Sky News has spoken to Muhammad Yunus, interim leader of Bangladesh, after its harrowing report yesterday into the torture chambers run by Labour MP Tulip Siddiq’s aunt’s regime. Yunus was asked if the sacked anti-corruption minister should be extradited following the Anti-Corruption Commission’s investigation:
“If it’s proven, and again there’s a legal issue – if she still has a Bangladeshi passport I guess she doesn’t have a Bangladeshi passport she will be a UK citizen, so whether we can bring back a UK citizen for trial in Bangladesh – those are issues.“
Siddiq’s team has not commented on her alleged possession of dual nationality. Downing Street previously refused to say if it would agree to extradite the ex-minister. She could be called before the courts…
Asked if this is a “serious case” which warrants further investigation Yunus said: “Oh yes. Our Anti-Corruption Commission is taking it very seriously, she has much wealth left behind here and they will check everything, and see how she should be made responsible.” On top of that the UK National Crime Agency’s International Anti-Corruption Co-ordination Centre is looking to help with the investigation ongoing in Bangladesh. There are alleged extensive links between senior Awami League figures and hoards of wealth (mostly property-based) in the UK…
Siddiq, who for her part denies all wrongdoing, has been busy tweeting while refusing to provide any statement on the UN report’s conclusion that her aunt’s regime murdered children or reports of over torture chambers run by the Awami League government. The new Bangladeshi government certainly isn’t staying silent…
Sky News has been given access to torture chambers in Bangladesh run by dictator Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League. There are an estimated 800 detention centres which held Hasina’s political opponents, according to prosecutors…
Conditions inside the detention centres are breathtakingly brutal. The one explored by Sky News was run by the regime’s elite counter terrorism force – the Rapid Action Battalion – which is described as a “death squad.” Allegations from prosecutors at Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) claim 3,500 people could have been ‘disappeared’ in these chambers…
Sheikh Hasina is still in hiding in India as Mohammad Yunus’ temporary government pursues alleged corruption by regime figures. This includes numerous investigations by the Anti-Corruption Commission into properties and deals allegedly involving Hasina’s niece Tulip Siddiq. Siddiq denies all wrongdoing for her part. Keir Starmer met Hasina numerous times and was filmed hobnobbing with top Awami League figures as recently as December (long after Hasina was ousted) – something which will leave a bitter taste for those interested in human rights. Siddiq stayed silent after the UN found her auntie’s regime was responsible for killing children. Guido has reached out to Tulip Siddiq for comment on Sky’s shocking report…
Kay Burley has told Sky News viewers that after three and a half decades she is retiring:
“After over a million minutes of live TV news – more than anyone else in the world – it’s time for me to indulge in some of my other passions, including my love for travel. So after covering 12 separate general elections including Sir Keir Starmer’s victory last year I’m retiring from Sky News. Let politicians of every party just rejoice at that news…”
Sky News is undergoing a major restructuring as part of its shift away from linear TV towards digital thanks to the revenue drying up. Burley joined when the channel launched in 1989. The slow death of legacy media continues…
Sky News is the latest broadcaster to face the harsh realities of a dying media format. Executive chairman David Rhodes told staff today that the broadcaster would pursue a new strategy called “Sky News 2030.“ Going digital…
TalkTV was just the start. Lossmaking Sky News will move more content behind an online paywall in a shift from linear programming as its revenue streams are “largely stagnant.” “Breaking and live” TV is largely up for the chop…
As Guido reported last year, trouble has been brewing at Sky Towers for some time as its Comcast funding guarantee ends in 2028 and there has so far been no contract renewal. Rhodes said at the meeting Sky should shift from a 30/70 premium-to-live ratio to 70/30. Paywalled premium content will include podcasts and video. He says “some of [new revenues] are ad based. Some of them won’t be. Some of them could be conducive to subscription. We need to add to our revenue mix.” Beth Rigby has called the changes “exciting.” Exciting for GB News…
GB News’ strong performance at the end of last year saw it consistently beating Sky News for the first time and pacing ahead of BBC during some peak periods. As it turns out that wasn’t an anomaly…
BARB figures collated today reveal GB outperformed Sky News again last month – averaging 66,129 live views during the 20-hour recording period in December. That’s compared to Sky’s 63,452. 4% higher…
GB, which is currently leading media on reporting of the rape gangs scandal with numerous exclusives, is also gaining on BBC News with a 21.6% improvement in viewership ratio from November to December – rising from 68.2% of BBC’s viewership to 83.3% within four weeks. Head of programming Ben Briscoe says “we are a community and our audience trusts us to tell stories accurately, openly and in a way that maintains free and respectful speech.” 2025 could be a big year for the rising channel…
Sky News has declined to comment on Deadline’s report that Kay Burley is quitting the Breakfast show after taking on the gig in 2019. She could do her last show as soon as Thursday…
It’s been a dramatic few years for Kay, who joined Sky News in 1988. The presenter was taken off air for six months after Guido revealed her star-studded sixtieth broke lockdown guidelines. In 2022 her show was benched by the Downing Street press team. It’s up in the air as to whether Burley will get another gig on the channel. Kay is the undisputed queen of TV news, but as a channel, Sky’s ratings are plummeting versus new competitors…
UPDATE: Kay Burley has denied that she is leaving Sky News and the Breakfast show, saying:
“I don’t know where that comes from, but neither of them are true. I am off on the 19th [as] planned and then I am back on January 16.”
Speaking to Sky News off the back of Rachel Reeves’ Air Passenger Duty hike, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said:
“Labour is dependent on those Red Wall seats, and yet every move she makes poisons economic growth and damages the UK’s recovery… it’s the Chancellor who stumbles from policy misstep to policy misstep… I think her policy decisions are incredibly stupid.”
