Watch: The BBC speaks to Jimmy Lai's son
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Daily Mirror
19 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
BBC Strictly Come Dancing star Tom Skinner's life – criminal past to JD Vance barbeque
Tom Skinner is one of the latest stars to be announced for the 2022 series of Strictly Come Dancing, but the former The Apprentice star's journey to the ballroom has been anything but ordinary Former The Apprentice candidate Tom Skinner has been confirmed as one of the latest celebrities joining the sparkling Strictly Come Dancing dancefloor, though his path to the BBC ballroom has been far from conventional. The 32 year old Essex-born businessman, now renowned for his thriving pillow and mattress empire, initially rose to prominence on the 2019 series of The Apprentice. His vibrant personality, mischievous Essex wit, and tireless determination endeared him to audiences, despite his departure from Sir Alan Sugar's boardroom in week nine. However, prior to his television appearances, commercial achievements, and celebrity status, Skinner's life took a dramatically different direction. In 2016, at just 24 years old, he as convicted for handling stolen merchandise valued at nearly £40,000 after purchasing 4,992 tubes of Body Shop cleansing gel and having 2,000 diazepam tablets from what he subsequently acknowledged was an "unreliable source". It comes after Strictly Come Dancing's Gorka Marquez pulls out of show. He was later sentenced and his conviction has since been spent and Skinner has since maintained he's a "changed man". He told the Daily Mail in a previous interview: "Many years ago before I had my business, I was young and naive and bought stock from someone I didn't know", reports the Daily Star. "I wasn't aware the stock was stolen and paid the consequences for the mistake I made. That is now well in my past, I've had a string of successful companies since then. I am a changed man." After news of Tom's past broke just before his stint on The Apprentice in 2019 aired, a BBC spokesperson said: "DBS checks are done for all The Apprentice candidates by the production company ahead of filming. "A spent conviction is not disclosed under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. Spent convictions are designed to help people move on in life and not be excluded from opportunities to help further their careers." Tom went on to appear on the BBC show and, since his TV appearance, his career has flourished in remarkable ways. Renowned for his candid videos on social media platform X, Skinner's posts about business, politics, and everyday life have garnered hundreds of thousands of followers. His social media presence has since sparked an extraordinary friendship with US Vice President JD Vance, Donald Trump's running mate. Vance has shown support for the businessman on X after Tom claimed he received death threats and "vile comments about my children" after he posted a series of tweets in which he said "something's gone wrong" in the UK and said "there is nothing wrong with being proud of where you're from". After tweeting about the online abuse, the Vice President tweeted a cartoon image of a South Park character looking dishevelled while sat at a computer to Tom and wrote: "Hang in there, my friend. Remember that 90 percent of people attacking your family look like this." Tom replied to the tweet with: "Thank you JD. Bosh". Days after the online exchange between the pair, Tom revealed on Twitter the pair had met up. He wrote: "When the Vice President of the USA invites ya for a BBQ an beers, you say yes. Unreal night with JD and his friends n family. He was a proper gent. Lots of laughs and some fantastic food. A brilliant night, one to tell the grand kids about mate. Bosh." Tom then shared a selfie of the smiling pair on X and added: "Here is a pic of Me and Vice President @JDVance towards the end of the night after a few beers I'm overdressed in my suit, but when the VP invites you to a BBQ, you don't risk turning up in shorts an flip-flops Cracking night in the beautiful English countryside with JD, his friends and family. Once in a lifetime. Bosh". Skinner has also used his own story to inspire others with learning difficulties to pursue big opportunities as he has dyslexia. He admitted: "I can't even fill out a form, but it didn't matter. The Apprentice changed my life. If you're thinking of applying for something, do it, one million percent."
Telegraph
19 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Pensioner beaten to death over stolen chocolate bar
A Sri Lankan man has been killed for allegedly stealing a bar of chocolate from a shop. Dharmasena Cooray, 67, was beaten to death by a shopkeeper and his employee after they accused the pensioner of stealing the treat in the city of Kandy, according to reports. The victim lived with his wife in the Pahala-Eriyagama suburb after their two children moved away. Mr Cooray would often visit the nearby market in Peradeniya to buy groceries and chocolates for himself and his wife. On Aug 5, the shop owner and an employee confronted Mr Cooray after claiming CCTV footage from the previous day showed him stealing chocolate without paying. They allegedly dragged him inside, where they punched and kicked him. Police said the suspects hit the father with an iron rod and he suffered multiple head and leg injuries, before the men left him by the roadside. A woman passing by recognised Mr Cooray and took him to hospital. Despite grievous injuries, he managed to give a statement to police, naming his attackers before dying on Aug 11. A post-mortem by the Kandy Judicial Medical Officer was inconclusive about the cause of his death. Police have arrested the two suspects, who are currently in police custody, said Vijitha Wijekoon, a chief inspector of the crime branch in Peradeniya. Sri Lanka's ageing population has traditionally relied on close-knit family support. But economic hardship has driven younger relatives abroad or to urban areas for work, leaving many older people isolated. More than 12 per cent are over 60, making it the highest proportion in South Asia. 'It's heartbreaking that, instead of someone offering to pay for it or the shop owner letting the gentleman enjoy that small treat, he had to pay the ultimate price with his life,' said a local resident, Ms Zahra Niyas. 'So sad to see that compassion and humanity seem to be fading away in our world today.' 'Such a level of evil to beat a poor, defenceless old man to death over a chocolate. Let the justice system use the two idiots as examples. They deserve to rot in hell,' said Lal Kumarasanga, another local. Pension swallowed by inflation Neighbours said Mr Cooray's modest pension had been swallowed by inflation, a reality faced by millions in Sri Lanka since the Island's 2022 economic collapse. That unprecedented crisis triggered by years of economic mismanagement left the country unable to import essentials such as fuel, food, and medicine. Across the nation, pensioners who celebrated Sri Lanka's independence in 1948 and survived its devastating 26-year civil war are still struggling to live on one handful of rice each day. Annual inflation has eased since then, but prices for staples remain far above pre-crisis levels. The World Bank estimates that poverty rates have doubled since 2019. Retirees on fixed incomes are among the hardest hit, with many unable to afford adequate nutrition or healthcare.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
China targets 2 Lithuanian banks in response to new EU sanctions
China imposed sanctions on two Lithuanian banks in what it said was retaliation for the European Union including two Chinese financial institutions in its latest round of sanctions against Russia. Lithuania's UAB Urbo Bankas and Mano Bankas AB are prohibited from having any cooperation with individuals or institutions in China, according to a statement Wednesday from the Ministry of Commerce. The European Union adopted a new round of sanctions against individuals and companies supporting Russia in its war with Ukraine in July, which went into effect August 9. Among them were multiple Chinese companies, although China's Ministry of Commerce did not name which financial institutions were affected. 'The EU, disregarding China's solemn position, insisted on adding two Chinese financial institutions to its sanctions list for alleged involvement in Russia, and formally implemented the sanctions on August 9," said the statement. It added the move "severely damages the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies, and has a serious negative impact on China-EU economic and trade relations and financial cooperation." NATO has in the past called China a 'decisive enabler' of Russia's war effort as its companies sold tools, equipment and microelectronics.
