), and UAE Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan speaking at COP28 on Dec. 1, 2023. More than 100 members of Parliament have signed a letter opposing the buyout of major British newspaper the Telegraph and news magazine, The Spectator, by UAE government-backed investment fund RedBird IMI. Long a favorite of Britain's Conservative Party, ownership of the 168-year old daily is not just about profit, but about power. The deal would ultimately see the Telegraph, which is valued at a reported £600 million, come under full Emirati ownership. Lawmakers have been scrambling to introduce a new law that would enable Parliament to veto buyouts of news outlets by foreign governments.

Persons: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Nahyan, Britain's, Long, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Barclay, Lucy Frazer Organizations: Daily Telegraph, UAE, COP28, United Arab Emirates, United Emirates, British, Telegraph, The, IMI, Britain's Conservative Party, Lloyds Bank, State for Culture, Media, Sport Locations: London, DUBAI, United Arab, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE

☆ UK bars Abu Dhabi-backed group from acquiring Telegraph, pending review
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Britain's government on Friday blocked an Abu Dhabi-backed group from taking ownership of the media group that owns the Telegraph newspaper while its takeover bid is scrutinised by regulators over freedom of expression concerns. The government intervened in the planned deal on Thursday when it asked regulators to examine the deal. On Friday, culture and media minister Lucy Frazer set out an enforcement order preventing any transfer of ownership of the Telegraph Media Group without her permission and also stopping any changes of its structure or senior editorial staff. As well as the right-leaning Telegraph newspaper, the group owns the Spectator magazine. They are up for sale after Lloyds Banking Group in June seized control following a long-running dispute with owners, the Barclay family.

Persons: Lucy Frazer, Barclay, Jeff Zucker, Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Camilla Tominey, Tominey, William Schomberg, Nick Zieminski Organizations: Telegraph, Telegraph Media Group, Ofcom, Spectator, Lloyds Banking Group, IMI, CNN, United Arab Emirates, Thomson Locations: Abu Dhabi, UAE, Gulf

☆ Contested statues must stay but with explanations, says Britain
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Estelle Shirbon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Then prime minister Boris Johnson and other ministers denounced this as censorship of history while activists and some public figures said the glorification of such figures in public spaces had to end. The culture ministry's new guidance said custodians of contested statues and monuments should comply with the government's policy to "retain and explain". The guidance, which applies to structures in public spaces but not inside museums, said explanations could include alternative media and creative approaches, not just texts. The Conservatives say they are fighting a far-left agenda that seeks to denigrate Britain and its history. The controversies echoed debates in other countries, notably the United States where historic statues honouring leaders of Confederate States from the Civil War era have also been contested and removed.

Persons: Cecil Rhodes, George Floyd, Eddie Keogh, Boris Johnson, Lucy Frazer, Edward Colston, Robert Milligan, Estelle Shirbon, Gareth Jones Organizations: Oriel College, REUTERS, Conservative, Labour Party, Conservatives, Thomson Locations: Minneapolis, Oxford, Britain, Bristol, stoke, London, United States, Confederate

CNN —Russia has barred 54 more British citizens from entering the country, in response to the UK’s sanctions against its citizens and enterprises, according to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The sanctions list includes several government ministers as well as journalists from public broadcaster the BBC, the Guardian newspaper and the Daily Telegraph newspaper. “We would like to emphasize again that any efforts by London to further spin the anti-Russian sanctions flywheel will inevitably receive a decisive response from our side,” the Russian ministry said in a statement. Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Karim Khan. Vanessa Jimenez/Anadolu Agency/Getty ImagesIn February, Khan submitted applications to the ICC for warrants of arrest for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova.

Persons: “, Karim Khan, Vanessa Jimenez, Khan, Vladimir Putin, Rights Maria Lvova, Lucy Frazer, Frazer, Goldie Organizations: CNN, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, BBC, Guardian, Daily Telegraph, Criminal, Anadolu Agency, ICC, Russian, Rights, State for Culture, Media, Sport, Olympic, State, British Ministry of Defence Locations: Russia, ”, London, Belarus, Ukraine

☆ BBC suspends star presenter over alleged sexually explicit teen photos scandal
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-09 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A camera is seen outside the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) headquarters in London, Britain, March 13, 2023. Britain's BBC suspended a male member of staff on Sunday following an allegation that one of its star presenters paid a teenager thousands of pounds to pose for sexually explicit photos, beginning when the teen was 17 years old. The statement said, "It is important that these matters are handled fairly and with care," without giving details on the claims. The mother told the newspaper that the teenager had used the cash to fund a crack cocaine habit. "(Davie) has assured me the BBC are investigating swiftly and sensitively," she said on Twitter.

Persons: Britain's, Lucy Frazer, Tim Davie, Davie Organizations: British Broadcasting Corporation, Britain's BBC, BBC, Sun, Twitter Locations: London, Britain

☆ BBC suspends presenter over alleged teenager photos scandal
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BBC News said it understood that referred to the police. The Sun newspaper, which first reported the allegations, cited the young person's mother as saying the unnamed male presenter had paid the teenager more than 35,000 pounds ($45,000) over three years for the images. The mother told the newspaper that the teenager had used the cash to fund a crack cocaine habit. "(Davie) has assured me the BBC are investigating swiftly and sensitively," she said on Twitter. ($1 = 0.7791 pounds)Reporting by Paul Sandle; Editing by William Maclean, David Holmes and Sharon SingletonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Lucy Frazer, Tim Davie, Davie, Paul Sandle, William Maclean, David Holmes, Sharon Singleton Organizations: BBC, BBC News, Sun, Twitter, Thomson

☆ UK government meets with police, sports event organisers over protest disruption
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The meeting came as Just Stop Oil activists twice interrupted play at Wimbledon. The environmental group have also disrupted the second Ashes cricket test at Lord's as well as the Premiership Rugby final and the World Snooker Championship. This year's Grand National horse race was also disrupted after animal rights activists attached themselves to fences. The Lawn Tennis Association, the soccer Premier League, British Horseracing Authority and Silverstone Circuits were among the 15 national sports bodies and event organisers who attended, the government said. The British Grand Prix is due to take place at Silverstone on Sunday.

Persons: Katie Boulter, Daria Saville, Hannah Mckay LONDON, Lucy Frazer, Suella Braverman, Kylie MacLellan, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Oil, Wimbledon, Premiership Rugby, Lawn Tennis Association, soccer Premier League, British Horseracing Authority, Silverstone Circuits, Silverstone, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Lord's, British

☆ UK's ITV commissions review after presenter resignation row
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, May 31 (Reuters) - British broadcaster ITV (ITV.L) has commissioned an external review of presenter Phillip Schofield's resignation, the company said on Wednesday, after the 61-year-old admitted to lying about a relationship with a young worker. The probe was first reported by PA Media on Wednesday. "As you would expect we take the matter extremely seriously and have reviewed our own records over the weekend," a letter sent by McCall to government said, PA Media reported. The letter was sent to Ofcom, the broadcast regulator, and culture minister Lucy Frazer, PA Media reported. It said ITV had instructed a senior barrister to "carry out an external review to establish the facts".

Persons: Phillip Schofield's, Schofield, Carolyn McCall, McCall, Lucy Frazer, Paul Sandle, William James, Aurora Ellis Organizations: ITV, PA Media, Britain's, Ofcom, Thomson Locations: British, Britain

☆ Anti-monarchists released from custody after King Charles' coronation
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

JUSTIN TALLIS/Pool via REUTERSLONDON, May 7 (Reuters) - The leader of anti-monarchy group Republic and other members were released from custody after hours of detention during Saturday's coronation of King Charles that raised questions over whether the police response had been proportionate. Republic said that detained members began to be released late on Saturday evening, after nearly 16 hours in custody. Tens of thousands of people turned out to catch a glimpse of the newly crowned King Charles and Queen Camilla, who rode in a state coach back to Buckingham Palace after Saturday's service at Westminster Abbey. Not everyone who came to watch was there to cheer Charles, with hundreds of republicans booing and waving banners reading "Not My King". "I think overall (the police) managed to get that balance right," Frazer told Sky News.

☆ UK police face backlash over handling of anti-monarchy protests during coronation
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Sophie Tanno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

It comes after the much-maligned Metropolitan Police force faced criticism for what many said was a heavy-handed approach toward demonstrators. Frazer said the police were tasked with balancing people’s right to protest with overseeing an international event on the world stage. Anti-monarchy protesters demonstrate near the procession route for Britain's King Charles III coronation in London on Saturday. Republic, Britain’s largest anti-monarchy group, told CNN Saturday that police – without providing any reason – arrested organizers of the anti-monarchy protest. A member of the public attends a "Rally For A Republic - Not My King" anti-monarchy rally on Calton Hill in Edinburgh on Saturday.

LONDON, April 27 (Reuters) - Britain on Thursday set out long-awaited plans to crack down on problem gambling as it aims to bring regulations up to date with a rise in betting online and on smartphones. The reforms would give extra powers to gambling regulators to take down illegal betting sites and tackle unauthorised operators. Campaign group Charity Gambling with Lives, which supports families bereaved by gambling-related suicide, welcomed the changes but said they did not go far enough. It had called for an end to all gambling advertising and affordability checks at 100 pounds of monthly losses. Habits have changed significantly since then, with an exponential rise in online betting.

☆ UK broadcasters to stay prominent on smart TVs and speakers
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, March 29 (Reuters) - On-demand services from Britain's BBC, ITV (ITV.L) and other public service broadcasters must remain easy to find on smart TVs and set-top boxes, the government said as it announced a plan to update media rules for the streaming age. Britain's public service broadcasters have protected positions in electronic programme guides, ensuring viewers can easily find the content they are required to produce, for example in news. But with more people choosing to watch on-demand television through apps on their smart TVs or other platforms, the broadcasters have raised concerns that their on-demand services could become less visible to viewers. Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said changes to viewing habits had put traditional broadcasters under unprecedented pressure. Smart speaker platforms - such as Google and Amazon - will be required to ensure access to all licenced UK radio stations, from major national stations to the smallest community stations, the government said.

☆ UK to offer 3,000 Eurovision tickets to displaced Ukrainians
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Britain's government will make 3,000 tickets for the Eurovision Song Contest available to displaced Ukrainians after their country was unable to host the competition because of Russia's invasion last year. The government also said it would provide 10 million pounds ($12 million) of funding to help host Eurovision in May on behalf of Ukraine, which won the competition in 2022 and would normally have become host for the following year. The northern English city of Liverpool will host the 2023 Eurovision. British broadcaster BBC will stage the event, which normally draws a television audience of close to 200 million and was last held in Britain in 1998. ($1 = 0.8372 pounds)Reporting by William Schomberg; Editing by William MallardOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ UK commentator John Motson dies aged 77
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton vs Crystal Palace - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - February 10, 2018 Commentator John Motson leaves after the match Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith/File PhotoLONDON, Feb 23 (Reuters) - British soccer commentator John Motson has died aged 77, his family announced in a statement on Thursday. "It is with great sadness we announce that John Motson OBE died peacefully in his sleep today (Thursday)," said a statement from Motson's family. "Deeply saddened to hear that John Motson has died," former England striker and current Match of the Day commentator Gary Lineker said on Twitter. Motson joined the BBC on a full-time basis as a sports presenter on Radio 2 in 1968, having been at BBC Radio Sheffield beforehand. John Motson was an ever present fixture in so many of our lives.

☆ Olympics row deepens as 35 countries demand ban for Russia and Belarus
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Andrius Sytas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

With war raging in Ukraine, the Baltic States, Nordic countries and Poland had called on international sports bodies to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing in the Olympics. "At the same time, we know that 70 percent of Russian athletes are soldiers. He said that most participants had been in favour of an absolute exclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes. The IOC has opened the door for Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as neutrals. While Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of host city Paris, has said Russian athletes should not take part, Paris 2024 organisers have said they will abide by the IOC's decision on the issue.

☆ UK PM Rishi Sunak overhauls government departments after bumpy 100 days in power
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

U.K. Prime Minister has announced a mini overhaul of his government as he seeks to reassert his authority after a shaky first 100 days in office. U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Tuesday unveiled a new government department focused on energy security and announced a mini reshuffle of his cabinet as he seeks to reassert his authority after a shaky first 100 days in office. Sunak named former business minister Grant Shapps as head of the newly launched Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, whose focus will be on securing "long-term energy supply, bringing down bills and halving inflation." The prime minister also appointed former Trade Minister Greg Hands as his new party chairman, replacing sacked Nadhim Zahawi, in a mini-reshuffle of his top leadership team. The U.K. previously had a Department of Energy and Climate Change, but it was merged with the business department in 2016.

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