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☆ Who could buy Manchester United and how much is it worth?
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Jan 18 (Reuters) - Jim Ratcliffe's company INEOS formally entered the bidding process to buy Manchester United on Tuesday, months after the club owners, the Glazer family, said they were considering selling the club as they explore "strategic alternatives". MIDDLE EASTERN INVESTORSUnited's local rivals Manchester City are bankrolled by the Abu Dhabi United Group, while Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund completed a 300 million pound buyout of Newcastle United in 2021. Bloomberg News reported this week that United, Tottenham Hotspur or Liverpool were being targeted by QSI for a potential acquisition. The Times newspaper, which first reported Ratcliffe's INEOS entering the bidding, said that interest from the United States and Asia is also expected. Asked by the BBC at the time if he needed to raise four billion pounds to buy United, O'Neill said: "I'm not sure if it'll necessarily be that much, but let's see."

☆ INEOS confirms entering bidding process to buy Manchester United
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] The logo of British soccer club Manchester United is seen at a lounge during the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2023 in the Alpine resort of Davos, Switzerland, January 15, 2023. REUTERS/Arnd WiegmannJan 17 (Reuters) - Jim Ratcliffe's company INEOS has formally entered the bidding process to buy Premier League soccer club Manchester United, a spokesperson for the chemical firm told Reuters on Tuesday. In August, British billionaire Ratcliffe, a long-time fan of the club, expressed interest in buying United, Reuters reported. "I can confirm that we have formally put ourselves into the process," an INEOS spokesperson said in a statement on Tuesday. INEOS's interest in United comes after the energy group also bought French Ligue 1 club Nice in 2019.

☆ Iran and Britain's history of strained relations
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

DUBAI, Jan 14 (Reuters) - British-Iranian relations, which have been strained for decades, were back in the spotlight after Iranian authorities executed British-Iranian national Alireza Akbari for spying, charges he had denied. 1988 - Britain restores full diplomatic relations with Iran. 1994 - Britain accuses Iran of contacts with the outlawed Irish Republican Army, a charge Iran denies but relations worsen. 1999 - Iran says relations between Tehran and Britain have been upgraded to ambassadorial level. The same year, Iran accuses Britain of being behind bombings that killed six people in Iran.

☆ UK strike law will make it harder for key workers to strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

London CNN —The UK government is planning to introduce a new law forcing workers in key public sectors such as ambulance services to maintain a basic level of service during strike action or risk dismissal. Workers who strike after they have been told to report to work by their employer and union could face dismissal. Critical care was exempt from the nurses’ strike, and unions pledged to cover life-threatening emergencies during recent walkouts by ambulance workers. The government said that it will impose minimum safety levels in these areas only if “voluntary agreements” cannot be reached. “Trade unions will fight this every step of the way,” the Trades Union Congress, which represents 48 UK unions, said on Twitter.

☆ Brexit has cracked Britain’s economic foundations
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-24 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Brexit has erected trade barriers for UK businesses and foreign companies that used Britain as a European base. While Brexit isn’t the cause of Britain’s cost-of-living crisis, it has made the problem more difficult to solve. The Brexit deal, known as the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, came into effect on January 1, 2021. The deal is “the world’s largest zero tariff, zero quota free trade deal,” the spokesperson added. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development expects the UK economy to shrink by 0.4%, ahead only of sanctioned Russia.

☆ Creators are getting whiplash from Instagram's unpredictable changes in how they can make money — and some are leaning away from the platform
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Creators said the many changes have left them exhausted, with some leaning away from the platform. Instagram creators are tired. "As we build a suite of creator monetization tools, we're constantly learning and testing remains crucial in understanding what offers the best experience. Whether or not ad-rev share will come to Instagram Reels (as is the case on Facebook), however, has not been announced. Instagram isn't the only social platform making sweeping changes to creator monetization tools, either.

Deals for European football clubs this year, beginning with the sanctions-driven sale of Chelsea Football Club by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich in May, have fetched top dollar. Those complaints were aired again this month by superstar player Cristiano Ronaldo, who parted ways with Manchester United for the second time. Spokespeople for the six members of the Glazer family that are major Manchester United shareholders could not be reached for comment. More deals are in the works, with Manchester United arch rival Liverpool Football Club also exploring a sale. In August, Elon Musk tweeted: "I'm buying Manchester United ur welcome" only to then clarify he meant it as a joke.

☆ Manchester United owners, reviled by many of the team's fans, may sell club
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Manchester United has said it was commencing a process to explore strategic alternatives, including a new investment or a potential sale, 17 years after the American Glazer family bought the English Premier League soccer club. The last silverware they won was the Europa League and League Cup back in 2017. Wealthy Asian tycoons, especially those from China, have been buying European teams in recent years including Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers and Italy’s Inter Milan. Manchester United shares jumped as much as 20% after Sky News first reported on the sale process, giving the club a market capitalization of $2.6 billion. The Glazers bought the club for 790 million pounds ($939.07 million) in 2005 in a highly leveraged deal which has been criticized for loading debt onto the club.

☆ Manchester United fans want more say under any new owners
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Alan Baldwin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Nov 23 (Reuters) - Manchester United needs new owners and fresh investment to halt years of decline and fans should be given a real say in how the club is run in future, the Supporters Trust MUST said on Wednesday. "Any new ownership structure must embed supporters, including a degree of fan share ownership, in their operating model." Manchester (United) is a marketing club," Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo said this month in an explosive interview that led to his departure. Duncan Drasdo, the MUST chief executive, told Sky Sports television "the real way to unlock the value of Manchester United is to work in partnership with the fans, not exploit them as customers. Ratcliffe, a lifelong United fan who heads chemicals company INEOS, said last month he had contacted the Glazer family about buying United but was told the club was not for sale.

☆ Manchester United owners consider selling club
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The owners are under pressure with United sitting fifth in the Premier League halfway through the season, which has been suspended because of the current Qatar World Cup. Manchester United shares jumped as much as 20% after Sky News first reported on the sale process, giving the club a market capitalisation of $2.6 billion. The Raine Group is acting as financial adviser and Latham & Watkins LLP is the legal adviser to Manchester United. It was the first Premier League match to be postponed because of a protest. United finished sixth last season in their worst Premier League campaign in terms of points earned, failing to qualify for the lucrative European Champions League competition.

☆ Guy Fawkes Night: What those fireworks and bonfires are all about
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( Francesca Street | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —Every year on November 5, skies across England, Scotland and Wales are illuminated by fireworks as Brits head out into the night to enjoy Guy Fawkes Night celebrations. Also called Fireworks Night or Bonfire Night, this autumn tradition has been a staple of the British calendar for the past 400 years. A photograph from 1955, depicting children at a school in Surrey, England, preparing the Guy Fawkes Night bonfire. What’s Guy Fawkes Night like today? Lewes Bonfire Night celebrationsEffigies of former UK prime minister Boris Johnson and fellow UK Conservative politician Jacob Rees-Mogg are paraded through the streets of Lewes during traditional Bonfire Night celebrations in 2019.

Persons: Guy Fawkes, Guido Fawkes, Fawkes, Tudor King Henry VIII, Robert Catesby, Catesby, King James I, James Sharpe, Sharpe, ”, What’s Guy Fawkes, Ronald Hutton, ” Hutton, Hutton, That’s, you’re, Boris Johnson, Jacob Rees, Mogg, Peter Summers, it’s, that’s, “ They’re, Donald Trump, “, Mary, Phil Clarke Hill, Ottery, Mary’s, Patrick Kinsella, parkin, there’s, –, Alexandra, Chris J Ratcliffe, Hallows, Halloween’s, you’ll Organizations: CNN, Getty, Catholic, of, London, University of York, CNN Travel, Conservative, Lewes, Lewes Bonfire Society, Alexandra Palace, Celtic, Battersea Power Locations: England, Scotland, Wales, of England, Surrey, Britain, Lewes, Zulu, Lewes . The, spectate, Ottery St Mary, Devon, Ottery, North America, In Yorkshire, Lancashire, Yorkshire, London, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Ireland, York, South, Battersea

☆ Kit Connor's sexuality is none of your business
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Allison Hope | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —The pressure for 18-year-old actor Kit Connor to come out had been building on social media for months. It is one of the first to center LGBTQ characters — both Nick and Charlie, as well as others in the main cast — geared towards a teen and young adult audience. Rob Youngson/NetflixThe truth about Nelson’s character, as well as Connor’s real-life identity, may be much more nuanced. (From left) The cast of "Heartstopper" — Kizzy Edgell, Corinna Brown, Kit Connor, Joe Locke, Tobie Donovan and Sebastian Croft — attend London Pride on July 2. Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty ImagesNow LGBTQ audiences are rightfully asking the hard questions about who gets to play LGBTQ characters.

☆ British online furniture seller Made.com suspends trading amid last-ditch rescue talks
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

A view of a Made.com high street shop in central London on October 28, 2022 in London, England. Chris J Ratcliffe | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesLONDON — Millennial-oriented furniture retailer Made.com on Tuesday suspended trading of its shares on the London Stock Exchange, after failing to agree a rescue deal before a November deadline. However, customers also grumbled about long delivery times on some items, particularly as global supply chain issues intensified in 2021. Tough conditions"Customers are shying away from big-ticket items," said Sophie Lund-Yates, lead equity analyst at financial services firm Hargreaves Lansdown. "When the cost of living becomes untenable, buying expensive furniture is delayed, and that's exactly the pattern we've seen play out for Made.com."

☆ How Do Drag Shows Advance U.S. National Security?
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( John Ratcliffe | Cliff Sims | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The exportation of American culture has long been one of our nation’s greatest soft-power assets. But instead of using it to affirm Western values and U.S. interests, the Biden administration is proselytizing for woke ideology. The foreign-policy implications could be catastrophic. In an effort to “promote diversity and inclusion,” the State Department is funding “drag theater performances” in Ecuador through cultural grants. The purpose of the grants, according to official documents, is to “support the achievement of U.S. foreign policy goals and objectives, advance national interests, and enhance national security.”

☆ Factbox: Energy crisis revives coal demand and production
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

France - The Emile Huchet coal power plant restarted in early October, only six months after it closed, according to local media. Netherlands - Dutch energy minister Rob Jetten said in June the Netherlands will remove a production cap at coal-fired energy plants to preserve gas. In June, it said it plans to "increase thermal coal production from existing mines this year maximum by 1.5 million tonnes". Spain - The ministry for the ecological transition requested in May the delay of Endesa's As Pontes coal power station closure. (** Note that Ukraine's government has stopped releasing coal production data since the start of the war).

☆ Wall Street is debating whether the bear market still has legs
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( Jason Ma | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

So far, results from the big Wall Street banks have been mixed, with JPMorgan and Citigroup beating but Morgan Stanley falling short of forecasts. He told CNBC on Friday that Thursday's wild reversal wasn't just a bear market rally and could be the start of a new upswing. "We are, in my opinion, coming to the end of this bear market," Scaramucci told CNBC on Friday. Is the stock market poised for a sustainable uptrend or still teasing with bear market rallies? But the stock market isn't out of the woods yet as there could be more pain in the short-term.

☆ EU produces record wind and solar energy as it shirks Russian gas
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The boost in renewables comes as Europe tries to wean itself off Russian gas, as Moscow reduces, even cuts off, European nations’ energy supplies to gain leverage in the conflict. Wind and solar energy accounted for a quarter of EU electricity since the start of the war. Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg/Getty ImagesNineteen of the EU’s 27 member states have achieved record wind and solar generation since March, the report found. Fossil gas still made up around 20% of the EU’s electricity in the same period, at a cost of around €82 billion ($80.7 billion). The report’s key message is simply: “More renewables, less inflation.”Nonetheless, European energy prices are still high.

☆ U.K.'s new finance chief warns of 'difficult decisions ahead' amid political and market turmoil
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-15 | by ( Leila Sackur | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

LONDON — The U.K.'s new finance minister warned of “difficult decisions ahead” on Saturday, the morning after he had replaced his predecessor who was only 38 days into the job. Warning of “difficult decisions ahead” Hunt told British broadcaster Sky News: “Some taxes will not be cut as quickly as people would want, some taxes will go up.” (Sky News is owned by Comcast, the parent company of NBC News.) Kwarteng became the second shortest-serving chancellor of the exchequer, as the British finance minister is known. Britain's Prime Minister Liz Truss at a news conference on Friday. Truss is Britain’s third prime minister in six years.

☆ INEOS chief Ratcliffe contacted Glazers but told Man United not for sale
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Peter Hall | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MANCHESTER, England, Oct 11 (Reuters) - British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe said he had contacted Manchester United owners the Glazer family about buying the English Premier League club, but was told they were not for sale. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register"Manchester United is owned by the Glazer family, whom I have met," Ratcliffe told an event hosted by the Financial Times on Tuesday. "If it had have been for sale in the summer, yes, we would have probably had a go following on from the Chelsea thing, but we can't sit around hoping that one day Manchester United will become available." Purchasing another Premier League team is not out of the question. "We have an exciting sporting franchise (Nice in France's Ligue 1), but the one thing we don't have is a Premier (League) team," Ratcliffe added.

☆ 5 signs the world is headed for a recession
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-02 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

New York CNN Business —Around the world, markets are flashing warning signs that the global economy is teetering on a cliff’s edge. There’s now a 98% chance of a global recession, according to research firm Ned Davis, which brings some sobering historical credibility to the table. In an interview, its CEO was asked whether he believes the slowdown was a sign of a looming global recession. The upshotWhile the consensus is that a global recession is likely sometime in 2023, it’s impossible to predict how severe it will be or how long it will last. Not every recession is as painful as the 2007-09 Great Recession, but every recession is, of course, painful.

☆ Influencers who are testing Instagram's Creator Marketplace say it's nearly impossible to get brand deals: 'It's crickets'
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Instagram's Creator Marketplace is currently invite only. How Instagram's Creator Marketplace worksInstagram's Creator Marketplace isn't exactly a no man's land: There are more than 100 brands listed in the app's marketplace, Mello said. What influencers want to see from Instagram's marketplaceIn the end, Instagram's Creator Marketplace is still a limited test, and ups and downs are to be expected. Otherwise, the marketplace could alienate smaller creators, Bright said — and Instagram has reiterated that smaller and emerging creators are a core focus. Otherwise, the marketplace could alienate smaller creators, Bright said — and Instagram has reiterated that smaller and emerging creators are a core focus.

☆ In Westminster Abbey, the deafening sound of silence to honour Queen Elizabeth
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( Michael Holden | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 19: The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II passes through Horse Guards Parade during the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on September 19, 2022 in London, England. Chris J Ratcliffe/Pool via REUTERSWESTMINSTER ABBEY, London, Sept 19 (Reuters) - As the last notes of the poignant Last Post trumpet fanfare echoed around the vaulted ceilings of London's historic Westminster Abbey, a deep silence pervaded the majestic gothic cathedral. World leaders and dignitaries from about 200 countries and territories, some openly hostile to each other, united briefly for two minutes of silence in a show of tribute at the state funeral of Britain's Queen Elizabeth. Some members of Queen Elizabeth's family had pain etched on their faces as they followed her coffin into the Abbey. For the leaders of those realms, Monday's funeral was likely to represent not just a farewell to Elizabeth but a goodbye to monarchy.

☆ Apple set to unveil its new iPhones and Apple Watches
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-07 | by ( Todd Haselton | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

AppleApple is set to unveil its new iPhone 14 at a press event Wednesday in Cupertino, California, that starts at 1 p.m. Here's what's on deck:iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 ProAn employee serves a customer in the Apple store on Regent Street in London. In addition to the iPhone 14, an iPhone 14 Max would mark the first time Apple introduces its largest display into a non-Pro model. Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch ProApple Watch Series 7 Todd Haselton | CNBCApple's also set to introduce a new Apple Watch Series 8 to replace last year's Apple Watch Series 7. AirPods Pro 2AirPods, AirPods 3, AirPods Pro Todd Haselton | CNBCBloomberg said over the weekend that Apple is planning to announce the new AirPods Pro 2 on Wednesday.

☆ Iran a acuzat de spionaj, faptă pedepsită cu moartea, un turist francez care a ridicat o dronă lângă granița cu Turkmenistan
▼ + stars: | 2021-06-01 | by ( ) www.jurnal.md time to read: +2 min

Sursa foto: AFP PHOTO / Saeid Dehghan's Twitter account/ Profimedia ImagesIran a acuzat de spionaj, faptă pedepsită cu moartea, un turist francez care a ridicat o dronă lângă granița cu TurkmenistanFranța a respins acuzațiile de spionaj aduse unui cetățean francez în Iran, la un an după ce a fost arestat pentru că a ridicat o dronă în apropierea graniței Iran-Turkmenistan, informează BBC, citată de Digi24. Duminică, procurorii iranieni l-au acuzat de spionaj, faptă pedepsită cu moartea dacă este găsit vinovat. Acuzațiile la adresa turistului francez vin într-o perioadă de tensiuni între Iran și țările europene și SUA, din cauza instalațiilor nucleare ale statului din Orientul Mijlociu. Procurorii iranieni l-au acuzat pe Benjamin Briere și de "propagandă împotriva autorităților", faptă care este pedepsită cu până la un an de închisoare. Apărătorii drepturilor omului au acuzat în trecut Iran că rețin cetățeni străini sau cu dublă naționalitate, pentru a-i folosi ca avantaj la negocieri.

Persons: Benjamin Briere, american Donald Trump, Trump, Briere Organizations: BBC, iranieni, francez, Externe Locations: Iran, Turkmenistan Franța, francez, Turkmenistan, SUA, Orientul Mijlociu, Franța, China, Rusia, Germania, american, iranian, britanico

☆ Iranul anunţă un schimb de prizonieri cu SUA
▼ + stars: | 2021-05-02 | by ( Publika.Md - Aici Sunt Știrile | ) www.publika.md time to read: +2 min

Teheranul şi Washingtonul au căzut de acord în ceea ce priveşte un schimb de prizonieri, concomitent cu deblocarea fondurilor iraniene din SUA, conform postului iranian de televiziune. Iranul susţine că circa 20 de miliarde de dolari din veniturile sale din ţiţei au fost îngheţate în ţări precum Coreea de Sud, Irak şi China, după sancţiunile impuse de SUA în 2018, când fostul preşedinte american Donald Trump a retras SUA din acordul nuclear internaţional cu Iranul. Anul trecut, într-un gest neaşteptat, Iranul a eliberat un militar american, deţinut de doi ani. De asemenea, la sfârşitul lui 2019, SUA şi Iranul au procedat la un schimb de deţinuţi între iranianul Massoud Soleimani şi americanul Xiyue Wang, într-un rar gest de cooperare între cele două state. Schimbul a fost făcut în Elveţia.

Persons: american Donald Trump, Xiyue Wang Organizations: Agerpres, Xiyue, Universitatea Princeton Locations: Teheranul, SUA, Britanie, Iranului, Regatul Unit, Teheran, libanez, pro, iranian, Al, ţiţei, Coreea de Sud, Irak, China, american, Iran, Chicago, Elveţia

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