श्रीराम जन्मभूमि तीर्थक्षेत्र के न्यासियों की बैठक आज आषाढ शुक्ल नवमी, २०८३, बुधवार, २२ जुलाई, २०२६ को अयोध्या में सम्पन्न हुई। इसमें श्रावण मास में संभावित अपेक्षाकृत अधिक श्रद्धालुओं के दर्शनार्थ आगमन को दृष्टिगत कर आवश्यक निर्णय, न्यासी मंडल में रिक्त स्थानों की पूर्ति, चढ़ावा राशि की गणना में स्टेट बैंक के साथ सम्पन्न एम ओ यू के अंतर्गत बैंक की त्रुटियों के महत्वपूर्ण विषयों के अतिरिक्त मुख्य कार्यकारी अधिकारी (सी ई ओ) के चयन की प्रगति आदि अनेक विषयों पर चर्चा हुई।
राम मंदिर ट्रस्ट की बड़ी बैठक आज अयोध्या में, लिए गए महत्वपूर्ण निर्णय
Ayodhya Ram Mandir News
चढावे की राशि की गणना प्रक्रिया में अनियमितता की जांच कर रहे विशेष जांच दल (एस आई टी) की अंतिम रिपोर्ट अभी तक प्राप्त नहीं होने से इस संबंध में चर्चा नहीं हो सकी। माननीय उच्चतम न्यायालय में इस संबंध में प्रविष्ट याचिकाओं पर सुनवाई की प्रगति एवं माननीय न्यायालय के आदेशों का संज्ञान लिया गया।
राम मंदिर ट्रस्ट बैठक 2026: अयोध्या में हुई अहम बैठक, भक्तों के लिए बड़ी अपडेट
न्यासियों ने मंदिर परिसर में स्थापित सी सी टी वी केमरों की सुरक्षा अधिकारियों तक पहुँच की स्थिति की समीक्षा की और इस बात पर संतोष व्यक्त किया कि चढ़ावा राशि के गणना कक्ष सहित समस्त केमरों की पहुँच सभी सुरक्षा अधिकारियों को पहले से उपलब्ध कराई गई है।
Ayodhya Ram Mandir News
राम मंदिर ट्रस्ट की बड़ी बैठक आज अयोध्या में, लिए गए महत्वपूर्ण निर्णय
न्यासी मंडल ने इस सूचना पर संतोष जताया कि भारतीय रिजर्व बैंक के सहायक संस्थान की टकसाल (मिंट) के साथ स्वर्ण रजत चढ़ावे की मात्रा एवं शुद्धता जाँचने की व्यवस्था अनवरत चालू रखने का निश्चय किया है।
इस प्रकरण में स्टेट बैंक के साथ सम्पन्न एम ओ यू के अंतर्गत बैंक के दायित्वों और उनके अनुपालना में बैंक की त्रुटियों पर समग्र चर्चा हुई। अनियमितताओं के प्रकाश में आने के पश्चात बैंक की प्रतिक्रिया और गंभीरता के अभाव को दृष्टिगत करते हुए न्यासी मंडल ने निराशा प्रगट की है एवं न्यास की वित्त समिति को बैंक के साथ सम्बन्धों पर और मानक प्रक्रियाओं पर पुनर्विचार कर समुचित निर्णय लेने को कहा है।
एक उपयुक्त मुख्य कार्यकारी अधिकारी का चयन करने के निमित गठित समिति ने भारी संख्या में आवेदन प्राप्त होने से चयन में अधिक समय की आवश्यकता बताते हुए एक माह का अतिरिक्त समय मांगा है । विषय की गंभीरता और परिस्थितियों कोदृष्टिगत करते हुए न्यासी मंडल ने यह अनुरोध स्वीकार किया है। न्यास ने आगामी कालखंड में श्रद्धालुओं की संख्या में संभावित वृद्धि को देखते हुए मुख्य कार्यकारी अधिकारी की नियुक्ति में इस विलंब के कारण एक सचिव की नियुक्ति की स्वीकृति प्रदान की है।
समस्त दुष्प्रचार एवं अतिरेकी आरोपों के बावजूद श्रीराम जन्मभूमि मंदिर में दर्शनार्थ आने वाले श्रद्धालुओं की संख्या यथावत है। यह इस बात का प्रमाण है कि आधारहीन, मिथ्या और भ्रामक आरोपों के बाद भी करोड़ों रामभक्तों की आस्था और विश्वास अडिग है। न्यासी मंडल ने इस अटूट समर्थन के लिए संपूर्ण संत समुदाय, देश विदेश से आ रहे भक्तों और अवध के समाज के प्रति आभार जताया है।
मीडिया के माध्यम से समाज के साथ संवाद की निरंतरता की आवश्यकता पर विचार करते हुए न्यास ने प्रवक्ता नियुक्त करने का निर्णय किया है।
न्यासी मंडल ने न्यासियों के रिक्त स्थानों की पूर्ति हेतु किए जा रहे प्रयासों का संज्ञान लिया और पाया कि इस महत्वपूर्ण कार्य को पूर्ण करने में कुछ और सप्ताह लगेंगे।
Ayodhya Ram Mandir News
न्यास ने मंदिर परिसर में पूजा अर्चना की परंपरागत प्रामाणिकता और शुद्धता बनाए रखने के निमित्त धार्मिक समिति का पुनर्गठन किया है। स्वामी श्री गोविंद देव गिरि जी की अध्यक्षता वाली इस समिति में पूज्य जगद्गुरु शंकराचार्य ज्योतिश्पीठाधिपति श्री वासुदेवानंद सरस्वती जी महाराज, मध्वपीठाधिपति स्वामी विश्वप्रसन्नतीर्थ जी महाराज, स्वामी युगपुरुष परमानन्द जी, पूज्य स्वामी श्री दिनेंद्रदास जी निर्मोही अखाड़ा, पूज्य स्वामी कमलनयनदास जी मणिराम छावनी, पूज्य महंत श्री राजकुमार दास जी (रमावल्लभ कुंज), स्वामी रामानन्द दास जी (राम कथा कुंज) एवं स्वामी मिथिलेश्नंदिनी शरण जी सदस्य रहेंगे।
Carlyle, the American investment giant, has become the latest global fund to weigh an investment in Thames Water as the stricken utility races to avoid being nationalised.
Sky News has learnt that Carlyle, which has roughly $435bn in assets under management, is at the very preliminary stages of assessing whether an investment in Thames Water Utilities Limited (TWUL) would be viable.
Britain’s biggest water and wastewater company, which has about 16 million customers, is edging towards the brink of collapse after warning in recent days that its financial liquidity is set to expire months earlier than previously anticipated.
It has also seen its credit rating downgraded further into junk territory by two leading rating agencies.
Carlyle is one of a long list of prospective investors approached by Rothschild, the investment bank advising Thames Water’s board, as the utility scrambles to raise more than £3bn in the coming months.
This weekend, people close to the process confirmed that Carlyle had been approached but said it was “too early” to judge whether the firm might participate in a rescue deal through one or more of its funds.
Among the others sounded out by Rothschild are Brookfield, the Canadian investment giant, and Global Infrastructure Partners, which is now owned by BlackRock.
Many investors and industry analysts believe, however, that the Rothschild-led process is destined to fail given the massive financial restructuring which faces Thames Water.
The company has about £16bn in debt, with approximately £10bn of that accounted for by a group of 90 funds which have appointed Jefferies and Akin Gump to represent them.
That syndicate is now preparing its own rescue plan in the coming weeks, which is likely to include an enormous debt-for-equity swap that would wipe out the existing shareholders.
Thames Water’s future remains so shrouded in uncertainty because the industry watchdog, Ofwat, has rejected the company’s initial spending plans for the next five-year regulatory period.
The company is now engaged in discussions with Ofwat ahead of its final determination in December.
A bridging loan of about £1bn is being contemplated by some of Thames Water’s creditors, but some stakeholders remain sceptical that any new financing will be forthcoming without greater regulatory certainty.
“Until the lenders know what they are bridging to, the concern deepens that they risk throwing good money after bad,” said one fund.
TWUL’s board is said to have met in the last 48 hours to discuss the implications of its latest rating downgrades and impending liquidity shortfall.
One creditor said that Ofwat was expected to appoint an independent monitor next week to scrutinise the company’s progress against its turnaround plan.
Ofwat, which signalled in August that it would make such an appointment, declined to comment.
If new investment into Thames Water is not forthcoming before it runs out of cash, the government will have little choice but to sanction the temporary nationalisation of the company.
This would be done through a Special Administration Regime (SAR), a procedure tested only once before when Bulb Energy collapsed in 2021.
As part of its contingency planning for implementing a far-reaching restructuring, Thames Water has booked court dates in November to progress a rescue deal.
A source close to the company said that Thames Water “continues to look at all options for extending its liquidity and raising new equity”.
“Reserving court dates is sensible forward planning and a part of keeping all options open.”
Ordinary investors will be given the chance to participate in a £500m flotation of Applied Nutrition, the fast-growing sports supplements maker, when it unveils plans for an initial public offering in London this week.
Sky News has learnt that Liverpool-based Applied Nutrition will issue an announcement signalling its expected intention to float on Monday morning, paving the way for one of the City’s most prominent floats of 2024.
City sources said that a retail offering to private investors would be coordinated by RetailBook, enabling them to acquire millions of pounds of stock at the IPO price.
Issuing its EITF document will enable shares in Applied Nutrition to begin trading before the Budget in late October, when chancellor Rachel Reeves is forecast to substantially increase capital gains tax.
The Sunday Times recently reported that the timing of the company’s float had been brought forward to enable existing shareholders – including founder and chief executive Thomas Ryder – to offload parts of their holding without incurring CGT at a higher level.
Applied Nutrition has already attracted pre-IPO investments from prominent businesspeople including Peter Cowgill, the former JD Sports Fashion boss who authorised its purchase of a large stake in the company.
Mr Cowgill previously sat on the board of Applied Nutrition as a non-executive, but stepped down when he left JD Sports in 2022.
It has also appointed Andy Bell, founder of the London-listed investment platform AJ Bell, as its chairman, further bolstering its credentials for an initial public offering (IPO).
Bankers at Deutsche Numis are handling the float.
Founded by Mr Ryder, Applied Nutrition formulates and makes premium nutrition supplements for professional athletes and gym enthusiasts.
It is the official nutrition partner of a range of English football clubs, including Premier League side Fulham, and the Scottish Premiership side Glasgow Rangers.
The company, which sells its products in over 60 countries, also has partnerships with professional boxers, MMA stars and in sports including basketball, cycling and rugby league.
Applied Nutrition’s largest brands include ABE – All Black Everything – which is a pre-workout range now stocked by Walmart, the world’s biggest physical retailer and former owner of Asda.
Other products in its portfolio include BodyFuel, a hydration drink.
A successful listing for the company would boost the London Stock Exchange’s broader efforts to attract fast-growing companies to list their shares in the UK.
Decisions by a growing number of companies to shift their listings to the US – with Paddy Power-owner Flutter Entertainment becoming the latest example – have cast a pall over the City.
Last year saw the number of companies going public in London halving, with proceeds raised from initial public offerings (IPOs) falling by 40% year-on-year.
A spokesperson for Applied Nutrition declined to comment.
A British online crafts retailer which saw sales boom during COVID-19 lockdowns will this week strike a deal to sell itself to an American bidder.
Sky News understands that Lovecrafts, which counts some of the UK’s best-known technology funds among its backers, is on the verge of agreeing a takeover by Missouri Star Quilt Company.
The deal is understood to value Lovecrafts in the tens of millions of pounds.
Sources said it could be concluded as soon as the next couple of days, following months of negotiations.
It is said to represent a complementary fit for Missouri Star Quilt because there is little overlap in terms of the two companies’ existing focus.
Lovecrafts, which is chaired by the media veteran Sir Peter Bazalgette, drafted in Interpath Advisory to work on a sale earlier this year.
Sir Peter, who became chairman in 2018, is a former chairman of ITV and one of the most prominent figures in the British media industry.
Founded in 2012, Lovecrafts is backed by leading growth investors including Highland Ventures, Balderton Capital and Scottish Equity Partners.
Lovecrafts grew rapidly during the pandemic, with Britain’s series of lockdowns prompting large numbers of consumers to take up hobbies such as knitting and sewing.
Growth has stalled since then, however, with its main shareholders said to be unwilling to inject more money into the business.
In 2021, Lovecrafts raised nearly £16m, adding to funding worth well over £25m that it had secured since its launch.
Lovecrafts could not be reached for comment, while Interpath declined to comment.
The UK’s biggest steelworks will cease production today after more than 100 years, leading to thousands of job losses across South Wales.
Blast Furnace 4 – the final furnace operating at Tata Steel’s plant in Port Talbot – will be fully shut down at about 5pm, with the last steel made late on Monday evening.
In an email sent to staff and seen by Sky News, Tata UK’s chief executive Rajesh Nair admitted it would be a “difficult day” of “great emotion and reflection”.
Tata Steel is replacing the furnace with a greener electric arc furnace which will use UK-sourced scrap steel, but that will not be operational until 2028.
The transition will cost £1.25bn, £500m of which is being paid by the British government and will lead to nearly 3,000 job losses, almost 75% of the workforce.
Image: Pic: iStock
Tata Steel said in a statement it was “a significant event in the history of iron and steelmaking in the UK as the legacy steelmaking assets in Port Talbot close, having reached their end of life.”
But it said steelmaking at the site will resume in 2027/2028 thanks to its investment in “low-CO2 ‘green’ steel”, offering a “brighter, greener future”.
The scheme will “sustain more than 5,000 jobs across the UK, and give Tata Steel businesses across the UK a competitive market advantage.”
Unions have battled for months to push back the furnace closure and reduce the number of redundancies.
Roy Rickhuss, general secretary of the Community Union which represents most steelworkers at Port Talbot, said it was an “incredibly sad and poignant day” for the British steel industry.
“It’s also a moment of huge frustration – it simply didn’t have to be this way.”
“Last year Community and GMB published a credible alternative plan for Port Talbot which would have ensured a fair transition to green steelmaking and prevented compulsory redundancies. Tata’s decision to reject that plan will go down as an historic missed opportunity,” he added.
Image: Pic: PA
In an email sent to staff last Friday, Tata UK’s chief executive Rajesh Nair said: “Port Talbot has long been associated with the iron and steel industry and the closure of our heavy end operations will be a hugely significant and emotional day for employees – past and present – contractor partners, and the local community.
“While it will of course be a difficult day, it is a necessary step as we transition to a green steel future and secure the legacy of steelmaking at Port Talbot for future generations.”
As well as around 2,800 job losses, many fear there will be a greater number of workers in the wider supply chain impacted.
Today the Welsh government announced that businesses impacted will be able to apply for funding to overcome “short-term challenges” during the transition phase.
Financial support for affected businesses
Secretary of state for Wales and chair of the Transition Board, Jo Stevens, said: “Businesses and workers that supply Tata have been feeling the impact of the changes at Port Talbot for months.
“That’s why I announced this £13.5m fund within weeks of the new UK government coming into office, and have worked at pace with partners in Welsh government and the council to get applications open.
“I encourage affected businesses to come forward and check their eligibility for this financial support, as part of the wider support package we are putting in place. This government will back workers and businesses whatever happens.”
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The giant Port Talbot steelworks will not close completely – it will continue to operate hot and cold strip mills to roll steel slab imported from overseas.
But it is a hugely significant day not only for the UK’s industrial infrastructure, but for a town built on steel that will no longer produce it.
The government announced earlier this month it will publish a strategy for the future of UK steel next spring.
The minimum unit price for alcohol in Scotland has increased by 30% as part of efforts to tackle deaths and hospital admissions linked to alcohol harm.
From Monday, the minimum unit price (MUP) rises from 50p to 65p.
Price change under the 65p MUP: • Scotch whisky 40%: 700ml bottle will increase from £14 to £18.20. • Vodka/gin 37.5%: 700ml bottle will increase from £13.13 to £17.07. • Wine 13%: 750ml bottle will increase from £4.88 to £6.34. • Beer 5%: 4x440ml cans will increase from £4.40 to £5.72. • Cider 4.5%: 4x440ml cans will increase from £3.96 to £5.15.
In 2018, Scotland became the first country in the world to ban retailers from selling alcohol below 50p per unit.
The MUP aims to reduce consumption at population level, with a particular focus on targeting those who drink at “hazardous and harmful” levels.
MUP is not a tax and does not generate money for the Scottish government. Instead, any additional revenue is retained by the licensed premises.
Health Secretary Neil Gray said the Scottish government is “determined to do all it can to reduce alcohol-related harm”.
Image: Health Secretary Neil Gray. Pic: PA
He added: “I am working to ensure people with problematic alcohol use receive the same quality of care and support as those dealing with problematic drugs use.
“We have also made a record £112m available to Alcohol and Drug Partnerships to deliver or commission treatment and support services locally, as well as investing £100m in residential rehabilitation.
“I have also asked that Public Health Scotland is commissioned to review evidence and options for reducing exposure to alcohol marketing.”
The latest figures from National Records of Scotland showed an increase of one from the previous year, which was the highest number of alcohol-related deaths since 2008.
Research conducted by Public Health Scotland estimated that in the two-and-a-half years following MUP implementation, there were 13.4% fewer alcohol-related deaths north of the border relative to England.
This is estimated to be equivalent to an average of 156 lives saved in Scotland per year.
The data also showed hospital admissions wholly attributable to alcohol decreased by 4.1% over the same period.
However, the report noted there was “limited evidence to suggest that MUP was effective in reducing consumption for people with alcohol dependence”.
Alcohol Focus Scotland supports the MUP but has warned against treating it as a “silver bullet” in tackling the ongoing health emergency.
The charity is calling for the MUP to be “automatically uprated by inflation going forward”, alongside the introduction of an alcohol harm prevention levy on alcohol retailers to raise money to fund public prevention, treatment and recovery support.
Image: Alison Douglas, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland
Alison Douglas, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, said: “The uprating of the minimum unit price for alcohol to 65p is a welcome and necessary step to ensure that this life-saving policy remains effective.
“The Scottish government and parliament are to be commended for implementing this policy in the first place, and for deciding to renew the policy and increase the minimum price.”
Ms Douglas added that the Scottish government must take further action.
She said: “Introducing MUP was a great example of government doing the right thing for the health and prosperity of our nation.
“It’s time to show leadership in tackling alcohol harm once again by improving the identification of people at risk of alcohol problems; increasing access to treatment and recovery support for those already experiencing them; and taking preventative action on marketing and availability to protect future generations.”
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The Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF) has always been supportive of the MUP but does not agree with it rising to 65p.
Image: Dr Pete Cheema, chief executive of the Scottish Grocers’ Federation
Dr Pete Cheema, chief executive of the trade association, told Sky News: “It wasn’t really clear to us what impact the policy had had on consumption in Scotland.
“Bearing in mind a lot of the analysis that had been done, had been done during a period when we had COVID and everything was shut and it wasn’t business as usual.”
Dr Cheema said the analysis to date had been “very, very unclear”.
He added: “And that’s why we had advocated that we should wait another five years and leave the MUP at 50p before we take any further action.”
Dr Cheema said the SGF is concerned about the impact of increasing prices on top of the cost of living crisis as well as “exacerbating retail crime”.
He said: “I hope it does have the change that the government want, but that remains to be seen.”
Mike Ashley’s sprawling retail empire Frasers Group has revealed a takeover bid for Mulberry, the struggling luxury brand, claiming it wants to save the company from a potential Debenhams-style collapse.
Frasers, which already owns 37% of Mulberry’s shares, said it had made a non-binding approach for the stock it does not already hold.
It represented an 11% premium on Friday’s closing price, Frasers said.
Earlier that day, Mulberry had announced a move to raise cash through the sale of 750,000 new shares to existing shareholders, priced at £1 each, after slumping to a £34.1m loss over its last financial year.
It also sought to raise £10m through a so-called subscription offer by its majority shareholder Challice.
The Somerset-based firm, best-known for its handbags, has been suffering amid weak global demand for luxury goods.
There is no suggestion it is at any immediate risk of collapse but its accounts contained a warning that the downturn had resulted in a “material uncertainty which may cast significant doubt on the group and parent company’s ability to continue as a going concern” if it persisted.
Image: Mulberry opened a new store in Dubai Mall in April as part of its international expansion plans. Pic: Mulberry
Frasers said: “Frasers are exceptionally concerned by the audit opinion in the latest annual report released on Friday September 27, 2024, which notes a “material uncertainty related to going concern”.
“As a 37% shareholder, Frasers will not accept another Debenhams situation where a perfectly viable business is run into administration.”
Frasers had held a stake in Debenhams worth £300m at one stage but its holding was wiped out in 2019 when it collapsed in April of that year.
Frasers, which is best known for its Sports Direct and Flannels brands, is 73%-owned by Mike Ashley’s MASH Holdings vehicle but now run by his son-in-law Michael Murray.
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July: Frasers boss Murray outlines strategy
Frasers owns more than 40 consumer names including House of Fraser, Game, Evans Cycles, Jack Wills, Gieves & Hawkes and Agent Provocateur.
Its sports equipment and sports and leisurewear interests include Slazenger, Sondico, No Fear, Donnay, Everlast and Karrimor
In more recent times it has built large stakes in the likes of ASOS and Boohoo and acquired commercial property including a number of shopping centres.
Mr Murray told Sky News in an interview this summer that its elevation strategy – taking the company up-market – remained on track despite the immediate challenges facing the luxury sector, hurt by falling demand particularly in key growth areas such as China.
Shares in Frasers were trading more than 2% down on the day in the wake of its approach.
Those of Mulberry were 6% higher at 125p, reflecting the 130p-per-share value Frasers had placed on the stock.
Mulberry was yet to comment on Frasers’ move, which is subject to its board’s recommendation and the withdrawal of the subscription offer.
Under UK takeover rules, Frasers has until 28 October to make a firm offer for Mulberry or walk away.
Ashley frustrated with Mulberry
Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown, said of the situation: “Mike Ashley’s frustration with Mulberry is plain to see. The offer to buy the beleaguered handbag maker, comes after it unexpectedly announced a plan to raise emergency funds, which also took Frasers Group by surprise.
“Keeping it quiet indicates that the board didn’t want to give Frasers the early option of owning an even bigger chunk of the company. However, investors may also be losing patience, given that Mulberry’s shares have fallen by 52% over the past year.”
The ownership of The Daily Telegraph has been transferred to a new holding company as bidders and employees await news of the destiny of one of Britain’s most influential newspaper publishers.
Sky News has learnt that a ‘hive-down’ to simplify the ownership structure of the title and its Sunday sister title has been completed in the last few days.
The corporate restructuring move comes after a consortium led by Dovid Efune, owner of The New York Sun, and National World chief David Montgomery submitted formal offers for the right-leaning newspapers.
In a memo to Telegraph staff on Monday morning, a copy of which has been seen by Sky News, Anna Jones, the company’s chief executive, wrote: “I can confirm that the investment bank and advisers facilitating the sale of the company have received multiple next-round bids.
“As is standard procedure for this type of sale process, RedBird IMI and its advisers will now review the merits of each of these bids before confirming who moves to the next stage.
“This detailed review of bids may take several weeks as the various legal and regulatory implications for the possible transactions are considered.
“In the meantime, to simplify our corporate structure in advance of an onward sale, we have transferred the company’s business from Telegraph Media Group Limited to Telegraph Media Group Holdings Limited.”
Bidder expected to be chosen within two weeks
People close to the process anticipate a preferred bidder being selected in the next fortnight, paving the way for the Telegraph’s long-term ownership to be resolved after 18 months of uncertainty.
Mr Efune’s bid has raised the extraordinary possibility of a return to the British newspaper group for Lord Black, its former proprietor.
Lord Black, who ceased to be a member of the House of Lords earlier this year on the grounds of his non-attendance, writes regular opinion pieces for The New York Sun, a digital-only title.
Sir Paul Marshall, the hedge-fund tycoon who paid £100m for The Spectator magazine this month, did not submit an offer for the Telegraph ahead of a deadline on Friday but remains open to acquiring the titles at the right price.
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Why Marshall has bought The Spectator
The newspapers now look likely to command a price of at least £500m, which would enable RedBird IMI to recoup the £600m it paid last year for the right to convert debt attached to the assets into outright ownership.
The Telegraph auction is being orchestrated by Raine Group and Robey Warshaw, the advisers to RedBird IMI, the Abu Dhabi-backed entity which was thwarted in its efforts to buy the media titles by a change in ownership law.
Boris Johnson return?
A separate bid orchestrated by Nadhim Zahawi, the former chancellor, is the subject of bilateral discussions with IMI, the Abu Dhabi-based part of the joint venture with RedBird.
Sky News recently revealed that Mr Zahawi had sounded out Boris Johnson, the former prime minister, about an executive role with The Daily Telegraph if he succeeded in buying the newspapers.
A number of unsuccessful bidders for the Telegraph have included Lord Saatchi, the former advertising mogul, who offered £350m, while Mediahuis, the Belgian publisher, also failed to make it through to the next round of the auction.
Lord Rothermere, the Daily Mail proprietor, pulled out of the bidding earlier in the summer amid concerns that he would be blocked on competition grounds.
IMI is controlled by the UAE’s deputy prime minister and ultimate owner of Manchester City Football Club, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The Lloyds debt, which totalled more than £1.15bn, was repaid by RedBird IMI on behalf of the family.
An Australian property firm majority-owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp has walked away from its takeover interest in Rightmove after a fourth bid was rejected.
REA Group had offered a sweetened cash and share deal that valued the UK online property portal at £6.2bn – almost a month on from confirmation of its initial interest.
Rightmove declared earlier on Monday that the bid “remains unattractive and continues to materially undervalue Rightmove and its future prospects”.
It had called on REA to put forward its “best and final proposal” ahead of a 5pm deadline on Monday. City rules required REA to make a firm offer by this deadline or walk away.
Rightmove said this would bring “certainty to this process”.
REA responded hours later to confirm it had concluded its pursuit of the business.
It claimed that a lack of engagement from Rightmove had “impeded” its ability to act ahead of the 5pm deadline.
REA chief executive Owen Wilson said: “Against a backdrop of intensifying global competition, we approached Rightmove’s board because we strongly believed in the opportunity to create a globally diversified leader in the digital property sector that would benefit both REA and Rightmove shareholders.
“We were disappointed with the limited engagement from Rightmove that impeded our ability to make a firm offer within the timetable available.
“They had nothing to lose by engaging with us.
“We are always financially disciplined when we look at M&A (mergers and acquisitions) and reinvestment in our business and will continue to focus on the many other opportunities ahead of us.”
Rightmove shares were 8% lower in the wake of the news.
Combs, a three-time Grammy winner and one of the most influential hip-hop producers of the past three decades, has been facing a wave of lawsuits by women who have accused him of sexual assault.
Here’s a look what the charges are, why he was denied bail and what he and his lawyers have said.
What are the charges?
They relate to sex trafficking, drug possession and firearms offences.
Specifically, there are three charges outlined by the Southern District of New York (SDNY) in a legal indictment:
Racketeering conspiracy
Sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion
Transportation to engage in prostitution
Racketeering conspiracy carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion has a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison; and transportation for purposes of prostitution carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.
The indictment alleges Combs “abused, threatened, and coerced women and others around him to fulfil his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct” from at least 2008.
It claims the 54-year-old used his employees, resources and influence in the music industry to create a “criminal enterprise whose members and associates engaged in, and attempted to engage in, among other crimes, sex trafficking, forced labour, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice”.
Image: Combs and his defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo in a courtroom sketch. Pic: Reuters
He allegedly induced female victims and male sex workers into drug-fuelled sexual performances, dubbed “Freak Offs”, according to the document.
The Freak Offs, referred to in the document some 16 times, were described as “elaborate and produced sex performances that Combs arranged, directed, masturbated during, and often electronically recorded”.
Prosecutors allege victims were given controlled substances during the sometimes days-long events to keep them “obedient and compliant” and Combs subjected them to “physical, emotional, and verbal abuse” to get them to engage.
It said Combs and his victims were so exhausted after the sessions – which sometimes lasted days at a time – that they “typically received IV fluids to recover from the physical exertion and drug use”.
Around 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant were seized from Combs’ homes in Miami and Los Angeles when they were raided in March, the indictment added.
It also claims Combs and members of his business “engaged in acts of violence, threats of violence, threats of financial and reputational harm, and verbal abuse” including kidnapping and arson when witnesses of his alleged abuse threatened his authority or reputation.
What have Combs and his lawyers said?
Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
After his arrest, his lawyer Marc Agnifilo said he was “disappointed” with the decision to “pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr Combs by the US Attorney’s Office”.
“Diddy is an imperfect person but is not criminal,” he continued.
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Diddy ‘didn’t do these things’ – lawyer
“To his credit, Mr Combs has been nothing but cooperative with this investigation and he voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges.
“Please reserve your judgment until you have all the facts. These are the acts of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court.”
Speaking to journalists after Combs entered his plea, the lawyer added: “I am feeling confident. We’re going to go get Mr Combs out of jail.”
A statement from lawyers representing some of those who have made accusations against Combs said the “long-awaited arrest is the first step for our clients receiving justice”.
“The evidence is very clear and it was only a matter of time,” the statement from lawyers Rodney Diggs and Tyrone Blackburnread.
“This is an important step towards justice for all of Mr Combs’s victims including my clients. Justice will prevail.”
Why has Combs been denied bail?
Combs’s lawyers offered a $50m (£37.8m) bail package in exchange for his release to home detention with GPS monitoring and strict limitations on who could visit him.
Arguing to keep him behind bars, prosecutor Emily Johnson told the judge that Combs had a long history of intimidating both accusers and witnesses to his alleged abuse.
Ms Johnson cited text messages from women who said Combs forced them into the Freak Offs and then threatened to leak explicit videos of them engaging in sexual acts.
She also said that Combs’s own defence team was “minimising and horrifically understating” his propensity for violence.
The defence and prosecution were wrangling over the request before US district judge Andrew L Carter denied bail.
He said the government had proved “by clear and convincing evidence that there is no condition or set of conditions” that will ensure the safety of the community and that the rapper and music mogul will not tamper with witnesses.
Previous allegations against Combs
Combs has been facing civil allegations including rape, sexual assault, and forced drugging since November 2023.
The first allegations were made by the rapper’s ex-girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie, who claimed in her lawsuit that she was trafficked, raped, plied with drugs, and viciously beaten by Combs on many occasions over the course of 10 years.
He denied all allegations and settled the lawsuit with Cassie the day after it was filed, with the terms of the agreement kept confidential.
Months later CNN aired hotel security footageshowing Combs punching and kicking Cassie and throwing her to the floor. He apologised for what he called his “inexcusable” behaviour in the video, saying he was “disgusted” by his past behaviour.
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Combs apologises after CCTV video
Combs was sued by Joie Dickerson-Neal in November who alleged he drugged and sexually assaulted her when she was a psychology student at Syracuse University in January 1991. She also accused him of filming the attack.
His son is accused in the suit of spiking a woman’s drink and groping her, while it is alleged Combs created the circumstances that led to the assault and paid to cover it up afterwards. Both Combs and his son have denied the claims.
Another suit was brought against Combs shortly before his arrest by singer Dawn Richard, who has described years of psychological and physical abuse, including groping, as he helped launch her career.
New rape allegations emerge since arrest
Since his arrest, another two women, one who is named and the other who is known under the pseudonym Jane Doe, have filed lawsuits in New York.
The first was filed by Thalia Graves, who claims the music mogul and his head of security raped her and made a video recording of it at his studio.
The second claims she was repeatedly raped and drugged at the music mogul’s homes and became pregnant after one of the encounters. She later suffered a miscarriage after allegedly being pressured by Combs’ associates to get an abortion.
In a statement to TMZ, Combs’s lawyer said in relation to the allegations by Ms Graves: “No matter how many lawsuits are filed it won’t change the fact that Mr Combs has never sexually assaulted or sex trafficked anyone.
“Fortunately, a fair and impartial judicial process exists to find the truth and Mr Combs is confident he will prevail against these and other baseless claims in court.”
Representatives have not responded to the allegations by Jane Doe but have denied every other made against him in the lawsuits, which you can read more about here.
In a statement in December, Combs described the claims he was facing then as “sickening” and alleged his accusers were “looking for a quick payday”.
“Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged. I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth,” he said.
What happens now?
Combs is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center, where he will remain until his trial begins.
A date has not yet been set for the trial, and prosecutors say the investigation into Combs’s alleged criminal activity is still ongoing.
They say they have interviewed more than 50 victims of and witnesses to Combs’s alleged abuse, but that they expect more people to come forward with their accounts.
US attorney in Manhattan Damian Williams said in a news conference he wouldn’t “take anything off the table” when asked whether Combs’s associates or employees will face charges, adding: “Our investigation is very active and ongoing.”
