UK curbs foreign ownership of print media, UK government has announced that foreign governments will be banned from owning UK newspapers and news magazines. Watch to know more!

UK: Rishi Sunak moves to block takeover of Telegraph newspaper

The UK government has announced a ban on foreign governments owning British newspapers and news magazines. This announcement follows concerns over a proposed Daily Telegraph and Spectator takeover by a United Arab Emirates-backed investment firm, RedBird IMI.

<h2>Why is such a ban necessary?</h2>

As per a BBC report, the proposed ban, to be introduced as an amendment to the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill, would "deliver additional protections for a free press".&nbsp;

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay announcing the ban said the new law would "rule out newspaper and periodical news magazine mergers involving ownership, influence or control by foreign states".

Labour has indicated support for the change, which comes amidst cross-party pressure on the government to address the issue.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/britain-redefines-extremism-in-the-face-of-rising-hate-crimes-critics-call-it-a-threat-to-free-speech-699848">Britain redefines 'extremism' in the face of rising hate crimes, critics call it a threat to free speech</a>

As per Lord Parkinson, the ban would not apply to broadcasters.

The proposed ban will refer proposed media mergers involving foreign states to the Competition and Markets Authority for investigation, with the Secretary of State required to block or unwind any merger resulting in foreign state ownership, influence, or control, he explained.

The move comes as RedBird IMI continues its efforts to take control of the Daily and Sunday Telegraph newspaper titles and Spectator magazine. The fund, largely owned by Sheikh Mansour of the UAE, faced growing political opposition.

<h2>RedBird IMI reacts</h2>

Reacting to the government's decision, a spokesperson for RedBird IMI said they were "extremely disappointed by today's development" and stated they "remain committed" to investing in global media.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-report-finds-israels-killing-of-journalist-in-lebanon-a-clear-violation-of-international-law-699846">UN report finds Israel's killing of journalist in Lebanon a clear violation of international law</a>

"We will now evaluate our next steps, with commercial interests continuing to be the sole priority."

"To date, Redbird IMI has made six investments across the UK and US, and we believed the UK's media environment was worthy of further investment.

"As with each of our deals, we have been clear that the acquisition of The Telegraph and The Spectator has been a fully commercial undertaking."

However, the company's bid for the newspapers looks likely to fail, reported BBC citing sources close to the matter.

Watch |&nbsp;UK MPs warn against UAE takeover of Telegraph

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-mps-warn-against-uae-takeover-of-telegraph-661963/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Andrew Neil, chairman of the Spectator, also noted that the UAE bid "now looks dead in the water". Former Daily Telegraph editor Lord Moore of Etchingham remarked that such a rule should have existed from the start to provide clarity on proposed takeovers.

Baroness Stowell, chair of the Communications and Digital Committee, emphasised the importance of preventing foreign powers from acquiring UK news media organizations.&nbsp;

"Allowing foreign governments to own such a critical and sensitive part of our nation would damage public confidence in all of us yet further if it was allowed to happen," she said.

(With inputs from agencies)

The UK government has announced a ban on foreign governments owning British newspapers and news magazines. This announcement follows concerns over a proposed Daily Telegraph and Spectator takeover by a United Arab Emirates-backed investment firm, RedBird IMI.

The UK government has announced a ban on foreign governments owning British newspapers and news magazines. This announcement follows concerns over a proposed Daily Telegraph and Spectator takeover by a United Arab Emirates-backed investment firm, RedBird IMI. Why is such a ban necessary? As per a BBC report, the proposed ban, to be introduced as an amendment to the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill, would "deliver additional protections for a free press". Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay announcing the ban said the new law would "rule out newspaper and periodical news magazine mergers involving ownership, influence or control by foreign states". Labour has indicated support for the change, which comes amidst cross-party pressure on the government to address the issue. Also read | Britain redefines 'extremism' in the face of rising hate crimes, critics call it a threat to free speech As per Lord Parkinson, the ban would not apply to broadcasters. The proposed ban will refer proposed media mergers involving foreign states to the Competition and Markets Authority for investigation, with the Secretary of State required to block or unwind any merger resulting in foreign state ownership, influence, or control, he explained. The move comes as RedBird IMI continues its efforts to take control of the Daily and Sunday Telegraph newspaper titles and Spectator magazine. The fund, largely owned by Sheikh Mansour of the UAE, faced growing political opposition. RedBird IMI reacts Reacting to the government's decision, a spokesperson for RedBird IMI said they were "extremely disappointed by today's development" and stated they "remain committed" to investing in global media. Also read | UN report finds Israel's killing of journalist in Lebanon a clear violation of international law "We will now evaluate our next steps, with commercial interests continuing to be the sole priority." "To date, Redbird IMI has made six investments across the UK and US, and we believed the UK's media environment was worthy of further investment. "As with each of our deals, we have been clear that the acquisition of The Telegraph and The Spectator has been a fully commercial undertaking." However, the company's bid for the newspapers looks likely to fail, reported BBC citing sources close to the matter. Watch | UK MPs warn against UAE takeover of Telegraph Andrew Neil, chairman of the Spectator, also noted that the UAE bid "now looks dead in the water". Former Daily Telegraph editor Lord Moore of Etchingham remarked that such a rule should have existed from the start to provide clarity on proposed takeovers. Baroness Stowell, chair of the Communications and Digital Committee, emphasised the importance of preventing foreign powers from acquiring UK news media organizations. "Allowing foreign governments to own such a critical and sensitive part of our nation would damage public confidence in all of us yet further if it was allowed to happen," she said. (With inputs from agencies)

UK bans foreign ownership of newspapers, putting UAE-backed takeover of Telegraph in jeopardy

In what comes as a blow to the proposed takeover of the Telegraph newspaper by a consortium backed by the UAE, the British government on Thursday (Nov 30) said&nbsp;it had triggered a formal probe, citing public interest grounds.&nbsp;

UK Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer wrote a letter to the Barclay family that owns Telegraph Media Group (TMG) and RedBird IMI - the company set to take over the media house, stating that she was issuing a&nbsp;Public Interest Intervention Notice (PIIN) in relation to the deal.

"This relates to concerns I have that there may be public interest considerations... that are relevant to the anticipated acquisition of TMG by RedBird IMI and that these concerns warrant further investigation," Frazer wrote.&nbsp;

The in-depth inquiry will be conducted by Ofcom - a media regulator, to ascertain if the complex deal could impede the accurate presentation of news, free expression of opinion and sufficient plurality of views.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will look into any competition issues and if the new entity could pose a problem to the established journalistic setup in the country.&nbsp;

Both Ofcom and CMA have been given time until January 26, 2024, to prepare a report and present it to the government.&nbsp;

Since the announcement of the deal, there has been a major furore within the journalism and political circles. The Tories have expressed apprehensions over the deal saying&nbsp;“influence over a quality national newspaper being passed to a foreign ruler at any time should raise concerns [and] must be investigated”.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-mps-warn-against-uae-takeover-of-telegraph-to-review-proposed-sale-of-telegraph-media-group-661896">Watch |&nbsp;UK MPs warn against UAE takeover of Telegraph, to review proposed sale of Telegraph Media Group</a>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-mps-warn-against-uae-takeover-of-telegraph-to-review-proposed-sale-of-telegraph-media-group-661896/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<h2>The face behind the deal</h2>

Notabbly. RedBird IMI is a joint venture between the US company RedBird Capital and International Media Investments (IMI) of Abu Dhabi, the investment vehicle for Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Sheikh Mansour is a known face in the UK. He bought Premier League club Manchester City in 2008, transforming the mid-table club into treble winners.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/inside-uaes-sheikh-mansours-bid-to-buy-the-telegraph-newspaper-662714">Also read |&nbsp;Inside UAE's Sheikh Mansour's bid to buy The Telegraph newspaper</a>

However, the club is currently under investigation for breaching Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules among other charges. According to reports, the club breached 115 regulations since the start of the 2009-10 season.&nbsp;

Hence, there has been a degree of uneasiness among the higher echelons of British bureaucracy over the proposed deal. If the takeover goes through, UAE will have control of&nbsp;The Daily and Sunday Telegraph sister newspapers and The Spectator magazine.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In what comes as a blow to the proposed takeover of the Telegraph newspaper by a consortium backed by the UAE, the British government on Thursday (Nov 30) said it had triggered a formal probe, citing public interest grounds.

In what comes as a blow to the proposed takeover of the Telegraph newspaper by a consortium backed by the UAE, the British government on Thursday (Nov 30) said it had triggered a formal probe, citing public interest grounds. UK Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer wrote a letter to the Barclay family that owns Telegraph Media Group (TMG) and RedBird IMI - the company set to take over the media house, stating that she was issuing a Public Interest Intervention Notice (PIIN) in relation to the deal. "This relates to concerns I have that there may be public interest considerations... that are relevant to the anticipated acquisition of TMG by RedBird IMI and that these concerns warrant further investigation," Frazer wrote. The in-depth inquiry will be conducted by Ofcom - a media regulator, to ascertain if the complex deal could impede the accurate presentation of news, free expression of opinion and sufficient plurality of views. Meanwhile, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will look into any competition issues and if the new entity could pose a problem to the established journalistic setup in the country. Both Ofcom and CMA have been given time until January 26, 2024, to prepare a report and present it to the government. Since the announcement of the deal, there has been a major furore within the journalism and political circles. The Tories have expressed apprehensions over the deal saying “influence over a quality national newspaper being passed to a foreign ruler at any time should raise concerns [and] must be investigated”. Watch | UK MPs warn against UAE takeover of Telegraph, to review proposed sale of Telegraph Media Group × The face behind the deal Notabbly. RedBird IMI is a joint venture between the US company RedBird Capital and International Media Investments (IMI) of Abu Dhabi, the investment vehicle for Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Sheikh Mansour is a known face in the UK. He bought Premier League club Manchester City in 2008, transforming the mid-table club into treble winners. Also read | Inside UAE's Sheikh Mansour's bid to buy The Telegraph newspaper However, the club is currently under investigation for breaching Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules among other charges. According to reports, the club breached 115 regulations since the start of the 2009-10 season. Hence, there has been a degree of uneasiness among the higher echelons of British bureaucracy over the proposed deal. If the takeover goes through, UAE will have control of The Daily and Sunday Telegraph sister newspapers and The Spectator magazine. (With inputs from agencies)

'Setback for Barclay family?': UK government to probe proposed Telegraph takeover by UAE-backed consortium

Abu Dhabi bed investment fund RedBird Capital says it is all set to take control of the Telegraph and Spectator newspapers. However conservative members of parliament have voiced concerns over the danger of foreign influence they are asking the government to use the National Security laws to investigate potential risks around the bid.

UK MPs warn against UAE takeover of Telegraph

According to statements made in the public interest, the UK government plans to examine the proposed sale of the Telegraph Media Group to an investment fund backed by Abu Dhabi. The fund, RedBird IMI, declared on Monday that it was going to seize ownership of The Spectator magazine, The Daily Telegraph, and The Sunday Telegraph, which are sister newspapers.

UK government to review the proposed sale of the Telegraph Media Group

On the basis of public interest, the UK government announced on Wednesday that it was "minded" to examine the planned sale of the Telegraph Media Group to an investment fund backed by Abu Dhabi.

UK MPs warn against UAE takeover of Telegraph, to review proposed sale of Telegraph Media Group

Two iconic UK publications may soon be sold out to new owner media, reports suggest that Daily Telegraph and Spectator magazines may be sold after receivers seize the company that owns both publications.

UK: Two iconic publications, Telegraph & Spectator, may be sold | World News | WION

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. The website of UK-based newspaper The Telegraph has been blocked in Russia, state communications regulator Roskomnadzor's data showed on Tuesday (June 21). TASS news agency cited the regulator as saying that the access to Telegraph.co.uk was restricted after it was found to have disseminated "inaccurate information about the special military operation conducted by Russia's Armed Forces on the territory of Ukraine." Russia announced the invasion of Ukraine on February 24, calling it a "special military operation". Ever since the invasion, Russia has cracked down on media coverage of the conflict, blocking the websites of foreign news outlets. Russia claims the international sites might have spread "fake" news about its military campaign. Although, The Telegraph has claimed that it is the first British newspaper to have its website blocked in Russia. But, notably, the website of the BBC was among other sites that were apparently blocked in Russia for their coverage of the Ukraine war. The Telegraph said: "The Telegraph is proud of its reporting of the invasion of Ukraine and regrets attempts by Russia to restrict press freedoms." Meanwhile, a Russian television signal was turned on in the occupied southern region of Kherson. It appears as the latest move aimed at strengthening Moscow's control over the area. Russia has already introduced the ruble in Kherson and begun distributing Russian passports. Kherson is the city of the same name was the first to fall to Russia within days of the invasion. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Amid Ukraine war, website of a British newspaper blocked in Russia

British &nbsp;Prime Minister Boris Johnson has termed the ongoing row over the removal of statues of historical figures as a "distortion of our history".&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/protesters-burn-down-wendys-in-atlanta-after-police-shooting-305850" hreflang="en">Protesters burn down Wendy's in Atlanta after police shooting</a>

"If we start purging the record and removing the images of all but those whose attitudes conform to our own, we are engaged in a great lie, a distortion of our history," Johnson wrote in The Telegraph.&nbsp;

Boris Johnson also defended the former prime minister Winston Churchill and said it was &nbsp;"absurd and deplorable" that the monument was in danger.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square is a permanent reminder of his achievement in saving this country – and the whole of Europe – from a fascist and racist tyranny. 1/8
— Boris Johnson #StayAlert (@BorisJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/BorisJohnson/status/1271388180193914880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"He was a hero, and I expect I am not alone in saying that I will resist with every breath in my body any attempt to remove that statue from Parliament Square, and the sooner his protective shielding comes off the better," he said.

Meanwhile, authorities in London have boarded up the statue ahead of expected rival demonstrations by anti-racism and far-right protestors.

A protective plywood screen has been erected around Churchill's statue outside Parliament. Authorities also fenced off the nearby Cenotaph, a memorial to Britain's war dead.

Monuments have become a major focus of contention in demonstrations sparked by the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer who knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes.

Several other statues have been defaced around the country.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has termed the ongoing row over the removal of statues of historical figures as a "distortion of our history". Also read: Protesters burn down Wendy's in Atlanta after police shooting "If we start purging the record and removing the images of all but those whose attitudes conform to our own, we are engaged in a great lie, a distortion of our history," Johnson wrote in The Telegraph.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has termed the ongoing row over the removal of statues of historical figures as a "distortion of our history". Also read: Protesters burn down Wendy's in Atlanta after police shooting "If we start purging the record and removing the images of all but those whose attitudes conform to our own, we are engaged in a great lie, a distortion of our history," Johnson wrote in The Telegraph. Boris Johnson also defended the former prime minister Winston Churchill and said it was "absurd and deplorable" that the monument was in danger. The statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square is a permanent reminder of his achievement in saving this country – and the whole of Europe – from a fascist and racist tyranny. 1/8 — Boris Johnson #StayAlert (@BorisJohnson) June 12, 2020 × "He was a hero, and I expect I am not alone in saying that I will resist with every breath in my body any attempt to remove that statue from Parliament Square, and the sooner his protective shielding comes off the better," he said. Meanwhile, authorities in London have boarded up the statue ahead of expected rival demonstrations by anti-racism and far-right protestors. A protective plywood screen has been erected around Churchill's statue outside Parliament. Authorities also fenced off the nearby Cenotaph, a memorial to Britain's war dead. Monuments have become a major focus of contention in demonstrations sparked by the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer who knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes. Several other statues have been defaced around the country.

British PM Boris Johnson defends Churchill and terms removing of statues 'distortion of our history'

telegraph

Telegraph, News on Telegraph, stories on Telegraph, articles on Telegraph, Telegraph stories at Wion, Telegraph news, Telegraph latest news