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Staveley, who stepped down from Newcastle's board in July after selling her shares, brokered the £305m deal with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), helping it over the line in October 2021 after the Premier League received legally binding assurances of the separation of the Saudi state and the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund.
Given that Bin Salman is the chairman of PIF that raised eyebrows and yesterday the Telegraph published messages which suggested he was the key catalyst behind the purchase from the British retail tycoon Mike Ashley and spotlighted the extent of the UK government's involvement.
In one reported message Staveley cautions Ashley's camp that “the Crown Prince is losing patience” and another refers to attempts being made to “convince the Crown Prince not to pull out”. In another she writes: “The UK Saudi ambassador spoke to the Crown Prince this morning.”
Denne historien er fra October 21, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
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Denne historien er fra October 21, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
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Scandals of Caesars hit bestseller list after two millennia
A gossipy account of the lives of Roman emperors has entered the bestseller charts - 2,000 years after it was written.
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Let them eat fruit Ratcliffe ditches Old Trafford staff canteen and targets jobs
Sir Jim Ratcliffe will close the staff canteen at Old Trafford and replace free lunches with fruit.
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Fall in Labour support worst among voters worried about money - study
Labour is losing support fastest among voters who feel economically insecure, according to a report urging Keir Starmer to focus on boosting living standards, rather than culture wars and immigration.
Hip-hop legends Wu-Tang Clan to go on 'final tour'
After more than 30 years of music, during which they created an entire martial mythology as well as some of the greatest hip-hop records of all time, Wu-Tang Clan have signaled a possible end to the group.
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There are numbers, of course, if you choose to want them. Records enough to drown in. Discourse piled sky-high. Here: a colourful infographic setting out his most recent milestones, begging your finger for a double-tap. Here: a TV host in expensive trainers pointing at a large screen. First for contingent goal involvements. First for final-third shimmies. Look at that shot throb velocity: up a staggering 0.28 on last season. After the break, some nonentities will debate today's hot question: is Mo Salah enjoying the most venomous Premier League season ever? Stay tuned.
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Appreciation 'Music is my expression'
Roberta Flack, the US singer behind a string of hits including Killing Me Softly With His Song, has died aged 88.
Calls to toughen rules as it is revealed one in 10 peers are paid advisers
Dozens of members of the House of Lords have been paid by commercial companies to give political or policy advice, amid concerns their activities are not being properly regulated.
Europe at 'five minutes to midnight', warns Merz in wake of election win
The man expected to be Germany's next chancellor has said Europe must swiftly boost its defence capability in the face of a US administration whose motto is \"almost 'America alone\", warning: \"This is really five minutes to midnight for Europe.\"
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MP Sentenced to 10 Weeks in Jail for Punching Constituent on Night Out
Mike Amesbury, the MP for Runcorn and Helsby, has been sentenced to 10 weeks in prison for punching a man to the ground after a night out.
Apple pledges $500bn in US investments over four years
Apple has announced it will invest $500bn (£395bn) in the US in the next four years as part of plans that will include a huge factory in Texas for artificial intelligence servers and add about 20,000 research and development jobs across the country.