Mansions, university facilities, think tanks, sports teams — the U.K. is no stranger to Gulf money and multibillion-dollar investments streaming from Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia into British institutions. But newspapers? That’s a hard stop, apparently. The latest investment pursuit flowing westward from one of the U.K.’s close Gulf allies, the UAE,...
Tag: MediaOwnership
Journalist sacked for being critical warns over UAE takeover of The Telegraph
Reporters would not be able to speak freely under proposed new Gulf state owners, says co-founder of the Art Newspaper. A journalist has revealed how she was sacked for criticising the royal family of the United Arab Emirates as she warned that Telegraph journalists would not be able to speak freely if a planned takeover...
Telegraph could become ‘PR arm’ of UAE after proposed takeover, MPs warned
UAE-backed deal could be disastrous for UK government and freedom of press, opponents say. MPs have attacked the proposed UAE-backed takeover of the Telegraph newspapers, warning that it is impossible to “separate sheikh and state” and calling for further investigations to be launched before the deal “turns into a disaster for the government”. Julia Lopez,...
Brilliant: a Cop28 to save the planet – staged by oil barons who imperil it
The UAE will have its moment of glory while the UK press worries more about petrostate money buying the Telegraph. petrostate hosting a climate conference” sounds like a situation shouted out at an improv night, after they’ve done the ones about a fox hosting a henhouse and Jimmy Savile hosting Jim’ll Fix It. Arguably, though,...
Culture Secretary blocks Abu Dhabi fund from seizing Telegraph during investigation
Move is aimed to ensure the Government’s review of the proposed deal is not impeded upon. The Culture Secretary has blocked an Abu Dhabi-backed fund from taking control of The Telegraph while she carries out a review of a proposed takeover deal. Lucy Frazer today issued a “hold separate” order that prohibits ownership of the...
A misogynist foreign state must not be allowed to own The Telegraph
This paper has a proud history of promoting women’s voices, including mine. It has to continue in that vein. Our government has passed the ;rst test. In issuing a Public Interest Intervention Notice (PIIN) in response to the United Arab Emirates funded bid to buy the Telegraph titles and The Spectator magazine, culture secretary Lucy...
Foreign Office ‘trying to block’ Telegraph takeover investigation’
The Foreign Office has been accused of attempting to block an official investigation into the takeover of The Telegraph by an Abu Dhabi-backed organisation. Lucy Frazer, the culture secretary, has said that she is minded to open a regulatory investigation into whether the bid by RedBird IMI would be against the public interest. The Telegraph...
UK Inclined to Order Probe into Abu Dhabi-Backed Telegraph Deal
The UK government is leaning toward ordering a probe into RedBird IMI’s proposed Telegraph deal, after the prospect of an Abu Dhabi-backed fund taking control of the British newspaper raised national security concerns among some Conservative lawmakers. Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said she’s “minded to” issue a so-called Public Interest Intervention Notice. “This relates to concerns I...
UK minded to intervene in Abu Dhabi-backed deal for The Telegraph
British media minister Lucy Frazer said on Wednesday she was “minded to” intervene in a deal that could see Abu Dhabi-backed RedBird IMI take control of the Daily Telegraph, saying she had concerns about the newspaper’s independence. The right-leaning title and Spectator magazine, favourites of politicians in the leading Conservative Party, are being sold after...